Method and device for the transmission of data in a television system

• US 20040078826A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Pasquier, Frederic, Lesenne, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for transmitting binary data in a video transmission system. The method comprises the steps of providing ATVEF announcements on a first predefined IP multicast address; providing ATVEF trigger and/or content transmission on a first range of IP multicast addresses; providing non-ATVEF announcements on a second predefined multicast address different from said first address; and providing non-ATVEF data transmission on a second range of IP multicast addresses, exclusive of the first range. The invention also concerns an emitter and a receiver for implementing the method.

Claims

1. Method for transmitting binary data in a video transmission system comprising the steps of:

providing ATVEF announcements on a first predefined IP multicast address;

providing ATVEF trigger and/or content transmission on a first range of IP multicast addresses;

providing non-ATVEF announcements on a second predefined multicast address different from said first address;

providing non-ATVEF data transmission on a second range of IP multicast addresses, exclusive of the first range.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises an emitter (51) comprising a data inserter (54) for inserting ATVEF and non-ATVEF information into a transmission signal, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing ATVEF announcements and non-ATVEF announcements to the data inserter (54),

dynamic insertion of IP multicast addresses by the data inserter (54) into the announcements, in accordance with the first and second ranges.

3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of splitting each of the first and/or the second range of IP multicast addresses into a third and a fourth range, where the third range is reserved for automatic address determination by the data inserter (54), and the fourth range is reserved for addresses which are predefined in the announcements provided to the data inserter.

4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein ranges are distinguished by different IP address ranges, different port ranges or both.

5. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, comprising, at the level of a receiver, the steps of:

receiving a non-ATVEF announcement announcing transmission of receiver software update data, said announcement containing an IP multicast address (A6) on which signaling data describing the update data transmission is to be sent;

listening to the address (A6) specified in the announcement;

retrieving the signaling data and storing it in a memory which is not erased during download of the update data;

launching of a loader program;

having the loader program retrieve the stored signaling data; and

proceeding with the download of the update data based on the stored signaling data.

6. Emitter device (51) for broadcasting announcements in a transmission system compatible with ATVEF transmissions, characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting ATVEF announcements on a first predefined IP multicast address, ATVEF trigger and/or content data on a first range of IP multicast addresses, binary data announcements on a second predefined IP multicast address different from the first predefined address and binary data on a second range of IP multicast addresses, wherein the first and second address ranges are exclusive of each other.

7. Device according to claim 6, further comprising means (54, 55) for receiving an announcement, for determining whether the announcement comprises a predetermined IP multicast address in a first range, and in the negative, for selecting an IP multicast address in a second range, distinct from the first range, and for inserting the selected IP multicast address into the announcement.

8. Receiver (52i) in an ATVEF compatible transmission system, characterized in that it comprises a memory for storing a first predefined IP multicast address for receiving ATVEF announcements, and a second predefined IP multicast address for receiving announcements relating to the transmission of binary data, where the first and second addresses are distinct.

9. Receiver according to claim 8, further comprising a memory (60) for receiving a third multicast address on which binary data transmission is announced, said memory being such as to maintain the multicast address during a receiver reboot process, said receiver further comprising means (57, 58, 59) for listening to the third multicast address in the memory after reboot for downloading the binary data from said third multicast address.

10. Receiver according to claim 9, wherein the third multicast address on which binary data transmission is announced is provided in signaling data announced on said second multicast address.

11. Receiver according to claim 10, wherein the downloaded binary file is a complete system update.