Method and System for Monitoring and Switching Between Primary and Back-up Receiver Decoder Circuits in a Communication System

• US 20090070827A1
• 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: Barroso, Eduardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system and method for switching between receiver and decoder circuits includes a first receiver receiving a first channel signal and forming a first channel signal, a second receiver receiving the first channel signal and forming a second channel signal and a monitoring system monitoring the first channel signal and the second channel signal and generating a monitoring signal. The system also includes a transfer switch in communication with the first channel signal and the second channel signal. The monitoring system controls the switching of the transfer switch from the first signal to the second signal in response to the monitoring signal. The transfer switch forms a switch output signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring a first channel signal for a first channel and generating a monitoring signal;

providing a second channel signal for the first channel;

coupling the first channel signal and the second channel signal to a transfer switch; and

controlling the switching of the transfer switch from the first signal to the second signal in response to the monitoring signal, said transfer switch forming a switch output signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein monitoring comprise monitoring the first channel through the transfer switch.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first channel signal comprises a first serial digital signal and the second channel signal comprises a second serial digital signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to monitoring a first channel signal, communicating a first channel signal through a first receiver and forming the first channel signal using the receiver.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein after forming the first channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the first channel signal.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to monitoring the first channel signal, communicating a first channel signal through a first receiver and a first encoder and forming the first channel signal at the encoder.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein after forming the first channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the first channel signal.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 communicating a first channel signal through a second receiver and forming the second channel signal using the receiver.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein after forming the second channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the second channel signal.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a first channel signal through a second receiver and a second encoder and forming the second channel signal at the encoder.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein after forming the second channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the second channel signal.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the switch output signal to an encoder to from an encoder signal therefrom.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising coupling the encoder signal to an IP network.

13. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the encoder comprises an MPEG encoder.

20. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the encoder comprises an MPEG encoder.

21. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising coupling the encoder signal to an IP network.

15. A method comprising:

communicating a first channel signal through a first receiver and a first encoder;

forming a first channel signal at the encoder;

communicating the first channel signal through a second receiver and a second encoder;

forming a second channel signal at the encoder;

monitoring the first channel signal and the second channel signal and generating a monitoring signal;

coupling the first channel signal and the second channel signal to a transfer switch; and

controlling the switching of the transfer switch from the first circuit to the second circuit in response to the monitoring signal, said transfer switch forming a switch output signal.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the first channel through the transfer switch.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein after forming the first channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the first channel signal.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein after forming the second channel signal and before coupling, inserting advertising into the second channel signal.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising communicating the switch output signal to an encoder to from an encoder signal therefrom.

22. A system comprising:

a first receiver receiving a first channel signal and forming a first channel signal;

a second receiver receiving the first channel signal and forming a second channel signal;

a monitoring system monitoring the first channel signal and the second channel signal and generating a monitoring signal;

a transfer switch in communication with the first channel signal and the second channel signal; and

said monitoring system controlling the switching of the transfer switch from the first signal to the second signal in response to the monitoring signal,

said transfer switch forming a switch output signal.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 comprising a first encoder in communication with the first receiver forming the first channel signal.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a first advertising insertion module in communication with the first encoder inserting advertising into the first signal.

25. A system as recited in claim 22 wherein the monitoring system is in communication with the transfer switch and monitors the first channel signal and the second channel signal therethrough.