WO1996028902A1 - Systemes recepteurs partages utilisant le cablage telephonique comme derivation video - Google Patents

Systemes recepteurs partages utilisant le cablage telephonique comme derivation video Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996028902A1
WO1996028902A1 PCT/US1996/003675 US9603675W WO9628902A1 WO 1996028902 A1 WO1996028902 A1 WO 1996028902A1 US 9603675 W US9603675 W US 9603675W WO 9628902 A1 WO9628902 A1 WO 9628902A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
telephone
channel
signal
signals
channels
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/003675
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bruce Kostreski
Kamran Sistanizadeh
Original Assignee
Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.
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
Priority claimed from US08/405,558 external-priority patent/US5651010A/en
Application filed by Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. filed Critical Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.
Priority to AU53654/96A priority Critical patent/AU5365496A/en
Publication of WO1996028902A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996028902A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/53—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
    • H04H20/61—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
    • H04H20/63—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/65—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast
    • H04H20/67—Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/65—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast
    • H04H20/76—Wired systems
    • H04H20/77—Wired systems using carrier waves
    • H04H20/81—Wired systems using carrier waves combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/2801—Broadband local area networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
    • H04L65/75—Media network packet handling
    • H04L65/764—Media network packet handling at the destination 
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/10—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable
    • H04N7/108—Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
    • 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
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17336—Handling of requests in head-ends
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/02—Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/18—Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/28—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
    • H04H20/33—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by plural channels
    • 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
    • H04N2007/1739—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to distribution of program information, e.g. video, audio and data, particularly to shared receiving systems serving multiple living units. More specifically, the present invention relates to shared receiving systems using multiplexed channels on a subscriber's telephone cable to supply a selected modulated channel carrying a digital transport stream containing multiplexed data relating to a plurality of different programs to a terminal in the subscriber's living unit and to supply telephone signals to a telephone device in the living unit.
  • program information e.g. video, audio and data
  • shared receiving systems using multiplexed channels on a subscriber's telephone cable to supply a selected modulated channel carrying a digital transport stream containing multiplexed data relating to a plurality of different programs to a terminal in the subscriber's living unit and to supply telephone signals to a telephone device in the living unit.
  • CATV Community Antenna Television
  • direct cross connect switching provides point- to-point connectivity to the subscriber lines for interactive services, particularly video on demand.
  • Wireless video distribution is subject to much lower installation costs.
  • wireless systems intended to compete with franchise cable services also have been subject to a number of problems and limitations.
  • Wireless cable is a term usually used to refer to a multi-channel video distribution medium that resembles franchise cable television, but which uses microwave channels rather than coaxial cable or wire to transmit programming to the subscriber.
  • Programming for wireless cable systems is received at the headend of the wireless cable system in the same manner as it is for landline based cable television.
  • These programs are then re- transmitted, utilizing the high end of the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) portion of the microwave radio frequency spectrum (2.1 to 2.7 GHz) , by a microwave transmitting antenna located on a tower or other tall structure to small antennas on subscriber rooftops, typically within a 40 mile radius.
  • UHF Ultra High Frequency
  • a headend system H receives up to a maximum of 33 analog television program signals from a variety of satellite down-link receivers and other types of receivers, in the exact same manner as for a cable television system.
  • the headend system H frequency multiplexes those television program signals into a combined spectrum signal in the 50-450 Mhz range. This combined signal has a frequency distribution similar to that found on a cable television network.
  • the headend system upconverts the combined spectrum signal to the UHF frequency range, typically centered around 2.6 Ghz .
  • the headend system supplies the UHF signal to a single transmitter antenna tower T which broadcasts the signal to subscribers who each have an individual home receiving system.
  • FIG 1A shows a typical service area for a wireless cable type system of the type shown in Figure 1.
  • MMDS multi-channel multi-point distribution service
  • the primary area P is a circle having a radius of 15 miles from the operator's transmitter T. Within this area, the operator is guaranteed that there will be no interference with his transmissions on the assigned frequency channel (s) .
  • the transmissions from antenna tower T will propagate out over a secondary area S having a radius of up to 40 miles. Within the secondary area, some locations will receive sufficient signal strength to utilize the wireless cable services.
  • UHF signals in the relevant frequency band arrive at a receiver location by direct line-of-sight (LOS) transmission.
  • LOS line-of-sight
  • an elliptical dish shaped antenna 18-36 inches long, formed of parallel curved elements, is aimed from the subscriber location to receive the strongest signal from the transmitter.
  • the captured signals are down-converted at the antenna from the microwave band to the broadcast band and transmitted via coaxial wiring into the house.
  • a set top converter functionally similar to a cable set top box is used.
  • a VHF/UHF off-air broadcast receive antenna is installed with the UHF antenna to pick up the local programming.
  • wireless cable operates as a cable look-alike service. Because wireless cable signals are transmitted over the air rather than through underground or above-ground cable networks, wireless systems are less susceptible to outages and are less expensive to operate and maintain than franchise cable systems. Most service problems experienced by wireless cable subscribers are home-specific rather than neighborhood-wide, as is frequently the case with franchise cable systems.
  • Wireless cable technology has existed in a single channel version for commercial purposes since the 1970's and had been available even longer for educational use.
  • the FCC invoking the need to promote competition with conventional cable television systems, established a change in the rules for using a portion of the microwave spectrum previously designated for educational use.
  • 28 microwave channels had been available to accredited and non-profit educational organizations for educational use exclusively by Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) operators.
  • ITFS Instructional Television Fixed Service
  • Rules reallocated eight of those channels for outright commercial use, and educational organizations were permitted to lease excess hours to commercial operators on the remaining 20 channels. In any local market, this makes it possible for a commercial operator to combine any or all of those 28 channels with five other channels already available for commercial use.
  • the available spectrum results in a maximum of 33 analog channels. This number of 'wireless cable' channels is less than the number offered on many competing franchise type cable television systems.
  • MMDS Multi-channel Multipoint Distribution Service
  • the current UHF spectrum was originally licensed in blocks of four video channels each separately licensed, with each block allocated to a specific purpose. Five groups, each with four channels, were allocated to Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) . ITFS spectrum was initially made available only to educational institutions. Two groups of four channels were made available to anyone wishing to provide an alternative multi-channel video program service. The final four channels were licensed individually to institutions for the purpose of providing a private video network. Over time, the FCC relaxed some of these operational rules. Through licensing and leasing arrangements, the FCC now allows all of the channels to be aggregated for the purpose of providing an alternative to franchise cable television. However, even in areas where it is possible for one operator to aggregate the necessary licenses, the system capacity is still limited, i.e. to 33 channels or less.
  • ITFS Instructional Television Fixed Service
  • FIG. 1A also shows a simplified example of one such obstruction 0.
  • the obstruction 0 is within the primary reception area P.
  • the obstruction blocks line-of-sight transmissions from transmitter antenna tower T in a radially extending blockage or shadow area B. Receiving systems within this area can not receive the transmissions from antenna T, and potential customers in that area B can not subscribe to the wireless cable services broadcast from that tower.
  • a repeater receives the primary transmission from tower T on the tower side of the obstruction, amplifies the signal if necessary, and retransmits the signal into the area of blockage. This may be an effective solution to one blockage or obstruction 0, but in many major metropolitan areas there are many obstructions.
  • the power levels of such repeaters tend to be low, and overcoming blockages due to distortions that result when amplifying combined RF channels caused by many different obstructions to the primary transmissions would require an inordinate number of repeaters.
  • repeater transmissions may interfere with reception from the primary source in areas close to the blockage area B.
  • multi-path reflections of the desired signal arriving at the receiver by way of differing paths and therefore arriving with slight delay For analog video signals, multi-path appears as ghost images on the viewer's TV.
  • multi-path can cause intersymbol interference that results in multiple bit errors. In either case, near-coincident multi-path signals can cause a degree of signal cancellation that looks like additional propagation loss. Multi-path also results from reflections and diffraction.
  • Time-variant path fading is another significant coverage factor. Time-variant path fading can result from atmospheric effects, e.g., rain or temperature and pressure inversions. Rain can act to partially reflect or absorb the microwave signals. Weather inversions can result in an upward bending of the wave front due to refraction. There are engineering measures to mitigate the troublesome effects of time-variant path fading, such as suitable fade margins and antenna diversity.
  • Any such system should also provide an increased number of programs, without requiring additional spectrum allocation.
  • the system should provide good signal quality throughout the entire reception area or service area. Accordingly, it is also desirable to minimize multipath interference and loss of service due to fading.
  • An additional set of problems arise in providing the wireless cable service to certain types of multiple living unit residences.
  • Many planned development communities have restrictive covenants which run with ownership of the property. In such communities, whether the homes are town houses or single family homes, the covenants may prevent installation of visible outside receiving antennae. Also, only a few homes in the community may have a good location for a line of sight receiving antenna.
  • apartment complexes the residents may not be able to locate a dish type antenna outside at all, or if allowed to have such an outside antenna, they may not have access to a point on the building from which to aim the antenna at the transmitter tower.
  • each of the multiplexed channels carries a multiplexed stream of digital data representing a plurality of programs.
  • the programs may be audio or data, but in the currently preferred embodiment, the programs comprise audio/visual information such as television programming.
  • each program is digitally encoded into compressed digital data.
  • a multiplexer combines the compressed digital data for a group of programs into one of the digital multiplexed data streams for transport through one of the channels.
  • the presentation of one program to a user entails selecting one of the channels, selecting data from the multiplexed stream of digital data carried in that channel, and reproducing the selected data as the sensorially perceptible information, e.g. as an audio/visual output through a television set.
  • At least one receiving system is 'shared' in that it provides services through a plurality of terminals in multipe living units.
  • the shared receiving system includes appropriate interface elements to enable transport of a modulated channel signal from a selected one of the broadcast channels over the same wire pair, cable or fiber which carries each subscriber's normal voice grade telephone service.
  • the shared receiving system typically serves homes in a specific community, a townhouse development, an apartment or hotel building, or the like.
  • the shared receiving system includes a channel selector.
  • This selector e.g. a tuner, selectively receives one channel from a plurality of the available RF channels.
  • the selector outputs a modulated signal containing the digital transport stream for the selectively received channel.
  • a first splitter/combiner frequency division multiplexes the modulated signal together with telephone signals for transport over a telephone loop to the subscriber's living unit.
  • a second splitter/combiner located at the living unit demultiplexes signals received over the telephone loop. Specifically, the second splitter/ combiner separates out the modulated signal for processing by a terminal and supplies the downstream telephone signals to a telephone device in the living unit .
  • the terminal includes a demodulator for demodulating the modulated signal received via the telephone loop, and a digital signal processor for processing a portion of the acquired digital transport stream from the demodulated signal to present information, e.g. to provide a video output to the subscriber.
  • the splitter/combiners also provide upstream transport of voice grade telephone signals.
  • the second splitter/combiner transmits signals from the telephone device upstream over a predetermined channel on the loop.
  • the first splitter/combiner supplies the upstream telephone signals to a standard telephone network.
  • the splitter/combiners also provide a frequency channel for transport of upstream signaling information from the terminal. This channel may be used, for example, to transmit certain channel selection requests upstream to control the operation of the channel selector.
  • the splitter/combiners may also provide a downstream signaling channel through the telephone loop.
  • the telephone loop therefore provides at least three separate channels.
  • a low frequency channel carries the telephone service signals.
  • a somewhat higher frequency channel carries the upstream signaling.
  • a 6 MHz wide channel transports the modulated signal carrying the digitally multiplexed transport stream.
  • there may be additional channels Typically, there will also be an downstream signaling channel and there may be at least one extra broadband channel for transport of a second modulated signal carrying another transport stream.
  • the shared receiving system should reduce objections under various restrictive covenants in multi-unit type single family and town house developments.
  • the use of telephone wiring to distribute signals to the living units provides a convenient technique for supplying the programming to multi-unit dwellings or communities, i.e. without the added expense of deploying new fiber and/or coaxial cable distribution plant.
  • the telephone loops serving the multiple living units are already in place. The use of the existing telephone loops therefore actually eliminates the need to install any new wiring.
  • the preferred embodiment utilizes wireless broadcast transmissions.
  • the shared system can interface with a landline broadband network and supply selected RF channel information containing digitally multiplexed programs to the terminals.
  • the further enhanced receiving system provides cost effective transport for digital cable services over the last leg into the subscriber premises.
  • the addition of the landline network interface also allows the subscribers to access the range of interactive services that may be offered through that network.
  • the present invention also contemplates an RF frequency simulcasting method for transmitting information from multiple spaced transmitting sites to multiple receiving sites in a reception area, including the above-described shared receiving system.
  • a signal including multiplexed channels is transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of spaced transmitting sites.
  • the transmitting sites propagate the signal into substantially overlapping regions of at least a major portion or the intended reception area.
  • a terminal device receives a signal containing a plurality of time delayed copies of the transmitted signal. At least a portion of the received signal is processed to acquire a single copy of a signal corresponding to a selected one of the multiplexed channels, and information contained in the acquired signal is presented, e.g.
  • the processing of multiple copies utilizes a delay equalization technique.
  • the overlapping transmission or propagation areas reduce or eliminate blockage zones and effects of fading. This technique also limits the number of receivers effected by equipment outages.
  • at least one directional receiving antenna can be aimed toward at least one strong line-of-sight transmission source.
  • real-time encoders receive video programs and encode the information for those programs into packets of compressed digital data, e.g. in accord with a recognized video compression standard.
  • the headend may also receive previously encoded video program material from other sources, such as a digital server or a digital transmission media.
  • Multiplexers combine digital data for groups of programs into the multiplexed packet data streams.
  • a digital modulator such as a 64 or 256 QAM modulator, modulates each digitally multiplexed packet data stream for transport in one unique RF channel .
  • a combined spectrum signal containing the RF channels is upconverted to place the channels into available frequency channels in the UHF range.
  • the combined spectrum signal is supplied to a plurality of microwave broadcast transmitters located at spaced apart sites about the service area or reception region. Appropriate delays are imposed in one or more of the lines to the transmitters so that the transmissions from all the transmitter antennae occur simultaneously and in phase with each other.
  • an antenna receives a signal from at least one of the transmitters.
  • the antenna is a directional antenna aimed at one of the transmitters for line-of-sight reception therefrom.
  • the signal from the receiving antenna is downconverted and supplied to a wireless signal processor.
  • the wireless signal processor typically part of an interface module connected by a cable to the downconverter, processes the received wireless signal to select one of the channels.
  • the wireless signal processor effectively acquires a digital multiplexed data stream from the selected channel and supplies that data stream to a digital signal processor.
  • the digital signal processor selects packets of data relating to a selected one of the programs.
  • the digital processing section processes the compressed, digitized data from those packets to produce signals presentable to a user.
  • the digital signal processor produces signals to drive a standard television set .
  • the shared receiving system preferably includes at least two directional receiving antennae. Each directional receiving antenna is directed to receive a signal including the multiplexed channels from a different one of the transmitters. This effectively provides an angular diversity in reception.
  • a shared wireless signal processing circuit receives a signal from each of the receiving antennae, and in response thereto, outputs a single optimized representation of the signal simulcast from the transmitters.
  • Each selector in the shared receiving system receives the single optimized representation and processes a selected one of the multiplexed channels for transport over the telephone loop and processing by the termal to present program information from the selected channel.
  • one type of shared wireless signal processing circuitry selects one antenna signal, including all the channels, based on the signal levels of the signals provided by the receiving antennae.
  • Another type of shared wireless signal processing circuitry processes each individual channel separately to select a strong channel signal from one of the antennae.
  • the selected individual channel signals are then combined to form the optimized representation of the signal containing all of the multiplexed channels.
  • the angular diversity provided by use of multiple directional receiving antennae reduces the impact of fading. In many instances, atmospheric conditions causing fading will not effect the reception from all of the transmitters in the same way at the same time.
  • Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of a prior art wireless cable television system.
  • Figure 1A shows service areas relating to a single wireless transmitter in the system of Figure 1.
  • Figures 2 and 3 show propagation areas for multi- transmitter systems used in other types of prior art systems, e.g. paging.
  • Figures 4 and 5 depict exemplary propagation areas for simulcast transmissions into a receiving area, in accord with the present invention.
  • Figure 6 depicts in functional block diagram form the elements of the transmission system used in accord with the present invention.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the high-level functional elements of a customer premises receiver system and a preferred embodiment of a shared antenna and signal processing system used in accord with the present invention.
  • Figures 7A and 7B are more detailed functional diagrams of two examples of the shared wireless signal processing circuitry used in the shared receiving system illustrated in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7C is a more detailed functional block diagram of a landline interface system used in the shared receiving system illustrated in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7D is a spectrum diagram (not to scale) of the frequency channelization on a telephone loop in the shared receiving system illustrated in Figure 7.
  • Figure 8 illustrates in block diagram form the elements of one terminal device used in the system of Figure 7.
  • Figure 9 is a block diagram illustration of the elements of a transport interface module used in the terminal of Figure 8 for direct reception of wireless signals.
  • Figure 10 is a block diagram illustration of the elements of a transport interface module used in the terminal of Figure 8 when operated in combination with the shared receiving system illustrated in Figure 7.
  • groups of program signals are digitally encoded and compressed, and the compressed program streams are time division multiplexed into digital transport streams.
  • Each digital transport stream is modulated and/or upconverted into one RF channel .
  • the RF channel is broadcast to a number of receiving systems, at least one of which is shared by a number of living units.
  • the broadcast may utilize a portion of a landline network.
  • a preferred broadcast technique utilizes RF wireless transmission.
  • the RF channel typically is a channel in the high end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) microwave range (e.g. 2.1 to 2.7 GHz) , although other frequency channels could be used.
  • UHF ultra high frequency
  • the transmitter antennae are located and the transmitter emission patterns are designed so that the waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area.
  • the overlapping portions may extend throughout the intended reception area.
  • Existing regulations relating to the relevant frequency allocations specify a primary service area and a secondary service area. Within the primary service area, the regulations protect the licensee from any interference on the relevant frequency channel.
  • the overlapping areas of propagation from the multiple transmitters would cover at least a major portion of the primary reception area and preferably also cover a substantial portion of the secondary reception area. Some portions of the secondary reception area may be covered by propagating waves from only one of the transmitters. All of the primary and secondary areas would be covered by propagating waves from at least one of the transmitters.
  • the circle PA defines the Protected Area or primary area which may be serviced from a transmitting antenna TXl.
  • the radius of this circle is 15 miles.
  • usable signal and acceptable reception generally occurs to a radius of 40 miles which is here defined by the circle MA indicating the Maximum Area.
  • the region between the 15 mile radius and the 40 mile radius forms a 'secondary' service area.
  • all or part of the rights of the educational institution for ITFS service are leased.
  • licenses are aggregated, from companies currently licensed to use MMDS channels.
  • Existing analog services both ITFS and MMDS
  • are replaced by the new service which will provide the original programming desired by the ITFS institution in addition to a multiplicity of programs made possible by the system and method of the invention.
  • simulcasting is utilized in a unique manner.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown one preferred embodiment of a simulcast arrangement utilizing the original antenna TXl in addition to antennas TX2, TX3 and TX4 disposed in a generally triangular configuration within or on the boundary of the Protected Area (PA) .
  • all antennas radiate in an omni-directional pattern in azimuth as indicated by the circles TX2-A, TX3-A and TX4-A.
  • the central antenna TXl radiates out to the maximum area MA, in a manner permitted by existing regulations, as discussed above relative to Figure 1A.
  • a major portion of the protected area (PA) is overlapped by the signals from all antennas TXl, TX2, TX3 and TX4.
  • In the Maximum Area (MA) considerable overlap continues to exist but to a lesser extent. In this manner it has been found possible to reach receivers in approximately 90-95% of the maximum area (MA) .
  • FIG. 5 there is shown a second preferred embodiment of simulcasting utilizing directional antennas TX2, TX3 and TX4.
  • the central antenna TXl retains its omni ⁇ directional pattern.
  • the antennas TX2, TX3 and TX4 are provided as directional antennas radiating forward and backward lobes TX2F and TX2B for antenna TX2, TX3F and TX3B for the TX3 antenna and TX4F and TX4B for the TX4 antenna.
  • TX2F and TX2B for antenna TX2, TX3F and TX3B for the TX3 antenna and TX4F and TX4B for the TX4 antenna.
  • the simulcast transmission from the broadcast antennae include a plurality of frequency multiplexed channels. Each channel contains a digital transport stream carrying a number of programs, in compressed digital form.
  • the programs may be audio only programs, or data, but in the preferred embodiments, the programs are television type programs.
  • the television type programs contain video and audio information, and may include data information, e.g. for closed captioning and the like.
  • the broadcasting portion of the system includes a headend 10.
  • the headend includes a number of Sources SI to SX for producing digital transport streams, each of which contains a plurality of programs encoded as digital, compressed data.
  • the number of such sources corresponds to the number of frequency channels available for use in a particular geographic region.
  • the FCC licenses up to 33 channels of MMDS and ITFS services in a given area. It may be possible to aggregate rights to use all such channels, but to provide a commercially viable service, typically only 20-25 such channels are necessary.
  • the headend 10 therefore typically comprises 20-25 of the Sources SI to SX, but may include as many as 33 such sources.
  • the Sources SI to SX may convert analog program information from video sources, (e.g. off-the-air feeds, satellite receivers, VCRs, etc.) into compressed, digital data form.
  • the headend 10 may also receive and process previously encoded material .
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the overall architecture of the broadcasting system.
  • the headend 10 that figure provides a simplified diagram of the source encoder functionality, e.g. at SI, for preparing a group of original analog source signals for transport through the network.
  • each analog television signal e.g. in NTSC format, is applied to an MPEG encoder 11.
  • the encoder 11 digitizes both audio and video for a program, and packetizes the compressed digital data in accord with the appropriate standard.
  • the encoder may also encrypt the data before insertion thereof into the transport packets.
  • MPEG is a bi-directional predictive coding compression system, utilizing discrete cosine transformation (DCT) processing. Picture elements are converted from spacial information into frequency domain information. Compression begins by discarding information to which eyes are insensitive. From the remaining information, the encoder will develop reference
  • the number of frames to be coded for each I frame is set in the standardized MPEG syntax, e.g. one reference frame for each group of fifteen frames, or every half second.
  • a prediction is made of the composition of a video frame, termed a P frame, to be located a specific number of frames forward and before the next reference frame, this specific number also is set in the MPEG syntax.
  • Information from previous video frames as well as later video frames is used in formulating the prediction.
  • "Delta" or "B frame information is developed for coding the video frames between the actual and predicted frames, also by looking at frames in both directions. Rather than updating a whole frame, only the changed (or delta) information is provided for the delta video frames.
  • the total information coded, and then transmitted is considerably less than that required to supply the actual information in the total number of frames.
  • the frame sequence consists of a repetitive succession of two B frames followed by one P frame.
  • the MPEG II standard provides a standardized format for packetizing the compressed audio and video information and for transporting other data. Under the
  • PES video and audio PES's from one or more sources of video programming may be combined into a transport stream for transmission or storage.
  • Each frame of compressed program information (audio, video or data) is broken down into a series of transport packets.
  • the frames can vary in length, e.g. between a full reference I-frame and a delta B-frame, the transport packets have a fixed 188 byte size.
  • different frames are broken down into different numbers of MPEG transport packets. For example, in a 6 Mbits/s encoding system, a group of frames consisting of a total of 15 frames for one-half second of video (one I frame and a number of P and B frames) , breaks down into 4000 transport packets.
  • Each 188 byte transport stream packet consists of two sections, a 4 byte packet header section, an optional adaptation field and a payload section.
  • the header information includes, inter alia, a synchronization byte, a variety of different flags used in reconstruction of the frames, and a thirteen bit program identification (PID) number.
  • PID value 0 is reserved as an indication that the packet includes program association table data.
  • PID value 1 is reserved for identification of packets containing conditional access data, such as encryption information.
  • Other program identification numbers are utilized to identify transport packets with the program or source from which they originate.
  • the transport packet for each program will also include a program reference clock (PRC) value within the optional adaptation field.
  • PRC program reference clock
  • the PRC is present in only 10 out of every 4000 video transport packets.
  • the optional adaptation field includes a section for miscellaneous flags, such as discontinuity counter, private data flag, etc.
  • One of the possible flags carried in this portion of the adaptation field is a program clock reference (PRC) flag.
  • PRC program clock reference
  • the adaptation field (AF) also includes a section designated for AF options. One of the options this section may carry is the PRC value.
  • the decoder in sequence reconstructs the frames for a particular program from packets bearing the appropriate PID value, uses the reference frame to form the prediction frames, and then uses the prediction frames and delta information to construct full frames from the delta frames.
  • the MPEG II standard facilitates time division multiplexing of MPEG packets from a plurality of programs.
  • the encoders 11 supply MPEG packet streams for multiple programs to an MPEG multiplexer 12.
  • the number of programs may vary depending on the bandwidth.
  • the MPEG multiplexer 12 may receive digitized and compressed (MPEG) video from other sources 11' .
  • Typical digital sources 11' include digital server (storage) systems and digital video transmission systems (e.g. satellite or optical fiber) .
  • a typical multiplexed digital transport packet stream used in the present invention has 27 Mbits/s of payload capacity.
  • a mixture of program streams for individual programs at different individual rates e.g. 1.5 Mbits/s, 3 Mbits/s and 6 Mbits/s, may be combined to fully utilize the 27 Mbits/s capacity.
  • the 27 Mbits/s multiplexed digital transport packet stream might consist of three 3 Mbits/s programs and three 6 Mbits/s programs.
  • the multiplexer 12 combines four MPEG II packet streams of four such programs for output on each broadband rail.
  • the simplified example therefore provides four programs for one RF channel, i.e. a 4 to 1 improvement over the existing single analog program channel.
  • the other mix of three 6 Mbits/s programs and three 3 Mbits/s programs provides six programs for one RF channel, i.e. a 6 to 1 improvement .
  • Lower bit rates and/or more efficient modulation techniques can further extend the program capacity provided through each RF channel .
  • PID values for packets of a particular television type program encoded in MPEG II form there are at least three PID values for packets of a particular television type program encoded in MPEG II form, a first PID value for packets containing video, a second PID value for packets containing audio and another PID value for a packet containing a program map.
  • there could be a data channel associated with the program which would include data for closed captioning for the hearing impaired and/or related control signaling information.
  • the program map specifies the PID values for the various packets containing video, audio and/or data from the particular source.
  • the PID values for each program will be unique, and each such program is assigned a unique program number (PN) .
  • PN program number
  • HBO might have a program number ' 1 '
  • the program map for HBO might be found in packets corresponding to PID 132.
  • Showtime might have a program number of '2', and the program map for Showtime might be found in packets identified by PID 87 and so forth.
  • the program map for HBO in the packet with PID 132 would then identify the PID numbers for the actual packetized elementary streams (PES) for the video, audio and data (if any) channels associated with the HBO program.
  • the program map for Showtime in the packet with PID 87 would then identify the PID numbers for the actual packetized elementary streams (PES) for the video, audio and data (if any) channels associated with the Showtime program.
  • each multiplexer 12 outputs a group of MPEG encoded programs, i.e. four if the encoding rate of all encoders 11 is 6 Mbits/s, at a combined payload rate of 27 Mbits/s (it may be necessary to pad the steam with dummy packets to reach the full 27 Mbits/s) .
  • the actual stream will include an additional 3 Mbits/s of forward error correction information for a combined rate of 30 Mbits/s, although hereinafter for convenience the bit stream is generally described by its 27 Mbits/s payload rate.
  • the MPEG II standard also requires that a packet stream containing packets relating to one or more programs includes a program association table in a packet identified by PID 0. The program association table maps each program number with the PID value associated with the program map related to that source.
  • each MPEG II multiplexer 12 combines MPEG packet streams for the four
  • the program association table would map program number '1' (HBO) with PID value 132 indicating that the program map for HBO is contained in repeating packets identified by PID 132.
  • the program association table would map program number '2' (Showtime) with PID value 87 indicating that the program map for Showtime is contained in repeating packets identified by PID 87.
  • reception of a particular digital program requires that some element of the receiving system know the RF channel transporting the program and the program number (PN) associated with the program.
  • the actual MPEG decoder uses the information contained in the PID 0 packet to identify the PID value for the program map for the particular desired program, e.g. 132 in the above HBO example, and uses the program map to identify the PID values needed to capture the video, audio and user data (if any) for the desired program.
  • the 27 Mbits/s payload (actually 30 Mbits/s including forward error correction bits) baseband digital output of each MPEG multiplexer 12 from one of the sources SI to SX goes to a modulator 13.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,231,494 to Wachob the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, teaches quadrature phase shift keyed (QPSK) modulation of a plurality of video, audio and data signals into a single data stream within a standard six Mhz channel allocation for transmission over a cable television type distribution network.
  • QPSK quadrature phase shift keyed
  • the currently preferred implementation uses 64 QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) or 16 VSB (vestigial sideband) modulation techniques in the modulators 13.
  • Each modulator 13 outputs the intermediate frequency signal to an individual upconverter 14.
  • the upconverter converts the frequency of the QAM modulated signal up to one of up to thirty-three RF channel frequencies in the 50-450 Mhz range.
  • the upconverter 14 may be an element of the QAM modulator 13 or a separate element as shown hard wired to process the output of the QAM modulator.
  • Each upconverter 14 outputs a different 6 MHz bandwidth RF channel to an RF combiner 15 for combining with the other 6MHz RF signals from the other upconverters 14.
  • the RF combiner 15 thereafter outputs the combined RF signals in the normal video channel range of approximately 50-450 Mhz.
  • the upconverters 14 and the RF combiner 15 may be the same as components currently used for RF signal processing in cable television systems. Broadcast channels of this type can ride on a landline broadband distribution network, e.g. a cable network or a hybrid-fiber-coax network similar to networks used as cable TV systems .
  • a landline broadband distribution network e.g. a cable network or a hybrid-fiber-coax network similar to networks used as cable TV systems .
  • a transmission network supplies the combined spectrum signal in the UHF range from the combiner 15 to a number of wireless broadcast transmitter systems 11 x to 17_.
  • the transmitter systems 17- ⁇ to 17 n correspond to the transmitters TXl to TX4 described above with respect to Figures 4 and 5.
  • coaxial cable, wireless microwave relay transmissions or other media could be used, in the preferred embodiment, the transmissions from the headend 10 ride on optical fiber lines 18.
  • an electrical to optical converter system 16 converts the signal from combiner 15 into optical signals for transmission over a plurality of optical fibers 18.
  • An optical to electrical unit 20 at each transmitter site converts the optical signal back to the combined electrical signal and supplies that signal to one of the transmitter systems .
  • An important feature of the present invention relates to simulcasting, i.e. simultaneous broadcasting, of the combined spectrum UHF signal from a plurality of and possibly all of the transmitter towers TXl to TXN.
  • the optical fiber signal transmission from the headend 10 to the transmitter systems requires some finite amount of time.
  • the transmitter systems will not be equi-distant from the headend.
  • one of the transmitter systems may be in the same building as the headend.
  • the system shown in Figure 6 therefore includes some form of delay 19 in one or more of the transport lines 18.
  • the delay may take the form of coils of fiber to equalize the optical transport paths and therefore the time through each path.
  • one or more electronic delay devices may be imposed in the relevant paths, either at the headend prior to optical transport or at the respective transmitter location subsequent to conversion back to electrical signal form.
  • the headend may be close to the central transmitter site TXl, therefore the transport distance to that site would be the shortest.
  • TX4 is the longest distance from the headend.
  • the delay produced by delay device 19 will be equal to the difference in the time required to transport optical signals from the headend to those two sites, i.e. so as to result in simultaneous in-phase transmission of the exact same signal from the antennae at the two transmitters TXl and TX4. Similar delays are imposed in the lines 18 to the other transmitter systems.
  • at least two transmitters on the periphery may transmit substantially simultaneously, whereas one or more of the other transmitters (e.g. the central transmitter) may transmit a delayed broadcast of the signal.
  • FIG. 6 also shows details of one of the wireless transmitter system 17N, by way of an example.
  • Each transmitter system includes a splitter 21.
  • the splitter 21 together with associated channel selection filters 22 divide the received combined signal (50-450 MHz) into its constituent 6 MHz wide RF channels.
  • An RF power amplifier 23 amplifies each UHF channel .
  • a delay device may process each channel signal, and by way of example, Figure 6 shows a delay device 26 processing the output of each of the upconverters 24.
  • the delay devices 26 provide precise delay compensation on each respective channel to compensate between variations in throughput processing time of the various components at different transmitter sites operating on the signal to be broadcast on a particular microwave channel .
  • a microwave combiner 25 combines the UHF channel signals back into a combined spectrum signal in the UHF range and supplies that signal to a microwave broadcasting antenna 27.
  • Each transmitting antenna may be an omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna.
  • the type of antenna at each transmitter site is selected to give the optimum coverage in a particular geographic service area.
  • the antenna 27 emits UHF waves to propagate through a portion of the service area. For each channel, the resultant broadcasts from all of the transmitters are synchronized and in phase with each other.
  • the transmitted microwave signals propagate into substantially overlapping portions of the service area and into some non-overlapping portions of that area, for example in patterns such as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
  • the above discussion of the headend and transmission systems is one example of an overall system for providing the simultaneous, synchronized, in-phase broadcasts from multiple transmitters having substantially overlapping propagation areas.
  • Other headend and transmitter systems could be used.
  • the headend 10 could perform the digital multiplexing, and the transport network to the transmitters TXl to TXN could carry the multiplexed transport streams in digital form.
  • the individual transmitter systems would further include at least the QAM modulators for each RF channel.
  • the transmitters may include means to synchronize processing and broadcast transmissions to some common clock, e.g. from a geo-positioning type satellite system, to achieve the simulcast transmission.
  • Figure 7 provides a high-level functional diagram of the receiving systems used in the present invention.
  • a group of users or locations will have a shared receiving system R s .
  • the subscribers telephone loops serve as the video drops carrying selected channels to terminals in the living units serviced by the shared system.
  • the shared receiving system includes a plurality of directional microwave antennae. There may be as few as two such receiving antennae aimed at visible ones of the transmitters TXl to TXN, but preferably the system includes the same number of microwave receiving antennae 31]_ to 31 N as there are transmitters TXl to TXN serving the region. In such a preferred system one of the microwave receiving antennae 31i to 31 N is aimed at each of the transmitters TXl to TXN. This arrangement provides angular diversity in the broadcast waves received through these antennae. Because of the shared use by multiple customers, the size, gain and quality of these antennae can be relatively high. Also, since there is only one set of antennae, presumably, the antennae can be placed at one or more sights on community property or on the top of the apartment building were the group of customers reside.
  • the microwave receiving antennae 31 x to 31 N may be mounted on a relatively high mast to provide clear line- of-sight reception from all of the transmitters serving the region.
  • the antennae 31 x to 31 N may be located at different vantage points around the development.
  • each individual microwave antenna could be located on a different home, as agreed by the home owners, so as to provide line-of sight reception from the desired one of the transmitters TXl to TXN.
  • one home at one end of the development may have a clear line-of-sight to one transmitter tower, a second home at the other end of the development may have a clear line-of-sight of the second transmitter, etc.
  • each individual antenna could be located at a different one of the corners of the building, so as to provide the necessary line-of sight reception from the desired one of the transmitters TXl to TXN.
  • the shared wireless signal processing circuitry 33 processes the signals from the microwave receiving antennae 31 ! to 31 N to produce a single high quality RF spectrum signal in at least a portion of the 50-450 MHz range from the microwave transmissions. Exemplary systems for use as the shared wireless signal processing circuitry 33 are discussed below with regard to Figures 7A and 7B.
  • the shared wireless signal processing circuitry 33 outputs the processed channel signals through a coaxial cable or the like to a landline interface system 32.
  • the landline interface system also connects to a telephone company central office 45, e.g. through a subscriber line carrier system (not shown in detail) .
  • the landline interface system 32 may also provide a connection to a broadband central office or network.
  • the landline interface system 32 connects to a central office 55 of a hybrid-fiber-coax (HFC) distribution system such as disclosed in commonly assigned application Serial No. 08/ , , filed March 28, 1995 (attorney docket no.
  • HFC hybrid-fiber-coax
  • this broadband network will transport 6 MHz wide RF channels (e.g. in the 50-860 MHz range) wherein each such RF channel carries a QAM signal containing a 27 Mbits/s (payload) MPEG II digital transport stream containing a plurality of 1.5, 3 or 6 Mbits/s programs, exactly the same as produced by the sources SI to SX and associated QAM modulators 13 in the wireless service headend 10 discussed above.
  • the programming on this network includes both broadcast services and interactive services.
  • the landline interface 32 typically is located in the telephone wiring closet. In a housing development, the landline interface 32
  • binding post distribution cabinet 32 typically occupies a binding post distribution cabinet, e.g. in a controlled environmental vault.
  • the landline interface system 32 provides a downstream interface for selected channels from the output of the shared wireless signal processing circuitry
  • the telephone wiring may include optical fiber, coaxial cable etc., but typically, the telephone wiring consists of twisted wire copper pairs. At least one such pair goes from the landline interface 32 to each living unit 75.
  • the landline interface system 32 also provides at least a downstream interface for selected broadcast channels from the HFC CO 55 to the telephone wiring 34 to the living units 75.
  • the landline interface system 32 provides a two-way interface to the HFC CO 55 to permit subscribers in the living units 75 to conduct interactive sessions through the broadband network.
  • the landline interface 32 also interfaces the telephone wiring 34 to the lines or trunks to the CO 45 to provide subscribers with plain old telephone service (POTS) .
  • POTS plain old telephone service
  • the CO 45 in turn connects to other elements of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) , in the normal manner.
  • Each living unit 75 includes a network interface device (NID) 75 connected to a respective telephone line 34.
  • the NID 75 provides one or more telephone devices 41 with a two-way voice band connection to the line 34.
  • the telephone devices 41 may comprise any devices compatible with ordinary telephone lines, e.g. facsimile machines, modems, etc.
  • the NID 75 also provides a two-way connection, utilizing specific higher frequencies discussed below with regard to Figure 7D, to a terminal 100.
  • the landline interface system will supply a selected 6 MHz wide channel, containing one of the digital transport streams, through the telephone line 34 and the NID 35 to the terminal 100.
  • Each terminal 100 includes some form of interface module 36 and a digital signal processor 37.
  • the interface module 36 processes the selected 6 MHz channel signal to recover the digitally multiplexed transport stream carried in that channel.
  • Each terminal connects to an associated television set 99.
  • the digital signal processor 37 processes data packets for a selected program from the multiplexed transport stream to produce signals to drive the TV 99.
  • the TV 99 presents the program to the viewer in sensorially perceptible form, in this case, as a standard audio/visual output.
  • the digital processor 37 responds to subscriber input signals, e.g. from a wireless remote control device not shown. When appropriate, the digital signal processor 37 instructs the interface module 36 to transmit a packetized data message through the NID and the telephone line 34 upstream to the landline interface 32. For example, when the next selected program is contained in the transport stream on a different wireless channel, the digital signal processor 37 causes the interface module 36 to transmit a message to the landline interface 32 requesting receipt of that RF channel and transport thereof over line 34 to the terminal 100.
  • the simulcast wireless transmissions in accord with the present invention will also service customers not associated with a shared receiving system, such as the system R s . Such other customers will have their own wireless receiving system R ⁇ .
  • that customer's system R x would include a small dish type directional antenna 31, a block downconverter 39 and a coaxial distribution system connected to one or more terminals 100' (only one shown) .
  • the antenna 31 is an elliptical dish shaped antenna 18 inches or less in diameter, formed of parallel curved elements.
  • the dish 31 is aimed at the one transmitter TXl to TXN which produces the strongest received signal through the antenna at the subscriber's particular location.
  • the receiving antenna 31 supplies the 2.1 to 2.7 GHz spectrum (through appropriate filtering and/or amplifiers not shown) to the block down ⁇ converter 39.
  • the block downconverter 39 converts the 2.1 to 2.7 GHz signal, containing all of the RF channels, back down to the video channel band of 50-450 MHz.
  • the block downconverter supplies the 50-450 MHz combined spectrum signal via a coaxial cable to one or more terminal devices 100' located at various places in the subscriber's home.
  • the single residence system may have only one terminal, but in many instances, the signals will be distributed to up to four terminals located throughout the home at desirable television viewing locations.
  • the terminal 100' in the residential system R 2 typically is similar to that used in the shared reception system R s in that the terminal 100' includes an interface module and a digital signal processor.
  • the interface module is slightly different, and the CPU of the digital signal processor i ⁇ programmed slightly differently, at least to the extent necessary to select broadcast channels through direct wireless reception instead of telephone line connections.
  • the interface module functions as a wireless signal processor to process a selected one of the 6 MHz channels and recover the digitally multiplexed transport stream carried in that channel.
  • the digital signal processor 37 processes data packets for the selected program from the multiplexed stream to produce signals to drive the TV 99.
  • the TV 99 presents the program to the viewer in sensorially perceptible form, again as a standard audio/visual output .
  • each antenna is aimed at one of the transmitters TXl to TXN. Even so, the antenna receives multiple copies of the transmitted waveform signals. These multiple copies or replicas include a primary direct line-of-sight transmission of a signal from the transmitter the antenna is directed towards together with delayed copies (typically delayed and distorted) caused by reflections of the transmissions from one or more of the multiple broadcast sites. Also, at locations in the secondary reception area, the direction of reception by the antenna may actually be substantially in line with two of the transmitters. In such a case, the antenna would receive a first copy of the combined spectrum transmission from the closest transmitter followed by a delayed copy transmitted from the more distant of the two aligned transmitters.
  • the present invention therefore contemplates inclusion of some form of delay processing in the receiver to compensate for the reception of multiple delayed copies of the transmitted program signals.
  • the presently preferred embodiment discussed below utilizes a delay equalizer as described in commonly filed U.S.
  • processing circuitry could utilize spread spectrum technology, as discussed in more detail in commonly assigned U.S. Patent application Serial No. 08/ , , filed March 16, 1995 (attorney docket no. 680-117) entitled “Television Distribution System and Method, " the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
  • FIG 7A shows a first example of the shared wireless signal processing circuitry for use in the shared reception system R s depicted in Figure 7.
  • the circuitry 33 includes an average level detecting circuit 331 for processing the output of each of the microwave receiving antenna 31- ⁇ to 31 N .
  • the average level detecting circuits 331 produce output signals indicating the level of signal power in the wireless video broadcast frequency range (e.g. 2.1 to 2.7 GHz) output from the respective antennae. As such, each signal represents the strength of the signal that the respective antenna is currently receiving in the relevant frequency range.
  • the threshold detector, comparator and logic circuit 333 controls an RF switch 335.
  • the RF switch 335 receives the output of each of the microwave receiving antenna 31- ! to 31 N .
  • the RF switch outputs a selected one of the signals from the microwave receiving antenna 31- . to 31 N .
  • the circuit 333 may be constructed of discrete components, including threshold detectors, comparators and appropriate logic gates. Alternatively, the circuit 333 may include digital to analog converters and an appropriately programmed microprocessor.
  • circuit 333 will select a strong one of the antenna signals, i.e. above the threshold, and will not change this selection unless and until the selected signal falls below the threshold. However, if the previously selected microwave antenna signal falls below the threshold, e.g. due to fading caused by atmospheric conditions such as rain, then the circuit 333 will compare and select from among the signals from the other microwave receiving antennae. Specifically, the circuit will identify the strongest signal which is above the threshold. Again, the circuit 333 will maintain this selection until the selected signal falls below the threshold.
  • the RF switch outputs the selected one of the signals from the microwave receiving antenna 31- . to 31 N to a block downconverter 337.
  • the downconverter 337 converts the 2.1 to 2.7 GHz signal, containing all of the microwave digital transport channels, back down to the video channel band of 50-450 MHz.
  • the block downconverter supplies the 50-450 MHz combined spectrum signal to the landline interface system 32 shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7B shows a second example of the shared wireless signal processing circuitry for use in the shared reception system R s depicted in Figure 7.
  • the circuitry includes a block downconverter 431 connected to each of the receiving antennae 31 x to 31 N .
  • Each downconverter 431 converts the 2.1 to 2.7 GHz signal, containing all of the microwave digital transport channels, back down to the video channel band of 50-450 MHz.
  • Each block downconverter 431 supplies the 50-450 MHz combined spectrum signal from one of the antennae 31 x to 31 N to a splitter 433.
  • Each splitter splits and amplifies the respective antenna signal as necessary to supply a copy thereof to each of a plurality (X) of channel processors 435.
  • FIG. 7B shows the structure of a first channel processor -1- in block diagram form.
  • the first channel processor -1- includes a bank of channel selection filters 437.
  • the bank includes one channel selection filter for each antenna signal.
  • the channel selection filters 437 all select a predetermined one of the 6 MHz channels in the 50-450 MHz range carrying a digital multiplexed transport stream. For example, the filters 437 might select a channel corresponding to TV channel 2.
  • Each of the channel selection filters 437 provides a single RF channel signal received through one of the microwave antennae 31 x to 31 N an average level detecting circuit 439.
  • the function of the circuits 439 is similar to that of the average level detecting circuit 331 discussed above, except that the circuits 439 process the signal for only the one selected 6 MHz RF channel.
  • Each average level detecting circuit 439 produces an output signal indicating the level of signal power of the selected channel as received by one of the antennae 31 x to 31 N . As such, this signal represents the strength of the one downconverted channel signal, that the particular antenna is currently receiving from the respective transmitter.
  • the threshold detector, comparator and logic circuit 333 controls a single channel RF switch 443.
  • the RF switch 443 receives the single channel outputs of all of the channel selection filters 437 within the one channel processor 435. In response to a control signal from the circuit 333, the RF switch outputs a selected one of the single channel signals.
  • the logic of circuit 441 will select a strong one of the single channel signals received and downconverted from a respective one of the microwave receiving antennae 31- . to 31 N , i.e. one that is above the threshold.
  • the logic circuit 441 will not change this selection unless and until the selected signal falls below the threshold.
  • the circuit 441 will compare and select from among the single channel signals from the other filters 437. Specifically, the circuit will identify the strongest signal for the particular channel which is above the threshold. Again, the circuit will maintain this selection until the selected channel signal falls below the threshold.
  • the single channel RF switch 443 outputs the selected one of the signals for the particular channel as received and downconverted from the selected microwave receiving antennae 31- ⁇ to 31 N to an RF combiner 445.
  • the other channel processors 435 are identical in structure to the channel processor -1-, except that the filters in each processor selects a different one of the channels for processing.
  • the RF combiner 445 receives the optimum signal for each channel as selected by the respective processor 435 and combines all of the optimum channel signals into a single combined spectrum output signal.
  • the RF combiner 445 supplies the 50-450 MHz combined spectrum signal to the landline interface system 32 shown in Figure 7.
  • Figure 7C illustrates the functional elements of an exemplary implementation of the landline interface system 32 and the interconnection thereof through telephone lines 34 to the various equipment in the living units.
  • the landline interface system 32 includes a number of subscriber processing circuits 300.
  • Each subscriber processing circuit 300 connects to one of the subscriber's telephone lines 34.
  • the subscriber processing circuitry 300 for one subscriber line provides the necessary interface for POTS type telephone service.
  • the subscriber processing circuitry 300 also receives downstream transmissions of broadband services, as multiplexed RF channels carrying digitally multiplexed transport streams containing multiple programs, from both the shared wireless signal processing circuitry 33 and from the broadband landline network.
  • the landline interface system 32 includes two internal broadband distribution networks 301 and 303.
  • the internal broadband distribution network 303 carries the combined spectrum signal (50-450 MHz) from the shared wireless signal processing circuitry 33 to all of the subscriber processing circuits 300.
  • a combiner/splitter 305 supplies downstream broadband transmission channels in the 50-860 MHz range from a cable or fiber from the HFC CO 55 to the internal broadband distribution network 301.
  • the internal broadband distribution network 301 similarly carries the downstream broadband channels as a combined spectrum signal (50-860 MHz) from the broadband landline network to all of the subscriber processing circuits 300.
  • Each of the internal broadband distribution networks 301 and 303 includes a coaxial cable network and amplifiers and/or splitters as needed to supply adequate level signals to all of the subscriber processing circuits 300.
  • each subscriber processing circuit 300 includes a combination A/B switch and tuner 315.
  • This tuner 315 is essentially identical to a switch and tuner circuit commonly used in cable ready television sets designed to receive cable television signals over two coaxial cables.
  • the tuner functionality is identical to a tuner used in a single residence terminal 100' .
  • the switch and tuner circuit 311 will select one of two input cables, and from the spectrum on the selected cable, tune one selected RF channel.
  • the tuner 311 outputs the selected channel at an intermediate frequency.
  • the intermediate frequency output of the tuner 311 goes to a converter 313.
  • the converter 313 shifts the intermediate frequency signal to an appropriate 6 MHz frequency for transport over the local loop 34.
  • the converter 313 supplies the 6 MHz wide channel to the splitter/combiner 315.
  • the splitter/combiner 34 is a diplex filter network for combing signals in certain frequency channels together and transmitting those signals downstream over the local loop 34.
  • the filter network 34 also receives certain frequency channels in the upstream direction and separates out those frequency channels.
  • FIG. 7D One example of a frequency channelization for use on a twisted wire pair type telephone loop 34 appears in Figure 7D.
  • the POTS signals for two-way voice frequency communication utilize a two- way channel in the 300 Hz to 4 kHz range. This is essentially standard POTS telephone service.
  • the splitter/combiner 315 provices a two-way interface for the POTS frequency signals on loop 34 to a telephone link
  • upstream signaling from the terminal 100 to the subscriber processing circuit 300 utilizes 100 kHz to 130 kHz
  • downstream signaling from the subscriber processing circuit 300 to the terminal 100 utilizes 170 kHz to 200 kHz.
  • the frequency values shown in Figure 7 are examples only. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that other frequencies could be used for various ones of the channels.
  • the subscriber loop 34 will carry at least one 6 MHz wide channel .
  • Such a channel provides downstream QAM transport for one of the 27 Mbits/s (payload) digitally multiplexed transport streams.
  • the QAM downstream channel utilizes the frequency range of 300 kHz to 6.3 MHz.
  • the loop may be able to carry a second 6 MHz QAM channel at a higher frequency range, such as 6.6 MHz to 12.6 MHz.
  • Some telephone installations may also use higher grades of telephone cable, including coaxial cable and/or optical fiber.
  • the subscriber processing circuitry 300 would include a second switch/tuner 311 and another converter to convert the intermediate frequency output of that tuner to the second QAM channel range. Additional tuners and converters would be provided for any further QAM transport channels available on the particular loop 34.
  • Each QAM channel one the loop 34 allows one terminal device 100 to select one of the available RF channels for downstream transport of the QAM information stream therefrom over the telephone loop 34.
  • the loop 34 carries only one QAM channel in the 300 kHz to 6.3 MHz frequency range.
  • the converter 313 ( Figure 7C) converts the intermediate frequency output channel from the tuner 311 to the 300 kHz to 6.3 MHz channel range, and the filter network in the splitter/combiner 315 combines that channel with the other downstream frequency channel signals and supplies the resultant multiplex to the telephone line 34.
  • Each subscriber processing circuit 300 also includes a QPSK modulator 319 and a QPSK demodulator 317 for two- way signaling communication with the terminal device (s) 100 connected to the respective subscriber loop 34.
  • the QPSK modulator 319 and the QPSK demodulator 317 connect between the splitter/combiner 315 and a packet processor 321 which controls operations of the subscriber processing circuitry 300, particularly the operations of the switch and tuner circuit 311.
  • the packet processors 321 in the subscriber processing circuits 300 also communicate with a signal data processor, which provides a two-way data signaling interface through combiner/splitter 305 to the link to the HFC CO 55.
  • the combiner splitter 315 supplies signals in the frequency range of the upstream signaling channel (100 kHz to 130 kHz in the example of Figure 7D) to the QPSK demodulator 317.
  • the QPSK demodulator 317 demodulates data from that channel and supplies the data as baseband digital packet messages to the processor 321.
  • the processor 321 reviews and acts on the packet messages received through the signaling channel and the QPSK demodulator 317. For example, if the message is a request for a specific RF channel, the processor 321 identifies the internal network 301 or 303 carrying the channel and the frequency of the channel and supplies an appropriate instruction to the switch and tuner 311 to select that channel for processing. Alternatively, the processor 321 may pass the message on to the signal data processor 321 for further transmission through the combiner splitter 305 and the hybrid-fiber-coax type landline broadband network, e.g. for an interactive two- way communication service.
  • the packet data processor 321 may also send data messages back down to the terminal 100. These messages may arrive via the hybrid-fiber-coax type landline broadband network, the combiner/splitter 305 and the signal data processor 321. Typically, such messages would relate to set-up of an interactive session and/or control signaling during an actual session. Details of such communication over the HFC network are set forth, for example, in the above incorporated commonly assigned full service network application Serial No. 08/ , (attorney docket no.
  • Downstream transmissions from the packet processor 321 to the terminal 100 may also relate to embedded operations channel type functions.
  • the packet processor 321 supplies any such downstream packet data messages to the QPSK modulator 319.
  • the modulator 319 QPSK modulates the data into the downstream signaling channel, for example in the 170 kHz to 200 kHz frequency range.
  • the modulator 319 supplies the modulated channel signal to the splitter/combiner 315.
  • the splitter combiner 315 frequency multiplexes the modulated downstream signaling channel information together with all other downstream signals and transmits the resultant multiplex over the subscriber's telephone loop 34.
  • the packet processor 321 principally controls the switch and tuner 311 in response to channel requests from the terminal 100 and provides two-way throughput from the terminal to the signal data processor 331 for interactive services offered through the HFC broadband landline network.
  • the packet processor 321 could have additional intelligence if desirable for a particular implementation.
  • the processor 321 could store subscriber profile information and control selections through the tuner 311 based on the profile data.
  • the NID 35 comprises a POTS splitter/combiner.
  • the POTS splitter/combiner is another diplex filter network. This filter network passes downstream signals in the telephone frequency band (e.g. 300 hz to 4 kHz) through standard telephone wiring in the living unit to one or more POTS telephones 41.
  • the POTS splitter/combiner also receives telephone frequency band (e.g. 300 hz to 4 kHz) signals from the telephone (s) 41.
  • the splitter/combiner in NID 35 frequency multiplexes the upstream telephone frequency signals together with any other upstream information (e.g. the 100 kHz to 130 kHz upstream signaling channel from the terminal 100) for transmission upstream over loop 34 to the combiner/splitter 315 in the subscriber processing circuit 300 serving this customer's line.
  • the POTS splitter/combiner in the NID 35 passes downstream signals in frequency ranges above the maximum telephone frequency used (e.g. above 4 kHz) over twisted wire pair, coaxial cable or the like to the TIM 101' within the terminal 100.
  • the TIM acquires the transport stream (payload) from the QAM signal received via the 6 MHz channel and supplies that stream to the digital processing section.
  • the structure and operation of the TIM 100' are described in more detail below with regard to Figure 10.
  • Figure 8 illustrates the functional elements of one of the terminals 100, 100' .
  • the terminal is a digital entertainment terminal, or 'DET.
  • the DET will include a transport interface module (TIM) 101 or 101' providing the appropriate physical connection.
  • TIM transport interface module
  • the TIM 101 Figure 9
  • the TIM 101' Figure 10
  • the NID 35 the NID 35.
  • the transport interface module (TIM) 101 or 101' will also perform the format conversion necessary between signal formats utilized by the network and signal formats used within the digital processing portion of the DET 100.
  • the TIM performs at least the necessary QAM demodulation, and in the single residence system R l t the TIM 101 also performs the RF channel tuning. If the programming is encrypted, the TIM also includes the necessary decryption circuitry.
  • the main portion of the DET 100 or 100' serves as the digital signal processor 37.
  • the transport interface module presents two connections to the rest of the DET, a high bit rate broadband connection
  • this two-way signaling interface also permits two-way signaling communication at least with the landline interface system 32 and preferably through the HFC CO 55 as well.
  • the TIM hands off the 27 Mbits/s baseband digital transport stream (payload only) captured from that RF channel to the main portion of the DET.
  • the main portion of the DET includes a CPU 105, comprising a 386, 486 or Pentium microprocessor 110 and associated system memory 120.
  • the system memory 120 includes volatile dynamic RAM 122 and non-volatile RAM 121.
  • the microprocessor 110 includes a small amount of ROM (not shown) storing "loader" programming needed to control wake-up.
  • An EPROM memory (not shown) also may be added.
  • a digital audio/video signal processor 125 controlled by the CPU 105, produces digital uncompressed audio and video signals from the audio and video MPEG encoded packets received from the network through the interface module 101 or 101' .
  • the audio/video processor 125 includes an MPEG system demultiplexer 127, an MPEG video decoder 129, an MPEG audio decoder 131, a graphics overlay controller 133 and at least two frames (e.g. 8 mbytes) of video RAM 134.
  • the MPEG system demultiplexer circuitry 127 recognizes packets in the MPEG data stream received over the broadband channel through the transport interface module (TIM) and routes the packets having predetermined PID values to the appropriate components of the DET. For example, under CPU control, the MPEG system demultiplexer 127 circuitry recognizes audio and video packets in the MPEG data stream as audio and video relating to a selected program and routes those packets to the decoders 129, 131, respectively. The MPEG system demultiplexer circuitry 127 route packets having specified PID values identified as user data packets to the CPU 105 for further processing. The MPEG system demultiplexer circuitry 127 recognizes program map packets (and program association packets if necessary) and supplies those packets to the CPU 105.
  • TIM transport interface module
  • the MPEG video decoder 129 decompresses received video packet signals to produce a digital video signal
  • the MPEG audio decoder 131 decompresses received audio packets to produce left and right digitized stereo signals.
  • the MPEG decoders 129, 131 may be controlled in response to signals from the microprocessor 110.
  • the MPEG video decoder 129 will internally include at least two frames (e.g. 8 mbytes) of RAM (not separately shown) for use as a frame reorder buffer during the MPEG video decoding process, and the MPEG audio decoder 131 also may include some buffer memory.
  • the video RAM 134 is not a specialized "video RAM” as that term is sometimes used in the television art.
  • the RAM 134 is actually a standard digital data RAM, of appropriate size, which is used in the DET to store digitized frames of video data.
  • the RAM within the MPEG video decoder 129 likewise consists of standard digital data RAM.
  • the graphics display generator produces displays of text and graphics data, such as information included as user data in the MPEG packet streams, in response to instructions from the CPU 105.
  • the video RAM 134 sequentially receives each frame of digitized, uncompressed video information, as output from the MPEG video decoder 129.
  • the video RAM 134 also receives digital information and read/write control signals from the graphics overlay controller 133 representing the several planes of text and graphics information and combines that information with the frames of decompressed video to produce composite video frames.
  • the graphics overlay controller 133 and the video RAM 134 actually cooperate to manipulate five different planes of video information, four of which can be active at any one time, to produce the composite video fame output signals.
  • the individual planes comprise the decoded MPEG video frames, a cursor, two graphics/text image planes manipulated by the microprocessor 110 and a backdrop plane.
  • the backdrop plane would be switched in to replace the plane representing the decoded MPEG video frames, e.g. to present a blue background instead of the MPEG video background.
  • the composite frames When there are no graphics or text, the composite frames would correspond entirely to the uncompressed received video frames output by the MPEG video decoder 129.
  • the information from the graphics overlay generator 133 would specify a background and the active planes of text or graphic information.
  • the composite video frames include the uncompressed received video frames with selected pixels thereof replaced with graphics or textual data display pixels specified by the graphics overlay controller 133. In this last situation, the graphics overlay controller would deactivate the backdrop plane.
  • the DET also includes audio and video digital to analog converters and appropriate drivers to produce output signals compatible with a conventional television set.
  • the converter and driver circuitry of the DET 100 includes audio digital to analog converters (DAC's) 135 L , 135 R , an audio mixer 136, an NTSC encoder 137, and an RF modulator 139.
  • DAC's audio digital to analog converters
  • the DAC's 135 L and 135 R receive the uncompressed left and right digitized audio signals output by the MPEG audio decoder 131. In response, the DAC's 135 L and 135 R produce baseband analog audio signals for output to individual baseband output terminals.
  • the audio mixer 136 also receives the baseband audio signals from the DAC's 135 L and 135 R . The mixer 136 combines the left and right analog audio signals to produce a monaural audio signal as the audio input to modulator 139.
  • the NTSC encoder 137 also performs a digital to analog converter (DAC) function. In response to the digitized video output signals from the video RAM 134, the NTSC encoder 137 produces a baseband analog video signal in standard NTSC format.
  • the baseband NTSC video signal is supplied to an output terminal of the DET 100.
  • the baseband NTSC video signal is also supplied to the RF modulator 139.
  • the RF modulator 139 responds to the mono audio signal, the NTSC video signal and an RF signal from a local RF oscillator 141, to produce a standard RF television signal on an available TV channel, typically channel 3 or channel 4.
  • the type of connection of the DET 100 or 100' to the television set depends on the capabilities of the user's television set.
  • the appropriate terminals of the television would connect directly to the video and audio output terminals of the DET. If the subscriber does not have such a television monitor, then the RF output of the modulator 139 would be connected to the cable or antenna input connection of the television, e.g. by coaxial cable. Alternatively, the digitized video and audio may go to separate output terminals (not shown) for connection to inputs of digital display devices, for example, for high definition television (HDTV) sets.
  • HDMI high definition television
  • Each DET also includes means to receive selection signals from a user.
  • the DET includes an infrared (IR) receiver 145.
  • the (IR) receiver 145 responds to inputs signals from a user operated IR remote control device (not shown) similar to that used today for controlling televisions and video cassette recorders.
  • the receiver 145 produces corresponding digital data output signals.
  • the microprocessor 110 interprets the digital data signals by the IR receiver 145 as input commands. The precise interpretation of specific command signals can vary based on applications programming and/or operating system software stored in the system memory 120.
  • the microprocessor 110 may control a cursor position and display received user data in the form of alphanumeric information displayed as graphics and text on the associated television set 99.
  • the microprocessor 110 will also respond to an appropriate input command from the user to select a broadcast program as discussed in more detail below.
  • Figure 9 depicts in block diagram form the structure of a TIM 101 for use in the direct wireless reception situation, such as presented by the single home reception system R 1 .
  • the structure illustrated is based in part on the current preference for the 64 QAM modulation techniques for the digital video signals in transmission system of the type shown in Figure 6.
  • the input to the TIM 101 is a broadband RF signal in the 50-450 MHz range provided from a coaxial cable from the down converter 39.
  • the tuner 201 selects a specific 6 MHz channel from the broadband input spectrum and presents it at an intermediate frequency to the digital communications receiver section 203.
  • the digital receiver 203 includes a low-pass filter, a demodulator (e.g. 64 QAM), a time domain adaptive digital equalizer, and forward error correction circuitry.
  • a clock circuit provides synchronization for the digital output of the demodulator, the adaptive digital equalizer, and the forward error correction circuitry.
  • the time domain adaptive digital equalizer receives the output of the QAM demodulator. Because of the overlapping transmissions from multiple transmitter sites and/or because of multi-path delays, i.e. reflections of signals transmitted from one or more broadcast sites, the output of the demodulator will not be a clean digital pulse stream. Instead, the signal will be a composite of time delayed copies of the transmitted digital information.
  • the time domain adaptive equalizer includes a multi-tap digital delay line. The outputs from the taps of the delay line may be weighted and summed, and the sum processed by a level detector or the like to recapture the original symbols (e.g. Is and 0s of a digital stream) .
  • the forward error correction circuit processes the recaptured symbols (e.g. Is and 0s) to determine if each is in the proper position in the stream.
  • a control interface provides appropriate control signals to the elements of the digital receiver 207 in response to instructions from the transport interface module (TIM) controller 210.
  • the digital receiver processes signals selected from one of the RF channels by operation of the tuner 210 to capture one of the digital transport streams (e.g. 27 Mbits/s payload assuming 64 QAM) .
  • the digital processor outputs the transport stream as a corrected serial baseband digital feed.
  • a decryption module 207 is optional. If included, this module controls access to digital broadcast services.
  • the decryption module 207 comprises a decryptor and an interface to a renewable security device 211.
  • the renewable security device 211 may be a card reader for accepting a TV Pass Card.
  • An access control processor within the decryption module 207 controls the operation of the decryptor.
  • the decryptor in module 207 decrypts payload data within packets of a selected program in the transport stream.
  • the composite MPEG transport multiplex with appropriately decrypted components for the selected program is output from the TIM 101 to the host DET's demultiplexer 127 and decompression circuitry as shown in detail in Figure 8.
  • the TIM controller 210 and/or the decryption module 207 receive instructions from the CPU 105 ( Figure 8) as to channel and program selections via the TIM/DET interface 209.
  • Figure 10 shows the structure of the TIM 101' used in a terminal 100 connected through telephone wiring 34 to the landline interface system 32 in Figure 7.
  • Most of the components in the TIM 101' are identical to those of the TIM 101 discussed above, and those elements are referenced by the same numerals as the corresponding elements used in Figure 9. There are two significant differences.
  • the TIM 101' does not include a tuner. Instead, the TIM 101' includes a combiner/splitter 202.
  • the combiner splitter is a diplex filter network for separating the downstream broadband channel (e.g. 300 kHz to 6.3 MHz) and downstream signaling channel (e.g. 170 kHz to 200 kHz) and supplying the signals from those channels to two different outputs.
  • the combiner/splitter 202 also receives upstream signaling messages in the upstream signaling channel range (e.g. 100 kHz to 130 kHz) and applies those messages over the cable to the NID
  • the TIM 101' includes a QPSK modulator 206 and a QPSK demodulator 208 to provide two-way signaling between the terminal 100 and the landline interface system 32.
  • this permits the terminal to send requests for selected RF channels upstream to the relevant subscriber processing circuitry 300.
  • the subscriber processing circuitry 300 can also send messages back to the terminal, e.g embedded operations channel type control information.
  • the two-way signalling capability provided by the QPSK modulator 206 the QPSK demodulator 208 permits two-way signaling communications through the landline interface system to the HFC CO 55, for interactive services offered through the broadband landline network.
  • the TIM controller 210 supplies upstream packet data messages to the QPSK modulator 206.
  • the modulator 206 QPSK modulates each packet into the up stream signaling channel, 100 kHz to 130 kHz in the channelization example shown in Figure 7D.
  • the QPSK modulator 206 in turn supplies the modulated messages at the upstream channel frequency to the combiner splitter 202.
  • the combiner splitter 206 sends the signaling channel frequency information upstream to the NID 35.
  • the POTS splitter/combiner in the NID 35 frequency multiplexes the upstream signaling channel together with the upstream POTS information and applies the resultant upstream multiplex to the telephone loop 34 for transport over the loop to the subscriber processing circuitry 300.
  • the splitter/combiner 315 frequency multiplexes downstream signaling frequency channel signals together with POTS frequency signals and broadband channel frequency signals and transmits the resultant multiplex of signals over the subscriber's loop 34.
  • the splitter/combiner in the NID 35 splits off the downstream POTS information and supplies that information as standard telephone signals to one or more telephones 41.
  • the splitter/combiner in the NID 35 supplies the downstream signaling channel (e.g. 170 kHz to 200 kHz) and the 6 MHz wide frequency channel (e.g. 300 kHz to 6.3 MHz) from the loop 34 to the transport interface module (TIM) 101' .
  • the combiner/splitter 202 frequency demultiplexes the downstream signals and supplies the 6 MHz wide frequency channel to the digital receiver.
  • the combiner/splitter 202 preferably includes an upconverter to convert the channel up to an intermediate frequency to facilitate use of a digital receiver 203 including an intermediate frequency type demodulator similar to that used in the TIM 101 discussed above.
  • the combiner/splitter 202 supplies the downstream signaling frequency channel to the QPSK demodulator 208.
  • the QPSK demodulator 208 demodulates the downstream signaling channel and supplies packet data messages from that channel to the TIM controller 210.
  • the TIM controller 210 processes the messages.
  • the TIM controller 210 acts on some messages internally, e.g. messages relating to embedded operations channel control type information and/or decyption keys downloaded through the subscriber loop 34.
  • Other downstream messages are addressed to the main portion of the DET, and the TIM controller 210 passes any such messages through the TIM/DET interface 209 to the microprocessor 110 in the main portion of the DET.
  • the system memory 120 of the main portion of the DET 100' will store a channel map for the digital broadcast programs available through the system.
  • this map will contain data relating to the wireless broadcasts only.
  • the map includes information defining a logical network channel number for the program.
  • the logical channel number is the channel the DET will display on a front panel display (not shown) or on the screen of the associated television set 99 and is the number that the user inputs via the remote control to select the program.
  • the map also includes RF channel information needed to tune to the RF channel carrying the program and the program number (PN) uniquely identifying the program within the multiplexed digital transport stream.
  • PN program number
  • the microprocessor 110 in the main portion of the DET 100' accesses the listing for that channel in the channel map stored in the system memory 120.
  • the microprocessor 110 supplies a message containing the RF channel number and the program number (PN) to the TIM controller 210 via interface 209.
  • the TIM controller 210 activates the tuner 201 to tune to the identified channel (See Figure 9) .
  • the program is encrypted, the TIM uses the program number, the program association table in the packet identified by PID 0 and the program map to identify the packets carrying audio, video and data (if any) for the program.
  • the decryption module 207 uses a decryption key from its memory or from the renewable security device 211 to descramble the information in the payloads of the packets of the selected program.
  • the TIM 216 passes digital payload signals from the RF channel through the broadband digital interface to the MPEG system demultiplexer 129 in the main portion of the DET 100' . In this output stream, at least the information for the selected program is now in unencrypted form.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 supplies information from the PID 0 packet, i.e. the program association table to the CPU 105.
  • the microprocessor 110 uses the program number (PN) from the channel map stored in system memory 120 to identify the PID value for the correct program map from the program association table.
  • the CPU 105 supplies that PID value to the MPEG demultiplexer 127.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 receives a packet containing that PID, it supplies information from the packet identified by the PID (the program map) to the CPU.
  • the CPU identifies the PID values for the video and audio for the program and instructs the demultiplexer 127 to supply those packets to the respective MPEG decoders 129, 131 to begin MPEG decoding of the selected program for presentation to the user via the associated television set 99.
  • the system memory 120 of the main portion of each DET 100 will store a channel map for the digital broadcast programs available through the shared receiving system R s .
  • this map will contain data relating to the wireless broadcasts as well as data relating to at least some of the broadcasts through the broadband landline network, e.g. from the HFC CO 55.
  • the map includes information defining a logical network channel number for the program. Again, the logical channel number is the channel the DET 100 will display on a front panel display (not shown) or on the screen of the associated television set 99 and is the number that the user inputs via the remote control to select the program.
  • the map also includes an indication (A or B) of which type of reception (wireless or HFC) and some form of RF channel identification for the RF channel carrying the program.
  • the map also includes the program number (PN) uniquely identifying the program within the relevant multiplexed digital transport stream.
  • the microprocessor 110 in the main portion of the DET 100 accesses the listing for that channel in the channel map stored in the system memory 120.
  • the microprocessor 110 supplies a message containing the type of reception (A or B) , the RF channel number and the program number (PN) to the TIM controller 210 via interface 209.
  • the TIM controller 210 In response to the type of reception (A or B) and the RF channel number, the TIM controller 210 formulates an RF channel request message as packetized data. The controller 210 supplies that data to the QPSK modulator 206 for upstream transmission through the combiner splitter 206, the NID 35 and the upstream signaling channel on the telephone loop 34.
  • the splitter combiner 315 routes all modulated signals in the upstream signaling channel to the QPSK demodulator 317.
  • the QPSK demodulator 317 recovers the packetized data message and supplies that message to the packet data processor 321.
  • the packet data processor 321 recognizes the type of reception (A or B) and the RF channel number from the message and provides an appropriate instruction to the tuner and switch 311.
  • the tuner and switch 311 selects the appropriate combined signal stream for further processing. For example, if the subscriber has selected a channel from the shared wireless signal processing circuit 33, the tuner 311 selects the combined signal on internal RF distribution network 303 and from that signal selectively tunes the identified RF channel. Alternatively, if the subscriber has selected a channel from the HFC CO, the tuner 311 selects the combined signal on internal RF distribution network 301 and from that signal selectively tunes the identified RF channel. The tuner and switch 311 outputs the selected RF channel at intermediate frequency (IF) .
  • IF intermediate frequency
  • the converter 313 converts the 6 MHz wide IF channel to the appropriate channel for transport to the subscriber's terminal 100 over the subscriber's loop 34, i.e. in QAM channel 1 or 2 as shown in Figure 7D. Assuming that the particular installation supports only a single QAM channel on the loop 34, converter 313 converts the 6 MHz wide IF channel to the frequency range of the 6 MHz wide QAM transport channel on the loop, for example between 300 kHz and 6.3 MHz. The converter 313 supplies the 6 MHz wide channel to the splitter/combiner 315 which frequency multiplexes that channel together with whatever other information is currently passing downstream and transmits the resultant multiplex of signals over the subscriber's loop 34.
  • the POTS splitter/combiner in the NID 35 supplies the 6 MHz wide frequency channel from the loop 34 to the transport interface module (TIM) 101' .
  • the combiner/splitter 202 frequency demultiplexes the downstream signals and supplies the 6 MHz wide QAM transport channel to the digital receiver.
  • the combiner/splitter 202 preferably includes an upconverter to convert the QAM transport channel up to intermediate frequency to facilitate use of an intermediate frequency demodulator similar to that used in the TIM 101 discussed above.
  • the digital receiver 203 includes a low-pass filter, a demodulator (e.g. 64 QAM) , a time domain adaptive digital equalizer, and forward error correction circuitry.
  • the digital receiver 203 performs the QAM demodulation, delay equalization and forward error correction of the received channel signal, in exactly the same manner as in the TIM 101 in Figure 9, to recover the 27 Mbits/s (payload only) transport stream from the received channel.
  • the TIM 101' uses the program number, the program association table in the packet identified by PID 0 and the program map to identify the packets carrying audio, video and data (if any) for the program. If authorized to receive the program as indicated via the renewable security device 211, the decryption module 207 uses a decryption key from its memory or from the renewable security device 211 to descramble the information in the payloads of the packets of the selected program. As a result, the TIM 101' passes digital payload signals from the selected RF channel through the interface to the MPEG system demultiplexer 129 in the main portion of the DET 100. In the output stream, at least the information for the selected program is now in unencrypted form.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 supplies information from the PID 0 packet, i.e. the program association table to the CPU 105.
  • the microprocessor 110 uses the program number (PN) from the channel map stored in system memory 120 to identify the PID value for the correct program map from the program association table.
  • the CPU 105 supplies that PID value to the MPEG demultiplexer 127.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 receives a packet containing that PID, it supplies information from the packet identified by the PID (the program map) to the CPU.
  • the CPU identifies the PID values for the video and audio for the program and instructs the demultiplexer 127 to supply those packets to the respective MPEG decoders 129, 131 to begin MPEG decoding of the selected program for presentation to the user via the associated television set 99.
  • the CPU 105 in the main portion of the DET first determines if that program is one of the other programs contained within the transport stream currently being received. If the new program is not within that transport stream, the DET repeats the above procedure including a request for the relevant RF channel through the landline interface system 32. However, if the program is contained in the currently received transport stream, then the CPU 105 instructs the TIM 101' to decrypt the newly selected program if necessary.
  • the microprocessor 110 uses the program number (PN) from the stored program map and the information from the MPEG program association table and program map to identify the PID values for the video and audio for the newly selected program in a manner similar to that discussed above with regard to the first channel selection.
  • the microprocessor 110 instructs the demultiplexer 127 to supply the packets identified by the relevant PID values to the respective MPEG decoders 129, 131 to begin MPEG decoding of the newly selected program for presentation to the user via the associated television set 99.
  • the signal data processor 331 and the two-way connection through the combiner splitter 305 also permit two-way communication through the broadband network via HFC CO 55.
  • the packet processor 321 serving the particular subscriber loop 34 will recognize that certain packets are intended for upstream transmission through the HFC network and will supply those packets to the signal data processor 331.
  • the signal data processor 331 combines packets from all of the subscriber processing circuits 300 and modulates those packets in an appropriate manner for upstream transport through the HFC network in a manner similar to the upstream transport described in detail in the above incorporated commonly assigned full service application Serial No. 08/ , , filed March 28, 1995 (attorney docket no. 680-122) .
  • the signal data processor 321 also supplies downstream signaling messages from the HFC network to the appropriate packet processor 321 for transmission through the local loop 34 to the respective subscriber's terminal. This two-way signaling communication permits access to a wide array of interactive services.
  • a program capacity (available bit rate) in one of the transport streams in one of the RF channels is dynamically allocated to one of the terminal devices for the duration of a requested interactive session.
  • the signal data processor 331 would identify the RF channel and the program number (PN) allocated to the session on the HFC network, e.g. through an interaction with control elements of that network.
  • the packet processor 321 would utilize the RF channel information to control tuner 311.
  • the tuner 311 would process the channel and supply the 6 MHz wide channel information through the converter 313, the splitter/combiner 315, the QAM channel on the loop 34 and the NID 35 to the terminal 100, in exactly the same manner as for a broadcast RF channel from the HFC network and the internal distribution network 301 discussed above.
  • Elements of the HFC network may download the necessary decryption key, if any, to the TIM 101' via the downstream signaling communication. Otherwise, the TIM 101' processes the QAM channel in exactly the manner described above to supply the 27 Mbits/s (payload only) transport stream through the interface to the MPEG system demultiplexer 129 in the main portion of the DET 100.
  • the packet data processor 321 formulates a packet message containing at least the program number (PN) and supplies that message to the QPSK modulator 319.
  • the QPSK modulator 319 modulates the data into the downstream signaling channel and supplies the modulated channel signal to the splitter combiner 315.
  • the splitter combiner 315 frequency multiplexes the modulated downstream signaling channel information together with all other downstream signals and transmits the resultant multiplex over the subscriber's telephone loop 34.
  • the NID 35 supplies the downstream signaling frequency channel together with the 6 MHz wide frequency channel from the loop 34 to the transport interface module (TIM) 101' .
  • the combiner/splitter 202 frequency demultiplexes the downstream signals and supplies the downstream signaling frequency channel to the QPSK demodulator 208.
  • the QPSK demodulator 208 demodulates that channel and supplies the packet data message containing the program number (PN) to the TIM controller 210.
  • the TIM controller 210 processes the message and supplies that message through the TIM/DET interface 209 to the microprocessor 110 in the main portion of the DET.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 supplies information from the PID 0 packet, i.e.
  • the microprocessor 110 uses the program number (PN) from the message received as downstream signaling data through the network to identify the PID value for the correct program map for the allocated program capacity from the program association table.
  • the CPU 105 supplies that PID value to the MPEG demultiplexer 127.
  • the MPEG demultiplexer 127 receives a packet containing that PID, it supplies information from the packet identified by the PID (the program map) to the CPU 105.
  • the CPU identifies the PID values for the video and audio for the allocated program capacity and instructs the demultiplexer 127 to supply those packets to the respective MPEG decoders 129, 131 to begin MPEG decoding of the downstream transmissions relating to the interactive session for presentation to the user via the associated television set 99.
  • the above discussion has concentrated on the preferred embodiment which broadcasts video programming. It should be noted, however, that the system may transport other types of programming, such as audio, data and/or telemetry. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Abstract

Dans une zone de desserte désirée, plusieurs émetteurs (TX) sur différents sites diffusent simultanément le même signal multivoie et multiprogramme. Les ondes diffusées en provenance des émetteurs se propagent dans des parties à chevauchement important de la zone de desserte. Sur la plupart des sites de réception, l'antenne de réception peut recevoir une transmission nette en visibilité directe d'au moins un émetteur et souvent d'au moins deux émetteurs. Chaque voie de diffusion transporte un flux multiplexé de données numériques contenant des paquets d'informations pour plusieurs émissions, notamment des émissions de télévision. Un système à antenne partagée, généralement constitué de plusieurs antennes de réception (31) pointées vers plusieurs émetteurs (TX), transmet les signaux reçus aux terminaux (100) de plusieurs unités résidentielles (75) en empruntant le câblage téléphonique de ces unités. Le système partagé comprend aussi une interface (32) avec un réseau terrestre à large bande qui transporte les voies de radiodiffusion avec des courants porteurs multiplexés, formatés pour l'essentiel sur le même modèle que les informations diffusées sans fil. Le système partagé peut fournir sélectivement, à partir du réseau terrestre, des flux de données de diffusion en fréquence radioélectrique, en passant par le câblage téléphonique des unités résidentielles, selon le même principe que les transmissions sans fil.
PCT/US1996/003675 1995-03-16 1996-03-18 Systemes recepteurs partages utilisant le cablage telephonique comme derivation video WO1996028902A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU53654/96A AU5365496A (en) 1995-03-16 1996-03-18 Shared receiving systems utilizing telephone cables as video drops

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/405,558 1995-03-16
US08/405,558 US5651010A (en) 1995-03-16 1995-03-16 Simultaneous overlapping broadcasting of digital programs
US08/441,977 1995-05-16
US08/441,977 US5610916A (en) 1995-03-16 1995-05-16 Shared receiving systems utilizing telephone cables as video drops

Publications (1)

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WO1996028902A1 true WO1996028902A1 (fr) 1996-09-19

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WO1998054901A1 (fr) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-03 Cais, Inc. Systeme de communication a paires torsadees
FR2774236A1 (fr) * 1998-01-29 1999-07-30 Sagem Terminal de boucle locale de radiotelephonie, a fonctions additionnelles
WO1999062258A1 (fr) * 1998-05-25 1999-12-02 Itel S.P.A. Systeme de distribution d'un signal a large bande pour des batiments
US6192399B1 (en) 1997-07-11 2001-02-20 Inline Connections Corporation Twisted pair communication system
US9078018B2 (en) 1998-08-03 2015-07-07 Northvu Inc. Audio/video and data signal redistribution system

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US4630108A (en) * 1984-03-26 1986-12-16 A. C. Nielsen Company Preprogrammed over-the-air marketing research system
US5410343A (en) * 1991-09-27 1995-04-25 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Video-on-demand services using public switched telephone network

Patent Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4630108A (en) * 1984-03-26 1986-12-16 A. C. Nielsen Company Preprogrammed over-the-air marketing research system
US5410343A (en) * 1991-09-27 1995-04-25 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Video-on-demand services using public switched telephone network

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998054901A1 (fr) * 1997-05-30 1998-12-03 Cais, Inc. Systeme de communication a paires torsadees
US6192399B1 (en) 1997-07-11 2001-02-20 Inline Connections Corporation Twisted pair communication system
US7110511B2 (en) 1997-07-11 2006-09-19 Inline Connection Corporation Twisted pair communication system
FR2774236A1 (fr) * 1998-01-29 1999-07-30 Sagem Terminal de boucle locale de radiotelephonie, a fonctions additionnelles
WO1999062258A1 (fr) * 1998-05-25 1999-12-02 Itel S.P.A. Systeme de distribution d'un signal a large bande pour des batiments
US9078018B2 (en) 1998-08-03 2015-07-07 Northvu Inc. Audio/video and data signal redistribution system

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