Transmission Network Patents (Class 725/148)
  • Patent number: 7802287
    Abstract: A hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network management method and system for use in a broadband network having a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network provided with network elements operable for communicating telephony, data, and video signals with customer-premises equipment of a subscriber includes an HFC network manager for monitoring status and configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment. A service, design, and inventory (SDI) database is operable with the HFC network manager for storing data indicative of the configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment. A fault manager having an alarm visualization tool is operable with the HFC network manager and the SDI database for generating visual displays of the status and configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harvey R. Bialk, Jyoti A. Kulkarni, Paul E. Schauer
  • Publication number: 20100189028
    Abstract: Method and system for broadcasting digital services comprising a plurality of receiver sets located in several regions and at least one broadcasting facility which rebroadcasts several services with region-specific contents in a single transport stream (TS) consisting of time multiplexed digital packets, said TS reaching all the receiving sets in all the regions in the area covered by the signals originating from said broadcasting facility, the region-specific content being extracted from said TS by the receiving sets of each targeted region by filtering the packets containing region-specific and service-specific packet identifiers—PID's—which are periodically changed as a function of time in accordance with information contained in private tables which are also included in said TS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ORBISAT DA AMAZONIA INDUSTRIA E AEROLEVANTAMENTO S/A
    Inventor: Rogério Ferraz De Camargo
  • Patent number: 7752644
    Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for providing and receiving a video service in digital audio broadcasting (DAB). The video service providing method includes: storing information related to encoding of a provided video service stream and information related to packetization of the video service stream in a channel different from a service data channel; and multiplexing the information related to encoding of the video service stream and the information related to packetization of the video service stream to create a DAB transmission frame, and transmitting the DAB transmission frame. Therefore, by allowing different types of DAB receivers to uniformly process video services, it is possible to achieve high efficiency in video service processing and controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-hoon Park
  • Patent number: 7739719
    Abstract: A cable system, and a method for configuring a path of a cable system, wherein the group delay caused by one or more amplifiers having diplex filter networks is substantially equalized over all frequencies within a predetermined band by the use of one or more all-pass delay equalizers. A method of configuring a path includes steps of determining a delay versus frequency characteristic of the path within the predetermined frequency band, and providing from one to a plurality of all-pass delay equalizers in the path, wherein a collective delay versus frequency characteristic of the all-pass delay equalizer(s) within a predetermined frequency band is a mirror image of that caused by the amplifier(s), such that all frequencies within the predetermined frequency band are delayed by substantially the same amount and hence all frequency components of a signal arrive at a receiver at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Raymond Palinkas, Ahmet Burak Olcen
  • Publication number: 20100146580
    Abstract: A premises based multimedia communication system includes a source device that produces multimedia content, a rendering device that presents the multimedia content, and a premises communication network coupling the source device to the rendering device. The source device receives data packets carrying the multimedia content from the remote content source via at least one remote delivery communication network and transmits at least two copies of the data packets carrying video frames of the multimedia content to the rendering device via the at least one premises communication network. The rendering device decodes video frames carried by first copies of the data packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman (Xuemin) Chen, Stephen Palm, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Publication number: 20100138892
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain a delivery session with a set top box for streaming of media content thereto where the media content is multiple content from a plurality of media sources, maintain retrieval sessions for each of the plurality of media sources where the controller switches between the retrieval sessions to obtain the media content while maintaining the delivery session, and temporarily store the media content in a buffer for the streaming to the set top box using the delivery session. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Troy Meuninck, Ke Yu
  • Patent number: 7730517
    Abstract: A method of transmission of digital information in a digital communication network, the network comprising at least one transport stream carrying one or more bouquet related tables such as BAT tables (53, 54) containing information regarding the services provided in a commercial bouquet and characterised in transmitting at least one table (51) comprising a list of bouquet identity values of some or all of the bouquet association tables together with an indication of the or each transport stream carrying that table or tables. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the table (51) containing a list of bouquet identity values may correspond to the Network Information Table of a network. The present invention also extends to the identification of any fixed PID, TID tables that may only be distinguished by their TID extension values. The present invention is particularly applicable to digital television systems conforming to the MPEG-2 and DVB proposed standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: THOMSON Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Francois Rey, Philippe Poulain
