TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE TELEVISION CABLE

English Abstract

An expanded television program delivery system is described which allows viewers to select television and audio program choices from a series of menus. The primary components of the system include an operations center, a digital cable headend, and at least one set top terminal having a remote control. The system allows for a great number of television signals to be transmitted by using digital compression techniques. A combined signal is transmitted over satellite to a cable headend, which may modify the combined signal for changes or additions in programming or menu content. The combined or modified signal is subsequently distributed to individual set top terminals in the cable network. Menus are partially stored in a set top terminal in each subscriber's home and may be reprogrammed by signals sent from the operations center or headend. Numerous types of menus may be used, incorporating information included within the video/data signal received by the set top terminal. A remote control unit with icon buttons allows a subscriber to select programs based upon a series of major menus, submenus, and during program menus. Various data gathering and analysis techniques are used to compile programs watched information that in turn is used in packaging programs, customizing menu selections, targeting advertisements, and maintaining account and billing information.

French Abstract

Cet extrait concerne un système de télévision câblé élargi qui permet aux téléspectateurs de choisir les émissions de télévision et audio à partir d'une série de menus. Les composants primaires du système comprennent un centre d'opérations, une tête de ligne numérique et au moins un terminal décodeur comportant une télécommande. Le système permet de transmettre un grand nombre de signaux de télévision en utilisant des techniques de compression numérique. Un signal combiné est transmis par satellite à une tête de ligne, qui peut modifier le signal combiné en fonction des changements ou des ajouts dans le contenu des émissions ou du menu. Le signal combiné ou modifié est ensuite distribué aux terminaux décodeurs individuels dans le réseau de câbles. Les menus sont partiellement stockés dans un terminal décodeur au domicile de chaque abonné et peuvent être reprogrammés par des signaux envoyés par le centre d'opérations ou la tête de réseau. De nombreux types de menus peuvent être utilisés, intégrant des renseignements inclus dans le signal vidéo/données reçu par le terminal décodeur. Une télécommande avec des boutons d'icônes permet à un abonné de sélectionner des émissions selon une série de menus principaux, de sous-menus et de menus affichés alors que les émissions sont en cours. Diverses techniques de collecte de données et d'analyse sont utilisées pour compiler l'information des émissions regardées, laquelle est ensuite utilisée dans les offres groupées d'émissions, la personnalisation des sélections de menus, le ciblage des publicités et la mise à jour des renseignements de compte et de facturation.

Claims

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The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the
system comprising:
a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations,
wherein programs are received from external program sources, the
center comprising a processor to package more than one digital
program signal into at least one group or category for transmission
of the at least one group or category to a first satellite transponder;
a first cable headend, comprising:
a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program
signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and
a means, connected to the first satellite dish, for
sending the digital program signals from the first cable
headend to the subscriber locations; and
a first terminal, located at each subscriber location, wherein
the sent digital program signals are received from the first cable
headend and at least one digital program signal is processed for
subscriber viewing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the center packages at least one
digital program signal for transmission to the first cable headend, and
wherein the first cable headend further comprises:
a processor, connected to the first satellite dish and the
sending means, wherein the received digital program signals are
screened and at least one digital program signal is separated from
the received package of digital program signals.

3. The system of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first cable headend
comprises:
a processor, operably connected to the first satellite dish,
wherein the received digital program signals are processed to form a
set of screened digital program signals, and wherein the screened
digital program signals are a subset of the received digital program
signals; and


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means, operably connected to the processor, for sending the
subset of screened digital program signals from the processor to
subscriber locations.

4. The system of claims 2 or 3, wherein the first terminal further
comprises:
an input port, wherein the screened digital program signals
are received by the first terminal.

5. The system of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein local program signals are
used at the first cable headend, the first cable headend further
comprising:
a signal processor, operably connected to the first satellite
dish and the sending means, wherein local program signals may be
inserted into the packaged digital program signals.

6. The system of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the center further
comprises:
a computer, wherein the computer sends directions to the
first cable headend, along with the digital program signals, which
enable the signal processor to control insertion of local program
signals at the first cable headend.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a port at the first terminal receives
the screened digital program signals and the local program signals
inserted by the signal processor.

8. The system of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the system further
comprises a second satellite transponder and a second cable headend, the
first and second transponders being used to transpond a first and second
group of digital program signals to the cable headends, the center further
comprising:
a processor, wherein the first and second groups of digital
program signals are allocated for transmission to the first or second
satellite transponder, and wherein each satellite transponder
receives a different group of digital program signals.



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9. The system of claim 8, wherein the center further comprises:
a first transmitter, wherein the first group of digital program
signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder, and wherein
the first cable headend receives digital program signals from the
first satellite transponder; and
a second transmitter, wherein the second group of digital
program signals are transmitted to the second satellite transponder,
and the second cable headend receives digital program signals from
the second satellite transponder.


10. The system of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the digital program
signals are comprised of both audio and video signals, and more than one
audio channel may exist for a video signal, wherein the first satellite dish
at the first cable headend receives the video and audio signals from the
first satellite transponder, and wherein a particular video signal may have
multiple audio channels associated therewith, the first cable headend
further comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller selects one or more
received audio channels to correspond to the particular video signal,
wherein a listener receives at least one selected audio channel.


11. The system of claim 10, wherein more than one language is
represented in the multiple audio channels associated with the particular
video signal, and wherein the first cable headend receives information
from subscriber locations, the controller at the first cable headend further
comprising:
a means for selecting a particular audio channel in
response to information received from the subscriber
location.


12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first terminal further
comprises:
a means for displaying menus of language options to the
subscriber; and



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an interface, wherein menu selections entered by the
subscriber are received, and
wherein the information received at the first cable headend
from the subscriber location includes the menu selection made by
the subscriber in response to the menu displaying language options
using the interface.


13. The system of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein a second satellite is
used, the first cable headend further comprising:
a second satellite dish, wherein the second satellite dish
receives digital program signals from a second satellite transponder.

14. The system of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein a first and second group
of terminals are serviced by the first cable headend, the first group of
terminals receiving digital program signals from the first satellite
transponder through the first satellite dish, and the second group of
terminals receiving digital program signals from a second satellite
transponder through a second satellite dish, and wherein at least one of
the digital program signals received from the first satellite transponder is
different from the digital program signals received from the second
satellite transponder.


15. The system of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the digital program
signals contain more than one digital audio/video program, the processor
in the first cable headend comprising:
means for separating individual digital audio/video programs
from the received digital program signals, received from the first
satellite transponder by the first satellite dish.


16. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber locations using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein
the digital program signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a
satellite system, the system comprising:
a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations,
wherein programs are received from external program sources, the
center comprising a processor to package more than one digital



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program signal into at least one group or category for transmission
of the at least one group or category to a first satellite transponder;
a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber location,
wherein the digital program signals are received from the first
satellite transponder; and
a first terminal, located at the first subscriber location, and
connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the digital program
signals are received and at least one digital program signal is
processed for subscriber viewing.


17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a
second satellite transponder and a second terminal, the first and second
transponders being used to transpond a first and second group of digital
program signals to the terminals, the center further comprising:
a processor, wherein the first and second groups of digital
program signals are allocated for transmission to the first or second
satellite transponder, and wherein each satellite transponder
receives a different group of digital program signals.


18. The system of claim 17, wherein the center further comprises:
a first transmitter, wherein the first group of digital program
signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder, and wherein
the first terminal receives digital program signals from the first
satellite transponder through the first satellite dish; and
a second transmitter, wherein the second group of digital
program signals are transmitted to the second satellite transponder,
and the second terminal receives digital program signals from the
second satellite transponder through the second satellite dish.


19. The system of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the center further
comprises:
a processor, wherein a program control information signal is
generated, which is used by the first terminal.


20. The system of any of claims 1 to 19, wherein a program control
information signal is packaged with the digital program signals.



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21. The system of claims 19 or 20, wherein the first terminal further
comprises:
a means for generating menu displays using the program
control information signal.


22. The system of any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program titles.


23. The system of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program start times.


24. The system of any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on menus.


25. The system of any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program line-ups for more than one
channel of programming.


26. The system of any of claims 1 to 25, wherein the center further
comprises:
a compressor, wherein the digital program signals are
compressed prior to transmission to the first satellite transponder.

27. The system of any of claims 1 to 26, wherein the first terminal
includes:
a decompressor, wherein the received digital program signals
are decompressed for display to the subscriber.


28. The system of any of claims 1 to 27, wherein the first terminal
comprises:
a digital set top terminal, wherein the digital set top terminal
are used at subscriber location, and wherein the digital set top
terminal decompresses the sent digital program signals.




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29. The system of any of claims 1 to 28, wherein the first terminal
comprises a set top terminal, and wherein the set top terminal is operably
connected to a television.


30. The system of any of claims 1 to 29, wherein the first terminal
comprises an electronic insertable card.


31. The system of any of claims 1 to 30, wherein the first terminal
further comprises:
a processor, wherein the digital program signals are
converted into analog program signals for display at the subscriber
location.


32. The system of any of claims 1 to 31, wherein the digital program
signals are comprised of digital audio signals, the first terminal
comprising:
a means for receiving the digital audio signals; and
a means for outputting the digital audio signals to a listener.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the system further comprises:
a third terminal, connected to the first terminal, and located
remotely from the first terminal, wherein the digital audio signals
are received and output to the listener.


34. The system of claim 33, wherein the third terminal outputs digital
audio signals, and the first terminal concurrently outputs digital audio
and video signals for subscriber viewing.


35. The system of any of claims 1 to 34, wherein the digital program
signals are received by the center from an external program source, and
the center comprises:
a receiver which receives the digital program signals.


36. The system of any of claims 1 to 35, wherein the center is capable of
converting analog signals received from an external program source into



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digital signals before sending the digital program signals from the center
to the subscriber locations, the center further comprising:
a receiver, wherein analog signals are received from external
program sources; and
a converter, wherein the received analog signals are
converted into digital program signals.


37. The system of any of claims 1 to 36, wherein the center further
comprises:
a processor, wherein the digital program signals are
packaged for transmission to the first satellite transponder, and
wherein the packages include at least one digital program signal.


38. The system of any of claims 1 to 37, wherein the center acts as a
master center, the system further comprising:
a slave center, operably connected to the master center,
wherein functions of the slave center are coordinated with the
master center.


39. The system of claim 38, wherein the master center controls the
functions of the slave center.


40. The system of any of claims 1 to 39, wherein a second satellite dish
receives digital program signals from the first satellite transponder.


41. The system of any of claims 1 to 40, the system further comprising:
an uplink site, operably connected to the center, wherein the
processed digital program signals are transmitted to the first
satellite transponder.


42. The system of claim 41, wherein there is more than one uplink site,
and at least one uplink site is located remotely from the center.


43. The system of any of claims 1 to 42, further comprising a remote
control with a plurality of menu select buttons.




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44. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 43 wherein the processor is

capable of packaging the more than one digital program signal into the at
least one group
or category according to marketing data.


45. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 43 wherein the processor is

capable of packaging the more than one digital program signal into the at
least one group
or category to allocate transponder space.


46. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber
locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the system
comprising:
a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein programs are

received from external program sources, comprising a processor to package more
than
one digital program signal into at least one group or category using a program
line up for
transmitting the at least one group or category to a first satellite
transponder;
a first cable headend, comprising:
a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received from
the
first satellite transponder; and
a distributer, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program
signals comprising digital video from the first cable headend to the
subscriber locations;
and
a terminal, located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent digital
program
signals are received from the first cable headend and at least one digital
program signal is
processed for subscriber viewing.


47. The system of claim 46, wherein the center comprises:
a receiver which receives the digital program signals.


48. The system of claim 46, wherein the center is capable of converting analog

signals received from an external program source into digital signals before
sending the
digital program signals from the center to the subscriber locations, the
center further
comprising:



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a receiver, wherein analog signals are received from said external program
sources; and
a converter, wherein the received analog signals are converted into digital
program signals.


49. The system of claim 46, wherein the center further comprises:
a means for packaging the digital program signals, wherein the means for
packaging includes the processor.


50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first cable headend further comprises:

a processor, connected to the satellite dish and the distributer, wherein the
received digital program signals are screened and at least one digital program
signal is
separated from the received package of digital program signals.


51. The system of claim 50, wherein the terminal further comprises:
an input port, operably connected to the distributer, wherein the screened
digital
program signals are received by the terminal.


52. The system of claim 50, wherein local program signals are used at the
first cable
head end, the first cable head end further comprising:
a signal processor, operably connected to the first satellite dish and the
distributer, wherein local program signals may be inserted into the packaged
digital
program signals.


53. The system of claim 52, wherein
said processor sends directions to the first cable headend, along with the
digital
program signals, which enable the signal processor to control the insertion of
the local
program signals at the first cable headend.


54. The system of claim 52, wherein the terminal further comprises:

a port, wherein the screened digital program signals and the local program
signals
inserted by the signal processor are received.



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55. The system of claim 46, wherein the center further comprises:
a compressor, wherein the packaging of the digital program signals includes
compressing the digital program signals prior to transmission to the first
satellite
transponder.


56. The system of claim 55, wherein the terminal further comprises:
a decompressor, wherein the received digital program signals are decompressed
for display to the subscriber.


57. The system of claim 46, wherein
said processor generates a program control information signal which is used by

the terminal.


58. The system of claim 57, wherein the program control information signal
includes
data on program titles.


59. The system of claim 58, wherein the program control information signal
includes
data on program start times.


60. The system of claim 57, wherein the program control information signal
includes
data on menus.


61. The system of claim 57, wherein the program control information signal
includes
data on program line-ups for more than one channel of programming.


62. The system of claim 46, wherein the system further comprises a second
satellite
transponder and a second cable headend, the first and second transponders
being used to
transpond a first and second of said at least one group or category of digital
program
signals to the cable headends,

said processor allocates the first and second groups of digital program
signals for
transmission to the first or second satellite transponder, and wherein each
satellite



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transponder receives a different group of digital program signals.


63. The system of claim 62, wherein the center further comprises:
a first transmitter, wherein the first of said at least one group or category
of
digital program signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder,
and wherein the
first cable headend receives digital program signals from the first satellite
transponder;
and
a second transmitter, wherein the second of said at least one group or
category of
digital program signals are transmitted to the second satellite transponder,
and the second
cable headend receives digital program signals from the second satellite
transponder.


64. The system of claim 63, wherein a second satellite dish receives digital
program
signals from the first satellite transponder.


65. The system of claim 46, wherein the digital program signals are comprised
of
both audio and video signals, and more than one audio channel may exist for a
video
signal, wherein the first satellite dish at the cable headend receives the
video and audio
signals from the first satellite transponder, and wherein a particular video
signal may
have multiple audio channels associated therewith, the first cable headend
further
comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller selects one or more received audio
channels to
correspond to the particular video signal, wherein a listener receives at
least one selected
audio channel.


66. The system of claim 46, wherein a second satellite is used, the first
cable headend
further comprising:
a second satellite dish, wherein the second satellite dish receives signals
from a
second satellite transponder.


67. The system of claim 66, wherein a first and second group of terminals are
serviced by the first cable headend, the first group of terminals receiving
digital program
signals from the first satellite transponder through the first satellite dish,
and the second




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group of terminals receiving digital program signals from the second satellite

transponder through the second satellite dish, and wherein at least one of the
digital
program signals received from the second satellite transponder is different
from the
digital program signals received from the first satellite transponder.


68. The system of claim 46, wherein a television is used and the terminal
comprises:
a set top terminal, and wherein the set top terminal is operably connected to
said
television.


69. The system of claim 46, wherein the terminal comprises an electronic
insertable
card.


70. The system of claim 46, wherein the terminal further comprises:

a second processor, wherein the digital program signals are converted into
analog
program signals for display at the subscriber location.


71. The system of claim 46, the system further comprising:
an uplink site, operably connected to the center, wherein the packaged digital

program signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder.


72. The system of claim 71, wherein there is more than one uplink site, and at
least
one uplink site is located remotely from the center.


73. The system according to claim 46, wherein said first cable headend further

comprises:

a network controller operably connected to said first satellite dish, whereby
a
two-way communication link between the terminal and the center is established.


74. The system according to 46, wherein said first cable headend further
comprises:
a network controller operably connected to said first satellite dish, whereby
a
two-way communication link between the terminal and the cable headend is
established.





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75. The system according to claim 46, wherein said first cable headend further

comprises:
a network controller operably connected to said first satellite dish, whereby
a
two-way communication link between the cable headend and the center is
established.

76. The system according to claim 73, wherein said processor generates a
program
control information signal containing data on menus which is used by the
terminal.


77. The system according to claim 57, wherein said digital program signals and

program control information signals are compatible with C band satellite
transmission
technology.


78. The system according to claim 57, wherein said digital program signals and

program control information signals are compatible with Ku band satellite
transmission
technology.


79. The system according to claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are

compressed using an intraframe technique.


80. The system according to claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are

compressed using an interframe technique.


81. The system according to claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are

compressed using a within-carrier technique.


82. The system according to claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are

compressed using a MPEG technique.


83. The system according to claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are

compressed using a MPEG2 technique.


84. The system of claim 55, wherein said digital program signals are
compressed




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using a JPEG technique.


85. The system according to claim 55, wherein the terminal further comprises a
first
and a second decompressor, whereby said first decompressor decompresses the
received
digital signals and said second decompressor decompresses received program
information signals.


86. The system according to claim 46, wherein the center further comprises a
multiplexer for multiplexing the digital program signals.


87. The system according to claim 46, wherein the cable headend further
transmits at
least one analog program signal and further wherein said analog program signal
is
received by the terminal and processed for subscriber viewing.


88. The system according to claim 71, wherein said packaged digital program
signals
are transmitted to the first satellite transponder using a time division
multiplexing (TDM)
scheme.


89. The system according to claim 71, wherein said packaged digital program
signals
are transmitted to the first satellite transponder using a single channel per
carrier (SCPC)
scheme.


90. The system according to claim 46, wherein said external program sources
are
both analog and digital.


91. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber
locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the system
comprising:
a center comprising a system clock, remotely located from the subscriber
locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is processed for
transmission to
a first satellite transponder, and wherein the center acts as a master center;

a first cable headend, comprising:




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a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received from
the
first satellite transponder; and
a distributer, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program
signals from the first cable headend to the subscriber locations;
a terminal, located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent digital
program
signals are received from the first cable headend and at least one digital
program signal is
processed for subscriber viewing; and
a slave center, operably connected to the master center, wherein functions of
the
slave center are coordinated with the master center by said system clock to
synchronize
simultaneous transmissions from multiple slave operation centers.


92. The system of claim 91, wherein the master center controls the functions
of the
slave center.


93. The system of claim 91, further comprising a plurality of slave centers,
wherein
the functions of at least one slave center is coordinated by the master
center.


94. The system of claim 93, wherein said master center and each of said slave
centers
are assigned a priority level.


95. The system of claim 93, wherein said slave centers are assigned a priority
level.

96. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber
locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the system
comprising:
a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein more than
one
digital program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite
transponder;
a first cable headend, comprising:
a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received from
the
first satellite transponder; and
a distributer, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program
signals from the first cable headend to the subscriber locations;




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a terminal, located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent digital
program
signals are received from the first cable headend and at least one digital
program signal is
processed for subscriber viewing; and
wherein the digital program signals are comprised of both audio and video
signals, and more than one audio channel may exist for a video signal, wherein
the first
satellite dish at the cable headend receives the video and audio signals from
the first
satellite transponder; and
wherein a particular video signal may have multiple audio channels associated
therewith, and wherein the first cable headend further comprises:
a controller, wherein the controller selects one or more received audio
channels to
correspond to the particular video signal, wherein a listener receives at
least one selected
audio channel; and
wherein more than one language is represented in the multiple audio channels
associated with the particular video signals, and wherein the first cable
headend receives
information from subscriber locations, the controller at the first cable
headend further
comprising:
a means for selecting a particular audio channel in response to information
received from the subscriber location.


97. The system of claim 96, wherein the terminal further comprises:

a means for displaying menus of language options to the subscriber; and
an interface, wherein menu selections entered by the subscriber are received,
and
wherein the information received at the first cable headend from the
subscriber
location includes the menu selection made by the subscriber in response to the
menu
displaying language options using the interface.


98. An apparatus for providing digital program signals to subscriber locations
using
one or more satellites with transponders, comprising:
a center, wherein programs are received from external program sources,
comprising a processor to package more than one digital program signal into at
least one
group or category using a program line up, for transmitting the at least one
group or
category to a satellite transponder; and



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a first satellite dish, wherein digital program signals are received from the
satellite transponder;
a processor, operably connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the
received
digital program signals are processed to form a set of screened program
signals;

a transmitter, operably connected to the processor, to send programs from the
processor to subscriber locations wherein the screened digital program signals

comprising digital video are sent to subscriber locations.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, the center comprising:
a compressor, wherein digital program signals are compressed prior to being
transmitted to the satellite transponder.

100. The apparatus of claim 98,
wherein the processor generates a program control information signal,
wherein the program control information signal is transmitted to a satellite
transponder and received by the processor, which processes the program control

information signal.

101. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the digital program signals contain
more than
one digital audio/video program, the processor comprising:
means for separating individual digital audio/video programs from the received

digital program signals, received from the satellite transponder by the first
satellite dish.
102. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein a second satellite transponder is
used, the
apparatus further comprising:
a second satellite dish, operably connected to the processor, wherein the
second
satellite dish receives signals from the second satellite transponder.

103. The apparatus of claim 98, further comprising:

a signal processor, operably connected to the processor and the transmitter,
wherein video may be locally inserted,


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and wherein the transmitter sends the locally inserted video to the subscriber

locations.

104. The apparatus of claim 98, further comprising:
digital set top terminals, wherein digital set top terminals are used at
subscriber
locations, and wherein the digital set top terminals decompress the sent
digital program
signals.

105. The system according to claim 98, wherein said transmitter further
comprises a
network controller, whereby a two-way communication link between the terminal
and
the center is established.

106. The system according to claim 98, wherein said transmitter further
comprises a
network controller, whereby a two-way communication link between the terminal
and
the transmitter is established.

107. The system according to claim 98, wherein said transmitter further
comprises a
network controller, whereby a two-way communication link between the
transmitter and
the center is established.

108. The system according to claim 105, wherein said processor generates a
program
control information signal containing data on menus which is used by the
terminal.

109. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein said digital program
signals and
program control information signals are compatible with C band satellite
transmission
technology.

110. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein said digital program
signals and
program control information signals are compatible with Ku band satellite
transmission
technology.

111. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are


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compressed using an intraframe technique.

112. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using an interframe technique.

113. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a within-carrier technique.

114. The system according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a MPEG technique.

115. The system according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a MPEG2 technique.

116. The system according to claim 99, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a JPEG technique.

117. The system according to claim 99, wherein the terminal further comprises
a first
and a second decompressor, whereby said first decompressor decompresses the
received
digital signals and said second decompressor decompresses received program

information signals.

118. The apparatus according to claim 98, wherein the center further comprises
a
multiplexer for multiplexing the digital program signals.

119. The apparatus according to claim 98, wherein the cable headend further
transmits
at least one analog program signal and further wherein said analog program
signal is
received by the terminal and processed for subscriber viewing.

120. The system according to claim 98, wherein said external program sources
are
both analog and digital.


74
121. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber
locations using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein the digital
program signals
are sent to the subscriber locations through a satellite system, the system
comprising:
a center, wherein programs are received from external program sources,
remotely
located from the subscriber locations, comprising a processor to package more
than one
digital program signal into at least one group or category using a program
line up for
transmitting the at least one group or category to a first satellite
transponder;
a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber location, wherein the
digital
program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and
a first terminal, located at the first subscriber location, and connected to
the first
satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received and at least
one digital
program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.

122. The system of claim 121, wherein the digital program signals are received
by the
center from an external program source, and the center comprises:
a receiver which receives the digital program signals.

123. The system of claim 121, wherein the center is capable of converting
analog
signals received from said external program sources into digital signals
before sending
the digital program signals from the center to the subscriber locations, the
center further
comprising:
a receiver, wherein analog signals are received from said external program
sources; and
a converter, wherein the received analog signals are converted into digital
program signals.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the center further comprises:
a means for packaging the digital program signals, wherein the means for
packaging includes the processor.

125. The system of claim 121, wherein a data signal including program line-up
data is
packaged with the digital program signals.


75
126. The system of claim 121, wherein the center further comprises:
a compressor, wherein the digital program signals are compressed prior to
transmission to the first satellite transponder.

127. The system of claim 126, wherein the first terminal further comprises:
a decompressor, wherein the received digital program signals are decompressed
for display to the subscriber.

128. The system of claim 121, the system further comprising:
an uplink site, operably connected to the center, wherein the packaged digital
program signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder.

129. The system of claim 128, wherein there is more than one uplink site, and
at least
one uplink site is located remotely from the center.

130. The system of claim 121, wherein
said processor generates a program control information signal which is used by
the first terminal.

131. The system of claim 130, wherein the first terminal further comprises:
a means for generating menu displays using the program control information
signal.

132. The system of claim 130, wherein the program control information signal
includes data on program titles.

133. The system of claim 132, wherein the program control information signal
includes data on program start times.

134. The system of claim 130, wherein the program control information signal
includes data on menus.


76

135. The system of claim 130, wherein the program control information signal
includes data on program line-ups for more than one channel of programming.


136. The system of claim 121, wherein the system further comprises a second
satellite
transponder and a second terminal, the first and second transponders being
used to
transpond a first and second of said at least one group or category of digital
program
signals to the terminals,
said processor allocates the first and second groups of digital program
signals for
transmission to the first or second satellite transponder, and wherein each
satellite
transponder receives a different group of digital program signals.


137. The system of claim 136, wherein the center further comprises:

a first transmitter, wherein the first of said at least one group or category
of
digital program signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder,
and wherein the
first terminal receives digital program signals from the first satellite
transponder through
the first satellite dish; and
a second transmitter, wherein the second of said at least one group or
category of
digital program signals are transmitted to the second satellite transponder,
and the second
terminal receives digital program signals from the second satellite
transponder through
the second satellite dish.


138. The system of claim 137, wherein the second satellite dish receives
digital
program signals from the first satellite transponder.


139. The system of claim 121, wherein the center acts as a master center, the
system
further comprising:

a slave center, operably connected to the master center, wherein functions of
the
slave center are coordinated with the master center.


140. The system of claim 139, wherein the master center controls the functions
of the
slave center.



77

141. The system of claim 121, wherein the first terminal comprises a set top
terminal,
and wherein the set top terminal is operably connected to a television.


142. The system of claim 121, wherein the first terminal comprises an
electronic
insertable card.


143. The system of claim 121, wherein the first terminal further comprises:


a second processor, wherein the digital program signals are converted into
analog
program signals for display at the subscriber location.


144. The system of claim 121, wherein the digital program signals are
comprised of
digital audio signals, the first terminal comprising:

a means for receiving the digital audio signals; and
a means for outputting the digital audio signals to a listener.

145. The system of claim 144, wherein the system further comprises:
a second terminal, connected to the first terminal, and located remotely from
the
first terminal, wherein digital audio signals are received and output to the
listener.


146. The system of claim 145, wherein the second terminal outputs digital
audio
signals, and the first terminal concurrently outputs digital audio and video
signals for
subscriber viewing.


147. The system of claim 121, further comprising a remote control with a
plurality of
menu select buttons.


148. The system according to claim 121, wherein said center further comprises
a
network controller, whereby a two-way communication link between the terminal
and
the center is established.


149. The system according to claim 148, wherein said processor generates a
program


78

control information signal containing data on menus which is used by the
terminal.

150. The system according to claim 121, wherein said digital program signals
comprise digital video.


151. The system according to claim 130, wherein said digital program signals
and
program control information signals are compatible with C band satellite
transmission
technology.


152. The system according to claim 130, wherein said digital program signals
and
program control information signals are compatible with Ku band satellite
transmission
technology.


153. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using an intraframe technique.


154. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using an interframe technique.


155. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a within-carrier technique.


156. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a MPEG technique.


157. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a MPEG2 technique.


158. The system according to claim 126, wherein said digital program signals
are
compressed using a JPEG technique.


159. The system according to claim 126, wherein the terminal further comprises
a first


79

and a second decompressor, whereby said first decompressor decompresses the
received
digital signals and said second decompressor decompresses received program
information signals.


160. The system according to claim 121, wherein the center further comprises a

multiplexer for multiplexing the digital program signals.


161. The system according to claim 121, wherein the cable headend further
transmits
at least one analog program signal and further wherein said analog program
signal is
received by the terminal and processed for subscriber viewing.


162. The system according to claim 128, wherein said packaged digital program
signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder using a time
division multiplexing
(TDM) scheme.


163. The system according to claim 128, wherein said packaged digital program
signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder using a single
channel per carrier
(SCPC) scheme.


164. The system according to claim 139, further comprising a plurality of
slave
centers, wherein the function of at least one slave center is coordinated by
the master
center.


165. The system according to claim 164, wherein said master center and each of
said
slave centers are assigned a priority level.


166. The system according to claim 164, wherein said slave centers are
assigned a
priority level.


167. The system according to claim 121, wherein said external program sources
are
both analog and digital.



80

168. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center (202) to
subscriber
locations using a first satellite (206) with a first satellite transponder,
the system
comprising:

a center (202), remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein more
than
one digital program signal is processed for transmission to the first
satellite transponder,
wherein the digital program signals are packaged and provided with a program
control
information signal before said transmission;

a first cable headend (208) comprising:


a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received from
the first satellite transponder; and means (214), connected to the first
satellite
dish, for sending the digital program signals from the first cable headend
(208) to
the subscriber locations, and

a first terminal (220), located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent
digital
program signals are received from the first cable headend (208) and at least
one digital
program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.


169. The system of claim 168, wherein the center (202) packages at least one
digital
program signal for transmission to the first cable headend (208), and wherein
the first
cable headend (208) further comprises a processor (209), connected to the
first satellite
dish and the sending means (214), wherein the received package of digital
program
signals are screened and at least one digital program signal is separated from
the received
package of digital program signals.


170. The system of claim 168 or claim 169, wherein the first cable headend
(208)
comprises:

a processor (209), operably connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the

received digital program signals are processed to form a set of screened
digital program
signals, and wherein the screened digital program signals are a subset of the
received
digital program signals; and means (214), operably connected to the processor
(209), for
sending the subset of screened digital program signals from the processor
(209) to
subscriber locations.



81

171. The system of claim 169 or claim 170, wherein the first terminal (220)
further
comprises an input port (652), wherein the screened digital program signals
are received
by the first terminal (220).


172. The system of any one of claims 169 to 171, wherein local program signals
are
used at the first cable headend (208), the first cable headend (208) further
comprising a
signal processor (209), operably connected to the first satellite dish and the
sending
means (214), wherein local program signals may be inserted into the packaged
digital
program signals.


173. The system of any one of claims 168 to 172, wherein the center (202)
further
comprises a computer, wherein the computer processor (209) to control
insertion of local
program signals at the first cable headend (208).


174. The system of claim 173, wherein a port at the first terminal (220)
receives the
screened digital program signals and the local program signals inserted by the
signal
processor (209).


175. The system of any one of claims 168 to 174, wherein the system further
comprises a second satellite transponder and a second cable headend, the first
and second
transponders being used to transpond a first and second group of digital
program signals
to the cable headends, the center (202) further comprising a processor (209),
wherein the
first and second groups of digital program signals are allocated for
transmission to the
first or second satellite transponder, and wherein each satellite transponder
receives a
different group of digital program signals.


176. The system of claim 175, wherein the center (202) further comprises:

a first transmitter, wherein the first group of digital program signals are
transmitted to the first satellite transponder, and wherein the first cable
headend (208)
receives digital program signals from the first satellite transponder; and a
second
transmitter, wherein the second group of digital program signals are
transmitted to the


82

second satellite transponder, and the second cable headend receives digital
program
signals from the second satellite transponder.


177. The system of any one of claims 168 to 176, wherein the digital program
signals
are comprised of both audio and video signals, and more than one audio channel
may
exist for a video signal, wherein the first satellite dish at the first cable
headend (208)
receives the video and audio signals from the first satellite transponder, and
wherein a
particular video signal may have multiple audio channels associated therewith,
the first
cable headend (208) further comprising a controller, wherein the controller
selects one or
more received audio channels to correspond to the particular video signal,
wherein a
listener receives at least one selected audio channel.


178. The system of claim 177, wherein more than one language is represented in
the
multiple audio channels associated with the particular video signal, and
wherein the first
cable headend (208) receives information from subscriber locations, the
controller at the
first cable headend (208) further comprising means for selecting a particular
audio

channel in response to information received from the subscriber location.


179. The system of claim 178, wherein the first terminal (220) further
comprises:

means (640) for displaying menus of language options to the subscriber; and an

interface (626), wherein menu selections entered by the subscriber are
received, and
wherein the information received at the first cable headend (208) from the
subscriber
location includes the menu selection made by the subscriber in response to the
menu
displaying language options using the interface (626).


180. The system of any one of claims 168 to 179, wherein a second satellite is
used,
the first cable headend (208) further comprising a second satellite dish,
wherein the
second satellite dish receives digital program signals from a second satellite
transponder.

181. The system of any one of claims 168 to 180, wherein a first and second
groups of
terminals are serviced by the first cable headend (208), the first group of
terminals
receiving digital program signals from the first satellite transponder through
the first


83

satellite dish, and the second group of terminals receiving digital program
signals from a
second satellite transponder through a second satellite dish, and wherein at
least one of
the digital program signals received from the first satellite transponder is
different from
the digital program signals received from the second satellite transponder.


182. The system of any one of claims 169 to 181, wherein the digital program
signals
contain more than one digital audio/video program, the processor (209) in the
first cable
headend (208) comprising means for separating individual digital audio/video
programs
from the digital program signals received from the first satellite transponder
by the first
satellite dish.


183. A system for delivering digital program signals from a center (202) to
subscriber
locations using a satellite (206) with satellite transponders, wherein the
digital program
signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a satellite system, the
system
comprising:

a center (202), remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein more
than
one digital program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite
transponder,
wherein the digital program signals are packaged and provided with a program
control
information signal before said transmission;
a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber location, wherein the
digital
program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and
a first terminal (220), located at the first subscriber location, and
connected to the
first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received and at
least one
digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.


184. The system of claim 183, wherein the system further comprises a second
satellite
transponder and a second terminal, the first and second transponders being
used to
transpond a first and second group of digital program signals to the
terminals, the center
(202) further comprising a processor (209), wherein the first and second
groups of digital
program signals are allocated for transmission to the first or second
satellite transponder,
and wherein each satellite transponder receives a different group of digital
program
signals.



84

185. The system of claim 184, wherein the center (202) further comprises:

a first transmitter, wherein the first group of digital program signals are
transmitted to the first satellite transponder, and wherein the first terminal
(220) receives
digital program signals from the first satellite transponder through the first
satellite dish;
and
a second transmitter, wherein the second group of digital program signals are
transmitted to the second satellite transponder, and the second terminal
receives digital
program signals from the second satellite transponder through the second
satellite dish.

186. The system of any one of claims 168 to 185, wherein the center (202)
further
comprises a processor (209), wherein a program control information signal is
generated,
which is used by the first terminal (220).


187. The system of any one of claims 168 to 186, wherein a program control
information signal is packaged with the digital program signals.


188. The system of claim 186 or claim 187, wherein the first terminal (220)
further
comprises means for generating menu displays using the program control
information
signal.


189. The system of any one of claims 186 to 188, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program titles.


190. The system of any one of claims 186 to 189, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program start times.


191. The system of any one of claims 186 to 190, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on menus.


192. The system of any one of claims 186 to 191, wherein the program control
information signal includes data on program line-ups for more than one channel
of
programming.



85

193. The system of any one of claims 168 to 192, wherein the center (202)
further
comprises a compressor, wherein the digital program signals are compressed
prior to
transmission to the first satellite transponder.


194. The system of any one of claims 168 to 193, wherein the first terminal
(220)
includes a decompressor (618), wherein the received digital program signals
are
decompressed for display to the subscriber.


195. The apparatus of any one of claims 168 to 194, wherein the first terminal
(220)
comprises a digital set top terminal, wherein the digital set top terminal is
used at the
subscriber location, and wherein the digital set top terminal decompresses the
sent digital
program signals.


196. The system of any one of claims 168 to 195, wherein the first terminal
(220)
comprises a set top terminal, and wherein the set top terminal is operably
connected to a
television (222).


197. The system of any one of claims 168 to 196, wherein the first terminal
(220)
comprises an electronic insertable card (700).


198. The system of any one of claims 168 to 197, wherein the first terminal
(220)
further comprises a processor (602), wherein the digital program signals are
converted
into analog program signals for display at the subscriber location


199. The system of any one of claims 168 to 198, wherein the digital program
signals
are comprised of digital audio signals, the first terminal (220) comprising:

means (603) for receiving the digital audio signals; and
means (612) for outputting the digital audio signals to a listener.



86
200. The system of claim 199, wherein the system further comprises a third
terminal,
connected to the first terminal (220), and located remotely from the first
terminal (220),
wherein the digital audio signals are received and output to the listener.

201. The system of claim 200, wherein the third terminal outputs digital audio
signals,
and the first terminal (220) concurrently outputs digital audio and video
signals for
subscriber viewing.

202. The system of any one of claims 168 to 201, wherein the center (202)
comprises
a receiver which receives the digital program signals from an external program
source.
203. The system of any one of claims 168 to 202, wherein the center (202) is
capable
of converting analog signals received from an external program source into
digital
signals before sending the digital program signals from the center (202) to
the subscriber
locations, the center (202) further comprising:
a receiver, wherein analog signals are received from external program sources;
and
a converter, wherein the received analog signals are converted into digital
program signals.

204. The system of any one of claims 168 to 203, wherein the center (202)
further
comprises a processor (209), wherein the digital program signals are packaged
for
transmission to the first satellite transponder, and wherein the packages
include at least
one digital program signal.

205. The system of any of claims 168 to 204, wherein the center (202) acts as
a master
center, the system further comprising a slave center, operably connected to
the master
center, wherein functions of the slave center are coordinated with the master
center.

206. The system of claim 205, wherein the master center controls the functions
of the
slave center.


87
207. The system of any one of claims 168 to 206, wherein a second satellite
dish
receives digital program signals from the first satellite transponder.

208. The system of any one of claims 168 to 207, the system further comprising
an
uplink site, operably connected to the center (202), wherein the processed
digital
program signals are transmitted to the first satellite transponder

209. The system of claim 208, wherein there is more than one uplink site, and
at least
one uplink site is located remotely from the center (202).

210. The system of any one of claims 168 to 209, further comprising a remote
control
(900) with a plurality of menu select buttons.

Description

CA 02444289 2003-10-16

TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of Canadian patent application serial
number 2,151,462 which is the Canadian National Phase of PCT
International application number PCT/US93/11706 fliled 2 December
1993 (02.12.93).

BACKGROUND OF TIIE INVENTION

The invention relates to television entertainment
systems for providing television programming to consumer
homes. More particularly, the invention relates to user


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
i /r-' .
w0 94/I42s3 PC"I'tS93. I I'Oo

2
friendly system for providing consumers with television
progranxmi.ng choices.
Advances in television entertainment have been
primarily driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939,
advances on Vladzn,ir Zworykin's picture tube provided the
stimulus for NBC to begin its first regular broadcasts. In
1975, advances in sateilite technology provided consumers
with increased programrning to homes.
Many of these technology breakthroughs have produced
inconvenient systems for consumers. One example is the
ubiquitous three remote control home, having a separate and
unique remote control for the '1'V, cable box and VCR. More
recently. technology has provided cable users i,n certain parts
of the country wfth 100 channels of programming. This
increased program capacity is beyond the ability of many
consumers to use effectively. No method of asanagtng the
program choices has been provided to consumers.
Consumers are demanding that future advances in
television entertainment, particularly programs and prograzn.
choices, be presented to the consumer in a user friendly
manner. Consumer preferences, instead of technological
breakt2aroughs, will drive the television entertainment
market for at least the next 20 years. As computer vendors
have experienced a switch from markering new technology in
computer hardware to marketing better useability. interfaces
and service, the television ente ent industry will also
experience a switch from new technology driving the market
to consumer useability driving the market.
Consumers want products incorporating new
technology that are useful. and will no longer purchase new
technology for the sake of novelty or status. Technological
advances in sophisticated hardware are beginning to surpass


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

(oo-,
WO 94132E3 P'CTA:S9111706
3
the capability of the average consumer to use the new
technology. Careful engineering must be done to make
entertainment products incorporating new technology useful
and desired by consumers.
In order for new television entertainment products to
be successful, the products must satisfy consumer demands.
TV consumers wish to go from limited viewing choices to a
variety of choices, from no control of programming to
complete control. Consumers wish to advance from
cumbersome and inconvenient television to easy and
convenient television and keep costs down. Consumers do
not wish to pay for one hundred channels when due to lack of
programming information, they seldom. if ever. watch
programming on saany of these channels.
The concepts of interactive television, high definition
television and 300 channel cable systems in consumer homes
wtU not seil if they are not packaged. delivered and presented
in a useable fashion to consumers. The problem is that N
program.ming is not being presented to consumers in a user
friendly manner.
Consumers are already being bombarded with
programming options, numerous 'free" cable channels.
subscription cable channels and pay-per-view choices. Any
further inereaae In 'fV entertainment choiees, without a user
friendly presentation and approach. wiU likely bewiider
viewers with a mind-numbing array of cholm.
What is needed is an economical system which can
present television programs through a user friendly interface
which allows the consumer to easily select from among the
many program choices.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
.,'...

WO 941142$3 PC7:tS93,1I786
4
What is needed is a system capable of handling
hundreds of programs in different formats. be expandable for
future types of programming and be inexpensive.
What is need is a system for organizing prog~ramining to
be offered to viewers.
What is needed is a television program delivery system
that can be operated in a distributive fashion and controUed
from one or more national centers.
What is needed is a television program delivery system
that operates in the digital audio/video environment.
What is needed is a system capable of packaging
hundreds of television programs for delivery to subscribers.
What is needed is a system that analyzes data on
programs watched by viewers.
W"Izat is needed is a system capable of monitoring
account and billing inforrnation for hundreds of program
offerings.
What is needed is a system that assists the consumer
with program selection.
What is needed is a system that provides subscribers
with menu-driven access to hundreds of television programs.
What is needed is a system that accommodates digital
decompression and digital signaling capabilities.
The present invention is addressed to fulfi2l these
needs.

$ RY OF WimT10N
'This invention is a digital television program delivery
system. 5pecifically. the present invention is a digital
television program delivery system that provides subscribers
with menu-driven access to an expanded television program
package.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

WO 941242A3 PC'r t. S931117[
The invention makes use of developments in digital
compression sigr.aiing that allows much greater throughput of
television program signals over existing transmission media.
These developments allow subscribers to use the present
invention to exploit a four-fold or more increase in current
program delivery capability. In particular, the present
invention provides subscribers with a menu-driven access
scheme to an expanded television program Iineup, enabling
subscribers to access and view selected programs using a user
friendly interface.
'I'his interface includes a remote control and a series of
menus that may be sequenced by the subscriber using simple
alpha, numeric and iconic character access keys. or by
moving a cursor or highlight bar on the television screen. In
this way. subscribers can advance from one menu to the next
with the press of a single button. Different television
programs. grouped by category, may be selected and accessed
from each menu. As a resuit. the present invention provides
subscribers with a convenient method of choosing a program
for viewing from hundreds of program offerings.
The present invention uses several basic system
components. naiaely: (i) at least one operations center. where
the television programs are packaged and control information
is created and then assembled in the form of digital data. (ii)
a digital compression system. where the television
programming signa3s and digitai data may be compressed and
processed for digital transmission over satellite to a cable
headend for subsequent distribution over a cable network.
and (iii) a set of inahome decompressors or set top te=minals.
which provide subscribers with digltai decompression. digital
signaling and menu generatfon capabilities. Each of these


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

WO 941tA2E3 PC'T.'t:S93/11)~..
6
basic system components plays an important role in the
system's overall operation.
The operations center includes a computer assisted
packaging systean (CAP), which makes use of the necessary
hardware and software to control and transmtt programming
signals over a television delivery system. The CAP creates the
program lineup or packaging of programs and the packaging
of menu and control information for later transmission and
use at the cable headend. Transmission of control 10 information enables the
operations center to change

allocation of programs across physical channels. update menu
information. reprogram menu formats and menu flow, and
change or augment a packaged program signal sent to a
particular region of the country.
Once the programming signals have been packaged.
compressed and processed for digital transmission, these
signals are sent along with the control informauon to the
cable headend. F-ach cable headend typically includes signal
processing hardware and software capable of receiving.
repac.kaging/combining and routing program signals to the
subscriber homes.
Each cable headend in the television delivery system
also includes a network controUer that manages the
configuration of the set top terminals and processes signals
received from the set top tesminals. gathering programs
watched data. The network controller modifies the control
information to accommodate changes and additions in
programming and advertisements, working with the signal
processing hardware and software to distribute programs to
the subscribers. The network controller also monitors all
data received from the set top terminals in the cable
network. The network controller uses data received to target


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

7
advertisements to particular subscribers as well as to maintain
account and billing information.

From the cable headend, the programming signals and
program control information are transmitted to the subscriber
locations. Each subscriber is equipped with a set top terminal having

various digital decompression, menu generation, upstream data
transmissions, remote reprogramming and other advanced
functional capabilities, or some combination thereof. With such
capabilities, the set top terminal supports, for example, interactive

communications with the cable headend. The set top terminal
includes an interface that allows a subscriber to select and
decompress a digitally compressed program signal for display on a
television through sequencing menus on the television screen. The
menus may be generated from menu templates stored in each set top

terminal, with each selectable menu option corresponding to either
another menu or a particular television program.

Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides
a system for delivering digital program signals from a center to
subscriber locations using a satellite with a first satellite transponder,

the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the
subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is
processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder; a first
cable headend, comprising: a first satellite dish, wherein the digital
program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and

a means, connected to the rirst satellite dish, for sending the digital
program signals from the first cable headend to the subscriber


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

7a
locations; and a first terminal, located at each subscriber location,
wherein the sent digital program signals are received from the first
cable headend and at least one digital program signal is processed for
subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for
delivering digital program signals from a center to subscriber
locations using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein the
digital program signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a
satellite system, the system comprising: a center, remotely located

from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital
program signal is processed for transmission to a first satellite
transponder; a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber
location, wherein the digital program signals are received from the
first satellite transponder; and a first terminal, located at the first

subscriber location, and connected to the first satellite dish, wherein
the digital program signals are received and at least one digital
program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-
driven cable television selection system offering a plurality of
television programs for selection by a subscriber, using a program

control information signal carrying programming data on packaging
of the plurality of the television programs, also using computer
program instructions at each of a plurality of subscriber locations to
present options on a menu displayed on a television and to compile
programs watched data that is subsequently gathered at each cable
headend, the system comprising: an operations center for packaging
the plurality of television programs and for generating the program


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

7b
control information signal, wherein the packaged plurality of
television programs and the program control information signal are
transmitted to each cable headend for distribution to the plurality of
subscriber locations; means, located at each cable headend, for

distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber
locations; means, connected to the distributing means, for monitoring
and controlling each set top terminal at each of the plurality of
subscriber locations; means, located at the plurality of subscriber

locations, for receiving the packaged plurality of television programs
and the program control information signal from each cable
headend; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing
computer program instructions; a means, connected to the storing
means, for sequencing the stored computer program instructions to

generate and display the menus, wherein the sequencing means uses
the programming data carried by the program control information
signal; a subscriber interface for choosing one of the options on the
menus, wherein the chosen option effects the sequencing of the stored
computer program instructions by the sequencing means; means for

compiling the programs watched data using the chosen options that
correspond to the selecting of one of the packaged plurality of
television programs offered; means, at each of the subscriber
locations, for reporting the compiled programs watched data to each
cable headend; and means, located at each cable headend and

connected to the monitoring and controlling means, for gathering the
compiled programs watched data reported from each of the plurality
of subscriber locations.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
r"~
?c

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method
for offering a plurality of television programs for selection by a
subscriber, using a program control information signal carrying
programming data on packaging of the plurality of the television

programs, also using computer program instructions at each of a
plurality of subscriber locations to present options on a menu
displayed on a television and to compile programs watched data that
is subsequently gathered at each cable headend, the method
comprising the steps of: packaging the plurality of television

programs; generating the program control information signal,
wherein the packaged plurality of television programs and the
program control information signal are transmitted to each cable
headend for distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations;
distributing the packaged plurality of television programs and the

program control information signal to the plurality of subscriber
locations; monitoring and controlling each set top terminal at each
of the plurality of subscriber locations; receiving the packaged
plurality of television programs and the program control information
signal from each cable headend; storing computer program

instructions; sequencing the stored computer program instructions to
generate and display the menus, wherein the sequencing uses the
programming data carried by the program control information
signal; choosing one of the options on the menus, wherein the chosen
option effects the sequencing of the stored computer program

instructions by the sequencing step; compiling the programs watched
data using the chosen options that correspond to the selecting of one
of the packaged plurality of television programs offered; reporting


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

7d
the compiled programs watched data to each cable headend; and
gathering the compiled programs watched data reported from each of the
plurality of subscriber locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a menu-driven
television program selection system offering a plurality of television
programs for independent selection by a plurality of different subscribers,
the system using a program control information signal carrying
programming data on television program lineups of the plurality of the
television programs, the system also using computer program instructions
stored at each of the plurality of subscriber locaitions to present options on
a menu displayed on a television and to receive upstream data signals
from each of the subscriber locations at a cable headend, the system
comprising: an operations center for generating the program control
information signal and a plurality of television program lineups, wherein
a delivery means delivers the plurality of television program lineups and
the program control information signal to at least one cable headend for
distribution to the plurality of subscriber locations: at least one of the
cable headends having a network controller for receiving and processing
the plurality of television program lineups and the program control
information signal and for receiving the upstream data signals from the
plurality of subscriber locations; the delivery means including means for
further distributing at least one of' the plurality of television program
lineups and the program control information signal from the cable
headend to each of the plurality of subscriber locations; and each of the
plurality of subscriber locations having a set top terminal connected to
the delivery means for receiving at least one of the plurality of the
television program lineups and the program control information signal
from the delivery means, wherein each set top terminal comprises: a
means for selecting at least one television program from a plurality of
television programs in the received television program lineup from the
displayed menus using the program control information signal and the
computer program instructions; a means for generating the upstream


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

7e
data signals using the computer program instructions; and a means for
transmitting the upstream data signals to the network controller at the
cable headend.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a digitally
compressed program delivery system to provide subscribers with menu
selection of a plurality of television programs using a plurality of analog
program signals and a program control information signal transmitted to
at least one cable headend for further transmission, each cable headend
transmitting to each subscriber a control information stream and
programming signals carrying the plurality of the television programs,
each of the menus generated and displayed using the control information
stream and stored menu templates at each subscriber location, the system
comprising: an operations center including: means for digitally
compressing the plurality of analog program signals to produce digitally
compressed signals; and means for creating a plurality of television
program lineups with the digitally compressed signals of the programs in
the lineups and program control information signal, wherein the program
control information signal includes data on the television program lineups
and control information for use at the subscriber location; delivery means
for transmitting the plurality of television program lineups and the
program control information signal to at least one of the cable headends
for processing; at least one of the cable headends having means for
processing the plurality of television program lineups and the program
control information signal to produce the control information stream and
the programming signals; the delivery means further includes means for
distributing the control information stream and the programming signals
to each subscriber location; means for generating menus using the control
information stream and stored menu templates; and subscriber interface
means for selection of any one of the plurality of television programs
using one or more of the generated and displayed menus.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for
selecting a specific television program from a plurality of television


CA 02444289 2005-01-20

7f
programs to be displayed on a television at a subscriber location, using a
display of menu options on the television, the method comprising the steps
of: creating a plurality of television program lineups; generating
programming data which relates to specific television programs in the
television program lineups; transmitting the programming data and the
television program lineups to the subscriber location; receiving the
programming data and the television program lineups at the subscriber
location; generating at least one menu option related to at least one
specific television program in the received television program lineups
using the received programming data; and displaying one or more of the
generated menu options on the television; selecting a displayed menu
option; displaying a specific television program associated with the menu
option selected from the received television programs.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for
delivering digital program signals from a center to subscriber locations
using a satellite with a first satellite transponder, the system comprising:
a center, remotely located from the subscriber locations, wherein
programs are received from external program sources, the center
comprising a processor package more than one digital program signal
into at least one group or category for transmission of the at least one
group or category to a first satellite transponder; a first cable headend,
comprising: a first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are
received from the first satellite transponder; and a means, connected to
the first satellite dish, for sending the digital program signals from the
first cable headend to the subscriber locations; and a first terminal,
located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent digital program
signals are received from the first cable headend and at least one digital
program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a system for
delivering digital program signals from a center to subscriber locations
using a satellite with satellite transponders, wherein the digital program
signals are sent to the subscriber locations through a satellite system, the
system comprising: a center, remotely located from the subscriber
locations, wherein programs are received from external program sources,
the center comprising a processor to package more than one digital
program signal into at least one group or category for transmission of the


CA 02444289 2006-01-13

7g
at least one group or category to a first satellite transponder; a first
satellite dish, located
at a first subscriber location, wherein the digital program signals are
received from the
first satellite transponder; and a first terminal, located at the first
subscriber location, and
connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are
received and
at least one digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center to subscriber locations using a satellite with a
first satellite
transponder, the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the
subscriber
locations, wherein programs are received from external program sources,
comprising a
processor to package more than one digital program signal into at least one
group or
category using a program line up for transmitting the at least one group or
category to a
first satellite transponder; a first cable headend, comprising: a first
satellite dish, wherein
the digital program signals are received from the first satellite transponder;
and a
distributer, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program signals
comprising digital video from the first cable headend to the subscriber
locations; and a
terminal, located at each subscriber location, wherein the sent digital
program signals are
received from the first cable headend and at least one digital program signal
is processed
for subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center to subscriber locations using a satellite with a
first satellite
transponder, the system comprising: a center comprising a system clock,
remotely
located from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program
signal is
processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder, and wherein the
center acts as a
master center; a first cable headend, comprising: a first satellite dish,
wherein the digital
program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and a
distributer,
connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital program signals
from the first
cable headend to the subscriber locations; a terminal, located at each
subscriber location,
wherein the sent digital program signals are received from the first cable
headend and at
least one digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing; and a
slave center,
operably connected to the master center, wherein functions of the slave center
are

coordinated with the master center by said system clock to synchronize
simultaneous
transmissions from multiple slave operation centers.


CA 02444289 2006-01-13

7h
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center to subscriber locations using a satellite with a
first satellite
transponder, the system comprising: a center, remotely located from the
subscriber
locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is processed for
transmission to
a first satellite transponder; a first cable headend, comprising: a first
satellite dish,
wherein the digital program signals are received from the first satellite
transponder; and a
distributer, connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital
program signals
from the first cable headend to the subscriber locations; a terminal, located
at each
subscriber location, wherein the sent digital program signals are received
from the first
cable headend and at least one digital program signal is processed for
subscriber
viewing; and wherein the digital program signals are comprised of both audio
and video
signals, and more than one audio channel may exist for a video signal, wherein
the first
satellite dish at the cable headend receives the video and audio signals from
the first
satellite transponder; and wherein a particular video signal may have multiple
audio
channels associated therewith, and wherein the first cable headend further
comprises: a
controller, wherein the controller selects one or more received audio channels
to
correspond to the particular video signal, wherein a listener receives at
least one selected
audio channel; and wherein more than one language is represented in the
multiple audio
channels associated with the particular video signals, and wherein the first
cable headend
receives information from subscriber locations, the controller at the first
cable headend
further comprising: a means for selecting a particular audio channel in
response to
information received from the subscriber location.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing
digital program signals to subscriber locations using one or more satellites
with
transponders, comprising: a center, wherein programs are received from
external
program sources, comprising a processor to package more than one digital
program
signal into at least one group or category using a program line up, for
transmitting the at
least one group or category to a satellite transponder; and a first satellite
dish, wherein
digital program signals are received from the satellite transponder; a
processor, operably
connected to the first satellite dish, wherein the received digital program
signals are
processed to form a set of screened program signals; a transmitter, operably
connected to
the processor, to send programs from the processor to subscriber locations
wherein the


CA 02444289 2006-01-13

7i
screened digital program signals comprising digital video are sent to
subscriber
locations.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center to subscriber locations using a satellite with
satellite
transponders, wherein the digital program signals are sent to the subscriber
locations
through a satellite system, the system comprising: a center, wherein programs
are
received from external program sources, remotely located from the subscriber
locations,
comprising a processor to package more than one digital program signal into at
least one
group or category using a program line up for transmitting the at least one
group or
category to a first satellite transponder; a first satellite dish, located at
a first subscriber
location, wherein the digital program signals are received from the first
satellite
transponder; and a first terminal, located at the first subscriber location,
and connected to
the first satellite dish, wherein the digital program signals are received and
at least one
digital program signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center (202) to subscriber locations using a first
satellite (206)
with a first satellite transponder, the system comprising: a center (202),
remotely located
from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program signal is
processed
for transmission to the first satellite transponder, wherein the digital
program signals are
packaged and provided with a program control information signal before said
transmission; a first cable headend (208) comprising: a first satellite dish,
wherein the
digital program signals are received from the first satellite transponder; and
means (214),
connected to the first satellite dish, for sending the digital program signals
from the first
cable headend (208) to the subscriber locations, and a first terminal (220),
located at each
subscriber location, wherein the sent digital program signals are received
from the first
cable headend (208) and at least one digital program signal is processed for
subscriber
viewing.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for delivering
digital
program signals from a center (202) to subscriber locations using a satellite
(206) with
satellite transponders, wherein the digital program signals are sent to the
subscriber

locations through a satellite system, the system comprising: a center (202),
remotely
located from the subscriber locations, wherein more than one digital program
signal is


CA 02444289 2006-01-13

7i
processed for transmission to a first satellite transponder, wherein the
digital program
signals are packaged and provided with a program control information signal
before said
transmission; a first satellite dish, located at a first subscriber location,
wherein the
digital program signals are received fromthe first satellite transponder; and
a first
terminal (220), located at the first subscriber location, and connected to the
first satellite
dish, wherein the digital program signals are received and at least one
digital program
signal is processed for subscriber viewing.
It is an object of the invention to provide a user friendly interface for
subscribers
to access television programs.
It is an object of this invention to provide an economical system which can
present television programs through a user friendly interface which allows the
consumer
to easily select from among the many program choices.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system capable of handling
hundreds
of programs in different formats, be expandable for future types of
programming and be
inexpensive.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system for organizing
programming
to be offered to viewers.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
i t= =
Vt'o 94114'33 FE:T'C:S93-117uo

~
It is an object of this invention to provide a television
program delivery system that can be operated in a distributive
fashion and controlled from one or more national centers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a television
program delivery system that operates in the digital
audiol'video environment.
It is an object of this inventton to provide a system
capable of packaging hundreds of television programs for
delivery to subscribers.
it is an object of this Invention to provide a system that
analyzes data on programs watched by viewers.
it is an object of this invention to provide a system
capable of monitoring account and billing inforffiation for
hundreds of program offerings.
I5 It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
assists the consumer with program selection.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
provides subscribers with menu-driven access to hundreds of
television programs.
It is an object of this invention to provide a system that
accommodates digital decompression and digital signaling
capabilities.
These and other objects and advantages of the
invvention wila become obvious to those skilled in the art upon
review of the following description, the attached drawings
and appended claims.

DEB~Ri'+TR N Dg. D~WIIIIC~
Figure 1 is a diagrani of thr prlmary- components of the
television delivery system.
Figure 2 is an overview of the television dellvery systean
operations.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

W M1 4; g3 PC'T l: 593; t l 7Gv
9
Figure 3 is a schemauc of the operation of the primary
components of the system.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of the hardwa.re
components of the set top terminal.
Figure 5a is a perspective front view of a set top
terminal.
Figure 5b is a perspective rear view of a set top
terminal.
Figure 6 is a schematic of a Turbo card upgrade for a
set top tenninal.
Figure 7a is a drawing of a frame format for a program
control information signal.
Figure 7b is a drawing of a frame format for a polling
response from the set top terminal.
Figure 8 is a drawing of the basic menus used in the
present invention. Including ten major menus represented by
icons.
Figure 9a is a drawing of storage for on-screen. menu
templates and other graphics Sles stored in graphics memory
of the set top terminal.
Figure 9b is a drawing showing the hierarchical storage
of text in memory for the set top terminal.
Figure 9c is a drawing of a flow chart showing the steps
required for the microprocessor to retrieve. combine and
display a menu.

12~ _j2 DAWYtIP TYON OP' TM PR>EFERItLn
1.M330DEMZNT
A. Television ProQram Dellverrt Symtem Descrigtion
1. Introductian
Figure 1 shows the present invention as an expanded
cable television program delivery system 200 that


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

e(_-,
w0 9411 sM PCTt593, 111..4
dramatically increases programming capacity using
compressed transmission of television program signals.
Developments in digital bandwideki compression, technology
now allow much greater throughput of television program
5 signals over wsting or slightly modified transmission media.
The program delivery system 200 shown provides subscribers
with a user friendly interface to operate and exploit a six-fold
or more Increase in current program delivery capability.
Subscribers are able to access an expanded television
10 program package and view selected programs through a
menu-driven access scheme that allows each subscriber to
select individual programs by sequencing a series of menus.
The menus are sequenced by the subscriber using simple
alpha-numeric and iconic character access or moving a cursor
or highlight bar on the 'IV screen to access desired programs
by simply pressing a single button. rather than recalling from
memory and pressing the actual two or more digit numeric
number assigned to a selection. Thus. with the press of a
single button. the subscriber can advance from one menu to
the next. In this fashion, the subscriber can sequence the
menus and select a program from any given menu. The
programs are grouped by category so that similar program
offerings are found on the same menu.
2. 1Viikjo* S=st Com=enta
In its most basic form, the syatem uses a program
delivery system 200 in conjunction with a conventional
concatenated cable television system 210. The program
delivery system 200 generally includes (i} at least one
operations center 202. where program packaging and control
information are created and then assembled in the form of
digital data. (li) a digital compression system, where the
digital data is compressed. coaxbined multiplexed. encoded.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
= e 1'~'

w 0 94, t a?.S3 pC't L' 593; i 2 7o6
11
and mapped into digital signals for satellite transmission to
the cable headend 208, and (iti) a set of in-home
decompressors. The program delivery system 200 transports
the digital signals to the cable headend 208 where the signals
are transmitted through a concatenated cable television
system 210. Within the cable headend 208, the received
signals may be decoded, demultiplexed. managed by a local
central distribution and switching ffiechanism, combined and
then transmitted to the set top terminal 220 located in each
subscriber's home over the cable system 210. Although
concatenated cable systems 210 are the most prevalent
transmission media to the home, telephone lines, cellular
networks. Sberoptics. Personal Communication Networks and
similar technotogy for transmitting to the home can be used
interchangeably with thts program delivery system 200.
The delivery system 200 has a reception region 207
with an in=home decompression capability. This capabitity is
performed by a decompressor housed within a set top
terminal 220 in each subscriber's home. The decompressor
remains transparent from the subscriber's point of view and
allows any of the eompressed signals to be demultiplexed and
individually extracted from the composite data stream and
then individually decompressed upon selection by the
subscriber. The decompressed video signals are converted
into analog signals for television display. Such analog signals
include NTSC formatted signals for use by a standard
television. Control signals are likewise extracted and
decompressed and then either executed immediately or
placed in local storage such as a RAM. Multiple sets of
decompression hardware may be used to decompress video
and control signals. The set top terminal 220 may then
overlay or combine different signals to form the desired


CA 02444289 2003-10-16
1/_ _ .
WO U 14?.a3 FCT.tS93:1 Y7,

12
display on the subscriber's television. Graphics on video or
picture-on-picture are examples of such a display.
Although a single digital compression standard (e.g..
MPEG) may be used for both the program delivery system
200 and the concatenated cable system 210, 'the compression
technique used may differ between the two systems. When
the compression standards differ between the two media, the
signals received by the cable headend 208 must be
decompressed before transmission from the headend 208 to
the set top terminals 220. Subsequently. the cable headend
208 must recompress and transmit the signals to the set top
terminal 220, which would then decompress the signals
using a specific decompression algorithm.
The video signals and program control signals received
by the set top terasinal 220 correspond to specific television
programs and menu selections that each subscriber may
access through a subscriber interface. The subscriber
interface is a device with buttons located on the set top
terminal 220 or on a portable remote control 900. In the
preferred system erabodimenL, the subscriber interface is a
combined alpha-character, numeric and iconic remote
control device 900, which provides direct or menu-driven
program access. The preferred subscriber interface also
contains cursor movement and go buttons as weIl as alpha.
numeric arad iconic buttons. '7 his subscriber interface and
menu arrangement enables the subscriber to sequence
through menus by choosing from among several menu options
that are displayed on the television screen. In addiuon. a
user may bypass several menu screens and immediately
choose a program by selecting the appropriate alpha-
character< numeric or iconic combinations on the subscriber
interface. In the preferred embodiment. the set top terminal


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

w'O !Q14Zb3 PCTtS93111
13
220 generates the menus ghat are displayed on the television
by creating arrays of particular menu templates, and the set
top terrninal 220 displays a specific menu or submenu option
for each available video signal.
3. ra:Uons Ce_ nter and Digital CornDr esQin
SXX2Lcm
The operations center 202 performs two primary
services, packaging television programs and generating the
program control information si . At the operations center
202. teievision programs are received from external program
sources in both analog and digital form. Figure 2 shows an
embodiment of the operations center receivsng signals from
various external sources 212. F acampies of the external
program sources are sporting events. children's programs.
specialty channels, news or any other program source that
can provide audio or visual signals. Once the programs are
received from the externaI program sources, the operations
center 202 digitizes (and preferably compresses) any
program signals received in analog form. The operations
center 202 may also maintain an internal storage of programs.
The iraternally stored programs may be in analog or digital
form and stored on permanent or volatile memory sources.
including magnettc tape or RAM. Subsequent to receiving
progr g, the operations center 202 packages the
programs into the ups and categories which provide the
optimal marketing of the programs to subscribers. For
example. the operations center 202 may package the same
programs into different categories and menus for weekday.
prime-time viewing and Saturday afternoon viewing. Also, the
operations center 202 packages the television programs in a
manner that enables both the various menus to easily


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

14'O 94t142E3 pCTtS93.1I
14
represent the programs and the subscribers to easily access
the programs through the menus.
The packaging of the digital signals is typically
performed at the operations center 202 by computer assisted
packaging equipment (CAP). The CAP system normally
includes at least one computer monitor. keyboard. mouse.
and standard video editing equipment. A programmer
packages the signals by entertng certain information into the
CAP. This information incIudes the date, time siot, and
program category of the various programs. The programmer
and the CAP utilize demographic data and ratings in
perfo .ming the packaging tasks. After the programmer
selects the various programs from a pool of available programs
and inputs the requisite information. the programmer. wtth
assistance from the CAf', can select the price and allocate
transponder space for the various programs. After the
process is complete. the CAP displays draft menus or
program schedules that correspond to the entries of the
programmer. The CAP may also graphically display allocation
of transponder space. The programmer may edit the menus
and transponder allocation several times until satisfied with
the programming schedule. During the editing, the
pro mer may direct the exact location of any program
name on a menu with simple commands to the CAP.
The packaging process also accounts for any groupings
by satellite transponder which are necessaYy. The operations
center 202 may send different groups of programs to
different cable headends 208 and/or set top terminals 220.
One way the operations center 202 may accomplish this task
is to send different program packages to each transponder.
Each transponder. or set of transponders. then relays a
specific program package to specific cable headends 208


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

wo 9414283 PCTt'S9341706
and/or set top terminals 220. The allocation of transponder
space is an important task performed by the operations
center 202.
The operations center 202 may also "insert" directions
5 for filling local available program time in the packaged signal
to enable local cable and television companies to fill the
program time with local advertising and/or local
programming. Consequently. the local cable headends 208
are not constrained to show only programs transmitted from
10 the operations center 202. New set top converters will
incorporate both digital and analog channels. 'Iherefore, the
cable headend 208 may combine analog signals with the
digital signals prior to transmitting the program signals to
the set top terminals 220.
15 After the CAP packages the programs. it creates a
program control information signal to be delivered with the
program package to the cable headend 208 and/or set top
terminal 220. The program control information signal
contains a description of the contents of the program
package. commands to be sent to the cable headend 208
and/or set top terminal 220, and other information relevant
to the signal transmission.
In addition to packaging the signal. the operations
center 202 employs digital compression techniques to
increase extsting satellite transponder capacity by at least a
4:1 ratio. resulting in a four-fold increase in program delivery
capability. A number of digital compression algorithms
currently exist which can achieve the resultant increase in
capacity and iaaproved signal quality desired for the system.
The algorithms generally use one or more of three basic
digital compression techniques: (1) within=frazne (intraframe)
compression, (2) frame-to-frame (interframe) compression.


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and (3) within carrier compression. Specifically, in the
preferred embodiment, the MPEG 2 compression method is
used. After digital compression. the signals are combined
(multiplexed) and encoded. The combined signal is
subsequently transmitted to various uplink sites 204.
There may be a single upiink site 204 or multiple
uplink sites (represented by 204'. shown in phantom in
Figure 1) for each operation center 202. The uplink sites
204 may either be located in the same geographical place or
may be located remotely from the operations center 202.
Once the composite signa3 Is transmitted to the upllnk sites
204. the signal may be multiplexed with other signals.
modulated. upconverted and plified for transmission over
satellite. Multiple cable headends 208 may receive such
transmtssions.
1n addition to multiple up õ the delivery system 200
may also contain multiple operations centers. The preferred
method for using multiple operations centers is to designate
one of the operations centers as a master operations center
and to designate the remaining operations centers as slave
operations centers. In this configuration. the master
operations center coordinates various functions among the
slave operations centers such as synchronization of
simultaneous transmissions and distributes the operations
workload elfficientIy.
4. Cable Headend
After the operations center 202 has compressed and
encoded the program signals and transmitted the signals to
the satellite, the cable headend 208 receives and further
processes the signals before they are relayed to each set top
terminal 220. Each cable headend site is generally equipped
with multiple satel2ite receiver dishes. Each dish is capable


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of handling multipie transponder signals from a single
satellite and sometimes from multiple satellites.
As an intermediary between the set top terminals 220
and the operations center 202 (or other remote site). the
cable headend 208 performs two primary functions. First.
the cabie headend 208 acts as a distribution center, or signal
processor, by relaying the program signal to the set top
terminal 220 in each subscriber's home. In addition. the
cable headend 208 acts as a network controller 214 by
receiving information from each set top terminal 220 and
passing such information on to an information gathering site
such as the operations center 202.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment where the cable
headend 208 and the subscriber's home are linked by certain
communications media 216. In this particular embodiment.
analog signals. digitally compressed signals, other digital
signals and up-st.ream/interactivity signals are sent and
received over the media 216. I'he cable headend 208
provides such signaling capabilities ira its dual roles as a signal
processor 209 and network contrnller 214.
As a signal processor 209, the cable headend 208
prepares the program signals that are received by the cable
headend 208 for transmission to each set top terminal 220.
In the preferred myatem. the signal processor 209 re-routes
or de:nultiplexes and recombines the signals and digital
information received from the operations center 202 and
allocates different portions of the signal to different
frequency ranges. Cable headends 208 which offer different
subscribers different program offerings may allocate the
program signals from the operations center 202 in various
manners to accominodate different viewers. The signal
processor 209 may also incorporate local programming


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iwo 9443:S3 1'CT=t593 11%
18

and/or local advertisem,ents into the program signal and
forward the revised signal to the set top terminals 220. To
accommodate this local programming availability, the signal
processor 209 must combine the local signal in digital or
analog form with the operations center program signals. If
the local cable system uses a compression standard that is
different than the one used by the operations center 202, the
signal processor 209 must also decompress and recompress
incoming signals so they may be properly formatted for
transmission to the set top terminais 220. This process
becomes less important as standards develop (i.e.. MPEG 2).
In additlon. the signal processor 209 performs any necessary
signal decryption and/or encryption.
As a network controller 214. the cable headend 208
I5 performs the system control functions for the system. The
primary funcuon of the network controller 214 is to manage
the configuration of the set top termi.nals 220 and process
signals received from the set top terminals 220. In the
preferred embodiment. the network controller 214
monitors. among other things. autoraatic poll-back responses
from the set top terminals 220 remotely located at each
subscribers' home. The polling and automauc report-back
cycle occurs frequently enough to allow the network
controller 214 to maintain accurate account and billing
iziformation as well as monitor authorized channel access. In
the simplest embodiiaent. inforraatton to be sent to the
network controUer 214 will be stored in RAM within each
subscriber's set top terminal 220 and avill be retrieved only
upon poUing by the network controUer 214. Retrieval may.
for example. occur on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The
network controller 214 allows the system to maintain


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complete inforrnation on all programs watched using a
particular set top terminal 220.
The nerarork controller 214 ts also able to respond to
the inunediate needs of a set top terminal 220 by modifying a
program control information signal received from the
operations center 202. Therefore. the network controller
214 enables the delivery system to adapt to the specific
requirements of individual set top terminals 220 when the
requirements cannot be provided to the operations center
202 in advance. In other words, the network controller 214
is able to perform "on the fly programsning" changes. With
this capability. the network controller 214 can handle
sophisticated local programmirag needs such as, for example.
intera.ctive television services, split screen video. and
selection of different foreign languages for the same video. In
addition, the network controll.er 214 controls and monitors
all compressors and decompressors Ln the system.
The delivery system 200 and digital compression of the
preferred embodiment provides a one-way path from the
operations center 202 to the cable headend 208. Status and
billing information is sent from the set top terminal 220 to
the network controller 214 at the cable headend 208 and not
directly to the operations center 202. T'hus, program
monitoring and selection control wiil take place only at the
cable headend 208 by the local cable company and its
decentralized network controliers 214 (i.e.. decentralized
relative to the operations center 202. which is central to the
program delivery system 200). The local cable company Will
in tum be in comaaunication with the operations center 202
or a regional control center (not shown) which accumulates
return data from the set top terminal 220 for statisticaI or
billing purposes. In alternative system embodiments, the


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operations center 202 and the statistical and billing sites are
collocated. Further, telephone lines wtth modems are used
to transfer information from the set top terminal 220 to the
statistical and billing sites.
5 5. Set 'j'op Te=tnal
The set top terminal 220 is the portion of the delivery
system 200 that resides in the home of a subscriber. The set
top terminal 220 is usually located above or below the
subscriber's television, but it may be placed anywhere in or
10 near the subscriber's home as long as it is within the range of
the subscriber's remote control device 900. In some aspects.
the set top teraainal 220 may resemble converter boxes
already used by maa:y cable systems. For instance. each set
top terminal 220 may include a variety of error detection.
15 decryption, and coding techniques such as anti-taping
encoding. However. it will become apparent from the
discussion below that the set top terminal 220. is able to
perform many functions that an ordinary converter box
cannot perform.
20 The set top terminaI 220 has a plurality of input and
output ports to enable it to communicate with other local and
remote devices. The set top terminal 220 has an input port
that receives information from the cable headend 208. In
addttion, the unit has at Iesst two otatput ports which provide
communications from the set top terminal 220 to a television
and a VCRe Certain menu selections may cause the set top
terminal 220 to send control signals directly to the VCR to
automatically program or operate the VCR Also, the set top
terminal 220 contains a phone Jaclt which can be used for
maintenance, trouble shooting, reprogramming and
additionai customer features. The set top terminal 220 may


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21
also contain stereo/audio output terrninals and a satellite dish
input port.
Functionally, the set top terminal 220 is the last
component in the delivery system chain. The set top
terminal 220 receives compressed program and control
signals from the cable headend 208 (or. in some cases,
directly from the operations center 202). After the set top
terminal 220 receives the individually compressed program
and control signals, the signals are demultiplexed.
decompressed. converted to analog signals (if necessary) and
either placed in local storage (from which the menu template
may be createdi, executed immediately, or sent directly to
the television screen.
After processing certain signals received from the cable
headend 208, the set top terminal 220 is able to store menu
templates for creating menus that are displayed on a
subscriber's television by using an array of menu templates.
Before a menu can be cflnstructed. menu templates must be
created and sent to the set top terminal 220 for storage. A
microprocessor uses the control signals received front the
operations center 202 or cable headend 208 to generate the
menu templates for storage. Each menu template may be
stored in volatile memory in the set top terminal 220. When
the set top terminal receives template informat3on It
demultiplexes the program control signals received from the
cable headend 208 tnto four primary parts: video, graphics.
prograxn logic and text. Each menu template represents a
different portion of a whole aaenu, such as a menu
background, television logo. cursor highlight overlay. or other
miscellaneous components needed to build a menu. The
menu templates may be deleted or altered using control


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signals received from the operations center 202 or cable
headend 208.
Once the menu templates have been stored in memory.
the set top terminal 220 can generate the appropriate menus.
In the preferred embodiment, the basic menu format
information is stored 9n memory located within the set top
terminal 220 so that the microprocessor may locally access
the information from the set top ter minai instead of from an
incoming signal. The microprocessor next generates the
appropriate menus from the menu templates and the other
menu information stored in memory. The set top terminal
220 then displays specific menus on the subscriber's
television screen that correspond to the inputs the subscriber
selects.
If the subscriber selects a specific program from a
menu, the set top terminal 220 detegmines on which channel
the program is being shown, demultiplexes and extracts the
single channel transmitted from the cable beadend 208. The
set top terminal 220 then decompresses the channel and. if
necessaYy, converts the program signal to an analog NTSC
signal to enable the subscriber to view the selected program.
The set top terminal 220 can be equipped to decompress
more than one program signal. but this would unnecessarily
add to the cost of the unit since a subscriber will generally
only view one program at a time. However, two or three
deconxpressors may be desirable to provide picture-on-
picture capability, control signal decompression, enhanced
channel switching or Iike features.
In addition to menu information, the set top terminal
220 may also store text transmitted from the cable headend
208 or the operations center 202. The text may inform the
subscriber about upcoming events, billing and account status.


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23
new subscriptions, or other relevant information. The text
will be stored in an appropriate memory location depending
on the frequency and the duration of the use of the textual
message.
Also. optional upgrades are available to enhance the
performance of a subscriber's set top terminal 220. These
upgrades may consist of a cartridge or computer card (not
shown) that is inserted into an expansion slot in the set top
terminal 220 or may consist of a feature offered by the cable
headend 208 or operations center 202 to which the user may
subscribe. Available upgrades may inrlude on line data base
services. interactive multi-ffiedia seivices, access to digital
radio channels, and other services.
In the simplest eanbodiment, available converter boxes
such as those manufactured by General Instruments or
Scientific Atlanta. may be ffiodified and upgraded to perform
the functions of a set top terminal 220. The preferred
upgrade is a circuit card with a microprocessor which is
electronically connected to or inserted into the converter
box.
6. Remote Cantrnl Device
The primary conduit for comraunication between the
subscriber and the set top terminal 220 is through the
subscriber interface, preferably a remote control device 900.
Through this interface. the subscriber may select desired
prograaaming through the system's menu-driven scheme or
by directly accessing a specific channel by entering the actual
channel number. Using the ixaterface. the subscriber can
navigate through a series of informative program selection
menus. Ay using menu-driven. iconic or alpha-character
access, the subscriber can access desired progmms by simply
pressing a single button rather than recalling from memory


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WO 91124233 PC'i" t:S93. I1
24
and pressing the actual channel number to make a selection.
The subscriber can access regular broadcast and basic cable
television stations by using either the numeric keys on the
remote control 900 (pressing the corresponding channel
number), or one of the menu icon selection options.
In addition to enabling the subscriber to easily interact
with the cable system 200. the physical characteristics of the
subscriber interface 900 should also add to the user
friendliness of the system. Ihe remote control 900 should
easily fit in the palm of the user's hand. The buttons of the
preferred remote control 900 contain pictorial symbols that
are easily identSf3,able by the subscriber. Also. buttons that
perform similar functions may be color coordinated and
consist of distinguishing textures to increase the user
friendliness of the system.
7. Menu-Driven ProgL= Selection
The menu-driven scheme provides the subscriber with
one-step access to all major menus, ranging from hit movies
to sport specials to specialty programs. From any of the
major menus. the subscriber can in tuan access submenus and
minor menus by cursor or alpha-character access.
There are two different types of menus utilized by the
preferred embodiment. the Frrogruu Selection menus and
the During Program menus. The flrst series of menus.
Program Selection naenus. consists of an Introductory, a
Hozne. Major ffienus. and Submenus. The second series of
'Ynenus. During Program menus, consists of two primary
types. Hidden menus and the Program Overlay menus.
Immediately after the subscriber turns on the set top
terminal 220. the Introductory menu welcomes the
subscriber to the system. The Introductory menu may dtsplay
important announcements from the local cable franchise.


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. = wo 941142S3 PC'Y"VS93, I I7Uo
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adverUseinents from the cable provider, or other types of
messages. In addition, the Introductory menu can inform the
subscriber if the cable headend 208 has sent a personal
message to the subscriber's particular set top termSnal 220.
After the Introductory menu has been displayed the
subscriber may advance to the next level of inenus, namely
the Home menu. In the preferred embodiment, after a
certain period of tiame, the cable system will advance the
subscriber by default to the Home menu. From the Home
menu, the subscriber is able to access all of the programming
options. The subscriber may either select a program directly
by entering the appropriate channel number from the remote
control 800, or the subscrfber may sequence through
incremental levels of menu options starting from the Home
menu. The Home menu lists categories that correspond to
the first level of menus calied Major menus.
If the subscriber chooses to sequence through
subsequent menus= the subscriber w1ll be forwarded to the
Major menu that corresponds to the chosen category from
the Home menu. The Major menus further refine a
subscriber's search and help guide the subscriber to the
selectior: of his choice.
From the Major menus. the subscriber may access
several submenus. From each subraenu. the subscriber may
access other submenus untit the subscriber finds a desired
television program. Similar to the Major menu. each
successive level of Submenus further refines the subscriber's
search. The system also enables the subscriber to skip
certain menus or submenus and directly access a specific
menu or television program by entering the appropriate
coaunands on the remote control 900.


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. ~, .
K'o 94114:E3 PCT 1393. 11uo

26
The During program menus (inciuding Hidden Menus
and Program Overlay Menus) are displayed by the set top
terminal 220 only after the subscriber has selected a
television program. In order to avoid disturbing the
subscriber. the set top terminal 220 does not display the
Hidden Menus until the subscriber selects the appropriate
option to display aMdden Menu. The Hidden Menus contain
opzions that are relevant to the program selected by the
viewer. For example, a Hidden Menu may contain options
that enable a subscriber to enter an interactive mode or
escape from the selected program.
Program Overlay Menus are similar to Hidden Menus
because they occur during a program and are related to the
program being viewed. However. the Program Overlay Menus
are displayed concurrently with the program selected by the
subscriber. Most Frogram Overlay Menus are sa1a11 enough on
the screen to allow the subscriber to continue viewing the
selected program comfortably.
B. led Set Top Terminal Descr12tion
The set top terminal 220 receives and manipulates
signals from the cable headend 208. The set top terminal
220 is equipped atith local computer memory and the
capability of interpreting the digita3ly compressed signal to
produce menus for the subscriber. The remote control 900
communicates the subscriber's selections to the set top
terminal 220. The subscriber's seleciions are generaYly based
upon menus or other prompts displayed on the television
screen.
It is preferred that the signal reaches the subscriber's
home in a compressed format and is decompressed prior to
viewing. Included in the delivered program signal is
inforrslation that enables equipment at the subscriber's home


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w=o Mt y2M P'CTrt593 t
27
to display menus for choosing particular programs.
Depending on the particular embodiment, the television
program signal may arrive at the subscriber's home through
one or more connections such as coa7dal cables. 8ber cables,
twisted pairs. cellular telephone connections, or personal
comrnunications network (PCN) hookups.
The program control infos znation signal is generated by
the operations center 202 and provides the network
controller 214 with data on the scheduling and description of 10 programs. In
an alternate conflguration, this data is sent

directly to the set top terminal 220 for display to the
subscriber. In the preferred eazbodiment. the program
control informauor3 signal is stored and modified by the
network controller 214 and sent to the set top terminal 220
in the form of a set top terminal control inforaaation stream
(S'Y"I'CIS). The set top terminal 220 integrates either the
program control information signal or the S'I'I'CIS with data
stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220 to generate
on-screen menus that assist the subscriber in choosing
programs for display.
The types of i.nformauon that can be sent using the
program control signal include: number of program
categories, names of program categories, what channels are
assigned to a specit3c category (such as specialty channels),
names of channels, names of programs on each channel,
program start umes, length of programs. descriptton of
programs, menu assignment for each program, pricing.
whether there is a sample video clip for advertisement for
the program. and any other program< menu or product
inforrnation.
With a minimal amount of information being
comznunicated to the set top te. a1 220 on a regular basis,


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28
the set top terminal 220 is able to determine the proper
menu location for each program and the proper time and
channel to activate for the subscriber after a menu selection.
The program control informatton signal and S'TTCIS can be
formatted in a variety of ways and the on-screen menus can
be produced using many different methods. For instance. if
the program control information signal carries no menu
format information, the menu format for creating the menus
can be fixed in ROM at the set top terminal 220. In the
preferred embodiment. the menu format information is
stored at the set top terminal 220 in a temporary memory
device such as a RAM or EPROM. New menu format
information is sent via the program control information signal
or the STTCIS to the set top terminals 200 whenever a
change to a menu format is deslrtd.
In the simplest embodiment, the menu formats remain
fixed and only the text changes. In this way the prograzn
control information signal can be Iimited to primarily text
and a text generator can be employed in the set top terminal
220. Another simple embodiment uses a separate channel
full-time (large bandwidth) ,just for the menu information.
Live video signals may be used in windows of certain
menus. These video stgnals can be transmitted using the
program control information signal or STTCIS. or can be
taken off channels being transmitted simultaneously with the
menu display. Video for menus. pro=os or demos may be
sent to the set top tezmirial 220 in serneral formats. including
(1) on a dedicated channel. (2) on a regular program channel
and scaled to size. or (3) along with the program control
inforrnation signal. Flowever. in the preferred embodiment. a
large number of short promos or demo video is sent using a
split screen technique on a dedicated channel. A multiple
6


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WO 44114233 PCT 2543,11706
29
window technique may be used with the menus to display a
description oi a program and one or more video frames that
assist the subscriber in selecWxg the program.
Figure 4 shows the basic hardware components of the
set top terminal 220. The set top terminal 220 has a tuner
603. digital demodulator 606. decryptor 600, and
demultiplexers 609. 616 as weli as audio equipffient 612 and
a remote control Interface 626 for receiving and processing
signals from the remote control unit 900. An optional
modem 627 allows communication between a microprocessor
602 and the cable headend 208. An NTSC encoder 625
provides a standard NTSC video output.
The microprocessor 602 is capable of executing
program instructions stored in memory. These instructions
allow a user to aceess various menus by making selections on
the remote control 900.
The manner in which the video is decompressed and
the menus are generated from the program control
inforanation signal or S'ITCI6 varies depending on the
specific emba ent of the invention. Video decompressors
618 and 622 may be used if the video is compressed. The
program control informaation signal may be demultiplexed
into its component parts, and a video decompressor 618.
graphic decompressor. text generator and video combiner
624 may be used to assist in creating the menus.
In additlon to the menu format infor mation that is
stored in graphics ffiemory, the set top terminal 220 also
stores data tracking those programs that have been selected
for viewing. By gathering this data, the set top terminal 220
can maintain an accurate record of all programs
accessed/watched by storing the data in EEPRa&i or RAM.
Subsequently. this data can be transmitted to the cable


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1R0 9411433 PC"T I:S93, 11. 30

headend 208, where it can be used in carrying out network
control and monttoring functions. Such data transmissions
between the set top terminal 220 and cable headend 208 can
be accompllshed. for example, through upstream
transiziission over the cable network or over telephone lines
through the use of telephone modems. Where upstream
transmission over the cable network is used. the set top
terminals 220 can complete data transmissions on a
scheduled (e.g.. using a polling response or status report to
respond to polling requests sent from the cable headend
208) or as-needed (e.g.. using a random acctss technique)
basis.
Figure 5a shows the front panel of the set top terminal
220. which incIudes an infrared sensor 630 and a series of
LED displays 640. 'fhe LED displays 640 may indicate with
an icon or a letter (e.g. A,-K) the major menu currently
selected by the set top terzninal 220 or the channels selected
directly by a user, or menu channel selections (e.g., from 1 to
50). Further displays may include current channel. time.
volume level, sleep time. parental lock (security). account
balance. use of a hardware upgrade. second channel being
recorded by VCR. use of the Level D music hardware upgrade
in a separate room. and any other displays useful to a
subscrtber to indicate the current status of the set top
terminal 220. 'ibe LEDs 640 may also provide an indication
of the digital audio channel currently tuned.
The set top terminal 220 includes a flapped opening
635 on Its front that allows the insertaon of a magnetic
cartridge (or similar portable storage device. including
optical disk. ROM. EPROM. etc. not shown). This cartridge
opening 635 allows the set top termirial 220 to be upgraded


