Integrated television services system
First Claim
1. An interactive system for delivering information programs comprising data packets to users via a local exchange telephone network, the data segments being transmitted to users in telephone transmissions in response to user commands received over the telephone network, the interactive system comprising:
- a packetized network;
network routing control coupled to the packetized network for assigning communications paths through the packetized network and enabling transmission of data packets and control packets on the paths through the packetized network;
at least one information source coupled to the packetized network for providing at least data packets to the packetized network;
a local exchange telephone network interface coupled between the packetized network and the telephone network for providing user commands from the telephone network to the packetized network and providing at least data packets from the packetized network to the telephone network; and
a controller coupled to the packetized network for receiving user commands from the packetized network and transmitting control packets to the at least one information source and the telephone network interface, the controller, in response to received user commands,instructing the network routing control to assign a path in the packetized network,instructing the at least one information source to provide data packets on the assigned path through the packetized network, andinstructing the telephone network interface to receive at least the data packets placed on the assigned path of the packetized network and modulate the received data packets in the telephone transmissions to the user.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for delivering audio and/or video signals to users in connection with the provision of interactive television services. Various sources of such signals are connected to a digital network, such as a packet network. Also connected to such network are control and application processors and interfaces to distribution arrangements such as cable television systems and telephone subscriber loops. Each user has a signal converter for receiving a digital signal from the distribution arrangement, converting such signal for viewing on a conventional television receiver and transmitting control packets to other elements of the system. The signal sources can include a data cache for storing recorded video and audio materials, a broadcast source for receiving broadcast signals, apparatus for composing multimedia signals from multiple sources and apparatus for running games. The various elements of the system can be situated at different geographical locations and operated by the control and/or application processors under software control to provide a variety of interactive television services.
436 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An interactive system for delivering information programs comprising data packets to users via a local exchange telephone network, the data segments being transmitted to users in telephone transmissions in response to user commands received over the telephone network, the interactive system comprising:
-
a packetized network; network routing control coupled to the packetized network for assigning communications paths through the packetized network and enabling transmission of data packets and control packets on the paths through the packetized network; at least one information source coupled to the packetized network for providing at least data packets to the packetized network; a local exchange telephone network interface coupled between the packetized network and the telephone network for providing user commands from the telephone network to the packetized network and providing at least data packets from the packetized network to the telephone network; and a controller coupled to the packetized network for receiving user commands from the packetized network and transmitting control packets to the at least one information source and the telephone network interface, the controller, in response to received user commands, instructing the network routing control to assign a path in the packetized network, instructing the at least one information source to provide data packets on the assigned path through the packetized network, and instructing the telephone network interface to receive at least the data packets placed on the assigned path of the packetized network and modulate the received data packets in the telephone transmissions to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An interactive system for delivering information programs comprising data packets to users over a cable television distribution system, the data packets being transmitted in television transmissions of the cable television distribution system in response to user commands received over the cable television distribution system, the interactive system comprising:
-
a packetized network; network routing control coupled to the packetized network for assigning communications paths through the packetized network and enabling transmission of data packets and control packets on the paths through the packetized network; at least one information source coupled to the packetized network for providing at least data packets to the packetized network; a cable television distribution system interface coupled between the packetized network and the cable television distribution system for providing user commands from the cable television distribution system to the packetized network and providing at least data packets from the packetized network to the cable television distribution system; and a controller coupled to the packetized network for receiving user commands from the packetized network and transmitting control packets to the at least one information source and the cable television distribution system interface, the controller, in response to received user commands, instructing the network routing control to assign a path in the packetized network, instructing the at least one information source to provide data packet on the assigned path through the packetized network, and instructing the cable television distribution system interface to receive at least the data packets placed on the assigned path of the packetized network and modulate the received data packets in the television transmissions to the user. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A real-time interactive system for delivering information programs to users over a distribution system, the information programs being transmitted to users in distribution transmissions of the distribution system in response to user commands received over the distribution system, the interactive system comprising:
-
a packetized network for the transmission of data packets collectively forming information programs and control packets forming control signals; network routing control coupled to the packetized network for assigning virtual communications paths through the packetized network and enabling transmission of data packets and control packets on the virtual paths through the packetized network; a plurality of information sources coupled to the network for providing at least data packets to the packetized network; a distribution interface coupled to the network and the distribution system for providing user commands from the distribution system to the packetized network and providing at least data packets from the packetized network to the distribution system; and a controller coupled to the packetized network for receiving user commands from the packetized network and transmitting control packets to the information sources and the distribution interface, the controller, in response to a received user command, instructing the routing control to assign a virtual path in the packetized network, instructing in real-time selected information sources to output selected data packets on the assigned virtual path through the packetized network, the selected information sources and selected data packets being selected in accordance with the received user command, coordinating the timing and content of the selected data packets output from different selected information sources to form a composed information program, and instructing the distribution interface to receive the selected data packets placed on the assigned virtual path of the packetized network by the selected information sources and modulate the received data packets in the distribution transmissions to the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification