Bandwidth conservation

摘要

A request to establish a switched digital video session with high-definition content is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service. A determination is made that the subscriber only has capability of viewing standard definition content. Responsive to the request and the determination, the subscriber, in the session, is provided a signal with a standard definition version of the requested high-definition content. An exemplary switched digital video control apparatus and an exemplary system are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method comprising the steps of:
receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, a request to establish a switched digital video session serving content in a first resolution according to a selection of a program channel associated with a first service; determining that said subscriber has a capability of rendering content limited to a second resolution lower than the first resolution according to a capability of a television set coupled to a set-top terminal of said subscriber, said determining further comprising receiving an indication that said capability of rendering content is limited to said second resolution; and creating a switched digital video session serving said content in said second resolution responsive to said request and said determination, and serving to said subscriber, from a second service, a signal delivering said content in said second resolution, wherein said switched digital video service offers said subscriber a selection of said content in said first resolution and said second resolution on respective program channels corresponding to said first service and said second service, respectively, wherein said content in said first resolution corresponds to said program channel selected by said subscriber and said content in said second resolution corresponds to a second program channel, and further wherein said signal delivering said content in said second resolution is on said program channel selected by said subscriber.