Method And System For Communicating Inserted Material To A Client Device In A Centralized Content Distribution System

Abstract

A system and method includes a network, a first device, and a server device in communication with the first device through the network. The server device communicates main content to a first device. The main content comprises a plurality of main content packets comprising first continuity counter values and a second plurality of main content packets having second continuity counter values different than but continuous with the first continuity counter values. The server device determines insert content continuity counter values from insert content. The insert content comprises a plurality of insert packets comprising the insert continuity counter values. The replacement metadata determination module determines replacement continuity counter values for the insert content based on the main content continuity counter values. The server device replaces the insert metadata with the replacement continuity counter values to form modified insert packets and communicates modified insert packets to the first device thereafter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of communicating between a first device and a server device through a local area network comprising:
 receiving main content by a server device, the main content comprising (i) a first plurality of main content packets comprising first continuity counter values and (ii) a second plurality of main content packets therein, second continuity counter values the second plurality of main content packets being different than the first plurality of main content packets, the second continuity counter values being continuous with the first continuity counter values and following a predetermined sequence;   receiving, by the server device, insert content comprising insert content packets;   determining, based on the one of the first continuity counter values of the last one of the first plurality of main content packets, insert continuity counter values for the insert content packets, respectively, the insert continuity counter values for the insert content packets, respectively, continuing the predetermined sequence of the first continuity counter values of the first plurality of main content packets;   determining, based on the insert continuity counter values replacement continuity counter values for the second plurality of main content packets, the replacement continuity counter values for the second plurality of main content packets continuing the predetermined sequence of by the insert continuity counter values; and communicating, by the server device to the first device, a content stream of the first plurality of main content packets with the first continuity counter values followed by the insert content packets with the insert continuity counter values followed by the second plurality of main content packets with the replacement continuity counter values, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the main content further comprises a first packet identifier (PID) and the insert content further includes a second PID that is different than the first PID and the method further comprising:
 setting the second PID of the insert content to the first PID 
 communicating the first PID with the first plurality of main content packets in the content stream; 
 communicating the second PID with the insert content packets in the content stream; and 
 communicating the first PID with the second plurality of main content packets in the content stream. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert content comprises intra-coded picture frames. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert content comprises intra-coded picture frames and null packets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert content comprises an advertisement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the insert content comprises trickplay content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the main content comprises metadata including a program clock reference, a packet identifier, presentation time stamp, and decoding time stamp. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining the insert continuity counter values for the insert content packets, respectively, at a head end; 
 determining the replacement continuity counter values for the second plurality of main content packets, respectively, at the head end; and 
 communicating the insert continuity counter values and the replacement continuity counter values from the head end to the server device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first continuity counter values are disposed within first metadata of the main content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the insert continuity values are disposed in second metadata. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a network;   a first device;   a server device in communication with the first device through the network, said server device:
 receiving main content by a server device, the main content comprising (i) a first plurality of main content packets comprising first continuity counter values and (ii) a second plurality of main content packets therein, second continuity counter values the second plurality of main content packets being different than the first plurality of main content packets, the second continuity counter values being continuous with the first continuity counter values and following a predetermined sequence; 
 receiving, by the server device, insert content comprising insert content packets; 
 determining, based on the one of the first continuity counter values of the last one of the first plurality of main content packets, insert continuity counter values for the insert content packets, respectively, the insert continuity counter values for the insert content packets, respectively, continuing the predetermined sequence of the first continuity counter values of the first plurality of main content packets; 
 determining, based on the insert continuity counter values replacement continuity counter values for the second plurality of main content packets,the replacement continuity counter values for the second plurality of main content packets continuing the predetermined sequence of by the insert continuity counter values; and communicating, by the server device to the first device, a content stream of the first plurality of main content packets with the first continuity counter values followed by the insert content packets with the insert continuity counter values followed by the second plurality of main content packets with the replacement continuity counter values, respectively. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the main content further includes a first packet identifier (PID) and, the insert content further includes a second PID that is different than the first PID,
 said server device further:
 setting the second PID of the insert content to the first PID 
 communicating the first PID with the first plurality of main content packets in the content stream; 
 communicating the second PID with the plurality of insert content packets in the content stream; and 
 communicating the first PID with the second plurality of main content packets in the content stream. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the insert content comprises intra-coded picture frames. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the insert content comprises intra-coded picture frames and null packets. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the insert content comprises an advertisement. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the insert content comprises trickplay content. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the main content metadata further includes a program clock reference, a packet identifier, presentation time stamp, and decoding time stamp. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first continuity counter values are disposed within first metadata of the main content. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the insert continuity values are disposed in second metadata. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  where in the server device partially decodes the main content to expose the first continuity counter values.