Network, system and method for distributing digital media

• US 20070036303A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Peter, Calderon, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.280
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/14 cable networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A network, a system and a method distribute digital media from a substation and/or a server to a set-top box of a subscriber. The digital media is requested, is accessed and/or is transferred from the substation and/or the server to the set-top box via one or more nodes and/or one or more node clusters. The subscriber may utilize an interactive means in conjunction with the set-top box to access, to request, to receive and/or to display the digital media via a communication medium and/or a connection line. One or more nodes and/or one or more node clusters connect a central office to the substation. The digital media is stored in a server farm of the central office which is accessed by one or more nodes and/or one or more node clusters. The digital media is transmitted and/or is distributed to the set-top box via the communication medium, the connection line one or more of the nodes and/or one or more of the node clusters. The subscriber access, displays and/or views the digital media via the set-top box, a display monitor, one or more input devices and/or one or more output devices.

Claims

1. A network for distributing digital media to a set-top box of a user via internet protocol, the network comprising:

a central office having a first server and a keyboard video mouse switch wherein the keyboard video mouse switch is connected to the first server and further wherein the digital media is stored in the first server;

a substation having a switch and a multiplexer wherein the substation is remote with respect to the set-top box and the central office and further wherein the switch is connected to the multiplexer; and

a node connecting the substation to the central office wherein the node accesses the digital media in the first server via the keyboard video mouse switch wherein the digital media is transferred to the substation and further wherein the substation transmits the digital media to the set-top box of the user.

2. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

a line connecting the multiplexer of the substation to the set-top box of the user.

3. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

an internet service provider connected to the substation.

4. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

a voice over internet protocol network connected to the substation.

5. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

a fiber optic line connecting the switch of the substation to the central office.

6. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

a second server controlling the keyboard video mouse switch.

7. The network of claim 1 further comprising:

a second server authorizing the user to access the digital media.

8. A system for distributing digital media to a user via an internet protocol, the system comprising:

a set-top box having a graphical user interface and a display monitor wherein the digital media is requested via graphical user interface and further wherein the digital media is displayed via the display monitor;

a first network of servers having a keyboard video mouse switch wherein the digital media is stored in the first network of servers;

a substation connecting the set-top box to the first network of servers wherein the substation is remote with respect to the set-top box and the first network of servers wherein a node of the substation is connected to the keyboard video mouse switch of the first network of servers wherein the digital media is transferred from the first network of servers to the substation via the node; and

a connection line connecting the substation to the set-top box wherein the digital media is transferred to the set-top box via the connection line.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the graphical user interface is a wireless device.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a swipe card reader in communication with the set-top box.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second network of servers in communication with the substation or the first network of servers.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a smart card for accessing the digital media via the set-top box.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a satellite in communication with the first network of servers.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a fiber optic link connecting the substation to the first network of servers.

15. A method for distributing digital media to a set-top box of a user wherein the set-top box has a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a network having a substation and a plurality of servers wherein the substation is remote with respect to the set-top box and the plurality of servers wherein a node of the substation is connected to a keyboard video mouse switch of the plurality of servers via a fiber optic link wherein the digital media is stored in the plurality of servers;

accessing the digital media in the plurality of servers with the node via the keyboard video mouse switch wherein the digital media is transferred to the substation via the fiber optic link; and

transferring the digital media from substation to the set-top box wherein the set-top box disseminates the digital media.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

requesting the digital media from the substation via the graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

transferring an advertisement from the plurality of servers to the set-top box.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

authorizing the digital media to be transferred to set-top box.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

storing the digital media in the set-top box.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

collecting marketing data from the set-top box.