Switching between delivery methods in an IPTV communication network

摘要

A method and apparatus for switching from a first IPTV channel arranged to be delivered to a plurality of nodes, such as a broadcast or a unicast, to a second unicast IPTV channel. The first IPTV channel is received at an IPTV receiving node, such as a User Equipment. If it is determined that the first IPTV channel is no longer available, then an IPTV content provider capable of providing the same IPTV channel in a unicast as the first IPTV channel is identified. A message is then sent to an IPTV AS, the message including an instruction to switch to a unicast IPTV channel and an address for the identified IPTV content provider node. The IPTV receiving node then receives the IPTV channel unicast.