EP1419593A1 - Tv satellite et internet satellite pour reseau catv - Google Patents

Tv satellite et internet satellite pour reseau catv

Info

Publication number
EP1419593A1
EP1419593A1 EP01958363A EP01958363A EP1419593A1 EP 1419593 A1 EP1419593 A1 EP 1419593A1 EP 01958363 A EP01958363 A EP 01958363A EP 01958363 A EP01958363 A EP 01958363A EP 1419593 A1 EP1419593 A1 EP 1419593A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
information
network
content
content provider
provider service
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01958363A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hillel Weinstein
Zeev Orbach
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xtend Networks Ltd
Original Assignee
Xtend Networks Ltd
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 Xtend Networks Ltd filed Critical Xtend Networks Ltd
Publication of EP1419593A1 publication Critical patent/EP1419593A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/14—Relay systems
    • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
    • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
    • H04B7/18578—Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations
    • H04B7/1858—Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/10—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/20—Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to communications networks, in general and to a method and system for enabling the subscribers of a terrestrial CATV network with the option of dynamically interacting with diverse content-providing communications networks via a flexible bi-directional signal path that includes terrestrial cables and communications satellites, in particular.
  • a communications satellite is an electronics retransmission device serving as a repeater normally placed in orbit around the earth for the purpose of receiving and retransmitting electromagnetic signals.
  • the signals are transmitted from terrestrial transmitters to the satellite and are re-transmitted ubiquitously by transponders deployed on board of the satellite, to terrestrial receivers disposed within a geographic receiving area (usually referred to as the satellite's footprint) within the area covered by the transmitting satellite.
  • the signals are transmitted at very high frequencies typically in the microwave ranges. After being received by one or more antennas the transmitted signals are amplified and processed by satellite signal interfaces and are transmitted to end-user devices such as television sets or personal computers.
  • Satellite networks are unrestrained by the physical limitations of the infrastructure established on the ground, such as extensive land-transmission lines containing hundreds of miles of cables, a multitude of suitable connectors, and other diverse electronic components used to maintain the transmitted signal at the required stable characteristics.
  • Satellite systems are capable of transmitting signals across a substantially wider bandwidth than terrestrial communications systems are capable of distributing.
  • Satellite networks also typically employ highly advanced state-of-art technologies such as digital transmission techniques, advanced QPSK modulation methods, real-time data compression routines, transmission path reuse via different polarization schemes, and the like.
  • Higher power satellites have more recently been developed to broadcast signals to terrestrial cable systems or directly to the subscribers' houses. Advanced systems implementing direct delivery methods are referred to as Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) systems or Direct to Home (DTH) satellite systems.
  • DBS Direct Broadcast Satellite
  • DTH Direct to Home
  • tellite Internet It enables companies, organizations, individuals, schools and governments to share information across the world. Recently a number of companies began to offer two-way satellite Internet access to customers desiring to access and interact with Internet information content stored within the network. Usually the service is referred to as the "satellite Internet”.
  • Satellite Internet is necessary for users living in geographically remote areas or in countries with little terrestrial infrastructure for broadband access to the data network while. Satellite Internet does not use telephone lines or cable systems but instead uses a satellite dish for two-way (up load and download) data communication.
  • the download speed range is about 150-1200 Kbps depending on factors such as Internet traffic, the capacity of the server, and the sizes of downloaded files.
  • Upload speed is about a tenth of the download speed.
  • Terrestrial cable and DSL have higher download speeds but satellite systems are substantially faster than a typical modem.
  • Satellite Internet uses Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting technology, which means up to 5,000 channels of communication can simultaneously be served by a single satellite. IP multicasting sends data from one point to many points simultaneously by sending data in compressed format thereby reducing the size of the data and the bandwidth.
  • IP multicasting sends data from one point to many points simultaneously by sending data in compressed format thereby reducing the size of the data and the bandwidth.
  • dial-up land-based terrestrial systems have bandwidth limitations that prevent multicasting
  • a two-way satellite Internet service requires the installation of specific hardware devices at the subscribers' premises.
  • the hardware consists of a satellite dish antenna, a transceiver (transmitter/receiver), two modems (for downlink and uplink), and coaxial cables connecting the antenna with the modems.
  • the hardware devices operate in the microwave portion of the radio spectrum.
  • the satellite Internet connection is an arrangement in which the upstream (outgoing) and the downstream (incoming) data are sent from, and arrive at, a computer through a satellite.
  • the upstream data is usually sent at a slower speed than the downstream data arrives.
  • the connection is asymmetric. Satellite Internet systems are a rather expensive option for the subscribers due to the high cost of satellite interface units installation.
  • StarBand is a company that offers a two-way, high-speed satellite Internet service, which uses a single satellite dish antenna installed at the subscribers' premises for receiving and for sending information. Thus, no telephone connection is needed.
  • An asymmetrical service StarBand downloads data at faster speeds than it uploads. The download speeds average 500 Kbps at the maximum and 150 Kbps at busy access times. Upload speeds are slower, with StarBand claiming for a minimum 50 Kbps.
  • standard Internet access such as typical browsing an asymmetric service is quite satisfactory, there are many types of applications that require symmetrical transmission. Some exemplary applications that could benefit substantially from symmetrical transmissionare; full-motion video conferencing, FTP sessions, on-line gaming, peer-to-peer networking, virtual reality, and the like.
  • Satellite TV is the transmission of broadcast signals through artificial communications satellites. Typically positioned in geo-stationary orbit satellites have been used since the 1960's to relay television pictures around the world. Digital satellite TV channels are distributed by DBS systems that offer digital images that are better than those delivered by cable television, and provide hundreds of channels while analog cable distribution networks are capable of carrying only a few dozen. A great benefit of the DBS system as opposed to prior systems is that only a small dish-type antenna is required to receive . the DBS signals and the alignment of the receiving dish is not critical.
