The Directv Group, Inc.

Gilbert Zaldivar

Mark T Takamoto

Trang V Luu

Jonathan L Tronson

Joseph T Hayes

Dien Nguyen

Jason Y Shimizu

Raynold M Kahn

Robert G Arsenault

John Lee

Romulo Cruz Pontual

Xavier Riley

Eduardo Barroso

Michael R Munsell

Lonnie Scott Clabaugh

James D Allen

Richard F Purpura

Jianming Yu

Charles C Debergh

Subbaraya Kumar Deverakonda Venkata

Jorge P Del Moral

Paul P Woo

A system and method for a system for communicating with a user device includes a broadcast management system generating content channel data signals. The system also includes a software download manager in communication with the broadcast management system. The software download manager generates an announcement file and a download resolution file. The download manager communicates the announcement file. The user device has user device identifier data and receives the download resolution file in response to the announcement file and stores the software image in the user device in response to the download resolution file.

Method and apparatus for managing software downloads in a broadcast communication system

A method and system for operating different broadcast system components with different portions of a database includes a method of configuring a broadcast system comprising generating an allocation chart for a broadcast system, communicating a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component, operating the first broadcast system component with the first portion of the allocation chart, communicating a second portion of the allocation chart to a second broadcast system component, said first portion different than the second portion, and operating the second broadcast system component with the second portion of the allocation chart. In a further aspect of the disclosure, a broadcast system includes a first broadcast system component, a second broadcast system component and a broadcast operation channel management system generating an allocation chart for the broadcast system. The broadcast operation management channel communicates a first portion of the allocation chart to a first broadcast system component. The first broadcast system component operates with the first portion of the allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates a second portion of the allocation chart to the second broadcast system component. The first portion is different than the second portion. The second broadcast system component operates with the second portion of the allocation chart.

Method and system for operating broadcast system components with different portions of an allocation database

A broadcast system and method of changing allocations therein include a plurality of broadcast system components and a broadcast operation channel management system having a database. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a first allocation chart for the broadcast system with a first effective time and communicates at least a portion of the first allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components determines a local time and when the local time is equal to or greater than the effective time, operates with the first allocation chart. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a second allocation chart for the broadcast system with a second effective time. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates at least a portion of the second allocation chart to the plurality of broadcast system components. The plurality of broadcast system components operates with the second allocation chart when the local time is equal to or greater than the second effective time.

Method and system for changing allocation charts in a satellite broadcasting system

Methods and apparatuses for selectively displaying a video program are disclosed. A system for selectively displaying a video program in accordance with the present invention comprises a transmission station, including a server for attaching information to the video program, a plurality of satellites receiving at least an uplink signal which includes the information and the video program from the transmission station and producing a downlink signal based on the uplink signal, an antenna, the antenna receiving the downlink signal, and at least one receiver, coupled to the antenna, for receiving the downlink signal and interpreting the information in the downlink signal, wherein the at least one receiver selectively displays the video program based on at least the interpreted information.

Infrastructure for interactive television applications

A broadcast system and method for allocating its resources includes a broadcast operation channel management system forming a database having broadcast system data from a bit rate allocation for a transponder of a satellite and a guide channel definition. The broadcast operation channel management system generates a user interface that displays a least a portion of the broadcast system data on a display. The broadcast system data is modified through the user interface.

Asset allocation system and method for allocating satellite resources in a satellite broadcast communication system

A method of swapping channels in a broadcast system includes a broadcast operation channel management system receiving broadcast operation channel swap data for a first station and a second station. The channel swap data comprises an effective date, a first station identifier and a first position and a second station identifier and a second position. A traffic scheduling system database communicates a first channel mapping data for a first channel to the broadcast operation channel management system. The traffic scheduling system database communicates a second channel mapping for a second channel to the broadcast operation channel management system. The broadcast operation channel updates the first channel mapping to form a first updated first channel mapping by setting a first end date of the first channel mapping to the effective date for the first station and communicating the first updated first channel mapping to the traffic scheduling database. The broadcast operation channel updating the second channel mapping to form a first updated second channel mapping by setting a second end date of the second channel mapping to the effective date for the first station and communicating the first updated second channel mapping to the traffic scheduling database. The broadcast operation channel forms a first new channel mapping for the first station with the effective date as the first start date and forms a second new channel mapping for the second station with the effective date as the second start date.

Method for swapping channel assignments in a broadcast system

A method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system includes a broadcast operations channel management system providing a user alert user interface and determining guide channels eligible for an emergency alert. The broadcast operations channel management system sends a trigger to the traffic scheduling system and initiates an emergency alert event in response to the trigger.

Method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system

A broadcast system includes a program guide system, a traffic and scheduling system having a traffic and scheduling database having a program schedule therein. The system also includes a broadcast operation channel management system initiating a channel mapping change or channel definition change using the program schedule and communicating a change notification to a traffic scheduling system from the broadcast operation channel management system, extracting channel data from the channel mapping or channel definition change. The broadcast operation channel management system communicates the channel data to a program guide system.

Method and system for communicating changes in a broadcast system to other broadcast components

A method and system for configuring broadcast components includes a broadcast operation channel management system (BMS) forming a bit rate allocation chart and a compression control system storing a stream map having a channel lineup. The BMS retrieves the channel line up from the compression control system and modifying the channel lineup to form a modified channel line up. The BMS communicates the modified channel lineup to the compression control system.

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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, United States of America

Gilbert Zaldivar