Method and System for Monitoring and Controlling Receiving Circuit Modules at a Local Collection Facility From a Remote Facility

• US 20090070825A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miner, Daniel M., Ribordy, Douglas E., Mika, Jeanet C., Pham, Hoang D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for controlling receiving circuit module includes a remote facility, an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network. The local collection facility includes a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules having a first encoder. The local collection facility generates a receiving circuit module monitoring signal. The local collection facility communicates the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network. The monitoring system generates a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal communicates the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules at a local collection facility, said plurality of receiving circuit module comprising a first receiving circuit module;

generating receiving circuit module monitoring signals at the local collection facility;

communicating the monitoring signals to a remote facility through a network;

generating a receiving circuit module control signal at the remote facility;

communicating the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network; and

controlling the receiving circuit module in response to the control signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first receiving circuit module comprises an encoder and receiver module.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the receiver module comprises a tuner, demodulator and decoder.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first receiving circuit module comprises an IP encoder.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the network comprises an IP network.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises an audio visual parameter signal.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises a reset encoder signal.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises a processing amplifier adjustment signal.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises a closed caption control signal.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the monitoring signal comprises a closed caption status signal.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the monitoring signal comprises an encoder status signal.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the monitoring signal comprises an over temperature signal, a power supply failure signal or a fan alarm signal.

13. A system comprising:

a remote facility;

an IP network;

a local collection facility in communication with the remote facility through the IP network, said local collection facility comprising a plurality of primary receiving circuit modules comprising a first encoder, said local collection facility generating a receiving circuit module monitoring signal, said local collection facility communicating the monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network;

a monitoring system generating a receiving circuit module control signal in response to the monitoring signal and said monitoring system communicating the receiving circuit module control signal to the receiving circuit module through the IP network.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the monitoring system and the remote facility are co-located.

15. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the monitoring system is disposed in a network operations center spaced apart from the remote facility.

16. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control signal comprises an audio-visual parameter signal.

17. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control signal comprises a reset encoder signal.

18. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control signal comprises a processing amplifier adjustment signal.

19. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control signal comprises a closed caption control signal

20. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the monitoring signal comprises a closed caption status signal.

21. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the monitoring signal comprises an encoder status signal.

22. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the monitoring signal comprises an over temperature signal, a power supply failure signal or a fan alarm signal.

23. A system comprising:

a first remote facility and a second remote facility spaced apart from the first remote facility;

an IP network;

a first plurality of local facilities, each of the first plurality a local collection facilities in communication with the first remote facility through the IP network, each of the first plurality of local collection facilities comprising a first plurality of primary receiving circuit modules comprising a first encoder, at least one of the plurality of first local collection facilities generating a first receiving circuit module monitoring signals, said at least one of the local collection facilities communicating the first receiving circuit module monitoring signals to the remote facility through the IP network;

a second plurality of local facilities, each of the second plurality a local collection facilities in communication with the second remote facility through the IP network, each of the second plurality of local collection facilities comprising a second plurality of primary receiving circuit modules comprising a second encoder, at least one of the plurality of second local collection facilities generating a second receiving circuit module monitoring signal, said at least one of the second local collection facilities communicating the second receiving circuit module monitoring signal to the remote facility through the IP network;

a monitoring system generating a first receiving circuit module control signal in response to the first receiving circuit module monitoring signal and a second first receiving circuit module monitoring signal, said monitoring system communicating the first receiving circuit module control signal to the first receiving circuit module and the second receiving circuit module control signal to the second receiving circuit module through the IP network.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein the first receiving circuit module monitoring signal comprises a first encoder status signal and the second receiving circuit module monitoring signal comprises a second encoder status signal.

25. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein the first receiving circuit module control signal comprises a first encoder control signal and the second receiving circuit module control signal comprises a second encoder control signal.