Data distribution

• US 9,143,737 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Rajan, Padmakumar, Stettner, Armando, Ruffini, Michael, Bassali, Harpal, Wang, Dongchen, Baskaran, Arjun, Chellam, Mariappan, Malhotra, Akhil, Agrawal, Harshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/252,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/116, 725/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A device may include a communication interface configured to receive programming information and index data associated with the programming information from a service provider multicast over a plurality of channels. The device may also include logic configured to request address information from the service provider, receive the address information, wherein the address information includes a first multicast address, and join a first multicast group corresponding to the first multicast address, wherein the first multicast group is associated with the index data. The logic may also be configured to receive, via the communication interface, the index data, identify a second multicast address associated with at least some of the programming information, join a second multicast group corresponding to the second multicast address, and receive, via the communication interface, at least some of the programming information.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive programming information and index data associated with the programming information from a service provider multicast over a plurality of channels, wherein the programming information includes television programming information associated with a plurality of days; and

logic configured to;

request address information from the service provider,

receive the address information, wherein the address information includes a first multicast address,

join a first multicast group corresponding to the first multicast address, wherein the first multicast group is associated with the index data,

receive, via the communication interface, the index data,

identify a second multicast address associated with a first day of television programming information,

join a second multicast group corresponding to the second multicast address,

receive, via the communication interface, the first day of television programming information,

identify a plurality of additional multicast addresses corresponding to other ones of the plurality of days, wherein each of the plurality of additional multicast addresses corresponds to one of the other ones of the plurality of days,

join a plurality of multicast groups associated with the plurality of additional multicast addresses, and

receive television programming information for the other ones of the plurality of days via the plurality of multicast groups.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the address information further comprises region mapping information identifying a plurality of regions and corresponding multicast addresses.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the logic is further configured to:

identify the second multicast address corresponding to a region or location associated with the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to:

transmit, via the communication interface, a request to the service provider to join the first multicast group at a first time, and

transmit, via the communication interface, a request to the service provider to join the second multicast group at a second time different from the first time.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to:

assemble a programming guide using the received television programming information received over a plurality of transmission intervals.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second multicast group and the plurality of multicast groups comprise ten multicast groups associated with ten days of television programming information.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to:

transmit an indication to another device located on a same local area network or in a same customer premises when the device is attempting to join at least one of the first multicast group or the second multicast group.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a set top box or a device including a cable or television card configured to receive television programming.

9. A method, comprising:

encoding data for multicast transmission to a plurality of receiver devices, wherein the encoded data corresponds to television programming guide information and an index associated with the television programming guide information;

dividing the encoded data for transmission over multiple channels;

receiving a request, via a unicast transmission from a first one of the plurality of receiver devices, for multicast address information;

forwarding the multicast address information to the first receiver device; and

multicasting the encoded data over the multiple channels to the plurality of receiver devices,

wherein the dividing the encoded data comprises dividing the encoded data over at least two channels, wherein a first one of the at least two channels is used to transmit the index and a second one of the at least two channels is used to transmit a day of television programming guide information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the multicasting the encoded data comprises:

multicasting each day of a plurality of days of television programming guide information over a different channel.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing, to the first receiver device, configuration information in response to the request, the configuration information including region mapping information identifying a plurality of regions and corresponding multicast addresses.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method is implemented as computer-executable instructions embodied on a computer-readable memory device.

13. A system, comprising

at least a first device associated with a service provider, the at least first device comprising:

first logic configured to;

encode data for multicast transmission, wherein the encoded data corresponds to television program information and an index associated with the television program information, and

divide the encoded data into portions for transmission over a plurality of channels, wherein the dividing the encoded data comprises dividing the encoded data over at least two channels, wherein a first one of the at least two channels is used to transmit the index and a second one of the at least two channels is used to transmit a day of television programming information; and

a first communication interface configured to;

multicast the encoded data over the multiple channels; and

a second device associated with a customer, the second device comprising;

a second communication interface configured to;

receive the encoded data multicast over the plurality of channels; and

second logic configured to;

decode the encoded data,

assemble a programming guide based on the decoded data, wherein the programming guide includes television program information and an index associated with the television program information, and

output the programming guide to an output device for display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second logic is further configured to:

transmit a request, via the second communication interface, to the service provider, for address information associated with receiving at least one portion of the programming guide, and

wherein the first logic is configured to transmit, via the first communication interface, the address information to the second device via a unicast transmission.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second logic is further configured to:

identify a plurality of multicast addresses associated with a plurality of days of television program information,

join, via the second communication interface, a plurality of multicast groups associated with the plurality of multicast addresses, and

receive, via the second communication interface, television programming information for the plurality of days via the plurality of multicast groups.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second logic is further configured to:

transmit, via the second communication interface, an indication to an other device located on a same local area network or in a same customer premises as the second device to alert the other device that the second device is attempting to join a multicast group associated with the programming guide.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the second device comprises at least one of a set top box or a processing device that includes a cable or television card configured to receive television programming.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the second logic is further configured to:

identify a plurality of multicast addresses associated with a plurality of days of television program information based on a region in which the second device is located, and

join, via the second communication interface, a plurality of multicast groups associated with the plurality of multicast addresses.