Method and apparatus for providing television signals to multiple viewing systems on a network

• US 6,202,211 B1
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry R. Williams
• Original Assignee: Henry R. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Henry R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V.
• Application Number:
  US09/020,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/12, 348/13, 709/219, 455/5.1, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• 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 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• 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 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for enabling multiple users to concurrently access a PC-based server in a home local area network using conventional TVs as display devices. A client system includes a TV, conventional input devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a set top box for interfacing the TV to the network. The server maintains a system work area and multiple processes corresponding to user applications. The system work area is partitioned in the server into multiple independent, simultaneously active desktops, one desktop for each of the client systems. Individual processes are mapped to the appropriate desktop. Multiple frame buffers are maintained in the server, such that a different frame buffer is assigned to each client system. Each desktop is rendered within the server and stored in the corresponding frame buffer. The contents of each frame buffer are transmitted over a transmission medium to the set top box of the corresponding client system. Desktop display data is provided by the set top box to the corresponding TV for display to a user.

Claims

1. A device for providing television signals to a plurality of viewing systems on a network, the device comprising:

a connection to receive a plurality of television channels from outside the network;

a plurality of tuners, a different tuner assigned to each of the viewing systems;

a plurality of modulators; and

control circuitry configured to receive a request for one of the plurality of television channels, the request associated with one of the viewing systems, and to respond to the request by causing the tuner assigned to said one of the viewing systems to demodulate the requested television channel and by causing one of the modulators to remodulate the demodulated television channel onto one of a plurality of network RF channels, the control circuitry including

a first mapping unit to assign one of the television channels to one of the tuners and one of the modulators, and

a second mapping unit to map an output of said one of the modulators to said one of the network RF channels.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to assign each of the viewing systems a different radio frequency (RF) channel for communication of television signals to the viewing systems on the network.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller further configured to remodulate the requested television channel onto a different channel for transmission onto the network.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to prevent television channels not requested by any of the viewing systems from entering the network.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive user inputs for programming the device to control access by each of the viewing systems to the television channels.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the user inputs comprise inputs specifying a television channel that is prohibited for one of the viewing systems.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to respond to a request for a television channel by denying the request if the requested television channel is prohibited for a viewing system associated with the request.

8. A server for providing television signals to a plurality of client systems on a local network, the device comprising:

a connection to receive a plurality of television channels from outside the local network;

a plurality of tuners to demodulate television channels;

a plurality of modulators to modulate television channels;

a controller configured to receive a request for one of the television channels from one of the client systems and to respond to the request by causing a corresponding one of the tuners to demodulate the requested television channel and by causing a corresponding one of the modulators to remodulate the demodulated television channel onto the local network, the controller including

a first mapping unit to assign the requested one of the television channels to said corresponding one of the tuners and said corresponding one of the modulators, and

a second mapping unit to map an output of said corresponding one of the modulators to one of a plurality of channels on the local network.

9. A server according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the modulator to remodulate the demodulated television channel using a channel assigned only to the requesting client system.

10. A server according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to assign each of the client systems to a different one of the plurality of channels on the local network.

11. A server according to claim 8, wherein the server is configured to prevent all television channels except television channels requested by the client systems from entering the network.

12. A server according to claim 8, wherein each of the tuners is assigned to a different one of the client systems.

13. A server according to claim 10, wherein the client systems and the channel server are connected in the network via a shared radio frequency (RF) transmission medium.

14. A server according to claim 8, the controller further configured to receive user inputs for programming the server.

15. A server according to claim 14, wherein the user inputs specify which television channels may be provided to a specified one of the client systems.

16. A server according to claim 15, the controller further for responding to a request for a television channel by denying the request if the user inputs indicated that said one of the television channels is a prohibited channel.

17. A channel server for providing a plurality of television channels to a plurality of client systems in a local area network, the channel server comprising:

a plurality of tuners coupled to receive the plurality of television channels from outside the network;

a plurality of modulators, each of the modulators receiving an output of one of the tuners;

a controller to control the tuners and the modulators, the controller configured to receive a request for a television channel from one of the client systems in the network and, in response to the request, to cause one of the tuners to demodulate the requested television channel, and to cause the associated modulator to remodulate the requested television channel onto the network at an RF channel assigned to the client system, the controller including

a first mapping unit to assign one of the television channels to one of the tuners and one of the modulators, and

a second mapping unit to map an output of said associated modulator to said RF channel, wherein a different RF channel is assigned to each of the client systems.

18. A channel server according to claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to assign each of the tuners to a different one of the client systems.

19. A channel server according to claim 17, the client systems and the channel server each connected in the network via a radio frequency (RF) transmission medium.

20. A channel server according to claim 17, the controller further configured to remodulate the requested television channel onto the network at a different frequency.

21. A channel server according to claim 17, the controller further configured to receive user inputs for programming the channel server.

22. A channel server according to claim 21, wherein the user inputs specify which television channels may be provided to a specified one of the client systems.

23. A channel server according to claim 22, the controller further for responding to a request for a television channel by denying the request if the user inputs indicated that said one of the television channels is a prohibited channel.

24. A channel server for receiving a plurality of television channels and for providing the television channels to a plurality of client systems on a local area network, the channel server comprising:

a plurality of television tuners;

a plurality of modulators, each of the modulators coupled to receive an output of one of the tuners;

a channel allocation unit to assign one of a plurality of network radio frequency (RF) channels to one of the client systems in response to a channel assignment request;

a first mapping unit to assign one of the television channels to one of the tuners and one of the modulators;

a second mapping unit to map an output of said one of the modulators to said one of the network RF channels;

a signal allocation unit to assign one of the television channels to one of the tuners in response to a request from one of the client systems for one of the television channels, the signal allocation unit further to control the first and second mapping units; and

a communication interface to transmit the output of said one of the modulators onto the local area network the on the assigned one of the network RF channels.

25. A method of providing television signals to a local area network, the local area network having a plurality of client systems, the method comprising:

assigning each of a plurality of tuners to a different one of the client systems;

assigning each of a plurality of modulators to a different one of the client systems;

receiving a plurality of television channels from outside the network;

receiving a request for one of the television channels from one of the client systems;

mapping the requested television channel to one of the tuners and one of the modulators assigned to said one of the client systems, and

in response to the request, using the tuner assigned to said one of the client systems to tune to the requested television channel;

mapping an output of the modulator assigned to the client system to one of a plurality of network RF channels, the output representing the requested television channel; and

transmitting a signal representing the requested television channel to said one of the client systems on said one of the network RF channels over the local area network using the modulator assigned to said one of the client systems.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising descrambling the requested television channel prior to transmitting the television channel onto the network.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising mapping the requested television channel onto a different channel, wherein said transmitting the requested channel onto the network comprises modulating the requested channel onto the different channel for transmission onto the network.

28. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

receiving user input specifying which of the plurality of television channels may be provided to said one of the client systems; and

referencing the requested channel against the user inputs, wherein transmitting the requested channel onto the network comprises transmitting the requested channel onto the network only if the user inputs indicate that said one of the client systems may access the requested channel.