Method and apparatus enabling fast channel change for DSL system

摘要

There is provided methods and apparatus for enabling a fast channel change for a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system. A channel change processing unit for enabling a channel change in a DSL system includes a demultiplexer and a selector in signal communication with the demultiplexer. The demultiplexer is for receiving a normal stream and a channel change stream. The selector is for receiving a channel change request and for sending the channel change stream in response to receiving the channel change request. The channel change stream coded pictures are of a lower quality than the normal stream coded pictures.

主权项

1. An apparatus that enables a channel change comprising:
a demultiplexer that accesses a normal stream and a channel change stream, wherein the normal stream and the channel change stream correspond to the same video program and are multiplexed together before transmission to a decoder; and a selector in signal communication with said demultiplexer that receives a channel change request and sends the channel change stream in response to receiving the channel change request, wherein the channel change stream coded pictures are of a lower quality than the normal stream coded pictures, wherein said demultiplexer and said selector are disposed at a remote location with respect to a viewing location at which the normal stream and the channel change stream are viewed by a viewer, wherein a first coded picture in the channel change stream sent by said selector in response to receiving the channel change request is an I picture, and wherein said selector limits an amount of data sent over a local loop in signal communication with the apparatus and the viewing location by selecting, at any given time, only one of either the normal stream and the channel change stream to send to the viewing location for viewing by the viewer.