  • Patent number: 7724753
    Abstract: A method of controlling and delivering media content from a media server (MS) to a media renderer (MR) utilizing a wide area IMS network for control. The method involves: provisioning a serving node in the IMS network with control point (CP) logic that includes logic to negotiate media content delivery with a least one of an MS and an MR; provisioning a user endpoint (UE) device of the IMS network with control point proxy (CPP) logic that includes logic to negotiate media content delivery and VCR controls to control media presentation; in response to a media content delivery request, invoking the CPP logic and the CP logic to cooperatively negotiate media content delivery between an MS and an MR that uses local wireless or land line connections when possible in order to minimize wide area bandwidth usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Aylus Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Shamim A. Naqvi, Prasad S. Dorbala, Ellis L. Wong, Mahesh N. Ganmukhi
  • Patent number: 7721319
    Abstract: A system for distributing television signals comprises a first terminal which receives a coaxial cable, at least one second terminal which receives a twisted pair of conductors, and an amplifier system comprising a unit for selecting either a first slope or a second slope of increasing gain as a function of frequency between a signal present at the first terminal and a signal present at the second terminal. A method of distributing television signals includes a step of obtaining a system of the above kind, a step of determining a threshold for the length of the pair, and a step of selecting the first slope when the twisted pair has a length less than the threshold and the second slope when the twisted pair has a length greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Legrand France
    Inventor: Vincent Laroche
  • Patent number: 7707608
    Abstract: Efficient messaging techniques that facilitate interactive program guide (IPG) delivery and allow a terminal to specifically designate requested items of information from a server. The IPG can be provided via a number of IPG pages, with each page including a number of defined regions. In one method, selection for a particular region of a particular page is received at a terminal and a determination is made whether the selected region is currently received. If the answer is no, a request for the selected region is generated and sent to a server. The request can conform to a particular message format that includes a number of fields, e.g., a region ID field that identifies the selected region, a subtype field that identifies a particular type, a time slot field that identifies a specific time slot, and a page offset field that identifies a specific page from among many.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Gordon, Jeremy S. Edmonds, John P. Comito, Sadik Bayrakeri
  • Patent number: 7707607
    Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for providing and receiving a video service in digital audio broadcasting (DAB). The video service providing method includes: storing information related to encoding of a provided video service stream and information related to packetization of the video service stream in a channel different from a service data channel; and multiplexing the information related to encoding of the video service stream and the information related to packetization of the video service stream to create a DAB transmission frame, and transmitting the DAB transmission frame. Therefore, by allowing different types of DAB receivers to uniformly process video services, it is possible to achieve high efficiency in video service processing and controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-hoon Park
  • Publication number: 20100083339
    Abstract: A “program information constituent element table” is in common use at data transmitting locations, data relaying locations and data converting locations and plural programs are combined through high multiplexing to one MPEG-2 transport stream, thereby suppressing use of resources for network transmission among broadcasting bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko YOSHII
  • Patent number: 7688868
    Abstract: An original blanking period of a video signal is shortened to a set blanking period, and audio data is multiplexed into a resulting superimposing period. Table distinguishing data indicating the length of the superimposing period is inserted into the period as a blanking signal. With this configuration, it is possible to enable transmission and reception of an audio signal in a system capable of transmitting and receiving a video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshige Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7676827
    Abstract: A server for providing to a user terminal an additional service on a web page during setting a predetermined service including a determining unit configured to determine whether a request for provision of the additional service is received from the user terminal; a receiving unit configured to receive presentation information for introducing the predetermined service from the user terminal when the determining unit determines the request for provision of the additional service is received; a creating unit configured to create the web page including the presentation information; a posting unit configured to post the web page; and a fee charging unit configured to charge a fee for the additional service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Nishizawa, Katsushi Fujii
  • Patent number: 7675876
