WO1996017476A1 - Technique et systeme de distribution de services sur demande - Google Patents

Technique et systeme de distribution de services sur demande Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996017476A1
WO1996017476A1 PCT/SE1995/001406 SE9501406W WO9617476A1 WO 1996017476 A1 WO1996017476 A1 WO 1996017476A1 SE 9501406 W SE9501406 W SE 9501406W WO 9617476 A1 WO9617476 A1 WO 9617476A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
control device
service
transmitting
control
intermediary
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE1995/001406
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Torbjörn JOHNSON
Hans Nyman
Mats Eneborg
Per Persson
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority to AU41266/96A priority Critical patent/AU4126696A/en
Publication of WO1996017476A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996017476A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47202—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
    • 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
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
    • H04Q11/04—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems for time-division multiplexing
    • H04Q11/0428—Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
    • H04Q11/0478—Provisions for broadband connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems 
    • H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
    • H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
    • H04L2012/5603—Access techniques
    • H04L2012/5609—Topology
    • H04L2012/561—Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems 
    • H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
    • H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
    • H04L2012/5614—User Network Interface
    • H04L2012/5615—Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems 
    • H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
    • H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
    • H04L2012/5614—User Network Interface
    • H04L2012/5616—Terminal equipment, e.g. codecs, synch.
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems 
    • H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
    • H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
    • H04L2012/5638—Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
    • H04L2012/564—Connection-oriented
    • H04L2012/5642—Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing a plurality of services on demand, e.g., a video-on-demand system.
  • a video-on-demand system it is possible to order a video film one wants to see, e.g., by making a selection ftt>m a menu displayed on a television set, and to view the film immediately on the TV set.
  • a subscriber usually pays for the films seen and/or for the time viewing the films.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,792,849 to McCalley et al. describes a digital interactive communication system for supplying pre-recorded video presentations to subscribers in response to telephone signals. Subscriber requests are received by voice network interface units that are connected to a local area network (LAN) having a ring topology. A plurality of data processors are also connected to the LAN, and a number of these processors are dedicated to each subscriber during each session. Other processors and a large-scale data base are also coupled to the LAN, the data base containing digital data representing the video presentations selected by subscribers.
  • LAN local area network
  • the large-scale data base is also connected to a second ring-topology LAN for transmitting the selected digital information to a channel server that converts the digital information to a format suitable for distribution through a community access television (CATV) network to the subscribers' television sets.
  • CATV community access television
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,247,347 to Litteral et al. describes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) architecture for video-on-demand services.
  • PSTN provides digital video signals from a video information provider to one or more of a plurality of subscribers, who order video programs using either standard telephones and the PSTN or dedicated control devices and an ISDN packet network.
  • Video and audio data in a compressed digital format are stored and retrieved by video providers, which in response to either audio or DTMF control signals from subscriber telephones or to digital packet data signals supply the compressed digital data either to a digital cross-connect system or directly to subscribers.
  • the digital cross-connect system supplies the compressed digital data to selected central office interlaces, which frequency multiplex the compressed digital data and conventional telephone signals onto the subscribers' conventional local loops.
  • Subscriber interface units demultiplex the compressed digital data and telephone signals, and supply the compressed digital data to decoders for generating data presented to the subscribers.
  • U.K. Patent Publication No. GB 2 267 625 by Laycock et al. describes a dial-up aural and visual communication system in which video equipment, such as television cameras and displays, are connected through coder/decoders (codec) to a switch, such as a private branch exchange (PBX), that is in turn connected to a PSTN.
  • codec coder/decoders
  • PBX private branch exchange
  • Voice-communication devices such as standard telephones, are also connected to the PSTN.
  • the codecs which may communicate through the ISDN, switch video between local lines and may be shared by several users.
  • the codecs are closely coupled to the switch, rather than to the subscribers, and the codecs permit images to be transmitted across the networks accessed by the switch at various signal transmission rates.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,278,889 to Papanicolaou et al. describes a video telephony system that is based on a cable television system.
  • a cable subscriber can communicate with another cable subscriber by a video telephone call established through a switched telephone network, which can include ISDN-capable switches.
  • the video telephone numbers for the cable subscribers are selected to be the same as standard telephone numbers used for standard telephone calls to those subscribers.
  • the system 10 would include control devices 12-1, 12-2, ..., 12-N, each of which would be provided in or in association with a subscriber TV set, that would communicate via respective communication links 14-1, 14-2, ..., 14-N with respective ports of a central processing unit 16, such as a supercomputer.
  • Each communication link would typically transfer information at a rate between two megabits per second and six megabits per second (2-6 MBPS).
  • Subscribers would select the programs they wanted to see via respective control devices 18-1, 18-2, ..., 18-N, and information about the selected programs would be transmitted via the links 14-1, 14-2, ..., 14-N to the respective ports of the central processing unit 16.
  • the programs provided by the video-on-demand service could be stored in the computer 16 and/or in a video library (not shown).
  • the ports of the computer 16 would include interfaces (not shown) that would receive the selected programs, whereby the program information would be transmitted on the links 14-1, 14-2, ..., 14-N to the intended TV sets 12-1, 12-2, ..., 12-N.
  • the main disadvantage of a system in accordance with Fig. 1 is that the program menus would be stored in the central computer 16.
  • the computer 16 would need to keep track of each subscriber in real time during the whole running period of each program, and probably during the whole time the system is operational.
  • SUMMARY Applicants' invention solves these problems, providing a video-on-demand system that does not require extensive changes in design to offer more services to subscribers, that has an open platform, and that does not need to keep track of each subscriber in real time during the whole running period.
  • open platform will be understood to mean that hardware and software from different manufacturers can be used.
  • a system in accordance with Applicants' invention comprises control devices that are connected to subscriber display units, e.g., TV sets, each control device being connected to at least one display unit.
  • Each control device provides its respective display unit with a menu-oriented selection system for selecting a desired service.
  • the selection system is locally stored.
  • each control device establishes connections via an exchange unit to specific intermediary devices, e.g., computers, each of which corresponds to a service selectable via the selection system.
  • the intermediary devices are each connected to a plurality of server devices via a first communication network, e.g., an Ethernet-type network.
  • the server devices provide the different services, e.g., films for a video-on-demand service, selectable via the selection system.
  • Each server device is connected to a second communication network, e.g., an asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) local-area network (LAN)-
  • ATM LAN is a broad-band type of communication network.
  • Each intermediary device controls its respective server device in response to the subscribers' menu selections, causing the server to place the respective selected service article on the second communication network at predetermined addresses corresponding to the selecting subscribers.
  • the selected service article is then transmitted to the display units of the selecting subscribers via their control devices.
  • a method for distributing a plurality of services on demand comprises the steps of transmitting a main menu from a control device to a local display unit and transmitting control signals from an input device to the control device, the control signals corresponding to a service selected from the main menu.
  • the method further includes the steps of transmitting an off-hook signal and a service indicating signal from the control device to an exchange unit when a service has been selected, these signals being used for establishing a connection between the control device and a first intermediary device corresponding to the selected service.
  • data signals regarding the selected service are transmitted from the control device through a corresponding first intermediary device to a server device that provides the selected service.
  • the method includes the steps of the server's placing the respective selected service on a communication network in response to the data signals and transmitting the selected service to the respective control device for further transmission to the respective display unit.
  • a method for distributing on demand a plurality of service articles comprises the steps of transmitting a main menu from a control device to a display unit and transmitting control signals from a control means to the control device when selections from the menu are being made via the control means.
  • the method also includes the steps of transmitting an off-hook signal and a service indicating signal from the control device to an exchange unit when a type of service and a service article have been selected. These signals are used for establishing a connection between the control device and a first intermediary device corresponding to the selected type of service.
  • the method further includes the step of transmitting data signals regarding the selected service article from the control device to a server device that provides the selected service article. Activation of the server device places the selected service article on the communication network. The selected service article is then transmitted to the control device for further transmission to the display unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical video-on-demand system
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system for distributing services on demand in accordance with Applicants' invention
  • Fig. 3A is a block diagram of a control device for a system in accordance with Applicants' invention
  • Fig. 3B is an exemplary video encoder which can form part of the compression-and-input block 70 of Figure 2;
  • Fig. 3C is an exemplary audio encoder which can also form part of the compression-and-input block 70 of Figure 2;
  • Figs. 4A-4C present a flow chart of a first embodiment of a method for distributing on demand a plurality of services in accordance with Applicants' invention
  • Fig. 5 is a partial flow chart of a second embodiment of a method for distributing on demand a plurality of services in accordance with Applicants' invention
  • Fig. 6A is a partial flow chart of a method for controlling a system according to Applicants' invention and using a telephone when the system comprises second intermediary devices
  • Fig. 6B is a partial flow chart of a method for controlling a system according to Applicants' invention and using a telephone when the system does not comprise second intermediary devices.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a system 30 for distributing services on demand in accordance with Applicants' invention.
  • the system 30 may have N control devices, where N is an integer, and thus there are at least N display units, such as a TV set 32-1 of a subscriber 1, connected to the system 30. Defining a control device as a subscriber, the system 30 has N subscribers.
  • each control device 34 comprises a processor (CPU)
  • control device 34 for coordinating and/or performing the various functions attributable to these control devices.
  • Exemplary functions include: transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the exchange unit 50 for establishing and disestablishing connections via the exchange unit 50 between the control device and its respective first intermediary device 52 and comparing a service article received at its respective display unit 32 to the service article selected by its respective controlling means 38. If the CPU 99 determines that the received service article is not the article selected, the respective control device 34 repeats the selection process to obtain the correct service article.
  • a memory 100 is provided in control device 34 for locally storing commands and data relating to a menu-oriented selection system, which preferably has a tree structure.
  • the menu-oriented selection system is used for selecting a kind of service, e.g., video on demand, home shopping, etc., and for selecting specific service articles, e.g., a specific film from the video-on-demand service, a specific product from the home shopping service, etc.
  • Each control device 34 supplies its respective display unit 32 with the menu-oriented selection system, which is described in more detail below.
  • control device 34 Information sent to control device 34 is received via I/O device 102.
  • This block represents several different units to simplify the drawing, including both control and interface circuitry.
  • various information which may be received by control device 34 are encoded signals relating to, for example, selected service articles or updates to the subscriber's menu of service articles from which selections can be made.
  • control device 34 has significantly more functionality than similar devices provided in previous systems.
  • Applicants' control device 34 includes a decoder 106 and can operate with a substantially unlimited variety of current and future servers as a result of the menu- oriented selection system. Decoder 106 serves to reverse the encoding process of received signals, for example the video encoding described below with respect to Figures 3B and 3C.
  • Smart card 108 which can comprise, for example, an IC chip (not shown), is used to store subscriber information associated with the control device 34. This information includes, for example, a list of those services to which the subscriber has subscribed. This list can be updated as described below.
  • Block 110 represents control functions provided for pointing device 38, e.g., mouse input and output control. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such control functions can include, for example, an I/O controller, video memory, etc.
  • Block 112 represents various other I/O functionality including output of the decoded service articles to display unit 32, output of menus generated using data stored in memory 100, control signals, and the like.
  • Control device 34 can also include other I/O devices, such as an infrared interface (for remote control), graphical generators, etc.
  • the system 30 further comprises N means 38 for controlling the N control devices 34 such that the menu-oriented selection system is shown on the M display units 32.
  • One controlling means 38-1 is shown in Fig. 2, and each controlling means 38 corresponds to a respective control device 34.
  • the controlling means 38 can, for example, be a suitably programmed conventional remote control, a radio- or infrared-transmitting mouse.
  • Each control device 34 is also connected to a respective first Asymmetrical
  • ADSL Digital Subscriber Line
  • the ADSL units 40 provide high- and low-pass filtering of signals, but they can be omitted in communication systems, such as CATV systems, in which there are direct, high-speed links connected as down-links to the control devices 34.
  • Each first ADSL unit 40 is connected, via a respective communication link 44, to a respective second ADSL unit 46, and each of the plurality of second ADSL units 46 is connected, via a respective communication link 48, to an exchange unit 50.
  • the ADSL units frequency multiplex voice and conventional telephone signals, e.g., DTMF signals, to and from the telephone sets 42 and signals to and from the control devices 34.
  • the exchange unit 50 provides connections between the control devices 34 and certain ones of a plurality n of first intermediary devices 52-1, ..., 52-n, where n is an integer. As described further below, the ones of the first intermediary devices that are connected to the control devices correspond to the services selected via the menu-oriented selection systems.
  • the exchange unit 50 can be, for example, an AXE- 10 type unit that is commercially available from this application's Assignee, and the first intermediary devices 52 can be, for example, computers of a suitable type or types, such as current commercially available desktop machines.
  • Each first intermediary device 52-1, ..., 52-n is connected via a respective communication link 54-1, ..., 54-n to a first data network 56, which can be, for example, a data network operating according to the Ethernet protocol. Such an Ethernet-type network provides for data communication at a rate of 10 MBPS.
  • the first data network 56 is, in turn, connected via a plurality m of communication links 58-1, ..., 58-m to a like plurality m of servers 60-1, ..., 60-m that provide the different selected service articles, e.g., specific films from a video-on-demand service, specific products from a home shopping service, specific software items, etc.
  • a major function of the first intermediary devices 52 is to translate coded commands from the control devices 34 into signals appropriate for the servers 60 to which they are connected.
  • the coded commands could be dual-tone, multi- frequency (DTMF) signals that represent selected service articles, although it will be understood that any suitable coded commands could be used.
  • Entering commands through the control devices 34, rather than through the telephones 42, and using the menu-oriented selection system results in a transparent network, which is a network able to handle all kinds of different data formats.
  • the first intermediary devices translate the commands into a "query language" appropriate to the desired server.
  • the servers may be obtained from different manufacturers and thus may respond to different languages, i.e., the query languages.
  • Providing the first intermediary devices contributes to the transparency of the network.
  • the first intermediary devices 52 detect identification signals, such as personal identification numbers (PINs), sent by the control devices 34.
  • the servers 60 can be, for example, server computers, and m is an integer, where m ⁇ n is more commonly true.
  • Each server 60-1, ..., 60-m includes a hard disk memory system, e.g., a CD-ROM system, and is configured such that many subscribers can simultaneously access the service and service articles corresponding to the server, e.g., the same film.
  • the different service articles are preferably stored in the servers in compressed format, e.g., the MPEG standard format for compression of motion pictures.
  • Servers that are suitable for a system in accordance with Applicants' invention are commercially available, including the Video Stream Server made by IBM.
  • the system 30 is very flexible when each first intermediary device 52- 1 , ... , 52-n corresponds to only one respective service and the service articles associated with that service are stored in one or more of the servers 60-1, ..., 60-m. It is easy to expand the system 30 when one wants to add a new service by adding one intermediary device 52 and one or more additional servers 60.
  • the added first intermediary device 52 and server(s) 60 need only be adapted to each other, e.g., be able to communicate with each other and the rest of the system 30.
  • Each server 60-1, ..., 60-m is connected via a respective communication link 62-1, ..., 62-m to a high-speed communication network 64.
  • the communication network 64 advantageously may use the ATM protocol, for example, and can be any of many different configurations, e.g., a ring network, a star network, a bus network, etc.
  • each server 60-1, ..., 60-m is connected via a respective communication link 66-1, ..., 66- m to a second data network 68, which is, for example, an Ethernet-type network.
  • the second data network 68 is connected to a compression-and-input means 70 for compressing and entering into the menu- oriented selection system information about new services and new service articles.
  • the compression-and-input means 70 is used for compressing and entering amendments of the contents of the menu-oriented selection system that may be necessary or appropriate from time to time. For example, when new films are to be offered by the video-on-demand service, the selection system must be changed. The necessary amendments are provided to the system 30 through the compression- and-input device 70 and are transmitted to the appropriate control devices 34-1, ..., 34-M.
  • control devices 34 It is possible that an amendment would not be transmitted to one or more of the control devices 34 because whether an amendment is transmitted to a particular control device depends on which services that subscriber has subscribed to.
  • the control devices are selected based on their ATM addresses.
  • the system 30 is economical as a result of such operation because subscribers only receive that for which they have paid.
  • the smart card 108 in Figure 3A can be used to store information pertaining to which services are subscribed to by the user of controller device 34-1.
  • a compressed signal is transmitted from the compression-and-input device 70, through second data network 68, communication network 64, the monitoring and recording means 72, the transport network 78 and the ASDL units to the controller 34-1.
  • Figure 3B illustrates a video encoder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the incoming signal can be, for example, a CVBS signal from a laser disc player (not shown).
  • An A/D converter 302 is used to translate the incoming analog signal into a digital video signal.
  • the A D converter 302 is synchronized, using signal Sync A, with the A D converter for the audio portion of the signal described below and illustrated in Figure 3C.
  • the digital video signal is then bit ⁇ mapped in a line coder 304 before being encoded.
  • the video encoder 306 is also synchronized with the audio encoder (shown in Figure 3C), using the Sync B signal.
  • the encoded signal is processed in six signal processors 308, grouped in three pairs.
  • the processing algorithms for each pair focus on signal processing of the encoded video for a particular color, i.e., Red, Green and Blue.
  • the comparators Al, A2, and A3 in Figure 3B are used to compare the results from the signals which have been processed horizontally and vertically for each color. This comparison is performed to increase picture quality since the best result is selected by each of the comparators.
  • the outgoing signals from these comparators are encoded signals optimized with focus on one color and are, therefore, referred to as R', G ⁇ and B'.
  • Comparator 310 is synchronized with comparators 328 and 330 in Figure 3D in the audio encoder using signal Sync C.
  • the resulting signal is decoded in decoder 312 and compared with the outgoing signal from line coder 304 in comparator 314. If variances between the signal from line coder 304 and the signal from comparator 310 are too large, then a signal is sent back to comparator 310 to compensate for such variances.
  • Buffer 316 is used to buffer incoming frames from the video encoder and an incoming stereo signal from the audio encoder described below.
  • the output from buffer 316 is an MPV signal with MPEG-1 encoded video and an MPA signal for audio. These can be provided, for example, over a SCSI interface.
  • FIG. 3C An exemplary audio encoder is illustrated in Figure 3C.
  • the incoming signals are the left and right channels of an analog audio signal from, for example, a laser disc player. These signals are then digitized using A/D converter 320, which is synchronized with A/D converter 302 as described above using signal Sync A.
  • the digitized signal is processed through block 322.
  • This signal processing includes a number of steps for increasing the quality of the digital signal which have not been separately illustrated in the Figure so as to avoid obscuring more significant features of the audio encoder.
  • Exemplary signal processing units represented by block 322 include: noise reduction, noise gating, compression, equalization, and gain control.
  • Encoding is performed using audio encoder 324.
  • Both audio encoder 324 and video encoder 306 can be implemented using, for example, Cube-C processors. These encoders are synchronized using signal Sync B.
  • the output from encoder 324 is processed in four DSPs 326, two for each channel, and then compared in comparators 328 and 330. These comparators 328 and 330 are synchronized with comparator 310 in the video encoder using signal Sync C.
  • the encoded audio signals are then output to buffer 316 as described above.
  • the system 30 further comprises a monitoring and recording means 72 that is connected via a communication link 74 to the communication network 64 and via a commumcation link 76 to the first data network 56.
  • a monitoring and recording means 72 is the recording of identifications and time periods of service articles that have been transmitted. This makes it possible for artists and film companies to obtain payment for the actual uses of the offered service articles. It is currently believed that the functions of the monitoring and recording means 72 can be carried out by a device such as the model S2000 commercially available from Silicon Graphics, Inc.
  • the monitoring and recording means 72 may be connected, via a high-speed transport network 78, for example, to a demultiplexer 80, which in turn may be connected via communication links 82- 1 , ... , 82-M to the second ADSL units 46- 1 , ..., 46-M.
  • the network 78 can be any transport network, e.g., SONET, SDH, CATV, etc., that has sufficient bandwidth. It is preferable that the demultiplexer 80 should handle as many communication links 82 as there are subscribers/control devices, i.e., N. In that respect, the demultiplexer 80 is system dependent. In this way, selections (commands) from the subscribers reach the servers through the exchange 50 and Ethernet first data network 56, and service articles (data) from the servers reach the subscribers through the ATM commumcation network 64, means 72, and transport network 78.
  • the first and second ADSL units 40, 46 can be omitted, in which case the subscribers are connected to the exchange unit 50 by ordinary telephone lines, such as wires and optical fibers, and the demultiplexer 80 is connected to the control devices 34 by coaxial cables, optical fibers, or radio links.
  • the system is similar to a CATV network.
  • the system 30 further comprises a network management unit 83, which is connected to the first data network 56.
  • the network management unit 83 is mainly used for monitoring the first data network 56, for detecting faults in the system 30, and for billing purposes. It will be appreciated that the hardware and software features of the network management unit 83 are largely determined by the desires of the network operator.
  • the system 30 may also include a plurality M of second intermediary devices
  • the second intermediary devices 84-1, ..., 84-M which are connected via respective communication links 86-1, ..., 86-M to the second ADSL units 46-1, ..., 46-M.
  • the second intermediary devices 84-1, ..., 84-M are connected to the first data network 56 via respective communication links 88-1, ..., 88-M.
  • the second intermediary devices 84-1, ..., 84-M act like switches and relieve the exchange unit 50 when subscribers have selected services that entail a large volume of control signals from the controlling means 38, such as a video game played between separately located subscribers. For example, when subscriber 1 selects a service article like a video game, signals are transmitted to the second intermediary device 84-1 via the link 86-1, not via the exchange unit 50.
  • This functionality distinguishes the second intermediary devices from a direct link (bypassing a voice switch) through, say, an ISDN channel interface.
  • the communication links 48-1, ..., 48-M are speech and signal channels; the communication links 82-1, ..., 82-M are video channels; and the communication links 86-1, ..., 86-M are data channels for signals.
  • Each of the first intermediary devices 52-1, ..., 52-n further comprises a respective modem 94-1, ..., 94-n for receiving and responding to signals from the exchange unit 50. If the control devices transmit data signals as conventional tone signals, the modems 94 are suitable tone-signal transmitter/receivers.
  • the exchange unit 50 in the system 30 can be connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 96, and the communication network 64 can be connected to a gateway node 98.
  • PSTN public switched telephone network
  • the system 30 can be connected to another system 30' and its data networks and gateway node 98', which are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.
  • the exchange unit 50 in that system could establish a telephone-line connection to the exchange unit in another system 30' that contains the selected service article.
  • This is analogous to establishing a call connection between two subscribers connected to different nodes in an ordinary telephone network.
  • the selected service article would be retrieved in the other system 30' in the manner described above, and that other system's server would place the selected service article in another high-speed communication network, similar to the high ⁇ speed communication network 64, that advantageously would use the ATM protocol.
  • the selected service article After passing through the gateway unit 98', the selected service article would be communicated to the gateway unit 98 through a wide area network 99.
  • the system 30 preferably takes care of the billing steps.
  • Network management units 83, 83' in both systems 30, 30' "know" where all service articles are resident. This information is transferred to each relevant control device 34, 34'.
  • the systems 30, 30', etc. use the same identification numbers for the same service articles. In this way, the selection of the system 30 or the system 30' is made in the control devices 34, not in the exchange unit 50.
  • Figs. 4A-4C present a flow chart showing the steps of a method for distributing a plurality of services on demand in accordance with Applicants' invention.
  • the reference 500 refers to a subscriber's activating the display unit(s) 32 and the control device 34, by applying electric power, for example.
  • the control device transmits a main menu of the menu-oriented selection system to the display unit, which displays the main menu.
  • the subscriber's use of the controlling means 38 to select a service or service article generates control signals that are transmitted from the controlling means 38 to the control device 34.
  • the menu-oriented selection system includes a computer program that is locally stored and executed, i.e., the control device includes a processor and memory.
  • the selection system is organized as, for example, a tree structure, in which each selection made via the controlling means 38 corresponds to the passing of a branch point in the tree.
  • a predetermined data signal is sent to the PCQs 94 (and PCXs 84) seen in Fig. 2.
  • a new menu picture is transmitted from the control device to the display unit and is shown thereon in response to the control signals generated by the subscriber. It will be understood that steps 504 and 506 are generally repeated until the selection system determines, at step 508, that an available type of service has been selected.
  • the signalling means 102 in the control device 34 transmits an off-hook signal to the exchange unit 50 (step 510), which responds by sending a dial tone to the signalling means 102 (step 512).
  • the signalling means 102 transmits, at step 514, a service- indicating signal to the exchange unit 50.
  • the service-indicating signal includes the number of the first intermediary device 52 that corresponds to the selected type of service.
  • the first intermediary device's number is analogous to the B-number in a conventional telephone system.
  • the exchange unit 50 analyzes the digits in the B-number and checks that the designated first intermediary device 52 is available. If so, the exchange unit transmits, at step 516, a conventional ringing signal to the selected first intermediary device 52 and a conventional ringing tone to the control device 34. In response to the ringing signal, the selected first intermediary device transmits a conventional off- hook signal to the exchange unit, which establishes a connection between the control device 34 and the first intermediary device 52 (step 518). The system is then ready to receive further control signals from the controlling means 38 and control device 34.
  • Step 520 The subscriber continues making selections, and for each selection the controlling means 38 transmits control signals to the control device 34 (step 520) and the control device transmits a new menu picture to the display unit 32 for display (step 522). Steps 520 and 522 are repeated until the desired service article, e.g., a specific film, has been selected (step 524).
  • the desired service article e.g., a specific film
  • step 524 there are no restrictions on the kind of control signals that can be used; DTMF signals, conventional binary digital signals, and the like are suitable.
  • control device 34 sends data signals regarding die selected service article via the exchange unit 50 and the first intermediary device 52 to the server 60 corresponding to the selected service article (step 526). Then, the signalling means 102 in the control device 34 transmits a conventional on-hook signal to the exchange unit (step 528), and the connection between the control device 34 and the first intermediary device 52 is disestablished by the exchange unit 50.
  • the selected server 60 then is activated and the selected service article is placed on the communication network 64 at a position in the protocol that is predetermined for the subscriber who made the selections (step 532). Then, at step 534, the selected service article is transmitted from the server 60 to the control device 34.
  • the comparing means 104 in the control device 34 determines whether the received service article corresponds to the selected service article. If the answer at step 536 is negative, steps 510-536 are repeated. On the other hand, if the answer at step 536 is affirmative, the decoding device 106 in the control device 34 decodes (at step 538) the compressed service article, converting it to a format appropriate to the display unit 32. The selected service article is then shown on the display unit, at step 540.
  • Fig. 5 is a partial flow chart of a second method for distributing a plurality of services on demand in accordance with Applicants' invention.
  • the second method is the same as the method described above as to steps 500-506, which are not shown in Fig. 5. Steps 504 and 506 (Fig. 4) are repeated until, at step 608 (Fig. 5), the service article has been selected (the selection process has ended) via the controlling means 38. If the answer at step 608 is affirmative, the method continues with steps 510-518 of the method described in connection with Fig. 4. After step 520, when a connection between the control device and first intermediary device is established, the method continues immediately with steps 526-540 as described in Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 6A is a partial flow chart of a method of controlling a system according to Applicants' invention that has M second intermediary devices and, at the same time, of using the telephone.
  • a subscriber uses the system 30 to view a film on the display unit and someone else uses that subscriber's telephone.
  • control signals are sent from the controlling means 38 and control device 34 to the first intermediary device. It is not possible to use directly a connection via the exchange unit for these control signals, however, because such a connection is blocked by the on-going telephone call.
  • the control signals are transmitted via the appropriate second intermediary device 84 to the server 60, at step 700 in Fig. 6A.
  • Step 700 can be executed anytime after step 534 in the methods illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5.
  • Fig. 6B is a flow chart of a method of controlling a system according to Applicants' invention and at the same time using the telephone when the system does not include second intermediary devices.
  • the control device transmits a call-interrupt signal (e.g., a conventional DTMF "R2" signal in a telephone system) to the exchange unit 50 for interrupting the ongoing telephone call (step 702).
  • a call-interrupt signal e.g., a conventional DTMF "R2" signal in a telephone system
  • the exchange unit interrupts the call, placing it on hold at the exchange unit, and provides a dial tone to the control device 34 for a secondary connection.
  • the control device In response to the dial tone, the control device, at step 704, transmits to the exchange unit the number (B-number) of the first intermediary device corresponding to the selected service article, and the exchange unit establishes a secondary connection between the control device and the first intermediary device. Then, at step 706, the control device 34 transmits the control signals needed to attain the desired action.
  • the comparing means 104 causes the control device to transmit a call-restore signal (e.g., a conventional DTMF "R2" signal) for disconnecting the secondary connection between the control device and the first intermediary device and for restoring the telephone call that was placed on hold.
  • a call-restore signal e.g., a conventional DTMF "R2" signal
  • the interruption in the first telephone call will usually be short, only 0.5 - 1 second.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

Système et technique de distribution de divers services sur demande, comprenant des appareils de commande reliés chacun à au moins une unité de visualisation d'abonné, tel qu'un poste de télévision. Chaque appareil de commande transmet au poste de télévision un système de sélection piloté par menu et stocké localement, qui permet de choisir parmi les divers services et établit, par le biais d'un module d'échange, une liaison avec l'un de plusieurs appareils intermédiaires rattachés au service sélectionné. En passant par un premier réseau, par exemple de type Ethernet, l'appareil intermédiaire, un ordinateur par exemple, communique avec plusieurs serveurs pour offrir les divers services. Les serveurs sont reliés à un réseau de transmission grande vitesse. Le serveur correspondant au service sélectionné, commandé par l'appareil intermédiaire, place ce service sur le réseau grande vitesse à l'emplacement prédéterminé réservé à l'abonné. Le service en question s'affiche ainsi sur l'unité de visualisation de l'abonné.
PCT/SE1995/001406 1994-11-25 1995-11-24 Technique et systeme de distribution de services sur demande WO1996017476A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU41266/96A AU4126696A (en) 1994-11-25 1995-11-24 Method and apparatus for distributing services on demand

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US34891794A 1994-11-25 1994-11-25
US08/348,917 1994-11-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996017476A1 true WO1996017476A1 (fr) 1996-06-06

Family

ID=23370131

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE1995/001406 WO1996017476A1 (fr) 1994-11-25 1995-11-24 Technique et systeme de distribution de services sur demande

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4126696A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996017476A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0845906A2 (fr) * 1996-12-02 1998-06-03 International Business Machines Corporation Système de serveur audio/vidéo en boucle partagé
EP0848569A2 (fr) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-17 Deutsche Telekom AG Réseau de télécommunication à intégration de services au domaine de l'accès
EP0865190A2 (fr) * 1997-03-13 1998-09-16 Deutsche Telekom AG Méthode pour augmenter la puissance de la gamme d'accès d'un réseau téléphonique
EP0873038A2 (fr) * 1997-04-09 1998-10-21 Alcatel Accès à internet à très haut débit
WO2000004719A1 (fr) * 1998-07-16 2000-01-27 Diva Systems Corporation Systeme de distribution active de services d'informations muni d'un gestionnaire distant de seances video
US6055512A (en) * 1997-07-08 2000-04-25 Nortel Networks Corporation Networked personal customized information and facility services
US7277398B1 (en) 1997-07-17 2007-10-02 Domiras Oy Method and terminal for providing services in telecommunication network
US7865926B2 (en) 1997-01-13 2011-01-04 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc System for interactively distributing information services
US20160277400A1 (en) * 2013-11-15 2016-09-22 Good Technology Corporation Authentication system

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5247347A (en) * 1991-09-27 1993-09-21 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Pstn architecture for video-on-demand services
EP0617563A1 (fr) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 International Business Machines Corporation Serveur de données, serveur de commandes et système d'architecture de communication interréseau et méthode de diffusion de signaux vidéonumériques à la demande
US5371532A (en) * 1992-05-15 1994-12-06 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Communications architecture and method for distributing information services
WO1995030305A1 (fr) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-09 At & T Corp. Agencement de generation de signaux de telecommunications pour terminaux sans possibilite de signalisation

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5247347A (en) * 1991-09-27 1993-09-21 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Pstn architecture for video-on-demand services
US5410343A (en) * 1991-09-27 1995-04-25 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Video-on-demand services using public switched telephone network
US5371532A (en) * 1992-05-15 1994-12-06 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Communications architecture and method for distributing information services
EP0617563A1 (fr) * 1993-03-22 1994-09-28 International Business Machines Corporation Serveur de données, serveur de commandes et système d'architecture de communication interréseau et méthode de diffusion de signaux vidéonumériques à la demande
WO1995030305A1 (fr) * 1994-04-29 1995-11-09 At & T Corp. Agencement de generation de signaux de telecommunications pour terminaux sans possibilite de signalisation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IEEE INT. CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONS, Volume 2, May 1993, A.D. GELMAN et al., "An Architecture for Interactive Applications", pages 848-852. *

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0845906A2 (fr) * 1996-12-02 1998-06-03 International Business Machines Corporation Système de serveur audio/vidéo en boucle partagé
EP0845906A3 (fr) * 1996-12-02 2003-07-02 International Business Machines Corporation Système de serveur audio/vidéo en boucle partagé
EP0848569A2 (fr) * 1996-12-12 1998-06-17 Deutsche Telekom AG Réseau de télécommunication à intégration de services au domaine de l'accès
EP0848569A3 (fr) * 1996-12-12 2000-01-12 Deutsche Telekom AG Réseau de télécommunication à intégration de services au domaine de l'accès
US8683508B2 (en) 1997-01-13 2014-03-25 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc System for interactively distributing information services using randomization
US7865926B2 (en) 1997-01-13 2011-01-04 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc System for interactively distributing information services
US6305019B1 (en) 1997-01-13 2001-10-16 Diva Systems Corporation System for interactively distributing information services having a remote video session manager
EP0865190A3 (fr) * 1997-03-13 2003-07-02 Deutsche Telekom AG Méthode pour augmenter la puissance de la gamme d'accès d'un réseau téléphonique
EP0865190A2 (fr) * 1997-03-13 1998-09-16 Deutsche Telekom AG Méthode pour augmenter la puissance de la gamme d'accès d'un réseau téléphonique
DE19710347A1 (de) * 1997-03-13 1998-09-17 Deutsche Telekom Ag Verfahren zur Leistungserweiterung eines Zugangsbereichs eines Telefonnetzes
EP0873038A2 (fr) * 1997-04-09 1998-10-21 Alcatel Accès à internet à très haut débit
EP0873038A3 (fr) * 1997-04-09 2003-10-15 Alcatel Accès à internet à très haut débit
US6055512A (en) * 1997-07-08 2000-04-25 Nortel Networks Corporation Networked personal customized information and facility services
US7277398B1 (en) 1997-07-17 2007-10-02 Domiras Oy Method and terminal for providing services in telecommunication network
WO2000004719A1 (fr) * 1998-07-16 2000-01-27 Diva Systems Corporation Systeme de distribution active de services d'informations muni d'un gestionnaire distant de seances video
US20160277400A1 (en) * 2013-11-15 2016-09-22 Good Technology Corporation Authentication system
US10148651B2 (en) * 2013-11-15 2018-12-04 Blackberry Limited Authentication system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4126696A (en) 1996-06-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU660710B2 (en) PSTN architecture for video-on-demand services
US5790174A (en) PSTN architecture for video-on-demand services
US6188428B1 (en) Transcoding video file server and methods for its use
US5594789A (en) Transaction implementation in video dial tone network
Chang et al. An open-systems approach to video on demand
US5790173A (en) Advanced intelligent network having digital entertainment terminal or the like interacting with integrated service control point
EP0617563B1 (fr) Serveur de données, serveur de commandes et système d'architecture de communication interréseau et méthode de diffusion de signaux vidéo numériques à la demande
US5583920A (en) Intelligent peripheral in video dial tone network
US5541917A (en) Video and TELCO network control functionality
US5278889A (en) Video telephony dialing
WO1993016557A1 (fr) Serveur de fichiers video adaptable et modes d'utilisation
JP2005192227A (ja) マルチメディアが可能とされたネットワーク
JPH1013812A (ja) ビデオデータを送信する装置およびサービス、並びに要求信号を送信する装置
CN102075799A (zh) 一种在有线电视网络中实现可视电话的机顶盒系统
US5644355A (en) Adaptive video subscriber system and methods for its use
WO1996017476A1 (fr) Technique et systeme de distribution de services sur demande
WO1994023537A1 (fr) Procede et systeme permettant l'acces a des donnees multimedia sur un reseau telephonique public commute
Manchester New uses for residential copper
WO1998033317A2 (fr) Systeme et procede de videoconference/audioconference
JP2807097B2 (ja) テレビ会議用多地点間通信制御装置
KR100219168B1 (ko) 최적의 동적모드변환을 위한 화상단말장치
WO1997003522A1 (fr) Visioconference
CN1091881A (zh) 用于视频请求式业务的公共交换电话网结构
WO1993017526A1 (fr) Systeme d'abonne adaptatif pour donnees video et procedes d'utilisation
Erfani et al. Issues in networked multimedia services

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AU CA CN FI JP KR MX NO SG

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

CFP Corrected version of a pamphlet front page
CR1 Correction of entry in section i

Free format text: PAT.BUL.26/96 UNDER INID(51)"IPC",ADD"H04Q 11/04"

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase