US 4,868,866 AGranted

Broadcast data distribution system

AssigneeMcGraw-Hill, Inc.

InventorBilly L. Williams, Jr.

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A broadcast data distribution system collects, edits, verifies, formats and distributes real-time (dynamic) and non-real-time (static) data. A central database is maintained and updated continuously. Data in the central database is continuously broadcast to an unlimited number of subscribers, each having receiving apparatus and a local database. In normal data traffic situations, real-time data messages are broadcast as they are received. In heavier data volume situations, newly received data messages are compared with last-known values for the particular data record being updated. If the change is determined to be significant, the update message is broadcast; otherwise, it is not. In extremely heavy data traffic volume situations, real-time data messages are not broadcast. The invention ensures that the subscribers' local databases are current, even when real-time data messages are not being generated, or are only being generated for data records whose values have changed significantly. Static (non-real-time) data messages are interleaved with real-time data messages to provide subscribers with a variety of different types of information. Subscriber access to broadcast data messages may be controlled by broadcast entitlement messages or message headers which enable or disable a particular subscriber's receiving apparatus. Once messages are properly received, the subscriber's local database is updated with the data contained in those broadcast messages.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A broadcast data distribution system for acquiring, editing, formatting and distributing real-time and non-real-time data collected from a plurality of data sources being received in a number of different formats comprising:

data collection means for receiving, and editing the data, and for reformatting said data for further processing in the broadcast data distribution system;
central database means for receiving and storing said data in a plurality of data files, said central database means including means for updating data already stored in the central database means from data received from said data collection means;
message generation means for preparing data messages from the data stored in the central database means for further processing, said message generation means further comprising:
dynamic message generation means for preparing real-time data messages from current data values stored in the central database means;
recap message generation means for preparing periodic summaries of real-time data messages from current data stored in the central database means;
controlled message generation means for preparing controlled data messages from non-real-time data stored in the central database means;
and
entitlement message generation means for preparing entitlement messages from entitlement data stored in the central database means, said entitlement messages being used to control subscriber access to broadcast messages;
message queue processing management means responsive at least tothe message generation means for controlling operation of said message generation means;
message broadcast means responsive at least to said message generation means for preparing broadcast messages for broadcast transmission from data messages prepared by said message generation means;
and
data receiving means for receiving said broadcast messages from the message broadcast means, said data receiving means including means for preparing local data messages from the broadcast messages, local database means for receiving and storing data in a plurality of data files, and means for updating data already stored in the local database means for data messages contained in broadcast messages received by said receiving means,
whereby said real-time and non-real-time data are broadcast without substantially continuous repetition of said broadcast messages.

10 more elements

A method of broadcasing real-time and non-real-time data in the same data stream to subscribers comprising the steps:

collecting data from a plurality of data sources, the data from each source having a potentially unique format;
editing and converting the received data into a smaller set of message formats;
selectively checking the value of the data for reasonableness;
storing the data in a central database if the data is a type not already stored in said central database;
updating the data stored in the central database with new incremental value pertaining to such data;
flagging each new or updated data value as being an updated data value;
removing previous values of updated data from the central database to temporary storage locations for further reference;
preparing real-time data messages for broadcast during periods of normal data traffic volume received;
preparing real-time data messages for broadcast only for updated data values which differ from the then current data by incremental values of a predetermined amount during periods of heavier data traffic volume received;
preparing no real-time messages for broadcast during stil heavier data traffic volume received;
periodically preparing update message summaries for broadcast by scanning the central database for data values which have been updated since the last central database scan during both normal and heavier data traffic volumes received;
continuously preparing update message summaries for broadcast by continuously scanning the central database for updated data values during periods of still heavier data traffic volume received;
preparing a predetermined number of identical groups of non-real-time messages for broadcast to ensure accurate reception of these messages;
preparing entitlement messages for broadcast both periodically and upon request of an operator, said entitlement messages being used to enable and disable particular subscribers' receiving apparatus;
preparing broadcast messages from the previously prepared data messages;
and
transmitting the broadcast messages to an unlimited number of subscribers over a broadcast medium, each subscriber then decoding the broadcast message and updating its local database with the individual data messages contained in the broadcast message received, if entitled to receive the data message.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/161,267Filed 18 Feb 1988 · continuation
Priority: 28 Dec 1984
Granted: 19 Sep 1989
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04L 12/1836
For broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast: with heterogeneous network architecture
G06Q 40/00
Finance
G06Q 40/04
Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes: trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency…
H04L 12/1859
For broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast: adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels