DISTRIBUTING DIGTAL VIDEO CONTENT TO MULTIPLE END-USER DEVICES

摘要

A technique for managing the distribution of digital video content to multiple end-user devices is disclosed. The technique involves statistically multiplexing multiple VBR encoded video streams into an access channel, such as a data over cable service interface specifications (DOCSIS) bonded group, and utilizing quality of service capabilities of an edge device, such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS) or an edge quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) device, to buffer and schedule IP packets, which carry the VBR encoded video streams, so that packets are not dropped during periods of congestion. Utilizing the quality of service capabilities of an edge device makes it possible to statistically multiplex VBR encoded video streams in a narrowcast application such as Video on Demand (VOD) or Switched Digital Video (SDV) while eliminating the need for process intensive transrating/transcoding operations.