Method and system for fast channel change in a communication device

摘要

An association table associates each program stream of a plurality of program streams with a MAC domain, with a channel frequency and with a multicast address. If a subscriber device selects a content program different from a current program, a determination is made whether the new program is serviced by a different MAC domain than the one serving the current program. If the selected new program is not serviced by the same domain that is serving the current program stream(s), the current MAC domain is informed that the subscriber device is ending the session therewith, the new frequency is tuned by the subscriber device and new content is received immediately after the new frequency is tuned. The subscriber device registers with the new MAC domain after receipt of new content has begun.

主权项

1. A method for facilitating changing the receiving of program streams at a subscriber communication device, comprising:
receiving an association table for a plurality of program streams at a subscriber device, each program stream being associated with a bonded group of channels in a given MAC domain, and having an identifier, wherein each bonded group is associated with one or more downstream channels having a channel frequency and a multicast address; receiving a request to change to a different program from a current program at the subscriber device; determining from the association table at the subscriber device whether the different program is delivered from a new MAC domain comprising a second bonded group different from a current MAC domain comprising a first bonded group associated with the current program; sending a message to a current MAC domain associated with the first bonded group that the subscriber device is ending the current session with the first bonded group within the current MAC domain; tuning the subscriber device to the second bonded group comprising one or more downstream channels associated with a channel carrying the different program; and receiving streams comprising the different program from the tuned second bonded group comprising one or more downstream channels based on the identifier associated in the association table with the different requested program; and registering with the new MAC domain comprising the second bonded group that services the newly selected program streams after the stream packets of the newly selected program have begun.