Systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory media of the various embodiments facilitate real time playback of a digital broadcast by enabling reduction of the amount of time a receiver device's low power mode interface with a separate computing device operates in an operational/high power mode. The receiver device may associate a stream of media packets of a digital broadcast with system time clock timestamps indicating when the media packets were received, and store the media packets in a temporary packet buffer. Periodically, a media packet burst stored in the temporary packet buffer may be sent to the separate computing device via a low power mode interface operating in an operational/high-power mode different than a low power mode. The low power mode interface may be returned to the low-power mode until the next burst of packets is sent to the separate computing device.

A distribution system for transmitting media content programs to premises equipment via a satellite transmission path addresses signal degradation caused by atmospheric conditions and other factors. Upon detection of a degradation of the satellite signal, the system may begin transmitting the content using an alternative signal path, such as a terrestrial IP network. The satellite transmission path is brought back on line after the satellite link is restored. Alternatively, the system may begin recording the signal in the media distribution system for transmission via the satellite link after the link is restored.

An image processing apparatus includes: a signal receiver configured to receive a content signal comprising video data and first extraction information used in extracting the video data; a signal processor configured to process the video data extracted from the content signal; a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with a server; and a controller configured to receive second extraction information from the server through the communication circuitry of the communicator, to extract the video data from the content signal based on the received second extraction information, and to control the signal processor to process an image based on the extracted video data.

A method and system for operating different broadcast system components with different portions of a database includes a method of configuring a broadcast system comprising generating an allocation chart for a broadcast system, communicating a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component, operating the first broadcast system component with the first portion of the allocation chart, communicating a second portion of the allocation chart to a second broadcast system component, said first portion different than the second portion, and operating the second broadcast system component with the second portion of the allocation chart. In a further aspect of the disclosure, a broadcast system includes a first broadcast system component, a second broadcast system component and a broadcast operation channel management system generating an allocation chart for the broadcast system. The broadcast operation management channel communicates a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component. The first broadcast system component operates with the first portion of the allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates a second portion of the allocation chart to the second broadcast system component. The first portion is different than the second portion. The second broadcast system component operates with the second portion of the allocation chart.

A switching splitter and method of operating the same comprises a first port, a second port in communication with the first port and a third port in communication with the first port. A switching module is in communication with the second port and the third port. The switching module switches in response to a direct current voltage at the second port. The switching module communicates a control signal from the second port to the first port or from the third port to the first port in response the direct current voltage.

A broadcast system and method of changing allocations therein include a plurality of broadcast system components and a broadcast operation channel management system having a database. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a first allocation chart for the broadcast system with a first effective time and communicates at least a portion of the first allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components determines a local time and when the local time is equal to or greater than the effective time, operates with the first allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a second allocation chart for the broadcast system with a second effective time. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates at least a portion of the second allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components operates with the second allocation chart when the local time is equal to or greater than the second effective time.

In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.

A wideband receiver system comprises a wideband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module and a digital frontend (DFE) module. The wideband ADC is configured to concurrently digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of desired channels and a plurality of undesired channels. The DFE module is coupled to the digital in-phase and quadrature signals. The DFE module is configured to select the plurality of desired channels from the digitized band of frequencies, and generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal comprising the selected plurality of desired channels and having a bandwidth that is less than a bandwidth of the band of frequencies, where the generation comprises frequency shifting of the selected plurality of desired channels. The IF signal may be a digital signal and the DFE is configured to output the IF signal via a serial or parallel interface.

Methods and apparatus to provide content on demand in content broadcast systems are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a first portion of a program via broadcast signal and receiving a second portion of the program via an Internet protocol (IP) based signal. The example method may further comprise combining the first and the second portions and at least one of store the combined first and second portions in a file or playback the combined first and second portions.

An approach is provided for quick content channel discovery, and with minimal latency, streaming of a content stream, and switching from one content stream to another content stream available from various content providers. A method includes a buffering of one or more original content streams from one or more provider sources to generate one or more buffered content streams by at least one buffering service. The method also includes determining one or more requests from at least one device to access at least one of the one or more original content streams. The method further includes, in response to the one or more requests, an initiation of a streaming of at least one of the one or more buffered content streams from the at least one buffering service to the at least one device in place of the at least one of the one or more original content streams.