Methods and apparatus for distributing and acquiring overhead flow data in a multi-frequency network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for distributing and acquiring overhead flow data in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method includes generating primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with one or more multiplexes to be distributed in the multi-frequency network, identifying multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the one or more multiplexes, transmitting the PF overhead data over the multi-frequency network using first pre-assigned flow identifiers, and transmitting the MSO data over the multi-frequency network using second pre-assigned flow identifiers. An apparatus includes flow acquisition logic configured to acquire PF overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers, and processing logic configured to determine that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data, and to obtain MSO data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method for overhead flow data acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:
 acquiring primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers;   determining that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data; and   obtaining multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising obtaining global overhead (GO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using third pre-assigned flow identifiers. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said acquiring comprises acquiring the PF overhead data associated with one of a selected multiplex, a selected vertical multiplex (VM) set, and a selected unified multiplex (UM) set. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said determining comprises determining that version information received in the PF overhead data for MSO data or GO data has been updated. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said determining comprises determining that an updated multiplex identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said determining comprises determining that an updated VM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said determining comprises determining that an updated UM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said obtaining the MSO data comprises obtaining the MSO data from each RF channel in a current LOI if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprises integrating the MSO data received from the each RF channel in the current LOI to generate a unified MSO data for display to a device user. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said obtaining the MSO data comprises obtaining integrated MSO data per VM set if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said obtaining the MSO data comprises obtaining integrated MSO data per UM set if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said obtaining the MSO data comprises obtaining integrated MSO data from a currently tuned RF if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set or the selected UM Set and MSO data is carried on all RF channels in a current LOI. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said obtaining the MSO data comprises switching to an RF carrying the MSO data to acquire the MSO data if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set or the selected UM Set and MSO data is carried on a subset of RF channels in a current LOI. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said obtaining the GO data comprises obtaining the GO data from a currently tuned RF if GO data is carried on all RF channels in a current LOI. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said obtaining the GO data comprises switching to an RF carrying the GO data to acquire the GO data if the GO data is carried on a subset of RF channels in a current LOI. 
     
     
         57 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus for overhead flow data acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:
 flow acquisition logic configured to acquire primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers; and   processing logic configured to determine that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data, and to obtain multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein said flow acquisition logic is configured to obtain global overhead (GO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using third pre-assigned flow identifiers. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein said flow acquisition logic is configured to acquire the PF overhead data associated with one of a selected multiplex, a selected vertical multiplex (VM) set, and a selected unified multiplex (UM) set. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein said processing logic is configure to determine that version information received in the PF overhead data for MSO data or GO data has been updated. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein said processing logic is configure to determine that an updated multiplex identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein said processing logic is configure to determine that an updated VM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein said processing logic is configure to determine that an updated UM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein said processing logic is configure to obtain the MSO data from each RF channel in a current LOI if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus for overhead flow data acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:
 means for acquiring primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers;   means for determining that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data; and   means for obtaining multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.   
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , further comprising means for obtaining global overhead (GO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using third pre-assigned flow identifiers. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein said means for acquiring comprises means for acquiring the PF overhead data associated with one of a selected multiplex, a selected vertical multiplex (VM) set, and a selected unified multiplex (UM) set. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that version information received in the PF overhead data for MSO data or GO data has been updated. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that an updated multiplex identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that an updated VM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining that an updated UM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said means for obtaining comprises means for obtaining the MSO data from each RF channel in a current LOI if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         75 . A computer program product for overhead flow data acquisition in a multi-frequency network comprising:
 a machine-readable medium embodying:   a first set of codes configured to cause a computer to acquire primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers;   a second set of codes configured to cause the computer to determine that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data; and   a third set of codes configured to cause the computer to obtain multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.   
     
     
         76 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 75 , further comprising a fourth set of codes configured to cause the computer to obtain global overhead (GO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using third pre-assigned flow identifiers. 
     
     
         77 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 75 , wherein said first set of codes is configured to cause the computer to acquire the PF overhead data associated with one of a selected multiplex, a selected vertical multiplex (VM) set, and a selected unified multiplex (UM) set. 
     
     
         78 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 75 , wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to determine that version information received in the PF overhead data for MSO data or GO data has been updated. 
     
     
         79 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to determine that an updated multiplex identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         80 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to determine that an updated VM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         81 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein said second set of codes is configured to cause the computer to determine that an updated UM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         82 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein said third set of codes is configured to cause the computer to obtain the MSO data from each RF channel in a current LOI if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         83 . At least one integrated circuit configured for overhead flow data acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:
 a first module for acquiring primary flow (PF) overhead data associated with at least one multiplex using first pre-assigned flow identifiers;   a second module for determining that overhead data associated with the at least one multiplex has been updated based on the received PF overhead data; and   a third module for obtaining multiplex specific overhead (MSO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using second pre-assigned flow identifiers.   
     
     
         84 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 83 , further comprising a fourth module for obtaining global overhead (GO) data associated with the at least one multiplex using third pre-assigned flow identifiers. 
     
     
         85 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 83 , wherein said first module is configured for acquiring the PF overhead data associated with one of a selected multiplex, a selected vertical multiplex (VM) set, and a selected unified multiplex (UM) set. 
     
     
         86 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 83 , wherein said second module is configured for determining that version information received in the PF overhead data for MSO data or GO data has been updated. 
     
     
         87 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 85 , wherein said second module is configured for determining that an updated multiplex identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         88 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 85 , wherein said second module is configured for determining that an updated VM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected VM set. 
     
     
         89 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 85 , wherein said second module is configured for determining that an updated UM set identifier is detected in the PF overhead data if the PF overhead data is associated with the selected UM set. 
     
     
         90 . The at least one integrated circuit of  claim 85 , wherein said third module is configured for obtaining the MSO data from each RF channel in a current LOI if the received PF overhead data is associated with the selected multiplex. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprises acquiring separate PF overhead data, MSO data and GO data for wide and local multiplexes in the multi-frequency network. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprises integrating MSO data and GO data for wide and local multiplexes to generate a unified overhead data for display to a device user.