Picture-in-picture video content distribution

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a video signal;

encoding the video signal to generate a standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal;

encoding the video signal to generate a standard definition full screen multicast video signal;

encoding the video signal to generate a high definition full screen multicast video signal;

assigning an identical network address to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal of a standard definition channel map;

providing the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal to a requesting device responsive to a request from the requesting device for high definition picture-in-picture video content; and

providing the requesting device with channel map data comprising the identical network address.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the requesting device utilizes the channel map data to access the video signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the high definition full screen multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition full screen multicast video signal over an internet protocol television network.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition picture-in-picture multicast video signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting the standard definition full screen multicast video signal.

8. A method comprising:

selectively accessing a high definition full screen video signal from a server in response to a first request for high definition full screen video content;

selectively accessing a standard definition full screen video signal in response to a second request for standard definition full screen video content;

accessing only a standard definition picture-in-picture video signal in response to a third request for high definition picture-in-picture video content, wherein the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal is accessed utilizing channel map data;

decoding an accessed video signal comprising one of the high definition full screen video signal, the standard definition full screen video signal or the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal to produce a decoded video signal; and

wherein an identical network address is assigned to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a standard definition channel map.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising presenting the decoded video signal on a display device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the channel map data comprises the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the channel map data is stored in a memory of a set-top box.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal is different from a first network address associated with the high definition full screen video signal.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the identical network address is different from a second network address associated with the standard definition full screen video signal.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising selectively accessing the high definition full screen video signal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein selectively accessing the high definition full screen video signal is based on a first network address associated with the high definition full screen video signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first network address is different from the identical network address associated with the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal.

17. A system comprising:

a first device to broadcast over an internet protocol television network a standard definition full screen video signal for standard definition full screen video content at a first network address, a high definition full screen video signal for high definition full screen video content at a second network address, and only a standard definition picture-in-picture video signal responsive to a request for high definition video content at a third network address, wherein an identical network address is assigned to a first network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a high definition channel map and to a second network identification field of the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal of a standard definition channel map, and wherein the first device comprises one of a switch and a router; and

a high definition encoder to encode video content to generate the high definition full screen video signal.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a standard definition encoder to encode the video content to generate the standard definition full screen video signal.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first device provides a channel map data structure to a set top box.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the channel map data structure enables the set top box to access the standard definition picture-in-picture video signal.