Method and system for accessing multimedia data over public switched telephone network

• US 5,528,281 A
• Filed: 07/30/1993
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Grady, John, Modrowsky, John, Richard, Arthur A. III, Hand, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/099,381
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 379/105, 379/102, 379/104, 379/94, 379/93, 379/96-98, 348/6-8, 348/10-13, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 : Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13291 : Frequency division multiplexing, FDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 : Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprises a central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and orders from a prescribed subscriber. The central office includes a gateway system for conveying routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from the server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with the routing data. An interface at the central office transmits and receives audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on first, second and third signal channels. Each subscriber premises includes an interface for transmitting and receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on the three signal channels. A plurality of subscriber local loops interconnect each subscriber interface and the central office interface. Multimedia information is collected from information providers and stored at media servers that provide a library of data and control sessions. Software modules at the media servers and resident terminals enable interactive multimedia session building, sharing of databases and joint authoring of multimedia presentations.

Claims

1. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a subscriber interface for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops interconnecting corresponding subscriber and central office interfaces.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia information server means comprises a database.

3. The network according to claim 1, wherein said multimedia information server means comprises a plurality of data bases.

4. The network according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of data bases are distributed among plural sites.

5. The network according to claim 4, wherein said data bases are interconnected through said gateway.

6. The network according to claim 4, wherein said data bases are interconnected outside said gateway.

7. The network according to claim 1, including means for establishing a communication path between subscriber loops so as to enable multimedia information supplied by said provider to be shared by subscribers interactively.

8. The network according to claim 1, wherein said central office interface frequency multiplexes said first, second and third signal channels.

9. The network according to claim 8, wherein said first, second and third signal channels are multiplexed on a common transmission medium.

10. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface, wherein said subscriber interface supplies uncompressed digital multimedia information signals, received from said central office, to a digital work station.

11. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data, wherein said multimedia information signals incoming from the central office are supplied to a personal computer;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface.

12. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops comprised of coaxial cable and interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface.

13. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops comprised of optical fibers and interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface.

14. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface,

wherein said multimedia information server comprises a plurality of data bases interconnected outside said gateway.

15. A public switched telephone network for providing information from a multimedia information server to any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

a telephone company central office receiving multimedia information signals from a multimedia information server and subscriber orders from a prescribed subscriber, said central office including a gateway for providing routing data in response to subscriber orders and a switch for routing multimedia signals from said server to the prescribed subscriber in accordance with said routing data;

a central office interface including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, first, second and third signal channels;

each said subscriber premises including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for transmitting or receiving audio telephone service signals, subscriber control signals and digital multimedia information signals on, respectively, the first, second and third signal channels; and

a plurality of subscriber local loops interconnecting a corresponding subscriber interface and said central office interface, including means for establishing a communication path between subscriber loops so as to enable multimedia information supplied by said multimedia information server to be shared by subscribers interactively.

16. A central office based public switched telephone network for supplying digital multimedia information from a digital information storage medium to designated subscriber premises, comprising:

subscriber loop transmission means for transferring (1) selected digital multimedia information from a central office to said subscriber premises, (2) subscriber order data from said subscriber premises to said central office location, and (3) telephone service signals between said subscriber premises and said central office;

switch means at said central office for receiving said subscriber order data from said subscriber loop transmission means;

a gateway responsive to said subscriber order data from said switch means for producing routing data;

a multimedia information file server means responsive to requests received from said gateway for obtaining selected digital multimedia information from said digital information storage medium; and

a digital cross-connect switch responsive to said routing data for transferring said digital multimedia information from said multimedia information file server means to said subscriber loop transmission means.

17. The network according to claim 16, wherein said subscriber loop transmission means includes means for frequency multiplexing (1)-(3).

18. The network according to claim 17, wherein the frequency multiplexing means multiplexes (1)-(3) on a common transmission medium.

19. The network of claim 16, wherein said multimedia information server means comprises:

subscriber request processing means responsive to subscriber request data for supplying information request data;

session control means responsive to said information request data for supplying information retrieval data and output control data;

data storage means responsive to said information retrieval data for supplying multimedia information; and

output control means responsive to said output control data for supplying said multimedia information.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein said data storage means includes a plurality of storage media for storing said program data.

21. The network according to claim 20, wherein said data storage means includes optical storage means and magnetic storage means.

22. The network according to claim 21, wherein said data storage means includes different storage media having different respective information retrieval times.

23. The network according to claim 16, wherein said multimedia information server means comprises a data base.

24. The network according to claim 23, wherein said multimedia information server means comprises a plurality of data bases.

25. The network according to claim 24, wherein said plurality of data bases are distributed among plural sites.

26. The network according to claim 25, wherein said data bases are interconnected through said gateway.

27. The network according to claim 25, wherein said data bases are interconnected outside said gateway.

28. The network according to claim 16, including means for establishing a communication path between subscriber loops so as to enable multimedia information supplied by said multimedia information file server means to be shared by subscribers interactively.