Qwest Communications International Inc.

Oracle International Corporation

Kurt A Campbell

Bruce A Phillips

Steven M Casey

Donald L Brodigan

Charles Ivan Cook

James W Nevelle

Darwei Kung

Joseph P Huggins

Todd A Pett

Gnanasegeran Selvadurai

Richard H Fink

Qi Wang

David J Arens

Paula C Poberzyn

Clinton L Cave

John M Czak

Methods and systems provide a selected video segment to customer premises equipment. A request is received from the customer premises equipment for transmission of the selected video segment. A copy of the selected video segment is transferred to one of a plurality of buffers. One of the plurality of buffers is mapped through a routing network to a port interfaced with the customer premises equipment. The selected video segment is transmitted from the one of the plurality of buffers through the routing network and port to the customer premises equipment.

Methods and systems for providing video on demand

Tools are provided for supporting content syndication to a set top box. The set top box requests a syndicated feed at regularly scheduled times, and receives the syndicated feed through an Internet Protocol ('IP') network. Hence, a syndicated feed is distributed to the set top box that subscribes to the syndicated feed. Additionally, the set top box converts the syndicated feed for use by the set top box, and causes at least one image based at least in part on the syndicated feed to be displayed on a display device for a user.

Content syndication to set top box through IP network

An isolation device isolates a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media. A first interface communicates with the external transport medium and a second interface communicates with the internal transport medium. An addressable set-top box external to the customer premises receives encoded telecommunication information from the external transport medium and generates television signals from the encoded telecommunication information for transmission over the internal transport medium.

Systems and methods for providing television signals using a network interface device

Embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices and systems and methods for using them. For instance, a system in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention comprises a network interface device adapted to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information (telecommunication can include, inter alia, voice signals, Internet Protocol data, audio signals, data representing encoded audio signals, video signals and data representing encoded video signals) and distribute at least one of the plurality to a customer premises. The system can further include a control point operable to transmit configuration information to the network interface device. The configuration information can be operable to configure the behavior of the network interface device with respect to one or more of the information sets.

Configurable network interface device and systems and methods for its use

An XDSL signal distribution system is provided having a regenerator unit located a predetermined distance from a central office XTU unit for extending the distribution reach of the system. The regenerator is arranged to decode the payload of transmitted XDSL signals into base digital data before repackaging and regeneration onto a twisted pair copper cable. This allows the regenerator to selectively reformat the XDSL signals into a desired protocol format suitable for either an ATM protocol layer, or direct transmission. In addition, the regenerator can retransmit the XDSL signals at a fixed or variable transmission rate to optimize data through-put or system reach.

System and method for increasing distribution distance of XDSL type signals

A system for receiving network video includes a remote control with a power control input. A video receiver, controlled by the remote control, powers up or powers down based on a control signal indicating activation of the power control input. The video receiver receives video signals from a gateway or gateway source connected to the video network. The gateway decodes signals received from the network into a format acceptable by the receiver. If the gateway receives a control signal from the remote control indicating activation of the power control input and the gateway is currently in the 'on' state, the gateway toggles to the 'off' state and outputs a predefined channel to the receiver.

Gateway power synchronization

A network interface device has an isolation device adapted to isolate a transport medium internal to a customer premises from a transport medium external to the customer premises such that operational changes to one of the internal and external transport media do not affect the other of the internal and external transport media. A first interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the external transport medium, which is in communication with a distribution point. A second interface is coupled with the isolation device and adapted to communicate with the internal transport medium. A microserver is disposed external to the customer premises and coupled with the first and second interfaces. The microserver is adapted to receive telecommunication information from the external transport medium and includes software for implementing a predetermined function over the internal transport medium by processing the received telecommunication information.

Systems and methods for integrating microservers with a network interface device

Embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as system and methods for using them. For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for allowing a plurality of telecommunication information providers to transmit telecommunication information to a customer premises. The system can include a network interface device operable to receive a plurality of sets of telecommunication information. Each of the information sets can be associated with a particular telecommunication service and/or all of the information sets can be associated with the same telecommunication service.

Systems, methods and apparatus for providing a plurality of telecommunication services

A network interface system is provided with an addressable application device and a processor. The addressable application device is adapted to interface with a transport medium internal to a customer premises. The processor is adapted to selectively process telecommunication information originating from a transport medium external to the customer premises. The processor is further adapted to transmit the processed telecommunication information to the addressable application device for implementation of an application over the transport medium internal to the customer premises in accordance with a state of the addressable application device. The addressable application device and the processor are disposed external to the customer premises.

Systems and methods for providing application services

T Systems and methods for providing picture-in-picture, or other multi-picture displays. Some of the systems include two or more video and/or data signals that are coupled to a transmission device. In addition, a selector signal is coupled to the transmission device. The transmission device also includes a video output that, based at least in part on the selector signal, provides a derivative of one of the video and/or data signals at a first compression and bandwidth, and the other video and/or data signal at a second compression and bandwidth. Various of the methods include utilize the systems to transmit two or more video outputs based at least in part on a selector signal.

Systems and methods for delivering picture-in-picture signals at diverse compressions and bandwidths

Certain embodiments of the invention provide network interface devices, as well as systems and methods for using them. For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, a network interface device can comprise an isolation device, which can be configured to isolate an internal transport medium from an external transport medium, such that operational changes to the internal transport medium do not affect the external transport medium, and operational changes to the external transport medium do not affect the internal transport medium.

Packet network interface device and systems and methods for its use

Data signals from a telecommunication network are routed to a gateway which generates analog signal distributed to receivers within a customer premises. A network interface device receives digital signals from the telecommunication network. A first diplexer has a digital signal port connected to the network interface device. The first diplexer combined signal port is connected with the combined signal port of a second diplexer. The gateway receives digital signals from the second diplexer digital signal port and provides analog signals to the second diplexer analog signal port. Analog signals are then available to receivers at both the first diplexer analog signal port and the second diplexer analog signal port.

Signal distribution within customer premises

A system for receiving network video includes a remote control with a power control input. A video receiver, controlled by the remote control, powers up or powers down based on a control signal indicating activation of the power control input. The video receiver receives video signals from a gateway or gateway source connected to the video network. The gateway decodes signals received from the network into a format acceptable by the receiver. If the gateway receives a control signal from the remote control indicating activation of the power control input and the gateway is currently in the &ldquo;on&rdquo; state, the gateway toggles to the &ldquo;off&rdquo; state and outputs a predefined channel to the receiver.

An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based very-high-bit-rate subscriber line (VDSL) communication system includes an optical ring having a plurality of multiplexers. An information provider is connected to the optical ring via a first one of the multiplexers. The information provider includes an ATM core switch operable with the first one of the multiplexers for transmitting data and video signals on to the optical ring and for receiving data signals from the optical ring. Each of a plurality of central offices is connected to the optical ring via a respective one of the multiplexers. Each of the central offices includes an ATM edge switch operable with the respective one of the multiplexers for receiving video and data signals from the information provider via the optical ring and for transmitting data signals to the information provider via the optical ring. The information provider communicates with the central offices through a single optical ring. The central offices are configured to transform single video and data signals from the information provider into multiple signals for use by host digital terminals. The central offices are also configured to statistically multiplex multiple data signals from the host digital terminals into a single data signal for transmission to the information provider via the optical ring. The central offices are further configured to integrate a local public, educational, and government video signal with a video signal received from the information provider for use by the host digital terminals.

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Lafayette, CO, United States of America

Kurt A Campbell