US20020059616A1 - System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels - Google Patents
System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020059616A1 US20020059616A1 US09/809,797 US80979701A US2002059616A1 US 20020059616 A1 US20020059616 A1 US 20020059616A1 US 80979701 A US80979701 A US 80979701A US 2002059616 A1 US2002059616 A1 US 2002059616A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- programming information
- video
- video programming
- information
- frame
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 7
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 claims description 34
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 17
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006855 networking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/42314—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in private branch exchanges
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L12/2805—Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L12/283—Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
- H04L12/2834—Switching of information between an external network and a home network
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/71—Substation extension arrangements
- H04M1/715—Substation extension arrangements using two or more extensions per line
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/21—Server components or server architectures
- H04N21/214—Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital
- H04N21/2143—Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/266—Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system, merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
- H04N21/2665—Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
- H04N21/4131—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
- H04N21/43615—Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
- H04N21/4363—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
- H04N21/43637—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
- H04N21/4382—Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/439—Processing of audio elementary streams
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
- H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
- H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4788—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
- H04N5/445—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/10—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
- H04N7/106—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable for domestic distribution
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
- H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L12/2807—Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network
- H04L12/2812—Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L2012/284—Home automation networks characterised by the type of medium used
- H04L2012/2841—Wireless
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L2012/2847—Home automation networks characterised by the type of home appliance used
- H04L2012/2849—Audio/video appliances
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
- H04M1/65—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party
- H04M1/6505—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party storing speech in digital form
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/005—Interface circuits for subscriber lines
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/44—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
- H04N21/4402—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
- H04N21/440236—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W76/00—Connection management
- H04W76/10—Connection setup
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W76/00—Connection management
- H04W76/30—Connection release
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/14—Backbone network devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
- Computing Systems (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
- Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
- Television Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3, 1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled “Multi-Service In-Home Network With An Open Interface” and assigned to the assignee of this application, incorporated by reference.
- U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/193,813, filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F. Tabloski, et al., entitled “Home Area Network” and assigned to the assignee of this application, incorporated by reference.
- The invention relates generally to the field of user-premises or home area networking, to allow different types of systems and/or communications devices to utilize one in-home network to communicate with each other and to access a number of external communication services, and more specifically to systems and methods of providing video programming information from a plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune.
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3, 1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled “Multi-Service In-Home Network With An Open Interface” (hereinafter “the Edson application”) and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/193,813, filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F. Tabloski, et al., entitled “Home Area Network” (hereinafter “the Tabloski, et al., application”) describe various embodiments of an in-home network and server therefor that provides a number of services. Generally, one of the services is to distribute video program information to, for example, television receivers for viewing thereon. In one embodiment, the video program information may be provided by one or more of a number of sources, including, for example, over-the-air broadcast, a cable provider or a digital satellite provider, and the server generally distributes the video program information to the television receivers over a cable connection that defines a unitary set of channels to which the television receives are adapted to tune. It is also desirable to allow the server to also receive video program information from one or more secondary sources, such as a local video source, and integrate that video program information with the video program information from the other source(s), over the same unitary set of channels.
- The invention provides a new and improved system and method of providing video programming information from a plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune.
- In brief summary, the invention provides system for providing video programming information from a plurality of sources over a unitary set of channels comprising a notch filter, a video program information receiver, a modulator, and a composite video generator. The notch filter is configured to receive the receive video programming information from a first source over the unitary set of channels and provide notched video programming information comprising the received set of channels, except a selected channel. The video program information receiver is configured to receive other video programming information from a second source. The modulator is configured to modulate the other video programming information onto a channel corresponding to the selected channel, thereby to provide modulated other programming information. The composite video generator is configured to combine the notched video programming information from the notch filter and the modulated other programming information generated by the modulator thereby to provide composite video programming information over the unitary set of channels for provision to a television receiver.
- This invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 depicts a home area network including an arrangement for providing video programming information from a plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune; and
- FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of the video program information providing arrangement useful in the home area network depicted in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 1 depicts a
home area network 10 including an arrangement for providing television programming information from a plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune. FIG. 1 depicts ahome area network 10 including an interface to the public switched telephony network (PSTN), constructed in accordance with the invention. Generally, thehome area network 10 facilitates the connection of a plurality of household appliances, devices, television and radio receivers, telephone sets, and other facilities (generally “devices”) 11(1) through 11(N) (generally identified by reference numeral 11(n)) to ahome server 12 over one or more digital communication links generally identified byreference numeral 13 and one or more analog communication links generally identified by reference numeral 14. Thehome server 12 can also connect to a number of external connections, including a central office in the public switched telephony network (PSTN) over aPSTN link 23, a network such as the Internet over anetwork link 20, a cable connection (for use in providing cable television, telephony, Internet and other services as will be apparent to those skilled in the art) overcable link 22, a compact disk player over acompact disk link 21, a barcode reader overbarcode link 24, alocal video source 25, and perhaps other devices (such as devices providing information via satellite and the like, home security devices, and so forth) over other links generally identified byreference numeral 26. - As described in, for example, the aforementioned Edson and Tabloski, et al, applications, the devices11(n) can transfer information among themselves over the
respective communication link 13, 14 to which they are connected. In addition, the devices 11(n) connected to onecommunication link 13, 14 can transfer information to devices connected to anothercommunication link 13, 14 and between the devices 11(n) and the PSTN, network, cable, etc., through theserver 12; in that operation, if one device 11(n′) is connected to an analog communication link 14 and another device 11(n″) (n″≠n′) is connected to adigital communication link 13, theserver 12 can perform a digital to analog or analog to digital conversion as necessary. In addition, theserver 12 operates to store information received from the PSTN, network, cable, and devices 11(n) for later transmission over the PSTN, network, cable, etc., and later transmission to the devices 11(n). The information transferred overcommunication links 13 is preferably in digital form, as is the information stored on the server. On the other hand, information may be transferred over other connections in digital or analog form as appropriate. - The devices11(n) that can be connected to the
home area network 10 can include a number of types of appliances, including but not limited to devices such as personal computers, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, telephony devices (illustratively device 11(N)), and home entertainment devices such as radio and television receivers, DVD, compact disk, video and audio tape and record players, and the like. In addition, devices 11(n) that can be connected to the home area network can include lighting, heating and cooling, and similar systems, as well as appliances such as stoves and ovens. If a particular device is a “legacy” device, that is, a device that itself does not have an interface that can be connected to adigital communication link 13, that legacy device can be provided with a suitable interface to allow it to be so connected. - Generally, the
home area network 10 operates to allow information to be stored on theserver 12, transferred among the devices 11(n), and transferred from or to a number of external sources or destinations, including, for example, sources or destinations over a network such as the Internet or the public switched telephony network (PSTN), cable or satellite television or radio, music sources such as compact disks. The information may comprise any form of information, including, for example, audio information, image and video information, information in text form, control information for, for example, controlling one device from another or from theserver 12 in relation to, for example, occurrence of certain events, computer programs, and so forth. The home area network can be used to, for example, transfer audio information from sources to destinations such as theserver 12 for storage or to various devices 11(n) for playing. Similarly, thehome area network 10 can be used to transfer image or video information from sources to destinations such as theserver 12 for storage or to various devices 11(n) for display. In addition, thehome area network 10 can be used to transfer control information to control controllable devices, such as lighting, appliances such as stoves and ovens, heating and cooling systems, alarm systems and the like. - The
communication links 13 may be in any form, including a hard link such as a wire, optical fiber or other arrangement for transferring electrical, optical or other signals among the appliances. Alternatively or in addition,communication links 13 may comprise wireless links, such as but not limited to infrared links or links provided by signals in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.Communication links 13 may comprise communication links specially provided for thehome area network 10, and/or they may include pre-existing links such as telephone lines, wiring provided for, for example, AC power distribution, and the like. - Each device11(n) connected to a
digital communication link 13 preferably includes or is provided with an interface (not separately shown) that enables it to transmit information, in the form of message packets to, and/or receive information in the form of message packets from each other and thehome server 12 over therespective communication link 13. When a device 11(n) receives message packets containing information, it can use the information as described below. - Generally, the
server 12 includes a number of components (not separately shown), including components for processing, storing and retrieving data in digital form, and for converting data between digital and analog form. With particular reference to the instant invention, thehome area network 10, and, in particular,server 12, provides an arrangement whereby video program information provided by, for example, a local video source overlocal video link 25, can be integrated with video program information provided by a cable provider overcable link 22, and distributed to the television receivers over a unitary set of channels. The unitary set of channels will conform to the set of channels over which the cable provider normally provides video program information, and which are tunable by the television receivers to which theserver 12 provides the video program information. For example, if the cable provider provides video program over a set of channels arbitrarily numbered 1 through N, the video program information arrangement essentially removes the video program information provided by the cable provider for one channel “n,” and substitute for some or all of the channel “n” video program information that is received over thelocal video link 25 in that channel. Accordingly, the video program information arrangement will provide, to the television receivers connected to theserver 12, a composite video signal forchannels 1 through “n−1” and “n+1” through N as provided by the cable provider, and a substituted video image signal for channel “n” as generated by the server's video program information arrangement. The video program information arrangement described herein does not provide, in the substituted channel, a substitute audio signal for the substituted channel, but a substitute audio signal may be provided using arrangements not described herein. - The video program information from the
local video link 25 may completely substitute for the video program information from the cable provider in the substituted channel. Alternatively, the video program information from thelocal video link 25 may substitute for a portion of the video program information from the cable provider, in a window in, for example, a picture-in-picture format, in the channel, with the video program information from thelocal video link 25 being displayed in a region of the video screen of predetermined size, with the video program information from the cable provider being displayed in the rest of the video screen. As another alternative, the video program information from the cable provider may be displayed in a small region of the video screen, with the video program information from thelocal video link 25 being displayed in the rest of the video screen. The video program information from thelocal video link 25 may be any form of video program information, including, for example, information from one or more cameras to facilitate monitoring of areas of the home, such as for security, baby or child monitoring and other operations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. - FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of a video program
information providing arrangement 30 useful in the home area network depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, video programinformation providing arrangement 30 includes atuner 31, aframe grabber 32, aframe buffer 33, agraphics blending circuit 34, anencoder 35, amodulator 36, anotch filter 37 and a signal combiner 38, all of which operate under control of aprocessor 40. Theprocessor 40 may be dedicated to the video programinformation providing arrangement 30, or it may also perform operations in connection with other functions performed and services provided by theserver 12. Thetuner 31 is tuned to the channel in which the video program information from thelocal video link 25 is to be substituted or with which the video program information from thelocal video link 25 is to be blended. The video programming information input received by thetuner 31 from thecable 22 is in analog form and comprises a number of analog signals associated with a number of channels. The respective channels are arbitrarily identified bynumerical identifiers 1 through N, where “N” may be any convenient integers. The respective channels may include signals containing both video image information and audio information, or only video image information or audio information. In the following, it will be assumed that the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned will include at least a signal that contains video image information. Thetuner 31 will selectively couple that video image information signal for that channel as a SEL AN VID CH selected analog video channel signal to theframe grabber 32. - The
frame grabber 32 receives the SEL AN VID CH selected analog video channel signal from thetuner 31 and converts video image information contained in the signals to digital form, represented by a DIG FR IN digitized frame in signal, for storage in theframe buffer 33. Theframe buffer 33 buffers digitized video image information from theframe grabber 32 for later retrieval for use in providing video image information for the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned, as will be described below, which channel will be substituted for the channel as received from thecable link 22 before being provided to the television receivers to which theserver 12 is connected. As is conventional, television receivers (not separately shown) that are to receive video image information from theserver 12 display images comprising a plurality of picture elements, or “pixels,” in a plurality of rows and columns, and theframe buffer 33 stores digitized video image information in a plurality of storage locations, which are logically organized in rows and columns that conform to the rows and columns of the television receivers' pixels. In addition, as is conventional, images are displayed on television receivers on a video frame-by-video frame basis, and theframe buffer 33 stores the digitized video image information in a video frame-by-video frame basis. In one embodiment, in which the rows of consecutive pairs of frames are interleaved, theframe buffer 33 includes separate sets of storage locations for two frames, and, while digitized video image information is retrieved for one frame from one set of storage locations, digitized video image information for the other frame can be stored in the other set of storage locations. - As noted above, the video image information from the
local video link 25 is to be substituted for some or all of the video image information received over thecable link 22. Thegraphics blending circuit 34 receives the video image information from thelocal video link 25, and, if the video image information is in analog form, converts it to digital form. In addition, thegraphics blending circuit 34 blends the digitized video image information that it generates with the digitized video image information provided by theframe grabber 32, and provides a BL DIG FR IN blending digitized frame input signal therefor. Generally, thegraphics blending circuit 34 will be enabling digitized video image information that it generates to be stored in storage locations that are associated with the respective pixels in regions of the television receivers' video display screen in which the video image information is to be displayed. Accordingly if the video image information from thelocal video link 25 is to be displayed on the entire video display screen, the digitized video image information from thegraphics blending circuit 34 will substitute for all of the digitized video information from theframe grabber 32, for each frame. On the other hand, if the video image information from the local video link is to be displayed in only a predetermined region of the video display screen, such as in a window in a “picture in a picture” format, thegraphics blending circuit 34 will enable digitized video image information therefrom to be stored in storage locations associated with that region. If the video image information received over thelocal video link 25 would normally provide a video image that is larger or smaller than the predetermined region, thegraphics blending circuit 34 will provide a scaling operation to so that the digitized video image information will conform to the window. It will be appreciated that information as to the location and size of the window, and, accordingly, the storage locations in theframe buffer 33 in which digitized video information from the graphics blending circuit is to be store, can be provided to thegraphics blending circuit 34 by theprocessor 40. - As noted above, video image information that is stored in the
frame buffer 33 is in digital form. The digital video program information will, on a video frame-by-video frame basis, be retrieved from theframe buffer 33, converted to analog form, and the analog video image information will be used to modulate a carrier wave. The carrier wave that is to be modulated will be of the frequency that is associated with the video image signal for the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned, and the modulated carrier wave will be substituted for the video portion of the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned, in the signals that are provided by theserver 12 to the television receivers connected thereto. These operations are performed by theencoder 35,modulator 36,notch filter 37 andcombiner 38. - More specifically, the
processor 40 enables digitized video image information to be retrieved from theframe buffer 33 on a video frame-by-video frame basis and provided to theencoder 35. Theframe buffer 33 provides the digitized video image information to the encoder as a DIG BL FR OUT digitized blended frame out signal. As noted above, the frame buffer stores digitized video image information in two sets of storage locations and, while digitized video image information for one frame is being loaded into the set of storage locations associated with one frame, the digitized video image information can be retrieved from the frame buffer from the set of storage locations associated with the other frame. Afterencoder 35 receives the digitized video image information, it will convert the digitized video program information to analog signal form, which it provides to themodulator 36 as an AN BL FR OUT analog blended frame out signal. - The
modulator 36 will modulate the analog video image information onto a carrier wave to create a video signal that is to be substituted for the video signal for the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned, in the cable signal that is to be provided to the television receives connected to theserver 12. Themodulator 36 will generate a carrier wave of the frequency that corresponds to the frequency of the carrier wave of the channel to which thetuner 31 is tuned, and use the analog video image signal provided by theencoder 35 to modulate the carrier wave. Themodulator 36 provides the modulated carrier wave to thecombiner 38 as a MOD FR modulated frame signal. - The
notch filter 37 receives the signal from thecable 22 and deletes, or notches out, at least the signal that carries the video image portion of the channel to whichtuner 31 is tuned, and provides the signals associated with the remaining channels to thecombiner 38 as a NOTCHED CABLE signal. Accordingly, if channel “n” is the channel for which video image information is to be substituted, which, as noted above, corresponds to the channel to whichtuner 31 is tuned, thenotch filter 37 will couple the signals from thecable link 22 for the video image and audio information forchannels 1 through n−1 and n+1 through N to thesignal combiner 38. In addition, the notch filter may couple the signal for the audio information for the channel “n” for which the substitute video image information is to be provided to thesignal combiner 38. As noted above, the notch filter will not couple the signal for the video information for the channel “n” for which the substitute video information is to be provided to thesignal combiner 38. - The
signal combiner 38 receives the signals from thenotch filter 37 and themodulator 36 and combines them to provide a COMP VIDEO composite video signal for transmission over theinternal cable link 27 to the television receivers. It will be appreciated that, since the signal provided by themodulator 36 is associated with the same channel as that of the signal that was removed by thenotch filter 37, the composite video signal provided by thesignal combiner 38 comprises video image signals for all of thechannels 1 through “n−1” and “n+1” through “N” as provided by the cable provider, as well as the substituted video image signal for channel “n” from themodulator 36. In addition, the composite video signal provided by thecombiner 38 includes the audio signals for the respective channels as provided by thenotch filter 37. Accordingly, if thenotch filter 37 provides the audio signals forchannels 1 through N to thesignal combiner 38, thesignal combiner 38 will provide audio signals for thosechannels 1 through N in the COMP VIDEO composite video signal. On the other hand, if thenotch filter 37 provides audio signals forchannels 1 through “n−1” and “n+1” through “N” as provided by the cable provider to thesignal combiner 38, the signal combiner will provide audio signals for thosechannels 1 through “n−1” and “n+1” through N in the COMP VIDEO composite video signal. In that case, if thesignal combiner 38 is also provided with an audio signal for channel “n” from another source (not shown) it can also include that audio signal in the COMP VIDEO composite video signal. - The invention provides a number of advantages. In particular, the video program
information providing arrangement 30 whereby video program information provided by, for example, a local video source overlocal video link 25, can be integrated with video program information provided by a cable provider overcable link 22, and distributed to the television receivers over a unitary set of channels over aninternal cable link 27. This will allow television receivers (not separately shown) that are connected to theinternal cable link 27 to receive and, if tuned to the channel over which the video program information provided by the local video source is transmitted, display the video program information provided by the local video source, thereby avoiding any necessity of having a separate or special display arrangement for viewing the video program information provided by the local video source. - It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made to the video program
information providing arrangement 30 described herein. For example, if it is desired to provide video program information from a plurality of local video sources, a plurality ofarrangements 30 may be cascaded together to facilitate notching out of video image signals associated with successive ones of channels n1, n2, . . . and substitute therefor video program information from successive ones oflocal video links - In addition, although the video program information provided over
cable link 22 has been described as being provided by a cable provider, it will be appreciated that the video program information may, instead or in addition, be provided by, for example, a satellite provider or one or more over-the-air broadcasters. In addition, although the video program information has been described as being provided by a video source that is local to the home associated with theserver 12, it will be appreciated that the video program information may instead be provided by other video program sources, including, for example, a broadcast source, a source that provides video program information over global networks such as the Internet, or any other source, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. - Furthermore, as noted above, the video program
information providing arrangement 30 may either substitute video image information that it receives over thelocal video link 25 for all of the video image information for a channel “n” that it receives over thecable link 22, or, alternatively, it may substitute the video image information that it receives over thelocal video link 25 for some portion, in a window in a “picture-in-picture” arrangement, with the size and location of the window being determined by theprocessor 40. If it is desired to just have the video programinformation providing arrangement 30 substitute the video image information that it receives overlocal video link 25 for all of the video image information for channel “n,” and not provide the option of substituting for only a portion of the video image information for the channel “n,” thearrangement 30 need not provide atuner 31 andframe grabber 32. - It will be appreciated that a system in accordance with the invention can be constructed in whole or in part from special purpose hardware or a general purpose computer system, or any combination thereof, any portion of which may be controlled by a suitable program. Any program may in whole or in part comprise part of or be stored on the system in a conventional manner, or it may in whole or in part be provided in to the system over a network or other mechanism for transferring information in a conventional manner. In addition, it will be appreciated that the system may be operated and/or otherwise controlled by means of information provided by an operator using operator input elements (not shown) which may be connected directly to the system or which may transfer the information to the system over a network or other mechanism for transferring information in a conventional manner.
