Audio/video distribution system

• US 20030196208A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen R. Jacobson
• Original Assignee: Stephen R. Jacobson
• Inventors: Jacobson, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US10/409,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• 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 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An audio/video distribution system that is cost-effective, highly flexible, and capable of being used over an extended area and without the need for a centralized switching and distribution mechanism. The audio/video distribution system includes a distribution cable, at least one audio/video transmitter, at least one receiver, and a control director. The transmitter is configured to receive signals from at least one audio/video source while the receiver is connected to the distribution cable and configured to receive signals from the distribution cable. The control director is connected to the distribution cable and configured to control the transmitter and receiver.

Claims

1. An audio/video distribution system comprising:

a distribution cable;

at least one audio/video transmitter configured to receive signals from at least one audio/video source, and place said signals on said distribution cable;

at least one audio/video receiver connected to said distribution cable, said receiver configured to receive signals from said distribution cable;

a control director connected to said distribution cable and configured to control said audio/video transmitter and said receiver.

2. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cable status monitor connected to said distribution cable.

3. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one power module configured to place electrical power on said distribution cable.

4. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 3, further comprising a video frame synchronization generator configured to place video frame synchronization signals on said distribution cable.

5. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a cable extender.

6. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein said distribution cable comprises at least one conductor.

7. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 6, further comprising at least one termination placed on said distribution cable.

8. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein said audio/video transmitter comprises:

a signal input from an audio/video source;

an audio/video amplifier;

a cable connect switch; and

a transmitter control receiver/decoder.

9. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 8, wherein said audio/video transmitter further comprises a means of placing audio/video signals on the cable with video synchronization.

10. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises an audio/video cable receiver.

11. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 10, wherein said receiver further comprises:

an audio/video output;

an audio/video cable receiver having the capability of turning a signal from said audio/video output on or off; and

an audio/video receiver receiver/decoder.

12. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 11, wherein said receiver further comprises a control receiver/decoder.

13. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 11, wherein said receiver further comprises a means of extracting audio/video signals from the cable with video synchronization.

14. An audio/video distribution system comprising:

a distribution cable;

at least one audio/video transmitter configured to receive signals from at least one audio/video source, and place said signals on said distribution cable

at least one receiver connected to said distribution cable, said receiver configured to receive signals from said distribution cable;

a control director connected to said distribution cable and configured to control said audio/video transmitter and said receiver;

a cable status monitor connected to said distribution cable; and

at least one power module configured to place electrical power on said distribution cable.

15. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 14, wherein said at least one power module comprises means for adapting A/C utility power to A/C power supply for use as cable power.

16. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 14 wherein said at least one power module comprises means for adapting power from a battery for use as cable power.

17. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 14, wherein said control director further comprises a user-programmable means of controlling the transmitter and receiver connected to the audio/video cable.

18. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a video synchronization generator.

19. An audio/video distribution system comprising:

a distribution cable;

at least one audio/video transmitter configured to receive signals from at least one audio/video source, and place said signals on said distribution cable;

at least one receiver connected to said distribution cable, said receiver configured to receive signals from said distribution cable;

a control director connected to said distribution cable and configured to control said audio/video transmitter and said receiver; and

a cable status monitor connected to said distribution cable, said cable monitor configured to extract control signals from said audio/video cable, send said control signals to a status information to external user, and provide a status of said transmitter and said receiver.

20. An audio/video distribution system as recited in claim 19, wherein said cable status monitor further comprises a means for monitoring and reporting error conditions.