Method and device for distributing multimedia data, providing both video broadcast and video distribution services
First Claim
1. A method for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program sources, to a multiplicity of users, said method using a data transmission network between at least one server connected to said sources and a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminal, said program data being transmitted by said network in the form of a succession of time-multiplexed digital data blocks or cells each being associated with a virtual channel number, said method comprising:
- a first mode enabling each of said users to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and comprising the steps of;
(i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said sources, and(ii) transmitting to each user terminal the program data from said sources in cells associated with the virtual channel number allocated respectively to said sources,(iii) selecting by each of said user terminals the cells associated to a virtual channel number allocated to a source selected by a user on said terminal,a second mode enabling each of said users to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, and comprising the steps of;
(i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said user terminals,(ii) transmitting to each of said sources program commands introduced by the users in each of said terminals in the form of data cells associated to the respective virtual channel number allocated to said terminal,(iii) transmitting to said terminals from said sources in response to said program commands program data in the form of data cells associated to the virtual channel numbers respectively associated to the data cells in which said program commands were transmitted.
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Abstract
The method embodying the invention uses a data transmission network between at least a server connected to data sources and a plurality of receiving and dialog peripherals for users. This network transmits the data in the form of a succession of digital data cells respectively associated with a virtual channel constituting a source/destination link for the data. In a first mode, each channel is associated with a respective previously compiled program whereas, in a second mode, a virtual channel is associated with each user, the latter being able to individually access and act on the different sources in order to compose the program he wishes to view. The invention applies notably to the distribution of data on board an aircraft.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program sources, to a multiplicity of users, said method using a data transmission network between at least one server connected to said sources and a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminal, said program data being transmitted by said network in the form of a succession of time-multiplexed digital data blocks or cells each being associated with a virtual channel number, said method comprising:
a first mode enabling each of said users to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and comprising the steps of; (i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said sources, and (ii) transmitting to each user terminal the program data from said sources in cells associated with the virtual channel number allocated respectively to said sources, (iii) selecting by each of said user terminals the cells associated to a virtual channel number allocated to a source selected by a user on said terminal, a second mode enabling each of said users to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, and comprising the steps of; (i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said user terminals, (ii) transmitting to each of said sources program commands introduced by the users in each of said terminals in the form of data cells associated to the respective virtual channel number allocated to said terminal, (iii) transmitting to said terminals from said sources in response to said program commands program data in the form of data cells associated to the virtual channel numbers respectively associated to the data cells in which said program commands were transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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2. A network for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program data sources, to a multiplicity of users, according to a first mode enabling each user to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and a second mode enabling said user to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, said network linking said sources with a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminals each comprising a viewing and dialog means, said network comprising:
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at least one server connected to said sources and comprising means for managing accesses to said sources, means for editing program data flows from said sources into time-multiplexed data cells assigned respectively to virtual channels linking respectively said sources to each user terminal in a first mode and linking respectively said user terminals to each source in a second mode, means for collecting said cells associated to each of said virtual channels, and means for multiplexing said virtual channels towards said user terminals, at least one head end connected to said server and comprising means for receiving program data from said virtual channels, means for constructing from the data cells transmitted by said virtual channels a flow of data cells to be transmitted towards said user terminals, and means for routing said virtual channels in the event of there being several network head ends, and distribution cases interconnected by a ring network and linking said head end respectively to groups of at least one of said user terminals, each distribution case comprising means for receiving virtual channel selection orders coming from the user terminals linked to said case, as well as the flow of data cells coming from said head end, means for extracting or copying the cells assigned to virtual channels allocated in said second mode to said user terminals and selected in said first mode by the user terminals linked to said case, means for routing said flow of data in said virtual channels to the user terminals linked to said case, and means for transmitting to said head end program orders introduced by users in the user terminals linked to said case. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification