Hybrid data distribution systems

• US 20070022237A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
• Inventors: Simpson, David, Barnett, Brian, Jones, Jackson, Norris, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• 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 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A hybrid data distribution system includes a modulator coupled to an analog device, one or more processors coupled to the modulator, and a database coupled to the one or more processors. The database is configured to store encoded data. The system also includes an Ethernet switch for transmitting the encoded data to a digital device. The Ethernet switch is coupled to each of the database and the digital device. Moreover, the one or more processors are configured to directly or indirectly obtain the encoded data from the database, decode the encoded data, and directly or indirectly transmit the decoded data to the modulator. The modulator is configured to transmit the decoded data to the analog device, and the Ethernet switch is configured to directly or indirectly obtain the encoded data from the database, and to transmit the encoded data to the digital device.

Claims

1. A hybrid data distribution system for transmitting encoded data to a digital device and for transmitting decoded data to an analog device, comprising:

a database for storing the encoded data therein, wherein the encoded data comprises information associated with an interactive item selection system;

at least one processor coupled to the database for accessing the encoded data from the database and for decoding the encoding data to generate decoded data;

a modulator coupled to the at least one processor for receiving the decoded data from the at least one processor and for transmitting the decoded data to the analog device; and

means for transmitting the encoded data to the digital device, wherein the means for transmitting the encoded data to the digital device is coupled to each of the database and the digital device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog device is coupled to a first viewing surface and is configured to display the decoded information received from the modulator on the first viewing surface, and wherein the digital device is coupled to a second viewing surface and is configured to:

decode the encoded data received from the means from transmitting; and

display the decoded information on the second viewing surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first viewing surface is a first television, and the second viewing surface is a second television.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor comprises:

a first plurality of processors; and

a central processor, wherein the first plurality of processors are configured to decode a first type of encoded data, and the central processor is configured to decode a second type of encoded data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first type of encoded data comprises an item selection system for viewing by a user of the first viewing surface, and the second type of encoded data comprises at least one movie for viewing by the user of the first viewing surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting comprises at least one of an Ethernet switch, a cable modem, and a wireless transmitter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the encoded data is digital data, and the decoded data is analog data.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising billing software coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the billing software is configured to generate a first bill associated with the transmission of the encoded data from the means for transmission to the digital device, and a second bill associated with the transmission of the decoded data from the modulator to the analog device.

9. A hybrid data distribution system for transmitting encoded data to a digital device and for transmitting decoded data to an analog device, comprising:

a modulator coupled to an analog device;

at least one processor coupled to the modulator;

a database coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the database is configured to store encoded data, and the encoded data comprises information for an interactive item selection system; and

means for transmitting the encoded data to a digital device, wherein the means for transmitting is coupled to each of the database and the digital device, and the at least one processor is configured to;

directly or indirectly obtain the encoded data from the database;

decode the encoded data; and

directly or indirectly transmit the decoded data to the modulator, wherein the modulator is configured to transmit the decoded data to the analog device, and the means for transmitting is configured to;

directly or indirectly obtain the encoded data from the database; and

transmit the encoded data to the digital device.