COAX AND IP HYBRID DIGITAL TV AND VOD SYSTEM

• US 20100251316A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.
• Original Assignee: iBAHN General Holdings Corporation (Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.)
• Inventors: Clark, Stuart, Nicol, David, Bryars, Mark, Hulse, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/111
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/77 using carrier waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital information and/or data services over hybrid network infrastructures including both IP and coax transmission media.

Claims

1. A network, comprising:

a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RF) modulation scheme;

a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP);

one or more data servers configured to provide data services including both digital television services and video-on-demand services; and

one or more coax servers configured to receive via the second transmission infrastructure first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure, the one or more coax servers further being configured to convert the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme;

wherein the one or more data servers provide the data services to the first client devices via the one or more coax servers and the first transmission infrastructure, and to second client devices connected via the second transmission infrastructure.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein the RF modulation scheme comprises either quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

3. The network of claim 1 wherein the first and second client devices comprise set top boxes configured to control operation of associated televisions.

4. The network of claim 1 wherein a first subset of the one or more data servers is configured for multicast transmission, and a second subset of the one or more data servers is configured for unicast transmission.

5. The network of claim 4 wherein a third subset of the one or more servers is configured for both unicast and multicast transmission.

6. The network of claim 1 further comprising a coax modem termination system connected to both first and second transmission infrastructures and a plurality of IP-coax modems configured to facilitate transmission of communications between the first client devices and a first subset of the one or more data servers via the first transmission infrastructure using an IP-over-coax modulation scheme.

7. The network of claim 6 wherein the communications from the first client devices to the first subset of data servers facilitate selection of specific ones of the data services to be provided to the first client devices from which the communications originated.

8. The network of claim 7 wherein each of the one or more coax servers is configured to provide metadata in association with a coax program stream delivered to the first client devices via the first transmission infrastructure, the metadata being configured for use by the first client devices for generating the communications for the specific data services corresponding to the coax program stream with which the metadata are associated.

9. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more coax servers is further configured to provide coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information including coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers, the at least one of the one or more data servers being configured to provide the coax channel tuning information to the first client devices.

10. A coax server for use in a network including a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RF) modulation scheme, and a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP), the network further including one or more data servers configured to provide data services including both digital television services and video-on-demand services, the coax server comprising one or more coax ports configured for connection to the first transmission infrastructure, and one or more IP ports configured for connection to the second transmission infrastructure and to receive first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure, the coax server further comprising an up-converter configured to convert the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme, the coax server further comprising a program stream manager configured to provide coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information including coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information being configured to enable the first client devices to receive selected ones of the specific program streams.

11. The coax server of claim 10 wherein the RF modulation scheme comprises either quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

12. The coax server of claim 10 wherein the first and second client devices comprise set top boxes configured to control operation of associated televisions.

13. The coax server of claim 10 wherein the one or more data servers are configured for one or both of unicast transmission or multicast transmission, the coax server further comprising a stream pump configured to manage operation of the up-converter and allocate bandwidth associated with the first transmission infrastructure for both the unicast and multicast transmissions.

14. The coax server of claim 10 wherein the network further includes a plurality of IP-coax modems connected to both of the first and second transmission infrastructures and configured to facilitate transmission of communications between the first client devices and a first subset of the one or more data servers via the first transmission infrastructure using an IP-over-coax modulation scheme, and wherein the communications from the first client devices to the first subset of data servers facilitate selection of specific ones of the data services to be provided to the first client devices from which the communications originated, the coax server further comprising a media channel manager configured to provide metadata in association with a first coax program stream delivered to the first client devices via the first transmission infrastructure, the metadata being configured for use by the first client devices for generating the communications for the specific data services corresponding to the first coax program stream with which the metadata are associated.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing data services in a network including a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RF) modulation scheme, and a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP), the network further including one or more data servers configured to provide the data services, the data services including both digital television services and video-on-demand services, the method comprising:

receiving first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure

converting the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme; and

providing coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information including coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information being configured to enable the first client devices to receive selected ones of the specific program streams.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the RF modulation scheme comprises either quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more data servers are configured for one or both of unicast transmission or multicast transmission, the method further comprising allocating bandwidth associated with the first transmission infrastructure for both the unicast and multicast transmissions.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the network further includes a plurality of IP-coax modems connected to both of the first and second transmission infrastructures and configured to facilitate transmission of communications between the first client devices and a first subset of the one or more data servers via the first transmission infrastructure using a cable modem termination and IP-over-coax modulation scheme, and wherein the communications from the first client devices to the first subset of data servers facilitate selection of specific ones of the data services to be provided to the first client devices from which the communications originated, the method further comprising providing metadata in association with a first coax program stream delivered to the first client devices via the first transmission infrastructure, the metadata being configured for use by the first client devices for generating the communications for the specific data services corresponding to the first coax program stream with which the metadata are associated.