Apparatus and methods for latency reduction in digital content switching operations

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for reducing latency in content and content source switching in a digital content delivery network. In one embodiment, linear addressable secondary content is 'switched into' primary content within a cloud-based model using one or more latency-reducing techniques so as to minimize the user's perception of delay in performing the switch. In one implementation, secondary content video encodings are selected based on the encoding scheme of the primary content, and open GOPs within the primary content at the content transition point are closed or avoided, each to reduce processing overhead of the recipient client device. In another implementation, otherwise cloud-inaccessible functionality of the client device is accessed to reduce or suspend processing on non-essential tasks to make more processing resources available at the client. In yet another implementation, intelligent RF PHY scheduling of the primary and secondary content are utilized to minimize RF re-tuning by the client.