System and method for local video distribution

• US 20050097612A1
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry B., Bridges, J. Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating local video distribution. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include linking a plurality of users with associated carrier frequencies. The associated frequencies may be given approximately six MHz slices of the radio frequency spectrum that correspond to portions of the very high frequency (VHF) ranges assigned to television channels. A user may input a command identifying a desired video stream, which may be encoded in an MPEG format. In response to the command, the desired video stream may be decoded and modulated on the carrier frequency associated with the user. The modulated signal may be output to a premise network such that the user can access the modulated stream by tuning a premise network connected television to the appropriate carrier frequency.

Claims

1. A video distribution system comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a multiplexed signal comprising a plurality of encoded video information streams;

a first decoder communicatively coupled to the receiver and operable to decode a first video information stream of the multiplexed signal;

a second decoder communicatively coupled to the receiver and operable to decode a second video information stream of the multiplexed signal;

a combiner operable to output a composite signal for communication via a premise network, the composite signal comprising a decoded first video information stream modulated to a first radio frequency band and a decoded second video information stream modulated to a second radio frequency band; and

a remote control mechanism operable to communicate a request signal to the first decoder requesting that the first decoder decode a different video information stream of the multiplexed signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a diplexer operable to distinguish between upstream and downstream communication flow, the diplexer further operable to output the multiplexed signal to the receiver; and

a modem communicatively coupled to the diplexer and operable to output data traffic to the diplexer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control mechanism is further operable to communicate using a wireless local area network communication protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency communication module operable to support at least a portion of a communication path interconnecting the remote control and the first decoder.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface operable to provide at least a portion of a communication path interconnecting the receiver and a wide area communication network; and

a communication module having a local area wireless transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the premise network comprises installed coaxial cable.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a modem device selected from the group consisting of a cable modem, a dial-up modem, a wireless modem, a satellite modem, and an xDSL modem.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a messaging engine operable to initiate communication of message information via the premise network, wherein the message information represents a message sent using a service selected from the group consisting of electronic mail, mobile alerts, IM, SMS, EMS, and MMS.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a metric engine operable to track a metric associated with the first video information stream, wherein the metric is selected from the group consisting of a video stream content rating, an amount of time associated with outputting the decoded first video information stream, a cost associated with viewing the first video information stream, and an assigned programming channel for the first video information stream.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) engine operable to initiate presentation of a GUI on a television display communicatively coupled to the premise network.

11. A distribution method comprising:

receiving an incoming signal that comprises information representing a plurality of video streams;

generating a first modulated signal representing first video stream information modulated within a first frequency band;

generating a second modulated signal representing second video stream information modulated within a second frequency band; and

outputting a combined signal to a premise network, the combined signal comprising the first modulated signal and the second modulated signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first frequency band comprises an approximately six megahertz block of the radio spectrum.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the incoming signal comprises a direct broadcast satellite signal.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the incoming signal comprises a cable television signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the premise network comprises a coaxial cable network installed in a residential home.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the incoming signal comprises a multiplexed MPEG stream.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising tracking a metric associated with the first frequency band, wherein the metric is selected from the group consisting of a video stream content rating for first video stream information, an amount of time associated with viewable content modulated on the first frequency band, a cost associated with the viewable content, and an assigned programming channel for the viewable content.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

splitting the incoming signal into at least two intermediate signals, each of the at least two intermediate signals comprising first video stream information and second video stream information;

parsing one of the intermediate signals to find the first video stream information; and

parsing a second of the intermediate signals to find the second video stream information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the incoming signal comprises a multiplexed MPEG stream, further comprising:

decoding the first video stream information; and

decoding the second video stream information.

20. A video distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of remote controllable channel output modules, each configured to output a signal modulated to an assigned frequency block, the signal representing a decoded version of a selected MPEG video stream; and

a premise network interface operable to output a composite signal to a premise network, the composite signal comprising a modulated signal from at least one of the plurality of remote controllable channel output modules.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the premise network comprises a wireless local area network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the premise network comprises coaxial cable.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the assigned frequency block for a first of the remote controllable channel output modules comprises a range of approximately 60 to 66 MHz, the assigned frequency block for a second of the remote controllable channel output modules comprises a range of approximately 66 to 72 MHz, and the assigned frequency block for a third of the remote controllable channel output modules comprises a range of approximately 76 to 82 MHz.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the assigned frequency blocks correspond to portions of the Very High Frequency spectrum assigned to television channels.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a remote control operable to communicate with each of the plurality of remote controllable channel output modules, and

an access engine associated with the remote control, the access engine operable to authorize the remote control to remotely control at least one of the plurality of remote controllable channel output modules.

26. The system of claim 20, further comprising a first remote controllable channel output module fixed to output information to one assigned frequency block.

27. The system of claim 20, further comprising a table mapping each of a plurality of viewers to at least one assigned frequency block.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) engine operable to initiate presentation of a GUI on a television display communicatively coupled to the premise network, wherein the GUI engine is further operable to initiate display of a GUI element indicating video programs represented by the selected MPEG video stream output by each of the plurality of remote controllable channel output modules.

29. A method of facilitating video distribution, comprising:

linking a plurality of users with associated carrier frequencies;

receiving a command from a first user;

modulating a decoded video stream identified by the command on a carrier frequency associated with the first user; and

outputting the modulated stream to a premise network such that the first user can access the modulated stream by tuning a premise network connected television to the carrier frequency associated with the first user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

prompting the first user to enter credentials; and

authorizing the first user to input the command in response to acceptance of the credentials.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving another command from a second user;

modulating a chosen decoded video stream identified by the other command on a carrier frequency associated with the second user; and

outputting the modulated chosen stream to the premise network such that the second user can access the modulated chosen stream by tuning a given premise network connected television to the carrier frequency associated with the second user.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising tracking a viewing metric of the first user.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising disabling access to a certain video stream for at least one of the plurality of users.