Backup communication modes

• US 20040049796A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Briggs, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6433 Digital Storage Media - Command and Control Protocol [DSM-CC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing a communication mode for a communication terminal are provided. An embodiment of a method for implementing a communication mode includes receiving a first type of data over a first type of communication channel, determining that the first type of data is subsequently not available over the first type of communication channel, and responsive to determining that the first type of data is subsequently not available over the first type of communication channel, receiving the first type of data over a second type of communication channel.

Claims

1. A method for receiving data comprising:

receiving a first type of data over a first type of communication channel;

determining that the first type of data is subsequently not available over the first type of communication channel; and

responsive to determining that the first type of data is subsequently not available over the first type of communication channel, receiving the first type of data over a second type of communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to receiving the first type of data over the second type of communication channel, determining that the first type of data is available over the first type of communication channel; and

responsive to determining that the first type of data is available over the first type of communication channel, receiving the first type of data over the first type of communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of data is broadcast data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a first communication standard, and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a second communication standard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a first communication protocol, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a second communication protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a first type of frames, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a second type of frames.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a first type of modulation scheme, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a second type of modulation scheme.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

13. A method for receiving data comprising:

receiving a first type of data over a first type of communication channel;

determining that the first type of communication channel is subsequently not functional; and

responsive to determining that the first type of communication channel is subsequently not functional, receiving the first type of data over a second type of communication channel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

subsequent to receiving the first type of data over the second type of communication channel, determining that the first type of communication channel is functional; and

responsive to determining that the first type of communication channel is functional, receiving the first type of data over the first type of communication channel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of data is broadcast data.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a first communication standard, and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a second communication standard.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a first communication protocol, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a second communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a first type of frames, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a second type of frames.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a first type of modulation scheme, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a second type of modulation scheme.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

23. A communication terminal comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner; and

a processor that is programmed to;

cause the first tuner to receive a first type of data; and

cause the second tuner to receive the first type of data responsive to the processor determining that the first type of data is not available via the first tuner.

24. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

25. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein the first type of data is broadcast data.

26. The communication terminal of claim 23, wherein data that is received by the first tuner is modulated using a first type of modulation scheme, and data that is received by the second tuner is modulated using a second type of modulation scheme.

27. The communication terminal of claim 26, wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

28. A method for receiving data comprising:

receiving a first type of data over a first type of communication channel;

determining that the first type of data is not available over the first type of communication channel;

responsive to determining that the first type of data is not available over the first type of communication channel, receiving the first type of data over a second type of communication channel;

determining that the first type of data is available over the first type of communication channel;

responsive to determining that the first type of data is available over the first type of communication channel, receiving the first type of data over the first type of communication channel;

wherein the first type of communication channel is used in accordance with a first communication standard, and the second type of communication channel is used in accordance with a second communication standard;

wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a first type of frames, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in a second type of frames;

wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a first communication protocol, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted in accordance with a second communication protocol; and

wherein the first type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a first type of modulation scheme, and the second type of communication channel carries data that is transmitted using a second type of modulation scheme.