Subscriber network in a satellite system

• US 20040133911A1
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Samuel H., Nair, Ajith N., Prus, Bohdan S., Lett, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/712,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133911A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• 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 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing downstream signals to a plurality of satellite receiving devices. A networked multimedia system receives the satellite signals from the receiving device. The networked multimedia system includes a splitter, a primary home communications terminal (DHCT), and a plurality of remote devices. The remote devices communicate with the primary DHCT via the splitter. Accordingly, the remote devices utilize some or all of the features including hardware and software that are included in the primary DHCT via the networked multimedia system.

Claims

1. A local network system, comprising:

a satellite receiving device for receiving satellite signals from at least one transponder;

a primary DHCT for receiving the satellite signals from the satellite receiving device, and for selectively storing presentations included in the satellite signals, the primary DHCT comprising;

a storage device for storing the at least one presentation;

a modulator for modulating the at least one stored presentation to a predetermined frequency, and for providing the modulated signals; and

a plurality of remote devices coupled to the primary DHCT, each remote device for receiving the satellite signals and for receiving the modulated signals from the primary DHCT.

2. The local network system of claim 1, wherein the modulator is a QPSK modulator.

3. The local network system of claim 1, further comprising a switch for receiving the satellite signals from the satellite receiving device having a first and a second polarization, and for providing the modulated signals having a third polarization.

4. The local network system of claim 3, wherein the modulator assigns the third polarization to the at least one stored presentation.

5. The local network system of claim 3, further comprising a switch for receiving the satellite signals from the satellite receiving device, the satellite signals having a polarization, and for providing the satellite signals to at least one of the primary DHCT and the plurality of remote devices, and for receiving the modulated signals from the primary DHCT and for providing the modulated signals to the plurality of remote devices.

6. The local network system of claim 5, wherein the modulated signals have a polarization that is different than the polarization of the satellite signals.

7. The local network system of claim 1, wherein the satellite signals are transmitted in a plurality of downstream frequency ranges, and wherein the modulated signals are transmitted in the predetermined frequency that is excluded from the plurality of downstream frequency ranges.

8. The local network system of claim 1, further comprising a switch for receiving the satellite signals and the modulated signals, wherein the satellite signals are transmitted in a plurality of downstream frequency ranges, and wherein the modulated signals are transmitted in the predetermined frequency that is included in the plurality of downstream frequency ranges, wherein one of the satellite signals and the modulated signals are selected by a switching function.

9. The local network system of claim 8, wherein the switching function resides in a separate external unit.

10. The local network system of claim 9, wherein the external unit is incorporated in an LNB.

11. The local network system of claim 5, wherein the switching function resides in the primary DHCT.

12. The local network system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of remote devices communicates with the primary DHCT by transmitting at least one reverse command signal.

13. A satellite communications system for transmitting downstream satellite signals from a satellite transponder to a plurality of satellite receivers, the satellite signals transmitted in a plurality of frequencies having a polarization, the satellite receiver network comprising:

a satellite receiver for receiving and processing the downstream satellite signals;

a switch for receiving the processed satellite signals and for providing the processed satellite signals according to a frequency and a polarization;

a primary DHCT coupled to the switch for receiving the processed satellite signals, and for storing and subsequently transmitting desired satellite signals; and

at least one remote device coupled to the switch, the at least one remote device in communication with the primary DHCT, the at least one remote device for receiving the processed satellite signals, and for receiving the stored desired satellite signals from the primary DHCT via the switch.

14. The satellite communications system of claim 13, the primary DHCT comprising a modulator for modulating the stored satellite signals to a predetermined frequency having a polarization prior to transmission to the at least one remote device.

15. The satellite communications system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined frequency having a polarization is excluded from the plurality of frequencies having a polarization of the downstream satellite signals.