Ethernet digital storage (EDS) card and satellite transmission system

• US 8,284,774 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Megawave Audio LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Roberts, Roswell, Lerner, Ian, Teschmacher, Lowell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/624,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/412, 370/463, 370/316, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/95 for local area

Abstract

An Ethernet Digital Storage (EDS) Card and satellite transmission system is provided for receiving, storing, and transmitting files including video, audio, text, and multimedia files, especially files received via satellite transmission. In a preferred embodiment, a satellite system includes a receiver using the EDS Card. A data stream is received by the receiver and then may be stored at the receiver or directly routed as TCP/IP packets. Received or stored data files may be multicast. The EDS Card also includes an HTTP server for web access to the card parameters and any files stored on the card. A DHCP on the EDS card provides dynamic configuration of the card'"'"'s IP address. The EDS card also includes a PPP and modem processor for file transmission, reception, and affidavit collection. The EDS card also includes an event scheduler for triggering files at a predetermined time or at an external prompt. A command processor keeps a built-in log of audio spots played and responds to a command originator when a command is received. Files may be transmitted from the EDS card via a M&C port, an Ethernet port, or an auxiliary RS-232 port. Files may be received by the EDS Card from a data stream from a satellite, a M&C port, an Ethernet port, or an auxiliary RS-232 port. The EDS card also provides time shifting and may be used without a satellite feed as an HTTP-controlled router with storage.

Claims

1. An Ethernet card configured to be integrated in a satellite receiver, the Ethernet card comprising:

a storage component configured to store received signals as files;

a router configured to select a path for at least one of said files;

an Ethernet transceiver configured to transmit at least one of said files;

a server configured to communicate with external devices; and

a resolver configured to translate mnemonic IP addresses into numerical IP addresses, wherein the server and resolver are configured to allow operation of the Ethernet card and contents of the storage component to be remotely accessible via a web browser.

2. The Ethernet card of claim 1 further comprising a multicasting processor configured to provide multicasting of at least some of said signals.

3. The Ethernet card of claim 1 further comprising a DHCP processor configured to dynamically configure an IP address of said Ethernet card.

4. The Ethernet card of claim 1 further comprising a confirmation web client configured to send confirmations indicative of signals being received by the Ethernet card to a remote location in response to a predetermined event.

5. The Ethernet card of claim 1 further comprising an audio subsystem configured to combine a received audio signal with locally inserted audio signals.

6. The Ethernet card of claim 1 further comprising a command processor configured to display at least a portion of a received signal stored in said Ethernet card and prompt said Ethernet card to transmit at least one of the received signals.

7. The Ethernet card of claim 1, wherein said Ethernet card is configured to be connected to a backplane.

8. The Ethernet card of claim 1, wherein said Ethernet card is configured to store and forward media files.

9. The Ethernet card of claim 1, wherein said signals comprise media TCP/IP packets and said Ethernet card is configured to route said media TCP/IP packets.

10. The Ethernet card of claim 1, wherein said Ethernet card further includes:

a multicasting processor configured to provide multicasting of at least some of said files; and

an audio subsystem configured to combine a received audio signal with a locally inserted audio signal; and

a command processor configured to generate display data representative of at least a portion of said files and to prompt said Ethernet card to transmit at least a portion of said files.

11. The Ethernet card of claim 10, wherein said Ethernet card further includes:

a processor configured to dynamically configure an IP address of said Ethernet card; and

a confirmation web client configured to send confirmations to a remote location when predetermined events occur.

24. The Ethernet card of claim 1, wherein said Ethernet card is configured to be connected to a backplane in the satellite receiver.

12. An Ethernet Digital Storage (EDS) card for use in a satellite data stream reception system, the EDS card comprising:

a flash memory storage configured to store at least a portion of a received data stream;

an Ethernet transceiver configured to transmit the portion of the received data stream;

a DNS resolver configured to translate mnemomic IP addresses into numerical IP addresses and vice versa; and

a HTTP server configured to allow operation of the Ethernet card and contents of the flash memory storage to be remotely accessible via a web browser.

13. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising a DHCP processor configured to dynamically configure an IP address of said EDS card.

14. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising a confirmation web client configured to send confirmations indicative of data signals being received by the EDS card to a remote location in response to a predetermined event.

15. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising an audio subsystem configured to combine a received audio data stream with locally inserted audio.

16. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising a command processor configured to display the portion of the received data stream stored in said flash memory storage and prompt said Ethernet transceiver to transmit the portion of the received data stream.

17. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising a multicasting processor configured to provide multicasting of the portion of the received data stream.

18. The EDS card of claim 12 further comprising a router configured to select a path for the portion of the received data stream.

25. The EDS card of claim 12, wherein said EDS card is configured to be connected to a backplane in the satellite data stream reception system.

19. An Ethernet Digital Storage (EDS) Card for use in a satellite data stream reception system, the EDS Card comprising:

a flash memory storage configured to store at least a portion of a received data stream;

an Ethernet transceiver configured to transmit the portion of the received data stream;

a multicasting processor configured to provide multicasting of the portion of the received data stream;

a DNS resolver configured to translate mnemomic IP addresses into numerical IP addresses and vice versa; and

a HTTP server configured to allow operation of the Ethernet card and contents of the flash memory storage to be remotely accessible via a web browser.

20. The EDS card of claim 19 further comprising a DHCP processor configured to dynamically configure an IP address of said EDS card.

21. The EDS card of claim 19 further comprising a confirmation web client configured to send confirmations indicative of data streams being received by the EDS card to a remote location in response to a predetermined event.

22. The EDS card of claim 19 further comprising an audio subsystem configured to combine a received audio data stream with locally inserted audio.

23. The EDS card of claim 19 further comprising a command processor configured to display the portion of the received data stream stored in said flash memory storage and prompt said Ethernet transceiver to transmit the portion of the received data stream.

26. The EDS card of claim 19, wherein said EDS card is configured to be connected to a backplane in the satellite data stream reception system.

27. An Ethernet card configured to be integrated in a satellite receiver, the Ethernet card comprising:

a storage component configured to store received signals as files, wherein the received signals comprise at least one audio signal;

a multicasting processor configured to provide multicasting of at least one of said received signals;

an audio subsystem configured to combine the audio signal with a local audio signal;

a command processor configured to display at least a portion of the received signals stored in said Ethernet card and to prompt said Ethernet card to transmit the portion of said received signals;

a router configured to select a path for at least one of said received signals; and

an Ethernet transceiver configured to transmit at least one of said received signals.

28. The Ethernet card of claim 27 further comprising a server configured to communicate with an external device via a web browser.

29. The Ethernet card of claim 27 further comprising a resolver configured to translate mnemonic IP addresses into numerical IP addresses.

30. The Ethernet card of claim 27 further comprising a processor configured to dynamically configure an IP address of said Ethernet card.

31. The Ethernet card of claim 27 further comprising a confirmation web client configured to send confirmations to a remote location in response to a predetermined event.

32. The Ethernet card of claim 27, wherein said Ethernet card is configured to be connected to a backplane.

33. The Ethernet card of claim 27, wherein said Ethernet card is configured to store and forward media files.

34. The Ethernet card of claim 27, wherein said signals comprise media TCP/IP packets and said Ethernet card is configured to route said media TCP/IP packets.