Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping
First Claim
1. An information distribution system comprising:
- a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal including data for identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal; and
means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamic programming of a digital entertainment terminal (DET) facilitates operation of the terminal to offer a variety of functionally different broadband services. The terminal includes a network interface module which couples the terminal to a specific type of communication network for receiving a digital broadband channel. The DET downloads on a narrowband signaling channel a VIP program map that identifies the available video information service providers (VIPs) on the basis of the location of their corresponding software control signals. The software control signals are transmitted cyclically to enable access by a random DET at any time. A program memory captures the VIP program map and at least a portion of the software control signals received over the digital broadband channel as software executable by the control processor during turn-on of the DET. When a user presses a GUIDE button on a remote control service, the DET displays the available information service providers in accordance with the VIP program map, thereby enabling the user to conveniently access the broadband services offered by the selected information service provider.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. An information distribution system comprising:
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a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal including data for identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal; and means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14)
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2. An information distribution system comprising:
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a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels; and means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal; wherein said software control signal comprises navigation software adapted to be executed by said digital entertainment terminal and identifying said audio/video program information corresponding to said at least one video information provider. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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12. An information distribution system comprising:
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a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels; and means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal; wherein said network cyclically broadcasts a plurality of said software control signals corresponding to a respective plurality of said video information providers on said at least one digital broadband channel, said plurality of software control signals adapted to be downloaded by said digital entertainment terminal during scanning of said digital broadband channels to identify said audio/video program information corresponding to each of said video information providers, and wherein each of said software control signals comprises navigation software adapted to be executed by said digital entertainment terminal and identifying said audio/video program information of said corresponding video information provider. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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15. An information distribution system comprising:
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a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels; and means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal; wherein said network cyclically broadcasts a plurality of said software control signals corresponding to a respective plurality of said video information providers on said at least one digital broadband channel, said plurality of software control signals adapted to be downloaded by said digital entertainment terminal during scanning of said digital broadband channels to identify said audio/video program information corresponding to each of said video information providers, wherein each of said software control signals are broadcast within a respective transport stream packet having an MPEG format, and wherein each of said respective transport stream packet comprises a payload section having a user data adaptation field that stores said respective software control signal as an information provider'"'"'s directory declaration, said payload section further comprising a broadcast channel field and PID number field that correspond to said information provider'"'"'s directory declaration. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A digital entertainment terminal comprising:
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a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving a plurality of digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form; a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and adapted to receive a software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels, said software control signal including data corresponding to at least one video information provider and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal; means for receiving inputs from a user and providing corresponding signals to said control processor; a system memory for storing software for processing by said control processor and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said software over said communication network; and an audio/video processor responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information and controlled by said control processor during processing of said software; wherein said control processor captures said software control signal from said one of the digital broadband channels within a predetermined cycle and processes said captured software control signal to output, to said audio/video processor, information identifying audio/video program information from at least one broadband channel as corresponding to said at least one video information provider. - View Dependent Claims (19, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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18. A digital entertainment terminal, comprising:
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a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving a plurality of digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form; a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and adapted to receive a software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels and corresponding to at least one video information provider; means for receiving inputs from a user and providing corresponding signals to said control processor; a system memory for storing software for processing by said control processor and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said software over said communication network; and an audio/video processor responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information and controlled by said control processor during processing of said software; wherein said control processor captures said software control signal from said one of the digital broadband channels within a predetermined cycle and processes said captured software control signal to output, to said audio/video processor, information identifying audio/video program information from at least one broadband channel as corresponding to said at least one video information provider, and wherein said system memory comprises a non-volatile memory that stores a control channel scanning operation executable by said control processor.
