Congestion Aware Hybrid File Transfer

1 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of delivering audiovisual content to a viewer, the method comprising:

monitoring a viewer activity including monitoring the content received by the user, the content being broadcast on a primary channel via an over the air (OTA) interface;

determining if a pre-specified condition has occurred while monitoring the viewer activity;

prompting the viewer to indicate an intent following a determination that the pre-specified event has occurred;

identifying, by a set top box associated with the viewer, content for delivery based on the indication from the viewer; and

delivering the identified content to the viewer over the air on a secondary channel associated with the primary channel in a digital broadcast system wherein the primary and the secondary channel are associated with a particular frequency.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

identifying content for delivery to a plurality of viewers based on responses received from the plurality of viewers;

delivering the identified content via a broadband connection during a non-peak time.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

delivering the identified content to at least two viewers via a multicast delivery if identical content has been designated for delivery to at least two viewers.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

delivering the identified content to a viewer via unicast delivery if identical content has not been designated for delivery to multiple viewers.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the content delivered over the air on the secondary channel is archived in a storage medium associated with the viewer.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the signals delivered over the secondary channel are viewed in real-time.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the occurrence of a pre-specified event comprises:

determining if a number of episodes of a particular program viewed is greater than a pre-set number.

22 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

continue monitoring of viewer activity following a determination that the pre-specified condition has not occurred.

23 . A system for delivering audiovisual content to a viewer, the system comprising:

a receiver located within a viewer premises for receiving the audiovisual content;

a communication network connecting the receiver to a media source; and

a system controller for facilitating delivery of the audiovisual content to the receiver, wherein the receiver receives audiovisual signals corresponding to the content over the air (OTA) and over the communication network, wherein the system controller is configured to:

monitor a viewer activity including monitoring the content received by the viewer, the content being broadcast on a primary channel via an over the air (OTA) interface;

determine if a pre-specified condition has occurred while monitoring the viewer activity;

prompt the viewer to indicate an intent following a determination that the pre-specified event has occurred;

identify audiovisual content for transmission based on the indication from the viewer; and

broadcast the identified content over a secondary channel associated with the primary channel wherein the primary and the secondary channel are associated with a particular frequency.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the delivery over the network is via a unicast stream to the receiver.

25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the delivery over the network is via a multicast stream to a plurality of receivers.

26 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the audiovisual content includes at least one of images, streaming video, text and sound.

27 . The system of claim 23 , wherein viewer interaction with the system controller is via the network.

28 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the network is the internet.

29 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the network is a wireless network.

30 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the received signals are stored in a memory.

31 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the system controller is further configured to:

continue monitoring of viewer activity following a determination that the pre-specified condition has not occurred.