METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A LOCAL COLLECTION FACILITY AND A REMOTE FACILITY

• US 20090070838A1
• 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 9,756,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system and method for operating the same includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives local channel signals at a local collection facility and encodes the local channel signals into respective IP signals. The local collection facility includes a router routing the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving channel signals at a local collection facility;

encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals; and

routing the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the IP signals comprises video-over-IP signals.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising multiplexing the IP signals to form a multiplexed signal;

forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal.

modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal;

forming uplink signals from the modulated signals; and

uplinking the uplink signals to a satellite.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein uplinking comprises uplinking the uplink signals from the remote facility.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein uplinking comprises uplinking the uplink signals from a diverse site associated with the remote facility.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring and controlling the local collection facility remotely through the IP network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring and controlling the local collection facility remotely through the IP network at a network operations center.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of channel signals at a first local collection facility;

receiving a second plurality of channels a second local collection facility spaced apart from the first local collection facility;

encoding the first plurality of channel signals into a first plurality IP signals;

encoding the second plurality of channels into a second plurality of IP signals; and

routing the first IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring and controlling the first local collection facility and the second local collection facility remotely through the IP network.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the first local collection facility is located in first designated marketing area and the second local collection facility is located in a second designated marketing area.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the IP signals comprises video-over-IP signals.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising monitoring and controlling the first local collection facility and the second local collection facility remotely through the IP network.

13. A method of forming an output signal comprising:

receiving a first plurality of channel signals at a first local collection facility;

receiving a second plurality of channels a second local collection facility spaced apart from the first local collection facility;

receiving a third plurality of channel signals at a third local collection facility;

receiving a fourth plurality of channels a fourth local collection facility spaced apart from the first local collection facility;

encoding the first plurality of channel signals into a first plurality IP signals;

encoding the second plurality of channels into a second plurality of IP signals;

encoding the third plurality of channel signals into a third plurality IP signals;

encoding the fourth plurality of channels into a fourth plurality of IP signals;

routing the first plurality of IP signals and the second plurality of IP signals through an IP network to a first remote facility;

routing the third plurality of IP signals and the fourth plurality of IP signals through the IP network to a second remote facility; and

monitoring the first local collection facility, the second local collection facility, the third local collection facility and the fourth local collection facility at a monitoring system.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the first local collection facility, the second local collection facility, the third local collection facility and the fourth local collection facility through an IP network.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising controlling the first local collection facility, the second local collection facility, the third local collection facility and the fourth local collection facility at a monitoring system.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein controlling comprises controlling the first local collection facility, the second local collection facility, the third local collection facility and the fourth local collection facility through an IP network.

17. A system comprising:

an IP network;

a remote facility; and

a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network, said local collection facility receiving local channel signals at a local collection facility and encoding the local channel signals into respective IP signals, said local collection facility including a router routing the respective IP signals through an IP network to a remote facility.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the router comprises a primary router and a secondary router.

19. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local channel signals comprise terrestrial over the air channel signals received through an antenna.

20. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local channel signals comprise standard definition terrestrial over the air channel signals received through an antenna.

21. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local channel signals comprise high definition terrestrial over the air channel signals received through an antenna.

22. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local channel signals comprise channel signals received through wired or optical connection.

23. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the local collection facility comprises a plurality of local collection facilities.

24. A system as recited in claim 17 further comprising a monitoring system in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network.