US 5,734,589 A · Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping

Abstract

Dynamic programming of a digital entertainment terminal (DET) facilitates operation of the terminal to offer a variety of functionally different broadband services. The terminal includes a network interface module which couples the terminal to a specific type of communication network for receiving a digital broadband channel. The DET downloads on a narrowband signaling channel a VIP program map that identifies the available video information service providers (VIPs) on the basis of the location of their corresponding software control signals. The software control signals are transmitted cyclically to enable access by a random DET at any time. A program memory captures the VIP program map and at least a portion of the software control signals received over the digital broadband channel as software executable by the control processor during turn-on of the DET. When a user presses a GUIDE button on a remote control service, the DET displays the available information service providers in accordance with the VIP program map, thereby enabling the user to conveniently access the broadband services offered by the selected information service provider.

Claims62

Dependent claims

An information distribution system comprising:

a communication network carrying broadcast digital broadband channels of audio/video program information in compressed, digital form from at least one video information provider, said communication network cyclically broadcasting on at least one of said digital broadband channels a software control signal corresponding to said at least one video information provider, said software control signal including data for identifying said audio/video program information of said at least one video information provider to a digital entertainment terminal receiving said digital broadband channels and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal;
and
means for broadcasting said digital broadband channels to said digital entertainment terminal.

A digital entertainment terminal comprising:

a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving a plurality of digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form;
a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and adapted to receive a software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels, said software control signal including data corresponding to at least one video information provider and executable code for controlling the digital entertainment terminal;
means for receiving inputs from a user and providing corresponding signals to said control processor;
a system memory for storing software for processing by said control processor and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said software over said communication network;
and
an audio/video processor responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information and controlled by said control processor during processing of said software;
wherein said control processor captures said software control signal from said one of the digital broadband channels within a predetermined cycle and processes said captured software control signal to output, to said audio/video processor, information identifying audio/video program information from at least one broadband channel as corresponding to said at least one video information provider.

4 more elements

A digital entertainment terminal, comprising:

a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving a plurality of digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form;
a control processor controlling operations of the terminal and adapted to receive a software control signal cyclically transmitted through one of said digital broadband channels and corresponding to at least one video information provider;
means for receiving inputs from a user and providing corresponding signals to said control processor;
a system memory for storing software for processing by said control processor and being adapted to receive at least a portion of said software over said communication network;
and
an audio/video processor responsive to compressed, digital audio and video information and controlled by said control processor during processing of said software;
wherein said control processor captures said software control signal from said one of the digital broadband channels within a predetermined cycle and processes said captured software control signal to output, to said audio/video processor, information identifying audio/video program information from at least one broadband channel as corresponding to said at least one video information provider,
wherein said control processor scans a plurality of said digital broadband channels to identify and receive said at least one software control signal, and
wherein said received software control signal comprises navigation software for processing by said control processor for identifying said audio/video program information corresponding to said at least one video information provider.

6 more elements

In a network broadcasting programs received from information providers through a plurality of broadband channels, a method for providing said programs to a terminal device adapted to receive said broadband channels, the method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a first group of programs from a first information provider over a first plurality of broadcast channels;
broadcasting a second group of programs from a second information provider over a second plurality of broadcast channels;
cyclically broadcasting program control information over at least one broadcast channel, wherein said program control information at least maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels and maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels;
in a terminal device:
(a) in response to a selection of the first information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels,
(b) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device
(c) in response to selection of a program from the first group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and
(d) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel, further comprising the steps of:
in said terminal device:
(e) in response to a selection of the second information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels,
(f) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device
(g) in response to selection of a program from the second group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and
(h) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels.

10 more elements

broadcasting a first group of programs from a first information provider over a first plurality of broadcast channels;
broadcasting a second group of programs from a second information provider over a second plurality of broadcast channels;
cyclically broadcasting program control information over at least one broadcast channel, wherein said program control information at least maps each program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels and maps each program in the second group of programs to a channel in the second plurality of broadcast channels;
in a terminal device:
(a) in response to a selection of the first information provider, capturing from the cyclical broadcast the program control information which maps each program in the first program in the first group of programs to a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels,
(b) storing the captured program control information in the terminal device
(c) in response to selection of a program from the first group, accessing the stored program control information to identify a channel in the first plurality of broadcast channels as corresponding to the selected program, and
(d) selectively receiving the selected program from the identified channel, further comprising the steps of:
storing in said terminal device an information provider directory that at least maps said first and second information providers to said corresponding program control information cyclically broadcast over said at least one broadcast channel on one of a plurality of information packets;
in said terminal device, further comprising the steps of:
(e) generating, in accordance with said stored information provider directory, a list of said first and second information providers for display to a user,
(f) in response to a user input indicating a selection of one of said first and second information providers, accessing said stored information provider directory to identify said at least one broadcast channel and one of said information packets carrying said corresponding program control information.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping

Life of this patent

Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims62