US 5,784,683 A · Shared use video processing systems for distributing program signals from multiplexed digitized information signals

Abstract

A broadcast system supplies multiplexed channels to a plurality of receiving systems. The broadcast system preferably comprises a wireless digital simulcasting network. Each multiplexed channel carries multiplexed digital information signals relating to a group of programs. At least one of the receiving systems serves a plurality of living units. The multi-unit receiving system includes common equipment to perform as much of the processing of the digital information signals as is practical for the particular installation. The common equipment includes a digital receiver processing each multiplexed channel to capture a digital transport stream therefrom and a demultiplexer for separating out the digital information signals for each program from each digital transport stream. A switch routes selected information signals to individual drops or loops going to the living units. In one implementation, each digital information signal is modulated, and selected modulated signals are routed and transported over telephone wiring to terminals in the living units. The terminals demodulate and decode selected program signals for presentation on a television. In a second implementation, a decoder in the common equipment decodes each digital information signal, and the common equipment transmits an analog television channel carrying decoded signals for selected programs over coaxial cables to the living units. In this implementation, the added equipment required in a living unit includes only a remote control, an infrared receiver and a data device to transmit program request messages over coaxial cable to the common equipment.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A communication system receiving a plurality of multiplexed digitized information signals relating to a plurality of programs, said communication system comprising:

means for processing the multiplexed digitized information signals relating to the plurality of programs to derive separate program signals, each program signal containing information relating to a single one of the plurality of programs;
a plurality of lines, each line coupled to a broadband output device;
a switch, coupled between the means for processing the multiplexed digitized information signals and the plurality of lines, for routing selected ones of the program signals;
and
a controller controlling the routing by the switch in response to program requests received via the plurality of lines.

2 more elements

A communication system, comprising:

a broadcast network broadcasting a plurality of multiplexed digitized information signals relating to a plurality of programs;
and
a plurality of receiving systems receiving the plurality of multiplexed digitized information signals from the broadcast network;
wherein one of the receiving systems serves a plurality of living units, the one receiving system comprising:
(a) means for processing the multiplexed digitized information signals relating to the plurality of programs to derive separate program signals, each program signal containing information relating to a single one of the plurality of programs;
(b) a plurality of lines, each line coupled to a broadband output device in one of a plurality of living units;
(c) a switch, coupled between the means for processing the multiplexed digitized information signals and the plurality of lines, for routing selected ones of the program signals;
and
(d) a controller controlling the routing by the switch in response to program requests received via the plurality of lines.

6 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a headend comprising:
(1) a source of a first digital multiplexed data stream containing a first plurality of packet streams, each packet stream of the first plurality of packet streams carrying digitized data representing one of a first group of video programs,
(2) a source of a second digital multiplexed data stream containing a second plurality of packet streams, each packet stream of the second plurality of packet streams carrying digitized data representing one of a second group of video programs,
(3) a modulation system modulating the first digital multiplexed data stream and the second digital multiplexed data stream into first and second channels, respectively;
a plurality of wireless transmitters located at respective different sites in a service area, the transmitters simultaneously transmitting a combined wireless signal containing the first and second channels into overlapping portions of the service area;
and
a plurality of receiver systems within the service area, at least one of the receiver systems serving a plurality of living units, said at least one of the receiver systems comprising:
(a) means for processing the combined wireless signal to derive separate program signals, each program signal containing information relating to a single one of the video programs;
(b) a plurality of lines, each line coupled to a broadband output device in one of a plurality of living units;
(c) a switch coupled between the means for processing and the plurality of lines, for routing selected ones of the video program signals;
and
(d) a controller controlling the routing by the switch in response to program requests received via the lines.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shared use video processing systems for distributing program signals from multiplexed digitized information signals

Life of this patent

Shared use video processing systems for distributing program signals from multiplexed digitized information signals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35