- The foregoing description has been limited to a specific embodiment of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that various variations and modifications may be made to the invention, with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the invention. It is the object of the appended claims to cover these and such other variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/809,797 US20020059616A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-16 | System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US19381300P | 2000-03-31 | 2000-03-31 | |
US09/809,797 US20020059616A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-16 | System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020059616A1 true US20020059616A1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
Family
ID=22715110
Family Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/809,770 Abandoned US20010039660A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-16 | Home area network including arrangement for distributing television programming over local cable |
US09/809,797 Abandoned US20020059616A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-16 | System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels |
US09/823,289 Expired - Fee Related US7068972B2 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-30 | Home area network including arrangement for distributing audio programming information from a plurality of source over local radio broadcast |
US09/823,856 Abandoned US20020094073A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-31 | Telephony services provider arrangement for home area network |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/809,770 Abandoned US20010039660A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-16 | Home area network including arrangement for distributing television programming over local cable |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/823,289 Expired - Fee Related US7068972B2 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-30 | Home area network including arrangement for distributing audio programming information from a plurality of source over local radio broadcast |
US09/823,856 Abandoned US20020094073A1 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2001-03-31 | Telephony services provider arrangement for home area network |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US20010039660A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1281281A4 (en) |
WO (4) | WO2001076202A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040255326A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2004-12-16 | John Alson Hicks | Digital residential entertainment system |
US20040261112A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2004-12-23 | Hicks John Alson | System and method for multimedia on demand services |
US20050086694A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2005-04-21 | John Hicks | Digital residential entertainment system |
EP1971143A1 (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2008-09-17 | Funtoro Inc. | System of individually and separately displaying and sharing video/audio and method of the same |
US20090193474A1 (en) * | 2008-01-30 | 2009-07-30 | General Instrument Corporation | Method and Apparatus for Moving Viewing Sessions Among Different Devices in a Home Network |
US20110302612A1 (en) * | 2010-06-04 | 2011-12-08 | Rich Prodan | Method and System for Providing Channel Changes Via a Gateway |
Families Citing this family (84)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6480510B1 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 2002-11-12 | Serconet Ltd. | Local area network of serial intelligent cells |
US6859799B1 (en) | 1998-11-30 | 2005-02-22 | Gemstar Development Corporation | Search engine for video and graphics |
US6956826B1 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2005-10-18 | Serconet Ltd. | Local area network for distributing data communication, sensing and control signals |
US8812850B2 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2014-08-19 | Tivo Inc. | Secure multimedia transfer system |
US8171520B2 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2012-05-01 | Tivo Inc. | Method of sharing personal media using a digital recorder |
US6549616B1 (en) | 2000-03-20 | 2003-04-15 | Serconet Ltd. | Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets |
US6842459B1 (en) | 2000-04-19 | 2005-01-11 | Serconet Ltd. | Network combining wired and non-wired segments |
JP2001319045A (en) * | 2000-05-11 | 2001-11-16 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Home agent system using vocal man-machine interface and program recording medium |
US8724485B2 (en) | 2000-08-30 | 2014-05-13 | Broadcom Corporation | Home network system and method |
US9094226B2 (en) | 2000-08-30 | 2015-07-28 | Broadcom Corporation | Home network system and method |
AU2001288532A1 (en) | 2000-08-30 | 2002-03-13 | Tiaris, Inc. | A home network system and method |
US7103906B1 (en) | 2000-09-29 | 2006-09-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system |
KR20190096450A (en) | 2000-10-11 | 2019-08-19 | 로비 가이드스, 인크. | Systems and methods for delivering media content |
JP3827518B2 (en) * | 2000-10-23 | 2006-09-27 | シャープ株式会社 | Home network system |
US8127326B2 (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2012-02-28 | Claussen Paul J | Proximity detection using wireless connectivity in a communications system |
WO2002047388A2 (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2002-06-13 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Networked subscriber television distribution |
US20020194605A1 (en) * | 2001-05-18 | 2002-12-19 | T.M.T. Third Millenium Technologies Ltd. | Cableran networking over coaxial cables |
US7574723B2 (en) * | 2001-07-19 | 2009-08-11 | Macrovision Corporation | Home media network |
EP2523358A3 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2012-11-21 | Mosaid Technologies Incorporated | Outlet with analog signal adapter |
US20030194968A1 (en) * | 2002-04-15 | 2003-10-16 | Young Steven Jay | System and method for local modulation and distribution of stored audio content |
US6898276B1 (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2005-05-24 | Verizon Communications Inc. | Soft network interface device for digital broadband local carrier networks |
US6961335B1 (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2005-11-01 | Verizon Communications Inc. | Multi-layer ring architecture for fiber-to-the-home telco carrier network |
US7516470B2 (en) | 2002-08-02 | 2009-04-07 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Locally-updated interactive program guide |
WO2004023806A1 (en) * | 2002-09-04 | 2004-03-18 | Tmt Coaxial Networks Inc. | A home network system which supports legacy digital set-top box devices |
US20040177381A1 (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2004-09-09 | Tiaris, Inc. | Home network system which supports legacy digital set top box devices |
US7908625B2 (en) * | 2002-10-02 | 2011-03-15 | Robertson Neil C | Networked multimedia system |
US7545935B2 (en) * | 2002-10-04 | 2009-06-09 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Networked multimedia overlay system |
US8046806B2 (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2011-10-25 | Wall William E | Multiroom point of deployment module |
US7360235B2 (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2008-04-15 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Systems and methods for operating a peripheral record/playback device in a networked multimedia system |
US20040133911A1 (en) * | 2002-10-04 | 2004-07-08 | Russ Samuel H. | Subscriber network in a satellite system |
US8931010B2 (en) * | 2002-11-04 | 2015-01-06 | Rovi Solutions Corporation | Methods and apparatus for client aggregation of media in a networked media system |
IL152824A (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2012-05-31 | Mosaid Technologies Inc | Addressable outlet and a network using same |
US7487532B2 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2009-02-03 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Optimization of a full duplex wideband communications system |
US8094640B2 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2012-01-10 | Robertson Neil C | Full duplex wideband communications system for a local coaxial network |
US7493646B2 (en) | 2003-01-30 | 2009-02-17 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders |
IL154921A (en) | 2003-03-13 | 2011-02-28 | Mosaid Technologies Inc | Telephone system having multiple distinct sources and accessories therefor |
US7574691B2 (en) * | 2003-03-17 | 2009-08-11 | Macrovision Corporation | Methods and apparatus for rendering user interfaces and display information on remote client devices |
US7945036B1 (en) | 2003-04-07 | 2011-05-17 | Shoretel, Inc. | Provisioning a phone without involving an administrator |
IL157787A (en) | 2003-09-07 | 2010-12-30 | Mosaid Technologies Inc | Modular outlet for data communications network |
IL159838A0 (en) | 2004-01-13 | 2004-06-20 | Yehuda Binder | Information device |
IL160417A (en) | 2004-02-16 | 2011-04-28 | Mosaid Technologies Inc | Outlet add-on module |
JP2005286426A (en) * | 2004-03-26 | 2005-10-13 | Sharp Corp | Home network server, digital broadcast program distribution method, wireless terminal, home network system, program, and recording medium |
US8094007B2 (en) * | 2004-06-17 | 2012-01-10 | Honeywell International Inc. | Alarm status voice annunciation using broadcast band transmissions |
US8086575B2 (en) | 2004-09-23 | 2011-12-27 | Rovi Solutions Corporation | Methods and apparatus for integrating disparate media formats in a networked media system |
DK2408202T3 (en) | 2004-11-19 | 2017-08-28 | Tivo Solutions Inc | Method and device for secure transfer and playback of multimedia content |
US20090018763A1 (en) * | 2005-01-31 | 2009-01-15 | Pioneer Corporation | Program recording device, program recording method, program recording program, and computer-readable recording medium |
EP1876541A1 (en) * | 2005-04-21 | 2008-01-09 | Intellectual Property Bank Corp. | Device for extracting index word in document to be examined |
KR100749813B1 (en) * | 2005-07-25 | 2007-08-16 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Broadcasting receiving/transmitting device, wireless a/v system, and control method of wireless a/v system |
US7844037B2 (en) * | 2005-08-08 | 2010-11-30 | Palm, Inc. | Method and device for enabling message responses to incoming phone calls |
US7876998B2 (en) | 2005-10-05 | 2011-01-25 | Wall William E | DVD playback over multi-room by copying to HDD |
US20070101380A1 (en) * | 2005-10-28 | 2007-05-03 | Szolyga Thomas H | Consolidated content apparatus |
US9467322B2 (en) | 2005-12-27 | 2016-10-11 | Rovi Solutions Corporation | Methods and apparatus for integrating media across a wide area network |
US9681105B2 (en) | 2005-12-29 | 2017-06-13 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Interactive media guidance system having multiple devices |
US8607287B2 (en) | 2005-12-29 | 2013-12-10 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Interactive media guidance system having multiple devices |
GB0604537D0 (en) * | 2006-03-07 | 2006-04-12 | Ghost Telecom Ltd | Method and apparatus of interfacing and connecting a wireless device(s) and specific application server(s) for location update(s), in-and out-going call(s)... |
US7929551B2 (en) | 2006-06-01 | 2011-04-19 | Rovi Solutions Corporation | Methods and apparatus for transferring media across a network using a network interface device |
US7697522B2 (en) | 2006-11-20 | 2010-04-13 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for aggregation of packets for transmission through a communications network |
US7782850B2 (en) | 2006-11-20 | 2010-08-24 | Broadcom Corporation | MAC to PHY interface apparatus and methods for transmission of packets through a communications network |
US7742495B2 (en) | 2006-11-20 | 2010-06-22 | Broadcom Corporation | System and method for retransmitting packets over a network of communication channels |
US8090043B2 (en) | 2006-11-20 | 2012-01-03 | Broadcom Corporation | Apparatus and methods for compensating for signal imbalance in a receiver |
US8290172B2 (en) * | 2007-01-05 | 2012-10-16 | Audio Design Associates, Inc. | Multi-source distributed audio amplification and control system for structured wiring systems |
US9036720B2 (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2015-05-19 | Sirius Xm Radio Inc. | Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving additional data over legacy satellite digital audio radio signals |
US8345553B2 (en) | 2007-05-31 | 2013-01-01 | Broadcom Corporation | Apparatus and methods for reduction of transmission delay in a communication network |
US20090019492A1 (en) | 2007-07-11 | 2009-01-15 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content |
US20090165070A1 (en) * | 2007-12-19 | 2009-06-25 | Broadcom Corporation | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A MoCA COMPATABILITY STRATEGY |
WO2009146217A2 (en) * | 2008-04-18 | 2009-12-03 | Sirius Xm Radio Inc. | Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving additional data over legacy satellite digital audio radio signals |
US8098770B2 (en) | 2008-05-06 | 2012-01-17 | Broadcom Corporation | Unbiased signal-to-noise ratio estimation for receiver having channel estimation error |
US8601526B2 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2013-12-03 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Systems and methods for displaying media content and media guidance information |
US9112717B2 (en) | 2008-07-31 | 2015-08-18 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for providing a MoCA power management strategy |
US8254413B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2012-08-28 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for physical layer (“PHY”) concatenation in a multimedia over coax alliance network |
US8213309B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2012-07-03 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for reducing latency and reservation request overhead in a communications network |
US8238227B2 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2012-08-07 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for providing a MoCA improved performance for short burst packets |
