Video transmission system and method utilizing phone lines in multiple unit dwellings

• US 6,865,193 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VOXX Electronics Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Terk, Neil D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/954,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 370/486, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09
• US Class Current: 370/493
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires

Abstract

Video programming signals from a broadband source are distributed on installed telephone wiring to the individual units of a commercial structure or multiple unit dwelling. In all methods and associated devices a first transponder device centrally located in a utility space is paired with a second terminal transponder device located on a telephone subscriber premises. The devices cooperate in converting a video signal into a form suitable for transmission on telephone lines and deconverting that signal into a form suitable for reception by consumer video equipment. The methods and devices discussed differ in placement of the central device, and in the particular method of signal conversion.

Claims

1. A method of distributing video and data signals in a multiple unit dwelling, the multiple unit dwelling having a telephone network, the telephone network including multiple twisted-pair conductors extending from respective dwelling units to a telephone junction box, the telephone junction box coupling the twisted-pair wires to a telephone exchange, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of video/data signals;

coupling the plurality of video/data signals to the telephone junction box;

transmitting the plurality of video/data signals over the twisted-pair conductors to at least one of the dwelling units; and

extracting at least one of the plurality of video/data signals from the transmitted plurality of video/data signals in proximity to the at least one of the plurality of dwelling units in response to a channel selection signal.

2. A method defined in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the plurality of video/data signals further includes the steps of:

compressing the plurality of video/data signals prior to transmitting the plurality of video/data signals over the twisted-pair conductors; and

decompressing the compressed plurality of video/data signals subsequent to transmitting the plurality of video/data signals over the twisted-pair conductors.

3. A method defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of video/data signals include at least one of video content and a data signal.

4. A video and data signal distribution system for use in a multiple unit dwelling, the multiple unit dwelling having a telephone network, the telephone network including multiple twisted-pair conductors extending from respective dwelling units to a telephone junction box, the telephone junction box coupling the twisted-pair conductors to a telephone exchange, the system comprising:

a receiver, the receiver being able to receive a plurality of video/data signals, the receiver being coupled to the twisted-pair conductors, the receiver being able to transmit the received plurality of video/data signals on the twisted pair conductors;

a plurality of video/data channel selectors, each of the plurality of video/data channel selectors being disposed in a dwelling unit, each of the plurality of video/data channel selectors being operatively coupled to at least one of the twisted-pair conductors, each of the plurality of video/data channel selectors being able to generate a channel selection signal in response to a user input; and

a video/data signal extraction component, the video/data signal extraction component being associated with a respective video channel selector, the video/data signal extraction component being operatively coupled to at least one of the twisted-pair conductors, the video/data signal extraction component being able to extract a selected video/data signal from the received plurality of video/data signals in response to the channel selection signal.

5. A video and data signal distribution system as defined in claim 4, wherein the receiver further includes a video/data compression circuit, the video/data compression circuit compressing the plurality of video/data signals prior to transmitting the received plurality of video/data signals on the twisted-pair conductors.

6. A video and data signal distribution system as defined in claim 4, wherein the video/data signal extraction component further includes a video/data decompression circuit, the video/data decompression circuit decompressing the compressed plurality of video/data signals subsequent to transmitting the received plurality of video/data signal on the twisted-pair conductors.

7. A video and data signal distribution system as defined in claim 4, wherein the receiver includes a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable conducting the plurality of video/data signals from a video/data signal source.

8. A video and data signal distribution system as defined in claim 4, wherein the receiver includes a satellite antenna, the satellite antenna receiving the plurality of video/data signals from a video/data signal source.

9. A video and data signal distribution system as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of the receiver and the plurality of video/data channel selectors includes at least one of a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter, at least one of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter substantially isolating the plurality of video/data signals from the telephone signals.

10. The video and data signal distribution system defined in claim 4, wherein the plurality of video/data signals include at least one of video content and a data signal.