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved transport demultiplexor that can receive and filter different data types before sending the data to system memory. The preferred embodiment provides a string comparator to facilitate real time filtering of continuous incoming data before loading the data into system memory. The string comparator preferably uses a bit-maskable matching filter that filters system data in real time as the data is being delivered to system memory. When data matching the filter is located, the destination address of that data is determined and delivered to the processor. This allows the processor to quickly locate the desired data and thus facilitates the real time processing of that data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Foster, Dennis E. Franklin, Bryan J. Lloyd
  • Publication number: 20100023994
    Abstract: Network interface devices and methods are provided. A particular network interface device includes a first network interface adapted to terminate one or more communication lines and a second network interface to terminate at least one coaxial line. The network interface device also includes at least one interface connector adapted to receive a removable plug-in module. The removable plug-in module includes a video unit that is operable to receive video data from a network device via at least one of the one or more communication lines and to process the video data for communication via the at least one coaxial line or a twisted wire pair when the plug-in module is connected to the at least one interface connector. The removable plug-in module also includes a power coupling device to receive power via at least one of the one or more communication lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: AT & T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Darrell Taylor, Steven L. McDonald, Alfonso Jones
  • Patent number: 7636929
    Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus for providing and receiving a video service in digital audio broadcasting (DAB). The video service providing method includes: storing information related to encoding of a provided video service stream and information related to packetization of the video service stream in a channel different from a service data channel; and multiplexing the information related to encoding of the video service stream and the information related to packetization of the video service stream to create a DAB transmission frame, and transmitting the DAB transmission frame. Therefore, by allowing different types of DAB receivers to uniformly process video services, it is possible to achieve high efficiency in video service processing and controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-hoon Park
  • Patent number: 7623532
    Abstract: Enhanced Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) functionality, including programmable digital domain modulators and demodulators for dynamic channel assignment, is incorporated into Fiber Nodes (FNs) or mini Fiber Nodes (mFNs), yielding enhanced Fiber Nodes (eFNs). These eFns distribute CMTS functionality deep into Hybrid-Fiber-Coax Networks (HFCN) rather than centralizing the CMTS functions within a single location. Moving the cable modem terminations closer to the subscribers shortens the analog RF paths required to support cable modems. Communication of both subscriber data and CMTS control data is performed over Ethernet-compatible packet networks between the field-based CMTSs and an upstream facility (e.g., the Head End), which includes an Internet gateway. Packet data for multiple subscriber cable modems is easily compressed and merged over common network paths, reducing cabling plant complexity and increasing bandwidth utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Valentino Liva, Alok Sharma, Lance Smith, James Yee
  • Patent number: 7600250
    Abstract: A system includes a receiver and a communication interface. The receiver is adapted to tune to an audio/video portion over a transport medium. The communication interface is adapted to receive announcement data associated with the tuned audio/video content directed to a first addressable location and to receive a special announcement directed to the first addressable location. The special announcement indicates availability of the announcement data associated with the tuned audio/video program, and the announcement data is associated with the tuned audio/video content and indicates enhancement data is being transmitted. The controller is adapted to redirect the announcement data to a second addressable location other than the first addressable location in response to the special announcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne J. Carr
  • Patent number: 7587738
    Abstract: A network camera system is configured such that an adapter device is connected with a digital camera, and the adapter device is connected with a network to which a client is also connected. A video signal representing a real-time image and a digital image signal representing a high-resolution still image are transmitted from the camera to the adapter. The adapter has a function of a file server and allows the client to download image data corresponding to the high-resolution still image. The adapter device further has a function of a streaming server and transmits streaming data representing the real-time image. The client can transmits an operation command to the adapter through the network, and the adapter transfer the command to the camera to perform the operation required by the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Nakamura, Toshihiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7577974
    Abstract: The present invention provides a movie channel to a user on a mobile device. Movie based content associated with a movie channel is automatically delivered and stored on a mobile electronic device for access by a user. Using the device, users can quickly and efficiently access movie information without having to type in information, or specifically request the movie information to be downloaded to the device. The movie channel includes several different modes for categorically displaying different types of movie information. Some example modes include: a movies mode; a theaters mode; and a current top movies mode. The movies mode is organized to display information relating to particular movies on the electronic device. The theaters mode is arranged to display information relating to particular theaters on the electronic device. The current top movies mode displays information relating to the current “hot” movies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Joel K. Grossman, Albert W. Tan, Kent Hayden Skinner, Pierre-Francois Seri
  • Patent number: 7564873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing in-band messaging through a video switch or other functional element forming a multiplexed content stream prior to transport processing and/or transmission of the multiplexed content stream via an in-band communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Jeffrey Zack, Christopher W. B. Goode, Yong Ho Son, Andrew G. Fletcher, Kevin J. Borusiewicz
  • Patent number: 7564905
    Abstract: Provided is a system and method for terrestrial digital broadcasting service using a single frequency network without additional equipment. The system and method synchronizes input signals into transmitting stations by inserting a transmission synchronization signal into a header of TS periodically, and solves the problematic ambiguity of the trellis encoder by including a trellis encoder switching unit separately and initializing a memory of the trellis encoder. The terrestrial digital broadcasting system includes: a broadcasting station for multiplexing video, voice and additional signals into transport stream (TS) and transmitting the TS to the transmitting stations and a transmitting stations for receiving the TS and broadcast the TS to receiving stations through a single frequency network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung-Ik Park, Yong-Tae Lee, Seung-Won Kim, Chieteuk Ahn
  • Patent number: 7551738
    Abstract: A copyright protection method and apparatus employ a first protection scheme within a single authorized domain, in which all interfaces are protected with digital rights management system, and employ a second protection scheme for use in inter-domain file transfers. The method and apparatus employ a third protection scheme for external outputs not protected by a digital rights management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Medvinsky, Petr Peterka, Jiang (Jason) Zhang
  • Patent number: 7548653
    Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting a plurality of informational video programs over a single digital transport stream to a plurality of receivers, wherein the receivers are operative to select from the transport stream data identified with any given program and to decode the identified data into a displayable video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Screenpeaks Ltd.
    Inventors: Avigdor Olshansky, Yoram Caspi
  • Patent number: 7529856
    Abstract: Disclosed is a scalable, hierarchical, distributed network architecture and processes for the delivery of high-performance, end-to-end online multimedia services, including Internet services such as World Wide Web access. The network architecture connects a high-speed private backbone to multiple network access points of the Internet, to a network operation center, to a back office system, and to multiple regional servers in regional data centers. Each of the regional servers connects to several caching servers in modified head-ends, which in turn connect via fiber optics to many neighborhood nodes. Finally, each node connects via coaxial cable to multiple end-user systems. The processes include those for replicating and caching frequently-accessed content, and multicasting content customized per region or locality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: At Home Corporation
    Inventor: Milo S. Medin
  • Publication number: 20090089855
    Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for communication between a plurality of client devices of a broadcast system. The communication may be, for example, a recommendation of a program that is communicated from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers via their client devices. The communication also may be a comment regarding a program, for example, recently viewed at the client device of the one subscriber. In general, the communication may be a message from one subscriber to another subscriber or subscribers. Further, the communication may be configured to perform a function on one or more other client devices. Such a function may include, but is not limited to, setting a timer to record a program, ordering or purchasing a program or service, cancelling an ordered/purchased program or service, setting or altering user preferences, controlling access to channels, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies
    Inventors: David Christopher St. John-Larkin, David A. Kummer, John Anthony Card, II
  • Patent number: 7509669
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing video-on-demand (VOD) transaction errors in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network. Raw XOD transaction error data is acquired from an XOD server. XOD-related subscriber information is acquired from a subscriber datastore. VOD transaction data is acquired from a VOD server. A correlator acquires the raw XOD transaction error, determines from the XOD-related subscriber information that a subscriber is not entitled to receive XOD service, creates filtered XOD transaction error data by removing from the raw XOD transaction error data XOD transaction errors associated with the subscriber, and correlates a filtered XOD transaction error with VOD transaction data to identify a network path of the filtered XOD transaction error. A result processor reviews the correlated transaction error data to determine whether correlated transaction error data entries are related by a common cause.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Bowen, William H. Berger
  • Patent number: 7506354
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing video-on-demand (VOD) transaction errors in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network. Raw XOD transaction error data is acquired from an XOD server. XOD-related subscriber information is acquired from a subscriber datastore. VOD transaction data is acquired from a VOD server. A correlator acquires the raw XOD transaction error, determines from the XOD-related subscriber information that a subscriber is not entitled to receive XOD service, creates filtered XOD transaction error data by removing from the raw XOD transaction error data XOD transaction errors associated with the subscriber, and correlates a filtered XOD transaction error with VOD transaction data to identify a network path of the filtered XOD transaction error. A result processor reviews the correlated transaction error data to determine whether correlated transaction error data entries are related by a common cause.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Bowen, William H. Berger
  • Patent number: 7489686
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical network unit of an access network for converging broadcast/telecommunication by employing IEEE 1394. The optical network unit processes the broadcast data and the communication data delivered from the optical line terminal according to each corresponding subscriber and delivering the broadcast data and the communication data to each corresponding subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-In Choi, Yun-Je Oh
  • Publication number: 20090025040
    Abstract: In an interactive service system (70), a service provider has an AV content creating/transmitting device (72) for transmitting AV content and an AV content related service providing device (75) for receiving a message, and a service requester has an AV content reproducing device (74) for reproducing the AV content received from the AV content creating/transmitting device (72) and then creating the message in accordance with sub-content of the AV content to transmit the message. The AV content creating/transmitting device (72) broadcasts AV data of the AV content via a relay station (13), while transmitting sub-content of the AV content via a network (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihide Hagawa, Toru Ueda, Toshiyuki Iwai
  • Patent number: 7451471
    Abstract: An optical ring network for use, for example, in a motor vehicle, includes an optical data line that defines a ring network, a playback transducer and at least one data source connected to the optical data line, where the data source provides compressed data onto the optical data line. The network also includes at least one data sink connected to the optical data line, which receives the compressed data from the optical data line. The data sink includes a bit stream decoder that decompresses the received compressed data and provides the decompressed data to the playback transducer. The local network transmits audio and video data in compressed form via the data line, and has a single bit stream decoder, centrally situated at the respective data sink, for decompressing the audio and/or video data. As a result, the individual data sources no longer need their own bit stream decoder for decompressing the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Schöpp, Erich A. Geiger, Detlef Teichner
  • Publication number: 20080104659
    Abstract: Real-time data is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver. For each frame of the real-time data, portions of the frame are transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver within a time period allocated for transmission of the frame, in order from one or more higher-priority portions of the frame to one or more lower-priority portions of the frame, until the time period allocated for transmission of the frame has expired. The transmitter waits for feedback from the receiver after transmitting each portion of each frame. Not all of the portions of each frame may be transmitted during the time period allocated for transmission of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew James West, Paul S. Everest, Arnold W. Larson
  • Publication number: 20080072275
    Abstract: A video apparatus having an exterior recording function and an interior time shift function and a broadcast processing method thereof The video apparatus includes a memory which temporarily stores a broadcast of a certain time duration; an interface which is connected to enable communication with a first external device; and a controller which controls the memory to output a broadcast of a certain time point from the broadcast temporarily stored to the memory, and transmits a recording request of a specific broadcast to the first external device through the interface. Accordingly, resource sharing can be maximized without suffering overall performance degradation of the video system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Sang-hee KIM
  • Patent number: 7299485
    Abstract: A method of processing a packetized datastream that includes program information and ancillary information used to acquire desired program information packets. The method includes the steps of identifying a first data unit that includes channel information and identifying a plurality of second data units included with the first data unit. The plurality of second data units are of a fixed length, and thus, separated in the packetized datastream by a multiple of a fixed offset. The method further includes the step of acquiring desired second data units using the fixed offset and subsequently determining the available services associated with a program and acquiring the desired program packets from the datastream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: John William Chaney, Bill Wesley Beyers, Jr., Michael Wayne Johnson, James Edwin Hailey, Kevin Elliott Bridgewater, Michael Scott Deiss, Raymond Scott Horton
  • Patent number: 7263713
