Simulcasting digital video programs for broadcast and interactive services
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
a plurality of broadband wireless transmitters for broadcasting the signal into a service area said transmitters being located at spaced apart sites for transmitting said signal containing multiplexed channels so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of the service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network and;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising;
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal;
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data network is combined with a broadband digital broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via an RF packet data modem included in the terminal and the public wireless packet data network. In addition to the signaling for interactive services, the packet data network provides transport for data communications between other data devices.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information; a plurality of broadband wireless transmitters for broadcasting the signal into a service area said transmitters being located at spaced apart sites for transmitting said signal containing multiplexed channels so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of the service area; a two-way wireless packet data network and; a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal; (ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel, (iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and (iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification