Media network using set-top boxes as nodes
First Claim
1. A method for creating a two-way communication from two unidirectional data channels, comprising:
- communicatively coupling a set-top box with a hub of a media network, wherein the set-top box receives a streaming Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video modulated on a coaxial cable rather than over an Internet protocol-based local area network;
filtering signals received by the media network from a multimedia headend to provide one or more available frequencies for communication between the set-top box and the hub;
filtering signals transmitted from the media network to the multimedia headend to prevent media network signals of the one or more available frequencies for communication from leaving the media network;
tuning the set-top box to the one or more available frequencies for communication to send ALOHA data to the hub on an out-of-band channel through a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) demodulator;
tuning the set-top box to a frequency other than the one or more available frequencies for communication between the set-top box and the hub to receive the signals from the multimedia headend on the out-of-band channel; and
tuning the set-top box to receive Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulated MPEG data and a multimedia content from the hub on an in-band channel;
wherein the filtering is performed by a notching filter;
wherein the hub is a personal computer comprising an API layer configured to mask the two unidirectional data channels such that the two unidirectional channels present an interface that appears as a bidirectional channel to applications and functions on the hub;
receiving the streaming Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein a program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Subject matter includes methods of using conventional set-top boxes that receive streaming video modulated on coaxial cable rather than over an IP-based LAN as nodes in a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary adapter is used to integrate a conventional set-top box into a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary filter is used to reserve frequencies for communications between a conventional set-top box and a hub and to prevent communications from leaving a media network. In one implementation, an exemplary content protection method provides a way of encrypting program content on the media network in a manner that a conventional set-top box can decode.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for creating a two-way communication from two unidirectional data channels, comprising:
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communicatively coupling a set-top box with a hub of a media network, wherein the set-top box receives a streaming Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video modulated on a coaxial cable rather than over an Internet protocol-based local area network; filtering signals received by the media network from a multimedia headend to provide one or more available frequencies for communication between the set-top box and the hub; filtering signals transmitted from the media network to the multimedia headend to prevent media network signals of the one or more available frequencies for communication from leaving the media network; tuning the set-top box to the one or more available frequencies for communication to send ALOHA data to the hub on an out-of-band channel through a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) demodulator; tuning the set-top box to a frequency other than the one or more available frequencies for communication between the set-top box and the hub to receive the signals from the multimedia headend on the out-of-band channel; and tuning the set-top box to receive Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulated MPEG data and a multimedia content from the hub on an in-band channel; wherein the filtering is performed by a notching filter; wherein the hub is a personal computer comprising an API layer configured to mask the two unidirectional data channels such that the two unidirectional channels present an interface that appears as a bidirectional channel to applications and functions on the hub; receiving the streaming Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein a program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
- a computing hub for receiving and storing multimedia content;
a set-top box coupled with the computing hub and coupled with a multimedia content source in order to receive multimedia content directly from the multimedia content source, wherein the set-top box receives streaming Moving Picture Experts Group video modulated on coaxial cable rather than over an Internet protocol-based local area network, wherein the set-top box further receives a program content from the computing hub on the in-band channel, and wherein the set-top box sends data to the hub on an out-of-band channel and receives data from the hub on an in-band channel, a radio frequency filter blocks one or more frequencies of a signal from the multimedia content source to the set-top box and to the hub, and the set-top box sends data to the hub on an out-of-band channel that uses a frequency blocked by the radio frequency filter and receives data from the hub on an in-band channel that uses a frequency blocked by the radio frequency filter;receiving the program content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a computing hub for receiving and storing multimedia content;
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26. An adapter, comprising:
- a tuner to tune an out-of-band channel of a set-top box to a frequency selected for communication over a media network, the tuner configured to receive data sent from the set-top box using an ALOHA protocol on a first frequency for data directed within the media network and a second frequency for data directed out of the media network,
wherein the media network has a hub that communicates over an Internet Protocol-based local area network with one or more network media nodes and communicates over the out-of-band channel and the in-band channel with the set-top box and one or more other set-top boxes; a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) demodulator coupled with the tuner to demodulate upstream data signals from the tuner to the hub; a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator to receive and modulate data and multimedia content from the hub; an upconverter coupled with the quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator to upconvert modulated data and multimedia content signals to the set-top box; and a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) decoder and a National Television System Committee (NTSC) video standard encoder to receive video content from the hub and a radio frequency modulator coupled with the MPEG decoder/NTSC encoder to modulate the video content signals for the set-top box; receiving the video content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the video content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the video content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the video content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
- a tuner to tune an out-of-band channel of a set-top box to a frequency selected for communication over a media network, the tuner configured to receive data sent from the set-top box using an ALOHA protocol on a first frequency for data directed within the media network and a second frequency for data directed out of the media network,