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31
or reprogrammed locally with the use of a magnetic tape
cartridge.
On the top or cover of the set top terminal 220 are
located pushbutton controls 645. Any function that can be
performed on the remote 900 may also be performed at the
set top terzninal 220 using the duplicative pushbutton
controls 645.
Figure 5b shows the back of the set top terminal 220,
which includes a pair of output terminals 650. pair of input
terminals 652, pair of stereo/audio output terminals 654.
satelltte dish input port 656. telephone ,ack 658 and an. RS-
422 port 660. In addition, an upgrade port 662 and a cover
plate 664 are held in place by a series of sheet metal screws.
One of the output terminals 650 is for a television and the
other is for a VCP-. The set top terminal 220 is equipped to
handle incomwg signals on one or two cables using the input
terminals 652. The phone jack 658 and an RS-232 or RS-
422 port 660 are provided for Yuaintenance, trouble shooting.
reprogramming and additional customer features. In
alternate embodiments. the telephone jack 658 may be used
as the primary mode of communication between the cable
headend 208 and the set top terminal 220. TYats connection
is possible through the local telephone. ceIlular telephone or
a personal communications network (PCN).
The basic programming of each set top terminal 220 is
located on ROM within the set top terminal 220. Random
access memory. the magnetic cartridge capability, and the
expansion card slot 635 each allow upgrades and changes to
be easily made to the set top terminal 220.
in the preferred embodiment. the set top terminal 220
includes a hardware upgrade port 662, in addition to
expansion card slots. The hardware upgrade port 662


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32
accommodates a four-wire (or more) connection for: (1)
error corrected. decrypted data output of the set top
terminal 220. (2) a control interface, (3) decompressed video
output. and (4) a video input port. In the preferred
embodiment, .oaultiple wires are used to perform each of the
four functions. The four sets of wires are combined in a
single cable with a single multipin connector.
In the preferred embodiment, multipin connections
may be used for the multxwvire cable. The ffiultipin
connection 662 may range from DB9 to DB25. A variety of
small computer systems interface (SCSI) ports may also be
provided. Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided
instead of the single port depicted.
Another port 662 is used to attach the various hardware
upgrades described below to a set top terminal 220. The
preferred embodiment has a number of hardware upgrades
available for use with a set top terminal 220. including: (1) a
Level A interactive untt. (2) a T.evel B interactive unit. (3) a
Level C interactive untt with compact disc capabllity, (4) a
Level D digital radio tuner for separate room use. and (5) a
Level E information download unit. Each of these upgrades
may be connected to the set top terminal 220 unit through
the up de port 662 described eariler. T"be same four wires
in a single cable described earlier may be used.
Ejdstlng set top converter boxes such as those made by
Scientific Atlanta or General Instruments are presently
unequipped to handle the menu selection system of the
present invention. Thus, hardware modifications are
necessary in order to use the menu selection system with
existing set top converter technology.
A'Ilirbo Card addition to a set top converter is depicted
in Figure 6. The Turbo Card 700 shown provides the


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33
additional functionality needed to utiliae the menu system
with existing set top converter tec.lznology. The primary
functions the Turbo Card 700 adds to the set top converter
are the interpretjng of program control information signals,
generating of menus. sequencing of menus, and. ultsmately,
the abillty of the viewer to select a channel through the menu
system without entering any channel identifying information.
The turbo card also provides a method for a remote location,
such as the cable headend 208. to receive information on
programs watched and control the operation of the set top
converter and Turbo Card 700. The programs watched
information and control commands may be passed from the
cable headend 208 to the Turbo Card 700 using telephone
lines.
The primary components of the Turbo Card 700 are a
PC chip CPU 702. a VGA, graphic controller 704. a video
combiner 706. togic circuitry, 708. NTSC encoder 710, a
receiver 712, demodulator 714u and a dialer 716. The Turbo
Card 700 operates by receiving the program 'control
inforaaation signal from the cable headend 208 through the
coaxW cable. The logic c9rcuitry 708 of the Turbo Card 700
receives data. tnfrared commands, and synchronization
signaI3 from the set top converter. Menu selections made by
the viewer on the remote contmi 900 are received by the set
top converter's IR equipment and passed through to the
Turbo Card 700. The Turbo Card 700 intezprets the IR signal
and determines the program (or menu) the viewer has
selected. The Turbo Card 700 modi8es the IR command to
send the program selection lnformation to the set top
converter 221. The modified IR command contains the
channel information needed by the set top converter. Using
the phone line and dialer 716. the Turbo Card 700 is able to


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transmit program access inforznatiozz to the cable headend
208.
In the preferred embodiment. program access
information is stored at each set top terminal 220 until it is
polled by the network controller 214 using a polling request
message format as shown In Fsgure 7a. This frame format
920 consists of six fields, namely: (;t) a leading flag 922 at
the beginning of the message. (2) an address field 924, (3) a
subscriber region designation 926, (4) a set top terminal
identi.fler 928 that includes a polling command/response (or
P/Fl bit 930. (5) an informauon field 932. and (6) a trailing
flag 934 at the end of the message. Figure 7b shows a
response frame format 920' (similar to the frame format 920
end, therefore: commonly numbered with the frame depicted
in Figure 7a. but with the prime indicator added for clarity)
for information communicated by the set top termtnal 220 to
the network controller 214 in response to the polling
request of P'igure 7a.
'S'he eight-bit flag sequence 922 that appears at the
beginning and end of a frame is used to establish and
maintain synchronization. Such a sequence typically consists
of a'01111110' bit-stream. The address field 924
designates a 4-bit address for a given set top terminal 220.
The subscriber region designation 926 is a 4-bit field that
indicates the geographical region in which the subscriber's
set top terffiinal 220 is housed. The aet top terminal
identifier 928 is a 16-bit field that uniquely identities each
set top terminal 220 with a 15-bit designation followed by an
appended P/F bit 930. Although field size is provided by this
example. a variety of sizes cari be used with the present
invention.


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wO 94ilA:d3 E'Cr.'L;S9311T
The P/F bit 930 is used to coznsnand a polling response
from the set top terminal 220 addressed, as described below.
The response frame format 920' also provides a variable-
length information field 932' for other data transmissions,
5 such as information on system updates. The frame format
920= ends with an 8-bit flag (or trailing flag) 934' that is
identical in format to the leading flag 922'. as set forth above.
Other frame formats (e.g.. MPEG) will be apparent to one
skilled in the art and can be easily adapted for use with the
10 system.
As summarized above. images or programs may be
selected for display by sequencing thmugh a series of menus.
Figure 8 is an example of one possible structure for a series of
menus. Oenerally, the sequence of menus is structured with
15 an introductory Bnenu, a home ffienu, various major menus
and a multitude of submenus. T'he submenus can incdude
promo menus and during program menus. For example, at
the home menu portion of the sequence of menus and
corresponding software routines, a subscriber may select one
20 of the major menus and start a sequence of menu displays.
Alternatively, a subscxiber may go directly to a major menu by
depressing a menu select button on remote control 900.
At any time during the menu sequence. the subscriber
may depress a )or menu button to move into another series
25 of menus. In this way. a subscriber may move from major
menu to major menu.
The various software subroutines executed by the
microprocessor 602 allow a subscriber to sequence the
menus, navigating through the various menus of the present
30 invention. A subscriber may sequence back through menus or
return to the home menu with a single touch of the home
menu button on remote 900.


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An introductory menu screen 1000 automatically
appears upon power-up and initialization of the set top
terminal 220. From this introductory menu screen 1000, the
set top terminal software will normally advance the
subscriber to the home menu screen 1010. The home menu
1010 is the basic menu that the subscriber cvill return to in
order to make the flrst level of viewing decisions. When the
set top terminal software is displaying the home menu 1010,
the subscriber is able to access any television programming
option. The software allows programming options to be
entered through cursor movement on the screen and directly
by button selection on the remote control 900.
In the normal progression through the menu screens.
the software will forward the subscriber to a major menu
screen 1020 in response to the subscriber's remote control
900 selection or lnighlighted cursor selection from the home
menu screen 1010. The selections displayed on the home
menu 1010 are for large categories of programming options.
Following the major menu 1020, the subscriber may
navigate through one or more submenu screens 1050 from
which the subscriber may choose one particular program for
viewing. For most programming selectfons, the user w1t1
proceed from the home menu 1010 to a major menu 1020
and then to one or more submenus 1050. However, for
certain pro g options or functions of the set top
terminal 220, the user may skip one or more menus in the
sequence.
The During Program Menus 1200 are submenus
enabled by the set top terminal software only after the
subscriber has selected a t.eleviston program. These menus
provide the subscriber with additional functionality and/or
addiUonal inforzaation while viewing a selected program. The


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During Pre ranm Menus 1200 sequence can be further
subdivided in: at least two types of menus. Hidden Menus
1380 and Program Overlay Menus 1390.
To avoid disturbing a subscriber during viewing of a
program. the Hidden Menus 1380 are not shown to the
subscriber but instead 'reside' at the set top terminal 220
microprocessor 602. The naicroprocessor 602 awaits a
button entry either from the remote control 900 or set top
terminal 220 buttons before executing or displaying any
Hidden Menu 1380 options. The set top terminal software
provides the subscriber with additional functions such as
entering an interactive mode or escaping from a selected
prograrn through use of Hidden Menus 1380.
Program Overlay Menus 1390 are similar to Hidden
Menus 1380. However, the Program Overlay Menus 1390 are
overlayed onto portions of the displayed video and not
hidden. The software for the Program Overlay Menus 1390
allows the subscriber to continue to watch the selected
television program with audio but places graphical
information on a portion of the television screen. Most
Program Overlay Menus 1390 are graphically generated to
cover small portions of video. Some Overlays 1390 which are
by their nature more tiaportant than the program being
viewed wfll overlay onto greater portions of the video.
Examples of types of overlay menus 1390 include NotiScation
Menus 1392 and Co tion Menus 1394. In the preferred
embodigaent. the software for the Program Overlay Menus
1390 controls the reduction or scales down the (entire)
programs video and redirects the video to a portion of the
screen.
Subffienus provide the cost of viewing the program and
the program's length in hours and minutes. From the


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submenus, the subscriber is given at least three options: (1)
to purchase a program. (2) to return to the previous menu.
and (3) to press 'go' and return to regular TV. The
subscriber may also be given other options such as previewing
the program.
Using an on-screen menu approach to program
seiection. there is nearly an unlimited number of menus that
can be shown to the subscriber. The memory capability of the
set top terminal 220 and the quantity of inforanation that is
sent using the program control information signal are the
only limits on the number of menus and amount of
inforanation that can be displayed to the subscriber. The
approach of using a series of menus in a simple tree sequence
is both easy for the subscriber to use and simply implemented
by the set top terminal 220 and remote control device 900
with cursor movement. A user interface software
prograanmer will tind many obvious vartations from the
preferred embodiment described.
'The set top terminal 220 generates and creates menus
using, in part information stored in its graphics memory. A
background graphics 81e 800 will store menu backgrounds
and a logo graphics Sle wiil store any necessary logos. A
menu display and cursor graphics 81e will store menu display
blocks and cursor highlight overlays as well as any other
miscellaneous flles needed to build the menus. Using this
method of storing ffienus. the menus can be changed by
reprogramoning the graphics memory of the set top terminal
220 through instructions from either the network controller
214 or operations center 202.
The microprocessor 602 performs the steps required
to create a menu using stored information. The
microprocessor 602 fetches a background flie. logo i31e. menu


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display and cursor file in most instances. The
microprocessor 602 fetches text from long-term, intermediate-
term, or short-term storage depending on where the text is
stored. Using a video combiner (or like device). the stored
inforrnation is combined with video and the entire image is
sent to the television screen for display.
In the preferred eaabodiment, a graphics controIler is
used to assist the set top t al 220 in generating menus.
Menu generation by the set top terminal 220 begins with the
building of a major menu screen, which includes background
graphics for that major menu. The background graphics may
include an upper sash across the top of the screen and a
lower sash across the bottom of the screen. The background
graphics may be generated from the 'background graphics flle
800 in the memory ftles of the graphics memory (preferably
EEPROM). in additian, logo graphics may be generated.
Such graphics typically include an icon window, a cable
company logo a channel company logo, and two 'go' buttons.
Preferably, the text for each major menu is generated
separately by a text generator in the set top terminal 220.
Those portions of the text that generally remain the same for
a period of weeks or months may be stored in EEPROM or
other local storage. Text which changes on a regular basis.
such as the movie titles (or other program selections), is
transYaitted to the set top terminal 220 by either the
operations center 202 or the network controller 214 of the
cable headend 208. In this mnanner, the cable headend 208
may change the program selections avallable on any major
menu 1020 by modifying the progra= control information
signal sent by the operations center 202 and transmitting any
changes using the IS.


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Day. date and ume information are added to each major
menu. This information is sent from the operations center
202. the cable headend 208 (signal processor 209 or
network controller 214). the uplink site, or generated by the
5 set top termina! 220 internaIIy.
The creation and display of program description
submenus is performed by the set top terminal 220 in a
manner similar to that described above. Each submenu may
be created in parts and combined before being sent to the
10 television screen. Preferably. background graphics and upper
and lower sashes are used. Llkewise, a video window and
half-strip window can be generated from information in
storage on the EEPROIK.
In addition to graphics and text, some submenus
15 include windows that show video. Such video may be still or
moving pictures. Still pictures may be stored in a
compressed format (such as JPEG) at the set top terminal
220. Video stills may be transinitted by the operations center
202 through the program control information signal from
20 time to time.
Moving video picture is obtained directly from a
current video feed as described above. Depending on video
window size, this may require manipulation of the video
signal. including scaling down the size of the video and
25 redirecting the video to the portion of the menu screen
which is within the video window of the menu. Alternatively.
the video may be obtained from a spllt screen channel. Such
a method involves the use of split screen video techniques to
send multiple video clips on a single channel at a given time.
30 The set top ternzinal 220 would scale the picture. if
necessary. and redirect it to the correct position on the
screen using known scaling and positioning techniques.


