Coax and IP hybrid digital TV and VOD system

• US 9,078,033 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.
• Inventors: Nicol, David, Clark, Stuart, Bryars, Mark, Hulse, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US12/463,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,248 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/77 using carrier waves
• 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 21/238 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 21/2385 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 21/239 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for upstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in data 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 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital information and/or data services over hybrid network infrastructures including both IP and coax transmission media.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more data servers configured to provide data services including both digital television services and video-on-demand services to end users; and

a hybrid network infrastructure comprising;

a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RF) modulation scheme;

a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP); and

one or more coax servers configured to receive via the second transmission infrastructure first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure and associated with first ones of the end user,

wherein the one or more coax servers are further configured to convert the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme;

each of the one or more coax servers is further configured to operate as a proxy for each of selected ones of the first client devices to which corresponding ones of the first data transmissions are directed by mediating requests from each of the selected ones of the first client devices for unicast content from the one or more data servers;

the one or more data servers provide the data services to the first client devices via the second transmission infrastructure, the one or more coax servers, and the first transmission infrastructure;

the one or more data servers provide the data services to second client devices associated with second ones of the end users, the second client devices receiving the data services via the second transmission infrastructure without using the first transmission infrastructure; and

at least one coax server operates as a proxy by including a real time streaming protocol (RTSP) proxy configured to communicate with a RTSP client in at least one of the first client devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first transmission infrastructure comprises the coaxial cable installed in a first part of a hospitality establishment; and

the second transmission infrastructure is installed in a second part of the hospitality establishment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first client devices are set top boxes (STBs) configured to control operation of associated televisions located in guest rooms in the first part the hospitality establishment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more data servers comprises a plurality of data servers;

a first subset of the plurality of data servers is configured for multicast transmission; and

a second subset of the plurality of data servers is configured for unicast transmission.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a third subset of the plurality of servers is configured for both unicast and multicast transmission.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coax modem termination system connected to both first and second transmission infrastructures and a plurality of IP-coax modems configured to facilitate transmission of communications between the first client devices and a first subset of the one or more data servers via the first transmission infrastructure using an IP-over-coax modulation scheme.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communications from the first client devices to the first subset of data servers facilitate selection of specific ones of the data services to be provided to the first client devices from which the communications originated.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

each of the one or more coax servers is configured to provide metadata in association with a coax program stream delivered to the first client devices via the first transmission infrastructure; and

the metadata is configured for use by the first client devices for generating the communications for the specific data services corresponding to the coax program stream with which the metadata are associated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the one or more coax servers is further configured to provide coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers;

the coax channel mapping information includes coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers; and

the at least one of the one or more data servers is configured to provide the coax channel tuning information to the first client devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein, according to input from the RTSP proxy, the at least one coax server is operable to place requested unicast content on a specific coax channel unknown to any other first client devices beside the first client device from which a request for the requested content originated.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing data services in a hybrid network infrastructure including a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RE) modulation scheme, and a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP), the hybrid network infrastructure further including one or more data servers configured to provide the data services to end users, the method comprising:

receiving first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure and associated with first ones of the end users;

converting the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme;

providing coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information including coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information configured to enable the first client devices to receive selected ones of the specific program streams;

operating as a proxy for each of selected ones of the first client devices to which corresponding ones of the first data transmissions are directed by mediating requests from each of the selected ones of the first client devices for program streams from the one or more data servers, thereby using the one or more data servers to provide the data services to the first client devices via the second transmission infrastructure and the first transmission infrastructure;

providing the data services to second client devices associated with second ones of the end users via the second transmission infrastructure without using the first transmission infrastructure; and

operating as a proxy by including a real time streaming protocol (RTSP) proxy configured to communicate with a RTSP client in at least one of the first client devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the RF modulation scheme comprises either quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more data servers are configured for unicast transmission and multicast transmission; and

