Multiplex communications – Communication techniques for information carried in plural... – Combining or distributing information via frequency channels
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-04-17
Patel, Ajit (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Communication techniques for information carried in plural...
Combining or distributing information via frequency channels
C725S086000, C725S091000, C725S114000, C370S395430
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219355
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to communication systems for providing video and/or data services.
BACKGROUND ART
An existing service provider, which may be a video information provider, a data service provider, or a video and data provider, has a central office from which information is communicated to a network interface. For example, a coaxial cable may run from the office through a neighborhood, and have numerous physical drops that run into customer houses. The network interface, at the end of a physical drop, connects to a set top box that is used by the end user to select desired items for reception as video or data items. In these existing systems, the provider's entire bandwidth of information is sent from the office, and is present at each physical drop. As such, the set top box or selection device has access to all of the bandwidth, and if desired, may be programmed to allow or forbid access to certain portions of the entire bandwidth of information.
Although these existing systems have been employed in many video and/or data communication systems that have been commercially successful, there are inherent disadvantages in these types of systems. For example, beside the user having the ability to select from a variety of different channels, other services are typically very limited. More particularly, although there are a growing number of services available over a network that has a physical drop at a customer's home, such as services available through sites on the worldwide web, a customer must take a number of steps to obtain these services. More particularly, a customer must have some form of Internet access available, log onto the Internet through a service provider, and then locate the website of the party that offers the desired service. For example, it may be possible to subscribe to a newspaper or magazine by filling out a form on a website.
However, a person may not enjoy or may not be comfortable with the Internet as a medium for requesting service. Still further, a person may not have a home computer.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved video and data communication system that overcomes the problems and limitations of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a broadband communication system that allow an end user to access services available at a video server conveniently from a set top box or selection device.
In carrying out the above object, other objects, and features of the present invention, a broadband video and data communication system is provided. The system comprises a headend having a video channel provider and a data service provider, a host digital terminal in communication with the headend, and a network interface. The network interface is operative to communicate through the host digital terminal so as to allow communication with the video channel provider. The network interface allows bidirectional communication with the data service provider.
The system further comprises a selection device located at the network interface, and a video server in communication with the video channel provider. The selection device is operative to send information to and receive information from the headend. The video server is operative to send a video channel through the video channel provider to the selection device. The video server is in bi-directional communication with the data service provider. Further, the video server is operative to send and receive data information, through the data service provider, to and from the selection device.
Preferably, the system further comprises a network unit between the host digital terminal and the network interface with the network interface connected to the network unit. At least one additional network interface is connected to the network unit. The host digital terminal identifies each different network interface with a unique identification tag.
Preferably, the identification tag includes a host digital terminal number, a network unit number, and a network interface port number. Further, in a preferred embodiment, upon request for the video channel, the video channel provider sends the video channel and the host digital terminal sends the identification tag to the selection device. Further, the video server has an address, and the host digital terminal sends the address for the video server to the selection device.
Still further, preferably, the host digital terminal assigns an address to the selection device, and the selection device, upon receiving the identification tag and the video server address, sends the address for the selection device to the video server along with the identification tag.
Preferably, the headend communicates with the selection device over an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. Further, the video server preferably communicates with the video channel provider over an ATM network. Still further, the video server preferably communicates with the data service provider over a packet switched network, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
Further, in carrying out the present invention, a method for use in a broadband video and data communication system is provided. The method comprises configuring the video server for bidirectional communication with the data service provider. Further, the video server is configured for operation to send and receive data information, through the data service provider, to and from the selection device.
The advantages associated with embodiments of the present invention are numerous. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with a telephone video server as the video server. As such, the telephone video server may provide an application program interface (API) to the selection device through the data service provider when the video channel is requested. The application program interface may include a plurality of different selectable services, such as telephone order requests, voice messaging, caller identification, speed dialing, billing information access, or any other service options desired.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a much needed simplification of services. An end user may access services at the video server by simply using their selection device or set top box, or even with a remote control. For example, a customer may review voice messages, or even order an additional telephone line or change phone services with their set top box or even the remote control. Further, a home computer is no longer needed to access a plurality of different services, as with embodiments of the present invention, a television and set top box may be used instead.
The above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Nguyen Hanh
Patel Ajit
Qwest Communications International Inc.
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