Method and system for inserting local channel insertion in a multi-terminal system

• US 9,992,525 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tatem, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US12/210,867
• Time in Patent Office: 3,550 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37, 725 40- 41, 725 43, 725 86, 725114-115, 725131-134, 370352, 370401, 707821-825
• 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 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A method and system for providing local content in a local network includes a plurality of terminals and a receiving unit in communication with the plurality of terminals receiving first program guide data and communicating the first program guide data to the plurality of terminals. The system also includes a local video source generating a video signal. The system also includes a local server in communication with the plurality of terminals and the local video source generating second program guide data corresponding to local content and communicating the second program guide data to the plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals displays a grid guide comprising the first program guide data modified by the second program guide data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving first program guide data including a standard grid guide in a first program guide object at a receiving unit corresponding to base content;

communicating the first program guide object to a plurality of terminals of a local system, each of the plurality of terminals associated with a respective display device;

receiving local content at a local server from a local video service, the local server separate from the plurality of terminals;

communicating local channel grid guide data to the local server using a user interface, said local channel grid guide data comprising channel features of a new local channel comprising a channel number, a program name, a network identifier, a description and a start time;

providing, using the local server, a boot object for mimicking an artificial broadcast network being added to the local server;

generating a program guide object at the local server comprising the local channel grid guide data;

announcing the artificial broadcast network by communicating the boot object from the local server to the plurality of local terminal;

providing, the local channel grid guide data to the plurality of terminals by communicating the program guide object from the local server to the plurality of terminals;

rebooting the plurality of local terminals;

modifying, in response to rebooting at the plurality of terminals, the standard grid guide comprising the first program guide data with the local channel grid guide data to form a modified grid guide using the program guide object;

displaying the modified grid guide on displays of the plurality of terminals based on the network identifier and channel number of the new local channel; and

communicating the local content to the plurality of terminals from the local server through a local area network using an internet protocol.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving first program guide data comprises receiving first program guide data at a first receiving unit within a building;

and

wherein providing the boot object generating second program guide data within the building.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising receiving local content from a local video source within the building.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein communicating the first program guide data to a plurality of terminals comprises communicating the first program guide data to a plurality of terminals within the building through the local area network.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating local content comprises communicating a camera output.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating local content comprises communicating a local information channel.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating base content to the plurality of terminals through the receiving unit.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein communicating base content comprises communicating base content using an internet protocol.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein prior to communicating base content, receiving base content from a satellite.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein prior to communicating base content, receiving base content in a first format and transcoding the base content to a second format.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the boot object comprises communicating the boot object to a first group of the plurality of terminals and not communicating the boot object to a second group of the plurality of terminals.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the local channel further comprises a short description, a long description, a duration, and an end time.

13. A system for providing local content in a local network comprising:

a plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals associated with a respective display device and a local server;

a receiving unit in communication with the plurality of terminals receiving first program guide data in a first program guide object and communicating the first program guide object to the plurality of terminals;

a local video source generating local video content;

a user interface coupled to the local server communicating local channel grid guide data to the local server, said local channel grid guide data comprising channel features of a new local channel comprising a channel number, a program name, a network identifier, a description and a start time;

said local server in communication with the plurality of terminals and the local video source, said local server separate from the plurality of terminals, said local server comprising a local guide generator, said local server generating second program guide data as a local program guide object corresponding to the local content from the local video source through the local network using an internet protocol, said local server providing a boot object for mimicking an artificial broadcast network being added, said local server, announcing the artificial broadcast network by communicating the boot object from the local server to the plurality of terminals and providing the local channel grid guide data to the plurality of terminals by communicating the local program guide object to the plurality of terminals; and

said plurality of terminals, in response to announcing, rebooting and modifying a standard grid guide comprising the first program guide data with the local channel grid guide data from the local program guide to form a modified grid guide using the local program guide object and displaying the modified grid guide based on the network identifier and the channel number of the new local channel.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the local server receives the local content and encodes the local content into an encoded local video signal and communicates the encoded local video signal to the plurality of terminals.

15. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the local video source comprises at least one selected from a camera, an ATSC source, an NTSC source, a video player, a barker data module an announcement module, and a conference channel.

16. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the receiving unit communicates base content to the plurality of terminals.

17. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the local server comprises communicates the boot object to a first group of the plurality of terminals and not to a second group of the plurality of terminals.

18. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the second program guide data comprises a channel number program name, a short description, a long description, a duration, and an end time.

19. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the plurality of terminals is disposed within a building.

20. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the plurality of terminals is disposed within a vehicle.