Digital over-the-air communication system for use with analog terrestrial broadcasting system

• US 20010039664A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sibley, Erin H.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system for distributing electronic content includes a satellite and a network operations center uplinking electronic content to the satellite. The electronic content may contain advertising and various other information including television, movies, and music. An over-the-air broadcast center receives the electronic content from the satellite and generates over-the-air signal having digital electronic content therein during a vertical blanking interval of an analog broadcast signal. The electronic content is received in a user device that removes the electronic content from the over-the-air signal.

Claims

1. A system of distributing electronic content comprising:

a satellite;

a network operations center uplinking electronic content to said satellite;

an over-the-air broadcast center receiving said electronic content from said satellite and generating digital over-the-air electronic content during a vertical blanking interval of an analog broadcast signal; and

a user appliance receiving said electronic content.

2. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said over-the-air broadcast center is coupled to a stratospheric platform.

3. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said over-the-air broadcast center is coupled to a cell tower.

4. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said over-the-air broadcast center is coupled to a TV broadcast tower.

5. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said electronic content comprises digital audio signals.

6. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said electronic content comprises video.

7. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said user appliance is fixed.

8. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said user appliance is mobile.

9. A method of distributing electronic content comprising the steps of:

uplinking a plurality of electronic content packages to a satellite;

receiving the electronic content packages from the satellite;

over-the-air broadcasting the electronic content packages during a vertical blanking interval of an analog television broadcast signal; and

receiving the electronic content packages through a user appliance.

10. A method as recited in

claim 9

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air broadcasting comprises over-the-air broadcasting from a stratospheric platform.

11. A method as recited in

claim 9

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air broadcasting comprises over-the-air broadcasting from a cell tower.

12. A method as recited in

claim 9

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air broadcasting comprises over-the-air broadcasting from a TV broadcast tower.

13. A method of distributing electronic content comprising the steps of:

digitally compressing the electronic content into a digital video stream;

broadcasting a television signal having a vertical blanking interval;

broadcasting the digital video stream within the vertical blanking interval.

14. A method as recited in

claim 13

further comprising the steps of receiving the digital video stream;

monitoring the digital video stream and providing feedback about the digital video stream to a broadcast location.

15. A method as recited in

claim 13

further comprising the steps of receiving the electronic content in user appliance.

16. A method as recited in

claim 15

wherein the step of receiving comprises the steps of digitally decompressing the digital video stream, and displaying the video stream.

17. A method as recited in

claim 15

wherein the step of receiving comprises grabbing a vertical blanking interval frame.