A digital receiver for processing a broadcast signal includes a receiving module configured to receive the broadcast signal. Further, the broadcast signal includes service components of a broadcast service, service layer signaling (SLS) information for the broadcast service and a service list table for providing bootstrap information, and the service components include at least one of audio or video data. Further, the bootstrap information is different based on a type of delivery protocol of the SLS information, and the type of delivery protocol corresponds to either a Real-time Object delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) protocol or a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Media Transport Protocol (MMTP). The digital receiver also includes a processor configured to process the service list table, the SLS information and the service components of the broadcast service.

A vehicle entertainment system is for use with wireless headphones, with each wireless headphone being operable via a respective paired wireless connection. The vehicle entertainment system may include video entertainment displays for a vehicle, and a controller for the vehicle. The controller may be configured to establish respective paired wireless connections with the wireless headphones, and provide selectable access to a plurality of different audio/video (A/V) entertainment content streams. Each of the A/V entertainment content streams may include a respective video entertainment stream and an associated audio entertainment stream. The controller may be further configured to send selected video entertainment content streams for viewing at the video entertainment displays, and send selected audio entertainment content streams over the respective paired wireless connections for hearing at the wireless headphones.

A vehicle entertainment system is for use with wireless headphones, with each wireless headphone being operable via a respective paired wireless connection. The vehicle entertainment system may include video entertainment displays for a vehicle, and a controller for the vehicle. The controller may be configured to establish respective paired wireless connections with the wireless headphones, and provide selectable access to a plurality of different audio/video (A/V) entertainment content streams. Each of the A/V entertainment content streams may include a respective video entertainment stream and an associated audio entertainment stream. The controller may be further configured to send selected video entertainment content streams for viewing at the video entertainment displays, and send selected audio entertainment content streams over the respective paired wireless connections for hearing at the wireless headphones.

A network entity controls delivery of information to user devices over bearer paths including unicast channels and multicast channels. The network entity may interoperate in any of a number of network architectures, including 3GPP Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and 3GPP2 Multimedia Domain (MMD). The network entity may provide functionality of a modified 3GPP2 Broadcast and Multicast Service (BCMCS) controller component configured to enable BCMCS signaling protocol transactions to occur over 3GPP IMS interfaces and/or 3GPP2 MMD interfaces. A network entity configured to interoperate in a 3GPP IMS and/or 3GPP2 MMD network architecture may provide network-mobile multimedia services to user devices. Content associated with the multimedia services may be stored in storage devices in the network. A common interface through which a network operator defines service-specific parameters of a number of unicast and multicast multimedia services deployed in a distribution network may be provided.

A network entity controls delivery of information to user devices over bearer paths including unicast channels and multicast channels. The network entity may interoperate in any of a number of network architectures, including 3GPP Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and 3GPP2 Multimedia Domain (MMD). The network entity may provide functionality of a modified 3GPP2 Broadcast and Multicast Service (BCMCS) controller component configured to enable BCMCS signaling protocol transactions to occur over 3GPP IMS interfaces and/or 3GPP2 MMD interfaces. A network entity configured to interoperate in a 3GPP IMS and/or 3GPP2 MMD network architecture may provide network-mobile multimedia services to user devices. Content associated with the multimedia services may be stored in storage devices in the network. A common interface through which a network operator defines service-specific parameters of a number of unicast and multicast multimedia services deployed in a distribution network may be provided.

Methods and apparatus relating to the supply of targeted advertisements to user devices receiving broadcast or multicast content are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for systems where content is broadcast or multicast to a plurality of user playback devices, e.g., set top boxes, with advertisements included in the content delivered via a first communications channel, e.g., a broadcast communications channel. Viewing information, e.g., information indicating the tuning of a customer premise device to a channel and/or the outputting of program content is reported to a headend or other device. One or more targeted advertisements are delivered to a customer premise device via a secondary channel, e.g., unicast IP packet channel, with the alternative advertisement being displayed in place of the broadcast advertisement.

Methods and apparatus relating to the supply of targeted advertisements to user devices receiving broadcast or multicast content are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for systems where content is broadcast or multicast to a plurality of user playback devices, e.g., set top boxes, with advertisements included in the content delivered via a first communications channel, e.g., a broadcast communications channel. Viewing information, e.g., information indicating the tuning of a customer premise device to a channel and/or the outputting of program content is reported to a headend or other device. One or more targeted advertisements are delivered to a customer premise device via a secondary channel, e.g., unicast IP packet channel, with the alternative advertisement being displayed in place of the broadcast advertisement.

A content distribution network includes a first server in communication with an anycast server that provides content via a unicast signal, and with a multicast server that provides the content via a multicast signal. The first server is configured to receive a list of source addresses associated with the content, and to provide a metadata file including an anycast Internet protocol address of the anycast server from the list of source addresses as an Internet protocol address of the content in response to a first request for the content. When the number of client devices requesting the content exceeds a first threshold, the first server receives an updated list of sources including a multicast Internet protocol address of a multicast server, and provides the multicast Internet protocol address of the multicast server as the Internet protocol address of the content in the metadata file.

A content distribution network includes a first server in communication with an anycast server that provides content via a unicast signal, and with a multicast server that provides the content via a multicast signal. The first server is configured to receive a list of source addresses associated with the content, and to provide a metadata file including an anycast Internet protocol address of the anycast server from the list of source addresses as an Internet protocol address of the content in response to a first request for the content. When the number of client devices requesting the content exceeds a first threshold, the first server receives an updated list of sources including a multicast Internet protocol address of a multicast server, and provides the multicast Internet protocol address of the multicast server as the Internet protocol address of the content in the metadata file.

Described is a method of managing a network for delivering content in a hybrid unicast/multicast network, where content is requested by clients over unicast, but all or some of the content is delivered in part over multicast. A client requests content (in the form of segments) and receive the responses (segments) over unicast via a first proxy. The first proxy measures the time between requests and associated requested segment sizes. These measurements are used to effectively determine a unicast request rate given by the segment size divided by the time between requests. Subsequent requested segments can then be delivered over multicast over a portion of the route to the client using a multicast rate that is set as a function of (for example, 110% of) the unicast request rate. In general, the multicast path will be from a second proxy to the first proxy.