SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING FAST CHANNEL CHANGE FOR IPTV

摘要

A system for conducting fast-channel switching of programming delivered as compressed data streams over a unicast channel includes a switch for receiving both fully- compressed and a partially-compressed versions of the data streams corresponding to available programming. Upon receiving a channel change request from a user, the switch switches to a partially compressed data stream of the requested program and delivers this data stream over the unicast channel. The switch then monitors a fully-compressed data stream of the requested program, and upon encountering an anchor frame therein, switches to delivery of the fully-compressed version of the requested program over the unicast channel.