  • an outdoor unit including a small satellite dish assemblage associated with a Low Noise Block Converter (LNBC) unit, a polarizer element, and an indoor unit including a satellite tuner, and (whenever applicable) a descrambler component, are required.
  • LNBC Low Noise Block Converter
  • an indoor unit including a satellite tuner, and (whenever applicable) a descrambler component.
  • a larger dish antenna and a costly microwave exciter transmitter are required.
  • DBS systems In respect to the other satellite TV distribution networks DBS systems also have multiple drawbacks.
  • One disadvantage of DBS systems is that the reception units have to be purchased or rented by the consumer and have to be installed individually at the consumers' premises at a considerable expense.
  • DBS systems also lack ancillary services, such as high-speed data streaming, telephone and two-way interactivity when accessing data communications networks.
  • Another drawback of the satellite distribution systems concerns the geographical limitations of the receiving area or the satellite's footprint. To receive satellite broadcasts the installed antennas have to be disposed such as to be in the line-of-sight of the transmitting satellite's transponder.
  • Cable TV is the transmission of TV programs into the home and office via land-based conduits including optical fibers, coaxial cables, or hybrid-fiber optic/coaxial (HFC) lines.
  • Cable TV organizations have tremendous potential for the addition of new services since they are already wired into so many homes.
  • the enormous upsurge in the number of satellite channels caused cable network operators to begin a hard uphill struggle to upgrade the bandwidth of their cable plants and to insert digital channels in order to accommodate within the CATV networks the constantly growing number of satellite based channels.
  • the expansion of the CATV service with the multiplication of the number of channels involves great difficulties as the severe infrastructure-related limitations establish a definitive limit to the channel capacity of the cable TV networks.
  • higher level digital modulation schemes were introduced like 256QAM.
  • the current standards define the bandwidth required for the transmission of a single video channel to be about 6 MHz in the U.S. and about 8 MHz in Europe.
  • the maximum usable bandwidth of the existing cable networks is less than 1GHz.
  • the cable systems with their present infrastructure have the capacity of transmitting at most 150 distinct video channels to their subscribers. This limited channel capacity is insufficient to accommodate the growing number of available satellite channels.
  • current CATV installations are not a viable alternative to the installation of the satellite dishes and associated indoor units needed for the reception of the new multiplicity of satellite channel at the consumers' premises.
  • One aspect of the present invention regards a communications network accommodating at least one subscriber linked via a communications network infrastructure to at least one communications network gateway unit, and a system for providing the delivery of request information and content information between the at least one network subscriber and at least one content provider service network.
  • the system includes at least one subscriber equipment unit to enable the at least one network subscriber to submit request information to be transmitted to and to receive content information transmitted from the at least one content provider service network, a communications plant utilized as an information path to transmit a combined information stream including the request information and content information between the at least one subscriber equipment unit and the at least one content provider service interface unit, and at least one content provider service interface unit to format the information stream including the request information and the content information into specific formats suitable for the interfacing at least one content provider service network and the communications network.
  • a second aspect of the present invention regards a communications network accommodating at least one network subscriber connected via a communications network infrastructure to at least one communications network gateway unit, and a method for the delivery of request information and content information transmitted between the at least one network subscriber and at least one content provider service network.
  • the method consists of submitting content request information by the at least one network subscriber to be delivered to the at least one content provider service network, accepting content information from the at least one content provider service network by the at least one network subscriber, communicating the request information and the content information via a communication network plant between the at least one network subscriber and the at least one content provider service network interface unit, and transmitting the request information from the at least one content provider service network interface to the at least one content provider service network, receiving the content information from the at least one content provider service network by the at least one content provider service network interface unit.
  • All the above aspects of the present invention provide the controllable delivery of content and services from content provider networks via a terrestrial CATV infrastructure to subscribers of the terrestrial CATV network at substantially high data rates.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the symmetrical configuration of the XBCS-CATV system, in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a standard CATV data system
  • Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram of the XBCS-CATV data system, in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the XBCS-CATV data system bi-directional scheme, in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of the DOCSIS-compliant XBCS-CATV data system architecure
  • Fig. 6 shows the XBCS-CATV data network autonomous scheme, in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 shows the XBCS-CATV data network non-autonomous scheme, in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates the method of frequency hopping associated with the
  • Fig. 9 shows the method of frequency band hopping associated with the XBCS-CATV data network, in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of a combined communication environment, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 shows the diagrams of the frequency bands structured by the satellite signal receiving and processing interface, according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 12 shows the frequency band diagram of the integrated broadband signal, in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • PCT Patent application Serial No. PCT/IL00/00655 teaches a method and system for the expansion of the functional bandwidth of a bi-directional symmetrical or asymmetrical multi-user communications system.
  • Information units encoded into electronic signals having diverse content are received at a specific transmission center from a plurality of transmitting information sources.
  • the received signals are suitably processed, frequency-mapped into predefined channels across a substantially expanded range of frequencies, multiplexed into a broadband signal modulated across a predefined portion of a substantially increased functional frequency range, and selectively distributed to a plurality of subscribers along a controlled transmission path. Transmission of encoded information units modulated across another predefined portion of the same substantially increased frequency range in the reverse direction, from a plurality of subscribers to the transmission center, is also provided.
  • the present invention regards a novel method and system, which are functional in association with a cable communications network having a substantially expanded operational bandwidth.
  • the method and system for the expansion of the operational bandwidth within the cable communications network will be referred to in the text of this document as the Extended Bandwidth Communications System (XBCS).
  • XBCS could be implemented in association with diverse types of communications networks.
  • the resulting system is referred to as an XBCS-CATV system
  • the present invention discloses a method and system for the distribution of a plurality of DBS channels via a satellite-HFC hybrid network.
  • the terrestrial network is a CATV system and more specifically an XBCS-CATV system.
  • the method and system proposed are used to provide a satellite Internet service. Subscribers of the XBCS-CATV system access and interact with content providing sites across the Internet by submitting suitable requests to Web browsers installed within personal computers (PCs) or business computers operatively connected to the XBCS-CATV system. The requests are transmitted upstream via the cable plant to hub units associated with the XBCS-CATV network.
  • the requests are up-linked via specific satellite-interface devices in the hub units and via appropriate satellite transmitters and dishes to satellite relay stations in earth orbit.
  • the .requests are relayed to specific ground stations employed as gateway devices to the communications network (such as the Internet and the like).
  • suitable content information transmitted from the gateway earth stations to the satellite relays and subsequently downlinked from the satellite relays, is received at the hub stations.
  • the DBS channels are allocated at the hub units and delivered downstream via hybrid fiber-coaxial paths to groups of subscribers directly associated with the respective hub units.
  • the method and system also provides the capability for uplink communications from the groups of subscribers via hybrid fiber-coaxial paths to the allocated satellite repeaters with single uplink installations at each hub unit.
  • a plurality of diverse channels having a variety of content, format, and purpose could be integrated into a programming package to be delivered and distributed by the cable communications system.
  • the distribution network could be a cellular communications network, or any other communication infrastructure operative in connecting diverse communication nodes located at separate remote or semi-remote geographical locations.
  • the proposed method and system could provide diverse other bi-directional symmetrical or asymmetrical services such as the deliverance of communications services by utilizing specific gateway devices to conventional or cellular telephone networks, and the like.
  • the symmetrical configuration of the XBCS-CATV system operative in the implementation of the method and system will be described next.
  • XBCS-CATV 110 provides channel control, data uplink, and data downlink from a hub unit 120 to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) 121, 121', 121", 121'".
  • Hub unit 120 is linked to CPE 121,121',121",121'" via fiber and/or coaxial cable 123.
  • Hub 120 contains a dish antenna 122, a satellite receiver/transmitter 124, a satellite modem 126, a demodulator 128, a controller 134, a modulator 136, a multiplexer 120, a hub multiplexer 132, and a hub XBCS amplifier 142.
  • CPE 121 contains an XBCS set-top box 148, a data modem 150, a television set 152, a personal computer (PC) device 156, and remote controller device 138.
  • CPE 121', 121", 121'" also contains an XBCS. set-top box (not shown), a data modem (not shown), a television set (not shown), a personal computer (PC) device (not shown), and remote controller device (not shown).
  • Conventional CATV network 130 is linked to hub station 120 via an HFC infrastructure. Electronic signals carrying information content are received by dish 122 and satellite receiver/transmitter 124. The signals are processed by satellite modem 126 and fed into multiplexer 141 via modulator 136.
  • the signals are modulated into channels allocated by controller 134 and multiplexed by multiplexer 141.
  • the multiplexed channels are transmitted into hub multiplexer 132.
  • the channels received from the satellite and a CATV signal from conventional CATV network 130 are multiplexed into a combined signal by hub multiplexer 132.
  • the signal is selectively amplified by XBCS hub amplifier 142 and fed downstream via cable 123 to CPE 121, 121', 121", 121"'.
  • XBCS amplifiers 144 and 146 selectively amplify the signal.
  • the signal is fed into the XBCS set-top box 148.
  • CATV channels are processed and displayed by the television set 152 while the satellite channels are sent via data modem 150 to PC device 156 for processing and display.
  • the subscriber can select a specific CATV channel for display on the television set 152 or a desired satellite Internet channel for processing by the PC device 156 by activating the suitable controls on the XBCS set-top box 148 or by remotely manipulating the controls via remote controller unit 138. Where a satellite Internet channel is selected the subscriber is provided with the capability of transmitting information upstream from the PC 156.
  • requests for specific information content is uplinked through data modem 150, set-top box 148, cable 123, hub multiplexer 132, multiplexer 141, demodulator 128, satellite modem 126, satellite receiver/transmitter 124, and dish 122, to the selected satellite relay station in orbit.
  • the first preferred embodiment of the present invention presents a method for integrating a satellite Internet service with a terrestrial CATV system and it is employed as a hybrid Internet providing service it should be clearly understood that in other embodiments diverse other services could be provided simultaneously.
  • a plurality of specific audio, video, and data channels could be plugged into the satellite-XBCS-CATV interface to be distributed to the subscribers.
  • the second preferred embodiment of the present invention discussed hereunder in association with the following drawings, presents a method and system for the selection, ordering, and respective delivery of digital movies to subscribers via a hybrid satellite-XBCS-CATV network.
  • the configuration illustrated on Fig. 1 provides for bi-directional and symmetrical transmission.
  • the transmission speeds will be identical for the both uplink connection and for the downlink connection.
  • the data transfer rates of the XBCS-CATV network are the same for the delivery of the data downstream from the satellite relay through the XBCS-CATV network to the subscriber and in the reverse direction from the subscriber through the XBCS-CATV network and back to the satellite station.
  • the substantially expended bandwidth provided by the XBCS system enables considerably higher data transfer rates in comparison with the currently operating systems.
  • the present method and system supports an extended bandwidth having a range of about 1050-3000 GHz and enables data transfer rates of up to about 10 Gbps. Note should be taken that in other embodiments of the present invention the XBCS-CATV network may operate as an asymmetrical service.
  • the bi-directional symmetric XCBS-CATV data network can be designed to operate in accordance with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) standards.
  • DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications
  • the proposed system and method is designed to be adaptable to further developments in the current standard and to new standards developed in the foreseeable future.
  • DOCSIS specifies the schemes and the protocol for exchanging bidirectional signals over cable and defines the interface for cable modem, the devices that handle incoming and outgoing data signals between a cable TV operator and a personal or business computer or a television set.
  • Fig. 2 shows a simplified block diagram of a DOCSIS-compliant standard CATV data network.
  • the network system 160 includes but not limited to a Hybrid Fiber-Coax plant (HFC) 162, and a Customer Premises Equipment
  • HFC Hybrid Fiber-Coax plant
  • CPE CPE
  • HFC 162 includes but not limited to a hub unit 166.
  • CPE 164 includes but not limited to a Network Interface Card (NIC) 168.
  • NIC 168 is can be a standard Ethernet card, such as the lOBaseT-Ethernet card installed within a computing device (not shown).
  • NIC 168 is linked to a cable modem (CM) 170 which in turn communicates via the CATV physical layer 174 with a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) 172.
  • CMTS 172 is a central device for connecting the cable TV network to a data network, such as the Internet.
  • CMTS 172 is linked to hub 166.
  • Hub 166 can be a hub unit or a cable head-end.
  • Hub unit 166 is part of the HFC 162 through which data network packets are transmitted to the network 160.
  • the network 160 is specified as an Internet Protocol (IP) forwarding system.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • the NIC 168 which is linked to the CM 170 and the CMTS 172 which is linked to the hub 166 function in a Local Area Network (LAN)-like manner in spite of the very large time delays between CM 170 and CMTS 172.
  • CM 170 and CMTS 172 have to provide NIC 168 and the hub 166 with a virtual Local Area Network (LAN) environment.
  • DOCSIS is utilized and defined as the "virtualization" of the physical layer 176.
  • Both CM 170 and the CMTS 172 must be able to capture LAN packets while ignoring the time delay in the transmission of the packets.
  • the CM 170 and the CMTS 172 functions as if the packets were transmitted to the opposite terminal point of the system in an instantaneous manner, like in an actual LAN. After capturing the packet the CM 170 and the CMTS 172 transmit the packet to the available resource allocated to them.
  • the XCBS method applies Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) to the standard CATV band as well as to the additional portion of the substantially extended bandwidth.
  • FDM Frequency Domain Multiplexing
  • This extension requires in turn the formation of a different "virtualization" in respect to the CATV physical layer.
  • Fig. 3 shows an XBCS-CATV data network.
  • the network 180 contains an HFC 182, and a CPE 184.
  • HFC 182 contains a hub unit
  • CPE 184 contains a NIC 188.
  • NIC 188 is linked to a CM 192, which in turn communicates via the XBCS physical layer 194 with a CMTS 190.
  • CMTS 190 is linked to hub unit 186.
  • Hub unit 186 is part of the HFC 182 through which data network packets are transmitted to the network 180.
  • Satellite symmetrical data connection 187 is linked to HFC 182.
  • the XBCS physical layer 194 includes additional components with respect to the LAN physical layer connecting the CM 192 with the CMTS 190.
  • the enlargement of the LAN physical layer involves the addition of XBCS-CATV amplifiers, FDM devices, suitable band allocation and heterodyning devices.
  • the proposed system and method is not limited to a specific modulation method described above.
  • the signal carrying the information could be modulated in diverse modulation techniques.
  • Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the architectural scheme of an XBCS-CATV asymmetrical data transmission system.
  • the delivery of the data signals in the network is bi-directional; in the forward direction (downstream) from CMTS (cable modem termination system) 192 to CM (cable modem) 199 and in the reverse direction (upstream) from CM 199 to CMTS 192.
  • CMTS 192 is linked to hub unit 194, which in turn is connected to the cable plant.
  • hub unit 194 which in turn is connected to the cable plant.
  • CATV amplifiers 196, 197 and associated XBCS amplifiers 195, 193 are deployed.
  • the cable is linked to an XBCS set-top box 198, which in turn connected to CM 199.
  • the portion of the diagram from hub unit 194 to XBCS set-top box 198 include the components associated with the XBCS-CATV physical layer, such the XBCS amplifier units, the FDM schemes, the appropriate band allocation modules and the terminal equipment heterodyning components.
  • the CM 199 and the CMTS 192 include the conventional CM/CMTS physical layer which includes components for the handling of the MPEG packets, the TDM-related devices, the
  • the components of the conventional CM/CMTS physical layer relate to the handling of the Ethernet packets, the FDMA scheme, QPSK/160AM schemes, and the FDMA channel access modules.
  • the cables connecting the constituent components of the network are coaxial cable or HFC.
  • the cables constitute the CATV physical layer.
  • the hub unit 194 combines several CMTS 192 and super-heterodyne part of them between the CATV as the base-band and the extended portion XBCS band.
  • the XBCS amplifiers 195, 193 separate the combined bandwidth between the CATV band and the XBCS band, pass the CATV band to the conventional CATV amplifiers 196, 197, amplify the XBCS band, and finally re-combine the separately amplified signals back to the combined band on the cable.
  • the XBCS set-top box 198 serves the CM 199 by super-heterodyning between the CATV as the base-band and the extended portion of the XBCS band.
  • the management system can no longer transfer assertions between the terminal points of the network. As a result the system looses the ability to manage the terminal equipment.
  • the above-mentioned situation is called a deadlock.
  • the LAN terminals (NIC and HUB) assume a steady physical layer and are provided with an autonomous management system for the avoidance of dependencies. Consequently the operative link can be re-established without the necessity of receiving assistance from a dependent system.
  • the DOCSIS terminals CM and CMTS
  • CATV steady physical layer
  • Fig. 5 illustrates the DOCSIS architecture with a steady physical layer (CATV).
  • Hub unit 206 within HFC 202 is linked to NIC 208 implemented within CPE 204 via CMTS 210, CATV physical link 214, and CM 212.
  • CMTS 210, CATV physical link 214, and CM 212 are included within the Network Management System boundary 216.
  • the CM 212 loses connection it begins searching for a downstream channel to lock into and attempts to access an upstream channel through the downstream channel.
  • the detailed description of the process can be found in the text of the document "DOCSIS RFI Radio Frequency Interface Specification" Chapter 9 "CM-CMTS Interaction" which is available on-line at http://www.cablelabs.com.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the XBCS data network autonomous management system scheme. Hub unit 226 within HFC 222 linked to NIC 228, which is implemented within CPE 224, via CMTS 230, XBCS data network Manageable Physical Layer 236, and CM 232.
  • the management network may depend on the PC/business computer/work station and on the capability of the hub unit to communicate and interpret messages including processing of management software such as SNMP. In such a case the management system will not be autonomous. The monitoring and control signals to the terminal devices will be transmitted off-band in a higher hierarchy level (between the hub unit and the PC).
  • Fig. 7 illustrates the XBCS data network non-autonomous management system scheme. Satellite connection 212 is connected to HFC 240. Hub unit 244 within HFC 240 linked to NIC 2246, which is implemented within CPE 242, via CMTS 248, XBCS data network Manageable Physical Layer 252, and CM 250. Hub unit 244 and NIC 246 are connected at a higher hierarchy level within sub-management boundary 258, 254, and 256.
  • the mechanism is activated upon the initialization of the CM 250. Irrespective of the frequency band the XCBS is set whether erroneous or correct the CM will search and find a channel to work with and will recover the broken transmission pipe to resume the proper operation of the management.
  • One problem concerns the diversity of the CPE equipment (both hardware and software).
  • the solution proposed by the applicants is to connect the XBCS to the CPE via a serial connection, such as EIA RS-232, and developing specific drivers for different operating systems.
  • the drivers may developed using off-the-shelf development packages of SNMP.
  • Another problem of using a non-autonomous system is the lack of possibility to manage intermediate network elements, such as the XBCS amplifiers.
  • the applicants propose to solve the problem by avoiding altogether the management of the intermediate network elements.
  • OSS Support System
  • the XBCS network should hop bands, as for the CM the channel at the destination band is not expected to be the same as in the source band. Thus, both channel and band hop synchronously.
  • the schematic diagram on Fig. 8 is provided as a useful aid in the understanding of the of the XBCS channel frequency hopping process. The steps involved in process are going to be described next.
  • CMTS instructs CM to hop from the current channel (262) to an aligned-waiting channel (260).
  • XBCS hub unit or optical node, or satellite bi-directional facility instructs to the XBCS set-top box to hop to a new frequency band
  • CMTS instructs CM to hop from the virtual aligned-waiting channel (264) to the newly allocated channel (266)
  • 2.1 XCBS hub unit, or optical node, or satellite bi-directional facility instructs the XBCS set-top box to hop to a new frequency band.
  • 2.2 XBCS set-top box hops (288) to next band
  • CMTS instructs CM to hop to an allocated channel 2.6 CM hops (286) to an allocated channel and locks thereinto.
  • the system is capable of providing high-speed bi-directional asymmetric or bi-directional symmetric service. Consequently, in contrast with the similar satellite Internet services offered presently to subscribers, the present invention allows for the implementation of applications, such as full-motion videoconferencing, File Transfer Protocol sessions, on-line gaming, peer-to-peer networking, and the like, to which high-speed uplink connections are critical. Services currently offering satellite Internet services require the installation of the satellite receiving/transmitting equipment such as dish antennas, satellite modems, transceivers, and the like, at each and every subscriber's premises.
  • the satellite receiving/transmitting devices are deployed at a hub unit and the satellite channels are transmitted from the hub to the subscriber and in reverse direction from the subscriber to the hub via the existing CATV infrastructure.
  • a typical hub unit serves hundreds of subscribers the number of satellite receiving/transmitting devices to be installed will be reduced by an order of magnitude.
  • the method and system proposed by the present invention can be implemented at a significantly lower cost for the subscribers.
  • the second preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a novel method and a system for a satellite connection interface to a CATV network and the expansion of the channel capacity of a CATV network in order to enable the incorporation of a multitude of direct satellite broadcast channels.
  • the proposed solution makes available different options concerning the merging of diverse classes of useful content and services into the programming package provided by the CATV system.
  • a plurality of video, audio, and data channels may be plugged in into a CATV distribution system having the sufficiently high operational bandwidth.
  • Such newly introduced channels could have diverse formats and a variety of purposes such as Pay Per View entertainment and sporting events, Video on Demand systems providing recent movies in digital format, a multitude of high-quality FM radio broadcasts, and an abundance of data delivery channels to be utilized as means to access and to interact with information content providers in data networks such as the Internet.
  • Advanced interactive features could be supported such as electronic program guides, e-mail, on-line shopping, banking services, and custom advertising.
  • XBCS-CATV networks could effectively function as the preferred carrier service for the distribution and delivery of multi-purpose, multi-content, multi-format information and services from content sources specializing in diverse domains, such as entertainment, education, information, commerce, advertising, and communication services.
  • the distribution and delivery of the information content could be readily accomplished in both directions, e.g., upstream with the signal traffic containing requests and other data from the end-users to the content providing sources and downstream with signals transmitted carrying the requested content from the content providing sources to the end-users.
  • a plurality of pre-recorded or live video programs are carried by a plurality of radio frequency signals having multiple program content information digitally encoded thereon and being divided selectively into a plurality of transmission channels across a set of predefined microwave-range frequency bands.
  • the channels are produced through the suitably selective modulation of carrier waves by base band signals with multiple video and audio program content information impressed thereupon.
  • the resulting multiple signals are propagated in separate transmission paths through an unbounded medium, such as the atmosphere or the outer space, via artificial satellite-based transponder relays, or via terrestrial repeater stations, as required, to a satellite signal receiver interface of a land-based distribution network.
  • the multiple satellite signals containing a plurality of digitally encoded video broadcast channels are appropriately received at the land-based distribution network satellite signal receiver interface and selectively input to a transmission center of the distribution network.
  • the signals are suitably processed by the satellite signal interface modules of the distribution network.
  • the signals are converted, filtered, divided into individual sets of channels, frequency-mapped across a substantially expanded frequency range, combined to form an integrated signal, and forwarded therewith via a bounded medium such as land-transmission conduits including coaxial cables, fiber optic lines, or hybrid- fiber optic/coaxial (HFC) lines to a plurality of end-user locations.
  • the operative components along the physical delivery path of the distribution network are appropriately modified in order to enable the effective transmission of the integrated signal modulated across a substantially expanded frequency range.
  • the end-user locations accommodate facilities designed to selectively decode the integrated signal modulated across a substantially expanded bandwidth in order to separate at least one distinct channel carrying distinct program content information and to display the extracted program content information on suitable user-interface devices, such as consumer television display units
  • the land-based distribution network is a cable television communications system (CATV) distributing audio, visual or digital information to paying subscribers.
  • the distributed video programs are Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) wireless programs being delivered in the framework of Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) systems. These programs are transmitted from terrrestrial transmitter stations and delivered via artificial satellite networks.
  • Television signals may be received from a satellite in geo-synchronous orbit in which it is stationary with respect to a geographic receiving area.
  • the television signals are transmitted from a terrestrial transmitter to the satellite and then retransmitted from the satellite by a transponder device so that the signals can be received by terrestrial receivers within the geographic receiving area, that is, within the line of sight of the satellite.
  • the satellites radiate microwave signal beams in the C-band, the
  • the satellite signals Upon direct receipt at a consumer antenna, the satellite signals are initially down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal band of 950-1450 MHz before further down-conversion and detection at a lower detection frequency.
  • IF intermediate frequency
  • DBS channels are typically grouped in two sets which each essentially span the same DBS band but each channel of one set is centered over a separating line between contiguous channels of the other set. In order to isolate further the sets, they are transmitted with different signal polarizations, such as vertical and horizontal polarizations or left-hand-circular and right-hand-circular polarizations.
  • the two intermediate frequency signal bands must either be carried on separate transmission lines, such as coaxial cables, or carried on a common transmission line after one channel set has been frequency offset from the other.
  • DBS signals present distribution problems. If the two DBS channel sets are carried away from the antenna on separate cables, these cables must be continued all the way to the consumer's equipment, such as a television set. In multi-user installations it means that all the link portions of a satellite signal distribution system must be formed with pairs of cables.
  • Digital Video Broadcasting is a set of international standards that define digital broadcasting using existing satellite, cable, and terrestrial infrastructures. Besides specifying how the audio and the video is interleaved, it is also specifies the format of channel identification, the interactive program guide format and the error correction algorithms. Numerous DVB broadcast services are available in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. For example, in the U.S. it is used by EchoStar's Dish Network and the Galaxy Network. The term digital television is sometimes used as a synonym for DVB. For compression of the audio and video signals the MPEG-2, one of a series of
  • MPEG standards for compression of audio and video signals is used.
  • MPEG-2 reduces a single signal from 166 Mbits to 5 Mbits allowing broadcasters to transmit digital signals using existing cable, satellite, and terrestrial systems.
  • DVB also uses conditional access (CA) systems to prevent external piracy by providing security modules that scramble and encrypt the content data.
  • CA conditional access
  • QPSK Quadrature Phase Key Shifting
  • Channels produced by alternative technologies, such as analog FM channels are received, processed and distributed. Note should be taken that in other preferred embodiments of the present invention alternative modulation schemes could be used.
  • the proposed XCBS-CATV system and method is not limited to a specific modulation technology.
  • satellite platforms 10, 12, and 14 downlink satellite signals representing digital video programs uplinked from a terrestrial transmission center ⁇ not shown), to a satellite signal reception hardware which is associated with a cable headend 22, such as dish antennas 16, 18, and 20 and respective Low Noise Block Converters (LNBCs) 24, 26, and 28.
  • LNBCs Low Noise Block Converters
  • Antennas 16, 18, and 20 convert the received radio frequency signals into the appropriate band to be processed by the operative components of cable headend 22.
  • Headend 22 integrates and consolidates different signals carrying encoded content received from diverse satellite transmission sources into an combined signal representing and carrying an integrated programming package to be distributed via a cable plant 58 to the subscribers of the distribution system.
  • Satellite signals picked up in the dish antennas 16, 18, and 20 feed the received signals via appropriate waveguides to the respective Low Noise Block Converters (LNBCs) 24, 26, and 28.
  • LNBCs 24, 26, and 28 amplify the received signals and downconvert a block, a cluster, or a range of frequencies to an intermediate frequency range, typically in the 950 MHz to the 2150 MHz range.
  • the IF signals are sent to active filters 30,
  • Filters 30, 32, and 34 are controlled by the Central Processing Unit
  • CPU 48, and 50 are preprogrammed microprocessors containing suitable program instructions and preset decision tables designed to select specific clusters of channels from the satellite signals.
  • the programming 0 ⁇ /017 ⁇ 29 instructions embedded into CPU 48, and 50 are operative in controlling filters 30, 32, and 34.
  • CPU 48, and 50 utilize the preset block frequency range values stored in the decision tables in order to suitably feed the filters 30, 32, and 34 with the appropriate values associated with the respective frequency bands.
  • CPU 48, and 50 effectuate the band passing of the clusters of assigned frequencies that represents predetermined DVB channels to be distributed within the cable network.
  • the CPU 48, and 50 in association with the filter 30, 32, and 34 blocks non-assigned frequency ranges carrying other channels.
  • the frequency-selected blocks of signals carrying clusters of channels are transmitted to converters 36, 38, and 40.
  • the responsibility of converters 36, 38, and 40 is to upconvert or downconvert the frequencies of the assigned cluster of channels in order to fit the clusters and the channels therein into predetermined frequency slots in respective broadband signals.
  • the CPU 48, and 50 control converters 36, 38, and 40.
  • the CPU 48 and 50 are microprocessors preprogrammed with suitable programming instructions and preset cluster conversion tables.
  • the CPU 48, 50 utilize the preset cluster conversion tables in order to feed the converters 36, 38, and 40 with suitable circuit values in order to correctly accomplish the frequency downconverting or frequency upconverting of specific clusters of channels to the predetermined frequency slots within the broadband signals.
  • the signals outputted by converters 36, 38, and 40 are fed to active filters 42, 44, and 46.
  • Filters 42, 44, and 46 are controlled by the CPU 48, and 50.
  • CPU 48 and 50 are microprocessor containing programming instructions and cluster frequency range selection tables. CPU 48, and 50 are preprogrammed to utilize the cluster frequency range selection tables in order to feed active filters
  • the processed signals are then combined into a broadband signal carrying the integrated waveforms of the received, frequency-shifted, and filtered clusters containing blocks of DVB channels by the multiplexer adder 52.
  • the combined signal is further combined with a conventional CATV signal 56 by a second multiplexer 54 in order to output the completed signal carrying the integrated programming package.
  • the conventional CATV signal 56 is constructed from a plurality of processed signals delivered by diverse information sources such as local programming sources, signals received from other terrestrial transmitters, from off-air television stations, from FM radio stations, from data network servers, and the like.
  • the completed broadband signal is modulated across a substantially expanded frequency band having a range of about 3 GHz.
  • the about 3 GHz broadband signal is feed from multiplexer 54 to the transmission lines of the cable plant 58 in order to drive the end-users equipment.
  • the number of operative components will be determined by the cable network operator only constrained by certain administrative or financial limitations.
  • a plurality of satellite signals could be received by a plurality of satellite receiver hardware units.
  • the number of channels received, processed, distributed, and forwarded to the end-users could be limited only by the amount of the available operational bandwidth of the cable plant.
  • the components illustrated within the cable head could be having diverse characteristics.
  • other types of antennas could be used instead of the dish antennas.
  • the antennas will have advanced reception elements such as the dual-band feed hom feature, in order to enable simultaneous reception of both horizontally and vertically polarized or both right-hand-circularly and left-hand-circularly polarized signals, and the simultaneous reception of both the C-band, the Ka-band, the Kb-band, and the Ku-band.
  • the dual-band feed hom feature in order to enable simultaneous reception of both horizontally and vertically polarized or both right-hand-circularly and left-hand-circularly polarized signals, and the simultaneous reception of both the C-band, the Ka-band, the Kb-band, and the Ku-band.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates exemplary frequency-band diagrams of typical polarized satellite signals carrying a plurality of digital video channels organized within sets of clusters after being converted to an intermediate frequency (IR) by specific LNBCs.
  • the LNBC 24 receives a satellite signal from the satellite platform 10 via the antenna 16.
  • the first diagram 60 of Fig. 11 represents a signal received in the Ku frequency band and linearly polarized in the vertical plane.
  • the converted signal carries three clusters of digital channels when the frequency band of each channel is about 6MHz.
  • the first cluster contains three channels.
  • LNBC converts the frequency of the first channel in the first cluster (62) to a frequency of about 1150 MHz.
  • the frequency of the second channel in the first cluster (63) is converted to the frequency of about 1250 MHz and the third channel in the first cluster 64 is converted to the frequency of about 1350 MHz.
  • the channels are separated with unused spectra referred to as band guards in order to prevent the adjacent communication signals to interfere with each other.
  • the second cluster containing two channels is converted to the about 1500 MHz (68) and the about 1600 MHz (70) frequency range.
  • the first channel (72) in the third cluster is converted to the about 1870 MHz range and the fourth channel (74) is slotted at about 2150 MHz. Still referring to Fig.
  • FIG. 11 which illustrates an additional exemplary frequency-band diagram 76 of a typical polarized satellite signal carrying a plurality of digital video channels organized within sets of clusters after being converted to an intermediate frequency (IR) by a specific LNBC.
  • the LNBC 26 receives a satellite signal from the satellite platform 12 via the antenna 18.
  • the second diagram 76 represent a signal received in the Kb frequency band and linearly polarized in the horizontal plane.
  • the converted signal carries four clusters of DVB channels when the frequency band of each channel is about 6MHz.
  • the first cluster contains four channels.
  • LNBC converts the frequency of the first channel in the first cluster (78) to a frequency of about 950 MHz.
  • the frequency of the second channel in the first O 03/017529 cluster (79) is converted to the frequency of about 1050 MHz
  • the frequency of the third channel (80) in the first cluster is converted to the frequency of about 1150 MHz
  • the frequency of the fourth channel (81) is converted to the frequency of about 1250 MHz.
  • the second cluster containing two channels (82, 84) is converted to the about 1400 MHz (82) and the about 1450 MHz (84) frequency range respectively.
  • the frequency of the first channel (86) in the third cluster is converted to the about 1550 MHz range and the frequency of the second channel (78) is slotted at about 1600 MHz.
  • the frequencies of the channels (90, 91, 92) within the fourth cluster are converted to the frequency ranges of about 1700 MHz, about 1750 MHz, and about 1850 MHz respectively.
  • the channels are separated with unused spectra referred to as band guards in order to prevent the adjacent communication signals to interfere with each other.
  • Signals outputted by the respective LNBCs are separated by the above-described frequency mapping operation.
  • the separation of the channels performed within the given about 950-2150 MHz spectra represented by the frequency diagram 76 could be made in several alternative ways. Channels having different formats such as analog FM channels, and the like, could be integrated within the broadband signal represented by the frequency diagram 60, and 76.
  • Satellite signals are typically transmitted with different signal polarizations. Furthermore different polarization schemes could be used by different satellite delivery systems. The polarization attribute is lost in the receiving antenna and therefore the differently polarized signal sets have been frequency offset one from the other. If the antennas are designed to receive a signal with a particular polarity then the separation of the signals is made by the antennas and the output of the LNBC as was described in association with Fig. 11 is sufficient for the separation of the different channels. In contrast, if dual-band or dual-band and/or dual-feed antennas are used then the frequency mapping of the signals outputted by the associated LNBCs should frequency offset channels that were received with different polarities.
  • the signal set having horizontal (HOR) polarization could be converted into the about 950-1450 MHz signal band and the signal set with a vertical (VER) polarization could be converted to the about 1550-2150 MHz signal band.
