Audio/video and data signal redistribution system

• US 8,484,688 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northvu Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northvu Incorporated
• Inventors: Jeffery, Ross A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US11/928,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 725/35
• US Class Current: 725/99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/08 specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• 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 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A system for redistributing a multiple input audio/video and data signals having a redistributing device equipped to receive signals in a multiple formats and redistribute a selected signal to a user'"'"'s premises over conductors, preferably existing twisted-pair telephone wire. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with a communications interface located in the user'"'"'s premises which receives user-input control signals and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user'"'"'s premises where it is received by the receiving unit such as a television receiver. A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point, and services multiple users independently. The system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time. In one preferred embodiment the system of the invention dynamically allocates frequencies and modulation techniques to various output signals, to maximize spectral efficiency and minimize interference and cross-talk.

Claims

1. A system for redistributing a plurality of audio/video signals to a plurality of units, each unit being serviced through a common distribution point, each unit within the plurality of units having at least one communications interface, the system comprising

at least one demodulator for demodulating at least one input signals,

a server controlling an output program selection of the input signals responsive to one or more control signals corresponding to each user-selected program input into one of the at least one communications interfaces in one of the plurality of units, and at least one processor for processing the at least one input signals for switching by one or more of matching an impedance of the input signal to an output impedance, raising a baseband of the signal, equalizing high frequency components, increasing a level of chroma, increasing a peak-to-peak voltage, optimizing frequency allocation, and selecting an appropriate modulation technique,

the server or a different server inserting or substituting, or both, programming other than the selected program into the output signal containing the selected program, based on user information relating to the user, to thereby transmit in the outgoing signal said programming other than the user-selected program to the user along with or in addition to the user-selected program,

and

at least one switching device for routing the program selection using an internet protocol or other communication protocol or combination thereof, the switching device being controlled by the server and outputting the output signal containing the user-selected program and said programming other than the user-selected program, which output signal is sent only to the at least one communications interface within the one of the plurality of units and not to the others of the plurality of units, responsive to the one or more control signals input into the at least one communications interfaces,

wherein the at least one communications interface in the one of the plurality of units receives the program selection and the programming other than the selected program for transmission to at least one receiving device in the one of the plurality of units.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the input signals are in different signal formats.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the communications interface includes a network interface for transmitting data from a computer as an input signal to the redistributor.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the communications interface includes a data interface for receiving data from a keyboard, joystick, card reader, bar code reader or other data providing device.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the programming other than the selected program comprises a selectable command option.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user remotely.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user through a command-providing device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the information relating to the user is used for billing.

9. A method of redistributing a plurality of audio/video signals to a plurality of units, each unit being serviced through a common distribution point, each unit within the plurality of units having at least one communications interface, the method comprising the steps of

(a) receiving at least one input signals containing a program,

(b) demodulating the at least one input signal,

(c) processing the at least one input signals to a format suitable for switching by one or more of matching an impedance of the input signal to an output impedance, raising a baseband of the signal, equalizing high frequency components, increasing a level of chroma, increasing a peak-to-peak voltage, optimizing frequency allocation, and selecting an appropriate modulation technique,

(d) selecting a processed input signal for redistribution to one unit of the plurality of units using an internet protocol or other communication protocol or combination thereof, according to one or more control signals corresponding to a user-selected program input into at least one communications interface in one of the plurality of units,

(e) sending an output signal containing the user-selected program only to the at least one communications interface within the one of the plurality of units, responsive to the one or more control signals input into the at least one communications interface, and not to the others of the plurality of units, and

(f) inserting or substituting, or both, programming other than the selected program into the output signal containing the selected program, based on user information relating to the user, to thereby transmit in the outgoing signal said programming other than the user-selected program to the user along with or in addition to the user-selected program.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the input signals are in different signal formats.

11. The method of claim 9 in which the communications interface includes a network interface for transmitting data from a computer as an input signal to the redistributor.

12. The method of claim 9 in which the communications interface includes a data interface for receiving data from a keyboard, joystick, card reader, bar code reader or other data providing device.

13. The method of claim 9 in which the programming other than the selected program comprises a selectable command option and including the sub-step, within step (f), of transmitting the selectable command option in the outgoing signal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user remotely.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user through a command-providing device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the information relating to the user is used for billing.