Synchronization algorithm for data streaming by proxy server through asynchronous multicast channel

method comprising:

• storing, in a guide data server, program guide content in a memory;
• transmitting, from the guide data server to a multicast server, the program guide content stored in the memory;
• receiving, at the multicast server, the program guide content transmitted from the guide data server;
• transmitting, from the multicast server to set top boxes, the received program guide content according to at least three independent time periods, including an update blocking time period, a multicast blocking time period, and a normal time period,
• wherein the at least three independent time periods are based on at least one time zone associated with the multicast server or at least one of the time zones associated with each of the set top boxes;
• wherein the program guide content includes:
• a first program guide content that is transmitted by the guide data server prior to a predetermined time of day, and
• a modified program guide content that is transmitted by the guide data server to the multicast server after the predetermined time of day;
• wherein:
• during the update blocking time period, transmitting, from the multicast server to the set top boxes, the first program guide content;
• during the multicast blocking time period:
• requesting, at the multicast server, the modified program guide content from the guide data server,
• receiving the requested modified program guide content when the modified program guide content is transmitted from the guide data server, and
• receiving updated modified program guide content from the guide data server when the modified program guide content is updated on the guide data server;
• during the normal time period:
• receiving, at the multicast server, the modified program guide content transmitted from the guide data server, and
• transmitting the modified program guide content from the multicast server to the set top boxes.

A multicast server, comprising:

• a memory;
• a source database;
• an input/output (I/O) interface configured to enable the multicast server to communicate with other devices;
• and
• a processor configured to cause the multicast server to perform functions, including functions to:
• receive program guide content transmitted from a guide data server, and transmit the received program guide content to set top boxes according to at least three independent time periods, the at least three independent time periods including an update blocking time period, a multicast blocking time period, and a normal time period,
• determine whether the current time period is the update blocking time period, the multicast blocking time period, or the normal time period based on at least one time zone associated with the multicast server or the other devices,
• wherein the received program guide content includes:
• a first program guide content that is transmitted by the guide data server prior to a predetermined time of day, and
• a modified program guide content that is transmitted by the guide data server after the predetermined time of day;
• wherein:
• during the update blocking time period, the multicast server transmits the the first program guide content to the set top boxes;
• during the multicast blocking time period, the multicast server:
• performs a request for the modified program guide content from the guide data server,
• receives the requested modified program guide content from the guide data server, and
• when the modified program guide content is updated on the guide data server and transmitted from the guide data server, receives the updated modified program guide content from the guide data server;
• and
• during the normal time period, the multicast server:
• receives the modified program guide content transmitted from the guide data server;
• and
• transmits the modified program guide content to the set top boxes.