Method and system for monitoring and controlling a back-up receiver in local collection facility from a remote facility using an IP network
First Claim
1. A method of forming an output signal comprising:
- providing a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules at a local collection facility, said plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module;
receiving a plurality of channel signals, said plurality of channel signals having a first channel signal;
communicating the first channel signal to the first receiver circuit module and a second receiver circuit module;
forming a first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal at the first receiver circuit module;
communicating the first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through an IP network backhaul to a remote facility;
decoding the IP signal to form a first decoded signal at the remote facility;
encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal at the remote facility;
multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal at the remote facility; and
generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal;
providing a plurality of backup receiver circuit modules at the local collection facility, each of said plurality of backup receiver circuit modules corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of primary circuit modules, said plurality of backup receiver circuit modules comprising the second receiver circuit module forming a second IP signal from the first channel signal;
communicating the second IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through the IP network backhaul to a monitoring system of the remote facility simultaneously with the first IP signal;
displaying the second IP signal at the monitoring system;
when the second IP signal is acceptable, discontinuing the steps of decoding the first IP signal to form a first decoded signal, encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal, multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal and generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal;
thereafter, decoding the second IP signal to form a second decoded signal;
thereafter, encoding the second decoded signal at the first encoder module into a second encoded signal;
thereafter, multiplexing the second encoded signal into a second multiplexed signal; and
thereafter, generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the second multiplexed signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group. A primary encoder within the remote facility communicates with the primary decoder and forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. A monitoring system includes commanding the primary decoder to join the second multicast group and discontinue the first multicast group. The primary decoder forms the decoded signal from the second IP signal.
177 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of forming an output signal comprising:
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providing a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules at a local collection facility, said plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module; receiving a plurality of channel signals, said plurality of channel signals having a first channel signal; communicating the first channel signal to the first receiver circuit module and a second receiver circuit module; forming a first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal at the first receiver circuit module; communicating the first IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through an IP network backhaul to a remote facility; decoding the IP signal to form a first decoded signal at the remote facility; encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal at the remote facility; multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal at the remote facility; and generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal; providing a plurality of backup receiver circuit modules at the local collection facility, each of said plurality of backup receiver circuit modules corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of primary circuit modules, said plurality of backup receiver circuit modules comprising the second receiver circuit module forming a second IP signal from the first channel signal; communicating the second IP signal corresponding to the first channel signal from the local collection facility through the IP network backhaul to a monitoring system of the remote facility simultaneously with the first IP signal; displaying the second IP signal at the monitoring system; when the second IP signal is acceptable, discontinuing the steps of decoding the first IP signal to form a first decoded signal, encoding the first decoded signal at a first encoder module into a first encoded signal, multiplexing the first encoded signal into a first multiplexed signal and generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the multiplexed signal; thereafter, decoding the second IP signal to form a second decoded signal; thereafter, encoding the second decoded signal at the first encoder module into a second encoded signal; thereafter, multiplexing the second encoded signal into a second multiplexed signal; and thereafter, generating the output signal at the remote facility in response to the second multiplexed signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a local collection facility comprising; a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules comprising a first receiver circuit module and a backup receiver circuit module; said first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating a first channel signal and forming a first IP signal, said first receiver circuit module having a first multicast group; said backup receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a second IP signal, said backup receiver circuit module having a second multicast group; a remote facility spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicating with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul; a primary decoder within the remote facility in communication with the IP backhaul forming a decoded signal from the first IP signal, said primary decoder belonging to the first multicast group; a primary encoder within the remote facility in communication with the primary decoder forming a first encoded signal from the decoded signal; a multiplexer multiplexing the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal; and a monitoring system of the remote facility displaying on a display the first IP signal and second IP signal and commanding the primary decoder to join the second multicast group and discontinue the first multicast group; said primary decoder forming the decoded signal from the second IP signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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20. A system as recited 19 wherein said monitoring system prior to commanding, previewing the first channel signal through the backup receiver circuit module.
Specification