the method further comprises allocating bandwidth associated with the first transmission infrastructure for both the unicast and multicast transmissions.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the network further includes a plurality of IP-coax modems connected to both of the first and second transmission infrastructures and configured to facilitate transmission of communications between the first client devices and a first subset of the one or more data servers via the first transmission infrastructure using a cable modem termination and IP-over-coax modulation scheme;

the communications from the first client devices to the first subset of data servers facilitate selection of specific ones of the data services to be provided to the first client devices from which the communications originated; and

the method further comprises providing metadata in association with a first coax program stream delivered to the first client devices via the first transmission infrastructure, the metadata configured for use by the first client devices for generating the communications for the specific data services corresponding to the first coax program stream with which the metadata are associated.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, according to input from the RTSP proxy, placing requested unicast content on a specific coax channel unknown to any other first client devices beside the first client device from which a request for the requested content originated.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first client devices are set top boxes (STBs) located in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment, the guest rooms serviced by the first transmission infrastructure.

17. A system comprising:

one or more data servers configured to provide data services including both digital television services and video-on-demand services to end users; and

a hybrid network infrastructure comprising;

a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RF) modulation scheme;

a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP); and

one or more coax servers configured to receive via the second transmission infrastructure first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure and associated with first ones of the end user,

wherein the one or more coax servers are further configured to convert the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme;

each of the one or more coax servers is further configured to operate as a proxy for each of selected ones of the first client devices to which corresponding ones of the first data transmissions are directed by mediating requests from each of the selected ones of the first client devices for unicast content from the one or more data servers;

the one or more data servers provide the data services to the first client devices via the second transmission infrastructure, the one or more coax servers, and the first transmission infrastructure;

the one or more data servers provide the data services to second client devices associated with second ones of the end users, the second client devices receiving the data services via the second transmission infrastructure without using the first transmission infrastructure;

a stream pump of at least one of the coax servers operates to place unicast content destined for a requesting one of the first client devices on a coax channel known by the requesting one of the first client devices; and

the at least one of the coax servers instructs the stream pump to allocate the coax channel with sufficient bandwidth to suit the unicast content destined for the requesting one of the first client devices.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the proxy of the at least one of the coax servers communicates program tuning information to the requesting one of the first client devices in accordance with the coax channel on which the unicast content is placed.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first client devices are set top boxes (STBs) located in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment, the guest rooms serviced by the first transmission infrastructure.

20. A computer-implemented method for providing data services in a hybrid network infrastructure including a first transmission infrastructure comprising coaxial cable over which data are transmitted using a radio frequency (RE) modulation scheme, and a second transmission infrastructure over which data are transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP), the hybrid network infrastructure further including one or more data servers configured to provide the data services to end users, the method comprising:

receiving first data transmissions originating from the one or more data servers and intended for first client devices connected to the first transmission infrastructure and associated with first ones of the end users;

converting the first data transmissions for transmission to the first client devices over the first transmission infrastructure using the RF modulation scheme;

providing coax channel mapping information to at least one of the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information including coax channel tuning information for specific program streams generated by the one or more data servers, the coax channel mapping information configured to enable the first client devices to receive selected ones of the specific program streams;

operating as a proxy for each of selected ones of the first client devices to which corresponding ones of the first data transmissions are directed by mediating requests from each of the selected ones of the first client devices for program streams from the one or more data servers, thereby using the one or more data servers to provide the data services to the first client devices via the second transmission infrastructure and the first transmission infrastructure;

providing the data services to second client devices associated with second ones of the end users via the second transmission infrastructure without using the first transmission infrastructure;

placing unicast content destined for a requesting one of the first client devices on a coax channel known by the requesting one of the first client devices according to input from a proxy of at least one of the coax servers and at least one of the data servers; and

allocating the coax channel with sufficient bandwidth via a stream pump to suit the unicast content destined for the requesting one of the first client devices.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicating program tuning information to the requesting one of the first client devices in accordance with the coax channel on which the unicast content is placed.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first client devices are set top boxes (STBs) located in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment, the guest rooms serviced by the first transmission infrastructure.