Multiple dwelling unit satellite television delivery system

• US 20070136765A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norin, John, Shah, Dipak
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Systems for delivering satellite signals to multiple dwelling units (MDUs). A system in accordance with the present invention comprises an antenna for receiving the satellite signals, a conversion unit, coupled to the antenna, for stacking the satellite signals onto a single cable, a distribution unit, coupled to the conversion unit, wherein the distribution unit distributes the stacked satellite signal to a plurality of outputs, and at least one customer device, coupled to an output of the plurality of outputs, wherein each unit in the MDU uses the customer device to destack the stacked satellite signals for delivery to a receiver.

Claims

1. A system for delivering satellite signals to multiple dwelling units (MDUs), comprising:

an antenna for receiving the satellite signals;

a conversion unit, coupled to the antenna, for stacking the satellite signals onto a single cable;

a distribution unit, coupled to the conversion unit, wherein the distribution unit distributes the stacked satellite signal to a plurality of outputs; and

at least one customer device, coupled to an output of the plurality of outputs, wherein each unit in the MDU uses the customer device to destack the stacked satellite signals for delivery to a receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customer device selectively delivers the destacked satellite signal to a plurality of receivers within the MDU.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second conversion unit, coupled to the conversion unit, and a second distribution unit, coupled to the second conversion unit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second conversion unit stacks the satellite signals and the second distribution unit provide the satellite signals stacked by the second conversion unit to a second plurality of outputs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conversion unit further receives additional signals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the additional signals comprise off-air television signals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the additional signals further comprise internet signals.

8. A system for delivering satellite signals to a Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU), comprising:

an antenna for receiving the satellite signals;

a conversion unit, coupled to the antenna, for stacking the received satellite signals onto a single cable;

a distribution unit, coupled to the conversion unit, wherein the distribution unit distributes the stacked satellite signal to a plurality of outputs, each of the plurality of outputs comprising a single output cable;

a plurality of customer devices, wherein the customer devices are coupled to the plurality of single output cables in a respective manner, wherein the customer devices destack the stacked satellite signals; and

a receiver, coupled to the customer device, for decoding the destacked satellite signals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the customer device selectively delivers the destacked satellite signal to a plurality of receivers within the MDU based on commands received from the receiver.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second conversion unit, coupled to the conversion unit, and a second distribution unit, coupled to the second conversion unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second conversion unit stacks the satellite signals, and the second distribution unit provide the satellite signals stacked by the second conversion unit to a second plurality of outputs, wherein each of the second plurality of outputs comprise a single output cable.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the conversion unit further receives additional signals.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the additional signals comprise off-air television signals.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the additional signals further comprise internet signals.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the conversion unit and distribution unit are mounted in a cabinet in the MDU separate from any customer units in the MDU.