Method and apparatus for tv broadcasting and reception

• US 6,493,878 B1
• Filed: 01/01/1998
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orbsak LLC
• Original Assignee: Orbsak LLC
• Inventors: Kassatly, Lord Samuel A
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Application Number:
  US09/004,162
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 725/144, 725/151, 725/146, 725/147, 725/138, 725/139, 725/114, 725/116, 725/117, 725/91, 725/93, 725/97, 348/385.1, 348/387.1, 370/477, 370/480
• US Class Current: 725/144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/12 Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal H04N7/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A television broadcasting system and method of using same for transmitting a plurality of television channel signals is provided. The system includes compression circuits for compressing respective ones of the television channel signals, a transmitter circuit for transmitting the compressed television channel signals in the form of channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal, a receiver circuit for receiving the multiplexed signals, a circuit for separating from the multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of the television channels, a memory device for temporarily storing those separated channel-specific packets corresponding to the selected one of the television channels, a circuit for decompressing and reconstructing from the temporarily-stored channel-specific packets television signals corresponding to the selected one of said television channels, and structure for displaying the reconstructed television signals of the selected one of the television channels.

Claims

1. A television broadcasting method for transmitting a plurality of television channel signals, said method comprising:

compressing the signals from respective ones of the plurality of channels;

transmitting the compressed signals in the form of channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal;

receiving the multiplexed signals;

separating from the multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of the television channels;

temporarily storing those separated channel-specific packets corresponding to the selected one of the television channels;

decompressing and reconstructing from the temporarily-stored channel-specific packets television signals corresponding to the selected one of the television channels; and

displaying the reconstructed television signals of the selected one of the television channels.

2. A television broadcasting system for transmitting a plurality of television channel signals comprising:

a plurality of compression circuits for compressing respective ones of said plurality of television channel signals;

a transmitter circuit for transmitting said compressed television channel signals in the form or channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal;

a receiver circuit for receiving said multiplexed signals;

a circuit for separating from said multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of said television channels;

a memory device for temporarily storing those separated channel-specific packets corresponding to said selected one of said television channels;

a circuit for decompressing and reconstructing firm said temporarily-stored channel-specific packets television signals corresponding to said selected one of said television channels; and

means for displaying the reconstructed television signals of said selected one of said television channels.

3. A television receiving method for receiving a plurality of compressed television channel signals transmitted as channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal, comprising:

receiving the multiplexed signals;

separating from the multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of the television channels;

temporarily storing those channel-specific packets corresponding to the selected one of the television channels;

decompressing and reconstructing from the temporarily-stored channel-specific packets television signals corresponding to the selected one of the television channels; and

displaying the reconstructed signals of the selected one of the television channels.

4. A television receiver for receiving a plurality of compressed television channel signals transmitted as channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal, comprising:

a receiver circuit for receiving said multiplexed signals;

a circuit for separating from said multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of said television channels;

a memory device for temporarily storing those separated channel-specific packets corresponding to said selected one of said television channels;

a circuit for decompressing and reconstructing from said temporarily-stored channel-specific packets television channel signals corresponding to said selected one of said television channels; and

means for displaying said reconstructed television channel signals of said selected one of said television channels.

5. A television signal receiving method for receiving a plurality of compressed television channel signals transmitted as channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal, and for producing output signals suitable for use by a television receiver, comprising:

receiving the multiplexed signals;

separating from the multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of the television channels;

temporarily storing those channel-specific packets corresponding to the selected one of the television channels; and

decompressing and reconstructing from the temporarily-stored channel-specific packets output signals corresponding to the selected one of the television channels.

6. A television signal receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of compressed television channel signals transmitted as channel-specific packets multiplexed over a single carrier frequency signal, and for producing output signals suitable for use by a television receiver, comprising:

a receiver circuit for receiving said multiplexed signals;

a circuit for separating from said multiplexed signals those channel-specific packets corresponding to a selected one of said television channels;

a memory device for temporarily storing those channel-specific packets corresponding to said selected one of said television channels; and

a circuit for decompressing and reconstructing from said temporarily-stored channel-specific packets output signals corresponding to said selected one of said television channels.