Combined broadcast and backchannel delivery of streaming content

Abstract

Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. Related apparatus and methods for receiving and distributing streaming content are described. A receiving device may receive a packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal from a broadcast source. The packet of information may contain one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for distributing streaming content, comprising:
 a) receiving or generating a packet of information containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein each of the one or more streamlets comprises a portion of a corresponding one or more larger data streams; and   b) broadcasting the packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the table of contents includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with one or more of the streamlets in the data packet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein at least one streamlet includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with at least one streamlet. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via a rotational scheme wherein an entire streamlet of the packet is broadcast before a subsequent streamlet of the packet is broadcast. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  the packet of information is broadcast repetitively. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via an interweaving scheme wherein initial portions of each streamlet in the packet of information are broadcast in order, followed by the table of contents, followed by subsequent portions of each of the streamlets, followed again by the table of contents. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein broadcast of the packet of information according to the interweaving scheme repeats after a last portion of each individual streamlet has been broadcast. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a) includes broadcasting the packet of information via a tiered scheme, wherein the streamlets in the packet of information are broadcast at a repetition rate based on a tiered prioritization, wherein streamlets of a lower priority are sent at a longer periodicity than streamlets of a higher priority. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the packet of information repeats itself after a last streamlet in the packet and the table of contents have been broadcast. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a) includes broadcasting the table of contents with an expiration, wherein the expiration informs a receiving device to receive an updated packet of information upon the expiration of the table of contents. 
     
     
         32 . A digital broadcast system, comprising:
 a) broadcaster configured to receive or generate a packet of information containing one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets, wherein each of the one or more streamlets comprises a portion of a corresponding one or more larger data streams; and   b) a transmitter configured to broadcast the packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the table of contents includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with one or more of the streamlets in the data packet. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein at least one streamlet includes information usable by a broadcast receiving device to obtain a data stream associated with at least one streamlet. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via a rotational scheme wherein an entire streamlet of the packet is broadcast before a subsequent streamlet of the packet is broadcast. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via an interweaving scheme wherein portions of each streamlet in the packet of information are broadcast in order, followed by the table of contents, followed by subsequent portions of the individual streamlets, followed again by the table of contents, until each streamlet has been received by the user in full. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the packet of information via a tiered scheme, wherein the streamlets in the packet of information are broadcast at a repetition rate based on a tiered prioritization, wherein streamlets of a lower priority are sent at a longer periodicity than streamlets of a higher priority. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the table of contents includes an expiration, wherein the expiration informs a receiving device to receive an updated packet of information upon the expiration of the table of contents. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal.