Transmodulated broadcast delivery system for use in multiple dwelling units
First Claim
1. A signal distribution system for distributing a first signal and a second signal over a communication channel to a plurality of individual receivers at a local site, wherein the first signal is modulated according to a first modulation scheme and the second signal is modulated according to a second modulation scheme, the distribution system comprising:
- a main receiver disposed at the local site for receiving the first signal;
a second receiver that receives the second signal;
a transmodulator coupled to the main receiver that remodulates the first signal from the first modulation scheme to a third modulation scheme to produce a transmodulated signal, wherein the third modulation scheme differs from the first modulation scheme by other than a mere frequency shift;
a signal combiner coupled to the second receiver and to the transmodulator that combines the transmodulated signal at a first set of carrier frequency bands and the second signal modulated according to the second modulation scheme at a second set of carrier frequency bands to produce a combined signal; and
a transmitter that transmits the combined signal over the communication channel in a manner capable of being received at the plurality of individual receivers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for redistributing a broadband audio-visual-data signal to a multiplicity of receiver units within a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) includes a main receiving antenna that receives a broadband video/audio/data signal having a number of individual program multiplex signals therein and a transmodulator device that transmodulates the individual program multiplex signals associated with the broadband signal from a first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme to reduce the bandwidth of the broadband signal. The transmodulated signals are broadcast over a cable network, along with terrestrial signals, to individual receiver units at the MDU. The receiver units demodulate the transmodulated and/or terrestrial signals and provide user-specified channels to television sets for display.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A signal distribution system for distributing a first signal and a second signal over a communication channel to a plurality of individual receivers at a local site, wherein the first signal is modulated according to a first modulation scheme and the second signal is modulated according to a second modulation scheme, the distribution system comprising:
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a main receiver disposed at the local site for receiving the first signal; a second receiver that receives the second signal; a transmodulator coupled to the main receiver that remodulates the first signal from the first modulation scheme to a third modulation scheme to produce a transmodulated signal, wherein the third modulation scheme differs from the first modulation scheme by other than a mere frequency shift; a signal combiner coupled to the second receiver and to the transmodulator that combines the transmodulated signal at a first set of carrier frequency bands and the second signal modulated according to the second modulation scheme at a second set of carrier frequency bands to produce a combined signal; and a transmitter that transmits the combined signal over the communication channel in a manner capable of being received at the plurality of individual receivers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A signal distribution system for distributing a composite signal having a plurality of individual program multiplex signals modulated according to a first modulation scheme therein over a communication channel in a manner capable of being received by a plurality of individual receivers at a local site, the distribution system comprising:
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a main receiver disposed at the local site for receiving the composite signal; a plurality of transmodulator channels coupled to the main receiver, each of which remodulates one of the plurality of individual program multiplex signals from the first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme to produce one of a plurality of transmodulated signals, wherein the second modulation scheme differs from the first modulation scheme by other than a mere frequency shift; a combiner coupled to the plurality of transmodulator channels that combines the plurality of transmodulated signals at different carrier frequency bands to produce a combined signal; and a transmitter that transmits the combined signal over the communication channel in a manner capable of being received by the plurality of individual receivers at the local site. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of distributing first and second signals over a communication channel to a plurality of individual receivers at a local site, wherein the first signal is modulated according to a first modulation scheme and the second signal is modulated according to a second modulation scheme, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the first signal; receiving the second signal; remodulating the first signal from the first modulation scheme to a third modulation scheme to produce a transmodulated signal, wherein the third modulation scheme differs from the first modulation scheme by other than a mere frequency shift; combining the transmodulated signal at a first set of carrier frequency bands and the second signal modulated according to the second modulation scheme at a second set of carrier frequency bands to produce a combined signal; and transmitting the combined signal over the communication channel in a manner capable of being received at the plurality of individual receivers. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A signal distribution system for distributing a composite signal having a first total bandwidth over a communication channel having a second usable bandwidth that is less than the first total bandwidth, wherein the composite signal includes a plurality of individual program multiplex signals modulated according to a first modulation scheme, the distribution system comprising:
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a main receiver disposed at the local site for receiving the composite signal; a plurality of transmodulator channels coupled to the main receiver, each of which remodulates one of the plurality of individual program multiplex signals from the first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme to produce one of a plurality of transmodulated signals having a bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth of an associated one of the plurality of individual program multiplex signals; a combiner coupled to the plurality of transmodulator channels that combines the plurality of transmodulated signals to produce a combined signal having a third total bandwidth that is less than or equal to the second usable bandwidth; and a transmitter that transmits the combined signal over the communication channel in a manner capable of being received by the plurality of individual receivers at the local site. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification