Video pedestal network
First Claim
1. In a digital communication system including a plurality of subscriber units, a digital information transmission system coupled to said plurality of subscriber units by a communication network, comprising:
- means for transmitting a digital information stream of a predetermined duration to one or more of said subscriber units via said communication network over a predetermined channel beginning at a predetermined time; and
scheduling means coupled to said transmitting means forif a request for said digital information stream is received prior to said predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream at said predetermined time starting at a beginning of said digital information stream over said predetermined channel; and
if said request for said digital information stream is received after said predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream at a point in said digital information stream determined relative to said predetermined time so that said digital information stream ends said predetermined duration after said predetermined time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An architecture for distributing digital information to subscriber units wherein selection from among multiple digital services is accomplished by transmitting a tuning command from a subscriber unit to an intermediate interface. The intermediate interface selects the desired service from a broadband network and transmits it to the subscriber unit over a bandwidth-constrained access line. The bandwidth-constrained access line may be implemented with existing infrastructure, yet the subscriber unit may access a wide variety of digital information available on the broadband network. Universal broadband access is thus provided at low cost. Output bandwidth of broadcast equipment may also be optimized.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a digital communication system including a plurality of subscriber units, a digital information transmission system coupled to said plurality of subscriber units by a communication network, comprising:
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means for transmitting a digital information stream of a predetermined duration to one or more of said subscriber units via said communication network over a predetermined channel beginning at a predetermined time; and scheduling means coupled to said transmitting means for if a request for said digital information stream is received prior to said predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream at said predetermined time starting at a beginning of said digital information stream over said predetermined channel; and if said request for said digital information stream is received after said predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream at a point in said digital information stream determined relative to said predetermined time so that said digital information stream ends said predetermined duration after said predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A digital information distribution system comprising:
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a digital information stream server comprising; means for storing a digital information stream of predetermined duration; network adaptation means for transmitting digital information onto a first communication network on a predetermined channel; request receiving means for receiving requests for said digital information stream from said first communication network; scheduling means for directing said digital information stream to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network on said predetermined channel at a predetermined time, if a request for said digital information stream is received by said request receiving means; and opportunistic programming means for directing digital information to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network only if said digital information stream is not being transmitted, wherein said scheduling means further comprises means for; if a request for said digital information stream is received prior to a predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream starting at a beginning of said digital information stream over said predetermined channel at said predetermined time; and if said request for said digital information stream is received after said predetermined time, initiating transmission of said digital information stream at a point in said digital information stream determined relative to said predetermined time so that said digital information stream ends said predetermined duration after said predetermined time.
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16. A digital information distribution system comprising:
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a digital information stream server comprising; means for storing a digital information stream of predetermined duration; network adaptation means for transmitting digital information onto a first communication network on a predetermined channel; request receiving means for receiving requests for said digital information stream from said first communication network; scheduling means for directing said digital information stream to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network on said predetermined channel at a predetermined time, if a request for said digital information stream is received by said request receiving means; and opportunistic programming means for directing digital information to said network adaptation means for transmission over said first communication network only if said digital information stream is not being transmitted, wherein said opportunistic programming means transmits digital information via said channel only upon request of a subscriber unit when said digital information stream is not being transmitted.
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Specification