Method and Apparatus for Distributing Media Content Services

Abstract

A method of distributing a plurality of media content services (S 1 -S 5 ) across a distribution network comprising dividing each of the plurality of media content services (S 1 -S 5 ) into segments and transmitting the segments of each of the plurality of media content services as a sequence of bursts ( 305 ), wherein there is a window period ( 303 ) between successive bursts ( 305 ) during which media content is not transmitted. Each of the media content services (S 1 -S 5 ) has a respective bit rate and the transmitting comprises transmitting each of the segments at a higher bit rate to create the window periods ( 303 ) between successive bursts ( 305 ). Starts of bursts ( 305 ) of the plurality of media content services (S 1 -S 5 ) are staggered in time with respect to one another. At least one of the media content services (S 1 -S 5 ) can comprise a plurality of media content service representations of different bit rate. The media content services and media content service representations can be transmitted as multicasts.

1 . A method of distributing a plurality of media content services across a distribution network comprising:
 dividing each of the plurality of media content services into segments; and   transmitting the segments of each of the plurality of media content services as a sequence of bursts, wherein there is a window period between successive bursts during which media content is not transmitted,   wherein each of the media content services has a respective bit rate and the transmitting comprises transmitting each of the segments at a higher bit rate to create the window periods between successive bursts,   and wherein starts of bursts of the plurality of media content services are staggered in time with respect to one another.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the starts of bursts of the plurality of media content services are staggered in time with respect to one another such that, for any pair of the plurality of media content services, the window periods of the media content services do not overlap. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the bursts of the plurality of media content services are of equal burst duration and the starts of bursts of any pair of the plurality of media content services are staggered in time by a time period which is less than, or equal to, the burst duration. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein each of the media content services is transmitted as a multicast. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising receiving or generating a plurality of media content service representations for at least one of the media content services, each of the media content representations having a different bit rate, and wherein the step of dividing each of the media content services into segments divides each of the media content service representations into segments, wherein the segments of the plurality of media content service representations of a respective media content service are aligned in time; and wherein the step of transmitting the segments comprises transmitting the segments of each of the plurality of media content service representations as a sequence of bursts, wherein the bursts of the plurality of media content service representations of a respective media content service are aligned in time. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein each of the media content service representations is transmitted as a multicast. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein each burst comprises a plurality of Internet Protocol packets. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the media content services are video services. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for distributing a plurality of media content service across a distribution network comprising:
 an interface for receiving the plurality of media content services;   segmenting apparatus arranged to divide each of the plurality of media content services into segments;   an output unit arranged to transmit the segments of each of the plurality of media content services as a sequence of bursts, wherein there is a window period between successive bursts during which media content is not transmitted,   wherein each of the received or generated media content services has a respective bit rate and the transmitting comprises transmitting each of the segments at a higher bit rate to create the window periods between successive bursts,   and wherein starts of bursts of different media content services are staggered in time with respect to one another.   
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the starts of bursts of the plurality of media content services are staggered in time with respect to one another such that, for any pair of the plurality of media content services, the window periods of the media content services do not overlap. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the bursts of the plurality of media content services are of equal burst duration and the starts of bursts of any pair of the plurality of media content services are staggered in time by a time period which is less than, or equal to, the burst duration. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  which is arranged to transmit each of the media content service representations as a multicast. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claims 9  wherein the segmenting apparatus is arranged to divide at least one of the media content services into a plurality of segmented media content service representations, each of the media content representations having a different bit rate, wherein the segments of the plurality of media content service representations of a respective media content service are aligned in time; and wherein the output unit is arranged to transmit the segments of each of the plurality of media content service representations as a sequence of bursts, wherein the bursts of the plurality of media content service representations of a respective media content service are aligned in time. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  which is arranged to transmit each of the media content service representations as a multicast.