    Abstract: In a television signal transmission system, CS broadcasting signals received via a master antenna are converted into intermediate frequency signals in an LNB (Low Noise Block Down Converter). The CS intermediate frequency signals then undergo conversion of the modulation format, for example, from QPSK into 64-QAM, so that CS broadcasting signals from each transponder, having a bandwidth of, for example, 27 MHz, are accommodated in a narrower bandwidth, for example, 6 MHz, which is equivalent to one channel of terrestrial broadcasting services. Then, the signals accommodated in the narrower bandwidth is frequency-shifted into a vacant frequency band in the VHF band or the UHF band. Accordingly, the CS signals accommodated in the narrower band and frequency-shifted into the vacant band are multiplexed with terrestrial broadcasting signals in the VHF and UHF bands and BS intermediate frequency signals so that all these signals are delivered to each household via a single cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Oishi, Keiji Fukuzawa, Kenji Inose
  • Patent number: 7240121
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to the distribution of music and videos via the Internet. Single stream content is divided into a plurality of parts A to D in a time-series manner, and a first part A is transmitted via stream distribution, and remaining parts B to D are transmitted via buffering distribution such that decoding of a receiver's side can be started upon the end of decoding an immediately preceding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7237250
    Abstract: Idle Video-On-Demand (VOD) channel capacity is used to deliver promotional content to selected set-top boxes (STBs) in a cable television network. Commercial segment cues are used to instruct a set-top box to switch away from a broadcast program to the VOD channel during a commercial segment, and then switch back again to the original broadcast program at the end of the segment. More particularly, a promotion server determines an asset to be distributed such as a targeted promotion item (e.g., a commercial), and a list of STBs that are to receive it. The promotion server causes the video promotion content to be stored in VOD servers located at the head ends. A scheduler process then delivers schedule messages to head end message servers which identify each promotion asset, and an STB which is to receive it. The head end message server notifies its associated VOD server which then cues the asset by loading the asset, starting the asset, but pausing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Navic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Kanojia, Terri Swartz, Darren Wetzel, Mark Fagnani
  • Patent number: 7228558
    Abstract: A method of transmission of digital information in a digital broadcast system including a central transmission station and one or more decoders, the central station transmitting at least one transport stream comprising a stream of packets encapsulating data tables or sections within their payloads, one or more encapsulated sections including a medium access control (MAC) address used to control the reception of that section by one or more decoders wherein the MAC address is dynamically assigned by the central transmission station and communicated to the or each decoder in an address assignment message using a fixed IP address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Gilles Lebouill
  • Patent number: 7225275
    Abstract: Disclosed is a scalable, hierarchical, distributed network architecture and processes for the delivery of high-performance, end-to-end online multimedia services, including Internet services such as World Wide Web access. The network architecture connects a high-speed private backbone to multiple network access points of the Internet, to a network operation center, to a back office system, and to multiple regional servers in regional data centers. Each of the regional servers connects to several caching servers in modified head-ends, which in turn connect via fiber optics to many neighborhood nodes. Finally, each node connects via coaxial cable to multiple end-user systems. The processes include those for replicating and caching frequently-accessed content, and multicasting content customized per region or locality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: At Home Corporation
    Inventor: Milo S. Medin
  • Patent number: 7209496
    Abstract: An original blanking period of a video signal is shortened to a set blanking period, and audio data is multiplexed into a resulting superimposing period. Table distinguishing data indicating the length of the superimposing period is inserted into the period as a blanking signal. With this configuration, it is possible to enable transmission and reception of an audio signal in a system capable of transmitting and receiving a video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshige Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7076793
    Abstract: A program guide information producing apparatus outputs self-produced program guide information and other broadcaster's program guide information. In the program guide information producing apparatus, a common program guide information producing section generates self-produced common program guide information. Furthermore, a program guide information output section unites the self-produced common program guide information with other broadcaster's common program guide information received from a program guide information collecting/transmitting apparatus and outputs the united common program guide information. Thus, the self-produced common program guide information is surely output even when the program guide information collecting/transmitting apparatus or the like is in trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Nakada, Takeshi Nagao, Kenichi Fujita, Yoshiyasu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7058951
    Abstract: In consumer devices, like digital television sets or set-top boxes, there can be a problem with a sudden load increase caused by for example a scene change and user focus. During such a load increase, the quality of service of the application having the user focus will decrease until the device detects the load increase. The device can reallocate resources to the application having the user focus after which the quality of service will increase again towards its previous level. However, the user may have noticed the quality decrease. In order to prevent this noticeable decrease of quality in overload situations, a method and a system are provided that guarantees a worst-case budget to the application having user focus and conditionally guarantees a budget surplus to an application not having the user focus. The latter application can then use that budget surplus to operate at a higher quality of service level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Reinder Jaap Bril, Elisabeth Francisca Maria Steffens, Christian Hentschel, Maria Gabrani, Cornelis Conradus Adrianus Maria Van Zon
