Interactive video distribution systems – User-requested video program system – Near video-on-demand system
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-03
2004-07-20
An, Shawn S. (Department: 2613)
Interactive video distribution systems
User-requested video program system
Near video-on-demand system
C725S102000, C725S087000, C725S088000, C725S099000, C725S100000, C725S133000, C725S151000, C725S131000, C725S139000, C725S141000, C725S153000, C455S003010, C455S003020, C455S003030, C455S003040, C455S003050, C455S003060, C348S014010, C348S014020, C348S014030, C348S014040, C348S014050, C348S014060, C348S014070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06766527
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CATV system, called as a cable television system, more particularly to a CATV system for two-way communication, and to a CATV distributor, a processing terminal, and a receiver used in the CATV system.
2. Description of the Related Art
CATV is an abbreviation for community antenna TV (television), cable and communication TV, or cable TV and generally called as “cable television” or the like. CATV system is a television distribution system in which a CATV distributor located in a CATV central station is connected to subscribers' TV receivers via broad-band transmission cable such as coaxial cable or optical fiber cable which has or relates to a wide band of electromagnetic frequencies, thereby supplying programs from the CATV distributor to the subscribers' TV receivers.
In such a CATV system, a multiple program channels through telecasting by way of grand wave such as VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultrahigh frequency), and communication-satellite broadcasting transmitted via communication satellite are provided from the CATV distributor to the subscribers through the broad-band transmission cable.
A conventional CATV system is mainly structured for transmitting visual information on one way basis from a CATV distributor to subscribers. Then, information from the subscribers to the CATV distributor is quite limited for example only selection of program channels. As a result, the CATV system is still at the level of a substitute for a TV by way of grand wave with extended number of program channels and for a video recorder such as VCR (video cassette recorder).
As mentioned above, CATV system has limited services. This is one of reasons to deter the spread of CATV system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first object of the present invention is to provide a CATV system which has an improved two-way communication function between a CATV central station and subscribers, permits not only distribution of broadcasting information but also communication for additional information therebetween, and allows another device connected to the CATV distributor to control subscribers' devices connected to the CATV distributor.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a CATV system which permits not only distribution of broadcasting information but also communication for additional information via transmission lines for broadcasting, and allows the linkage communication among the CATV distributor, subscribers' receivers, and another device which are connected to the CATV distributor.
The third object of the present invention is to provide a CATV distributor which permits communication with subscriber' devices for additional information other than broadcasting information, and can provide extended services using the additional information.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a processing terminal which permits communication with a CATV distributor for additional information other than broadcasting information, and can receive extended services using the additional information.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a receiver which permits communication with a CATV distributor for additional information other than broadcasting information, and can receive extended services using the additional information.
A CATV system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a CATV distributor located in a CATV central station for distributing broadcasting information and for transmitting and receiving additional information other than the broadcasting information; at least one receiver located at a subscriber's side for receiving the broadcasting information transmitted from the CATV distributor and/or for responding to the additional information transmitted from the CATV distributor; and a processing terminal located in the subscriber's side for transmitting and receiving the additional information to and from the CATV distributor and for responding to the additional information received therein.
A CATV system according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: a CATV distributor located in a CATV central station connected to a subscriber's side by transmission lines for multiple channels including broadcasting channels and additional information channels, the CATV distributor distributing broadcasting information through the broadcasting channels and transmitting and receiving additional information, other than the broadcasting information, through the additional information channels; at least one receiver located at the subscriber's side for receiving the broadcasting information transmitted from the CATV distributor through the broadcasting channels and/or for responding to the additional information transmitted from the CATV distributor through the additional information channels; and a processing terminal located in the subscriber's side for transmitting and receiving the additional information to and from the CATV distributor through the additional information channels and for responding to the additional information received therein. The additional information channels are two-way communication channels.
The processing terminal may include an operational requesting means for inputting operational request information for requesting an operation of the receiver and a first communication means for transmitting the operational request information, inputted from the operational requesting means, as the additional information to the CATV distributor, the CATV distributor may include an operational command generating means for generating operational command information for commanding the operation of the receiver according to the operational request information and a second communication means for transmitting and receiving the additional information, when the additional information is the operational request information, the second communication means providing the operational request information to the operational command generating means and transmitting the operational command information generated by the operational command generating means, as the additional information to the receiver, and the receiver may include a third communication means for receiving the additional information; and an operating means for operating in response to the operational command information when the additional information received by the third communication means is the operational command information.
The operational requesting means may include a means for inputting operational request information for requesting an operation of the processing terminal itself, the operational command generating means may include a means for generating operational command information for commanding the operation of the processing terminal according to the operational request information, and the second communication means may include a means for transmitting the operational command information as the additional information to the processing terminal when the operational command information generated by the operational command generating means is for commanding the operation of the processing terminal.
The processing terminal may have an inquiry requesting means for inputting inquiry request information for requesting to inquire the status of the receiver, the first communication means may therefore include a means for transmitting the inquiry request information, inputted from the inquiry requesting means, as the additional information to the CATV distributor, the CATV distributor may have a status request generating means, according to the inquiry request information when the additional information received by the second communication means is the inquiry request information, for generating status request information for requesting to notify the status of the receiver, the second communication means may therefore include a means for transmitting the status request information, generated by the status requesting
Oizumi Shigeru
Suzuki Tomoyoshi
Tsutsui Seiji
An Shawn S.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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