Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Bell Atlantic Corporation

Bruce W Kostreski

Kamran Sistanizadeh

Allan Schneider

Henry G Hudson, Jr

W Tim Cambell

W Tim Campbell

Eric Albin Voit

Lance S Liptak

Daniel O'Callaghan

Eugene L Lew

Kenneth DePaul

Brian D Oliver

Nick Davis

To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data network is combined with a broadband digital broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via an RF packet data modem included in the terminal and the public wireless packet data network. In addition to the signaling for interactive services, the packet data network provides transport for data communications between other data devices.

Simulcasting digital video programs for broadcast and interactive

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate substantially throughout the service area and overlap in a substantial portion of the area. The signals are broadcast as spread spectrum signals and the receivers include despreaders with rake capabilities to obtain enhanced output signals with multi-path reception. In the preferred implementation, the channels are 6 MHz wide channels broadcast in the super high frequency microwave portion of the spectrum. Each such channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g., television programs.

Television distribution system and method

An arrangement (apparatus and method) for obtaining a single copy of a received signal from a simulcast broadcast area. Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Each such channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs. A receiver system comprises an antenna adapted to receive direct transmissions from two or more of the transmitters as well as multipath signals from two or more of the transmitters. To compensate for the potentially interfering signal receptions, the terminal device includes a delay processor, such as an adaptive delay equalizer or a rake receiver. The maximum delay processing window of the delay processor is at least as long as the difference in propagation time to the receiver from two of the transmitters and preferably exceeds that time by some amount chosen to permit processing of multipath delay signals from the more distant transmitter.

Terminal for receiving simulcast digital video programs

A control node, such as a services control point, of an intelligent telephone network interfaces to a wireless broadband network for signaling communications with broadband terminals. In normal operation, the terminals present video or other broadband information carried on the wireless network, typically via an associated television set. During processing of a telephone call, a central office switching system of the telephone network will recognize a predetermined event in call processing which triggers a query to the control node. Ultimately, the control node will return an instruction to the switching system to continue call processing. However, as part of its own processing, the control node sends a message through the broadband network to the broadband terminal of the subscriber to which the telephone call relates. If operational, the terminal may display call related information contained in the message, e.g. Caller ID information for an incoming call. The display may also prompt the user to input information. If so, the set-top terminal will transmit the subscriber input information upstream through the wireless broadband network to the control node. In such a case, the control node formulates its instruction to the central office switching system to control further processing of the telephone call, at least in part, based on the subscriber input information. The call processing of the present invention applies to both incoming and outgoing calls.

AIN interaction through wireless digital video network

Dynamic programming of a digital entertainment terminal (DET) facilitates operation of the terminal to offer a variety of functionally different broadband services. The terminal includes a network interface module which couples the terminal to a specific type of communication network for receiving a digital broadband channel. The DET downloads on a narrowband signaling channel a VIP program map that identifies the available video information service providers (VIPs) on the basis of the location of their corresponding software control signals. The software control signals are transmitted cyclically to enable access by a random DET at any time. A program memory captures the VIP program map and at least a portion of the software control signals received over the digital broadband channel as software executable by the control processor during turn-on of the DET. When a user presses a GUIDE button on a remote control service, the DET displays the available information service providers in accordance with the VIP program map, thereby enabling the user to conveniently access the broadband services offered by the selected information service provider.

Digital entertainment terminal with channel mapping

A cellular system for distributing a plurality of television programs in a desired service area. A plurality of groups of spaced transmitting antennas are disposed substantially on the peripheries of adjacent cells disposed in the service area. The antennas are directional and directed to propagate substantially simulcast signals into the cell with which the antenna is associated so that the propagation patterns of the transmitting antennas associated with the cell overlaps over substantially a major portion of the area enclosed within the cell. Antennas disposed substantially on the peripheries of adjacent cells propagate directional signals into each of the adjacent cells. In a broadcast version the frequencies of the signals transmitted by all of the antennas are the same. In a dedicated service version the frequencies of the signals transmitted into adjacent cells are different. In the broadcast version an omni-directional antenna may be utilized in a centrally located disposition in the overall service area. The signals are broadcast as spread spectrum signals and the receivers include despreaders with Rake capabilities. Provision may be made for increasing the transmitted power of selected antennas to counteract adverse atmospheric conditions such as rain. The system may be used to provide video-on-demand and other interactive video services.

Television distribution system and method using transmitting antennas on

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Each broadcast channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs. A shared antenna system, typically including multiple receiving antennae aimed at a plurality of the transmitters, supplies received signals to terminals in a plurality of living units. The shared system includes delayed signal processing circuitry to supply an optimal signal from the receiving antennae to the terminals. The delayed signal processing circuitry has a processing time window of a predetermined value at least as large as the difference in arrival time of signals propagating to the shared system from the nearest and farthest transmitters from which the shared system receives direct transmissions.

Simulcast transmission of digital programs to shared antenna receiving

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Obstructions in the service area, e.g. mountains, buildings, trees, etc., may block reception from one or more of the transmitters at certain sites. However, at most receiving sites, the receiving antenna can receive a clear line-of-sight transmission from at least one of the transmitters. In the preferred implementation, the channels are 6 MHz wide channels broadcast in the super high frequency microwave portion of the spectrum. Each such channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs.

Simultaneous overlapping broadcasting of digital programs

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Obstructions in the service area, e.g. mountains, buildings, trees, etc., may block reception from one or more of the transmitters at certain sites. However, at most receiving sites, the receiving antenna can receive a clear line-of-sight transmission from at least one and often two or more of the transmitters. Each broadcast channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs. A shared antenna system, typically including multiple receiving antennae aimed at a plurality of the transmitters, supplies received signals to terminals in a plurality of living units. The shared system includes processing circuitry to supply an optimal signal from the receiving antennae to the terminals.

Dynamic programming of a digital entertainment terminal (DET) facilitates operation of the terminal to offer a variety of functionally different broadband services. The terminal can be reprogrammed, as-needed, for each different service offered by one or more information service providers. The terminal includes a network interface module which couples the terminal to a specific type of communication network for receiving a digital broadband channel and providing two-way control signaling communication between the terminal and the network. The terminal also includes a control processor with a program memory. The control processor receives user inputs and controls operations of the terminal and sending and receiving of control signals over the two-way control signaling channel. The program memory stores data received over the digital broadband channel as software executable by the control processor. The audio/video processor converts compressed, digital information received over the broadband channel into signals for driving an audio/video display device, such as a standard television set. The control processor executes the software received and stored in the memory to control subsequent operations of the terminal, including at least some operations of the audio/video processor and at least some responses to user inputs.

Dynamically programmable digital entertainment terminal using downloaded

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. At most receiving sites, the receiving antenna can receive a clear line-of-sight transmission from at least one and often two or more of the transmitters. Each broadcast channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs. A shared antenna system, typically including multiple receiving antennae aimed at a plurality of the transmitters, supplies received signals to terminals in a plurality of living units. The shared receiving system distributes selected channels of digitized data to terminals in different living units via the telephone wiring for those units. The shared system also provides an interface to a broadband landline network carrying broadcast channels with multiplexed transport streams formatted in essentially the same manner as the wireless broadcast information. The shared system can selectively supply RF broadcast streams from the landline network over the telephone wiring to the living units, in the same manner as for the wireless transmissions.

Shared receiving systems utilizing telephone cables as video drops

The program transport capacity of an RF broadcast channel is upgraded by replacing analog services with digitally multiplexed services. RF channels can be obtained from one or more parties, e.g. parties holding MDS, MMDS and ITFS licenses for microwave video channels in the high end of the UHF frequency range. Once rights to use the channel have been acquired, a digital multiplexing system is deployed for broadcasting a digital transport stream over each available RF broadcast channel. For license holders who offered an analog service over one channel, the digital transport stream for one channel will include compressed digital data representing information from that program service. The provider therefore can use this transport capacity to continue to offer the existing service. The broadcast transport stream for that channel also includes compressed digital data representing one or more new program services. In operation, users of the existing service will obtain a digital receiver; and through that receiver, they will continue to receive the existing service, essentially as an equivalent to the service offered through the analog broadcast on the channel. These users may also receive one or more of the new program services. The new services transported on the digital broadcast system and possibly the existing service may now be offered to new users.

Method of upgrading the program transport capacity of an RF broadcast

Within a desired service area, multiple transmitters at separately located sites broadcast the same multi-channel, multi-program digital video signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Obstructions in the service area, e.g. mountains, buildings, trees, etc., may block reception from one or more of the transmitters at certain receiving sites. However, at most receiving sites, the receiving antenna can receive a clear line-of-sight transmission from one of the transmitters via a directional antenna having a narrow field of view. Some receiving antennae will receive direct transmissions from at least to of the transmitters. To compensate for differences in propagation time to such receiving antennae, time delays of predetermined amounts are imposed between broadcasts by two or more of the respective transmitters. In the preferred implementation, the channels are 6 MHz wide channels broadcast in the super high frequency microwave portion of the spectrum. Each such channel carries a multiplexed digital data stream containing packets of information for a plurality of programs, e.g. television programs.

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Wheaton, MD, United States of America

Bruce W Kostreski