Analog television signal data delivery system

• US 20030131359A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

An analog television signal data delivery system provides a television program, called a data show, that is transmitted across standard television broadcast methods to data needy client systems, such as settop boxes, at certain times of the day. When the data show is recorded and specially demodulated it provides the client system with raw digital data to perform required or enhanced functions. Binary digital data is modulated into each frame of the data show. Each of the 480 scan lines in a frame have data modulated into it. Each scan line in the frame contains two bytes which yields 28800 bytes/sec. This high transfer rate results in an efficient data transfer method that is cost effective and easily broadcast. Another preferred embodiment of the invention designates some regions of the active video picture to contain visible images and other regions of the active picture to contain data. The non-data portions can be placed anywhere on the viewable frame. The client system receiver knows the channel, time, and duration that the data show is being broadcast. At the data show time, the client system records the data show on its local storage device and demodulates and decodes the data show at a later time or demodulates and/or decodes the data show on the fly. Once demodulated and/or decoded, the data are used as intended.

Claims

1. A process for creating and transmitting television broadcast signals carrying data for client systems, comprising the steps of:

providing means for creating a data show;

wherein said creating means modulates binary data intended for client systems in each frame of said data show;

wherein each entire frame is used to modulate the data;

broadcasting said data show using television broadcast signals; and

receiving said data show on a plurality of client systems.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame contains two bytes of data.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame is modulated using closed captioning standard EIA-608.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein each client system is notified of the channel, time, and duration that said data show is being broadcast.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein a client system tunes to the channel that the data show is being broadcast at the specified broadcast time.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein a client system records said data show on a local storage device, wherein the client system demodulates and decodes the recorded data show after the recording is completed, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein a client system demodulates and decodes said data show on the fly, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein parameters indicating which video scan lines in a frame contain modulated data and which video scan lines contain true video are either previously agreed upon between said creating means and client systems or embedded in a well known location of said data show.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein a header is placed at the beginning of the data in said data show so a client system can identify the beginning of the data.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein a client system decodes said data show until the time the data show is scheduled to end.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein an end tag is placed at the end of the data in said data show, and wherein a client system stops decoding the data when the end tag is encountered.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the data in said data show is segmented using headers and end tags to partition the data into smaller segments.

13. A process for creating and transmitting television broadcast signals carrying data for client systems, comprising the steps of:

providing means for creating a data show;

wherein said creating means modulates binary data intended for client systems in each frame of said data show;

modulating the data into visible and non-visible areas of each frame in said data show;

designating at least one sub-region of a frame'"'"'s visible area to contain visible images instead of modulated data;

broadcasting said data show using television broadcast signals; and

receiving said data show on a plurality of client systems.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame contains two bytes of data.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame is modulated using closed captioning standard EIA-608.

16. The process of claim 13, wherein each client system is notified of the channel, time, and duration that said data show is being broadcast.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein a client system tunes to the channel that the data show is being broadcast at the specified broadcast time.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein a client system records said data show on a local storage device, wherein the client system demodulates and decodes the recorded data show after the recording is completed, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

19. The process of claim 17, wherein a client system demodulates and decodes said data show on the fly, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

20. The process of claim 13, wherein parameters indicating which video scan lines in a frame contain modulated data and which video scan lines contain true video are either previously agreed upon between said creating means and client systems or embedded in a well known location of said data show.

21. The process of claim 13, wherein a header is placed at the beginning of the data in said data show so a client system can identify the beginning of the data.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein a client system decodes said data show until the time the data show is scheduled to end.

23. The process of claim 21, wherein an end tag is placed at the end of the data in said data show, and wherein a client system stops decoding the data when the end tag is encountered.

24. The process of claim 13, wherein the data in said data show is segmented using headers and end tags to partition the data into smaller segments.

25. An apparatus for creating and transmitting television broadcast signals carrying data for client systems, comprising:

means for creating a data show;

wherein said creating means modulates binary data intended for client systems in each frame of said data show;

wherein each entire frame is used to modulate the data;

broadcasting said data show using television broadcast signals; and

receiving said data show on a plurality of client systems.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame contains two bytes of data.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame is modulated using closed captioning standard EIA-608.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each client system is notified of the channel, time, and duration that said data show is being broadcast.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a client system tunes to the channel that the data show is being broadcast at the specified broadcast time.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a client system records said data show on a local storage device, wherein the client system demodulates and decodes the recorded data show after the recording is completed, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a client system demodulates and decodes said data show on the fly, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein parameters indicating which video scan lines in a frame contain modulated data and which video scan lines contain true video are either previously agreed upon between said creating means and client systems or embedded in a well known location of said data show.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a header is placed at the beginning of the data in said data show so a client system can identify the beginning of the data.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a client system decodes said data show until the time the data show is scheduled to end.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein an end tag is placed at the end of the data in said data show, and wherein a client system stops decoding the data when the end tag is encountered.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the data in said data show is segmented using headers and end tags to partition the data into smaller segments.

37. An apparatus for creating and transmitting television broadcast signals carrying data for client systems, comprising:

means for creating a data show;

wherein said creating means modulates binary data intended for client systems in each frame of said data show;

modulating the data into visible and non-visible areas of each frame in said data show;

designating at least one sub-region of a frame'"'"'s visible area to contain visible images instead of modulated data;

broadcasting said data show using television broadcast signals; and

receiving said data show on a plurality of client systems.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame contains two bytes of data.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each video scan line used to modulate data in a frame is modulated using closed captioning standard EIA-608.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each client system is notified of the channel, time, and duration that said data show is being broadcast.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein a client system tunes to the channel that the data show is being broadcast at the specified broadcast time.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a client system records said data show on a local storage device, wherein the client system demodulates and decodes the recorded data show after the recording is completed, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a client system demodulates and decodes said data show on the fly, and wherein the demodulated and decoded data are consumed by the client system in the manner that the data are intended to be used.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein parameters indicating which video scan lines in a frame contain modulated data and which video scan lines contain true video are either previously agreed upon between said creating means and client systems or embedded in a well known location of said data show.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein a header is placed at the beginning of the data in said data show so a client system can identify the beginning of the data.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein a client system decodes said data show until the time the data show is scheduled to end.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein an end tag is placed at the end of the data in said data show, and wherein a client system stops decoding the data when the end tag is encountered.

48. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the data in said data show is segmented using headers and end tags to partition the data into smaller segments.