MXPA01001382A - Audio/video signal redistribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for redistributing a multiple input audio/video signals having a redistributing device equipped to receive signals in multiple formats and redistribute a selected signal to a user's premises over conductors, preferably existing twisted-pair telephone wire. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with a communications interface located in the user's premises which receives user-input control signals and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user's premises where it is received by the receiving unit such as a television receiver. A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point, and services multiple users independently. The system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time.

Description

REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PE AUDIO / VIDEO SIGNALS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to communication systems. In particular, this invention relates to an interactive audio / video telecommunication system that integrates and redistributes received audio / video signals in multiple formats for multiple users over existing telephone wiring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern society depends to a large extent on different types of audio / video telecommunication services that affect all aspects of daily life. Television is one of the most popular sources of information and entertainment. Other sources of information and entertainment include computer networks such as the Internet, which currently offers interactive shopping services, banking, games, spaces for chatting and social relations among other products and diverse services, video games, video movie rentals and Similar. These types of services provide a virtually limited variety of information and entertainment in virtually everyone. However, these services have evolved independently over many decades and are thus provided in different formats and through different distribution channels. For example, television signals can be received through an aerial signal antenna, cable redistribution networks (CATV) and satellite transmissions, but access to each signal source is independent of the others and requires equipment and / or equipment. specialized service providers. A television set can be equipped to receive signals from all those sources, but only one at a time, since it is necessary to have a switching equipment at the receiving end to change the television signal source. Additionally, each of these signals itself comprises several channels, which complicate attempts to group services into a single integrated system. The Internet is accessed through a modem, CATV or telephone wiring, but is typically connected to a computer that is a completely separate display system. Before the present invention, a system available for the integration of these types of services had not been conceived, which would allow a user to have instant access to any channel provided by any transmission or telecommunication service using a single system, in addition, prior to the invention, there was no interactive economic system available, simple to use and which provided any telecommunication and transmission service over a single cable network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing an interactive audio / video redistribution system that groups together the various transmission and telecommunication services available to a user, integrating these services into a single system that redistributes audio / video signals received in multiple formats to users. multiple The invention allows each user to remotely select and control the desired audio / video signal source to view or access it and provide access to any available transmission and telecommunication system through a single receiving unit, in the preferred mode a television receiver. In addition, the invention provides an interactive system that has a simple operation and allows the user to use interactive services such as those available with the Internet. Even, the invention can be instrumented over the existing telephone wiring, which considerably reduces the cost of the system and provides a simple and economical installation of the system. The invention accomplishes this by providing a redistribution device that is equipped to receive telecommunication signals in any desired format and redistributes the selected signals in the user's premises. The redistribution device is in interactive communication with an interface located in the user's premises that receives the control signals entered by the user using, in the preferred embodiment, a conventional infrared (IR) remote control device, and contains switching circuitry that addresses the selected signal to the user's premises where they are received by the receiving unit, preferably a television receiver. A single redistribution device serves a complete network of multiple users from a common distribution point for conventional telephone wiring and serves multiple users independently. Furthermore, the system of the invention does not interfere with the normal use of the telephone network, so that users can interactively access the services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time, or any existing signal wiring In the air or CATV, by 'or that users have the option to receive services on these networks as well. Each user can select access to a system or set of telecommunication programs from a user interface activated by a menu, which can provide various levels of submenus with specific options for the particular telecommunication service selected by the user. Users within the network in this way can have instant and independent access to any available telecommunication service, regardless of the format of the input signal. In the preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention is equipped with a channel lock that provides control to the parents, a signal processor that prevents the recording of received programs, a magnetic card reader or other control device access, a system registry that records all activities and services to which users had access to the network for billing purposes, a cancellation system that allows the operator to deny access to selected users to selected services or redistribute the programming selected (for example, a message in an emergency situation), and other characteristics that will be evident from the description below. In this way, the present invention provides a system for redistributing a plurality of audio / video signals in a plurality of communication interfaces on conductors comprising a server, a redistribution unit for receiving a plurality of input signals, comprising each input signal, a demodulator to demodulate the signal, the server controls a section of the transmit channel of the input signal in response to one or more control signal inputs in the communication interface, for each communication interface, a switching device being controlled by the server that responds to one or more control signal inputs in the communication interface, and for each demodulated input signal, a processor for processing the signal for switching, wherein the communication interface receives the output of the redistribution unit to transmit to a receiving unit connected to the interface Communication. The present invention further provides a method for redistributing a plurality of audio / video signals to a plurality of communication interfaces on conductors, comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of input signals to a signal redistribution unit, demodulating each signal from input, process each input signal to a suitable format for its switching, switch an output of the redistribution unit in accordance with one or more control signal inputs in a communication interface and address the emission of the communication interface. communication, and addresses the output of the redistribution unit to the communication interface, wherein a communication interface receives the output signal from the redistribution unit for transmission to a receiving device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, only a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example, Figure 1 is a block diagram of a redistribution unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a communication interface for the redistribution unit of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As illustrated in Figure 1, the invention comprises a redistribution device 8 and a communication interface 100. The redistribution unit 8 functions as a telecommunication signal receiver and a router / distributor, which receives a plurality of signaling signals. audio / video input and redistributing signals that the user selects to multiple users from the common telephone wiring distribution point in a multi-user site. The communication interface 100 is located in each individual unit and provides the selected input signal from the redistribution unit to the receiving device 2, in the preferred embodiment a conventional television receiver, and receives the control signals entered by the user for a transmission to the redistribution unit 8 to select the input signal and communicate interactively where the selected input allows it. As used herein, "audio / video signals" refers to all telecommunication and transmission signals that contain audio information or video information, or both. The redistribution unit 8 receives signals in multiple formats, processes the signals and, based on commands transmitted through the communication interface 100, redistributes the selected signal to the user. The command signals are transmitted to the redistribution unit 8, and the signals are distributed to the users, on conductors that preferably comprise twisted pair telephony wiring 1. In exceptional cases where existing telephone wiring is inadequate, being for example a only twisted pair cable, the twisted pair wiring suitable for the system of the invention can be installed or the floor of the construction can be used as a common base for the redistribution and command of the signal paths, allowing the invention to function in a effective on a single cable pair of telephone wiring, as described in detail below. In new buildings, where the system of the invention is contemplated, in the construction drawings, 8-pair wiring can be installed (ie, instead of 2 or 4 pair wiring) to maximize the advantages provided by the invention, including the service of several television receivers 2 in a single unit as described below. The redistribution unit 8 is installed in a multi-user site, which may for example be an apartment or condominium building, commercial building, hospital, school, a local loop in a telephone system in the neighborhood, etc. the site with multiple users can be any site or network that provides a common distribution point for conventional twisted pair telephony wiring, for example category 5 copper cable or any other local area network cabling, distributed in individual units within of the site The existing wiring in such multi-user sites is almost invariably at least twisted pair copper wire of four conductors distributed from a common distribution point to individual units. Examples of multi-user sites are apartment buildings, offices, hospitals, a block of houses connected in a network in a local loop, schools (through intercom wiring to each individual room). Each input comprises a demodulator and processor for the particular format of the input signal. The preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 incorporates various types of signal inputs by way of example only. The system of the invention may be equipped to receive and redistribute any audio / video or video signals in any format, including all remote audio / video signals and local audio / video signals (such as a signal from a closed-circuit security camera), and the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific types of signals illustrated and describe below. An air signal input 20 is adapted to receive signal television signals in the air through an antenna 22 configured to receive VHF and UHF frequency bands, including FM transmission bands. The signal in the air is received by an agile frequency air signal demodulator 24 with a tuner preferably compatible with at least two video formats NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, which processes the separate audio and video signals to the base band for injecting into an air signal processor 26 that in turn processes the signals to switch them as described above. The input frequency selection is controlled by commands transmitted by the user with a conventional remote control through a communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through a data bus A. The CATV 30 input is adapted to receive signals from CATV through a conventional coaxial cable 32. The CATV signal is received by an agile-frequency CATV 34 modulator with a tuner adapted to receive CATV signals through the sub, low, medium, hyper and super bands in conveyors nterarmonically related (IRC) and harmonically related transporters (HCR). The demodulator 34 processes the separated audio and video signals towards the baseband to inject them into a CATV 36 processor that processes the signals to switch them. The input frequency selection is controlled by commands transmitted by the user through the communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through the data bus A. DSS 40 is adapted to receive DSS signals (direct from satellite) received by a parabolic reflector 42 of signals from a satellite through a DSS demodulator of agile frequency 44, which processes the separated audio and video signals towards the baseband for the injection into the DSS processor 46. The demodulator 44 is preferably adapted to receive the DSS signal in both the C and KU bands, independent of the protocol and format, with a tuner compatible with NTSC, PAL and SECAM and a bandwidth of reception from approximately .0900 to 21.8 GHz. The demodulator processes the separated audio and video signals towards the baseband for injection in the DSS 46 processor that processes the signals to switch them. The input frequency selection is controlled by commands transmitted by the user via the communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch through the data bus A. The input of MMDS 50 is adapted to receive MMDS signals (multiple distribution system, multiple points) received by an MMDS antenna 52 through an agile frequency of the MMDS 54 demodulator, which processes the separated audio and video signals towards the baseband for injection into the MMDS processor 56. The demodulator 54 is preferably adapted to receive the MMDS signal in the 2.4 GHz and 22 GHz bands, independent of the protocol and format, with a tuner compatible with NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. The demodulator 54 processes the separated audio and video signals towards the baseband for injection into the DSS processor 56 which processes the signals to be switched. The input frequency selections are controlled by the commands transmitted by the user through the communication interface 100 to the server 6 which controls the cross-point matrix 7 through the data bus A.

The MPEG input 60 is adapted to receive MPEG signals through the MPEG decoder to be processed by the demodulator 64, which processes the separated audio and video signals towards the base band for injection in an MPEG 66 processor. demodulator 64 is preferably adapted to receive the MPEG signal at 1, 2 or 4, for example from a video server or a video library. The demodulator 64 is independent of the protocol and format, and has a tuner compatible with NTSC. PAL AND SECAM. The demodulator 64 processes the separated audio and video signals to the base band for injection in the MPEG 66 processor which processes the signals to switch them. The input selection is controlled by commands transmitted by the user through a communication interface 100 to the server 6 which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through the data bus A. The graphics input 70 is adapted to receive video signals from a video source such as a video game server 72 for processing by the demodulator 74, which functions as a video and audio signal generated by VGA or a computer to the composite converter. The user of texts and graphics interfaces with the navigation screens and video games and is separated into baseband audio and video signals for injection into the graphics processor 76, which processes the signals for switching. The input selection is controlled by the commands transmitted by the user through the communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through a data bus A. The Internet input 80 is adapted to receive video signals from a computer 82 to be processed by a demodulator 84, which functions as a video and audio signal generated by VGA or computer to the composite converter. The search engine and communication with the Internet are not limited by protocol or architecture. The Internet processor 86 processes the signals for switching. The navigation is controlled by commands transmitted by the user through the communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through the data bus A. A closed-circuit input 90 is adapted to receive video signals from a closed circuit camera 92, for example a security camera for processing by the demodulator 94, which functions as a video and audio signal generated by VGA or computer to the composite converter. The closed circuit processor 96 processes the signals for switching. The switching between different cameras is controlled by commands transmitted by the user through a communication interface 100 to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 through the data bus A. Server 6 preferably it is open architecture, independent platform and a scalable computer that has at least one microprocessor 486. The server 6 controls the upstream data from the communication interface 6 and all the demodulated inputs, and manages the database as described to continued to provide an account history, billing, audit evidence and programs. The server 6 provides communication ports for analog and digital input / output devices for ISDN, fiber, satellite, PSTN and / or other desired accessories. Server 6 also functions as a router to control and route information through data bus A, B and C. The demodulator data bus B connects all the demodulators and decoders and interfaces with the server 6. Busbar B is not limited to protocol, speed, frequency, form factor or format. The processors 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 and 96 process their respective input signals in a format that is available to be switched through a cross-point matrix switch 7 and send it to the communication interface 100 over an uncoated twisted pair copper cable. The processors 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 and 96 each couple the impedance of the signal to the emission impedance; raise the base band of the demodulated signal (for example to 300 kHz); equalize the high frequency components (for example 3 dB) and increase the level of color saturation and increase the peak-to-peak voltage (vpp) of the demodulated signal. The processors 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 and 96 also convert and translate the up-flow control signals received by the cross-point matrix switch 7 from the communication interface 100 and address the the control signals to the server 6 via a data bus B. The cross-point matrix switch 7 is a non-blocking switch, which is not limited by its size, bandwidth, speed, form factor, protocol , architecture, or format. The control signals received and output from the processors 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 and 96 are transmitted to the server 6, which controls the cross-point matrix switch 7 and gives address to the selected input to the output of the cross-point matrix switch 7 to transmit again to the communication interface 100. A separate cross-point matrix switch 7 is provided and is dedicated to each communication interface 100 installed in the individual units within the communication site. multiple users. The data bus C of the processor connects all of the processors 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86 and 96 and interfaces with the server / router 6. The bus C is not limited to protocol , speed, frequency, form factor or format. The data bus A interconnects each cross-point matrix switch 7 with the server / router 6. Bus A is not limited to protocol, speed, frequency, form factor or format. The output of the cross-point switch 7 is connected to a standard telephone or a twisted copper splice block 5. Bix type and number 66 are typically used, however, the configuration of the splice block 5 does not perform the operation of the invention. The splice block 5 carries the emission of the cross-point matrix switch 7 to the copper pair (red-green) of the existing telephone system or PSTN. Splice block 5 can also be used for category 5 or 10baseT cabling. The redistribution unit 8 may also include an HDTV processor 144 for processing HDTV signals received at the HDTV input 140 by a parabolic reflector 142 of signals from a satellite or other suitable receiver. The HDTV processor 14 is directly connected to the server 6, which controls the channel selection and addresses the HDTV signal through a router or data center 150 that distributes the HDTV signals from the server 6 over a network of coaxial cable or cable category 5 or 6 (10baseT) within the site of multiple users. The PSTN cabling does not have the ability to also transmit an HDTV signal, and therefore requires coaxial cable or category five or six cable to couple the broadcast of HDTV signals from the server 6 directly to the receiving unit 2. If the category five or six cable is used (which typically has 4 pairs), the HDTV signal requires only two pairs and the other two unused pairs of the category five or six cable can be attached to the PSTN splice block 5, as shown in figure 1 to effectively join telephone wiring (red / green and yellow / black) with unused pairs in category five or six cables.

Additionally, a movie storage database 146 can be connected directly to server 6, which controls the selection of movies in response to the input of control signals issued by the user based on a directory to which the user has access through of a movie submenu. The emission of the audio / video signal by the redistribution unit 8 is transmitted to the communication interfaces 100 in the individual units on the cables not used in the PSTN, which are typically black / yellow. The PSTN is not limited by voltage or frequency, and can transmit the full bandwidth of the audio / video signal over a considerable distance with minimal signal loss. At the communication interface 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, the modified combination of the signals is received from the redistribution unit 8 and separated into individual audio and video signals by the separator 102. In the preferred embodiment the signal of video varies from CD to NTSC, PAL or SECAM of 4.5 MHz, and the audio is a subtransporter that varies between 4.6 and 5.0 MHz, without being limited to these values, preferably around 4.7 MHz. The emission of the separator 102 is fed into the demodulators of audio and video 104, 106, respectively. The video output of the separator 102 is preferably at an impedance of 75 to 100 ohms, depending on the on-line conditions and the establishment of the video modulator in the redistribution unit 8, which will compensate for any loss due to mismatch and a rejection of mode. common. The video signal can be reshaped to hold the horizontal sync H and the color burst peaks using a horizontal sync attenuator and an amplifier that is controlled by the redistribution unit 8, to regulate the level of synchrony with the receiver 2, so that illegal video recording can be avoided (a typical television receiver can block the video signal with 15 units of synchrony, while video recorders generally require a minimum of 25 units of synchrony to effectively block the signal from entry). Optionally a signal-to-noise detector may be provided in the communication interface 100, which indicates to the redistribution unit 8 to increase the audio / video signal output level in case the signal-to-noise ratio decreases below the limit level. This will allow the redistribution unit 8 to compensate for the different length of the telephone cable between the splice block 5 and the communication interfaces 100 in the various individual units (for example, a department in the attic will experience less attenuation than a redistribution unit). mounted on the ceiling 8 that a department in the basement located within the same site of multiple users). It is also contemplated that a system analyzer for testing the various signals used by the system could be connected directly to the RJ11 port in the communication interface 100, and could communicate directly with the server 6 to obtain the results of the recording system analysis. . The video demodulator 104 then converts the video signal with a form into a standard composite video signal at 1 vpp to inject the modulator 110. The demodulator 104 also filters common mode rejection and other radio frequency and electromagnetic interferences. The modulator 110 modulates the video signal to a selected channel such as 3 using conventional modulation techniques of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. The modulator 110 is preferably a phase locked looped with a saw filter and an agile frequency within the 1GHz bandwidth spectrum. The communication interface 100 may be provided with a user-operated switch (not shown) to select channel 3 or 4, which is standard for home video receivers. The output of the modulator 110 is directly connected to the reception device 2. In the preferred embodiment, the receiving device 2 is a television set, however, it can be a video recorder, or stereo receiver, or any other device capable of receiving an audio / video signal. The signal from the audio subtransporter is received from the output of the separator 102 and demodulates (in stereo or monaural mode) by the audio demodulator 104 to a common audio baseband signal of approximately a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz , without being limited to these values, with an impedance that can vary from 75 to 600 ohms, for injection to the modulator 110 and optionally directly to an audio output. The demodulator 104 also filters out radio frequency and electromagnetic interference. The data modulator 120 sends instructions from the upstream interfaces to the redistribution unit 8, receiving a different data stream from one of a plurality of interfaces that preferably includes an optical interface, such as an infrared receiver 122 comprising a receiver of light that receives the signal from a handheld IR remote control device 123. The remote control 123 is used to enter numerical information that controls the selection of signal input, and channel selection, wherein the input signal includes multiple channels (eg, a cable television signal). The IR receiver 122 may be constructed in the communication interface 100, or it may be wired to the communication interface 100 remotely and mounted in a comfortable position as on the television receiver 2. In the preferred mode the Remote control 123 wcontrol the on / off, mute and volume setting and picture / sound settings of television receiver 2 directly through the remote IR system of the television receiver. All the different selections are controlled by the redistribution unit 8 based on the control signals input by the user in the infrared receiver 122 using the remote control device 123, and transmitted to the redistribution unit in a PSTN cabling (uA wire). and existing thread uB). The communication interface 100 may also include a data port 124 for interfacing with other types of data entry devices, for example a board, a mouse, and / or a control lever, a bar code reader and any other data entry device that facilitates the access of alphanumeric information for purposes of interaction capacity. The data port 124 is not limited by protocols, standards, speed, timing or voltage. The data modulator 120 is preferably also coupled inductively, or directly capacitively coupled to the PSTN telephone connection as in 132. The common PSTN passes directly to the user without commitment, so that the telephone, fax and other functions functions work normally. The modulation scheme is selected in accordance with the upstream data requirements. It has been found that FSK works favorably. The frequency bandwidth varies and the frequency location is agile. A frequency in a range of 160 to 190 Khz has proven to be effective and does not interfere with telephone signals (typically within a range of 300 Hz to 1.5 kHz). The data modulator 120 incorporates high and low pass filters and can operate at data rates ranging from 300 to 30,000bps or as otherwise desired. The circuitry of communication interface 100 may be programmed in an ASIC or similar equipment.

Network card 132 is available for interfacing with any unused twisted pair cable, whether it is included in the telephone cable set or a separate category 5 cable. The network card is not limited to the IEEE 10baseT standards, although this protocol is preferred. The network card 132 provides an optional interface for connecting the client or server computers to the system of the invention. Any computer based on a microprocessor 134 may be connected to the network card 132 and may include peripherals such as printers, scanners, etc. The network card 132 can be usefully used in more recent multiple user sites, where the existing telephony wiring typically provides at least three twisted pairs (often between 4 and 8 pairs) in the PSTN cable. In the preferred embodiment the information access in the communication interface 100 using these upflow devices is transmitted to the redistribution unit 8 over the red / green pair of the telephone cable, which is used for the yarn lines uA and yarn uB of the telephone service. These control signals are preferably transmitted on a data carrier having a frequency of approximately 150 kHz. The content of the control signal is sufficiently spread out, so that it requires a very low bandwidth, and the signal is preferably filtered so that it does not interfere with the telephone service. The twisted pair of wire uA / wire uB can be used to provide power supply for the communication interface 100 or in case of insufficient power is available from the telephone service of the communication interface 100 can be fed directly from a transformer (not shown) in the redistribution unit 8 by emitting a CD signal together with the video signal on a yellow / black twisted pair. The ability to interact using the remote control 123 allows the user to use services such as purchases, banking and e-commerce, games, etc., which are currently available on the Internet. It should also be possible to transmit audio / video signals on the yellow / black PSTN cable without interfering with the incoming video signal. This would increase the level of interaction capability and allow complex data exchange functions such as a videoconference. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of carriers has been established using frequency division multiplexing or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing as follows: CD at 4.5 Mhz for video data signals; 4.55 Mhz for serial audio signals (BTSC stereo audio); 8.5 to 12 Mhz for high-speed data signals; and 12 to 13 Mhz for voice data. Conveyors at higher frequencies experience greater losses due to attenuation, EM interference and RF, so in this mode the voice transporter is preferably limited to a narrow bandwidth to minimize losses. Other bands may be selected as appropriate for various modulation techniques available. The spread-spectrum transmission methods conventionally used on AC power lines can also be used to provide parallel voice and extra data signals, a printer port, a program and pay-per-use programming systems. Etc. To install the system of the invention, the redistribution unit 8 is located in a multi-user site in the vicinity of the common distribution point for on-site telephone wiring. For example, this can be a master telephony panel in a corporate office building, an apartment or hospital building, a local loop distribution box in a residential area, etc. The emission of the cross-point matrix switch 7 is connected to the PSTN pair yellow / black, or any other twisted pair not used in the PSTN cable to transmit the selected input signal to the communication interfaces 100. The input to the cross-point matrix switch 7 is connected to the red / green pair (or wire conductors) uA and equivalent wire uB) in the PSTN cable, for transmitting control signals from the communication interface 100 to the redistribution unit 8. One or more communication interfaces 100 are installed in the individual units within the site. Each communication interface 100 provides at least one remote control interface, such as an optical interface 122 connected to red / green PSTN and an output for connection of the receiving device 2, such as a conventional 75 ohm coaxial connector connected to yellow / PSTN black. A network card 132 is optionally connected to a second pair not used in the PSTN cable to interface with a personal computer, microcomputer or computer network 134. The system is administered by a service provider that can pay the various providers of signal emission (where the signal emission is a fee-based service) and charge individual units a fee for using the system, or bill individual units for a payment directly to the signal providers. The server 6 maintains a database through which all the input signals and channel selections accessed by users in the multi-user site are tracked and recorded for billing purposes. This information can also be used by signal providers to produce statistical information and on viewers and refaced information. The service provider can insert or replace the programming in any output signal at any time, for example commercial messages, emergency transmissions or the like, through a signal cancellation resident in the server 6. The service provider can also conjugate telephone service with other services, for example selling long distance telephone services through a dedicated port. A single twisted pair telephone cable is capable of transporting multiple voice and data lines, and can service many lines and extensions in the unit. The resale scheme may include pay-per-use telephony service and another telephony resale scheme.

In the preferred mode the cover plate for the communication interface 100 provides contact switches which disconnect when the cover plate is removed, providing an immediate indication that an attempt has been made to force the system to prevent the attempted theft of the service signal. In use, the receiving device 2, preferably a conventional television receiver, is maintained in channel 3 or 4 as optionally set by the user. When the television receiver 12 turns on in the redistribution unit it gives a default value, either to the main menu or to the last input signal selected by the particular user. An example of a main menu for the preferred mode is illustrated in Figure 4. Each menu option provides a numerical selection parameter that is selected by the user via a remote control 23. The user selects his choice of signal input by accessing the corresponding numerical selection on the remote control 123. The numerical selection is received via the optical interface 122 and a corresponding control signal is transmitted to the distribution unit 8 on the red / green PSTN cable and transmitted to the server 6. using a cross-point matrix switch 7. The selected menu option can provide any number of levels or sub-menus. For example, without the option of "television" is selected when entering "1", server 6 will change to a sub-menu that offers the options "1-signal in the air", "2-catv", "3-HDTV "and" 4-DSS ". Using the same remote control 123 the user selects the numerical value corresponding to the desired selection and is asked to enter the channel number. The main menu, the sub-menus and the indication messages are generated by a conventional browser calculation program resident on the server 6. The selectable options can also be embedded in the vertical space interval of an incoming video signal, to which are accessed by pressing a "hot key" on the remote control 123 when the information (for example web site URL) is displayed on the television receiver 2. The server 6 issues signals to the cross point matrix switch 7 by means of a data bus A to connect the selected input signal to the output of the matrix switcher 90, and the input signal is transmitted to the communication interface on the yellow / black PSTN cable (or other unused one ) if the input signal contains multiple channels, for example in the case of a television signal, the server 6 controls a tuner in the corresponding demodulator 14, 24 or 34 pa to pass the selected channel. The selected input signal can be modulated to channel 3 or 4 and transmitted to the individual unit that will be received in the television receiver of user 2 through a coaxial cable or other conventional double conductor 3. Alternatively, a port can be provided for a direct connection of the video and audio to the television receiver, so that it is displayed in a "video" mode, which will eliminate the need for an emission modulator 110 in the communication interference 100. The capacity of the server 6 is selected having Consider the number of individual units within the multiple user site. The server 6 provides a separate cross-dot matrix switch 7 for each individual unit and therefore independently can transmit an input signal to each unit with respect to the input signals selected by the users in other units. The possible selection of the input signals is limited only by the capacity of the distribution unit 8 to receive signals in any particular format. Where an individual unit has more than one television receiver 2, wherein the telephone wiring contains extra twisted pairs, the redistribution unit 8 may be equipped with a separate matrix switch 7 for each television receiver 2 within the unit. In this way, an 8-pair twisted cable can support up to 4 separate television receivers 2 in one unit, each television receiver using a pair for incoming or outgoing audio / video signals and another pair to transmit the control signals to the unit redistribution 8. This capability can be further increased by assigning an identifier number to each communication interface 100 within a unit, and using the wire telephony pair uA / thread uB to transmit control signals to the redistribution unit 8 for all 2 television receivers in the unit; the redistribution unit 8 receives the identifier number and gives direction to the audio / video signal along the twisted pair associated with the particular communication interface 100 also identified. Because the telephone wiring in an individual unit acts as a common distribution point for such a particular unit, a prior model embodiment of the invention could be used to allow control of signals received by a television receiver 2 in the unit. For example, the redistribution unit 8 can receive wire, closed circuit and air signals transmitted to the unit by coaxial cable and 300 ohm wires, and when coupled to the telephone wiring in the manner indicated above a receiver of Television 8 can be switched remotely from one signal input to another. In a further embodiment of the invention, the communication is presented between the redistribution unit 8 and the receiver 2 on a single pair of telephony wires. In this mode, the ground conductor is used as a common ground for the redistribution and command signal drivers. In this mode the distributed signals are transmitted to the receiver on the ground and one of the pair of wire conductors uA / wire uB, for example the wire conductor uA, and the command signals are transmitted to the redistribution unit 8 on the ground and the other thread pair uA / thread uB, in this example, the wire conductor uB. The earth differential can be compensated for by a CD restoration using an operational amplifier to cancel any 60 Hz AC signal generated by the electrical power supply conductors in the building. This mode is usefully employed in old buildings that can have only a single pair of existing telephony wires, thus avoiding the need to install a new wiring to implement the system of the invention. Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A system for redistributing a plurality of audio / video signals to a plurality of communication interfaces on conductors, comprising a server, a redistribution unit for receiving a plurality of input signals, comprising for each input signal, a demodulator to demodulate the signal, the server controls a selection of transmission channel of the input signal that responds to one or more control signals entered in the communication interface, for each communication interface, a switching device to give address to the channel selection to an output of the redistribution unit, the switching device being controlled by the server in response to one or more control signals input to the communication interface, and for each demodulated input signal, a processor to process the signal to be switched, where the communication interface receives the output of the redistri unit to transmit to a receiving unit connected to the communication interface.

2. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the input signals are in different signal formats.

3. - The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the processor couples the impedance of the demodulated input signal to the output impedance of the redistribution unit, raises the baseband of the demodulated input signal, equalizes the components of high frequency and increases the color saturation level of the demodulated input signal, and increases the peak-to-peak voltage of the demodulated input signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the output of the redistribution unit is transmitted to the communication interface on an unused twisted pair of a telephone wiring.

5. The system according to claim 4, further characterized in that 1 or more control signals are transmitted to the redistribution unit on a twisted pair of a telephone wiring.

6. The system according to claim 5, further characterized in that the twisted pair on which the signal or signals are transmitted to the redistribution unit carries a telephone signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the communication interface includes an optical interface for receiving the control signal (s) from an infrared remote control device.

8. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the communication interface includes a data interface to receive data from a dashboard, control lever, card reader, bar code reader or other devices that provide data .

9. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the communication interface includes a network interface for transmitting data from a computer to the redistribution unit on a second twisted pair not used in a telephone wiring.

10. The system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the communication interface modulates the output of the redistribution unit to a selected channel of the receiving device.

11. A method of redistributing a plurality of audio / video signals to a plurality of communication interfaces on conductors, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a plurality of input signals in a signal redistribution unit, ) demodulate each input signal, c) process each input signal to a format suitable for switching, d) switch an output of the redistribution unit in accordance with one or more control signals input to a communication interface, and ) address the output of the redistribution unit to the communication interface, wherein the output of the redistribution unit is received via a communication interface to transmit it to a receiving device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the input signals are in different signal formats.

13. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the step of processing each input signal to a suitable format for its switching comprises the coupling of the impedance of the demodulated input signal to the output impedance of the redistribution unit, raising the base band of the demodulated input signal, equalizing the high frequency components and increasing the color saturation level of the demodulated input signal, and increasing the peak-to-peak voltage of the demodulated input signal .

14. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that it includes the step of transmitting the output of the redistribution unit to the communication interface on an unused twisted pair of a telephone wiring.

15. The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that it includes the step of transmitting one or more control signals to the redistribution unit on a twisted pair of a telephone wiring.

16. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that the twisted pair over which the control signals or signals are transmitted to the redistribution unit carries a telephone signal.

17. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the communication interface includes an optical interface for receiving the control signal (s) from an infrared remote control device.

18. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the communication interface includes a data interface to receive data from a dashboard, control lever, card reader, bar code reader or other device to provide data.

19. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the communication interface includes a network interface for communicating data from a computer to the redistribution unit on a second twisted pair not used in a telephone wiring.

20. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that it includes the step of modulating the output of the redistribution unit to a selected channel of the receiving device.