Wireless video distribution

• US 5,793,413 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• 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., Olsen, Steven, Burton, William, Lichtenwalner, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US08/560,786
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/12, 348/13, 348/6
• 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 wireless distribution within the subscriber premise. The service is provided via a communications link delivering to the subscriber premises broad band digital information including video and audio from a plurality of information providers and control signals in a multiplexed form. This multiplexed signal is then separated and processed on premise and distributed in a two-way fashion using frequency hopping code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum using radio frequency signals preferably at UHF. Upstream control signals from the user installation are communicated from the individual user terminals in the same wireless manner.

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 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 an entertainment control terminal for coupling to a communication link transporting at least said broadband digital information and two-way control signaling;

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

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency code division multiple access (CDMA) signals and transmitting by radiation control signals received from said entertainment control terminal, and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said entertainment control terminal broadband and control signals received;

a network interface located at the premise and connected to said communication link;

a second transponder located at the premise and connected to said network interface, said second transponder receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband and control signals received from said network interface and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said network interface control signals received from said first transponder.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said second transponder is connected to said communication link through a network entertainment terminal.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said network entertainment terminal includes a demultiplexer which separates from said broadband digital information at least a signal selected by said entertainment control terminal and delivers said separated signal to said second transponder.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said network entertainment terminal also includes a decoder which decodes said broadband digital information.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the network interface includes a tuner which selects from said broadband digital information a signal which is connected to said demultiplexer.

6. A system according to claim 3 wherein the signal delivered to said transponder includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with the signal selected by said entertainment terminal, which modulated signal is delivered to said second transponder.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the modulating signal is an NTSC signal.

8. A system according to claim 7 including a demodulator for demodulating said NTSC signal for delivery to the selecting user terminal.

9. A system according claim 8 wherein said entertainment control terminal includes said demodulator.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said entertainment control terminal also includes a control signal processor responsive to the selection of said user for providing to said first transponder a signal to modulate the spread spectrum signal transmitted by said first transponder to said second transponder.

11. A system according to claim 5 wherein said tuner is a frequency tuner.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said transponders transmit and receive frequency hopped spread spectrum signals.

13. A system according to claim 2 wherein the broadband digital information includes multiple compressed digital channels.

32. A system according to claim 5 wherein said tuner is a frequency tuner.

14. A customer premise installation for distributing on said premise from a communication network terminating link, broadband digital information and multiple two-way narrow band channels, wherein at least one of said two-way channels carries 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 spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation control signals received from said digital entertainment terminal, and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said digital entertainment terminal broadband and control signals;

a second transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband and control signals received from said terminating link and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said terminating link control signals received from said first transponder.

15. An installation according to claim 14 wherein said digital entertainment terminal includes:

a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and sending and receiving 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 compressed, digital audio and video information received over the broadband channel to produce signals for driving the video display of said video terminal.

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

plural user video terminals each connected to a digital entertainment terminal;

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

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting first spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation control signals received from said digital entertainment terminal, and receiving and translating from said first spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said digital entertainment terminal broadband and control signals;

a second transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband and control signals received from said terminating link and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said terminating link control signals received from said first transponder.

17. An installation according to claim 16 wherein each said digital entertainment terminal includes:

a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and sending and receiving 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 compressed, digital audio and video information received over the broadband channel to produce signals for driving the video display of said video terminal.

18. An installation according to claim 16 wherein said spread spectrum signals are frequency hopped spread spectrum and each pair of transponders uses a different frequency hopping code.

38. An installation according to claim 16 wherein one of said selectors is a CDMA selector.

19. A method of providing an interactive communication service establishing a communication link between one of a plurality of available information service providers and a digital entertainment terminal, said communication link providing downstream transport of broadband, digital information to the digital entertainment terminal, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing broadband digital information, including video and audio, control signals, and a voice signal;

separating said voice signal from said multiplexed information and control signals;

establishing a two way spread spectrum radio frequency link to said digital entertainment terminal, said link transporting said broadband digital information and said control signals; and

converting said broadband digital information to analog video and audio signals delivered to a television receiver connected to said digital entertainment terminal.

20. A method according to claim 19 including the steps of manually inputting user control signals at said premise, transmitting said signals in said spread spectrum radio frequency link, multiplexing said control signals with voice signals from a telephone station at said premise, and transporting said multiplexed signals from said premise.

21. A method according to claim 20 including the step of inputting control signals from a telephone station at said premise.

22. 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 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 control terminal for coupling to a communication link transporting said broadband digital information and two-way control signaling;

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

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into radio frequency code division multiple access (CDMA) signals and transmitting by radiation control signals responsive to signals received from said control terminal, and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said control terminal a broadband signal;

a network interface located at the premise and connected to said communication link;

a second transponder located at the premise and connected to said network interface, said second transponder receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband signals received from said network interface and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said network interface control signals received from said first transponder.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein said second transponder is connected to said communication link through a network entertainment terminal.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said network entertainment terminal includes a demultiplexer which separates from said broadband digital information a signal selected by said control terminal and delivers said separated signal to said second transponder.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein the broadband digital information is transported in a compressed encoded form and said network entertainment terminal includes a decoder which decodes said broadband digital information.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein the network interface includes a tuner which selects from said broadband digital information a signal which is connected to said demultiplexer.

27. A system according to claim 24 wherein the signal delivered to said second transponder includes a radio frequency carrier modulated with a signal containing the information selected by said control terminal, which modulated signal is transmitted to and received by said first transponder.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the modulating signal is an NTSC signal.

29. A system according to claim 28 including a demodulator for demodulating said NTSC signal, the demodulated signal being delivered to the user terminal which selected said information.

30. A system according claim 29 wherein said control terminal includes said demodulator.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said control terminal includes a processor responsive to information selection input of said user for providing to said first transponder a control signal which is coded into the spread spectrum signal transmitted by said first transponder to said second transponder.

33. A system according to claim 22 wherein said transponders transmit and receive frequency hopped spread spectrum signals.

34. A system according to claim 23 wherein the broadband digital information includes multiple compressed multiplexed digital channels.

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

a user video terminal connected to a collocated control terminal;

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

a first transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation control signals received from said control terminal, and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said control terminal broadband signals;

a second transponder located at the premise for receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband signals received from said terminating link and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said terminating link control signals received from said first transponder.

36. An installation according to claim 35 wherein said coupling is interfaced with said terminating link via an interface module which includes:

a first signal selector which selects from multiple broadband signals carried by said terminating link a group of said signals responsive to a user input to said control terminal; and

a second signal selector which selects from said group of signals a signal carrying the video content corresponding to the user input to said control terminal.

37. An installation according to claim 36 wherein one of said selectors is a frequency selector.

39. A customer premise installation for distributing on said premise from a communication network terminating link, broadband digital information and two-way narrow band control signals, comprising:

plural user video terminals each connected to a collocated control terminal;

each control terminal being coupled to said terminating link through a coupling including a pair of transponders for each of said video terminals;

a first transponder in each pair of transponders receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation control signals corresponding to signals received from one of said control terminals collocated with one of said video terminals, and receiving and translating from said spread spectrum radio frequency signals and delivering to said one control terminal broadband signals;

a second transponder in each pair of transponders receiving and transmitting spread spectrum radio frequency signals, said transponder translating into code division multiple access (CDMA) radio frequency signals and transmitting by radiation broadband signals received from said terminating link and receiving and translating from spread spectrum radio frequency and delivering to said terminating link control signals received from said first transponder;

said pairs of transponders using different CDMA codes.

40. An installation according to claim 39 wherein each said pairs of transponders is coupled to said terminating link via an interface which includes:

a first signal selector which selects from multiple broadband signals carried by said terminating link a group of said signals responsive to a user input to said control terminal; and

a second signal selector which selects from said group of signals a signal carrying the video content corresponding to the user input to said control terminal.

41. An installation according to claim 40 wherein one of said selectors is a frequency selector.

42. An installation according to claim 40 wherein one of said selectors is a CDMA selector.

43. An installation according to claim 39 wherein said spread spectrum signals are frequency hopped spread spectrum.

44. A method of providing on premise distribution of an interactive communication service establishing a communication link between one of a plurality of available information service providers and a control terminal for a video terminal, said communication link providing downstream transport of broadband, digital information to the control terminal, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing broadband digital information, including video and audio, control signals, and a voice signal;

separating said voice signal from said multiplexed information and control signals on said premise;

establishing an on premise two way spread spectrum radio frequency link to said control terminal, said link transporting selected broadband information and said control signals; and

converting said broadband digital information to analog video and audio signals delivered to said on premise radio frequency link and thence to a one of said video terminals.

45. A method according to claim 44 including the steps of manually inputting user control signals at said premise, transmitting said signals in said spread spectrum radio frequency link, multiplexing said control signals with voice signals from a telephone station at said premise, and transporting said multiplexed signals from said premise.

46. A method of providing on premise distribution of an interactive communication service establishing a communication link between one of a plurality of available information service providers and a control terminal for a video terminal, said communication link providing downstream transport of broadband, digital information to the control terminal, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing broadband digital information, including video and audio, and control signals;

establishing an on premise two way spread spectrum radio frequency link to said control terminal, said link transporting selected broadband information and control signals; and

converting a selected broadband digital information signal to analog video and audio signals delivered to said on premise radio frequency link and thence to a one of said video terminals.

47. A method of providing on premise distribution of an interactive communication service establishing multiple communication links between selected ones of a plurality of available information service providers and control terminals for multiple video terminals on a premise, each said communication link providing downstream transport of broadband, digital information to the control terminal, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing broadband digital information, including video and audio, and control signals;

establishing on premise two way spread spectrum radio frequency links to said control terminals, said links transporting selected broadband information;

converting multiple selected broadband digital information signals to analog video and audio signals delivered to said on premise radio frequency links and thence to ones of said video terminals; and

using CDMA codes unique to said spread spectrum radio frequency links and control terminals.