Apparatus and method for processing content signals from multiple signal sources

• US 7,930,712 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scally, Brian Michael, Joseph, Kuriacose, Kepley, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US10/209,165
• Time in Patent Office: 3,133 Days
• Field of Search: 725 25- 31, 725/86, 725/101, 380200-242, 713/150
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26606 for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols

Abstract

An apparatus and method for processing content signals received from a plurality of different, and possibly dissimilar, signal sources, such as different satellite networks, and providing a display based on the content of those signals. The apparatus includes a tuner/demodulator for receiving content signals and demodulating the received content signals as programming bitstreams, and one or more access control devices for descrambling any conditional access present in the demodulated programming bitstreams. The apparatus further includes a processor, such as a system chip, which is responsible for all command and control functions. The system chip evaluates conditional access to determine whether the bitstream needs decryption, descrambling, or both, and processes a bitstream from one of the multiple signal sources for display on a suitable output device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing content signals, comprising:

at least one tuner/demodulator, adapted to receive content signals transmitted from a first satellite network broadcasting a first content signal and a second satellite network broadcasting a second content signal, and to demodulate the received content signals as bitstreams;

at least one access control device for supporting at least one conditional access system of said first and second satellite sources that is associated with the received and demodulated bitstreams, wherein the first content signal transmitted from the first satellite network comprises a control word for the first satellite network encrypted using encoding from the second satellite network; and

a processor, adapted to process the control word in accordance with the conditional access to enable display of the demodulated bitstreams on an output device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one tuner/demodulator is adapted to receive said content signals from said first and second satellite networks as provided by separate first and second direct broadcast satellite networks in a satellite-based distribution system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second networks has a headend configuration comprising at least a subscription management system, multiplexer, conditional access system and scrambler.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said network performs a scrambling algorithm and a transport standard, and said processor is adapted to descramble the bitstreams scrambled by each algorithm and process programming bitstreams in accordance with each transport standard.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, the apparatus being configured in a native mode of operation of either of the two networks, the native mode being defined by at least one of the conditional access system, transport standard and audio/video standard of either network, such that the processor is adapted to process bitstreams from either network regardless of the processor'"'"'s native mode of operation.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each network includes a headend configuration comprising at least a subscription management system, multiplexer and scrambler, such that a subscription management system of one network contains information on channels of the other network to which subscribers of the one network have access.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one said access control device is dedicated to each network to enable descrambling of a corresponding bitstream.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a single access control device is adapted to decrypt at least one access key associated with a particular type of program data.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a single said access control device is adapted to descramble a corresponding bitstream.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one said tuner/demodulator is dedicated to each network to receive said content signals and demodulate the received content signals as bitstreams.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a single said tuner/demodulator is adapted to receive said content signals from a selected one of the networks, and to demodulate the selected content signals as bitstreams.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a pair of outdoor units (ODUs), adapted to receive the content signals from the networks such that a first ODU receives the content signals from the first network, and a second ODU receives the content signals from the second network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a switch, operatively connected to the first and second ODUs, and adapted to enable the apparatus to switch signal feed thereto between the ODUs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the switch includes a standalone multiswitch or is embedded in one of the two ODUs or is included in the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further includes at least one access control device interface for determining if descrambling of a bitstream is required.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to include two said access control device interfaces to descramble bitstreams of said first and second satellite networks which are subject to conditional access requiring constant monitoring.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to perform command and control functions based on instructions embedded in the received content signals, and transport processing of the bitstreams, including descrambling and decoding the bitstreams for display of electronic program guide data and entertainment programs.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to merge program guide data of said two networks for display as a single electronic program guide.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes at least two of said tuner/demodulators, configured in either of the following manners:

at least one of said tuner/demodulators is adapted to support simultaneously receiving content signals transmitted continuously from said first and second satellite networks; and

one of said tuner/demodulators is adapted to receive those of said content signals received from one of the first or second satellite networks during one period of time, and the other of said tuner/demodulators is adapted to receive other of said content signals received from the other one of the first or second satellite networks during another period of time.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises:

at least one access control device interface, adapted to perform conditional access processing on the two received and demodulated bitstreams; and

a dynamically switchable processing section for switching between said first and second satellite networks to process a corresponding demodulated bitstream for display on said output device.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising two of said access control devices, each being adapted to a supporting a said conditional access system of a respective one of the first and second satellite networks that is associated with the received and demodulated bitstreams.

22. A satellite-based distribution system, comprising:

a first satellite network broadcasting a first content signal for transmitting first programming and a second satellite network broadcasting a second content signal for transmitting second programming to corresponding subscribers; and

an apparatus, adapted to process the first and second broadcast content signals, the apparatus including;

at least one tuner/demodulator, adapted to receive said content signals and demodulating the received content signals as bitstreams;

at least one access control device, adapted to supporting at least one conditional access system of said first and second satellite networks that is associated with the received and demodulated programming bitstreams, wherein the first content signal transmitted from the first satellite network comprises a control word for the first satellite network encrypted using encoding from the second satellite network; and

a processor, adapted to process the control word in accordance with the conditional access to enable display of the demodulated bitstreams on an output device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is configured so as to support simultaneously receiving said content signals transmitted continuously from said first and second satellite networks.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is adapted to receive said content signal from only one of the first and second satellite networks at a time.

25. A method for processing content signals received in satellite-based distribution system, comprising:

receiving at least a first content signal transmitted from a first satellite network, comprising first programming;

receiving second content signal transmitted from a second satellite network, comprising second programming;

demodulating the received first and second content signals as bitstreams, wherein the first content signal transmitted from the first satellite network comprises a control word for the first satellite network encrypted using encoding from the second satellite network;

performing conditional access processing according to the control word on at least one of the received and demodulated programming bitstreams; and

processing the demodulated and conditional access processed bitstreams for display.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said receiving receives said first and second content signals from said first and second satellite networks as provided by separate first and second direct broadcast satellite networks in a satellite-based distribution system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each of said first and second satellite networks has a headend configuration comprising at least a subscription management system, multiplexer, conditional access system and scrambler.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

each said satellite network performs a scrambling algorithm and a transport standard; and

said processing includes descrambling the bitstreams scrambled by each algorithm and process programming bitstreams in accordance with each transport standard.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein each satellite network includes a headend configuration comprising at least a subscription management system, multiplexer and scrambler, such that a subscription management system of one network contains information on channels of the other network to which subscribers of the one network have access.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said performing conditional access processing step comprises:

using at least one said access control device dedicated to each satellite network to descramble a corresponding bitstream.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said performing conditional access processing step comprising:

using a single access control device to decrypt at least one access key associated with a particular type of program data.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said performing conditional access processing step comprises:

using a single said access control device is adapted to descramble a corresponding bitstream.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said demodulating step comprises:

using at least one said tuner/demodulator, dedicated to each satellite network to receive said content signals and demodulate the received content signals as bitstreams.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein:

said receiving step includes using a single said tuner/demodulator to receive said content signals from a selected one of the satellite networks; and

said demodulating step includes using said single tuner/demodulator to demodulate the selected content signals as bitstreams.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein:

said receiving receives the content signals from the satellite networks such that a first outdoor unit (ODU) receives the first contents signals from the first satellite network, and a second ODU receives the second content signals from the second satellite network.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein:

said processing includes performing command and control functions based on instructions embedded in the received content signals, and transport processing of the bitstreams, including descrambling and decoding the bitstreams for display of electronic program guide data and entertainment programs.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein said processing merges program guide data of said first and second networks for display as a single electronic program guide.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein:

said processing includes dynamically switching between said first and second satellite networks to process a corresponding demodulated bitstream for display on said output device.

39. A method for operating a satellite-based distribution system, comprising:

controlling a first satellite network to transmit first content signals comprising first programming to corresponding subscribers;

controlling a second satellite network to transmit second content signals comprising second programming to the corresponding subscribers; and

controlling a receiving apparatus to perform the following operations;

receiving the first and second content signals transmitted from the first and second satellite networks;

demodulating the received content signals as bitstreams;

wherein the first content signals transmitted from the first satellite network comprise a control word for the first satellite network encrypted using encoding from the second satellite network;

removing any conditional access encoding of the second satellite network present in the received and demodulated programming bitstreams of the first content signals received from the first satellite network; and

processing the demodulated bitstreams for display.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said receiving simultaneously receives content signals transmitted continuously from said first and second satellite networks.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the processing processes said content signals from only one of the first and second satellite networks at a time.

42. A direct-broadcast satellite system, comprising:

a first satellite network to broadcast a first content signal comprising first programming encrypted using a first control word to a plurality of subscribers;

a second satellite network to broadcast a second content signal comprising second programming encrypted using a second control word to the plurality of subscribers, wherein the second programming may at least partially overlap the first programming;

a subscription management system to determine subscription information for the plurality of subscribers, to generate a the second control word, to generate an entitlement control message based on the second control word for broadcast in the first content signal, and to transmit the first content signal including the entitlement control message via the first satellite network; and

an apparatus, adapted to process the transmitted content signals, the apparatus including;

at least one tuner/demodulator, adapted to receive the first and second content signals and demodulating the received content signals as bitstreams;

at least one access control device, adapted to supporting at least one conditional access system of the first and second satellite networks that is associated with the received and demodulated programming bitstreams, and to decrypt the first content signal using the entitlement control message and the second control word; and

a processor, adapted to process the demodulated bitstreams for display on a suitable output device in accordance with the conditional access.