Switched video distribution apparatus
First Claim
1. Switched video distribution apparatus, comprising:
- video receiving means (10) having RF bus combiners and responsive to video headend signals, for providing a plurality of video information signals;
video switch assignment control means (50), responsive to a plurality of video channel select signals from a corresponding plurality of subscribers, for providing a corresponding plurality of video switch assignment control signals; and
a plurality of dynamically assignable video switch means (20, 21, . . . ,
44), each responsive to the plurality of video information signals, and each further responsive to a corresponding one of the video switch assignment control signals, for providing a corresponding selected one of the video information signals for an associated one of the subscribers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system is provided for the distribution of switched video, along with telephony and control information, over fiber from a central office to a subscriber premises. The system can dynamically allocate video channels to subscribers using a pool of switched channel selector units located at the central office, thus permitting increased sharing of video distribution resources and controlling access to all channels. The system can provide a multiplicity of simultaneously available switched channels at each subscriber premises from a selection of over a hundred channels available at the central office. Subscribers are connected to the switched video service through a switched video distribution system rack. Switched channels will travel over single-mode fiber in AM/VSB format compatible with subscriber video equipment.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Switched video distribution apparatus, comprising:
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video receiving means (10) having RF bus combiners and responsive to video headend signals, for providing a plurality of video information signals; video switch assignment control means (50), responsive to a plurality of video channel select signals from a corresponding plurality of subscribers, for providing a corresponding plurality of video switch assignment control signals; and a plurality of dynamically assignable video switch means (20, 21, . . . ,
44), each responsive to the plurality of video information signals, and each further responsive to a corresponding one of the video switch assignment control signals, for providing a corresponding selected one of the video information signals for an associated one of the subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus comprising:
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control means (50), responsive to a plurality of video channel select signals from a corresponding plurality of subscribers, for providing a corresponding plurality of video switch control signals; and a plurality of video switching means (20, 21, . . . ,
44), each responsive to a plurality of video information signals and each responsive to a selected one of the video switch control signals, for providing a corresponding selected one of the video information signals for an associated one of the subscribers;wherein each of the plurality of video switching means (20, 21, . . . ,
44) includes an RF bus selector means (60), responsive to the selected one of the video switch control signals and further responsive to the video information signals, for providing the corresponding selected one of the video information signals;wherein each of the plurality of video switching means (20, 21, . . . ,
44) includes;i) tuning means (62), responsive to the corresponding selected one of the video information signals, for providing a tuned intermediate frequency signal; ii) demodulating means (64), responsive to the tuned intermediate frequency signal, for providing a demodulated baseband signal; iii) on-screen display signal means (70), responsive to the switched video control signal and responsive to the demodulated baseband, for providing a composite video and OSD signal; iv) modulation means (72), responsive to a composite video and OSD signal, for providing a modulated intermediate frequency signal; v) frequency agile means (74), responsive to the video switch control signal and the modulated intermediate frequency signal, for providing an upconverted signal.
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6. Switched video distribution apparatus, comprising:
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video switch assignment control means (50), responsive to a plurality of video channel select signals from a corresponding plurality of subscribers, for providing a corresponding plurality of video switch assignment control signals; and a plurality of dynamically assignable video switch means (20, 21, . . . ,
44), each responsive to the plurality of video information signals, and each further responsive to a corresponding one of the video switch assignment control signals, for providing a corresponding selected one of the video information signals;wherein each of the corresponding plurality of dynamically assignable video switching means (20, 21, . . . ,
44) includes a respective second RF bus selector means (76), responsive to an associated one of the corresponding plurality of video switch assignment control signals and further responsive to the plurality of video information signals, for providing the corresponding selected one of the video information signals for an associated one of the subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication system for distributing video channels to subscribers upon demand, comprising
a) a central office (2) video switch assignment control means (50), responsive to a plurality of video channel select signals from a corresponding plurality of subscribers, for providing a corresponding plurality of video switch assignment control signals; - and a plurality of dynamically assignable video switch means (20, 21, . . . ,
44), each responsive to the plurality of video information signals, and each further responsive to a corresponding one of the video switch assignment control signals, for providing a corresponding selected one of the video information signals to an associated one of the subscribers; andb) a plurality of optical network units (100), each responsive to one of the selected video information signals from the central office, each for providing one of the selected video information signals to a respective subscriber and each for providing one of the video channel select signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- and a plurality of dynamically assignable video switch means (20, 21, . . . ,
Specification