High bandwidth broadcast system having localized multicast access to broadcast content

• US 6,101,180 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starguide Digital Networks Incorporated (Extreme Reach, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fish, Laurence A., Roberts, Roswell R. III, Lerner, Ian A., Dankworth, Jeffrey A., Donahue, Paul W., Ballister, Thomas C., Hinderks, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/969,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/347, 370/348, 370/389, 370/395, 370/396, 370/397, 370/400, 370/401, 370/432, 370/449, 370/471, 370/352, 370/270, 370/486, 370/337, 370/342, 370/344, 370/429 , 370/402, 395/200.33, 395/200.45, 395/200.47, 395/200.57, 395/200.59, 395/200.6, 395/200.8, 395/200.161, 395/200.62, 395/200.68, 395/200.79, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 379/90.01, 379/93.07
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18595 Arrangements for adapting broadband applications to satellite systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/201 Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/602 Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user'"'"'s apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting digital video or audio content to independent and distal users accessing the Internet via an Internet backbone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) predetermining a schedule for streaming transmission of streaming digital content from a head-end; and

b) stream transmitting the streaming digital content, in a relatively time-sensitive manner, from the head-end, generally according to the schedule, through a one-way dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from the Internet backbone for receipt by at least one remote Internet service gateway providing relatively time-insensitive data transmission to a plurality of distal Internet users via two-way Internet connections through the Internet backbone,

c) whereby the plurality of distal Internet users can receive and play the streaming digital content from the Internet service gateway generally according to the predetermined schedule while maintaining the two-way Internet connection of data for the Internet users,

wherein the dedicated transmission channel includes a one-way satellite transmission system with a satellite down link for delivering the streaming digital content to the Internet service gateway.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital content received by the Internet service gateway is transmitted over the two-way connection from the remote Internet service gateway to the distal Internet users.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users provides two-way interactive communication with remote Internet sites through the Internet backbone.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the method also includes the following step:

Transmitting digital data in association with the streaming digital content, from at least a first remote Internet site through the Internet backbone to at least one Internet user receiving the streaming digital content.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the digital data includes HTML code determining at least a portion of a screen viewed by the receiving Internet user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the HTML code provides the location on the screen of video within the digital content.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users also provides two-way interactive communication with the first remote Internet site and with other remote Internet sites.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users also provides two-way interactive communication with the first remote Internet site and with other remote Internet sites.