Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VIDEO/AUDIO/DATA DISTRIBUTION ARCHITECTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is presently an established base of millions of conventional
televisions with analog television tuners. An average American home has
multiple such
conventional televisions, for example, in each of various rooms, such as a
family room, a
living room, bedrooms, and so on.
These conventional televisions are typically designed to receive regular
analog television broadcasts. They are not designed to provide conditional
access to
receive premium cable services. They are also not designed to receive digital
television
broadcasts.
In order to support conditional access and receive digital broadcasts, set-
top boxes are generally required by cable and satellite television systems.
Currently,
various systems using advanced or sophisticated set top units are being
developed and
built to support the increasing number of available channels and to support
additional
services such as video on demand, Internet access, and so on. Such systems
utilizing
advanced or sophisticated set-top units are the subject of various recent U.S.
patent
publications.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,905,942, issued May 18, 1999, to Leon P.
Stoel et al. (hereinafter Stoel et al.) describes an audio/video distribution
system for a
multiple dwelling unit such as an apartment building. The system uses a
subscriber
remote control 46 with an infrared transmitter to transmit controls to an
infrared receiver
within a subscriber terminal (set-top unit) located within a subscriber unit
(apartment),
and programming and services are supplied from a headend over a distribution
network to
individual apartments. The distribution network includes an interdiction field
unit
associated with each of a group of apartments. The interdiction field unit
normally
interdicts those channels capable of carrying video on demand movies,
interactive video
games, and interactive services. When a subscriber wishes to order a movie,
video game,
or other service through interactive on-screen menus provided from the headend
to the
apartment, the headend instructs the interdiction field unit associated with
the subscriber's
apartment to de-interdict a channel. Selections made through a remote control
to a
subscriber terminal in the apartment are supplied to the headend over the
distribution
system. The channel remains deinterdicted during the playing of a movie, video
game, or
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interactive service selected by the subscriber, based upon the signals
received from the
subscriber terminal during the interactive on-screen menu session.
As another example, U.S. Patent No. 5,914,746, issued June 22, 1999, to
Joseph H. Matthews, III, et al. (hereinafter Matthews et aL), describes a
subscriber
interface unit (set top box) for use in conjunction with a television and a
remote cable
network headend having a plurality of available programs. The available
programs
include broadcast television channels and executable applications, the latter
intended to
be received and executed at the subscriber interface unit. The subscriber
interface unit
maintains a virtual channel table having entries for a plurality of virtual
channel numbers.
An entry for a particular virtual channel number includes a designation of an
available
program from the headend which is to be associated with the virtual channel
number.
The program can be a broadcast channel or an executable application such as an
electronic programming guide. The subscriber interface unit has a channel
selector which
maintains a current virtual channel number and which is responsive to commands
by a
human viewer to change the current virtual channel number. When a virtual
channel is
selected, the subscriber interface unit requests associated program from the
remote
headend and presents it on the video display device. If the selected virtual
channel is
associated with an executable application, the subscriber interface unit
downloads and
executes the application.
As a further example, U.S. Patent No. 6,064,377, issued May 16, 2000, to
W. Leo Hoarty and Gary M. Lauder (hereinafter Hoarty et al.) describes an
interactive
television information system and an interactive service distribution network,
where each
subscriber television is associated with a home interface controller (set top
unit). The
home interface controllers receive the television information signals and
include a data
transceiver for data communications. A subscriber selection device associated
with a
home interface controller permits subscriber interaction through the data
transceiver with
an assigned interactive controller from a plurality of interactive
controllers. The assigned
interactive controller is in communication with the information sources and in
television
communication with its assigned home interface controller. Selection of an
information
source may be made through channel selection of an apparent channel from any
of a first
group of apparent channels and a second group of apparent channels. Different
information services on different apparent channels from the first group of
apparent
channels are provided to a given home interface controller via the same
television
information signal as the subscriber changes channel selection from one of the
apparent
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channels in the first group of apparent channels to another apparent channel
in the first
group of apparent channels. To receive apparent channels from the second group
of
apparent channels, a home interface controller simply selects the television
information
signal at its input corresponding to the selected channel.
