Set-top box for changing channels and system and method for use of same

1. A set-top box for changing channels comprising:

a housing securing a television output, a processor, memory, buffer, and a network interface controller therein;

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television output, the processor, the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controller therebetween;

the busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the network interface controller to a plurality of receiving queues, each of the plurality of receiving queues having a respective content buffer, a respective decryption device, and a respective decoder;

the network interface controller configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal from an external source, the source internet protocol television signal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation;

the network interface controller receiving a plurality of channels simultaneously, each of the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal being assigned to one of the plurality of receiving queues;

the television output configured to forward a fully prepared signal to a television;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared first channel signal;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a second channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared second channel signal;

the network interface controller being fully enabled to start simultaneous decryption and decoding of the first channel and the second channel; and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

buffer in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal,

track in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

in response to receiving a channel change instruction, access from the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

transform the partially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal, the transformation including decryption and decoding, and

forward, via the television output, the fully prepared second channel signal.

2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least partially prepared second channel signal comprises a fully prepared second channel signal.

3. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller further comprises circuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities.

4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the internet protocol television signal further comprises an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network.

5. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein prior to the set-top box receiving the channel change instruction, the television output forwards the prepared first channel.

6. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first channel comprises video on demand.

7. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first channel comprises live programming content.

8. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first channel comprises pre-buffered content.

9. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller is dynamically assigned a channel.

10. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller is assigned a channel one channel up from the first channel.

11. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller is assigned a channel frequently tuned.

12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing the processor to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the most recent sequential signal access point.

13. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing the processor to:

track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at a first periodic, sequential signal access point; and

track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at a second periodic, sequential signal access point, the second periodic, sequential signal access point being subsequent in time to the first periodic, sequential signal access point.

14. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing the processor to:

make available for deletion the portion of the buffered prepared second channel in the buffer previous to the most recent periodic, sequential signal access point.

15. The set-top box as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions to track in the buffer the prepared second channel beginning at the recent, periodic, sequential signal access point further comprises causing the processor to:

make available for over-write the portion of the buffered prepared second channel in the buffer previous to the most recent periodic, sequential signal access point.

16. A set-top box for changing channels comprising:

a housing securing a television output, a processor, memory, buffer, and a network interface controller therein;

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television output, the processor, the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controller therebetween;

the busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the network interface controller to a plurality of receiving queues, each of the plurality of receiving queues having a respective content buffer, a respective decryption device, and a respective decoder;

the network interface controller configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal from an external source, the source internet protocol television signal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation;

the network interface controller receiving a plurality of channels simultaneously, each of the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television being assigned to one of the plurality of receiving queues;

the internet protocol television signal including an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network;

the network interface controller including circuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities;

the television output configured to forward a fully prepared signal to a television;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared first channel signal;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a second channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared second channel signal;

the network interface controller being fully enabled to start simultaneous decryption and decoding of the first channel and the second channel; and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

buffer in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal,

track in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

in response to receiving a channel change instruction, access from the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

transform the partially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal, the transformation including decryption and decoding, and

forward, via the television output, the fully prepared second channel signal.

17. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the at least partially prepared second channel signal comprises a fully prepared second channel signal.

18. The set-top box as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first channel comprises a selection from the group consisting of video on demand, live programming content, and pre-buffered content.

19. A set-top box for changing channels comprising:

a housing securing a television output, a processor, memory, buffer, and a network interface controller therein;

a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the television output, the processor, the memory, the buffer, and the network interface controller therebetween;

the busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the network interface controller to a plurality of receiving queues, each of the plurality of receiving queues having a respective content buffer, a respective decryption device, and a respective decoder;

the network interface controller configured to receive a source internet protocol television signal from an external source as video streaming media, the source internet protocol television signal including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having periodic, sequential signal access points that permit tuning initiation;

the network interface controller receiving a plurality of channels simultaneously, each of the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal being assigned to one of the plurality of receiving queues;

the internet protocol television signal including an internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network;

the network interface controller including circuitry providing a full network protocol stack with network traffic processing capabilities;

the television output configured to forward a fully prepared signal to a television;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a first channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared first channel signal;

the network interface controller configured to receive and at least partially prepare a second channel from the plurality of channels of the source internet protocol television signal, the network interface controller providing an at least partially prepared second channel signal;

the network interface controller being fully enabled to start simultaneous decryption and decoding of the first channel and the second channel; and

the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

provide two-way communications with an internet protocol network communicating with the network interface controller,

decode the video streaming media received on the internet protocol television signal,

buffer in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal,

track in the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at a recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

in response to receiving a channel change instruction, access from the buffer the at least partially prepared second channel signal beginning at the recent periodic, sequential signal access point,

transform the partially prepared second channel signal to a fully prepared second channel signal, the transformation including decryption and decoding, and

forward, via the television output, the fully prepared second channel signal.

20. The set-top box as recited in claim 19 , wherein the video streaming media comprises a selection from the group consisting of video on demand, live programming content, and pre-buffered content.