Customer premise wireless distribution of audio-video, control signals and voice

• US 5,613,190 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• 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: Hylton, Denny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/431,940
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 455/66, 455/6.2, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5616 Terminal equipment, e.g. codecs, synch.
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5664 Support of Video, e.g. MPEG
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system and method for providing interactive multimedia services to subscriber premises utilizing in whole or in part the public switched telephone network. The service is provided using an existing twisted wire pair subscriber line with Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology. The ADSL connection provides a 1.5 mbits/s downstream video information channel, a two-way telephone connection, and a 16 kbits/s control channel. This multiplexed signal is then separated and processed on premise and distributed in a two-way fashion as a complex radio frequency signal. Multiple television sets and telephone stations may be simultaneously served and may conversely communicate commands upstream to the multimedia network. A complete installation may be made in an entire premise without the necessity for any significant installation of new wiring. The system and methodology provide flexibility and are adapted to serve as an integral termination for multiple multimedia distribution and delivery architectures.

Claims

1. In a system comprising:

a communication network selectively providing broadband communications links;

a plurality of information service provider systems connected to the network for transmitting broadband digital information signal via communication links through the network;

a gateway for connecting selected information provider systems to user terminals responsive to user terminals transmitting control signals upstream through the network in response to user inputs;

wherein said user terminals include a digital entertainment terminal for coupling to a communication link transporting at least said broadband digital information and upstream and downstream control signaling;

said digital entertainment terminal being coupled to said communication link transporting at least said broadband digital information and two-way upstream and downstream control signaling through a coupling including;

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation, upstream control signals received from said digital entertainment terminal, and receiving and translating from radio frequency and delivering to said digital entertainment terminal, broadband and downstream control signals received;

a second transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation, broadband and downstream control signals received from said communication link, and receiving and translating from radio frequency and delivering to said communication link upstream control signals received from said first transponder;

said coupling of said digital entertainment terminal to said communication link including a pair of multiplexing/demultiplexing circuits, wherein one of said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuits is at said premise and the other said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit is removed from said premise; and

wherein said one of said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuits is connected between said digital entertainment terminal and said first transponder.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the other of said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuits is connected to said communication link distal from said premise.

3. A system according to claim 1 including between said second transponder and said communication link is said other multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits use frequency multiplexing.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit between said digital entertainment terminal and said first transponder demultiplexes and delivers to said digital entertainment terminal said broadband digital information and downstream control signal.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the other multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit multiplexes said broadband digital information, downstream control signal, and a voice signal.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said digital entertainment terminal comprises:

a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and sending and receiving said control signals over a two-way control signal channel;

means for receiving inputs from a user providing corresponding signals to the control processor; and

an audio/video processor controlled by the control processor, said audio/video processor being responsive to broadband information including compressed, digital audio and video information channel to produce signals for driving a video display associated with one of said user terminals.

8. A customer premise installation for distributing on said premise from a communication network terminating link, broadband digital information signal and multiple two-way narrow band channels, wherein at least one of said two-way channels carries upstream and downstream control signals, comprising:

at least one user video terminal connected to a digital entertainment terminal;

said digital entertainment terminal being coupled to said terminating link through a coupling including;

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation, upstream control signals received from said digital entertainment terminal, and receiving and translating from radio frequency and delivering to said digital entertainment terminal, broadband and downstream control signals;

a second transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation, broadband and downstream control signals received from said terminating link, and receiving and translating from radio frequency and delivering to said terminating link, upstream control signals received from said first transponder;

said digital entertainment terminal including;

a control processor controlling operations of the digital entertainment terminal and sending and receiving said control signals over said two-way channels;

means for receiving inputs from a user providing corresponding signals to the control processor; and

an audio/video processor controlled by the control processor, said audio/video processor being responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information received over tile broadband channel to produce signals for driving the video display of said video terminals including in said coupling of said digital entertainment terminal to said terminating link a multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit;

wherein said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit is connected between said digital entertainment terminal and said first transponder and demultiplexes and delivers to said digital entertainment terminal said broadband digital information and downstream control signal.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit is connected between said second transponder and said terminating link and demultiplexes said broadband information, said downstream control signal and a voice signal.