User notification of broadcast communication channel problems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for notifying a user of broadcast communication channel problems, the method comprising:
- at a broadcast distribution facility, detecting a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel comprises one or more of environmental/meteorological interference or a broadcast equipment malfunction;
at the broadcast distribution facility, ascertaining a cause of the problem;
at the broadcast distribution facility, relaying an indication of the cause of the problem to the broadcast communication receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the broadcast communication facility to the broadcast communication receiver; and
at the broadcast communication receiver, informing the user of the cause of the problem,wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel prevents the indication of the cause of the problem from being relayed to the broadcast communication receiver over the first broadcast communication channel;
wherein the broadcast distribution facility comprises a satellite uplink center;
the broadcast communication receiver comprises a satellite communication receiver;
the first broadcast communication channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver is routed through a communication satellite; and
the first broadcast communication channel comprises one of a plurality of satellite programming channels from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver;
wherein the second broadcast communication channel comprises a data channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver that is routed through the communication satellite and is separate from the plurality of satellite programming channels.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is presented for notifying a user of a broadcast communication channel problem. At a broadcast distribution facility, a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user is detected. A cause of the problem is ascertained at the facility. The broadcast distribution facility then relays an indication of the cause of the problem to the receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the facility to the receiver. The receiver informs the user of the cause of the problem.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method for notifying a user of broadcast communication channel problems, the method comprising:
-
at a broadcast distribution facility, detecting a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel comprises one or more of environmental/meteorological interference or a broadcast equipment malfunction; at the broadcast distribution facility, ascertaining a cause of the problem; at the broadcast distribution facility, relaying an indication of the cause of the problem to the broadcast communication receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the broadcast communication facility to the broadcast communication receiver; and at the broadcast communication receiver, informing the user of the cause of the problem, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel prevents the indication of the cause of the problem from being relayed to the broadcast communication receiver over the first broadcast communication channel; wherein the broadcast distribution facility comprises a satellite uplink center; the broadcast communication receiver comprises a satellite communication receiver; the first broadcast communication channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver is routed through a communication satellite; and the first broadcast communication channel comprises one of a plurality of satellite programming channels from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver; wherein the second broadcast communication channel comprises a data channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver that is routed through the communication satellite and is separate from the plurality of satellite programming channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A broadcast communication system capable of notifying a user of broadcast communication channel problems, the broadcast communication system comprising:
-
a broadcast distribution facility; and a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user; wherein the broadcast distribution facility is configured to detect a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to the broadcast communication receiver, ascertain a cause of the problem, and relay an indication of the cause of the problem to the broadcast communication receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the broadcast communication facility to the broadcast communication receiver, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel comprises one or more of environmental/meteorological interference or a broadcast equipment malfunction; and wherein the broadcast communication receiver is configured to receive the indication of the cause of the problem and inform the user of the cause of the problem and the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel prevents the indication of the cause of the problem from being relayed to the broadcast communication receiver over the first broadcast communication channel; wherein the system further comprises a communication satellite; the broadcast distribution facility comprises a satellite uplink center; the broadcast communication receiver comprises a satellite communication receiver; the first broadcast communication channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver is routed through the communication satellite; and the first broadcast communication channel comprises one of a plurality of satellite programming channels from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver; wherein the second broadcast communication channel comprises a data channel from the satellite uplink center to the satellite communication receiver that is routed through the communication satellite and is separate from the plurality of satellite programming channels. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A broadcast distribution facility capable of notifying a user of broadcast communication channel problems, the broadcast distribution facility being configured to detect a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to a broadcast communication receiver associated with the user, ascertain a cause of the problem, and relay an indication of the cause of the problem to the broadcast communication receiver over a second broadcast communication channel from the broadcast communication facility to the broadcast communication receiver, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel comprises one or more of environmental/meteorological interference or a broadcast equipment malfunction, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel prevents the indication of the cause of the problem from being relayed to the broadcast communication receiver over the first broadcast communication channel;
-
wherein the broadcast distribution facility comprises a satellite uplink center; wherein the second broadcast communication channel comprises a data channel from the satellite uplink center to a satellite communication receiver that is routed through a communication satellite. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A broadcast communication receiver capable of notifying a user of broadcast communication channel problems, the broadcast communication receiver being configured to receive an indication of a cause of a problem involving a first broadcast communication channel from a broadcast distribution facility to the broadcast communication receiver, wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel comprises one or more of environmental/meteorological interference or a broadcast equipment malfunction,
wherein the indication of the cause is received over a second broadcast communication channel from the broadcast distribution facility to the broadcast communication receiver, and inform the user of the cause of the problem further wherein the problem involving the first broadcast communication channel prevents the indication of the cause of the problem from being received by the broadcast communication receiver over the first broadcast communication channel; wherein the broadcast communication receiver comprises a satellite communication receiver;
further configured to receive the indication of the cause of the problem over a data channel of a transponder of a first communication satellite.- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification