System and method for distributing information via a communications network

Abstract

A point of distribution that distributes source information to a plurality of subscriber gateway devices through a communications network. A television broadcast spectrum is divided into a plurality of channels. Each channel has a deterministic bandwidth for transmitting packetized data, and each deterministic bandwidth is subdivided into a plurality of unshared bandwidth allocations. An unshared bandwidth allocation is allocated to each subscriber gateway device and source information is transmitted in packetized format to the subscriber gateway device based on the unshared bandwidth allocation.

1 . A method of distributing source information by a point of distribution to a plurality of subscriber gateway devices through a communications network, the point of distribution comprising a switch, the method comprising:
 in the point of distribution:   dividing a television broadcast spectrum into a plurality of channels, each channel having a deterministic bandwidth for transmitting packetized data, each deterministic bandwidth subdivided into a plurality of unshared bandwidth allocations;   allocating one of the unshared bandwidth allocations to each subscriber gateway device, wherein only the each subscriber gateway device utilizes its allocated unshared bandwidth; and   transmitting source information in packetized format through the communications network to the each subscriber gateway device based on the unshared bandwidth allocated to the each subscriber gateway device.   
     
     
         2 . A method of distributing source information by a point of distribution to a plurality of subscriber gateway devices through a communications network, the point of distribution comprising a switch, the method comprising:
 in the point of distribution:   dividing a television broadcast spectrum into a plurality of channels, each channel having a deterministic bandwidth for transmitting data;   subdividing the deterministic bandwidth associated with one of the plurality of channels into a plurality of unshared bandwidth allocations;   allocating one of the unshared bandwidth allocations to each subscriber gateway device, wherein only the each subscriber gateway device utilizes its allocated unshared bandwidth; and   transmitting source information in packetized format through the communications network to the each subscriber gateway device based on the unshared bandwidth allocated to the each subscriber gateway device.   
     
     
         3 . A communication system for distributing information via a communications network to a plurality of subscriber gateway devices, comprising a switch and configured to:
 divide a television broadcast spectrum into a plurality of channels, each channel having a deterministic bandwidth for transmitting packetized data   subdivide each deterministic bandwidth into a plurality of unshared bandwidth allocations;   allocate one of the unshared bandwidth allocations to each subscriber gateway device, wherein only the each subscriber gateway device utilizes its allocated unshared bandwidth; and   transmit source information in packetized format through the communications network to the each subscriber gateway device based on the unshared bandwidth allocated to the each subscriber gateway device.