Internet protocol address to packet identifier mapping

1. A method comprising:

receiving information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of assigned Internet protocol addresses comprising:

identifying a packet identifier used to identify the transmission stream; and

comparing the packet identifier to a list of packet identifiers and associated Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each transmission stream is identified by a unique packet identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one announcement message is received on the highest component tag of a broadcast service component that includes Internet protocol data.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one announcement message is in the session announcement protocol format.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one announcement message is in the extensible markup language format.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one announcement message is in the Internet control message protocol format.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one Internet protocol address comprises an Internet protocol address of a digital video broadcast receiver.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one Internet protocol address comprises an Internet protocol address of a computer device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one Internet protocol address comprises an Internet protocol address of a multicast group.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

receiving return information identifying a return path between a device that receives the transmission stream and a computer device connected to the Internet.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the return information includes the identification of a protocol.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the return information includes the identification of a telephone number, an Internet protocol address or both.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including the step of transmitting data through the return path to a device connected to the Internet.

14. A method comprising:

assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

transmitting service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

transmitting at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component, wherein the at least one announcement message is transmitted on the highest component tag of a broadcast service component that includes Internet protocol data, and wherein the at least one announcement message is in the session announcement protocol format;

transmitting information identifying the unique transmission stream assigned to each of the Internet protocol addresses; and

transmitting the transmission stream.

15. A method comprising:

receiving information assigning a range of Internet protocol addresses that correspond to intended recipients of Internet multicast data to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping the range of Internet protocol addresses to a broadcast service component;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to the range of Internet protocol addresses by comparing a packet identifier of the transmission stream to the service identification information and the at least one announcement message associated with the range of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the range of Internet protocol addresses.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one announcement message is received on the highest component tag of a broadcast service component that includes Internet protocol data.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one announcement message is in the session announcement protocol format.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one announcement message is in the Internet control message protocol format.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a demultiplexer configured to identify transmission stream packet identifiers;

a service identification database that associates each of a plurality of service components to transmission stream packet identifiers;

a message memory that contains information associating at least one internet protocol address to a unique service component; and

a processor programmed with computer-executable instructions configured to perform:

receiving the identification of an Internet protocol address;

retrieving from the service identification database and the message memory a packet identifier value corresponding to the Internet protocol address;

causing the demultiplexer to identify a transmission stream corresponding to the Internet protocol address; and

causing the apparatus to transmit the transmission stream corresponding to the Internet protocol address.

20. A computer readable-medium containing computer-executable instructions configured for causing a digital receiver to perform:

receiving information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of Internet protocol addresses by comparing a packet identifier of the transmission stream to the service identification information and the at least one announcement message associated with at least one of the plurality of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.

21. A method comprising:

receiving information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component, wherein the at least one announcement message is received on the highest component tag of a broadcast service component that includes Internet protocol data, and wherein the at least one announcement message is in the session announcement protocol format;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of assigned Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.

22. A method comprising:

receiving information assigning a range of Internet protocol addresses that correspond to intended recipients of Internet multicast data to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping the range of Internet protocol addresses to a broadcast service component, wherein the at least one announcement message is received on the highest component tag of a broadcast service component that includes Internet protocol data, and wherein the at least one announcement message is in the session announcement protocol format;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to the range of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the range of Internet protocol addresses.

23. A method comprising:

receiving information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of assigned Internet protocol addresses by comparing a packet identifier of the transmission stream to the service identification information and the at least one announcement message associated with at least one of the plurality of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform:

receiving information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

receiving service identification information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream; and

receiving at least one announcement message mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component;

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of assigned Internet protocol addresses by comparing a packet identifier of the transmission stream to the service identification information and the at least one announcement message associated with at least one of the plurality of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing:

information assigning each of a plurality of Internet protocol addresses to a unique transmission stream comprising:

first information mapping a broadcast service component to a unique transmission stream, and

second information mapping at least one Internet protocol address to a broadcast service component; and

computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform:

receiving a transmission stream;

determining whether the transmission stream corresponds to one of the plurality of assigned Internet protocol addresses by comparing a packet identifier of the transmission stream to the first information and the second information associated with at least one of the plurality of Internet protocol addresses; and

further processing the transmission stream when the transmission stream corresponds to the one Internet protocol address.