METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING BANDWIDTH IN BROADCAST/MULTICAST VIDEO SYSTEMS

摘要

A video distribution system (e.g., a cable broadcast system) comprises an upstream distribution point (e.g., a cable head-end), a communications channel (e.g., a cable) and one, or more, endpoints (e.g., a set-top box). The cable head-end transmits a program channel downstream along with a redundant portion of the program channel to the set-top box in a first frequency band. The set-top box plays-out the content associated with the program channel and uses the redundant portion of the program channel for bridging a time duration during which the tuner of the set-top box is tuned to another frequency band, e.g., an out-of-band (OOB) channel.