Audio and video transmission and receiving system

• US 20060212914A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1991
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acacia Media Technologies Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Greenwich Information Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Browne, H. Lee, Yurt, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/436,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20060212914A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23473 by pre-encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• 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 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/54 : the signals being synchronous H04N21/23602, H04N21/23614, H04N21/2365, H04N21/2368, H04N21/4341, H04N21/4342, H04N21/4347, H04N21/4348 take precedence

Abstract

A system of distributing video and/or audio information employs digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The compressed and encoded audio and/or video information is sent over standard telephone, cable or satellite broadcast channels to a receiver specified by a subscriber of the service, preferably in less than real time, for later playback and optional recording on standard audio and/or video tape.

Claims

1. A transmission system for providing audiovisual information to remote locations, the transmission system comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving audio/video material comprising compressed audio information and compressed video information via a communication channel from a remote location, the compressed audio information comprising compressed digital data blocks of audio information and the compressed video information comprising compressed digital data blocks of video information, the video information having been compressed using a technique including discrete cosine transformation and motion compensation, the digital data blocks of audio information having been assigned audio relative time markers for the audio information and the digital data blocks of video information having been assigned video relative time markers for the video information, the assigned audio relative time markers and the assigned video relative time markers allowing for realignment of the audio information and the video information;

an audio decompressor decompressing the compressed audio information;

a video decompressor decompressing the compressed video information;

an analog audio output converter converting the decompressed audio information and an analog video output converter converting the decompressed video information, the converted decompressed audio and video information being a television signal;

a transmitter for sending the television signal to a plurality of remote locations at a real time rate; and

wherein the receiver, the decompressors, the output converters, and the transmitter are at a cable headend.

2. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the signal receiving device, the converter, and the transmitter means are at a cable headend.

3. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the signal receiving device receives the compressed audio information and compressed video information over a satellite communication channel.

4. The transmission system of claim 17 further comprising an item database storing program note information associated with the compressed audio information and compressed video information.

5. The transmission system of claim 4 wherein the further transmitter-further sends at least some of the program note information to at least some of the plurality of remote locations.

6. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising a storage device at the cable headend, the storage device storing the compressed audio information and compressed video information.

7. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising a buffer, the buffer buffering a portion of the compressed audio information and compressed video information.

8. The transmission system of claim 6 wherein the stored compressed audio information and compressed video information comprises a file.

9. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising a data library and a transmitter remote from the cable headend, the data library storing the compressed audio and compressed video information and the transmitter remote from the cable headend transmitting compressed audio and compressed video information in the data library to the receiver-at the cable headend.

10. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein time encoding of the digital data blocks of audio information and time encoding of the digital data blocks of video information allows for realignment of the audio information and the video information.

11. The transmission system of claim 2 wherein time encoding of the digital data blocks of audio information and time encoding of the digital data blocks of video information allows for realignment of the audio information and the video information.

12. The transmission system of claim 5 wherein time encoding of the digital data blocks of audio information and time encoding of the digital data blocks of video information allows for realignment of the audio information and the video information.

13. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein time encoding of the digital data blocks of audio information and time encoding of the digital data blocks of video information allows for realignment of the audio information and the video information.

14. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter means sends the television signal to at least one of the remote locations.

15. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter means sends the television signal to a plurality of the remote locations.

16. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the digital data blocks of audio information are addressable by the assigned audio relative time markers and the digital data blocks of video information are *addressable by the assigned video relative time markers.

17. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising a further transmitter at the cable headend, the further transmitter sending compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/video material to at least some of the plurality of remote locations at a real time rate.

20. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the receiver receives the compressed audio information and compressed video information at a real time rate.

21. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the receiver receives the compressed audio information and compressed video information at a real time rate, the decompressors decompress the compressed audio information and compressed video information at a real time rate, and the output converters convert the decompressed audio information and decompressed video information at a real time rate.

22. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein the compressed audio information and compressed video information comprises a television program or movie.

24. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising a further transmitter at the cable headend sending compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/video material to at least some of the plurality of remote locations at a real time rate;

and

a plurality of receiving systems, with a receiving system at at least some of the plurality of remote locations, each receiving system comprising an audio decompressor for decompressing compressed audio information and a video decompressor for decompressing compressed video information;

wherein the receiver receives the compressed audio information and compressed video information at a real time rate;

wherein the compressed audio information and compressed video information comprises a television program or movie; and

wherein the digital data blocks of audio information are addressable by the assigned audio relative time markers and the digital data blocks of video information are addressable by the assigned video relative time markers.

25. The transmission system of claim 24 further comprising a data library and a transmitter remote from the cable headend, the data library storing the compressed audio and compressed video information and the transmitter remote from the cable headend transmitting the compressed audio and compressed video information in the data library to the receiver at the cable headend.

18. The transmission system of claim 18 wherein the compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/video material is the compressed audio information and compressed video information.

19. The transmission system of claim 18 wherein at least some of the receiving systems each comprise a storage device for storing received compressed audio information and compressed video information, an audio decompressor for decompressing audio information, a video decompressor for decompressing video information, and playback controls.

23. The transmission system of claim 19 wherein the compressed audio information and compressed video information comprises a file.

26. A transmission system for providing audiovisual information to remote locations, the transmission system comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving audio/video material comprising compressed audio information and compressed video information comprising a television program or a movie via a communication channel from a remote location at a real time rate, the compressed audio information comprising compressed digital data blocks of audio information and the compressed video information comprising compressed digital data blocks of video information, the video information having been compressed using a technique including discrete cosine transformation and motion compensation;

an audio decompressor decompressing the compressed audio information at a real time rate;

a video decompressor decompressing the compressed video information at a real time rate;

an analog audio output converter converting the decompressed audio information at a real time rate and an analog video output converter converting the decompressed video information at a real time rate, the converted decompressed audio and video information being a television signal;

a first transmitter for sending the television signal to a plurality of remote locations at a real time rate;

a second transmitter for sending compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/video material to a plurality of remote locations, wherein the compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/visual material is received at some of the remote locations by a receiving system, each receiving system comprising a storage device for storing received compressed audio information and compressed video information, a further audio decompressor for decompressing audio information, a further video decompressor for decompressing video information, and playback controls; and

wherein the receiver, the audio decompressor and the video decompressor, the output converters, and the transmitter are at a cable headend.

27. A transmission system for providing audiovisual information to remote locations, the transmission system comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving audio/visual material comprising compressed audio information and compressed video information comprising a television program or a movie via a communication channel from a remote location at a real time rate, the compressed audio information comprising compressed digital data blocks of audio information and the compressed video information comprising compressed digital data blocks of video information, the video information having been compressed using a technique including discrete cosine transformation and motion compensation, the digital data blocks of audio information having been assigned relative time markers for the audio information and the digital data blocks of video information having been assigned relative time markers for the video information, the assigned audio relative time markers and the assigned video relative time markers allowing for realignment of the audio information and the video information;

a transmitter for sending compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/visual material to a plurality of remote locations at a real time rate; and

wherein the receiver and the transmitter are at a cable headend.

28. The transmission system of claim 27 wherein the digital data blocks of audio information are addressable by the assigned audio relative time markers and the digital data blocks of video information are addressable by the assigned video relative time markers.

29. The transmission system of claim 27 wherein the transmitter sends the compressed audio and video information to a plurality of receiving systems.

30. The transmission system of claim 29 wherein at least some of the receiving systems each comprise a storage device for storing received compressed audio information and compressed video information, an audio decompressor for decompressing audio information, a video decompressor for decompressing video information, and playback controls.

31. The transmission system of claim 27 further comprising a storage device at the cable headend, the storage device storing the compressed audio information and compressed video information.

32. A transmission system for providing audiovisual information to remote locations, the transmission system comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving audio/visual material comprising compressed audio information and compressed video information comprising a television program or a movie via a communication channel from a remote location at a real time rate, the compressed audio information comprising compressed digital data blocks of audio information and the compressed video information comprising compressed digital data blocks of video information, the video information having been compressed using a technique including discrete cosine transformation and motion compensation, the digital data blocks of audio information having been assigned relative time markers for the audio information and the digital data blocks of video information having been assigned relative time markers for the video information, the assigned audio relative time markers and the assigned video relative time markers allowing for realignment of the audio information and the video information;

a satellite transmitter for sending compressed audio information and compressed video information representing the audio/visual material to a plurality of remote locations at a real time rate; and

wherein the receiver and the satellite transmitter comprise a distribution system remote from the remote locations.

33. The transmission system of claim 32 wherein the digital data blocks of audio information are addressable by the assigned audio relative time markers and the digital data blocks of video information are addressable by the assigned video relative time markers.

34. The transmission system of claim 32 wherein the satellite transmitter sends the compressed audio and video information to a plurality of receiving systems.

35. The transmission system of claim 34 wherein at least some of the receiving systems each comprise a storage device for storing received compressed audio information and compressed video information, an audio decompressor for decompressing audio information, a video decompressor for decompressing video information, and playback controls.

36. The transmission system of claim 32 further comprising a storage device at the distribution system, the storage device storing the compressed audio information and compressed video information.