Interactive video distribution systems – Local video distribution system – Multiunit or multiroom structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2003-05-20
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Local video distribution system
Multiunit or multiroom structure
C725S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06567981
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to communications systems. In particular, this invention relates to an interactive audio/video and data telecommunications system which integrates and redistributes audio/video and data signals received in multiple formats to multiple users over existing telephone wires.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern society is heavily reliant upon many different kinds of audio/video and data telecommunications services affecting all aspects of daily life. Television is one of the most popular sources of information and entertainment. Other sources of information and entertainment include computer networks such as the Internet, which today offers services such as interactive shopping, banking, gaming, venues for discussion and social intercourse and many other products and services, home video games, video/DVD movie rentals, radio and television broadcasts and the like. These types of services provide a virtually unlimited variety of information and entertainment to practically every corner of the world.
However, these services have evolved independently over many decades and as such are provided in different formats and through disparate channels of distribution. For example, television signals can be received by off-air antenna, cable redistribution networks (CATV) and satellite broadcasts, but access to each signal source is independent of the others and requires specialized equipment and/or service providers. A television set can be equipped to receive signals from all of these sources, but only one at a time so some form of switching equipment at the receiving end is required to change the television signal source. Further, each of these signals itself comprises many channels, which complicates attempts to pool the services into a single integrated system. The Internet is accessible by modem over CATV or telephone wires, but is typically connected to a computer which is a completely separate viewing system.
Prior to the invention there has never been a system available for integrating these types of services, which would allow a user to instantaneously access any channel provided by any telecommunications or broadcast service using a single system. Moreover, prior to the invention there has not been an inexpensive system available which is interactive, simple to use and delivers any desired telecommunications and broadcast service over a single network of twisted pair telephone wires.
A new technology known as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is now available which carries high-bandwidth data to subscribers over PSTN telephone lines using a form of fixed frequency Direct Multitone (DMT). Where the subscriber is located in proximity to a telephone company which offers DSL service, data rates of up to 7 Mb/s are available, which permits the continuous transmission of video (including motion video) and audio signals without interfering with telephony (voice) transmissions.
In conventional analog telephony the data rate is limited by filters which convert digital data streams to analog form suitable for PSTN telephone transmission cables, which is very bandwidth intensive. In DSL, digital data is transmitted without conversion to analog, which allows for a much wider transmission bandwidth in a signal that can be separated from the analog voice signal. However, in order to accomplish this over existing PSTN wiring, all existing digital-to-analog filters must be removed, which is a very expensive process, which increases as the distance from the telephone company facility increases, and results in a high cost to DSL subscribers. Moreover, outdoor PSTN cable is subject to degradation, and any signal carried on outdoor wiring is vulnerable to ambient em interference and attenuation due to multiple taps and other connections. These factors combine to limit the usefulness of fixed frequency DMT.
It would accordingly be advantageous to provide a system for integrating broadcast and telecommunications signals from a variety of sources, which can utilize conventional twisted-pair telephone wiring within a subscriber's premises and does not rely upon transmission to the premises via outdoor PSTN cables utilizing dynamic frequency allocation (DFA). It would further be advantageous to provide such a system which permits interactive signal selection of virtually any type of broadcast or telecommunications signal by a user, and which maximizes definition and minimizes interference by adaptively allocating bandwidth to signals based on the nature of the signal and its data content, amongst other factors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an interactive audio/video and data redistribution system which pools the various broadcast and telecommunications services available to a user, integrating these services in a single system which redistributes audio/video and data signals received in multiple formats to multiple users. The invention allows each user to remotely select and control the audio/video or data signal source desired to be viewed or accessed and provides access any available broadcast and telecommunications system through a single receiving unit, in the preferred embodiment a television receiver or microprocessor appliance (MPA) such as a computer. Further, the invention provides an interactive system which is simple to operate and allows the user to utilize interactive services such as those available over the Internet. Still further, the invention can be implemented over existing telephone wires, which considerably reduces the cost of the system and renders installation of the system easy and inexpensive.
The invention accomplishes this by providing a redistributing device which is equipped to receive telecommunications signals in any desired format and redistribute selected signals to a user's premises. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with an interface located in the user's premises which receives control signals from the user input using, in the preferred embodiment, a conventional infrared (IR) remote control device, and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user's premises where it is received by the receiving unit, preferably a television receiver or microprocessor appliance (MPA) such as a computer.
A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point for conventional telephone wire, and services multiple users independently. Thus, in the preferred embodiment the redistribution occurs within the users' premises or a central office and is not reliant upon transmission across outdoor cable.
Moreover, the system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can be interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time, or any existing off-air or CATV wiring, so users have the option of receiving services over these networks as well.
Each user may select access to a telecommunications system or program from a menu-driven user interface, which may provide many levels of sub-menus with options specific to the particular telecommunications service selected by the user. The users within the network thus can instantaneously and independently access any available telecommunications service regardless of the input signal format.
In the preferred embodiment the system of the invention is equipped with channel lockout for parental control, optionally a signal processor which prevents videotaping of received programs, a magnetic card reader or other access control device, a system log which records all activities and services accessed by users within the network for billing purposes, a system override which allows the system operator to deny access to selected users of selected services, or redistribute selected programming (for example a message in an emergency situation), and other features which will become apparent from the description below.
In the preferred embodiment, the system of the invention dynamically selects and alloca
Dimock Stratton Clarizio
Eisen Mark B.
Elysium Broadband Inc.
LandOfFree
Audio/video signal redistribution system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Audio/video signal redistribution system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Audio/video signal redistribution system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3013044