  • Patent number: 7036137
    Abstract: A system and method for providing program guide information to subscribers is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method is applied to a broadcasting system having a first service network broadcasting a first signal having a first set of programs, a second service network broadcasting a second signal having a second set of programs, and a third service network broadcasting a third signal having a third set of programs, wherein the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal each include service channels uniquely identified by a service channel identifier, a method of providing a unified program guide to a receiver station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: The DirecTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Arsenault, Stephen P. Dulac, Tam T. Leminh, Laura J. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 7032239
    Abstract: A system enables connection information and content description information to be separately transmitted from a broadcaster to a receiver. Thus, the description of the content may be provided to a receiver prior to the time that the information needed to specify the connection to the service such as a channel is known. By uncoupling the content description and connection information, the assignment of connection information may be managed dynamically in the broadcast network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Huckins
  • Patent number: 6959451
    Abstract: An interactive transmission system having a data management module that identifies at least one transmission characteristic of at least one transmitter module. The transmitter module transmits data over a transport medium. The data management module modifies its behavior based on the identified at least one transmission characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Ramanathan Ramanathan
  • Patent number: 6954469
    Abstract: A system for streaming a plurality of video or other recorded signals from storage to receiving devices maintains each of the signal streams at their encoded bit rate. The bit rate of each stream is detected from the stored signals and a corresponding queue is set up in memory or in a network interface card for outputting data at the detected bit rate. A channel timing module in the signal streaming device contains a two-stage dithered counter for each bit rate. The first stage of the counter counts one clock cycle longer than the second stage. By adjusting the ratio of the first stage and second stage counters in a fixed number of cycles (the dither cycle) a very precise average count is achieved. The average count is calculated to achieve the desired bit rate with a given packet size. Every time either the first stage of the second counter times out, a packet of data is sent to the corresponding queue in the network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W Dygert
  • Patent number: 6940874
    Abstract: Methods for reducing interference from initializing network devices in a data-over-cable system. The method includes aligning Initial Maintenance intervals for multiple upstream channels of the data-over-cable system. A cable modem termination system determines if usage intervals for the upstream channels may accommodate Initial Maintenance intervals that start at a common time. If so, the cable modem termination system constructs Bandwidth Allocation MAP messages for the usage intervals that contain Initial Maintenance intervals timed to start at the common time. In response to the MAP messages, initializing network devices range when there are no scheduled data transmissions on any upstream channel. The method may shorten a cable modem's time for ranging and may decrease collisions with data transmissions on the upstream paths when cable modems try to initialize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Chester A. Ruszczyk, David Willming
  • Patent number: 6934966
    Abstract: A system is provided that can easily capture the same broadcast stream from an arbitrary application. An interface between application and a reception route selection mechanism describes in a unified mode a broadcast resource capture specification method and a communication resource capture specification method. The interface employs a description scheme in which an application does not recognize whether or not a broadcast stream is captured through broadcast or communication. In the reception route selection, the reception route selection mechanism checks for a broadcast time contained in the identifier of a broadcast stream to be input so that a zone where a broadcast time is earlier than the current time by using a communication resource receiver while a zone where the broadcast time is later than the current time is selected by using a broadcast resource receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ochiai, Hiroshi Matoba
  • Patent number: RE40107
    Abstract: The invention is a data pipeline system which synchronizes the display of digitized audio and video data regardless of the speed at which the data was recorded on its linear medium. To do this, the video data is played at a constant speed, synchronized by the audio speed. Further, the invention uses a method of “staging” data in storage buffers, i.e., ring buffers, which encourages efficient use of the viewer module resources by not permitting the viewer to read excessive amounts of data at any one time, i.e., to read only enough data into any one ring buffer so that the amount of data in the ring buffer is roughly equivalent to the amount of data in the other ring buffers and yet permitting the viewer to read large enough chunks of data to promote efficient use of the fill system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Peters, Stanley Rabinowitz