Methods, systems and apparatus for providing video transmissions over multiple media

• US 10,327,039 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M., Phillips, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US14/325,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide novel apparatus, methods and systems for providing relatively high-speed bandwidth to enable, inter alia, video transmission services over media previously unable to support such services. In accordance with certain embodiments, a device located at the telecommunication service provider can logically couple two or more physical media to provide a single, consolidated source of bandwidth, which can be used to transmit data, which can represent a video signal. In accordance with other embodiments, a device located at the subscriber'"'"'s location can be used to receive the data from each of the two physical media and recreate the video signal from the data, such that the video signal can be transmitted to a display device, such as a television, monitor, etc.

Claims

1. An integrated system for providing video and data services to a customer premises, the system comprising:

a video distribution device configured to segment a chronological video signal of a video broadcast into at least a first segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast and a second segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast;

at least one digital broadcast receiver programmed to receive at least the first segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast, wherein the at least one digital broadcast receiver provides video information that includes at least the first video segment, wherein the first video segment is a first chronological portion of the chronological video signal;

at least one data source programmed to receive the second segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast, wherein the second video segment is a second chronological portion of the chronological video signal, and wherein the first chronological portion of the chronological video signal is different from the second chronological portion of the chronological video signal;

an integrated network interface device coupled to the receiver and to the data source, wherein the integrated network interface device is configured to;

receive video information including the first video segment from the at least one digital broadcast receiver;

receive the second video segment from the data source;

combine, based on chronological order, the first video segment and the second video segment to reassemble the chronological video signal; and

distribute the reassembled chronological video signal to the customer premises via a first internal transport medium.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an off-air television antenna in communication with the network interface device, wherein the video information is a first set of video information and wherein the network interface device is further configured to receive a second set of video information from the off-air antenna and distribute the second set of video information to the customer premises via a second internal transport medium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data source is a digital subscriber line.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is further configured to receive video provision information from the customer premises and transmit the video provision information via the data source to a telecommunication service provider.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the video provision information is selected from the group consisting of billing information and content request information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated network interface device comprises:

a first interface adapted to receive data from the data source, wherein the data comprises Internet Protocol data;

a second interface adapted to receive video information from the digital broadcast satellite receiver;

a third interface in communication with the first interface and adapted to transmit the data to a first internal transport medium; and

a fourth interface in communication with the second interface and adapted to transmit the video information to a second internal transport medium.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the integrated network interface device further comprises a signal integrator in communication with the first and second interfaces, and wherein the signal integrator is operable to integrate the data and the video information into a combined information set.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the third and fourth interfaces are a single combined interface, and wherein the signal integrator is coupled to the combined interface.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the internal transport media is a coaxial cable.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the internal transport media is a twisted pair cable.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the twisted pair cable is the existing telephone wiring at the customer premises.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the twisted pair cable is an Ethernet cable.

13. An integrated network interface device for providing data and video services to a customer premises, the network interface device comprising:

a first interface adapted to receive data from at least one data source, wherein the data comprises at least a first segment of a chronological video signal of a video broadcast, wherein the first video segment is a first chronological portion of the chronological video signal;

a second interface adapted to receive video information from at least one digital broadcast receiver, wherein the video information comprises at least a second video segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast, wherein the second video segment is a second chronological portion of the chronological video signal, and wherein the first chronological portion of the chronological video signal is different from the second chronological portion of the chronological video signal, wherein the first video segment and the second video segment are received from a video distribution device configured to segment the chronological video signal of the video broadcast into at least the first segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast and the second segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast;

a processing system in communication with the first and second interfaces, the processing system programmed to;

receive, via the first interface, the first video segment from the at least one data source;

receive, via the second interface, the video information including the second video segment from the at least one digital broadcast receiver;

combine, based on chronological order, the at least first video segment and the second video segment to reassemble the chronological video signal; and

distribute the reassembled chronological video signal to the customer premises via a first internal transport medium;

a third interface in communication with the processing system and adapted to transmit the chronological video signal to the first internal transport medium; and

a fourth interface in communication with the processing system and adapted to transmit at least one of the data or the video information to a second internal transport medium.

14. The network interface device of claim 13, further comprising a fifth interface adapted to receive video information from an off-air antenna.

15. The network interface device of claim 13, further comprising a signal strength meter in communication with the first interface, wherein the signal strength meter is configured to provide information about a signal associated with the video information received on the first interface.

16. The network interface device of claim 15, wherein the signal strength meter comprises at least one light emitting diode.

17. The network interface device of claim 13, wherein the data source is a digital subscriber line.

18. The network interface device of claim 13, further comprising a signal integrator in communication with the first and second interfaces, wherein the signal integrator is adapted to integrate the data and the video information into a combined information set.

19. The network interface device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the third and fourth interfaces is adapted to transmit the combined information set via a coaxial cable.

20. The network interface device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the third and fourth interfaces is adapted to transmit the combined information set via a twisted pair cable.

21. The network interface device of claim 18, wherein the signal integrator is further adapted to format the combined information set according to a consolidated distribution protocol.

22. The network interface device of claim 13, wherein the third and fourth interfaces are the same interface.

23. The network interface device of claim 13, further comprising a translation device coupled to at least one of the first and second interfaces.

24. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the translation device is incorporated within the processing system.

25. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the translation device is coupled to the first interface, wherein the data is encoded with a remote transmission algorithm, and wherein the translation device is configured to decode the remote transmission algorithm.

26. The network interface device of claim 25, wherein the translation device is a first translation device, the network interface device further comprising a second translation device coupled to the first interface, wherein the second translation device is adapted to format according to a consolidated distribution protocol.

27. The network interface device of claim 26, wherein the first and second translation devices are the same translation device.

28. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the translation device is coupled to the first interface, and wherein the translation device is configured to format the data according to a consolidated distribution protocol.

29. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the translation device is coupled to the second interface, wherein the video information is encoded with a remote transmission algorithm, and wherein the translation device is configured to decode the remote transmission algorithm.

30. The network interface device of claim 23, wherein the translation device is adapted to convert between a remote transmission protocol and a consolidated distribution protocol.

31. The network interface device of claim 13, wherein the network interface device is adapted to be attached to an exterior wall of the customer premises.

32. A method of providing video and data services to a customer premises, the method comprising:

providing an integrated network interface device capable of receiving video information and data;

receiving, at the integrated network interface device, a set of video information from at least one digital broadcast satellite receiver, the set of video information including at least a first video segment of a chronological video signal of a video broadcast, wherein the first video segment is a first chronological portion of the chronological video signal;

receiving, at the integrated network interface device, a set of data from at least one data source, wherein the set of data comprises at least a second segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast, wherein the second video segment is a second chronological portion of the chronological video signal, and wherein the first chronological portion of the chronological video signal is different from the second chronological portion of the chronological video signal, and wherein the first video segment and the second video segment are received from a video distribution device configured to segment the chronological video signal of the video broadcast into at least the first segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast and the second segment of the chronological video signal of the video broadcast;

combining, based on chronological order and at the integrated network interface device, the first video segment and the second video segment to reassemble the chronological video signal; and

distributing, with the integrated network interface device, the reassembled chronological video signal to the customer premises via a first internal transport medium.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

attaching the network interface device to an exterior wall of the customer premises.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the set of video information is a first set of video information, the method further comprising receiving, at the network interface device, a second set of video information from an off-air antenna.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

combining the first and second sets of video information.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

transmitting the set of telecommunication information via the data source.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the set of telecommunication information comprises video provision information.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

formatting the video information and the data according to a consolidated distribution protocol.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the video source is a digital broadcast satellite transmission.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the data source is a digital subscriber line.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising integrating the set of data and the set of video information into a combined information set.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising formatting the combined information set according to a consolidated distribution protocol.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising transmitting the combined information set to the customer premises via at least one of the third and fourth interfaces.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein the integrated network interface device further comprises a translation device coupled to at least one of the first and second interfaces, wherein at least one of the set of data and the set of video information is encoded with a remote transmission algorithm, the method further comprising decoding the remote transmission algorithm.