Digital Satellite Broadcast Program Distribution Over Multicast IP Broadband Networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing digital satellite broadcast programs over multicast Internet Protocol (IP) networks are provided. A satellite receiver gateway receives a signal from a digital satellite broadcast and generates service information multicast packets that are transmitted over a multicast IP network. A device receives the service information multicast packets and generates a channel list or electronic program guide for a user. When a user selects a service from the channel list or electronic program guide the device sends a service request for the service towards the satellite receiver gateway. Either the satellite receiver gateway or a switch within the multicast IP network can then transmit the service in multicast IP packets to the requesting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of receiving digital satellite broadcast programs in a client premises device, said method comprising:
 receiving, by the device, a plurality of multicast packets over a broadband distribution network, wherein the plurality of multicast packets comprise
 one or more groupings of packets, each grouping associated with a single program transport stream (SPTS), each SPTS corresponding to a service, and 
 a plurality of unsolicited service information multicast (SIM) packets; 
   generating, by the device, either a channel list or an electronic program guide based on information in the unsolicited SIM packets;   transmitting, by the device, a request for a service listed in either the channel list or the electronic program guide;   determining, by the device, a multicast IP address using information contained in the unsolicited SIM packets; and   receiving, by the device, the requested service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets include a conditional access table, a service description table, an event information table, a time date table, a time offset table, and software update data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising acquiring, by the device, said plurality of unsolicited SIM packets from the plurality of multicast packets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising parsing, by the device, a service description table (SDT) within the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the generating of the electronic program guide is based on the parsed SDT. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the groupings of packets associated with the single program transport streams (SPTS) are distinct from the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multicast packets are transmitted by a satellite receiver gateway. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the determining of the multicast IP address is performed using a predetermined algorithm known to both the satellite receiver gateway and the client premises device. 
     
     
         9 . A system to receive digital satellite broadcast programs in a client premises device, comprising a transceiver and a processor:
 wherein the transceiver receives a plurality of multicast packets over a broadband distribution network, wherein the plurality of multicast packets comprises
 one or more groupings of packets, each grouping associated with a single program transport stream (SPTS), each SPTS corresponding to a service, and 
 a plurality of unsolicited service information multicast (SIM) packets; and wherein the processor 
 generates either a channel list or an electronic program guide based on information in the unsolicited SIM packets, 
 transmits a request for a service listed in either the channel list or the electronic program guide, 
 determines a multicast IP address using information contained in the unsolicited SIM packets, and 
 receives the requested service. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets include a conditional access table, a service description table, an event information table, a time date table, a time offset table, and software update data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor acquires the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets from the transceiver prior to the generation of the said electronic program guide. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further wherein the processor parses a service description table (SDT) within the plurality of unsolicited SIM packets. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor performs said generation of the electronic program guide using electronic program guide logic. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor performs said parsing using service description table (SDT) parsing logic. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor performs said transmitting of the request using service request logic. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the receipt of the requested service comprises identifying, by the processor, packets on the network that include the determined multicast IP address; and   wherein the processor performs said identifying using the multicast service address identification logic.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the groupings of packets associated with the single program transport streams are distinct from the unsolicited SIM packets. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of multicast packets are transmitted by a satellite receiver gateway. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the determining of the multicast IP address is performed using a predetermined algorithm known to both the satellite receiver gateway and the client premises device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said generation of the electronic program guide is based on the parsed SDT.