Unicast Delivery of Multimedia Content
Described herein are techniques, including methods and systems, including computer program products, for unicast delivery of multimedia content. A broadcast program and a video-on-demand program are ingested by a video delivery module. At least a portion of the broadcast program and at least a portion of the video-on-demand program are stored. The broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both are delivered as a unicast video stream to a first single subscriber through a multiplexer connected to a plurality of subscribers.
1 . A system for unicast delivery of multimedia content, the system comprising:
a buffer configured:
to ingest a broadcast program and a video-on-demand program;
to store at least a portion of the broadcast program and at least a portion of the video-on-demand program; and
to deliver the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both as a unicast video stream to a first single subscriber through a multiplexer connected to a plurality of subscribers.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the buffer is further configured to store a plurality of advertisement programs.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the buffer is further configured:
to determine a first advertisement selected from the plurality of advertisement programs based on information associated with the first single subscriber; and
to insert the first advertisement program into the unicast video stream for delivery to the first single subscriber.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the buffer is further configured
to determine a second advertisement selected from the plurality of advertisement programs based on information associated with a second single subscriber, which is one of the plurality of subscribers and different than the first single subscriber; and
to insert the second advertisement program into a second unicast video stream for delivery to the second single subscriber.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the buffer is further configured to insert an advertisement program from the plurality of advertisement programs into the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both during the ingest.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the buffer is further configured to deliver the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both with the inserted advertisement program to a group of the plurality of subscribers.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the buffer is further configured to store a portion of the broadcast program separately from the full portion of the broadcast program.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the buffer is further configured to transmit the portion of the broadcast program to the first single subscriber based on a request for a broadcast program.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the request for a broadcast program comprises a channel change request in a multi-channel network.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer comprises a DSLAM, an OLT, an EQAM modulator, or any combination thereof.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the unicast video stream is delivered through a subscriber line, which comprises a copper line, a fiber optic line, a cable television line, or any combination thereof.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the buffer comprises non-volatile storage, volatile storage, or both.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the unicast video stream comprises a real time program for transmission to the single subscriber.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the unicast video stream comprises a non-real time program for transmission to the single subscriber.
15 . A system for unicast delivery of multimedia content, the system comprising:
a means for ingesting a broadcast program and a video-on-demand program;
a means for storing at least a portion of the broadcast program and at least a portion of the video-on-demand program; and
a means for delivering the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both as a unicast video stream to a first single subscriber through a multiplexer connected to a plurality of subscribers.
16 . A method for unicast delivery of multimedia content, the method comprising:
ingesting a broadcast program and a video-on-demand program;
storing at least a portion of the broadcast program and at least a portion of the video-on-demand program; and
delivering the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both as a unicast video stream to a first single subscriber through a multiplexer connected to a plurality of subscribers.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising storing a plurality of advertisement programs.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
determining a first advertisement selected from the plurality of advertisement programs based on information associated with the first single subscriber, which is one of the plurality of subscribers; and
inserting the first advertisement program into the unicast video stream for delivery to the first single subscriber.
19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
determining a second advertisement selected from the plurality of advertisement programs based on information associated with a second single subscriber, which is different than the first single subscriber and one of the plurality of subscribers; and
inserting the second advertisement program into a second unicast video stream for delivery to the second single subscriber.
20 . The method of claim 17 further comprises inserting an advertisement program from the plurality of advertisement programs into the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both during the ingesting.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprises delivering the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both with the inserted advertisement program to a group of the plurality of subscribers.
22 . The method of claim 16 further comprises storing a portion of the broadcast program separately from the full portion of the broadcast program.
23 . The method of claim 22 further comprises transmitting the portion of the broadcast program to the single subscriber based on a request for a broadcast program.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the request for a broadcast program comprises a channel change request in a multi-channel network.
25 . A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to:
ingest a broadcast program and a video-on-demand program;
store at least a portion of the broadcast program and at least a portion of the video-on-demand program; and
deliver the broadcast program, the video-on-demand program, or both as a unicast video stream to a first single subscriber through a multiplexer connected to a plurality of subscribers.
26 - 50 . (canceled)