Interactive video distribution systems – Local video distribution system – Multiunit or multiroom structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-19
2001-11-13
Miller, John W. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Local video distribution system
Multiunit or multiroom structure
C725S080000, C725S106000, C725S109000, C725S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317884
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the distribution of video, data and telephony and other telecommunications services within a residence.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Advances in the field of telecommunications allow large amounts of digital information to be delivered to residences. Inside the residence, devices will be connected to the network by twisted wire pairs which provide telephone services today, or by coaxial cable similar to that used by cable operators to provide cable TV services.
Because the majority of new video services will be digital, and because existing televisions are analog, there is a requirement for a device which converts the digital signals supplied by the network to analog signals compatible with existing televisions. Presently available television set-tops can perform this function, but are expensive. Many homes have more than one television, and will therefore require multiple television set-tops to receive digital programming at each location within the home.
A centrally located device can provide connectivity to the digital network as well as providing digital to analog conversion, but methods of distributing the signals around the home are required. In addition, methods of communicating with the centralized device from the different locations in the home are required.
It is also desirable to have data and telephony services in the home, and it is likely that these services will be required in more than one location in the home. In addition, there may be the need for communicating between devices in the home.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a centralized unit in the home which can provide video, data, and telephony services, and methods for communicating with the centralized unit from different locations within the home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment a centrally located gateway provides analog video services by receiving a digital data stream from a fiber-to-the-curb access system, and directing packets containing video signals to one or more digital video decompression processors. The video decompression processors generate analog video signals which are transmitted to televisions as S-video signals, or modulated onto carriers to produce broadcast type signals compatible with standard televisions.
In a preferred embodiment, the analog video signals which were generated from the digital network are combined with off-air or cable-TV broadcast signals for transmission to the televisions in the residence using a splitter and in-home coaxial cable wiring. The digitally originated signals are modulated onto unused television channels. A low pass filter can be used to insure that the off-air or CATV signal has unused channels in the UHF spectrum.
Return signaling from the televisions in the gateway is provided for by use of wireless remote controls which signal back to the gateway for channel changes and other video signal controls.
In a preferred embodiment an optional module can be inserted into the gateway to provide a standard signal for devices in the residence which are designed to be connected directly to the FTTC access system with coaxial drop cables.
A CATV module can be inserted and provides for the mapping of television channels from a CATV network or antenna for off-air broadcasts to a channel for transmission over the in-home coaxial network. By using the CATV module it is possible to map signals to new channels as well as equalizing signal levels to that there are no large signal differences between the signal levels from the CATV network or antenna and the gateway.
An optional module can be inserted to provide telephony services from the gateway.
Data services can be provided from the gateway, and an Ethernet port is used to connect data devices such as computers to the gateway.
In an alternate embodiment a centralized gateway is connected to televisions in the residence by point-to-point coaxial wiring. A main video decompression processor receives video packets and constructs multiple analog video channels. The multiple analog video channels are made available to inserted modules in the gateway through the use of analog video buses. Inserted video modules are used to modulate the video signals onto a channel which can be received by a television connected to the video module by point-to-point coaxial cable wiring.
In an alternate embodiment signaling from the remote locations in the home to the gateway is accomplished by use of an infrared transmitter and receiver. The receiver receives the infrared signals from the hand-held remote control and signals back the gateway via the in-home coaxial cable wiring. The infrared receiver can also be integrated into the television.
In an alternate embodiment the CATV module provides for the mapping of television channels from a CATV network or antenna for off-air broadcasts to a channel for transmission to an individual television. The CATV module places the analog television signal onto an analog video bus. Any one of the inserted TV modules can receive the signal from the bus and transmit that signal to a particular television.
These and other features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be read in light of the accompanying drawings.
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Residential Gateway Group publication, “The residential gateway”, Oct., 1995, 8 pp.
Generic Requirement, Bellcore, “Active Network Interface Device (Residential Gateway),” GR-2890-CORE, issue 2, Nov. 1996, 19 pp.
Specifications, GTE, “The residential gateway functional specifications,” printed from the World Wide Web site http://info.gte.com/gtel/sponsored/rg/webspec.htm on Jul. 24, 1996, 6 pp.
Eames Thomas R.
Eldering Charles A.
Covington & Burling
Miller John W.
Next Level Communications
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