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Method and device for distributing multimedia data, providing both video broadcast and video distribution services

  • US 5,717,878 A
  • Filed: 02/10/1995
  • Issued: 02/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program sources, to a multiplicity of users, said method using a data transmission network between at least one server connected to said sources and a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminal, said program data being transmitted by said network in the form of a succession of time-multiplexed digital data blocks or cells each being associated with a virtual channel number, said method comprising:

  • a first mode enabling each of said users to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and comprising the steps of;

    (i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said sources, and(ii) transmitting to each user terminal the program data from said sources in cells associated with the virtual channel number allocated respectively to said sources,(iii) selecting by each of said user terminals the cells associated to a virtual channel number allocated to a source selected by a user on said terminal,a second mode enabling each of said users to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, and comprising the steps of;

    (i) allocating a respective virtual channel number to each of said user terminals,(ii) transmitting to each of said sources program commands introduced by the users in each of said terminals in the form of data cells associated to the respective virtual channel number allocated to said terminal,(iii) transmitting to said terminals from said sources in response to said program commands program data in the form of data cells associated to the virtual channel numbers respectively associated to the data cells in which said program commands were transmitted.

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