TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SERVICE

摘要

A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network, which group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of a set-top terminal for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving, from a head end of said video content network, a ping message requiring a response to exclude a session of said set-top terminal from a teardown; and responding, automatically, to said ping message based on a preferred status of associated with said set-top terminal.