Method and apparatus for on-demand video program access control using integrated out-of-band signaling for channel selection

• US 6,848,116 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exelis Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Land, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shang, Annan Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/481,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 725/4, 725/78, 725/82, 725/49, 725/68, 725/106, 725/108, 725/111, 725/109, 725/105, 725/121, 725/120, 725/128, 725/126
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

An on-demand program access system for broadband, frequency division multiplexed cable television signals, one or more infrastructure element (IF) constituting a local video network signal server has a plurality of subscriber premise equipment elements (SPEE) served thereby. Each SPEE constitutes a video network client. Coaxial premise wiring connects each SPEE with the IE for conducting RF modulated programming signals and bi-directional data signals between the IE and each respective SPEE using out-of-band signaling so that there is no overlap between the programming signals and the bi-directional data signals.

Claims

1. An on-demand program access system for broadband, frequency division multiplexed cable television signals comprising:

an infrastructure element (IE) constituting a local video network signal server, said IE including input and output diplexers connected to said cable, a channel service tuner, means connecting said channel service tuner between said input and output diplexers, respectively, a RF modem connected to said input diplexer, a microcontroller connected to said RF modem, and a LAN controller connected to said microcontroller, said microcontroller controlling said channel service tuner, and

a plurality of subscriber premise equipment elements (SPEE), each SPEE constituting a video network client, coaxial premise wiring connecting each SPEE with said IE for conducting RF modulated programming signals and bi-directional data signals between said IE and each respective SPEE using out-of-band signaling so that there is no overlap between said programming signals and said bi-directional data signals.

2. An on-demand program access system for broadband, frequency division multiplexed cable television programming signals comprising:

an infrastructure element constituting a local video network service, said infrastructure element comprised of a channel service tuner, a microcontroller, a LAN controller, an RF modem, and input diplexer and an output diplexer, said input diplexer and said output diplexer being connected to said channel service tuner, said input RF diplexer being connected for bi-directional control signals to said RF modem,

said channel service tuner implementing frequency translation of up to four television channels, the input and output frequencies of the four channels of the channel service tuner being controlled by said microcontroller which receives channel service requests from a subscriber premise equipment element (SPEE), through said LAN controller,

a plurality of subscriber premise equipment elements (SPEE), coaxial premise wiring means connecting each SPEE with said output diplexer for conducting RF modulated program signals and bi-directional data signals between the IE and each respective SPEE using out-of-band signaling so that there is no overlap between said programming signals and said bi-directional data signals.

3. The on-demand program access system for broadband frequency division multiplexed cable television programming signals as defined in claim 2 including first and second RF splitter combiners connected on the upstream and downstream ends of said channel service tuner, respectively,

and a bypass filter connecting between said two RF splitter/combiners and controlled by said microcontroller.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said bypass filter is switch-controlled by said microcontroller.

5. An on-demand program access system for broadband, frequency division multiplexed cable television programming signals comprising:

an infrastructure element constituting a local video network service, said infrastructure element comprised of a channel service tuner, a microcontroller, a LAN controller, an RF modem, and input diplexer and an output diplexer, said input diplexer and said output diplexer being connected to said channel service tuner, said input RF diplexer being connected for bi-directional control signals to said RF modem,

said channel service tuner implementing frequency translation of up to four television channels, the input and output frequencies of the four channels of the channel service tuner being controlled by said microcontroller which receives channel service requests from a subscriber premise equipment element (SPEE), through said LAN controller, first and second RF splitter combiners connected on the upstream and downstream ends of said channel service tuner, respectively,

and a bypass filter connected between said two RF splitter/combiners and controlled by said microcontroller,

a plurality of subscriber premise equipment elements (SPEE), coaxial premise wiring means connecting each SPEE with said output diplexer for conducting RF modulated program signals and bi-directional data signals between the IE and each respective SPEE using out-of-band signaling so that there is no overlap between said programming signals and said bi-directional data signals.