Strategies for disseminating media information using redundant network streams

摘要

A system is described for disseminating media information. An operations center transmits at least a primary stream on a first network connection and a backup stream on a second network connection to a media device (such as a set-top box). The media device identifies whether the primary stream includes any missing information, and, if so, supplies the missing information from the backup stream. The primary stream and the backup stream can have the same or different bit rates. The operations center can send the backup stream as a component of a multiplexed stream, including at least one other stream. Through these provisions, the system provides a streaming mechanism that is both reliable and scalable.