Charter Communications Operating, LLC

Sedna Patent Services, LLC

Diva Systems Corporation

Steve Zack

Danny Chin

Yong Ho Son

Christopher W B Goode

Christopher Goode

Bradley L Dyer

John Mark Randall

Michael S Gill

Dwight Wesley Fronsdahl

A data packet structure capable of efficiently propagating a payload through a multi-user, digital video distribution system. The system is capable of delivering multimedia data (video and audio information) using the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) packets as payload within a unique packet structure. The packet structure enables routing of the packets through a variety of network topologies. Specifically, the packet structure comprises a packet header, a routing information field, a private data field, digital data payload, and an error correction code field. Such a packet structure enables the network to deliver digital video through a point-to-point, star, ring, dual ring, and other network topologies to a user that is identified in the routine information field.

Data packet structure for digital information distribution

An interactive information distribution system includes service provider equipment for generating an information stream that is coupled to an information channel and transmitted to subscriber equipment. The service provider also generates a command signal that is coupled to a command channel and transmitted to the subscriber equipment. The service provider also receives information manipulation requests from the subscriber via a back channel. A communication network supporting the information channel, command channel and back channel is coupled between the service provider equipment and the subscriber equipment. The service provider equipment contains two geographically distributed components: central server equipment and a remote video session manager. The central server equipment provides information streams to the remote video session manager in response to information manipulation commands. The remote video session manager monitors and controls distribution of the information stream's substreams to a plurality of subscriber terminals.

System for interactively distributing information services having a remote video session manager

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Burlington, NJ, United States of America

Steve Zack