A method is provided for delivering targeted advertisements into a QAM or IP stream that provides accurate synchronization. The method includes synchronizing the internal content of a IP stream delivering video with an advertisement (ad) stream by providing content information in the IP stream and the network stream, the content information including positional information and/or referential information, wherein the positional information is inserted at key locations identified with a PTS value, and wherein the referential information refers to a position in the IP stream or the ad stream, the referential information including either a PTS value or a frame count.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing an emergency alert message (e.g., a national warning system message e.g., an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message). The methods may comprise a digital media server receiving the message. The digital media server may notify client devices (that are connected to that server via a residential Local Area Network) that it has received such a message. The client devices notified may be those that have requested (e.g., to the digital media server) that they are notified if the digital media server receives such a message. The digital media server may convert the message from being in a first format to being in a second format. The digital media server may acquire, and provide for use by the client device, information that may be used a client device to ascertain whether the message is a new, an updated, or a duplicate message.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing an emergency alert message (e.g., a national warning system message e.g., an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message). The methods may comprise a digital media server receiving the message. The digital media server may notify client devices (that are connected to that server via a residential Local Area Network) that it has received such a message. The client devices notified may be those that have requested (e.g., to the digital media server) that they are notified if the digital media server receives such a message. The digital media server may convert the message from being in a first format to being in a second format. The digital media server may acquire, and provide for use by the client device, information that may be used a client device to ascertain whether the message is a new, an updated, or a duplicate message.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for broadcasting data streams. The CDN allows a streamer to stream live (in realtime) on a network(s), such as the Internet, for a live audience to view and to interact with the live entertainment. Each of the broadcast clients send data streams to the CDN via an input node, wherein the CDN output a selected media stream to one or more selected viewing clients via the output node. The architecture of the CDN contains one or more System Racks. Each of the System Racks contains multiple media channels. In operation, the data stream of a broadcasting client is sent to the CDN and distributed into selected channels. The data streams in each of the selected channels are outputted to viewing clients of a corresponding type.

Data sets are transmitted to mobile terminals, which are connected by a radio network to a data server connected to a data network, wherein the data server is configured to transmit the data sets via the radio network to terminals located in a radio cell of the radio network as a broadcast signal or optionally as an individual signal directed specifically to one or more terminals, wherein a total signal emitted into the radio cell contains a corresponding broadcast signal part and a corresponding individual signal part. In one embodiment, a user profile is associated with each of the terminals identified in the radio cell and the content of the data sets transmitted in the broadcast signal part in accordance with a determined broadcast signal part factor is compiled in accordance with the information stored in the user profiles.

The invention relates to a distribution method for a multimedia stream multiplexed via a network, the multiplexed multimedia stream comprising multimedia and signalling components, the components being divided into elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream transmitted on at least one transport channel of the network. This method comprises a step of selection of elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream incorporated in transport packets, wherein each of the elementary packets of the signalling components are incorporated in transport packets transmitted on a first of the at least one transport channel, and wherein others transport packets comprising at least one elementary packet and a part only of the multimedia components, are transmitted on a transport channel. This method further comprises a step of transmission of transport packets on each of the transport channels, comprising a step of definition of a first sequence number for each of the transport packets of each of the transport channels and a second sequence number for each of the elementary packets, the first sequence number being incremented for each of the transport packets, independently on each of the transport channels, the second sequence number being incremented for each of the elementary packets.

The invention relates to a distribution method for a multimedia stream multiplexed via a network, the multiplexed multimedia stream comprising multimedia and signalling components, the components being divided into elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream transmitted on at least one transport channel of the network. This method comprises a step of selection of elementary packets of the multiplexed multimedia stream incorporated in transport packets, wherein each of the elementary packets of the signalling components are incorporated in transport packets transmitted on a first of the at least one transport channel, and wherein others transport packets comprising at least one elementary packet and a part only of the multimedia components, are transmitted on a transport channel. This method further comprises a step of transmission of transport packets on each of the transport channels, comprising a step of definition of a first sequence number for each of the transport packets of each of the transport channels and a second sequence number for each of the elementary packets, the first sequence number being incremented for each of the transport packets, independently on each of the transport channels, the second sequence number being incremented for each of the elementary packets.

Apparatus and method for mass distribution of content. A system for mass distribution of content includes a media server configured to receive content comprising a real-time broadcast of a live performance. The media server generates a content signal representative of the received content and a multicast network coupled to the media server encrypts the content signal and multiplies it to generate a multicast signal. The multicast signal, transmitted by a multicast network via the data communication network, comprises a plurality of encrypted unicast signals. One or more receivers are coupled to the multicast network via the data communication network and each receives one of the encrypted unicast signals of the multicast signal via the data communication network. Each of the one or more receivers decrypts the received unicast signal and broadcasts the decrypted unicast signal to one or more entertainment pods for consumption.

Apparatus and method for mass distribution of content. A system for mass distribution of content includes a media server configured to receive content comprising a real-time broadcast of a live performance. The media server generates a content signal representative of the received content and a multicast network coupled to the media server encrypts the content signal and multiplies it to generate a multicast signal. The multicast signal, transmitted by a multicast network via the data communication network, comprises a plurality of encrypted unicast signals. One or more receivers are coupled to the multicast network via the data communication network and each receives one of the encrypted unicast signals of the multicast signal via the data communication network. Each of the one or more receivers decrypts the received unicast signal and broadcasts the decrypted unicast signal to one or more entertainment pods for consumption.

An apparatus and a method for controlling content distribution control method for controlling distribution to a plurality of distribution destinations of content that is reproducible at different reproduction positions, The apparatus groups the plurality of distribution destinations based on a reproduction position of the content and information indicating a predetermined time period from the reproduction position that is obtained from each of the plurality of distribution destinations, and determines a distribution method for distributing content to a group that is formed by the grouping, based on a usage status of a network that is used to distribute the content to the plurality of distribution destinations.