Receiver card technology for a broadcast subscription video service

• US 20030204845A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sibley, Erin H., Tarbuck, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• 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 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• 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 21/43853 involving multiplex stream decryption arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• 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 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An integrated plug-in card is configured to process subscription video programming. The card consists of multiple integrated technologies. A micro analog tuner/demodulator receives the subscription video programming and provides output to a vertical blanking interval (VBI) device. The vertical blanking interface device separates an unused portion of the subscription video programming to extract an encoded proprietary programming. Conditional access/decryption technology controls user access to the encoded proprietary programming. Video and audio decompression technology decompresses video and audio data from the encoded proprietary programming. An encoder provides the video and audio data in a desired protocol. A control interface controls video programming properties and a memory is utilized for storing video programming information.

Claims

1. A method for processing broadcast subscription video programming, comprising:

receiving, in a plug-in card, subscription video programming in a micro analog tuner/demodulator;

separating, within the plug-in card, an unused portion of the subscription video programming to extract encoded proprietary programming in a vertical blanking interval device;

controlling, within the plug-in card, user access to the encoded proprietary programming using conditional access/decryption technology;

decompressing, within the plug-in card, video and audio data from the encoded proprietary programming using decompression technology;

encoding, within the plug-in card, the video and audio data to provide the video and audio data in a desired protocol;

controlling, within the plug-in card, video programming properties; and

storing video programming information in memory on the plug-in card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro analog tuner/demodulator comprises an antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio and video data are encoded using a PAL encoder.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio and video data are encoded using an NTSC encoder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video programming properties are selected from a group comprising channel selection, volume, contrast, brightness, programming, and menu selection.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a computer interface to download pay-per-view (PPV) information via Internet as a return link for billing and conditional access functions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises RAM.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is used to store selected pay-per-view events for billing information and tracking.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is used to store mini streams or user preferred functions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the encoded video and audio data to a personal digital assistant interface.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the encoded video and audio data to a computer laptop interface.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a robust video broadcast stream minimizing packet loss using a forward error correction unit on the plug-in chip.

13. An integrated plug-in card for processing subscription video programming comprising:

a micro analog tuner/demodulator for receiving the subscription video programming and providing output to a vertical blanking interval (VBI) device;

the vertical blanking interface device configured to separate an unused portion of the subscription video programming to extract an encoded proprietary programming;

conditional access/decryption technology configured to control user access to the encoded proprietary programming;

video and audio decompression technology configured to decompress video and audio data from the encoded proprietary programming;

an encoder configured to provide the video and audio data in a desired protocol;

a control interface configured to control video programming properties;

memory for storing video programming information.

14. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the micro analog tuner/demodulator comprises an antenna.

15. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the encoder comprises a PAL encoder.

16. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the encoder comprises an NTSC encoder.

17. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the video programming properties are selected from a group comprising channel selection, volume, contrast, brightness, programming, and menu selection.

18. The plug-in card of claim 13, further comprising a computer interface to download pay-per-view (PPV) information via Internet as a return link for billing and conditional access functions.

19. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the memory comprises RAM.

20. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the memory is used to store selected pay-per-view events for billing information and tracking.

21. The plug-in card of claim 13, wherein the memory is used to store mini streams or user preferred functions.

22. The plug-in card of claim 13, further comprising an interface for a personal digital assistant.

23. The plug-in card of claim 13, further comprising an interface for a computer laptop.

24. The plug-in card of claim 13, further comprising forward error correction capability configured to maintain a robust video broadcast stream minimizing packet loss.