Method and apparatus for communicating different types of data in a data stream

• US 6,055,244 A
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rovira, Luis Agustin, Wall, William Edgar Jr., McMullan, Jay Cauthern Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/449,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 370/71, 370/73, 370/77, 370/94.1, 370/99, 370/110.1, 370/485, 370/486, 370/498, 370/476, 370/522, 370/326, 370/345, 370/487, 370/349, 370/474, 358/342, 358/332, 358/335, 380/10, 380/19, 380/20, 455/45, 455/46, 455/66, 455/158.4, 455/158.5, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/154.1
• US Class Current: 370/487
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23895 involving multiplex stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43853 involving multiplex stream decryption arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber'"'"'s digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting different types of data in a single data stream comprising the steps of:

generating program data for insertion into said data stream;

generating program selection data which describes the attributes of said program data for insertion into said data stream, wherein said program selection data includes at least one of a title, a track number, an artist, a publisher, a composer, a song identification, and a play time information block;

generating another type of data for insertion into said data stream;

combining said program data with said program selection data to form data groups;

generating a header containing data from said another type of data;

combining said header with said data groups to form a unit; and

constructing said data stream by joining a plurality of successive units for transmission.

2. Apparatus for communicating different types of digital data to a receiver comprising:

first means for generating program selection data which describes attributes of program data for insertion into a data stream, wherein said program selection data includes at least one of a title, a track number, an artist, a publisher, a composer, a song identification, and a play time information block;

second means for generating another type of data for insertion into said data stream;

third means for generating said program data for insertion into said data stream;

means operatively associated with said first and third means for combining said program data with said program selection data to form data groups;

means operatively associated with said second means for generating a header containing data from said another type of data;

means for combining said header with a plurality of data groups to form a unit; and

means for constructing said data stream by joining a plurality of successive units for transmission.

3. A digital data receiver for receiving a data stream containing successive headers including data of a first type, with each header followed by a plurality of mixed data groups including digital data and program selection data which describes the attributes of said digital data, said receiver comprising:

first means for detecting said program selection data from successive mixed data groups contained in a received data stream, wherein said program selection data includes at least one of a title, a track number, an artist, a publisher, a composer, a song identification, and a play time information block;

second means for detecting data of the first type from successive headers contained in the received data stream;

means responsive to the detected data of the first type and the detected program selection data for recovering the digital data from the received data stream; and

means for reproducing a program from the recovered digital data.