Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1859—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
  • H04W12/03—Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2211/00—Indexing scheme relating to details of data-processing equipment not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00
  • G06F2211/007—Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method and system for simultaneously distributing information to a plurality of user bases. More specifically, it relates to the wireless transmission of information from a broadcaster to multiple receivers for storage and access at the user's convenience.
• Modulation techniques that sacrifice signal data for a lower ambient noise threshold while maintaining a relatively high data transfer rate over a fixed bandwidth channel are conventionally used in the telecommunications industry. Examples of these advanced modulation techniques are Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), Quadrature Polyphase Modulation (QPM) and Galaxy Modulation (GM).
• GMSK Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying
• QPM Quadrature Polyphase Modulation
• GM Galaxy Modulation
• ISP Internet Service Provider
• POP Point of Presence
• the Internet typically forwards information on a "pull” system which is facilitated by a dial-up connection.
• the current "Push” system does not allow large quantities of information to be provided to multiple users, due to the limitation of the telecommunications network.
• a present dial-up connection to the Internet allows the user to request the service provider to transmit large amounts of information satellite, to avoid lengthly download times. However, the transmission has to be requested by the user and the information is independently sent by the service provider to a specific user for each request.
• product delivery systems are orders placed via the Internet or otherwise for data based products, such as software, which can be delivered effortlessly without time-consuming and costly Internet downloads.
• the sale of music CD's is a perfect application for the invention as a product delivery system;
• E-mail remains the fastest possible communication platform, most people have access to undedicated telephone systems with the result that the mailbox is checked on an intermittent basis. It is only those ISP subscribers with costly dedicated digital connectivity that are notified of new mail, seconds after it is sent.
• the invention enables delivery notifications to be broadcast as E-mail is sent, making it possible for the user to log into the Internet and access their mail as it arrives;
• the invention enables requested information to be transmitted inexpensively to a plurality of user bases without the tedious and costly exercise of Internet downloads;
• business information - receiving updates of business orientated information such as share-prices, exchange rates and the like, with the use of a subscription service. Similar systems are already in place in telecommunication systems, once again only effective for those who enjoy dedicated connectivity;
• the invention provides a system for facilitating the simultaneous transmission of information to multiple user bases over a wireless communications network and for receiving, demodulating, downloading, and storing the 4
• the system comprising at least one content provider; at least one service provider; a transmission infrastructure; multiple user bases, having receivers consisting of an antenna in conjunction with a receiving card; a modem for demodulating the broadcast signal; and processing means for storing and enabling subsequent access of the information.
• the system may include means to manage one or more switchable channels, enabling them to be broadcast selectively to a certain subset of users by activating and/or deactivating a specific channel of information.
• the transmitted information signal may incorporate means for encoding or encrypting, the corresponding receiver including means for decoding or decrypting the signal at the user base.
• the means for encoding and encrypting may be provided with an encryption algorithm that is a function of the user-specific identification code inherent in the receiver card, and further may be provided with a key obtained on payment of the desired channel subscription, ensuring that only paying subscribers are able to decrypt the signal.
• the receiver may have an antenna associated with it as part of a computer module, alternatively, the antenna may be a separate unit connectable with a display and processing device.
• the system may include means for compressing the information signal and the user base may include means for decompressing the information after it has been downloaded.
• the system may use existing transmission infrastructure such as that used by radio companies.
• a method for facilitating the simultaneous transmission of information to multiple user bases over a wireless communications network and for receiving, demodulating, downloading, and storing the information at the user bases for subsequent retrieval including the steps of collecting information from at least one content provider; classifying and grouping the information into channels; generating a modulated information signal for transmission; broadcasting the modulated information signal over a wireless transmission network; receiving the transmitted information signal at user bases via suitably tuned receivers; demodulating the received information signal; and storing the information for subsequent retrieval.
• the method may include a step of automatically refreshing the stored information with an updated version.
• the step of modulating the information signal may be achieved using any one or more of modulation techniques selected from the group consisting of Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), Quadrature Polyphase Modulation (QPM) and Galaxy Modulation.
• GMSK Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying
• QPM Quadrature Polyphase Modulation
• Galaxy Modulation any one or more of modulation techniques selected from the group consisting of Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), Quadrature Polyphase Modulation (QPM) and Galaxy Modulation.
• the step of modulating the information signal may include implementing a redundancy check to ensure that the received signal is accurate and to enable a corrupted signal to be reconstructed at the receiver.
• Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention, which uses a RF transmission network to distribute information
• Figure 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention, which uses a cellular transmission network to distribute information
• Figure 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the invention, which uses a satellite transmission network to distribute information
• Figure 4 is a diagram of a fourth embodiment of the invention where the service provider manages the information into various channels before forwarding it to a transmission network to be broadcast
• Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system of switches for implementing the selective distribution of information to subscribers, according to the invention.
• FIG 1 shows an embodiment of a system 10 according to the invention, which uses, a radio frequency transmitter 12 for distributing information to user bases 14, from one or more content providers 16, which could be an Internet service provider, university or commercial institution such as a firm of stock brokers, magazine company, news network or software developer. Users subscribe or register themselves with a content provider 16 at a fee. The content providers prepare the information to distributed to their subscribers and forward it to a service provider 18 that manages and classifies the data to be tr.ansmitted.
• Existing transmission infrastructure 12, such as that used by radio companies, is used to broadcast the channels of information.
• a PC- based receiving station comprising an antenna 20, a specialised receiver card in the form of a radio card (not shown) and processing and storage means (not chown), is used to receive, demodulate, process and store the incoming information signal. Downloads are stored and automatically refreshed with up-to-date information. This information is retrieved by the user, and manipulated with appropriate software, such as conventional Internet browsers, customized software packages or applets.
• Figure 2 relates, specifically, to the transmission of information to multiple users via a cellular network including one or more service providers 18, which are connected to a cellular network operator 30, and one or more content providers 16 .
• the cellular network operator 30 has multiple transmission areas serviced by base stations 32.
• a remote terminal such as a PC, is equipped with receiver means for receiving the cellular transmission.
• the downloaded information is viewed on display means and manipulated with peripheral devices such as a keyboard and/or mouse. 7
• Figure 3 relates, specifically, to the transmission of information to multiple users via a satellite network together with one or more service providers 18, which are connected to the satellite network operator 40, and one or more content providers 16.
• the satellite network is, in this example, the transmission medium for transmitting the information to a low earth-orbiting satellite, which relays the transmission to multiple users.
• a satellite dish 42 is connected to a PC for display.
• users could download the broadcast with a satellite dish connected to a set- top box.
• Figure 4 shows an example of where a service provider 18 manages the content 50 to be broadcast over a wireless communication means 52 for reception by subscribers at their user bases 14.
• Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the use of one or more switches as part of the managing device. Included in the information management system of the service provider is an electronic switching system 60 that ensures that only paying subscribers have decoding means to subscription channels.
• the encoding or encryption means is a function of the user access code inherent in the radio card, which enables the selective receiving of information by multiple users, i.e. only paying users are able to decode subscription channels.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Software Systems (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=27144563

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-19 AU AU30131/99A patent/AU3013199A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-03-19 CN CN99804180A patent/CN1126330C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-19 EP EP99911502A patent/EP1062769A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-03-19 WO PCT/ZA1999/000005 patent/WO1999048250A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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