Method and apparatus for transmitting, receiving and communicating digital data signals with corresponding program data signals which describe the digital data signals

• US 5,239,540 A
• Filed: 11/27/1990
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rovira, Luis A., Wall, William E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US07/618,744
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 370/71, 370/73, 370/76, 370/77, 370/110.1, 370/110.4, 370/111, 370/69.1, 358/84, 358/86, 358/140, 358/141, 455/45, 455/66
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23895 involving multiplex stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43853 involving multiplex stream decryption arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber'"'"'s digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Claims

1. A method of generating a digital data stream including program data information and program selection information for transmission, comprising the steps of:

producing a plurality of digital program data signals, each of which corresponds to the contents of a program selection;

producing a plurality of digital program selection signals, each of which corresponds to one of said program data signals and describes the attributes of the associated program selection;

encoding the plurality of digital program data signals with the plurality of digital program selection signals into a plurality of digital combined signals, each of said combined digital signals being arranged in blocks of a predetermined number of bits of a program data signal and a predetermined number of bits of an associated program selection signal, whereby each program selection signal remains associated with its corresponding program data signal during transmissions therewith; and

multiplexing the plurality of digital combined signals into the data stream.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission occurs via a satellite.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission occurs via coaxial cable.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiplexing is time division multiplexing.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of compressing the plurality of digital combined signals to produce a plurality of compressed digital combined signals.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of encrypting the plurality of digital combined signals.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step wherein subscriber data signals are multiplexed with the digital combined signals.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital program data signals are digital audio signals.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the program selection signals include at least one of a title, a track, an artist, a publisher, a composer, a song identification, and a play time information block.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital program data signals are digital video signals.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital program data signals are software.

12. An apparatus for generating a digital data steam including program data information and program selection information for transmission by a transmission means, comprising:

means for producing a plurality of digital program data signals, each of which corresponds to the contents of a program selection;

means for producing a plurality of digital program selection signals, each of which corresponds to one of said program data signals and describes the attributes of the associated program selection;

means for encoding the plurality of digital program data signals with the plurality of digital program selection signals into a plurality of combined digital signals, each of said combined digital signals being arranged in blocks of a predetermined number of bits of a program data signal and a predetermined number of bits of an associated program selection signal, whereby each program selection signal remains associated with its corresponding program data signal during transmissions therewith; and

means for multiplexing the plurality of digital combined signals into the data stream.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the transmission means comprises a satellite.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the transmission means comprises coaxial cable.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the multiplexing means uses time division multiplexing.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising the step wherein subscriber data signals are multiplexed with the digital combined signals.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising at least one compression means, coupled to the encoding means, for compressing the digital combined signals to produce a plurality of compressed digital combined signals.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising at least one encrypting means, coupled to the encoding means, for encrypting the plurality of digital combined signals.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the digital program data signals are digital audio signals.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the program selection signals include at least one of a title, a track, an artist, a publisher, a composer, a song identification, and a play time information block.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the digital program data signals are digital video signals.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the digital program data signals are digital software signals.