Methods, systems and apparatus for providing video transmissions over multiple media

• US 8,813,142 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M., Phillips, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US10/854,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,738 Days
• Field of Search: 725/95, 725/96, 725/99
• US Class Current: 725/96
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• 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 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• 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 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide novel apparatus, methods and systems for providing relatively high-speed bandwidth to enable, inter alia, video transmission services over media previously unable to support such services. In accordance with certain embodiments, a device located at the telecommunication service provider can logically couple two or more physical media to provide a single, consolidated source of bandwidth, which can be used to transmit data, which can represent a video signal. In accordance with other embodiments, a device located at the subscriber'"'"'s location can be used to receive the data from each of the two physical media and recreate the video signal from the data, such that the video signal can be transmitted to a display device, such as a television, monitor, etc.

Claims

1. A method of providing video service via a plurality of communications lines, wherein each of the plurality of communications lines, on its own, has insufficient bandwidth to provide the video service, the method comprising:

providing a video transmission;

providing the plurality of communications lines, each of the plurality of communications lines being configured to provide communication with a video reception device located at the subscriber location, wherein at least two of the plurality of communications lines are implemented using separate transport media of different physical types;

segmenting the video transmission into a plurality of information sets, each of the plurality of information sets comprising a portion of the information needed to provide the video service, wherein at least some of the plurality of information sets have different sizes, and wherein a size of each of the plurality of information sets depends on a bandwidth of each of the plurality of communication lines;

queuing the plurality of information sets for transmission;

transmitting a first information set via a first communications line of a first type;

transmitting a second information set via a second communications line of a second type;

receiving the first and second information sets at the video reception device; and

combining the first and second information sets to form a combined information set, the combined information set comprising the video transmission.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing at the subscriber location a video reception device in communication with the first and second communications lines;

receiving at the video reception device the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line;

receiving at the video reception device the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising, at the video reception device, transmitting the video transmission to a display device for viewing.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising buffering at least a portion of the video transmission prior to transmitting the video transmission to a display device for viewing.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein buffering at least a portion of the video transmission comprises buffering at least a portion of the first stream of logical blocks while receiving at least a portion of the second stream of logical blocks.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the video reception device comprises a set-top box.

7. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the video reception device comprises an integrated network interface device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video transmission comprises a digital video transmission.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the video transmission comprises an MPEG file.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises a DSL line.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises a satellite transmission.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises a cable television distribution line.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises an ISDN line.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises optical fiber.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second types of communications lines comprises a twisted-pair telephone line.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a timing signal via at least one of the first and second communications lines.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, at the video provider, buffering the video transmission prior to dividing the video transmission into a plurality of logical blocks.

18. A method of providing a video transmission from a video provider to a subscriber location via a plurality of communications lines, wherein at least two of the plurality of communications lines are implemented using separate transport media of different physical types, the method comprising:

providing a first communications line of a first type and having a first bandwidth, the first communications line being configured to provide communications between the video provider and the subscriber;

providing a second communications line of a second type and having a second bandwidth, the second communications line being configured to provide further communications between the video provider and the subscriber;

dividing a video transmission into a plurality of logical blocks, such that each logical block represents a portion of the video transmission;

allocating the plurality of logical blocks into a first stream of logical blocks and a second stream of logical blocks, wherein at least some of the plurality of logical blocks have different sizes, and wherein a size of each of the plurality of logical blocks depends on the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth;

transmitting the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line;

transmitting the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line; and

combining the first and second streams of logical blocks into a combined set of blocks, the combined set of blocks comprising the video transmission.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising, at the video reception device, converting the video transmission to a standard television format prior to transmitting the video transmission to a display device for viewing.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein at least some of the plurality of logical blocks have the same size.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the plurality of logical blocks comprises a first logical block comprising a first sequential portion of the video transmission, a second logical block comprising a second sequential portion of the video transmission, a third logical block comprising a third sequential portion of the video transmission and a fourth logical block comprising a fourth sequential portion of the video transmission, and wherein allocating the plurality of logical blocks comprises:

allocating the first logical block for transmission via the first communications line;

allocating the second logical block for transmission via the second communications line;

allocating the third logical block for transmission via the first communications line; and

allocating the fourth logical block for transmission via the second communications line.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising adding additional information to each of the plurality of logical blocks.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the additional information comprises sequence information.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the additional information comprises timing information.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the additional information comprises quality of service information.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising, at the subscriber location:

interpreting the additional information in each of the logical blocks; and

using the additional information, combining the first and second streams of logical blocks into a combined set of blocks, the combined set of blocks comprising the video transmission.

27. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein allocating the plurality of logical blocks comprises queuing the logical blocks for transmission.

28. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising, at the video provider, buffering at least one of the plurality of logical blocks prior to allocating the at least one of the plurality of logical blocks.

29. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising encapsulating each of the plurality of logical blocks into at least one data packet.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the at least one data packet comprises an IP packet.

31. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising providing a distribution network, the distribution network comprising the first and second communications lines and further comprising:

an intermediary device in communication with the first and second communications lines; and

a third communications line in communication with the intermediary device and configured to provide communications between the intermediary device and a central office of the video provider.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the video transmission to the intermediary device via the third communications line prior to dividing the video transmission into a plurality of logical blocks.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting the first and second streams of logical blocks to the intermediary device prior to transmitting the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line;

receiving the first and second streams of logical blocks at the intermediary device;

transmitting the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line; and

transmitting the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line.

34. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the intermediary device comprises a DSLAM.

35. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the intermediary device comprises an optical network unit.

36. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the third communications line comprises an ATM network.

37. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the third communications line comprises a public switched telephone network.

38. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the third communications line comprises optical fiber.

39. A system for providing video services to a subscriber location, the system comprising:

a plurality of communications lines adapted to communicate to the subscriber location, wherein at least two of the plurality of communications lines are implemented using separate transport media of different physical types;

a first communications line, of a first type and having a first bandwidth, in communication with the subscriber location;

a second communications line, of a second type and having a second bandwidth, in communication with the subscriber location; and

a video distribution device comprising;

a first processor;

a first communications interface in communication with the first processor and further in communication with the first and second communications lines;

a first storage medium in communication with the first processor, the first storage medium comprising instructions executable by the first processor to;

receive a video transmission;

divide the video transmission into a plurality of logical blocks, such that each logical block represents a portion of the video transmission;

allocate the plurality of logical blocks into a first stream of logical blocks and a second stream of logical blocks, wherein at least some of the plurality of logical blocks have different sizes, and wherein the size of each of the plurality of logical blocks depends on the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth;

using the first communications interface, transmit the first stream of logical blocks; and

using the first communications interface, transmit the second stream of logical blocks; and

a video reception device located at the subscriber location, the video reception device comprising;

a second communications interface in communication with the first and second communications lines and configured to receive the first and second streams of logical blocks;

a second processor in communication with the second communications interface; and

a second storage medium in communication with the second processor, the second storage medium comprising instructions executable by the second processor to combine the first and second streams of logical blocks into a combined set of logical blocks, the combined set of logical blocks comprising the video transmission.

40. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the first storage medium comprises further instructions executable by the first processor to:

transmit the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line; and

transmit the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line.

41. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the first communications interface comprises:

a first communications interface in communication with the first communications line; and

a second communications interface in communication with the second communications line.

42. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the second communications interface comprises:

a third communications interface in communication with the first communications line and configured to receive the first stream of logical blocks; and

a fourth communications interface in communication with the first communications line and configured to receive the second stream of logical blocks.

43. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the video reception device further comprises a television interface, and wherein the second storage medium comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to transmit the video transmission via the television interface.

44. A system as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

a third communications line in communication with the first communications interface; and

an intermediary device configured to provide communication between the video distribution device and the first and second communications lines, the intermediary device comprising;

a third communications interface in communication with the third communications line;

a fourth communications interface in communication with the first communications line; and

a fifth communications interface in communication with the second communications line.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein the intermediary device further comprises:

a third processor in communication with the third, fourth and fifth communications interfaces; and

a third storage medium in communication with the third processor, the third storage medium comprising instructions executable by the third processor to;

receive the first and second streams of logical blocks;

transmit the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line; and

transmit the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line.

46. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein the intermediary device comprises a DSLAM.

47. A video distribution system as recited in claim 44, wherein the intermediary device comprises an optical network unit.

48. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the video distribution device comprises a DSLAM.

49. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the video distribution device comprises an optical network unit.

50. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein the video distribution device is located at a central office of a video provider.

51. A video distribution system for providing video services to a subscriber location, the video distribution system comprising:

a processor;

at least one communications interface in communication with the processor and configured to communicate with a first communications line of a first type and having a first bandwidth, and a second communications line of a second type and having a second bandwidth, wherein the first communications line and the second communications line are implemented using separate transport media of different physical types;

a storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a video transmission;

divide the video transmission into a plurality of logical blocks, such that each logical block represents a portion of the video transmission;

allocate the plurality of logical blocks into a first stream of logical blocks and a second stream of logical blocks, wherein at least some of the plurality of logical blocks have different sizes, and wherein a size of each of the plurality of logical blocks depends on the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth;

using the communications interface, transmit the first stream of logical blocks via the first communications line; and

using the communications interface, transmit the second stream of logical blocks via the second communications line; and

a video reception device located at the subscriber location and configured to combine the first and second streams of logical blocks into a combined set of logical blocks, the combined set of logical blocks comprising the video transmission.

52. A video distribution device as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one communications interface comprises:

a first communications interface in communication with the processor and configured to communicate with a first communications line; and

a second communications interface in communication with the processor and configured to communicate with a second communications line.

53. A video reception device for providing video service to a subscriber location, the video reception device comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive a first stream of logical blocks and a second stream of logical blocks, wherein the first stream of logical blocks and the second stream of logical blocks are received from separate transport media, the transport media comprising a first communication line of a first type having a first bandwidth and a second communication line of a second type having a second bandwidth, wherein the first type and the second type are different physical types of transport media, wherein at least some of the plurality of logical blocks have different sizes, and wherein the size of each of the plurality of logical blocks depends on the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth;

a television interface configured to transmit a television signal to a monitor for viewing; and

a processor in communication with the communications interface and the television interface; and

a storage medium in communication with the processor, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

combine the first and second streams of logical blocks into a combined set of logical blocks, the combined set of logical blocks comprising a video transmission; and

transmit the video transmission via the television interface.

54. A video reception device as recited in claim 53, wherein the communications interface comprises a first communications interface configured to receive the first stream of logical blocks and a second communications interface configured to receive the second stream of logical blocks.