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US 8,621,530 B1Granted
Method and system for controlling user devices in an aggregated content distribution system
AssigneeThe DIRECTV Group, Inc.
InventorsJorge H. Guzman, Drew T. Chen, Richard B. Tatem
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for controlling a group of user receiving devices includes a local headend in communication with the group of user receiving devices through a local network. A management control system of the local headend generates a control signal and simultaneously communicates the control signal to the group of user receiving devices through the local network. The group of user receiving devices is controlled in response to the control signal.
Claims47
A method comprising:
- generating a control signal at a management control system of a local headend;
- generating a modulated signal at a frequency unused by a satellite and an outdoor unit external to the local headend, said modulated signal comprising a plurality of local channels at the local headend;
- simultaneously communicating the control signal to a group of user receiving devices through a switch module of a local network while communicating the modulated signal from the local headend to a first multiplexer, wherein the first multiplexer is separate from the switch module;
- at the first multiplexer, receiving a first plurality of external signals from the outdoor unit and multiplexing the modulated signal and the first plurality of external signals to generate a first output signal;
- receiving a second plurality of external signals from the satellite at the outdoor unit;
- communicating the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals to a second multiplexer, wherein the second multiplexer is in the switch module;
- multiplexing the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals via the second multiplexer to form a second output signal;
- transmitting the second output signal from the switch module to the at least one user receiving device in the group of user receiving devices;
- receiving the output signal by at least one user receiving device in the group of user receiving devices;
- and
- controlling the group of user receiving devices in response to the control signal.
8 more elements
A system comprising:
- a group of user receiving devices;
- a first multiplexer;
- a local headend in communication with the group of user receiving devices through a local network and comprises
- a modulator configured to generate a modulated signal at a frequency unused by a satellite and an outdoor unit external to the local headend, wherein the modulated signal comprises a plurality of local channels, and
- a management control system configured to generate a control signal and simultaneously communicate the control signal to the group of user receiving devices through a switch module of the local network while communicating the modulated signal from the local headend to the first multiplexer, wherein the switch module is separate from the first multiplexer, and
- wherein the first multiplexer is configured to receive a plurality of external signals from the outdoor unit and multiplex the modulated signal and the plurality of external signals to generate a first output signal;
- and
- said outdoor unit receiving a second plurality of external signals;
- a second multiplexer multiplexing the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals to form a second output signal, wherein the second multiplexer is in the switch module;
- wherein the switch module configured to receive the second output signal and provide the output signal to at least one user receiving device in the group of user receiving devices,
- wherein the group of user receiving devices are controlled in response to the control signal.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating a control signal at a management control system of a local headend;
- communicating the control signal to a user receiving device, said user receiving device comprising user adjusted settings;
- controlling the user receiving device in response to the control signal, resetting the user adjusted settings at the user receiving device;
- generating a modulated signal at a frequency unused by a satellite and an outdoor unit external to the local headend, said modulated signal comprising a plurality of local channels at the local headend;
- subsequent to resetting the user adjusted settings at the user receiving device, communicating the modulated signal from the local headend to a first multiplexer;
- receiving a first plurality of external signals from a satellite;
- at the first multiplexer, multiplexing the modulated signal and the first plurality of external signals to generate a first output signal, wherein the first multiplexer is separate from a switch module;
- and
- receiving a second plurality of external signals from the satellite at the outdoor unit;
- communicating the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals to a second multiplexer, wherein the second multiplexer is in the switch module;
- multiplexing the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals via the second multiplexer to form a second output signal;
- transmitting the second output signal from the switch module to the user receiving device;
- receiving the output signal at the user receiving device.
10 more elements
A system comprising:
- a local headend comprising a management control system and a modulator;
- a user receiving device in communication with the local headend;
- and
- a first multiplexer separate from a switch module,
- a management control system disposed within the local headend wherein:
- the management control system generates a control signal and communicate the control signal to the user receiving device to reset user adjusted settings in the user receiving device,
- the modulator is configured to generate a modulated signal at a frequency unused by a satellite and an outdoor unit external to the local headend, wherein the modulated signal comprises a plurality of local channels,
- the local headend is configured to, subsequent to resetting the user adjusted settings at the user receiving device, communicate the modulated signal to the first multiplexer, and
- the first multiplexer receives a plurality of external signals from a satellite through an outdoor unit, multiplexes the modulated signal and the plurality of external signals to generate a first output signal, and transmits the output signal to the user receiving device;
- said outdoor unit receiving a second plurality of external signals;
- a second multiplexer multiplexing the first output signal and the second plurality of external signals to form a second output signal, wherein the second multiplexer is in the switch module;
- wherein the switch module is configured to receive the second output signal and provide the output signal to the user receiving device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.