Simulcasting digital video programs for broadcast and interactive services
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising;
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network,wherein the interface module comprises;
means for selectively receiving the selected channel; and
means for demodulating a signal from the selected channel to acquire the transport stream from the selected channel,wherein the RF modem is an element of the interface module.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data network is combined with a broadband digital broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via an RF packet data modem included in the terminal and the public wireless packet data network. In addition to the signaling for interactive services, the packet data network provides transport for data communications between other data devices.
533 Citations
83 Claims
-
1. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, wherein the interface module comprises; means for selectively receiving the selected channel; and means for demodulating a signal from the selected channel to acquire the transport stream from the selected channel, wherein the RF modem is an element of the interface module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, further comprising; a control for supplying user input information to the receiver system, and a programmed central processing unit, wherein the programmed central processing unit controls selection by the interface module and the digital signal processing section in response to certain of the user input information and transmits messages through the RF modem in response to other user input information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A communication system, comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, further comprising an interactive headend system generating one of the transport streams in response to signaling messages received via the wireless packet data network, wherein the interactive headend system comprises; a server outputting selected frames of video information; a packet data multiplexer for packetizing and multiplexing the selected frames of video information into the one transport stream; and a gateway processor responsive to signaling messages received via the wireless packet data network for controlling the server and the packet data multiplexer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, further comprising an Internet interface receiving user selection messages from at least one of said receiver systems and outputting digitized broadband Internet information to said headend system in response to the received user selection messages, said signal produced by said headend system carrying said digitized broadband internet information on one of said multiplexed systems. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, further comprising an interactive headend system generating one of the transport streams in response to signaling messages received via the wireless packet data network, wherein said interactive headend system comprises an Internet interface outputting digitized broadband Internet data in response to said signaling messages, said one transport stream output from the interactive headend carrying said digitized broadband Internet data. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
-
24. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network, wherein said at least one broadband wireless transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters located at spaced apart sites transmitting said signal containing multiplexed channels so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of the service area, further comprising an Internet interface receiving user selection messages from at least one of said receiver systems and outputting digitized broadband Internet information to said headend system in response to the received user selection messages, said signal produced by said headend system carrying said digitized broadband Internet information on one of said multiplexed streams. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A digital entertainment terminal comprising:
-
a channel selector for coupling to a broadband receiving antenna and selecting one of a plurality of channels from a signal from the broadband receiving antenna; a channel signal processor for processing the one channel to acquire a digital transport stream carried on the one channel, said digital transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of compressed, digitized audio and video information; an audio/video processor responsive to selected compressed, broadband digitized audio and video information from said digital transport stream to produce signals for driving an audio/video display device; means for receiving inputs from a user; an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via a wireless packet data network; and a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the audio/video processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A digital entertainment terminal comprising:
-
a channel selector for coupling to a broadband receiving antenna and selecting one of a plurality of channels from a signal from the broadband receiving antenna; a channel signal processor for processing the one channel to acquire a digital transport stream carried on the one channel, said digital transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of compressed, digitized video information; a digital processor capable of selectively providing both a full motion video presentation in response to compressed, digitized video information selected from a digital transport stream output by the channel signal processor and a still frame presentation in response to individual frames of compressed, digitized video information selected from a digital transport stream output by the channel signal processor; means for receiving inputs from a user; an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via a wireless packet data network; and a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the digital processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized video information; a plurality of broadband wireless transmitters located at spaced apart sites broadcasting said signal so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; and a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) a directional antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of said signal from one of the transmitters, (ii) a channel selector coupled to the directional antenna for selecting one of the multiplexed channels, (iii) a channel signal processor for processing the one channel to acquire the digital transport stream carried on the one channel, (iv) a digital processor responsive to selected compressed, broadband digitized audio and video information from the acquired digital transport stream to produce signals for driving a video display device, (v) means for receiving inputs from a user, (vi) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via the wireless packet data network, and (vii) a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the digital processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
-
-
69. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying digitized broadband information; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a two-way wireless packet data network; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) a channel selector coupled to the antenna for selecting one of multiplexed channels, (iii) a digital receiver for processing the one channel to acquire the digitized broadband information carried by the one channel, (iv) a digital processor responsive to at least a portion of the digitized broadband information to produce signals to present the broadband information, (v) means for receiving inputs from a user, (vi) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via the wireless packet data network, and (vii) a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the digital processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem.
-
-
70. A communication method comprising:
-
broadcasting multiplexed channels carrying digitally encoded video information over the air to a plurality of customer premises receiving systems; communicating signaling messages relating to interactive services from the customer premises receiving systems via a public wireless packet data network; and communicating data from data devices via said public wireless packet data network, further comprising the steps of; supplying one of the signaling messages having been communicated via the public wireless packet data network to an Internet interface; receiving from said Internet interface digital broadband Internet information output in response to the one signaling message; and broadcasting the digital broadband Internet information on a second set of multiplexed channels carrying said digital broadband Internet information and digitally encoded interactive video information over the air to the plurality of customer premises receiving systems. - View Dependent Claims (71)
-
-
72. A communication system comprising:
-
a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream having multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; an Internet interface coupled to the headend system and supplying digital broadband data to the headend system in response to upstream signaling information, said transport stream carrying said digital broadband data in one of the multiplexed streams; at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal, (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) a modem providing upstream wireless communication of said signaling information from the receiver system to the Internet interface via a wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
-
-
81. A communication method comprising:
-
receiving first broadband data as digitally encoded video information from a video source; receiving second broadband data from an Internet interface; multiplexing the first broadband data and the second broadband data onto at least one multiplexed channel; broadcasting a signal carrying a plurality of multiplexed channels over the air to a plurality of customer premises receiving systems; communicating signaling messages from the customer premises receiving systems to said Internet interface via a public wireless packet data network; and communicating data from data devices via said public wireless packet data network. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83)
-
Specification