Head end installation for broadcasting with return channel

• US 20050055724A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Winetworks Inc (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Winetworks Inc (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Efron, Eitan, Harpak, Ofer, Atad, Efraim
• Application Number:
  US10/810,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/95 for local area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• 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 21/6181 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 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A head end installation for multi-channel video feed broadcasting to a plurality of user TV receiver installations, comprises: a transmitter for transmitting said multi-channel video feed to said user installations, and a router for receiving a return link from a core IP network and regional terrestrial networks, said user TV receiver installations forming nodes of said terrestrial networks, said return link allowing user interactions to be received by said installation and thereby supported.

Claims

1. A head end installation for multi-channel video feed broadcasting to a plurality of user TV receiver installations, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting said multi-channel video feed to said user installations, and

a router for receiving a return link from a core IP network and regional terrestrial networks, said user TV receiver installations forming nodes of said terrestrial networks, said return link allowing user interactions to be received by said installation and thereby supported.

2. The head end installation of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is adapted for transmitting via a satellite relay.

3. The head end installation of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is adapted for terrestrial transmission.

4. The head end installation of claim 1, comprising an interactive server for managing interactive services to a given user.

5. The head end installation of claim 1, wherein said router is further adapted for sending a forward link via said core IP network and regional terrestrial networks.

6. The head end installation of claim 5, comprising WAN management functionality for managing said return link and said forward link over a wide area network (WAN) transmission medium.

7. The head end installation of claim 6, wherein said WAN is provided over a cable infrastructure.

8. The head end installation of claim 1, comprising an interactive server for managing interactive services to a given user, wherein said router is associated with said interactive server to modify data sent to an individual user in accordance with data received from said individual user via said return link.

9. The head end installation of claim 5, comprising an interactive server for managing interactive services to a given user, wherein said router is associated with said interactive server to modify data sent in said forward link to an individual user in accordance with data received from said individual user via said return link.

10. A method of operation of a head end installation for multi-channel video feed broadcasting to a plurality of user TV receiver installations, comprising:

transmitting said multi-channel video feed to said user installations, and

receiving a return link from a core IP network and regional terrestrial networks, said user TV receiver installations forming nodes of said terrestrial networks,

via said return link receiving user interactions, and

monitoring said received user interactions in relation to individual users.

11. The head end operation method of claim 10, comprising using said received user interactions to manage interactive services to a given user.

12. The head end operation method of claim 10, further comprising sending a forward link via said core IP network and regional terrestrial networks.

13. The head end operation method of claim 10, comprising managing interactive services to a given user, by modifying data sent to an individual user in accordance with data received from said individual user via said return link.

14. The head end operation method of claim 13, comprising managing interactive services to a given user, by modifying data sent in said forward link to an individual user in accordance with data received from said individual user via said return link.