Method and system for controlling a back-up receiver and encoder in a local collection facility from a remote facility

• US 7,861,270 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miner, Daniel M., Boltz, David T., Ostrom, Carl D., St. Laurent, Darren M., Wasden, Mitchell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US11/854,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 725/63, 725 67- 68, 725/71, 725/105, 725/119
• US Class Current: 725/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at a primary receiver and a primary encoder of a local collection facility;

monitoring the local collection facility at a remote facility;

tuning a back-up receiver to the first channel;

generating a back-up receiver signal at the back-up receiver for the first channel;

communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility;

displaying the back-up receiver signal;

switching the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal;

wherein switching the broadcast signal comprises mirroring the primary encoder at a back-up encoder, and communicating the back-up receiver signal through the back-up encoder to form the broadcast signal;

and after mirroring, discontinuing forming the broadcast signal in response to the primary receiver and primary encoder.

2. Method as recited in claim 1 further comprising commanding an antenna switch to feed the back-up receiver with the first channel.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter at the local collection facility.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter and an ATM switch at the local collection facility and an ATM network between the local collection facility and the remote facility.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying the back-up receiver signal comprises displaying the back-up receiver signal while continuing to form the broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the primary receiver and the primary encoder.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tuning comprises tuning to a channel frequency.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tuning comprise tuning to a station identifier.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein switching comprises broadcasting the broadcast signal through a satellite.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first channel signal comprises a high definition television signal.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first channel signal comprises a digital television signal.

12. A system comprising:

a local collection facility comprising a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver;

a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility;

a back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility;

said monitoring system displaying the back-up receiver signal;

said remote facility switching the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal;

wherein the monitoring system commands the back-up encoder to mirror the primary encoder;

wherein the back-up receiver communicates the back-up receiver signal to the back-up encoder to form the broadcast signal; and

wherein the monitoring system commands a discontinuance of the broadcast signal from the primary receiver and primary encoder.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising an antenna switch, said monitoring system commanding antenna switch to feed the back-up receiver with the first channel.

14. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility.

15. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility.

16. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility through an ATM network.

17. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a satellite broadcasting the broadcast signal through a satellite.

18. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the first channel signal comprises a digital television signal.

19. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the local collection facility comprises a plurality of geographically spaced collection facilities.