Satellite network control by internet with file upload and distribution

• US 20050021678A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wegener Communications, Inc. (Wegener Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wegener Communications, Inc. (Wegener Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Keith N., Simyon, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US10/641,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A remotely controlled uplink server system has a remote access interface that allows multiple user groups to individually control their respective media files. The user groups also have individual control over their respective remote receivers. The control over the media files includes file uploading, file management and file distribution and the control over the remote receivers includes the identification and grouping of receivers, managing the play list, scheduling and storage space on the receivers and selecting media channels. Through the remote access interface into the uplink server system, each one of the user groups operates and controls its own fully functioning network operations center, sharing the uplink facility with the other user groups. The uplink server also includes a media manager for storing and managing the media files, a network controller for combining control instructions for the remote receivers with the media files in a broadcast signal, and a transmitter for sending the broadcast signal to the remote receivers over the satellite network.

Claims

1. A method for controlling media distribution over a satellite network, comprising the steps of:

connecting an uplink server to a computer network through a web browser interface;

communicating with a plurality of remote network operations centers over said computer network through said web browser interface, wherein said plurality of remote network operations centers respectively correspond with a plurality of user groups;

uploading a plurality of files containing media content to said uplink server received from said remote network operations centers through said web browser interface;

storing on said uplink server a plurality of names uniquely corresponding with said media content files;

defining a set of control instructions for a set of said files and a corresponding set of receivers through said web browser interface; and

transmitting said media content files and said control instructions to said receivers over the satellite network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said defining step comprises the steps of:

selecting a set of said media content files through said web browser interface;

forming a play list for said selected set of said media content files, wherein said play list is comprised of a set of names corresponding with said selected set of media content files;

scheduling a set of play times for said play list through said browser interface;

selecting said set of receivers through said web browser interface; and

creating said set of control instructions according to said play list, said play times and said set of receivers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said uploading step further comprises the step of converting said media content in said files from a first format to a second format.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises the step of controlling access to said media content files and said set of receivers according to said plurality of user groups.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of controlling access further comprises the steps of:

associating a respective set of receivers with each of said user groups;

tracking a respective set of media content files according to each of said user groups; and

restricting control of said respective set of receivers and said respective set of media content files corresponding with each of said user groups.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step for providing access to said uplink server further comprises the steps of:

assigning at least one unique user identifier and password pair to each of said plurality of user groups; and

providing an entry screen where said plurality of user groups can log into said uplink server.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises providing a browser interface menu to said plurality of user groups through said computer network.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises providing at least one customized browser interface menu to at least one of said user groups.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying and controlling said set of receivers with said control instructions.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of resending the media files according to an intelligent sending function, wherein said intelligent sending function is selected from the group of functions consisting of a low-bandwidth system, a priority-based system, and a just-in-time-delivery system.

11. A remotely controlled uplink server system for a satellite network, comprising:

a storage device containing a plurality of media content files;

a database containing file names respectively corresponding with said media content files; and

a web browser interface in communication with said storage device and said database, said web browser interface having a file management menu for uploading said media content files into said storage device and entering said file names into said database and having a network control menu for selecting a set of said media content files and creating a corresponding set of control instructions for said selected set of media content files.

12. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 11, further comprising a file converter for converting the media content from a first format to a second format.

13. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of access controls, said access controls respectively corresponding with a plurality of user groups, wherein each of said user groups is associated with a set of media content files in said storage device and a corresponding set of remote receivers at a plurality of downlink facilities.

14. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of access controls is comprised of at least one unique user identifier and password pair for each of said plurality of user groups.

15. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 14, further comprising a network controller for combining said control instructions with said media content files in a broadcast signal and a transmitter for transmitting said broadcast signal to at least one set of remote receivers in the satellite network, wherein said control instructions identify and control said set of remote receivers.

16. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of remote network operations centers operatively connected to the uplink server through said web browser interface over a computer network.

17. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 16, further comprising an intelligent sending function, wherein said intelligent sending function is selected from the group of functions consisting of a low-bandwidth system, a priority-based system, and a just-in-time-delivery system.

18. A remotely controlled uplink server system for a satellite network, the uplink server being remotely controlled over a computer network and the satellite network transmitting to a plurality of remote receivers, comprising:

a media manager containing a plurality of media content files and having a database containing file names respectively corresponding with said media content files;

a remote access interface in communication with the computer network and said media manager, said remote access interface having a web browser interface with a file management menu and a network control menu and having a plurality of access controls, said access controls respectively corresponding with a plurality of user groups, wherein each of said user groups is associated with a set of said media content files in said media manager and a corresponding set of the remote receivers;

a plurality of remote network operations centers operatively connected to the uplink server through said web browser interface over the computer network;

a network controller for combining said control instructions with said media content files in a broadcast signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting said broadcast signal to at least one set of the remote receivers.

19. The remotely controlled uplink server system according to claim 18, wherein said file management menu comprises a plurality of media management options selected from the group consisting of uploading said media content files into said media manager, entering said file names into said database, modifying said media content files, and deleting said media content files.

20. The remotely controlled uplink server according to claim 19, wherein said network control menu comprises a plurality of distribution options selected from the group of selecting a set of said media content files, selecting a set of said remote receivers, and creating a corresponding set of control instructions.

21. The remotely controlled uplink server according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of access controls is comprised of at least one unique user identifier and password pair for each of said plurality of user groups and a user group restriction according to said identifier and password pair;

said user group restriction limiting each one of said user groups to view, manage, and control only its associated set of media content files and corresponding set of remote receivers.

22. The remotely controlled uplink server according to claim 18, wherein said media manager further comprises a file converter with a conversion of said media content files from a first format to a second format and wherein said network controller further comprises an intelligent sending function, wherein said intelligent sending function is selected from the group of functions consisting of a low-bandwidth system, a priority-based system, and a just-in-time-delivery system.