METHOD FOR FAST ZAPPING BETWEEN TV CHANNELS
To zap towards a TV channel, a join request is sent from the viewer towards the TV server ( 101 ). Thereupon, a low resolution version of the TV channel is temporarily unicasted towards the viewer. In a second step, a switch is realized from the low resolution version of the TV channel to a multicasted high resolution version of the TV channel.
1 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel, said method comprising sending a join request for said TV channel from the viewer towards the TV server ( 101 ),
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said method further comprises temporarily unicasting towards said viewer a low resolution version of said TV channel, and switching from said low resolution version of said TV channel to a multicasted high resolution version of said TV channel.
2 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said method comprises intercepting said join request and replacing said join request with a request for said low resolution version of said TV channel.
3 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said method comprises receiving said join request in said TV server ( 101 ), and responding to said join request by temporarily unicasting said low resolution version of said TV channel towards said viewer.
4 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said low resolution version of said TV channel is temporarily unicasted each time a viewer zaps towards said TV channel.
5 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said low resolution version of said TV channel is temporarily unicasted depending on bandwidth availability on the connection ( 104 ) towards said viewer.
6 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said low resolution version of said TV channel is temporarily unicasted depending on the load of said TV server ( 101 ).
7 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said high resolution version of said TV channel is a High Definition TV (HDTV) signal.
8 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said high resolution version of said TV channel is a Standard Definition TV (SDTV) signal.
9 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said low resolution version of said TV channel is a Standard Definition TV (SDTV) signal.
10 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT switching from said low resolution version of said TV channel to said multicasted high resolution version of said TV channel occurs on instruction of said viewer's set-top box ( 107 ).
11 . A method for zapping towards a TV channel according to claim 1 ,
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT switching from said low resolution version of said TV channel to said multicasted high resolution version of said TV channel occurs on instruction of said TV server ( 101 ).
12 . A system for zapping towards a TV channel, said system comprising means ( 108 , 107 ) for sending a join request for said TV channel from the viewer towards the TV server ( 101 ),
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said system further comprises means for temporarily unicasting towards said viewer a low resolution version of said TV channel, and means for switching from said low resolution version to a multicasted high resolution version of said TV channel.
13 . A set-top box ( 107 ) for use in a system as defined by claim 12 .
14 . A network node ( 103 ) for use in a system as defined by claim 12 .
15 . A TV server ( 101 ) for use in a system as defined by claim 12 .