Digital video broadcast system

• US 6,772,435 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldman, Yorai, Gold, Martin, Thexton, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Krista
• Application Number:
  US09/171,323
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 725/30, 725/56, 725/114, 725/116, 725/144, 725/146, 725/50, 725/95, 725/91, 370/229, 370/324, 370/337, 370/338, 370/341, 370/345, 370/347, 370/350, 370/503
• US Class Current: 725/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

Transmission synchronization and bandwidth adjustment in a broadcast system are described. At least one service tool in the broadcast system supplies service information useful for selecting, from a series of broadcast events, broadcast events to be viewed by subscribers of the broadcast system. A conditional access (CA) unit in the broadcast system applies conditional access attributes to the series of broadcast events. Transmission synchronizing apparatus in the broadcast system synchronizes the CA unit and the at least one service tool by instructing the CA unit to blackout a particular event from the series of broadcast events to subscribers that are refused access to the particular event and instructing the at least one service tool to provide a replacement service to the subscribers that are refused access to the particular event. Alternatively or additionally, the transmission synchronizing apparatus adjusts transmission bandwidth allocated to the series of broadcast events in response to instructing the CA unit to blackout the particular event to subscribers that are refused access to the particular event and instructing the at least one service tool to provide the replacement service to the subscribers that are refused access to the particular event. Related apparatus and method are also described.

Claims

1. A broadcast system for preparing a series of broadcast events for transmission in a bandwidth adjusted multiplexed form, the system comprising:

at least one service tool operative to supply service information useful for selecting, from said series of broadcast events, broadcast events to be viewed by subscribers of the broadcast system;

a conditional access (CA) unit operative to apply conditional access attributes to said series of the broadcast events; and

transmission synchronizing apparatus operatively associated with said CA unit and said at least one service tool and operative to adjust transmission bandwidth allocated to said series of broadcast events in response to instructing the CA unit to blackout a particular event from said series of broadcast events to subscribers that are refused access to said particular event and instructing the at least one service tool to provide a replacement service to said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event.

2. The system according to claim 1 and also comprising a transmitter operatively associated with said transmission synchronizing apparatus and operative to transmit said series of broadcast events in a bandwidth adjusted multiplexed form, bandwidth adjusted by said transmission synchronizing apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 1 and also comprising a schedule database unit operatively associated with said at least one service tool and said transmission synchronizing apparatus and operative to assign at least one play attribute to at least one broadcast event comprised in said series of broadcast events.

4. The system according to claim 3 and also comprising an event player unit operatively associated with said schedule database unit and said transmission synchronizing apparatus and operative to play said series of broadcast events in accordance with a schedule that takes into account said at least one play attribute.

5. The system according to claim 3 and wherein said at least one play attribute comprises a blackout restriction attribute including a play attribute of said replacement service.

6. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said transmission synchronizing apparatus is also operative to cause said replacement service to be flagged into the at least one service tool for use by said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event.

7. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said transmission synchronizing apparatus is also operative to cause the at least one service tool to instruct IRDs of said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event to switch back to normal service after said particular event is terminated.

8. A method for preparing a series of broadcast events for transmission in a bandwidth adjusted multiplexed form, the method comprising:

providing at least one service tool operative to supply service information useful for selecting, from said series of broadcast events, broadcast events to be viewed by subscribers of the broadcast system and a conditional access (CA) unit operative to apply conditional access attributes to said series of broadcast events; and

adjusting, a transmission synchronizing apparatus operatively associated with said CA unit, transmission bandwidth allocated to said series of broadcast events from said series of broadcast events to subscribers that are refused access to said particular event and instructing the at least one service tool to provide a replacement service to said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event.

9. The method according to claim 8 and also comprising transmitting said series of broadcast events in a bandwidth adjusted multiplexed form.

10. The method according to claim 8 and also comprising causing said replacement service to be flagged into the at least one service tool for use by said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event.

11. The method according to claim 8 and also comprising causing the at least one service tool to instruct IRDs of said subscribers that are refused access to said particular event to switch back to normal service after said particular event is terminated.