DISSEMINATING PROGRAM CONTENT VIA ALTERNATIVE NETWORKS

摘要

A system is provided for coordinating the presentation of program content received from a first network and a second network independent from the first network. The system uses heartbeat messages typically transmitted along communication paths to monitor the operation of the communications paths to transmit information necessary for stream switching to alternate programming or alternate sources of the same programming.

主权项

1. In a communication system transmitting program content via communication paths verified as operational via transmission of heartbeat messages, a method of coordinating the presentation of program content received from a first network and a second network independent from the first network, comprising:
receiving a first program content stream having the program content from the first network via a first communication path, the first program content stream having a recurring first heartbeat message augmented to include identifying information that uniquely identifies the media program; receiving at least a portion of a second program content stream having the program content from a second network via a second communication path, the second program content stream having a recurring second heartbeat message including the identifying information; and automatically identifying the program content using the identifying information and associating the identified program content with the first network and the second network.