Extended range video on demand distribution system

• US 5,534,912 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kostreski, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/233,579
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/10, 348/11, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13291 Frequency division multiplexing, FDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 Earth satellites
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services

Abstract

In a video on demand system utilizing asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) interfaces, a plurality of video channels are arranged at a central office into ADSL format and, together with a provisioning channel, are multiplexed into a composite spectrum. This composite spectrum is then transmitted to an intermediate distribution point, remote from the central office, over analog optical fiber. The composite spectrum is split and applied individually to channel selection mixers associated with the subscribers serviced by the intermediate distribution point. Telephone signals (POTS) are combined at the intermediate distribution point into the ADSL signal and transmitted with the video, to an ADSL multiplexer/demultiplexer at the subscriber'"'"'s location. In the reverse direction, channel direction/change signals are split from the composite received from the subscriber'"'"'s location at the intermediate distribution point and utilized to control channel selection. Program request information is forwarded back over the optical fiber link to the central office where it is extracted at the ADSL individual channel units for use in providing video on demand service.

Claims

1. In a video distribution system in which video signals are distributed to end users over a telephone wiring plant of a central office using respective pairs of asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) interface units, a source side interface unit of each pair being located relatively closer to a source of video information than a subscriber side interface unit and the subscriber side interface unit of each pair being located at an end user'"'"'s location, a method of improving operating characteristics of said distribution system comprising the steps of:

(a) locating the ADSL source side interface unit at a site remote from said central office, and

(b) connecting the source of video information to the ADSL source side interface unit using a broadband communication link.

8. A video distribution system constructed in accordance with the method of claim 1.

2. A method of adapting an existing telephone wiring plant of a central office used to provide telephone service to one or more subscribers over individual subscriber loops to accommodate distribution of video information, comprising:

(a) providing one or more sources of video information,

(b) connecting said one or more sources of video information to a distribution point remote from a central office over a broadband communication link, and

(c) at said remote distribution point, multiplexing video information from said one or more sources together with telephone information onto individual subscriber loops.

9. A telephone wiring plant adapted in accordance with the method of claim 2.

3. A method of distributing video information to one or more subscriber locations over individual subscriber loops, comprising:

(a) providing one or more sources of video information,

(b) connecting said one or more sources of video information to a distribution point at a site which is remote from a central office and remote from subscriber locations over a broadband communication link, and

(c) at said remote distribution point, providing a mechanism by which the subscriber selects one or more sources of video information to be provided to the subscriber'"'"'s individual subscriber loop.

10. A video distribution system distributing video information in accordance with the method of claim 3.

4. In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising:

(a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user,

(b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal,

(c) a signal generator at said converter for selectively generating a provisioning signal indicating that a first group of one or more CATV or broadcast channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber, or for selectively generating a demand signal indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or for selectively generating both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and

(d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and a specific channel of the on demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

5. The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which said signal generator is selectively activated over a network.

6. The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which said converter receives said user selection signal over a network.

7. The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which the output means comprises means for controlling a variable frequency oscillator to select the specific channel to be provided to the subscriber.

11. A video distribution system comprising:

a source of plural channel video programming;

a first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit connected to respective channels of video programming for multiplexing video programming information into a multiplexed format and demultiplexing multiplexed formatted signals into base band signal component;

a plural video channel multiplexer for multiplexing the outputs of the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits into a composite signal;

broad band communication means for transmitting said composite signal to an intermediate distribution point; and

distribution means at the intermediate distribution point associated with each subscriber for selecting a channel from the composite signal and for combining that channel with a plain old telephone signal for transmission to the associated subscriber.

12. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the source of plural channel video programming is a video library.

13. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received over a network.

14. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received from a CATV head end.

15. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received over a satellite video feed.

16. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the source of plural channel video programming is a live video feed.

17. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the plural video channel multiplexer comprises individual channel mixers connected to respective outputs of the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits and connected to respective oscillator frequency outputs from a multiple frequency generator.

18. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means includes a laser and an optical fiber.

19. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 18 in which the laser is an analog laser.

20. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means includes a coaxial cable.

21. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means utilizes radio frequency transmission.

22. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 20 wherein the radio wave transmission is microwave.

23. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a voltage splitter for providing individual copies of a composite spectrum to individual subscriber lines.

24. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a frequency combiner for combining upstream information into a composite frequency division multiplexed upstream spectrum.

25. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a mixer for translating a desired programming channel of the composite spectrum into the passband of a subscriber filter.

26. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the mixer is driven by a voltage controlled variable frequency oscillator.

27. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the voltage controlled variable frequency oscillator is remotely controlled by the subscriber.

28. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the distribution means includes a first level combiner/splitter for combining a plain old telephone signal with the desired video programming channel.

29. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 28 wherein the first level combiner/splitter combines signals into an ADSL format.

30. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer is an ADSL multiplexer and the multiplexed format is in ADSL format.

31. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distribution means combines a selected video channel with a telephone signal in an ADSL format.

32. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distribution means includes:

means for receiving viewer control signals;

means for receiving supervisory control signals;

means for applying said viewer control signals to the base of a first transistor;

means for selectively applying a first supervisory control signal to one of the emitter or collector of the first transistor and for applying the output of the first transistor to the base of a second transistor;

means for selectively applying a second supervisory control signal to the base of said second transistor; and

means for connecting the output of the second transistor to a voltage control oscillator.

33. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the first supervisory control signal is a signal indicating that CATV service is provisioned.

34. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the second supervisory control signal indicates the video on demand is being provided.

35. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the viewer control signals are channel change signals.

36. A video distribution system in accordance with claim 31 wherein the viewer control signals are channel select signals.

37. In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising:

(a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user,

(b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal,

(c) authorization control means for receiving channel specific provisioning information and storing it and for selectively generating (1) a provisioning signal, indicating that a first group of one or more channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber (2) a demand signal, indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or (3) both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and for generating (4) a channel specific authorization signal indicating for each channel whether that channel is authorized to be received by that user

(d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and the channel specific authorization signal indicates the channel is authorized and for providing a specific channel of the on-demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

38. Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a programmable logic device.

39. Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a programmable gate array.

40. Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a microprocessor.