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20. A digital entertainment terminal, comprising:
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a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving a plurality of digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form; a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and adapted to receive a software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels and corresponding to at least one video information provider; means for receiving inputs from a user and providing corresponding signals to said control processor; a system memory for storing software for processing by said control processor and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said software over said communication network; and an audio/video processor responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information and controlled by said control processor during processing of said software; wherein said control processor captures said software control signal from said one of the digital broadband channels within a predetermined cycle and processes said captured software control signal to output, to said audio/video processor, information identifying audio/video program information from at least one broadband channel as corresponding to said at least one video information provider, wherein said control processor scans a plurality of said digital broadband channels to identify and receive said at least one software control signal, and wherein said received software control signal comprises navigation software for processing by said control processor for identifying said audio/video program information corresponding to said at least one video information provider. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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28. A method for broadcasting audio/video program information for use by a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving audio/video program information from at least one video information provider; assigning said received audio/video program information to at least one of a plurality of broadcast digital broadband channels; broadcasting said received audio/video program information in compressed, digital form on said at least one of said broadcast digital broadband channels; cyclically broadcasting on one of said broadcast digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said video information provider, said software control signal including data identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to said digital entertainment terminal and including executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal.
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29. A method for broadcasting audio/video program information for use by a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving audio/video program information from at least one video information provider; assigning said received audio/video program information to at least one of a plurality of broadcast digital broadband channels; broadcasting said received audio/video program information in compressed, digital form on said at least one of said broadcast digital broadband channels; cyclically broadcasting on one of said broadcast digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said video information provider, said software control signal identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to said digital entertainment terminal, wherein said software control signal comprises navigation software for processing by said digital entertainment terminal and identifying said audio/video program information corresponding to said at least one video information provider. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for broadcasting audio/video program information for use by a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of audio/video program information from a corresponding plurality of video information providers; assigning said plurality of received audio/video program information to broadcast digital broadband channels; broadcasting said received audio/video program information in compressed, digital form on said broadcast digital broadband channels; cyclically broadcasting, on at least one of said broadcast digital broadband channels, software control signals corresponding to each of said video information providers, respectively, each of said software control signals identifying said corresponding audio/video program information of said corresponding video information provider to said digital entertainment terminal and including executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for broadcasting audio/video program information for use by a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving audio/video program information from at least one video information provider; assigning said received audio/video program information to at least one of a plurality of broadcast digital broadband channels; broadcasting said received audio/video program information in compressed, digital form on said at least one of said broadcast digital broadband channels; cyclically broadcasting on one of said broadcast digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said video information provider, said software control signal identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to said digital entertainment terminal, wherein said software control signals are adapted to be downloaded during scanning of said digital broadband channels by said digital entertainment terminal to identify said audio/video program information corresponding to each of said video information providers, and wherein the cyclically broadcasting step includes the step of cyclically broadcasting each of said software control signals within a respective transport stream packet having an MPEG format, each of said respective transport stream packet comprising a payload section having a user data adaptation field that stores said respective software control signal as an information provider'"'"'s directory declaration, said payload section further comprising a broadcast channel field and PID number field that correspond to said information provider'"'"'s directory declaration.
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36. A method for receiving audio/video program information from digital broadband channels broadcast from a communication network to a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving in said digital entertainment terminal at least one digital broadband channel carrying audio/video program information in compressed, digital form; (2) receiving in said digital entertainment terminal, within a predetermined interval, at least one software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels, said at least one software control signal including data corresponding to a respective at least one video information provider that provides said audio/video program information to said communications network and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal; (3) processing said at least one software control signal to provide information identifying said audio/video program information as corresponding to said at least one video information provider; and (4) selecting said audio/video program in response to said provided information. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for receiving audio/video program information from digital broadband channels broadcast from a communication network to a digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving in said digital entertainment terminal at least one digital broadband channel carrying audio/video program information in compressed, digital form; (2) receiving in said digital entertainment terminal, within a predetermined interval, at least one software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels, said at least one software control signal corresponding to a respective at least one video information provider that provides said audio/video program information to said communications network; (3) processing said at least one software control signal to provide information identifying said audio/video program information as corresponding to said at least one video information provider; and (4) selecting said audio/video program in response to said provided information, wherein the step (4) comprises the steps of; transmitting a menu command to said digital entertainment terminal via infrared transmitter using a remote control; and executing said recovered software control signal stored in said digital entertainment terminal.
