Method and apparatus for viewer control of digital TV program start time

A method for the delivery of a video stream, comprising the steps of:

• generating, using a wireless remote control device, keystroke signals for controlling a TV display;
• restarting, with a single button at the wireless remote control device, a selected program at a beginning of the selected program;
• supporting, at a head-end unit, separate downstream virtual channels for each separate TV set connected on a common TV feeder-cable;
• recording and storing, at the head-end unit, many programs;
• transmitting, from the head-end unit, each program using a compressed digital format;
• protecting, at the head-end unit, against signal theft;
• encapsulating, at a set top unit, the keystroke signals;
• and
• transmitting, from the set top unit, the keystroke signals via a two-way channel to the head-end unit.

A video system for providing a large number of video streams, as required in Retrovue, comprising:

• dividing means for dividing a plurality of input video-streams entering the video system, and for sending the divided plurality of input video-streams, with each divided video stream identified with a separate Ethernet address, to a video server;
• a switch at the video server for routing an appropriate input video-stream of the plurality of input video-streams to an appropriate disk drive;
• and
• the appropriate disk drive for replaying the appropriate input video-stream and for controlling portions of the appropriate input video-stream at an appropriate time, through the switch, thereby avoiding a single bottleneck of a CPU and RAM and allowing a video-server having a plurality of CPU's to work in parallel to produce a much larger number of video streams.

A video method for providing a large number of video streams, as required in Retrovue, comprising the steps of:

• dividing a plurality of input video-streams entering the video system, and sending the divided plurality of input video-streams, with each divided video stream identified with a separate Ethernet address, to a video server;
• routing, with a switch at the video server, an appropriate input video-stream of the plurality of input video-streams to an appropriate disk drive;
• and
• replaying the appropriate input video-stream from the appropriate disk drive;
• and
• controlling portions of the appropriate input video-stream at an appropriate time, through the switch, thereby avoiding a single bottleneck of a CPU and RAM and allowing a video-server having a plurality of CPU's to work in parallel to produce a much larger number of video streams.

A high density radio frequency (RF) generation and quadrature-amplitude-modulated (QAM) method for a multi-channel digital TV system, comprising the steps of:

• generating, above a 50-860 MHz, TV band to avoid spurious signals within the 50-860 MHz, TV band, a multiplicity of agile signals at any of 6 MHz and 8 MHz spacing;
• separately modulating each agile signal with digital modulation, thereby generating a multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals;
• low-pass filtering the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals to maintain modulated sidebands of each digitally-modulated signal within an allowed channel spectrum;
• combining, with a first combiner, the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals into a plurality of ensembles of 4, 8 or 16 digitally-modulated signals, respectively;
• heterodyning, with a common oscillator, each ensemble of the plurality of ensembles of digitally-modulated signals to fall within the 50-860 MHz, TV band;
• combining, using a second combiner, the heterodyned-plurality of ensembles of the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals, into a plurality of groupings;
• and
• distributing portions of the plurality of groupings of digitally-modulated signals to multiple TV distribution zones.

A high density radio frequency (RF) generation and quadrature-amplitude-modulated (QAM) system for a multi-channel digital TV system, comprising:

• signal-generating means for generating, above a 50-860 MHz, TV band to avoid spurious signals within the 50-860 Mhz, TV band, a multiplicity of agile signals at any of 6 MHz and 8 MHz spacing;
• modulating means for separately modulating each agile signal with digital modulation, thereby generting a multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals;
• low-pass filtering means for low-pass filtering the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals to maintain modulated sidebands of each digitally-modulated signal within an allowed channel spectrum;
• first combining means for combining the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals into a plurality of ensembles of 4, 8 or 16 digitally-modulated signals, respectively;
• heterodyning means for heterodyning, with a common oscillator, each ensemble of the plurality of ensembles of digitally-modulated signals to fall within the 50-860 MHz, TV band;
• second combining means for combining the heterodyned-plurality of ensembes of the multiplicity of digitally-modulated signals, into a plurality of groupings;
• and
• distribution means for distributing portions of the plurality of groupings of digitally-modulated signals to multiple TV distribution zones.

A cable method, for delivering digital programming, comprising the steps of:

• assigning a plurality of digital streams to a plurality of set-top units, respectively, on one of a plurality of digitally-modulated carrier signals;
• dynamically transmitting, from a head end, to each set-top unit, commands to tune and select a particular digital stream requested by a particular set-top unit of the plurality of set-top units;
• signaling, on a reverse-path, out-of-band channel, between the head end and each of the set-top units in the plurality of set-top units;
• and
• communicating, using separate, secure two-way communications links, from each of the set-top units to the head end.

A cable system, for delivering digital programming, comprising:

• a plurality of set-top units, with each set-top unit dynamically assigned a digital stream, respectively, on one of a plurality of digitally-modulated carrier signals;
• a head end for dynamically transmitting to each set-top unit, commands to tune and select a particular digital stream requested by a particular set-top unit of the plurality of set-top units;
• a reverse-path, out-of-band channel for signaling between the head end and each of the set-top units in the plurality of set-top units;
• and
• a separate, secure two-way communications link from each of the set-top units for communicating to the head end.

A cable system for delivering digital programming, comprising:

• a set-top unit for sending encapsulated keystrokes upstream to a server;
• said server for decoding the keystrokes and for generating screen images in random-access memory (RAM);
• said RAM for storing the screen images separately for each set-top unit;
• modulation means for modulating a carrier or a plurality of carriers with each of the stored images creating a set of video channels containing the relatively static images to be displayed;
• and
• each of a plurality of set-top units, responsive to respective keystrokes and other system information, having a custom screen image.

A construction arrangement for a small set-top unit to protect cryptographic capabilities and prevent a digital program in clear from being able to be tapped as required by Digital Rights Management protocols, comprising:

• a first layer of sheet metal capable of blocking X-rays, formed as a shallow pan to hold a set of printed circuit boards;
• a second layer having a thin epoxy based printed circuit material;
• a third layer having a printed circuit board with integrated components placed on top of the second layer;
• a fourth layer having a three layer thin printed circuit board with a first and second metallic layer and holes for large components, such as electrolytic capacitors;
• a black liquid thermosetting epoxy filling the interstices between the sheet metal layer and the second layer, and between the second layer and the third layer, and between the third layer and the fourth layer, thereby preventing access to exposed circuit trace carrying digital signals in the clear;
• and
• a connection from the first metallic layer of the fourth printed circuit material layer to a sending circuit and a connection from the second metallic layer so that a short between these two layers sets off an indicator circuit that an attempt is made to enter the protected area.

A video on demand system comprising:

• a plurality of set-top units, each set-top unit having a remote control device;
• a head end having a digital storage system capable of recording a large number, approximately 150, TV programs;
• said head-end, in quasi-synchronism with a digital playback system, able to simultaneously serve a large number, approximately 1280, of potential set-top units without interference;
• a remote control, located with a respective set-top unit, having a means for sending a command requesting that the program being watched be restarted at a beginning of the program;
• said head end for selecting the program at a selected time, for allowing a TV set connected to the set-top unit to view a selected program from the beginning.