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29. A content protection system, comprising:
- a content protector to create multiple scrambled program streams from a single program stream according to a key, wherein the content protector places an unscrambled video frame of program content in any one of the scrambled program streams and places an associated scrambled video frame of program content in each of the remaining multiple scrambled program streams, and wherein the identity of the scrambled program stream receiving the unscrambled video frame is recorded as a corresponding part of the key; and
wherein for each I frame in the single program stream one of the two scrambled program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two scrambled program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the single program stream is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two scrambled program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two scrambled program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1; a content decrypter to receive the multiple scrambled program streams and the key and decode the multiple scrambled program streams into a single program stream according to the key. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- a content protector to create multiple scrambled program streams from a single program stream according to a key, wherein the content protector places an unscrambled video frame of program content in any one of the scrambled program streams and places an associated scrambled video frame of program content in each of the remaining multiple scrambled program streams, and wherein the identity of the scrambled program stream receiving the unscrambled video frame is recorded as a corresponding part of the key; and
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37. A method of using a media network having a hub to send multimedia content to media network nodes and to set-top boxes in the media network, wherein the set-top boxes receive streaming Moving Picture Experts Group video modulated on coaxial cable rather than over an Internet protocol-based local area network, comprising:
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tuning the set-top boxes to selected frequencies of at least about 5 megahertz to at most about 42 megahertz, wherein the selected frequencies are reserved for communication in the media network by a bidirectional electronic radio frequency notching filter configured to block signals of the selected frequencies incoming from a multimedia head and to block outgoing signals of the selected frequencies from leaving the media network; requesting a list of programs from the hub on an out-of-band channel of a set-top box using a one of the selected frequencies, wherein the out-of-band channel comprises frequencies from at least about 5 megahertz to at most about 42 megahertz and is used for upstream communication from the set-top box to the hub by sending ALOHA data via a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) demodulator; receiving a list of programs from the hub on an in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the in-band channel is used for downstream communication from the hub to the set-top box by sending data via an Annex B type Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulator and an upconverter; requesting program content on the out-of-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies; receiving a confirmation of the requesting program content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies; and receiving the program content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1; wherein the hub is a personal computer comprising an API layer configured to mask the two unidirectional data channels such that the two unidirectional channels present an interface that appears as a bidirectional channel to applications and functions on the hub.
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38. A method of using a media network having a hub to send multimedia content to media network nodes and to set-top boxes in the media network, comprising:
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tuning the set-top boxes to selected frequencies reserved for communication in the media network; requesting a trick mode on an out-of-band channel of a set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the out-of-band channel comprises frequencies from at least about 5 megahertz to at most about 42 megahertz and is used for upstream communication from the set-top box to the hub by sending ALOHA data; receiving a confirmation of the requesting a trick mode on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the in-band channel is used for downstream communication from the hub to the set-top box by sending data via a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulator and an upconverter and the hub is a computer comprising an API layer configured to mask the out-of-band channel and the in-band channel such that the out-of-band channel and the in-band channel present an interface that appears as a bidirectional channel to applications and functions on the hub; and receiving program content in the trick mode on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies; wherein the program content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1.
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39. One or more computer readable media containing instructions that are executable by a computer to perform actions comprising:
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filtering signals received by the media network to provide one or more clear frequencies for communicating between a set-top box and a hub of a media network; tuning the set-top box to send data to the hub on an out-of-band channel, wherein the out-of-band channel comprises frequencies from at least about 5 megahertz to at most about 42 megahertz and is used for upstream communication from the set-top box to the hub by sending ALOHA data; and tuning the set-top box to receive a program content from the hub on an in-band channel, wherein the in-band channel is used for downstream communication from the hub to the set-top box by sending data via a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) modulator and an upconverter, wherein the hub is a computer comprising an API layer configured to mask the out-of-band channel and the in-band channel such that the out-of-band channel and the in-band channel present an interface that appears as a bidirectional channel to applications and functions on the hub, receiving the program content on the in-band channel of the set-top box using one of the selected frequencies, wherein the program content is encrypted by creating two encrypted program streams from the program content such that for each I frame in the MPEG data one of the two program streams contains an un-modified I frame and the other of the two program streams contains random shuffling of MPEG slices of the I frame and the program content is decrypted by a binary key that for a given I frame identifies the one of the two encrypted program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when a digit of the binary key is 0 and identifies the other of the two program streams as containing the un-modified I frame when the digit of the binary key is 1. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification