Communication system with secondary channel rebroadcasting within a local area network

• US 20010053700A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sibley, Erin H.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• 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 7/0806 the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• 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 of distributing electronic content includes a network operations center forming a composite broadcast signal having digital electronic content during a vertical blanking interval of a primary channel signal. A content delivery system receives the composite broadcast signal from the network operations center and broadcasts the composite broadcast signal. A base station receives the composite broadcast signal forms a wireless local area network. The base station rebroadcasts at least a portion of the composite signal as a rebroadcast signal using the wireless local network. A user appliance is positioned within the local area network and receives the rebroadcast signal.

Claims

1. A system of distributing electronic content comprising:

a network operations center forming a composite broadcast signal having digital electronic content during a vertical blanking interval of a primary channel signal;

a content delivery system receiving said composite broadcast signal from said network operations center and broadcasting said composite broadcast signal;

a base station receiving said composite broadcast signal and forming a wireless local area network, said base station rebroadcasting at least a portion of said composite signal as a rebroadcast signal using said wireless local network; and

a user appliance positioned with said local area network and receiving said rebroadcast signal.

2. A system as recited in

claim 1

further comprising a television coupled to said base station, said television receiving at least a portion of said composite broadcast signal.

3. A system as recited in

claim 2

wherein said base station couples said primary channel to said television.

4. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said base station forms said rebroadcast signal from said digital electronic content.

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 content delivery system comprises high altitude device.

8. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said high altitude device comprises a satellite.

9. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said high altitude device comprises a stratospheric platform.

10. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said base station comprises an integrated receiver decoder.

11. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said digital electronic content is compressed.

12. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said content delivery system comprises a cable network.

13. A system as recited in

claim 1

wherein said content delivery system comprises a fiber optic network.

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

uplinking a primary channel signal having a digital electronic content during a vertical blanking interval of the primary channel signal to a high altitude device;

receiving the primary channel signal having a digital electronic content during a vertical blanking interval from the high altitude device;

over-the-air broadcasting the digital electronic content; and

receiving the electronic content packages through a user appliance.

15. A method as recited in

claim 14

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air broadcasting comprises over-the-air broadcasting from a base station.

16. A method as recited in

claim 14

wherein the step of receiving over-the-air broadcasting comprises over-the-air broadcasting from a base station within a building.

17. A method as recited in

claim 14

further comprising the step of coupling the primary channel to a television.

18. 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;

receiving the digital video stream;

rebroadcasting the digital video stream using a wireless local area network.

19. A method as recited in

claim 18

further comprising the steps of coupling the television signal to a television.

20. A method as recited in

claim 18

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

21. A method as recited in

claim 20

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

22. A method as recited in

claim 20

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