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39. In a network broadcasting audio/video program information through a plurality of broadband channels to a plurality of terminals connected to the network, a method comprising the steps of:
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cyclically broadcasting a software application on one of the broadband channels, said software application comprising executable code and processable data; selectively receiving the one broadband channel and capturing a copy of said software application from the cyclic broadcast in one of the terminals; and executing the code and processing at least some of the data to control operations of the one terminal relating to the broadcast audio/video program information, wherein said executing step is performed immediately after said receiving step has completed capturing said copy of said software application. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. In a digital entertainment terminal adapted to receive audio/video program information broadcast from a network through one of a plurality of broadband channels, wherein said network receives said audio/video program information from at least one video information provider, a method comprising the steps of:
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selectively receiving a software application cyclically broadcast in compressed, digital form on one of the broadband channels, said software application comprising executable code and processable data; capturing a copy of said software application within one cycle of said cyclic broadcast; and executing said code and processing at least some of the data to control operations of said digital entertainment terminal relating to the broadcast audio/video program information, wherein said executing step is performed immediately after said software application is captured by said capturing step. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. In a digital entertainment terminal adapted to receive audio/video program information broadcast from a network through one of a plurality of broadband channels, wherein said network receives said audio/video program information from at least one video information provider, a method comprising the steps of:
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selectively receiving a software application cyclically broadcast in compressed, digital form on one of the broadband channels, said software application comprising executable code and processable data; capturing a copy of said software application within one cycle of said cyclic broadcast; and executing said code and processing at least some of the data to control operations of said digital entertainment terminal relating to the broadcast audio/video program information, further comprising the steps of; scanning said broadband channels to receive a plurality of said software applications identifying a plurality of said video information providers, respectively; and compiling said received software applications as a primary channel map identifying said video information providers available on said network.
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53. In a network broadcasting programs received from information providers through a plurality of broadband channels, a method for providing said programs to a terminal device adapted to receive said broadband channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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broadcasting a first group of programs from a first information provider over a first plurality of broadcast channels; broadcasting a second group of programs from a second information provider over a second plurality of broadcast channels; cyclically broadcasting program control information including executable code and processable data over at least one broadcast channel, wherein said program control information at least maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels and maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels; in a terminal device; (a) in response to a selection of the first information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels, (b) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device (c) in response to selection of a program from the first group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and (d) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel.
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54. In a network broadcasting programs received from information providers through a plurality of broadband channels, a method for providing said programs to a terminal device adapted to receive said broadband channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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broadcasting a first group of programs from a first information provider over a first plurality of broadcast channels; broadcasting a second group of programs from a second information provider over a second plurality of broadcast channels; cyclically broadcasting program control information over at least one broadcast channel, wherein said program control information at least maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels and maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels; in a terminal device; (a) in response to a selection of the first information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels, (b) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device (c) in response to selection of a program from the first group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and (d) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel, further comprising the steps of; in said terminal device; (e) in response to a selection of the second information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels, (f) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device (g) in response to selection of a program from the second group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and (h) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. In a network broadcasting programs received from information providers through a plurality of broadband channels, a method for providing said programs to a terminal device adapted to receive said broadband channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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broadcasting a first group of programs from a first information provider over a first plurality of broadcast channels; broadcasting a second group of programs from a second information provider over a second plurality of broadcast channels; cyclically broadcasting program control information over at least one broadcast channel, wherein said program control information at least maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels and maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels; in a terminal device; (a) in response to a selection of the first information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the first program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels, (b) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device (c) in response to selection of a program from the first group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and (d) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel, further comprising the steps of; storing in said terminal device an information provider directory that at least maps said first and second information providers to said corresponding program control information cyclically broadcast over said at least one broadcast channel on one of a plurality of information packets; in said terminal device, further comprising the steps of; (e) generating, in accordance with said stored information provider directory, a list of said first and second information providers for display to a user, (f) in response to a user input indicating a selection of one of said first and second information providers, accessing said stored information provider directory to identify said at least one broadcast channel and one of said information packets carrying said corresponding program control information. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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Specification