US 5,729,549 A · Simulcasting digital video programs for broadcast and interactive services · patentgrep

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Abstract

To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data network is combined with a broadband digital broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via an RF packet data modem included in the terminal and the public wireless packet data network. In addition to the signaling for interactive services, the packet data network provides transport for data communications between other data devices.

Claims83

Dependent claims

A communication system comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,
(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and
(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network,
wherein the interface module comprises:
means for selectively receiving the selected channel;
and
means for demodulating a signal from the selected channel to acquire the transport stream from the selected channel,
wherein the RF modem is an element of the interface module.

10 more elements

A communication system, comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,
(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and
(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network,
further comprising an interactive headend system generating one of the transport streams in response to signaling messages received via the wireless packet data network,
wherein the interactive headend system comprises:
a server outputting selected frames of video information;
a packet data multiplexer for packetizing and multiplexing the selected frames of video information into the one transport stream;
and
a gateway processor responsive to signaling messages received via the wireless packet data network for controlling the server and the packet data multiplexer.

11 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,
(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and
(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network,
further comprising an Internet interface receiving user selection messages from at least one of said receiver systems and outputting digitized broadband Internet information to said headend system in response to the received user selection messages, said signal produced by said headend system carrying said digitized broadband internet information on one of said multiplexed systems.

6 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,
(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and
(iv) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via the wireless packet data network,
wherein said at least one broadband wireless transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters located at spaced apart sites transmitting said signal containing multiplexed channels so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of the service area,
further comprising an Internet interface receiving user selection messages from at least one of said receiver systems and outputting digitized broadband Internet information to said headend system in response to the received user selection messages, said signal produced by said headend system carrying said digitized broadband Internet information on one of said multiplexed streams.

7 more elements

A digital entertainment terminal comprising:

a channel selector for coupling to a broadband receiving antenna and selecting one of a plurality of channels from a signal from the broadband receiving antenna;
a channel signal processor for processing the one channel to acquire a digital transport stream carried on the one channel, said digital transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of compressed, digitized video information;
a digital processor capable of selectively providing both a full motion video presentation in response to compressed, digitized video information selected from a digital transport stream output by the channel signal processor and a still frame presentation in response to individual frames of compressed, digitized video information selected from a digital transport stream output by the channel signal processor;
means for receiving inputs from a user;
an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via a wireless packet data network;
and
a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the digital processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem.

4 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized video information;
a plurality of broadband wireless transmitters located at spaced apart sites broadcasting said signal so that areas of propagation from respective ones of the transmitters substantially overlap over each other in at least a major portion of a service area;
a two-way wireless packet data network;
and
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) a directional antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of said signal from one of the transmitters,
(ii) a channel selector coupled to the directional antenna for selecting one of the multiplexed channels,
(iii) a channel signal processor for processing the one channel to acquire the digital transport stream carried on the one channel,
(iv) a digital processor responsive to selected compressed, broadband digitized audio and video information from the acquired digital transport stream to produce signals for driving a video display device,
(v) means for receiving inputs from a user,
(vi) an RF modem for two-way communication of signaling messages via the wireless packet data network, and
(vii) a control processor controlling operations of the channel selector and the digital processor in response to at least some of the received inputs from the user, sending messages through the RF modem and processing messages received via the RF modem.

9 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream having multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;
an Internet interface coupled to the headend system and supplying digital broadband data to the headend system in response to upstream signaling information, said transport stream carrying said digital broadband data in one of the multiplexed streams;
at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area;
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:
(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,
(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,
(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information, and
(iv) a modem providing upstream wireless communication of said signaling information from the receiver system to the Internet interface via a wireless communication network.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/491,515Filed 19 Jun 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Mar 1995
Granted: 17 Mar 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H04N 7/20
Television systems: adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
H04H 20/18
Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast: arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
H04H 20/67
Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast: common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially…
H04H 20/81
Using carrier waves: combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available

Family

Serial405,558Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Mar 1995
US 5,651,010 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,729,549 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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