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Additional circuitry may be required in the set top terminal
220 to perform adequate scaling and reposiuoning.
To avoid the need for redirecting video tnto the portion
of the screen which houses the video window, masking and
menu graphics may be used to cover the portions of the
channel video that are not needed. Ihis masking technique
allows the split screen video to remain in the same portion of
the screen that It is transmitted by the operations center
202. The masking is then adjusted to cover the undesired
portions of the screen. These masks are stored in the
background graphics file similarly to other background files
for menus.
The split screen video technique may also be used for
promoting television programming. Since a great number of
short video clips may be sent cflntinuousiy. full or partial
screen prornotionais (or inforaaationals) may be provided to
the subscriber. With this Large quantity of promotional video.
the subscriber is given the opportui-Aty to "graae" through
new movie or television programming selections. The
subscriber simply grazes from promotional video to
promotional video until the desired television program is
discovered.
C ProiEranz Controd Information Signal
Throughout the prese.nt application the term
=program control informauon is being used to indicate
control information coming from the cable headend 208 to
the set top terminal 220. whether it is sent directly from the
Operations Center 202, processed by the network controller
214 and then forwarded to the set top box, or transmitted
over telephone lines.
The program control information signal generated by
the Operations Center 202 provides data on the scheduling


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and description of programs to the network controller 214
or, tn an alternate configuration, directly to the set top
terminal 220 for display to the subscriber. In the preferred
embodiment, the program control information signal Is
stored and modified by the network: controller 214 and sent
to the set top terminal 220 in the form of a set top terminal
control inforffiation stream (S"i'T'CIS). This conf3guration is
required to accommodate differences in individual cable
systems and possible differences in set top terminal devices.
The set top terminal 220 integrates either the program
control information signal or the set top t al control
information stream together with data stored in the memory
of the set top terminal 220. to generate on-screen displays
for assisting the subscriber in choosing programs.
The goal of the menu driven program selection system
200 is to allow the subscriber to choose a program by touring
through a series of inenus, organized generally as depicted In
Figure 8. utiliaing the remote control 900 for- cursor
movement. The fizaal choice in the series of menus will
identify one particular channel and one time for activation of
that channel. Armed with a channel and activation time the
set top terminal 220 can display the selected program on the
television for the vieaer. To achieve this goal a simple
embodiment assigns an intelligent alpha-numeric code to
each program. This alpha-numeric code identifies the
category of the program. the menu in which the program
should be displayed its transmission time(s). and the
position on the menu that the program should be displayed.
In this simple ezabodiment. the program control
inforruation, including menu codes. is sent continuously from
the Operations Center 202 to the network controller 214.
and ultisnately to the set top term.inal 220. For example. four


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hours worth of programming ir-forrnauon can be sent via the
program control informauon signal continuously as shown in
Table A.
Table A shows the basic programming information that
may be sent to the set top terminal 220. The program
descriptions shown are coded abbreviations. For example. C
for comedy, N for news, B for sports. A for cartoons, and Tx
for text. If there is a textual description for a program, such
as a movie, the description may be given following that
program's coded description or may be communicated
followizig the four hours' worth of programming information.
As is shown in the coded listing. program descriptions for
programs greater than a half hour in length need not be
repeated (each half hour). The vtdeo description code
informs the set top terminal 220 of whether there is stilI or
live video available to advertise the program.
For example. a sporting program may be assigned a
code of B35-010194-1600-3.25-1Viichigan St. vs. USC. The
letter B would assign the program to category B. sports. The
second alpha-numeric character number 3 would assfgn the
program to the third menu of the sports category. The third
character of the code< number S. assigns the program to the
fifth program slot on the third menu. The next six
characters. 01 J01 /94, represent the date. The followring four
characters. 1600 represent the start time which is followed
by the length of the program and the program name. This
entry represents a sports show, a college football game.
which wIll be aired at 4:00PM on New Years day 1994.


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wo 94114= Pcr.LS93;i17a
44
TABIZ A
12
n~e = on
i eets 4
ermiraator 2.5 x
:imeTime 1. 14
4 Footbair . 4
5 eciai

=
129iD P !t
sume Or
1 tm sons 4
4 oot a
Came
.
.
=
lrl the 12:30 Channel 1 entry of Table A. two menu
codes are shown. By allowing two menu codes. progranLs that
may fit under two different category descriptions may be
shown in both menus to the subscriber. With this minimal
amount of informatlon being communicated to the set top
te al 220 on a regular basis. the terminal is able to
determine the proper menu location for each program and
the proper time and channel to activate for the subscriber
after his menu seiection.
Table B shows an example Events Table that may be
d aded to a set top terminal 220 usi,ng the Event.Dat 91e
which contains information about events and pricing. As
shown in the table. the three r.olumns of the Events Table
identify the fleld atusaber. the i3eld itself and the type of
information downloaded tu the Event.Llat file. The first
column contains the field numbers 1 through 11. The middle
column contains the corresponding field parameters.
including the event e, event ID. global channel 1CD. price.
start tfine. end tlme. start date. end date. P- icon. name and
SUBSTITUTE SHEET


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description. The third column contains corresponding field
type information. Field type infoa-mation typically consists of
an unsigned integer: hours, rninutes and seconds: months,
day and year: and ASCII character identttler.
TA9LZ 8
Fieid * Field e
I Event Type Unsigned int
1 = YCTV
2 : Pay-Per-View
3aRC.TL'
2 Event ID Unsigned int
3 Global Clzannel ID Unsi ed Int
4 Price (in Cents) Unsigned Int
5 Start Time HH:MM:SS
6 End Time HH:MM:SS
7 Start Date MVi/DD/YY
8 End Date MVIlDD/YY
9 P-icon ASCIIZ
10 Name ASCIIZ
12 Descrition ASCIIZ
Table C shows an example Event.Dat data file. In
particular. Table C shows two data streams corresponding to
two event types. The first data stream identifies a YCTVTM
event in the first fleid. The second field designates the event
ID, which ts 1234 in this example. The third field includes
the global channel ID number two. The fourth field indicates
the cost of 50 cents for this event. The Sfth and sixth fields
Indicate the respective start and end times of 3:00 AM to
3:00 Pl1+I, respectively. The seventh and eighth flelds show
the corresponding start and end dates, designated as
8/25/93 and 8/27/93, respectively. Field nine indicates the
P-icon set to PBS.PCX graphic' ilte. Finally, aelds ten and
eleven indicate the name and description of the events
selected. which in this case are atsame Stseettu and
aikrngy~m. The second data stream in the Event.Dat example


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shown in Table C includes analogous information for
Tcrrninator iVTU. which is designated in field one as a pay-
per-view event.
TAHL.E C
Event.Dat E'mt,mple
6 / p s.pcx e treet
Harnevs S~a~ame Sts~et and Bers~ Absor~ct
. . Pcx esa~riat~e ermutator
atract
The program control information signal and STTCIS
can be formatted In a variety of ways a.-id the on-screen
menus can be produced in many different ways. For instance.
if the program control information signal carries no menu
format information, the menu format for creating the menus
can be f'bced in ROM at the set top terminal. This method
allows the program control informatAon signal to carry less
information but has the least fiex,ibility since the menu
formats can not be changed without physically swapping the
ROM.
in the preferred embodiment. the menu format
information is stored at the set top terminal 220 in
temporary ffiemory either in a RAM. FLASH ROM. EEPROM
or EPROM. Phis configuration provides the desired flexibility
in the menu format while still limiting the amount of
information needed to be communicated via the program
control information mignal. New menu format information can
be sent via the program control inaformation signal or the
STrCIS to the set top terminals 220 each time there is a
change to a menu.
Prograni access information for each program watched
is stored at the set top terntinal 220 until it Is polled by the
network controller 214 for information retrieval using the
program control information signal or STi'CIS. This


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information retrieval can be accomplished by using the
polling request message and response formats. 920 and 920'
respectively, as shown, and Figures 7a and 7b, and described
above, but any suitable polling request and response message
format may be used to interrogate each set top terminal 220
sequentially, one by one. The set top terminals 220 are
identified by a unique address and set top terminal identifler.
It is preferred that the set top terminal 220 transmit
information and messages to the network controller 214 only
when given permission by the network controller 214 to do
so.
Where. for exasnple, specialty programs have been
accessed since the previous poll, the set top tenminal 220 is
given permission to transmit a polling response 920' in the
form of a status report that includes any such access
information. The network controller's control receiver (not
shown) is tasked with the receipt of set top terminal polling
responses or status reports. These status reports generally
include information that allows the network controller 214 to
track a subscriber's program access history.
Figure 7b shows an example of frame format 920' for
the status reports received from the set top terminals 220
during the polling cycle. This frame format is identical to the
polling request message format 920 and, as described,
includes: (1) a leading flag 922' at the beginning of the
message. (2) an address Seld 924', (3) a subscriber region
designation 926'. (4) a set top terminal identifier 928
that includes a polling command/response (or P/F') bit 930',
(5) an inf'ormation field 932'. and (6) a trailing flag 934 at
the end of the message.
The information field 932' remains variable in length so
that the status of an indeterminate number of programs.


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48
represented at 931. accessed can be included in the frame.
In this way. the control message length of the polling request
message is minimal since the network controller 214 does
not transmit such access information. After a polling
response by a given set top terminal 220. however, the
control message length increases in proportion to the
number of programs accessed.
During transmission. the P/F bit is used to carry out the
polling function. In particular. the P/F bit is set to a"1"
position to command a polling response from the set top
terminal 220 whose address is identified in the frame. The
set top terminal 220 addressed must respond to the
command in the same P/F bit also set to the "1" position.
The response will inciude the number of programs accessed
and their corresponding event identification numbers as
shown in Figure 7b at 931. In cases where the set top
terminal 220 has not accessed any programs since the
previous polling cycie. the set top terminal 220 responds
with the P/F bit set to "1" and the programs access block
denoting zero programs accessed.
In between polling cycles, the program control
information continues to supply the set top terminals 220
with menu inforraation. In the simplest embodiffient. the
menus remain 8xed and only the text changes. Thus, the
program control information signal can be limited to
primarily text and a text generator can be employed in the
set top terminal 220. lhis simple embodiment keeps the
cost of the set top terminal 220 low and limits the bandwidth
necessary for the program control information. Another
simpie embodiment uses a separate channel full-time (large
band"dth) just for the menu information. This separate
channel would facilitate the rapid downloading of new


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graphics for the system and would enhance response time
when text and other data information needs to be changed.
In the preferred embodirnent. the basic building blocks
or templates of the on-screen menu displays will be stored in
graphics memory consisting of nonvolatile RAM. FLASH ROM.
EPROM. or preferably. EEPROM. as shown as 620 in Figure
9a. Referring to Figure 4, with the information from the
graphics memory 620. the microprocessor 602, graphics
decompressor 622. a text generator (not shown in Figure 4.
but incorporated if necessary), and video coffibiner 624 will
build a menu screen.
The memory files of the graphics memory are
preferably categorized into three categories, background
graphics 800, logo graphics 820, and menu and display
graphics 850. as shown in Figure 9a.
The background graphics fil'.e 800 cvill store menu
backgrounds such as: universal main menu backgrounds 804.
universal submenu backgrounds 808. promo backgrounds 812
and custom menu formats 816. The logo graphics file 820
will store any necessary logos such as: Your Choice TVr" logos
824. Network logo files 828. cable system logo files 832.
studio logo files 836. and graphic elements Ale 840. The
menu display and cursor graplzics file 850 will store menu
display bloclcs 854 and cursor higblight overlays 858. as well
as any other miscellaneous files needed to build the menus.
Using this method of storing menus discussed above.
the menus can be changed by reprogramming the graphics
memory 620 of the set top terminaY 220. To revise the
entire design of displayed menus, the network controIler 214
or operat.ions center 202 instructs the EEPROM 620 to be
erased and reprogrammed with new menu templates. To
change one menu format or logo, the network controller 214


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or operatlons center 202 instructs just the one location in
memory to be erased and rewritten. bviously, this menu
reprogramming can also be done locally (at the set top
terminal 220) by a servicemen.
5 As shown in Figure 9a. each memory subfile is further
divided into various memory blocks. For ex,ample, the
background graphics file 800 contains the universal main
menu backgrounds 804. The universal main menu
backgrounds memory 804 includes memory units UM1 860.
10 UM2 862 and UM3 863. Similarly, the logo graphics file 820
and menu display and curser graphics file 850 contain
individual sub8le memory blocks (for example. studio logo file
836 has memory block SL1 864: menu display blocks 854 has
memory menu display block MD1 866).
15 Figure 9b shows the hierarchical storage of text
transmitted from the cable headend 208. Although text may
be continuously tuansmitted with the video signals to set top
terminals 220. text may also be transmitted intermittently.
In such a case. the text is stored in the set top terminal 220.
20 Preferably. the text is transmitted and stored in a
compressed format using known techniques. Additionally.
the text is preferably stored in graphics memory 620 within
the set top te al 220.
Depending upon the use of the teact. it will be stored in
25 one of three portions of memory. Information sent with the
text wi1l either direct the text to a particular portion of
memory, or include information as to the priority of text.
The microprocessor 602, part of the set top terminal
hardware represented at block 880, may then direct the text
30 to the appropriate memory location for storage.
If the text is to be used frequently and over a long
period of time a long term storage 875 will be used. If the


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text %-IIl be used for a shorter period of time (for example. a
mont.h), the text vvitl be directed to an Intermediate storage
area 877. If the text is to be used almost immediately. or for
a short period of time (for example. within a few days) the
text is directed to a short term storage area 879. The
microprocessor 602 locates the appropriate text required for
a particular menu and retrieves it from the appropriate
portion of memory 620. The text is output from the graphics
memory 620 to the text generator 621. Text generated from
the text generator 621 is thereafter directed to text/graphics
video combiner 624.
Figure 9c shows the steps performed by the
microprocessor 602 for creatirig a menu based upon a series
of overlay scre e'Ihese ins ctions are stored in memory
within the set top terminal 220 in a screens data Hle. The
screens data fle instructs ttie aairsoprocessor 602 on the
location of each graphics flle on the screen. An example
screens data file is shown in Table D. wherein the screens
data file specifies menu data positioning in terms of. for
example. x and y pixel positions, height and a7idth. color
codes and fonts. AlternativeIy, inst,ructions or routines may
be transmitted from the operations center 202 to be stored
in memory within the individual set top t als 220.


CA 02444289 2003-10-16

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TAaLZ D

- The followu-4 ta luxs are .or the main menu

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'OSiAIN maui mezau. pcx ain esau

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As shown at block 878 in Figure 9c. initially the
microprocessor 602 instructs the tuner 603 to select a
channel. The channel is decompressed. error corrected and
decrypted, if necessary. If the video is to be reduced in size.
so as to be placed within a video window, or is a split screen
video window which must be enlarged, the video is scaled to
the appropriate size. Additionally, the video may be required
to be redirected to a portion of the television screen.
accomplished by creating a series of offsets for each pixel
location, of the video.


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53
Graphics must also be used to create a menu in most
instances. As shown in block 882, the microprocessor 602
must fetch a background ftle. a logo file. and a menu display
and cursor file in most instances. Each of these k31es is
decompressed 883. and then combined, block 886.
Similarly, the microprocessor 602 must fetch text, as
shown in block 884. Depending upon the memory location of
the text, the microprocessor 602 -avill fetch the text from
long-term. intermediate-term, or short-term storage. as
described above. Based upon this memory retrieval, the text
is generated, block, 885. and combined with the video (if
any). with as many screens of a decompressed graphics as are
necessary, and any text, block 886. The image or portions of
the image are stored in the video combiner (for example.
combiner 624 of Figure 4) until all overlays are received.
Thereafter, the entire image is sent, under direction of
another routine. to be displayed on the television screen. as
represented by display block 888.
The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth
by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous
variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the
invention as de8ned in the follocving claims.

Representative Drawing