Selective distribution of cell based video streams over packet based networks

Abstract

According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to allow selective distribution of video information over packet based networks. Video information associated with a particular channel is received at an edge router from a cell based network. The edge router uses label switching to selectively distribute the video information to designated nodes in the packet based network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a cell based network, video data associated with a channel, the channel being associated with a virtual local area network of a packet based network; and   identifying label information associated with one or more label switched paths of the packet based network, for the purpose of forwarding the video data associated with the channel, by identifying a mapping between the virtual local area network and/or the channel to the label information;   wherein the channel is mapped to the virtual local area network, and the virtual local area network and/or channel are mapped to the label information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the label information is associated with one or more edge routers configured to receive the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual local area network is associated with a subset of nodes in the packet based network, wherein the label information is used by nodes in the packet based network to forward the video data to the subset of nodes in the packet based network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video data comprises a video stream, wherein the channel is one of a plurality of channels of the cell based network, each channel being associated with a different video stream 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying is performed at an edge router. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forwarding the video data associated with the channel to one or more nodes in the packet based network using the label information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the video data is forwarded to an edge router. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein video data is forwarded to a distribution node. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video data is distributed to one or more cell-based distribution nodes coupled to the packet-based switched network. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being configured to:   receive, from a cell based network, video data associated with a channel, the channel being associated with a virtual local area network of a packet based network; and   identify label information associated with one or more label switched paths of the packet based network, for the purpose of forwarding the video data associated with the channel, by identifying a mapping between the virtual local area network and/or the channel to the label information,   wherein the channel is mapped to the virtual local area network, and the virtual local area network and/or channel are mapped to the label information.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the label information is associated with one or more edge routers configured to receive the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the virtual local area network is associated with a subset of nodes in the packet based network, wherein the label information is used by nodes in the packet based network to forward the video data to the subset of nodes in the packet based network. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the video data comprises a video stream, wherein the channel is one of a plurality of channels of the cell based network, each channel being associated with a different video stream. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is an edge router. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , at least one of the processor or the memory being configured to forward the video data associated with the channel to one or more nodes in the packet based network using the label information. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the video data is forwarded to an edge router. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the video data is forwarded to a distribution node. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the video data is distributed to a plurality of cell-based distribution nodes coupled to the packet-based switched network. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for receiving, from a cell based network, video data associated with a channel, the channel being associated with a virtual local area network of a packet based network; and   means for identifying label information associated with one or more label switched paths of the packet based network, for the purpose of forwarding the video data associated with the channel, by identifying a mapping between the virtual local area network and/or the channel to the label information;   wherein the channel is mapped to the virtual local area network, and the virtual local area network and/or the channel are mapped to the label information.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the video data comprises a video stream, wherein the channel is one of a plurality of channels of the cell based network, each channel being associated with a different video stream.