System and apparatus for local video distribution

• US 7,908,621 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry, Bridges, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin; Jason K
• Application Number:
  US11/932,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A video distribution system is provided. The video distribution system includes a receiver to receive a plurality of video data streams. The video distribution system also includes a splitter to separate a first video data stream and a second video data stream from the plurality of video data streams. The video distribution system further includes a combiner to output a composite signal for communication via a first network. The composite signal includes the first video data stream modulated to a first radio frequency band associated with a first user and the second video data stream modulated to a second radio frequency band associated with a second user.

Claims

1. A video distribution system comprising:

a receiver to receive a plurality of video data streams;

a splitter to separate a first video data stream and a second video data stream from the plurality of video data streams; and

a combiner to output a composite signal for communication via a first network, the composite signal comprising the first video data stream modulated to a first radio frequency band associated with a first user and the second video data stream modulated to a second radio frequency band associated with a second user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency communication module to receive a control signal from a remote control device, wherein in response to the control signal a third video data stream is modulated to the first radio frequency band.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an access engine to authenticate that a user of the remote control device is associated with the first radio frequency band before modulating the third video data stream to the first radio frequency band.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a memory including a block list associated with the first user, wherein the block list identifies content the first user is prohibited to access, and wherein the content associated with the third video data stream is compared to the block list before the third video data stream is modulated to the first radio frequency band.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface to connect the receiver to a second network; and

a messaging engine operable to receive a message from the second network, to determine a user to which the message is addressed, to determine a radio frequency band associated with the user, and to communicate message information to the user via the first network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first network comprises a local area network and the second network comprises a wide area network.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory including parental control settings, wherein the parental control settings include a limitation on expenses for access to the first video data stream by the first user.

8. A video distribution system, comprising:

a controller responsive to a remote control device and operable to provide a plurality of outputs, each of the outputs configured to provide video data modulated to an assigned frequency block associated with a user; and

a premise network interface operable to send a composite signal to a premise network, the composite signal comprising a signal from at least one of the plurality of outputs.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller includes a decoder to decode Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) video data.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a metric engine operable to track at least one metric based on the video data modulated to an assigned frequency block, the at least one tracked metric associated with the user.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) engine to display information regarding the at least one tracked metric.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a memory to store media content, the memory to store recorded media content modulated to the assigned frequency block.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a messaging module to receive an electronic message addressed to a particular user and to provide information related to the electronic message via the premises network interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the messaging module determines the particular user to which the electronic message is addressed and communicates the electronic message via the assigned frequency block associated with the particular user.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a memory including a table mapping a plurality of users to a plurality of assigned frequency blocks.

16. The system of claim 8, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) engine to display a GUI element indicating video programs output by each of the plurality of outputs.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising an administration module to generate an administration interface and to display the administration interface via the premise network.

18. The system of claim 8, further comprising an administration module to generate an administration interface and to display the administration interface via a remote network.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving authentication information identifying a particular user of a plurality of users;

receiving a request to transmit a video data stream to a device associated with the particular user;

determining whether the particular user is permitted to view the video data stream;

when the particular user is permitted to view the video data stream;

modulating the video data stream to a particular frequency band associated with the particular user; and

transmitting a signal at the particular frequency band to the device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether the particular user is permitted to view the video data stream comprises determining whether the video data stream is on a block list associated with the particular user.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

when the particular user is not permitted to view the video data stream;

modulating a blue screen to the particular frequency band associated with the particular user; and

transmitting a signal at the particular frequency band to the device.