Two-way multiple access communication system, and a central station and a user station for use in such a system
First Claim
1. A two-way multiple access communication system comprising at least one central station, a plurality of user stations, and a transmission network for exchanging at least video information comprising user information in communication sessions between the central station and the user stations, and for exchanging session accompanying control information, characterized in that, at least in an upstream direction of the transmission network from the user stations to the central station, said two-way multiple access communication system comprises:
- at least one control channel for conveying said session accompanying control information;
means for assigning said control channel to a particular user station during one communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said particular user station during said one communication session, whereby said control channel is dedicated to said particular user station during said one communication session; and
means for assigning said control channel to another user station during another communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said another user station after said one communication session has ended, whereby said control channel is then dedicated to said another user station during said another communication session.
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Abstract
A CATV system (1) operating as a two-way multiple access communication system in which a plurality of user stations (US1 to US5) communicate with a central station (CS) which can provide video programs. The system (1) can be an interactive TV system in which the user stations (US1 to US5) can order a specific program, or can respond to multiple choice questions in a program, or the like. For exchanging session accompanying information between the central station (CS) and the user stations (US1 to US5) a common control channel is provided. For true interactivity in high capacity and high user density systems, session accompanying control information is exchanged between the central station (CS) and the user stations (US1 to US5) via dedicated control channels (DSCS, USCS). Such a system (1) satisfies the needs of all kinds of multi-media systems, interactivity being an important feature in such systems.
60 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A two-way multiple access communication system comprising at least one central station, a plurality of user stations, and a transmission network for exchanging at least video information comprising user information in communication sessions between the central station and the user stations, and for exchanging session accompanying control information, characterized in that, at least in an upstream direction of the transmission network from the user stations to the central station, said two-way multiple access communication system comprises:
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at least one control channel for conveying said session accompanying control information; means for assigning said control channel to a particular user station during one communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said particular user station during said one communication session, whereby said control channel is dedicated to said particular user station during said one communication session; and means for assigning said control channel to another user station during another communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said another user station after said one communication session has ended, whereby said control channel is then dedicated to said another user station during said another communication session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A central station for use in a two-way multiple access communication system, in which at least video information comprising user information is exchanged in communication sessions between the central station and a plurality of user stations which are coupled to the central station via a transmission network, said transmission network comprising at least one control channel for conveying session accompanying control information, characterized in that the central station comprises:
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at least one control channel for conveying session accompanying control information; means for assigning said control channel to a particular user station during one communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said particular user station during said one communication session, whereby said control channel is dedicated to said particular user station during said one communication session; means for receiving said session accompanying control information via said control channel in an upstream direction of the transmission network; and means for assigning said control channel to another user station during another communication session for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said another user station after said one communication session has ended, whereby said control channel is then dedicated to said another user station during said another communication session. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A user station for use in a two-way multiple access communication system, in which at least video information comprising user information is exchanged in sessions between a central station and a plurality of user stations which are coupled to the central station via a transmission network, characterized in that the user station comprises:
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means for transmitting a session request message to the central station; means for receiving communication session assignment data from said central station, said communication session assignment data including an identification of, out of a plurality of control channels, a control channel dedicated to said user station, said control channel for conveying session accompanying control information relating to said user station; and means for selecting said control channel out of said plurality of control channels based on said communication session assignment data and transmitting session accompanying control information to the central station in an upstream direction of the transmission network via said control channel.
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16. A method for use in a two-way multiple access communication system comprising at least one central station, a plurality of user stations, and a transmission network for exchanging at least video information comprising user information in communication sessions between the central station and the user stations, and for exchanging session accompanying control information, characterized in that said method comprises the steps:
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assigning a control channel to a particular user station during a communication session with the particular user station; dedicating the control channel to said particular user station said communication session; and assigning said control channel to another user station during another communication session with said another user station after said communication session with said particular user station has ended.
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Specification