US8553547B2 (en) | 2009-03-30 | 2013-10-08 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for retransmitting packets over a network of communication channels |
US20100254278A1 (en) | 2009-04-07 | 2010-10-07 | Broadcom Corporation | Assessment in an information network |
US8730798B2 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2014-05-20 | Broadcom Corporation | Transmitter channel throughput in an information network |
US8867355B2 (en) | 2009-07-14 | 2014-10-21 | Broadcom Corporation | MoCA multicast handling |
US9014546B2 (en) | 2009-09-23 | 2015-04-21 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Systems and methods for automatically detecting users within detection regions of media devices |
US8942250B2 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2015-01-27 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for providing service (“SRV”) node selection |
US8611327B2 (en) | 2010-02-22 | 2013-12-17 | Broadcom Corporation | Method and apparatus for policing a QoS flow in a MoCA 2.0 network |
US8514860B2 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2013-08-20 | Broadcom Corporation | Systems and methods for implementing a high throughput mode for a MoCA device |
US8805418B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2014-08-12 | United Video Properties, Inc. | Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules |
US9674563B2 (en) | 2013-11-04 | 2017-06-06 | Rovi Guides, Inc. | Systems and methods for recommending content |
US9654891B2 (en) | 2015-09-15 | 2017-05-16 | D&M Holdings, Inc. | System and method for determining proximity of a controller to a media rendering device |
WO2017155305A1 (en) * | 2016-03-08 | 2017-09-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Method for transmitting and receiving uplink signal in wireless communication system supporting unlicensed band, and apparatus supporting same |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4734764A (en) * | 1985-04-29 | 1988-03-29 | Cableshare, Inc. | Cable television system selectively distributing pre-recorded video and audio messages |
US4777531A (en) * | 1986-01-06 | 1988-10-11 | Sony Corporation | Still sub-picture-in-picture television receiver |
US5258750A (en) * | 1989-09-21 | 1993-11-02 | New Media Graphics Corporation | Color synchronizer and windowing system for use in a video/graphics system |
US5389964A (en) * | 1992-12-30 | 1995-02-14 | Information Resources, Inc. | Broadcast channel substitution method and apparatus |
US5512963A (en) * | 1995-01-05 | 1996-04-30 | Mankovitz; Roy J. | Apparatus and methods for providing combining multiple video sources |
US5585837A (en) * | 1995-03-15 | 1996-12-17 | Nixon; Dale B. | Distribution of local video signal with consumer cable television signal |
US5805806A (en) * | 1995-12-18 | 1998-09-08 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing interactive networking between televisions and personal computers |
US6069899A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 2000-05-30 | Broadcam Homenetworking, Inc. | Home area network system and method |
US6519283B1 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2003-02-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Integrated video processing system having multiple video sources and implementing picture-in-picture with on-screen display graphics |
Family Cites Families (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4251692A (en) * | 1978-10-06 | 1981-02-17 | Waldman Herbert H | Telephone call restricting apparatus |
US4608699A (en) * | 1982-12-27 | 1986-08-26 | Motorola, Inc. | Simulcast transmission system |
US5912917A (en) * | 1990-10-18 | 1999-06-15 | Engelbrecht; Lloyd | Digital broadcast system |
US5548635A (en) * | 1994-01-21 | 1996-08-20 | Sasktel | System for controlling equipment within a telephone subscriber's premises using DTMF telephone tones |
US5572442A (en) * | 1994-07-21 | 1996-11-05 | Information Highway Media Corporation | System for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming |
US5633916A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1997-05-27 | Unisys Corporation | Universal messaging service using single voice grade telephone line within a client/server architecture |
US5651010A (en) * | 1995-03-16 | 1997-07-22 | Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. | Simultaneous overlapping broadcasting of digital programs |
US5898756A (en) * | 1995-10-13 | 1999-04-27 | Zoom Telephonics, Inc. | Parallel-connected dialing signal transmission-inhibiting device for data transfer over a telephone link |
US6005861A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1999-12-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Home multimedia network architecture |
US5619582A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1997-04-08 | Oltman; Randy | Enhanced concert audio process utilizing a synchronized headgear system |
US6058178A (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 2000-05-02 | Solopoint, Inc. | Method for routing incoming calls to a user's premises on a POTS telephone line |
US5983068A (en) * | 1996-02-29 | 1999-11-09 | Tomich; John Louis | Photonic home area network |
JP3895804B2 (en) * | 1996-07-26 | 2007-03-22 | 株式会社日立コミュニケーションテクノロジー | Two-way communication system |
US5864607A (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 1999-01-26 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Communication with a computer using telephones |
US5982445A (en) * | 1996-10-21 | 1999-11-09 | General Instrument Corporation | Hypertext markup language protocol for television display and control |
US6167120A (en) * | 1996-11-06 | 2000-12-26 | Lextron Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for home networking |
US5905942A (en) * | 1997-02-18 | 1999-05-18 | Lodgenet Entertainment Corporation | Multiple dwelling unit interactive audio/video distribution system |
US5982363A (en) * | 1997-10-24 | 1999-11-09 | General Instrument Corporation | Personal computer-based set-top converter for television services |
US6481013B1 (en) * | 1998-11-09 | 2002-11-12 | Peracom Networks, Inc. | Entertainment and computer coaxial network and method of distributing signals therethrough |
US6526581B1 (en) * | 1999-08-03 | 2003-02-25 | Ucentric Holdings, Llc | Multi-service in-home network with an open interface |
US6654025B1 (en) * | 2000-08-28 | 2003-11-25 | Ucentric Holdings, Inc. | System and method providing translucent region over a video program for display by a video display device |
-
2001
- 2001-03-16 US US09/809,770 patent/US20010039660A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-03-16 US US09/809,797 patent/US20020059616A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-03-30 US US09/823,289 patent/US7068972B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-03-31 US US09/823,856 patent/US20020094073A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-04-02 WO PCT/US2001/010423 patent/WO2001076202A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-04-02 WO PCT/US2001/010421 patent/WO2001076224A2/en active Search and Examination
- 2001-04-02 WO PCT/US2001/010422 patent/WO2001076091A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-04-02 WO PCT/US2001/010420 patent/WO2001076223A2/en active Application Filing
- 2001-04-02 EP EP01922965A patent/EP1281281A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4734764A (en) * | 1985-04-29 | 1988-03-29 | Cableshare, Inc. | Cable television system selectively distributing pre-recorded video and audio messages |
US4777531A (en) * | 1986-01-06 | 1988-10-11 | Sony Corporation | Still sub-picture-in-picture television receiver |
US5258750A (en) * | 1989-09-21 | 1993-11-02 | New Media Graphics Corporation | Color synchronizer and windowing system for use in a video/graphics system |
US5389964A (en) * | 1992-12-30 | 1995-02-14 | Information Resources, Inc. | Broadcast channel substitution method and apparatus |
US5512963A (en) * | 1995-01-05 | 1996-04-30 | Mankovitz; Roy J. | Apparatus and methods for providing combining multiple video sources |
US5585837A (en) * | 1995-03-15 | 1996-12-17 | Nixon; Dale B. | Distribution of local video signal with consumer cable television signal |
US5805806A (en) * | 1995-12-18 | 1998-09-08 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing interactive networking between televisions and personal computers |
US6069899A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 2000-05-30 | Broadcam Homenetworking, Inc. | Home area network system and method |
US6519283B1 (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2003-02-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Integrated video processing system having multiple video sources and implementing picture-in-picture with on-screen display graphics |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8601519B1 (en) | 2000-12-28 | 2013-12-03 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Digital residential entertainment system |
US7698723B2 (en) | 2000-12-28 | 2010-04-13 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and method for multimedia on demand services |
US20050086694A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2005-04-21 | John Hicks | Digital residential entertainment system |
US20040255326A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2004-12-16 | John Alson Hicks | Digital residential entertainment system |
US8001574B2 (en) | 2000-12-28 | 2011-08-16 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. | Methods, systems, and products for media on-demand |
US8677423B2 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2014-03-18 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. | Digital residential entertainment system |
US20040261112A1 (en) * | 2000-12-28 | 2004-12-23 | Hicks John Alson | System and method for multimedia on demand services |
US20080229202A1 (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2008-09-18 | De Min Fang | System of individually and separately displaying and sharing video/audio and method of the same |
EP1971143A1 (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2008-09-17 | Funtoro Inc. | System of individually and separately displaying and sharing video/audio and method of the same |
US8726155B2 (en) * | 2007-03-14 | 2014-05-13 | Funtoro Inc. | System of individually and separately displaying and sharing video/audio and method of the same |
US20090193474A1 (en) * | 2008-01-30 | 2009-07-30 | General Instrument Corporation | Method and Apparatus for Moving Viewing Sessions Among Different Devices in a Home Network |
US20110302612A1 (en) * | 2010-06-04 | 2011-12-08 | Rich Prodan | Method and System for Providing Channel Changes Via a Gateway |
US8707359B2 (en) * | 2010-06-04 | 2014-04-22 | Broadcom Corporation | Method and system for providing program preview of a particular program during channel changes via a gateway |
US9154830B2 (en) | 2010-06-04 | 2015-10-06 | Broadcom Corporation | Method and system for providing programs in a preview format during channel changes via a gateway |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1281281A4 (en) | 2004-08-18 |
EP1281281A2 (en) | 2003-02-05 |
US20020094073A1 (en) | 2002-07-18 |
WO2001076224A3 (en) | 2002-01-24 |
WO2001076223A3 (en) | 2007-10-25 |
WO2001076091A1 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
WO2001076223A2 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
US7068972B2 (en) | 2006-06-27 |
US20010034205A1 (en) | 2001-10-25 |
US20010039660A1 (en) | 2001-11-08 |
WO2001076202A1 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
WO2001076224A2 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20020059616A1 (en) | System and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels | |
US5883677A (en) | Method and apparatus for managing multiple outside video service providers | |
EP0594351B1 (en) | Interactive television converter | |
US5253341A (en) | Remote query communication system | |
CN100454919C (en) | Multimedia decoder for prioritized bi-directional communication in broadcast system | |
JP4169180B2 (en) | A portable communication device that simulates a bi-directional connection to a one-way data stream | |
JP5677696B2 (en) | Cooperative television application system having a plurality of user television equipment devices | |
CN101310532B (en) | Systems and methods for recording multiple programs simultaneously with a single tuner | |
US6915528B1 (en) | System and method for managing television programs within an entertainment system | |
CN101567012B (en) | Contextual web page system and method | |
US5734589A (en) | Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping | |
US20040034877A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem aplication | |
US20020059637A1 (en) | Home gateway for video and data distribution from various types of headend facilities and including digital video recording functions | |
US20020019984A1 (en) | Headend cherrypicker with digital video recording capability | |
US20050155067A1 (en) | System and method for managing television programs within an entertainment system | |
US7545439B2 (en) | Value added digital video receiver | |
CN100370819C (en) | System and method for providing recording function when no program information is available | |
CN101778228A (en) | Display device and method of managing list of channel/program information in video display device | |
US7559079B2 (en) | Realtime service system using the interactive data communication and method thereof | |
CN103931201A (en) | Video signal transmission/reception method, display device, and decoding device | |
WO2002058382A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications | |
KR20040017575A (en) | Digital set-top box | |
CN100431347C (en) | Apparatus and method for distributing signals by down-converting to vacant channels | |
KR20060097328A (en) | Digital television with shared function of multimedia contents | |
JP2000231528A (en) | Web program browsing device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UCENTRIC HOLDINGS, INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VASILEVSKY, ALEXANDER;TARR, MORTON;PARISE, SERGIO;REEL/FRAME:011628/0624 Effective date: 20010313 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC., MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:UCENTRIC HOLDINGS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016079/0898 Effective date: 20041103 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC;REEL/FRAME:035465/0001 Effective date: 20141028 |