Unfortunately, system architectures that utilize advanced or sophisticated
set top units have substantial disadvantages and problems. For example, each
television
requires its own corresponding set-top unit in order to support conditional
access and
receive digital broadcasts. With multiple televisions in the average American
home, this
means that multiple set-top units are required to provide such support at
every television
in an average home. Furthermore, each set-top unit incorporates significant
electronic
components and is thus costly to produce. Such costs per set-top unit must be
multiplied
by the number of set-top units needed in a home. Moreover, additional power
and
cabling are required by each set-top unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new system architecture for controlled
distribution of video, andlor audio, and/or data (v/a/d) within a home or
business. The
architecture includes a single "mini headend" for receiving v/a/d signals and
for
distributing the v/a/d to presentation units within the home or business.
The mini headend may receive v/a/d from various sources. Based on
control signals received from one or more control units, the mini headend
selects v/a/d
signals for modulation onto a plurality of carrier signals or communications
channels.
The modulated carrier signals are multiplexed into a distribution signal which
is
transmitted to the presentation units. Each presentation unit may be
configured to
demultiplex and demodulate a specific carrier signal to derive the v/a/d
signals therefrom.
The system architecture enables controlled distribution of video signals
received in digital form to a plurality of analog television receivers in a
building.
Advantageously, this is accomplished while avoiding the prohibitive cost
associated with
providing multiple set-top units. In addition, the centralized nature of the
system
architecture may provide for additional advmtages and features.
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BRIEF DESCRTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by
considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings:
S FIG. 1 depicts a conventional cable television system which includes cable
headends;
FIG. 2 depicts various sources of video, audio, and/or data information to a
home or business in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 depicts a system architecture for distribution of video, audio, and/or
data information within a home or business in accordance with an embodiment of
the
presentinvention;
FIG. 4 depicts a structure of a mini headend in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. S is a flow chart which depicts a process performed by a mini
1 S headend for distributing video/audio/data information in accordance with
an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart which depicts a process performed by a presentation
unit for receiving and presenting video/audio/data information in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a flow chart which depicts an end-to-end process for selecting
particular video/audio/data information for presentation at a particular
presentation unit in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional cable television system which includes cable
2S headends 11. Cable headends 11 of a conventional cable television system
are described
herein for purposes of contrasting them with the mini headends of the present
invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cable headend 11 is in communication with a
plurality of nodes 12 that in turn communicate with set top units 13. Each of
these set top
units has a remote control 14 operable by the user. Each cable headend 11 may
obtain
items for use in providing an information service from a regional processing
center 1 S,
which in turn may obtain some information services from a national processing
center 16.
The information services may include a wide range of offerings, such as
classified
advertising services, newspapers, advertising, televised catalogue ordering,
video on
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demand or near video on demand, etc. Information services that are
conventional
television network programming may also be distributed from the national and
regional
processing centers.
A conventional cable headend 11 as depicted in FIG. 1 is designed to
distribute potentially hundreds of cable television broadcasts, statically
assigned at the
headend, to particular channels to a multitude (many thousands) of homes. In
contrast, a
mini headend in accordance with the present invention is designed to
distribute a smaller
number of broadcasts, on dynamically assigned channels as determined by end
users,
within a single home or business.
FIG. 2 depicts various sources 202 of video, and/or audio, and/or data
(v/a/d) information to a home or business 204 in accordance with an embodiment
of the
present invention. The information sources 202 depicted in FIG. 2 include
satellite 202-a,
digital subscriber line (DSL) 202-b, cable 202-c, telephone 202-d, optical
fiber 202-e,
microwave or other wireless sources 202-f, and power lines 202-g.
These sources 202 provide a variety of v/a/d. Satellite sources 202-a
include digital satellite television services, such as those provided by
Echostar or
DirectTV, and other services, such as those that provide Internet content and
other data
via satellite transmission. DSL sources 202-b include Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber
Line (ADSL) services and other various types of DSL services. Cable sources
202-c
include analog and digital cable television broadcasts, pay-per-view services,
video on
demand services, cable modem services, and other information services
utilizing a cable
distribution network. Telephone sources 202-d include plain old telephone
service
(POTS) (including dial-up modem and fax connections) and integrated services
digital
network (ISDN) connections. Optical fiber sources 202-a utilize optical fiber
for
distribution of information and include fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC), fiber-to-the-
building
(FTTB), and other distribution systems. Other technologies utilize microwave
and other
wireless sources 202-f or power lines 202-g as ways to distribute information
to a home
or building 204.
FIG. 3 depicts a system architecture 300 for distribution of v/a/d
information within a home or business in accordance with an embodiment of the
present
invention. The system 300 includes a mini headend 302, a plurality of
presentation units
304, and one or more controller units 306. The mini headend 302 receives a
plurality of
N v/a/d signals 308. These N v/a/d signals 308 may arnve from any of the
various
sources 202 depicted in FIG. 2.
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The mini headend 302 outputs a distribution signal 310 to the plurality of
presentation units 304. The distribution signal 310 may be transmitted to the
presentation
units 304, for example, as a radio frequency (RF) signal via a coaxial.cable
distribution
system within the home or business. Many homes already have coaxial cable in
place to
distribute analog cable television signals to various rooms in the home. The
RF signal
may carry signals in accordance with the National Television Systems Committee
(NTSC) standard prevalent in North America, or the PAL or SECAM standards
prevalent
in Europe, or other standards or proprietary schemes.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the coaxial
cable distribution system may be used to provide DC power, in addition to
transmitting
the distribution signal 310. Various devices connected to the coaxial cable
distribution
system may require DC power. Conventionally, such a device includes a power
supply
with an attached power cord and plug, which consume an additional AC plug
outlet in the
home or business. Such a device typically also require an enclosure which may
1S inconveniently occupy additional space, such as space on top of a TV set.
By using the
coaxial cable distribution system to provide DC power, cost and inconvenience
associated
with providing DC power can be dramatically decreased.
As an illustrative example, the center conductor of the coaxial cable can be
used to provide DC power. In this example, each device connected to the
coaxial cable
distribution system may operate without a power supply of its own. The
arrangement
saves cost and reduces consumption of AC power plug outlets in the home or
business.
In addition, the size of such a device can thus be reduced, such that the
device can fit in
line with the coaxial cable as a dongle rather than a box placed, for example,
on the TV
set. It is a straightforward manner to prevent the DC levels and RF signals
from
2S interfering with each other through the use of suitable components such as
capacitors and
inductors.
Alternatively or additionally, the distribution signal 310 may be
transmitted to the presentation units 304 as a remodulated signal via other
transmission
technologies, such as optical fiber, wireless, telephone lines, or power
lines. The
remodulated signal may be of digital form and may comprise, for example, a
quadrature
amplitude modulated (QAM) signal. The remodulated signal may be used to
distribute
data information in accordance with DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface
Specification), or DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) or IEEE standards, or
other
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standards or proprietary schemes. Providing DC power through the distribution
system
may also be achieved using these other transmission techniques.
Alternatively or additionally, the distribution signal 3I0 may include a/v/d
signals) that are received by the mini headend 302 and passed through, without
remodulation, by the mini headend 302. These signals may be received by the
mini
headend 302 in either digital or analog form, and they may be outputted by the
mini
headend 302 in either digital or analog form. The mini headend 302 may convert
some,
all, or none of these signals from digital to analog, or vice versa, before
passing them
through. Tn an illustrative example, the mini-headend 302 may receive four
signals, two
analog and two digital. The mini head end 302 may pass the two analog signals
through
as analog signals, pass one of the digital signals through as a digital
signal, and convert
the other digital signal into analog before passing it through.
The digital signals passed through by the mini head end 302 may comprise
a quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal. As a further example, these
digital
signals may be used to distribute data information in accordance with DOCSIS
(Data
Over Cable Service Interface Specification), or DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual
Council)
or IEEE standards, or other standards or proprietary schemes.
The internal components of and processes within the mini headend 302 are
described in further detail below in relation to FIG. 4. As illustrated in
FIG. 3, the mini
headend 302 includes a control input 404 for receiving control signals 312
from the one
or more controller units 306.
The plurality of presentation units 304 receives the distribution signal 310
from the mini headend 302. The presentation units 304 may include conventional
televisions or other devices wluch utilize television tuners (video cassette
recorders,
computers with television receivers, and so on) to receive and display vla/d
signals
distributed from the mini headend 302. In accordance with a specific
embodiment of the
present invention, presentation units 304 which so utilize television
receivers may receive
the distribution signal 310 by way of coaxial cable from the mini headend 302.
Alternatively or additionally, the presentation units 304 may include audio
equipment (for example, stereo or surround sound equipment) to receive,
process, and
output audio signals distributed from the mini headend 302. Alternatively or
additionally,
the presentation units 304 may include data presentation units, such as a
personal
computer with a web browser, an Internet appliance, or other devices which may
utilize
or present data distributed from the mini headend 302. In accordance with
specific
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embodiments of the present invention, the audio and/or data presentation units
may
receive the distribution signal 310 by way of a wireless form of communication
from the
mini headend 302. In accordance with other embodiments, the data presentation
units
may utilize cable modems for two-way communications with the mini headend 302.
The
S cable modems may, for example, operate in accordance with the DOCSIS, or
DAVIC or
IEEE standards, or other standards or proprietary schemes.
The one or more controller units 306 may be utilized by end users to
control the content or information presented by the presentation units 304.
The controller
units 306 may comprise wireless control transmitters, and the control input
404 may
comprise a wireless control receiver. Preferably, such wireless devices do not
require a
clear line of sight to communicate with each other. For example, the wireless
devices
may comprise 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, S GHz, or other frequency band devices.
Advantageously, such non-line-of sight wireless devices may communicate from
various
rooms of a home or business to a single mini headend 302 located within or
nearby the
1 S home or business 204.
Alternatively or additionally, the one or more controller units 306 may
communicate to the mini headend 302 via wired technologies. Examples of wired
technologies include cable lines, telephone lines, or power lines. The
wireless and wired
technologies may be combined. For example, a controller unit 306 may
communicate via
wireless technology (either line-of sight or not) with an intermediate unit,
and the
intermediate unit may in turn communicate via wired technology with the mini
headend
302.
A controller unit 306 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention may be substantially different from remote controls used to control
set top
2S boxes. A remote control for a set top box communicates control signals to
the set top box
associated with a television, typically via an infrared (direct line-of sight)
transmitter and
receiver. Generally, each set top box has its own remote control. In contrast,
a controller
unit 306 communicates control signals to the mini headend 302 which in turn
distributes
information to a plurality of presentation units 304. Because a controller
unit 306
communicates with the mini headend 302, instead of with a set top box, a
"master"
controller unit 306 may be used to control the information distributed to and
presented at
the plurality of presentation units 304. Alternatively or additionally, a
controller unit 306
may control the information distributed to and presented at a particular
presentation unit
304.
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FIG. 4 depicts a structure of a mini headend 302 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. .The mini headend 302 may be located
within or
nearby a home or business, e.g., 204 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the
mini
headend.302 may include a signal input 402, a control input 404 (shown in FIG.
3), a
plurality of n selectors 406, a plurality of n modulators 408, a multiplexer
410, and an
amplifier 412.
As used in this description, both N and n are positive integers. The
number N corresponds to the number of v/a/d source signals 308 supported by
the mini
headend 302, while the number n corresponds to the number of modulated Garner
signals
420 supported by the mini headend 302. In one example, the mini headend 302
may be
designed for use in a residence and. may include a number of modulators 408
ranging
from two to ten or more. In one specific embodiment, the number of modulators
408 may
be six. In another example, the mini headend 302 may be designed for use in a
business
and may include a Iaxge number of modulators 408 (e.g., ten, twenty, thirty,
fifty, one
hundred, or more).
The signal input 402 is capable of receiving a plurality of N video and/or
audio and/or data (v/a/d) signals 308. Various contemplated sources for the up
to N v/ald
signals 308 are described above in relation to FIG. 2. The signal input 402
outputs the up
to N v/a/d signals 412 to the plurality of n selectors 406.
The control input 404 is capable of receiving control signals 312 from the
controller units 306. Based on the control signals 312, the control input 404
generates
selection signals 414 and outputs the selection signals 414 to the plurality
of n selectors
406. It should be recognized that in general, any given one of the N v/a/d
signals 412
could be directed to as many as n of the n v/a/d signals 416.
The plurality of n selectors 406 receives the up to N v/a/d signals 412 from
the signal input 402 and also receives the selection signals 414 from the
control input 404.
Depending on the selection signals 414, the n selectors 406 select from the N
v/a/d signals
412 up to n v/a/d signals 416 for output to the n modulators 408.
The plurality of n modulators 408 receives the up to n v/a/d signals 416
from the n selectors 406 and also receives up to n Garner signals 418. The up
to n Garner
signals 418 may be received, for example, from a signal generator within the
mini
headend 302. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at
least some
of the carrier signals 418 may correspond to television channels, such as VHF
channels,
UHF channels, or cable television (CATV) channels.
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Each modulator 408 modulates a carrier signal 418 with a v/a/d signal 416
to generate a modulated carrier signal 420. The Garner signals 420 may be of
various
frequencies. The modulated carrier signals 420 carries the information of the
v/a/d signal
416 on the carrier signal 418. Up to n modulated carrier signals 420 are
output from the
plurality of n modulators 408 to the multiplexer 410. Alternatively or
additionally, a
single a/v/d 416 signal may be separated into multiple component signals, each
component signal modulating a carrier signal 418 to produce a modulated
carrier signal
420. In this manner, a single a/v/d/ signal 416 may correspond to multiple
modulated
carrier signals 420. This arrangement provides an efficient technique for
transmitting
higher quality a/v/d signals that may not be suitably represented by a single
modulated
carrier signal 420, due to bandwidth limitations that may exist. In one
illustrative
example, a video signal may be separated into a luminance (Y) component signal
and a
chrominance (C) component signal. The Y and C component signals each modulates
a
carrier signal 408, producing two modulated carrier signals 420. In another
illustrative
example, an audio signal may be separated into multiple component signals
representing
different frequency bands. Each component signal modulates a carrier signal
408,
producing multiple modulated Garner signals 420.
The n modulators 408 may be implemented in a variety of ways. In one
illustrative example, the n modulators 408 are implemented using P
semiconductor
devices, each semiconductor device containing Q modulators. Operated together,
the P
semiconductor devices form n = P x Q modulators. In this example, each
semiconductor
device modulates Q carrier signals and outputs Q modulated carrier signals as
a frequency
block. Using bloclc upconverters, the frequency bloclcs produced by the P
semiconductor
devices can be upconverted such that they are consecutively arranged in the
frequency
spectrum, producing the n modulated Garner signals 420 that are output to the
multiplexer
410. In this manner, the number n of modulated Garner signals 420 may be
increased by
simply adding more semiconductor devices (increasing P).
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least some
of the modulated carrier signals 420 may comprise television channel signals
which are
modulated to carry selected video and/or audio information. The modulation may
be
performed, for example, in accordance to the National Television Systems
Committee
(NTSC) standard prevalent in North America, or the PAL or SECAM standards
prevalent
in Europe, or other standards or proprietary schemes.
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In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, at least
some of the modulated Garner signals 420 may comprise signals which are
digitally
modulated to carry data information. The modulation may be performed, for
example, in
accordance with the DOCSIS, or DAVIC or IEEE standards, or other standards or
S proprietary schemes.
The multiplexer 410 receives the up to n modulated carrier signals 420
from the n modulators 408. The multiplexer 410 combines the up to n modulated
carrier
signals 420 to form at least one (pre-amp) distribution signal 422.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the
distribution signal may also include a baseband signal. The baseband signal
can be seen
as one of the n modulated carrier signals 420, produced by modulating a
carrier signal
418 of frequency at or near 0 Hz. Alternatively, the baseband signal may be
seen as an
unmodulated signal combined with the n modulated Garner signals 420 at the
multiplexer
410. As an illustrative example, the baseband signal may be a video signal of
improved
1S video quality occupying the frequency band 0 to 6 MHz.
Alternatively or additionally, the distribution signal 310 may include a/v/d
signals) that are received by the mini headend 302 and passed through, without
remodulation, by the mini headend 302.
The amplifier 412 amplifies the strength of the at least one pre-amp
distribution signal 422 as necessary to distribute the signals) to the
plurality of
presentation units 304 throughout the home or business 204. As depicted in
FIG. 3, the
(amplified) distribution signals) 310 is (are) output from the amplifier 412
and
distributed to the plurality of presentation units 304. Certain embodiments of
the present
invention may not require amplification of the signal output by the
multiplexer 410. For
2S such embodiments, the amplifier 412 would not be necessary.
FIG. S is a flow chart which depicts a process S00 performed by the mini
headend 302 for distributing videolaudio/data information in accordance with
an
embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. S, the process S00
includes six
steps.
In a first step 502, the mini headend 302 receives up to N v/a/d signals 308
from one or more sources 202. Within the mini headend 302 shown in FIG. 4, the
signal
input 402 may perform this step 502. For example, the up to N v/a/d signals
308 may
include a plurality of television broadcast signals.
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In a second step 504, the mini headend 302 receives control signals 312
from one or more controller units 306. Within the min headend 302 shown in
FIG. 4, the
control input 404 may perform this step 504. For example, a control signal 312
may
indicate that a particular v/a/d signal 308 is to be presented via a
particular presentation
S unit 304. More specifically, the particular v/a/d signal 308 may comprise a
particular
television broadcast signal, and the particular presentation unit may comprise
a particular
conventional television set in a room of a home.
Inca third step 506, the mini headend 302 selects n v/a/d signals 416
depending on the control signals 312 received. Within the mini headend 302
shown in
FIG. 4, the n selectors 406 may perform this step 506. Going further with the
above
example, among the n selected v/ald signals 416 would be the particular
television
broadcast signal.
In a fourth step 508, the mini headend 302 modulates n carrier signals 418
with the n v/a/d signals 416 to form n modulated carrier signals 420. Within
the mini
1 S headend 302 shown in FIG. 4, the n modulators 408 may perform this step
SO8. Going
further with the above example, among the n modulated carrier signals 416
would be a
specific television channel signal modulated to carry the particular
television broadcast
signal.
In a fifth step S 10, the mini headend 302 multiplexes the n modulated
carrier signals 420 to form one or more pre-amp distribution signal 422.
Within the mini
headend 302 shown in FIG. 4, the multiplexes 410 may perform this step 510.
Going
further with the above example, the pre-amp distribution signal 422 may
comprise a
multiple channel television signal that carries the specific television
channel along with
other channels.
2S Finally, in a sixth step 512, the mini headend 302 outputs the one or more
(amplified) distribution signal 310 to the presentation units 304. Within the
mini headend
302 shown in FIG. 4, an amplifier 412 may be used to perform this step S 12.
Going
further with the above example, one of the presentation units 304 would
comprise a
conventional television set that tunes the specific television channel from
the multiple
channel television signal and displays the specific television channel for
viewing by an
end user.
The above description of the process S00 of FIG. S includes a specific
example relating to the distribution of television programming. Of course,
other
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examples relating to the distribution of video/audio/data information are
contemplated to
be within the scope of the present invention.
One such example relates to the distribution of data information. For
example, the up to N v/a/d signals 308 received by the mini-headend may
include at least
one data signal via a digital subscriber Iine 202-b or other source 202. Such
a data signal
may comprise, for example, a broadband Internet connection. This broadband
hlternet
connection may be made available throughout a home or business via coaxial
cable or
other communications infrastructure from the mini-headend 302 to the
presentation units
304. In this way, the present invention may, in some embodiments, decouple
access
technology (for example, DSL) from distribution technology (for example,
coaxial cable
using a cable modem).
In another example, a home or business may receive both a data signal (for
example, via DSL) and a television signal (for example, via satellite) and
distribute both
signals via a communications infrastructure (for example, coaxial cable in the
home or
business). The television service may require that premium channels be handled
on a TV
set by TV set basis. Such a requirement may be implemented by requiring a set
top box
or other device at each TV set to have access to premium channels, so some TV
sets
might be free of set top boxes and others might still have them. Meanwhile,
the data
service may be distributed throughout the home or business using the same
infrastructure.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart which depicts a process 600 performed by a
particular presentation unit 304 for receiving and presenting video/audio/data
information
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in FIG.
6, the
process 600 includes four steps.
In a first step 602, the particular presentation unit 304 is set or pre-set
(i.e.,
tuned) to demultiplex and demodulate a specific modulated earner signal 420.
Consider,
for purposes of illustration, the following illustrative example relating to
the distribution
of television programming.
In this example, the particular presentation unit 304 may comprise a
conventional television set in a bedroom of a home. This television may be set
or pre-set
to receive, for instance, channel 6. In accordance with this example,
televisions in other
rooms may be set or pre-set to receive other channels. For example, the
television in the
family room may be set or pre-set to receive channel 2, and the television in
the living
room may be set or pre-set to receive channel 3.
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Alternatively, in this example, the particular presentation unit 304 may
comprise a video rnanagement/recording device such as a personal video
recorder (PVR).
The video management/recording device may be set or pre-set to receive, for
instance,
channel 6. In accordance with this example, video management/recording devices
in
other rooms may be set or pre-set to receive other channels. For example, the
video
management/recording device in the family room may be set or pre-set to
receive channel
2, and the video management/recording device in the living room may be set or
pre-set to
receive channel 3.
In a second step 604, the particular presentation unit 304 receives the
distribution signal 310 from the mini headend 302. The distribution signal 310
comprises
a multiplexed signal which combines up to n modulated carrier signals 420.
Going further with the above example, the distribution signal 310 may
comprise a multiple-channel television signal which includes channels 2, 3, 4,
5, and 6.
For example, channel 6 (which is destined for the bedroom TV) may be currently
modulated to carry the Discovery Channel~ (which may be channel 3 from the
local
cable system 202-c). Meanwhile, channels 2 and 3 may both be currently
modulated to
carry ESPN~ (which may be channel 37 from the local cable system 202-c).
(Someone
in the bedroom is watching the Discovery Channel, while persons in both the
living and
family rooms are watching ESPN~.)
In a third step 606, the particular presentation unit 304 tunes the specific
modulated Garner signal 420 and demodulates the specific modulated carrier
signal 420 to
derive the v/a/d signal therefrom. Going further with the above example, the
television in
the bedroom would tune channel 6 from the multiple channel television signal
and
demodulate channel 6 to derive the Discovery Channel~ broadcast therefrom.
In a fourth step 608, the presentation unit 304 presents information from
the v/a/d signal to an end user. Going further with the above example, the
television in
the bedroom is tuned to channel 6 and would display video and audio of the
Discovery
Channel~ broadcast to a person in the bedroom.
The above description of the process 600 of FIG. 6 includes a specific
illustrative example relating to the distribution of television programming.
Of course,
other examples relating to the distribution of video/audio/data information
are
contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.
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FIG. 7 is a flow chart which depicts an end-to-end process 700 for
selecting particular video/audio/data information for presentation at a
particular
presentation unit 304 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. As
depicted in FIG. 7, the process 700 includes eight steps.
~ In a first step 702, an end user desires to receive particular v/a/d content
or
information via a particular presentation unit 304. For example, a person may
desire to
receive the Discovery Channel~ via a television in a bedroom.
In a second step 704, the user selects the particular v/a/d content or
information using a controller unit 306 configured for the particular
presentation unit 304.
Going further with the above example, the user would indicate using the
controller unit
306 that the television in the bedroom should display the Discovery Channel~
(which
may be channel 3 from the local cable system 202-c), the controller unit 306
may be
configured to control channel 6 output by the mini headend 302, and the
television in the
bedroom may be tuned to receive and display channel 6.
In a third step 706, appropriate control signals 312 are transmitted from the
controller unit 306 to the mini headend 302. Going further with the above
example, the
controller signals 312 may indicate to the mini headend 302 to select the
Discovery
Channel~ broadcast signal to be carried on channel 6 in its multichannel
distribution
signal 306.
In a fourth step 708, the mini headend 302 modulates a specific carrier
signal with the particular v/a/d content or information. Going further with
the above
example, the mini headend 302 may modulate channel 6 so that it carries the
Discovery
Channel~ broadcast signal.
In a fifth step 710, the mini headend 302 multiplexes the specific carrier
signal into the distribution signal 3 I0. Going further with the above
example, the mini
headend 302 may multiplex the modulated channel 6 into a multiple-channel
television
signal.
In a sixth step 712, the distribution signals) 310 is (are) transmitted from
the mini headend 302 to the presentation units 304. Going further with the
above
example, the multiple channel signal may be distributed to televisions in
various rooms.
In a seventh step 714, the particular presentation unit 304 extracts the
particular v/a/d content or information from the specific carrier signal in
the distribution
signal 310 by tuning to its assigned channel. Going further with the above
example, the
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television in the bedroom may tune channel 6 from the multiple channel signal
and
demodulate the Discovery Channel~ broadcast from the channel 6 signal.
In an eighth step 716, the particular presentation unit 304 presents the
particular v/a/d content or information to the end user. Going further with
the above
example, the television in the bedroom may present the Discovery Channel~
broadcast to
the person in the bedroom.
Finally, the process 700 may loop back to the first step 702 if the end user
wishes to change the v/a/d content or information presented via the particular
presentation
unit 304. Going further with the above example, the person may decide to
switch to the
ESPNO broadcast. The process 700 would then be repeated as described above
with the
ESPN~ broadcast signal from channel 37 of the Iocal cable system 202-c in
substitution
for the Discovery Channel0 broadcast signal from channel 3 from the local
cable system
202-c. In the repeat process 700, the television in the bedroom would
typically remain
configured to receive channel 6.
In addition to the above described advantages and features, the centralized
nahue of the system architecture may provide for additional advantages and
features.
Several such additional advantages and features are described below.
First, the mini headend 302 may include a centralized mechanism for
implementing conditional access for distribution of premium content. Such
centralized
conditional access may span various sources 202 (for example, both satellite
TV and
cable TV).
Second, the mini headend 302 may bar certain TV receivers from
displaying inappropriately rated content. For example, the mini headend 302
may detect
violent or sexual content in TV programming and/or Internet data and may
prevent such
content from being displayed at particular presentation units.
Third, the mini headend 302 may provide a common electronic
programming guide that spans various sources 202 (for example, both satellite
TV and
cable TV).
Fourth, the mini headend 302 may include mass storage to allow
centralized digital recording. In addition, it may include an MPEG or similar
encoder to
allow for centralized compression and storage of analog input in digital form.
Further,
pay per view channels and/or a service provider specific channels may be
provided
directly from the digital storage at the mini headend 302.
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Fifth, a DVD drive or mufti-disc DVD changer may be provided at the
mini-headend 302. The DVD drive may provide for centralized broadcast of DVD
content. The mufti-disc DVD changer may provide for centralized archiving of
DVDs.
Similarly, a CD drive or mufti-disc CD changer may be provided at the mini-
headend
302. The CD drive may provide for centralized broadcast of digital audio
content. The
mufti-disc CD changer may provide for centralized archiving of digital audio
content.
Sixth, the mini headend 302 may include circuitry capable of displaying
multiple reduced-size video displays on any receiving television. Similarly,
circuitry may
be included to provide picture-in-picture capability at any receiving
television.
Seventh, the mini headend 302 may include circuitry capable of supporting
multiple game controllers to play games across multiple televisions. For
example, a game
player may be coupled via an interface to the mini headend 302. Circuitry
within the
mini headend 302 may then enable the single game player to be shared by any
receiving
television. The game controllers (or adapters coupled to the game controllers)
would then
interact with the mini headend 302 via wireless communication signals.
Eighth, the mini headend 302 may provide for residence-specific or
business-specific advertisement insertion. Such specifically targeted
advertisements may
be transmitted from a service provider to the mini headend 302. Tn addition,
the mini
headend 302 may collect information on which channels are viewed at which TVs
for
purposes of determining viewing habits so as to provide more effective
targeting of the
advertisements.
While specific embodiments and applications of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the
precise configuration and components disclosed herein. Various modifications,
changes,
and variations which will be apparent to those spilled in the art may be made
in the
arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of the present
invention
disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
17
