METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHANGING ALLOCATION CHARTS IN A SATELLITE BROADCASTING SYSTEM

• US 20090228934A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zaldivar, Gilbert, Tronson, Jonathan L., Luu, Trang V., Takamoto, Mark T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,723,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A broadcast system and method of changing allocations therein include a plurality of broadcast system components and a broadcast operation channel management system having a database. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a first allocation chart for the broadcast system with a first effective time and communicates at least a portion of the first allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components determines a local time and when the local time is equal to or greater than the effective time, operates with the first allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a second allocation chart for the broadcast system with a second effective time. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates at least a portion of the second allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components operates with the second allocation chart when the local time is equal to or greater than the second effective time.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a broadcast system comprising:

generating first allocation chart for the broadcast system with a first effective time;

communicating at least a portion of the first allocation chart to a plurality of broadcast system components;

determining a local time;

when the local time is equal to or greater than the effective time, operating the broadcast system the first allocation chart;

generating second allocation chart for the broadcast system with a second effective time;

communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components; and

when the local time is equal to or greater than the second effective time, operating the broadcast system the second allocation chart.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first allocation chart and the second allocation chart comprises a bit rate allocation chart.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first allocation chart and the second allocation chart comprises a bit rate allocation chart for a plurality of satellite transponders.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first effective time is during a first day and the second effective time is within the first day as the first effective time.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the broadcast system components comprise a transport processing system.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the broadcast system components comprise a compression control system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the broadcast system components comprise a traffic and scheduling system.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart using XML.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating orbital slot data.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating at least one of a satellite position, a coverage type or the satellite name.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating an uplink transponder and a downlink transponder.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating a spot beam number.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating a channel identifier.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart comprises communicating a channel logo.

15. A broadcast system comprising:

a plurality of broadcast system components;

a broadcast operation channel management system having a database, said broadcast operation channel management system generating a first allocation chart for the broadcast system with a first effective time, and communicating at least a portion of the first allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components,

said plurality of broadcast system components determining a local time and when the local time is equal to or greater than the effective time, operating with the first allocation chart;

said broadcast operation channel management system generating second allocation chart for a broadcast system with a second effective time, said broadcast operation channel management system communicating at least a portion of the second allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components; and

said plurality of broadcast system components operating with the second allocation chart when the local time is equal to or greater than the second effective time.

16. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first allocation chart and the second allocation chart comprises a bit rate allocation chart.

17. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first allocation chart and the second allocation chart comprises a bit rate allocation chart for a plurality of satellite transponders.

18. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the second effective time is within a same day as the first effective time.

19. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the plurality of broadcast system components comprises a compression control system and a traffic and scheduling system.