  • the polarization is circular then the signal set having Left Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP) will be converted into the about 950-1450 MHz signal band and the signal set with the Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP) will be converted to the about 1550-2150 MHz signal band.
  • LHCP Left Hand Circular Polarization
  • RHCP Right Hand Circular Polarization
  • Fig. 12 illustrates the frequency diagram of the complete broadband signals outputted by multiplexer 54.
  • the composite waveform includes the signals representing the entire set of the DVB channels received via the satellite signal reception interface units and the signals representing the entire set of other CATV channels collected or originated by the cable headend 22 of Fig. 10.
  • the signals representing the combined set of channels are suitably frequency mapped into the broadband signal in two stages. In the first stage the DVB channels outputted by the satellite signals processing components are combined by multiplexer adder 52. In the second stage the signal containing the mix of the DVB channels, and the conventional CATV signal containing the combination of the regular CATV channels are fed to multiplexer 54 wherein the two signals are combined into the final broadband signal.
  • the final broadband signal is created by selectively modulating the included signals representing different channels across a substantially expanded operational bandwidth within the about 5 MHz to the about 3000 MHz range.
  • the expanded operational bandwidth is having a sufficiently wide scope to include hundreds of DVB channels in addition to the existing conventional CATV channels.
  • the broadband signal is transmitted through the cable plant infrastructure 58 of Fig. 10 to the subscribers of the cable network.
  • the frequency-band diagram 94 includes a 5 -
  • a downstream portion 98 spanning about 50 - 750 MHz is utilized for the forward transmission of the conventional CATV channels from the headend to the subscribers.
  • the frequency region 107 extending from the frequency of about 1GHz (114) up to the frequency of about 3 GHz (120) is utilized to the transmission of the DVB channels downstream to the subscribers.
  • the frequency region 107 includes signals representing hundreds of distinct DVB channels. For example, frequency region 100 with 200 MHz bandwidth spanning the about 1-1.2 GHz portion of the spectra could carry about 30 DVB channels selected from among the hundreds of DVB programs provided by the Hot Bird satellite distribution network.
  • the frequency region 102 with 200 MHz bandwidth spanning the about 1.2 - 1.4 GHz portion of the spectra could carry another about -30 DVB channels selected from among the plurality of DVB channels delivered by the Astra satellite distribution network.
  • the frequency region 104 with about 200 MHz bandwidth spanning the about 1.4 - 1.6 GHz portion of the spectra could carry yet another about 30 DVB channels selected from the set of channels provided by a similar satellite distribution network.
  • the frequency regions 116, and 120 with a combined bandwidth of about 1.4 GHz spanning the about combined frequency portion of 1.6 - 3 GHz of the spectra could include about 200 DVB programs selected from among a set of one thousand DVB channels delivered by the Galaxy satellite distribution network.
  • the cable network system having an operational bandwidth of about 3 GHz is capable of distributing about 300 DVB channels to the subscribers without interfering with the delivery of the conventional CATV channels or with the conventional reverse flow of information.
  • the division of the spectra to specific functional frequency bands could be fashioned in a variety of ways. For example, still keeping within the total bandwidth of about 5 - 3000 MHz, a wider frequency range could be provided for the upstream communication region. In addition a higher upper frequency limit could be provided thus effecting a significant increase of the usable operational bandwidth.
  • further suitable enhancements . to the operative components of the cable plant such as amplifiers, filters, hubs, splitters, connectors, and the like could accomplish an operational bandwidth substantially above the about 3 GHz disclosed.
  • a plurality of alternative combinations to the programming package could be accomplished by integrating diverse other channels with different formats, functionality and bandwidth.
  • a plurality of bi-directional asymmetrical or symmetrical channels dedicated to data communications could be inserted into the programming mix in place of or in addition to the DVB programs.
  • the satellite receiving/transmitting devices are deployed at a hub unit and the satellite channels are transmitted from the hub to the subscriber and in reverse direction from the subscriber to the hub via the existing CATV infrastructure.
  • the number of satellite receiving/transmitting devices to be installed will be reduced by an order of magnitude.
  • the method and system proposed by the present invention can be implemented at a significantly lower cost for the subscribers.
  • the proposed system and method provides at least one bi-directional symmetrical or asymmetrical communication channels to be used for upstream/downstream transmission of content between the content providing source and the content user such as a subscriber.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un système de distribution d'informations de divers réseaux de service de fournisseurs de contenu aux abonnés d'un réseau CATV terrestre. Les abonnés du réseau CATV interagissent de façon dynamique avec les réseaux fournisseurs de contenu en soumettant des demandes pour la distribution de données, de données vidéo, de services, et d'autres informations de contenu. Les demandes sont transmises de manière appropriée via l'installation de câblage CATV à une interface de réseau de service de fournisseurs de contenu associée à l'installation de câblage et sont transmises à des réseaux de service de fournisseurs de contenu appropriés. L'information de contenu délivrée par les réseaux de service appropriés est reçue par l'interface de réseau de service de fournisseurs de contenu et transmise aux abonnés demandants. La demande et l'information de contenu sont transmises par l'intermédiaire de l'infrastructure de câblage selon des débits d'information sensiblement élevés. Les débits de transfert élevés sont obtenus par le codage de l'information dans un signal à bande large présentant une largeur de bande sensiblement étendue.
EP01958363A 2001-08-21 2001-08-21 Tv satellite et internet satellite pour reseau catv Withdrawn EP1419593A1 (fr)

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Cited By (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9800915B2 (en) 2016-02-10 2017-10-24 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and apparatus for satellite television service with alternate delivery capabilities
US10231002B2 (en) 2016-02-10 2019-03-12 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P Method and apparatus for satellite television service with alternate delivery capabilities
US10721512B2 (en) 2016-02-10 2020-07-21 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and apparatus for satellite television service with alternate delivery capabilities
US10404713B2 (en) 2017-09-29 2019-09-03 Zott, Inc. Multi-source broadcasting architecture

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