Interactive video distribution systems – User-requested video program system – Video-on-demand
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-18
2002-12-10
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
User-requested video program system
Video-on-demand
C725S131000, C725S139000, C725S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06493876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to television systems. More particularly, this invention relates to full service television systems that use advanced storage, communications, and processing techniques to provide a variety of television services including audio and audiovisual programming, advanced navigation controls, interactive program guides (IPGs), Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand programming, Video-On-Demand programming, advanced configuration controls, and online services.
With recent advances in storage, communication, and processing technologies, many present-day television systems are becoming antiquated. This is especially true of many cable television systems. Traditional methods of broadcasting television programs and services in such cable television systems suffer from an inability to deliver a high number of high quality television signals on a single coaxial cable. Many existing television systems also cannot provide the advanced television services desired by their subscribers, such as, for example, a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand programming, Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls. Furthermore, most modern television systems have no provisions whatsoever for supplying services such as World Wide Web browsing, Internet E-Mail, and online services.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a full service television system capable of delivering a high number of high quality television signals.
It would also be desirable to provide a full service television system capable of using advanced communications techniques to deliver a high number of high quality television signals.
It would further be desirable to provide a full service television system capable of sustaining two-way communications between a cable service provider and a cable service subscriber.
It would even further be desirable to provide a full service television system capable of delivering advanced television services such as a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand programming, Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls.
It would still further be desirable to provide a full service television system capable of delivering services such as World Wide Web browsing, Internet E-Mail, and online services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a full service television system capable of delivering a high number of high quality television signals.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a full service television system capable of using advanced communications techniques to deliver a high number of high quality television signals.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a full service television system capable of sustaining two-way communications between a cable service provider and a cable service subscriber.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a full service television system capable of delivering advanced television services such as a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand programming, Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls.
It is an even further object of this invention to provide a full service television system capable of delivering services such as World Wide Web browsing, Internet E-Mail, and online services.
In accordance with these and other objects of the present invention, a full service television system is provided that includes digital and analog programs and services, an advanced communications network, and a fully programmable set-top terminal capable of implementing advanced television and online services.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the full service television system is implemented as a cable television system. Although a cable television system is described herein, the present invention, and all of its features, can be implemented in other forms, such as, for example, a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) system, a Multi-channel Multi-point Distribution System (MMDS), an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) system, a Local Area Network (LAN) system, or a Wide Area Network (WAN) system.
Preferred implementations of the cable television system of the present invention comprise a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. The cable headend provides programs, services, and overall system control of the cable television system. The fiber transports, distribution hubs, and hybrid fiber coax plants provide an advanced communication network for the cable television system. And the set-top terminals provide interfaces, processing, and storage capability in a subscriber's home to facilitate the implementation of advanced television and online services.
To provide programs, services, and overall system control of the cable television system of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the cable headend incorporates digital and analog satellite receivers, a broadcast cable gateway, integrated receiver decoders, analog scrambling and modulation, application and media servers, an addressable controller, a digital switch or multiplexer, and an interactive cable gateway. Although these elements will be described herein as distinct functions, each can be implemented as a single device, as a composition of devices, or as a portion of a device.
Programs and services provided by the cable headend are supplied to the cable headend primarily through analog and digital satellite broadcasts and through digital data storage. The cable headend may also receive programs and services from sources such as, for example, analog off-air signals, digital off-air signals, and locally originated signals.
Analog and digital satellite broadcasts are received at the cable headend by a plurality of analog and digital satellite receivers. Integrated receiver decoders within the cable headend control the reception of the analog satellite broadcasts, and analog scrambling and modulation converts the analog signals into a format suitable for transmission over the cable system's communication network. Similarly, a broadcast cable gateway within the cable headend controls the reception of the digital satellite broadcasts and converts the digital signals into a format suitable for transmission over the cable system's communications network.
Programs and services are also supplied to the cable headend through digitally stored data in application and media servers. Programs and services stored in the application and media servers are first transmitted to the cable system's communication network through a digital switch or multiplexer and then through an interactive cable gateway. The digital switch or multiplexer can be implemented through an Asynchronous Transfer Mode switch, a Digital Video Broadcast Asynchronous Serial Interface (DVB ASI), or other suitable means. The application servers can be connected directly to the digital switch or multiplexer, or can be connected to the digital switch or multiplexer via an intermediate network. The media servers, however, should be connected to the digital switch or multiplexer directly because of the high bandwidth requirements of the media servers and the limited bandwidth capabilities of present day networks. Programs and services transmitted through the digital switch or multiplexer from the application and media servers are converted by the interactive cable gateway to a format suitable for transmission in the cable system's communication network. By connecting the application and media servers to the interactive cable gateway through the digital switch or multiplexer, a cable system operator can add new application and media servers to the cable televis
Addington Timothy H.
Buehl Joseph G.
DeFreese Darryl L.
LaJoie Mike L.
Faile Andrew
Fish & Neave
Lonsberry Hunter B
Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P.
Tuma Garry J.
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