Guide acquisition method in absence of guide update information on all transponders

1. A method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast stream containing guide data;

encapsulating said broadcast stream containing guide data in a network communication protocol;

assigning a multicast address to said broadcast stream containing guide data;

transmitting said broadcast stream containing guide data;

receiving a request for said guide data wherein said request comprises a satellite network identifier,

wherein said request includes one of a plurality of packet identifier and wherein any of said plurality of packet identifiers is mapped to said multicast address;

transmitting said multicast address in response to said request;

receiving a second request for said guide data wherein said second request comprises a second satellite network identifier; and

transmitting said multicast address in response to said second request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said satellite network identifier is a reserved transponder index.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said request is formatted according to a real time streaming protocol.

4. A method of requesting electronic program guide data in an internet protocol network comprising:

receiving a request for guide data containing a first satellite network indicator;

replacing said satellite network indicator with a predetermined satellite network indicator to generate a modified request for guide data;

transmitting said modified request for guide data;

receiving a multicast address corresponding to said guide data,

separating said request for guide data from a request for AV streams in response to the source of the request;

setting the reserved field in the request to indicate a guide stream request;

receiving a second request for said guide data wherein said second request comprises a second satellite network indicator;

replacing said second satellite network indicator with said predetermined satellite network indicator to generate a second modified request for guide data; and

transmitting said second modified request for guide data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said modified request for guide data is formatted according to a real time streaming protocol.

6. An apparatus comprising;

a first input configured to receive a satellite broadcast stream containing guide data;

a second input configured to receive a request for said guide data wherein said request comprises a satellite network indicator;

a memory configured to store said guide data;

a processor configured to assign a multicast address to said guide data; and

a transmitter configured to transmit said multicast address in response to said request,

wherein said request consists of one of a plurality of packet identifier and wherein any of said plurality of packet identifiers is mapped to said multicast address, and

wherein said second input is operative to receive a second request for said guide data wherein said second request comprises a second satellite network indicator and said transmitter is operative to transmit said multicast address in response to said second request.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said request for said guide data indicates a transponder of a currently streaming audio video stream.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said request is formatted according to a real time streaming protocol.

9. An apparatus of requesting electronic program guide data in an internet protocol network, comprising:

a first input configured to receive a request for guide data containing a first satellite network indicator;

a processor configured to replace said satellite network indicator with a predetermined satellite network indicator to generate a modified request for guide data;

a transmitter configured to transmit said modified request for guide data;

a second input configured to receive a multicast address corresponding to said guide data,

wherein the processor is also configured to:

separate said request for guide data from a request for AV streams in response to the source of the request, and

set the reserved field in the request to indicate a guide stream request,

wherein the first input is also configured to receive a second request for said guide data wherein said second request comprises a second satellite network indicator,

wherein the processor is also configured to replace said second satellite network indicator with said predetermined satellite network indicator to generate a second modified request for guide data, and

wherein the transmitter is also configured to transmit said second modified request for guide data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said modified request for guide data is formatted according to a real time streaming protocol.