DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, RECEPTION APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR TRANSITIONING TO NEW SERVICES

• US 20150033280A1
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: FAY, Luke
• Granted Patent: US 10,237,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/33 by plural channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/423 Transmitter side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/00 Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859

Abstract

A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of non-backwards-compatible services. The broadcasting method includes receiving, by a first service provider, a plurality of first services, which include a first service from each of the first and second service providers. The first service provider generates a first broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of first services, and broadcasts the first broadcast multiplex on a first broadcast channel allocated to the first service provider. A second service provider receives a plurality of second services, which include a second service from each of the first and second service providers. The second service provider generates a second broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of second services, and broadcasts the second broadcast multiplex on a second broadcast channel allocated to the second service provider.

Claims

1. A reception apparatus configured to receive a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers on a first broadcast channel, the reception apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive a selection of one of the plurality of first services broadcast via the first broadcast channel,

tune to the first broadcast channel,

decode the selected one of the plurality of first services on the tuned first broadcast channel, the plurality of first services corresponding to a plurality of second services from the plurality of different broadcast providers broadcast on a second broadcast channel, and

output the selected one of the plurality of first services on the transition broadcast channel for display.

2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

at least two of the plurality of services are associated with different major virtual channel numbers.