Intelligent two-way switching network

• US 20060225103A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: James, Thomas H., Shah, Dipak M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

An intelligent switching network for delivering satellite signals to a plurality of Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD). The network comprises a plurality of inputs, designed to receive a plurality of satellite signals, wherein the satellite signals are directed to the inputs based on an originating satellite for each of the satellite signals, a multiswitch, having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein at least some of the inputs are coupled to the plurality of inputs and receive the satellite signals, and an interface, coupling the plurality of IRDs to the outputs of the multiswitch through the interface on a single cable, wherein the interface controls the flow of signals from the plurality of IRDs to the multiswitch and controls the flow of satellite signals to the plurality of IRDs based on commands from the IRDs to the interface.

Claims

1. An intelligent switching network for delivering satellite signals to a plurality of Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), comprising:

a plurality of inputs, designed to receive a plurality of satellite signals, wherein the satellite signals are directed to the inputs based on an originating satellite for each of the satellite signals;

a multiswitch, having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein at least some of the inputs are coupled to the plurality of inputs and receive the satellite signals; and

an interface, coupling the plurality of IRDs to the outputs of the multiswitch through the interface on a single cable, wherein the interface controls the flow of signals from the plurality of IRDs to the multiswitch and controls the flow of satellite signals to the plurality of IRDs based on commands from the IRDs to the interface.

2. The intelligent switching network of claim 1, further comprising a second output of the multiswitch, wherein the second output is a legacy output that commands the multiswitch via a cable other than the single cable coupled to the interface.

3. The intelligent switching network of claim 2, wherein the interface is a network interface.

4. The intelligent switching network of claim 3, further comprising a controller, coupled to the interface, for controlling signal flow between the interface and the plurality of IRDs.

5. The intelligent switching network of claim 4, wherein the controller monitors a signal strength of the outputs of the interface and a signal strength of the legacy output.

6. The intelligent switching network of claim 5, wherein the controller monitors an identification (ID) of the plurality of IRDs coupled to the interface and each legacy IRD coupled to the multiswitch.

7. The intelligent switching network of claim 6, wherein the controller refuses commands from at least one of the plurality of IRDs based on at least one of the group consisting of:

the identification of the monitored ID, a signal strength of the outputs of the interface, and a signal strength of the output of the multiswitch.

8. The intelligent switching network of claim 7, wherein the plurality of IRDs receive signals on separate private channels in a respective fashion on the single cable.

9. The intelligent switching network of claim 1, further comprising an automatic gain controller, coupled between the multiswitch and the interface, for controlling a portion signal strength of the portions of the satellite signals.

10. The intelligent switching network of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of tuners, coupled between the multiswitch and the interface, wherein each tuner is controlled by the plurality of IRDs in a respective fashion.

11. The intelligent switching network of claim 10, further comprising a network tuner, coupled between the multiswitch and the interface, wherein the network tuner is controlled by a service provider and cannot be controlled by the plurality of IRDs or any legacy IRD.

12. The intelligent switching network of claim 11, wherein an output of the interface is a combined signal.

13. The intelligent switching network of claim 12, wherein the combined signal comprises a plurality of individual signals, a first individual signal comprising an output of the network tuner, and successive individual signals comprising signals selected by the plurality of IRDs coupled to the interface.

14. The intelligent switching network claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of IRDs coupled to the interface receives the entire combined signal and tunes to the individual signals based on a mapping.

15. An intelligent switching network for selectively delivering satellite video signals to at least one Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), comprising:

an antenna for receiving the satellite video signals;

a plurality of amplifiers, coupled to the antenna, each amplifier receiving and amplifying specific satellite video signals based on an originating satellite for each of the satellite video signals;

a multiswitch, having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein at least some of the inputs are coupled to the plurality of amplifiers in a respective fashion; and

an interface, coupling the IRD to at least one output of the multiswitch through the interface on a single cable, wherein the interface selectively controls the flow of signals from the plurality of IRDs to the multiswitch and controls the flow of satellite signals to the plurality of IRDs based on commands from the IRDs to the interface.

16. The intelligent switching network of claim 15, wherein the interface is a network interface.

17. The intelligent switching network of claim 16, further comprising a controller, coupled to the interface, for controlling signal flow between the interface and the plurality of IRDs.

18. The intelligent switching network of claim 17, further comprising an automatic gain controller, coupled between the multiswitch and the interface, for controlling a signal strength of the satellite signals.

19. A satellite signal delivery system, for selectively delivering satellite video signals to at least one Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), comprising:

a multiswitch, having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein at least some of the inputs receive satellite video signals from a plurality of satellites; and

an interface, coupling the IRD to at least one output of the multiswitch through the interface on a single cable, wherein the interface selectively controls the flow of signals from the plurality of IRDs to the multiswitch and controls the flow of satellite signals to the plurality of IRDs based on commands from the IRDs to the interface.

20. The satellite signal delivery system of claim 19, wherein the interface is a network interface.