Inter set top box personal messaging without using internet
OwnerAravind Soundararajaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication method which allows users to send and received text messages between their respective set top boxes. The method which includes transmitting text messages from multiple source set top boxes to an exchange. The exchange, in turn, packetizes the text messages into data packets and forwards the data packets to a multiplexor. The multiplexor multiplexes the data packets along with audio and video data into an output transport stream. The output transport stream is then broadcast to multiple destination set top boxes. The destination set top boxes have demultiplexing capability, thereby allowing a user at the destination set top box to ultimately read, and respond, to the original transmitted text message. A system employing the same is further disclosed.
Claims31
A method of communicating comprising:
- transmitting a text message from a source set top box to an exchange.
A method of communicating comprising:
- receiving a text message from a source set top box;
- packetizing said text message into a plurality of data packets, wherein said plurality of data packets include said text message, an identifier of a destination set top box, an identifier of said source set top box, and a packet header information;
- and
- forwarding said plurality of data packets to a multiplexor.
A method of communicating comprising:
- receiving a plurality of text messages, wherein said plurality of text messages originated at a plurality of source set top boxes;
- packetizing said plurality of text messages into a plurality of data packets;
- multiplexing said plurality of data packets and audio data and video data into an output transport stream;
- and
- broadcasting said output transport stream to a plurality of destination set top boxes.
A method of communicating comprising:
- receiving a broadcasted, output transport stream including a plurality of data packets on a destination set top box;
- demultiplexing said broadcasted, output transport stream at said destination set top box into a text message, wherein said text message originated on a source, set top box.
A system for communicating comprising:
- a service station adapted to receive a plurality of text messages sent from a plurality of source set top boxes, wherein said service station packetizes said plurality of text messages into a plurality of data packets;
- a multiplexor in communication with said service station adapted to multiplex said plurality of data packets and audio data and video data into an output transport stream;
- and
- broadcasting means for broadcasting said output transport stream to a plurality of destination set top boxes.
A communication system comprising:
- transmitting means for transmitting a text message from a source set top box to a packetizing means;
- packetizing means for packetizing said text message into a plurality of data packets, wherein said plurality of data packets include said text message, an identifier of said source set top box, and identifier of a destination set top box, and a packet header information;
- multiplexing means in communication with said packetizing means for multiplexing said plurality of data packets and audio data and video data into an output transport stream;
- and
- broadcasting means in communication with said multiplexing means for broadcasting said output transport stream to a destination set top box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.