Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Other

Cisco Technology, Inc.

William E Wall

Luis A Rovira

William C VerSteeg

Arturo A Rodriguez

Samuel H Russ

Luis Z Avila

James F McDonald

David B Alsobrook

Anthony John Wasilewski

Leo Montreuil

Timothy Hall Addington

Ajith N Nair

Lee R Johnson

Gregory S Durden

William D Woodward

Gary L Logston

Peter G Briggs

James Eugene Cannella, Jr

Neilesh R Patel

Timothy W Simerly

David Burleson

Douglas L Ross

Don Michael Zauzig

William C Versteeg

Luis Avila

Ken Morse

A network gateway function that is provided at a coaxial tap of a hybrid-fiber coaxial broadband network that feeds a customer location. A Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) modem may be embedded in the tap wherein the DOCSIS protocol is terminated. A network functionality such as firewall and network address translation is provided at a network termination point that may use Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) or other similar technology using an existing coaxial cable drop to a customer location that effectively extends a home network to the tap.

In-network home gateway for hybrid fiber-coax network

The present invention is directed to a videophone system implemented over a cable television network. The instant invention provides a videophone comprising a camera for capturing images associated with a videophone signal, a videophone unit and a set top terminal or cable modem connecting the videophone to a cable television network. Videophone signals created at the call origination site are encoded and transported to a predetermined destination over an existing cable television network. The system uses IP addresses as phone number on the network. Additionally, transport of videophone signals between different cable systems is accomplished via a high-speed long distance data network, such as, for example, a satellite network, that provides communication between the headends of the different cable television systems. The set top terminal may be a conventional subscriber terminal, a cable modem or a subscriber terminal configured to operate as a cable modem. The set top terminal provides the interface between the videophone and the cable television system. More than one videophone may be connected to a single set top terminal. Display of videophone data may be achieved using any conventional display device, including a television set or a personal computer monitor. Accordingly, the videophone system described herein takes advantage of increased bandwidth and lower cost realized by using existing cable television infrastructure and technology.

Videophone over cable networks

DVD playback over Multi-room by copying to the hard drive of a primary device in a networked multi-room system (NMS). The DVD content is saved to a hard drive and can then be retrieved by any of the remote devices in the NMS by accessing the program guide or the recorded programs list. The DVD menu can be altered to include previews, contests, products, etc.

DVD playback over multi-room by copying to HDD

Optimizing data rates for video services on a broadband network. Different data rates can be delivered to a subscriber premises depending on the size of the display screen connected to a set-top box, the type of content being requested, or whether there is real-time viewing. Therefore, the data rate can be optimized to maximize the number of video streams that can be delivered to any one subscriber without causing a perceived reduction in video picture quality.

Optimizing bandwidth utilization to a subscriber premises

Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system. A services map published by the headend and distributed to all of the edge devices, allows a bandwidth requirement to be correlated with each request from a device in the home. The bandwidth requirement is passed upstream along with the request for service and is subject to a system resource management validation.

Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing downstream signals to a plurality of receiver networks. A receiver network (i.e., a networked multimedia system) includes a splitter/isolation module (SIM), a primary set-top terminal (STT), and at least one point of deployment module. The point of deployment module communicates with the primary STT via the SIM over coaxial cable. Accordingly, the point of deployment module and connected television utilize some or all of the features including hardware and software that are included in the primary STT via the networked multimedia system.

Multiroom point of deployment module

A method for optimizing data rates for video services to a subscriber that includes receiving an indication of whether incoming video signals to a set-top box corresponding to the subscriber are being recorded, receiving an indication of whether video content corresponding to the video signals being recorded is being simultaneously viewed by the subscriber, and reducing a data rate for storing the video content that is not simultaneously being viewed by the subscriber.

Optimizing data rates for video services to a subscriber

Quality of service management in a switched digital video environment. The devices in a user's home can be given quality of service priority statuses by a system operator. In the event of oversubscription, the quality of service management allows the user to determine which services will have priority over others if more bandwidth is requested than available.

Quality of service management in a switched digital video environment

Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving IP video and audio signals at a subscriber's premises. A QAM modulator then modulates the IP signals and provides the modulated signals to a conventional digital home communications terminal (DHCT). Accordingly, conventional DHCTs can be used in an IP-based network.

Single wire return device including a QAM modulator for downstream IP signals

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing reverse signals from a plurality of DHCTs to a downstream modulator that is located in the headend facility. The present invention includes a single wire return device (SWRD) that receives RF modulated signals, dynamically determines the address of the associated modulator, and converts the signals into Ethernet signals. The Ethernet signals are subsequently provided to the headend facility via fiber cable.

Single wire return device in a fiber to the home system

A combined IRD scrambler/modulator is provided in a headend. A service provider transmits a digital program signal in a digital data stream to a headend which distributes analog program signal to at least one subscriber. The headend receives an encoded digital program signal in the digital data stream from the service provider and decrypts the digital program signal therefrom. The digital program signal includes an audio and a video portion. The video portion of the signal is scrambled by a scrambler. The digital audio portion of the digital program signal and scrambled video portion of the digital program signal are converted to an analog program signal and transmitted to one or more subscribers.

Analog/digital system for television services

A digital video, audio and data distribution system which enables a set-top terminal (STT) associated with a customer's television set or other information presentation device to request interactive digital video, audio and data services from a service provider (SP) through the use of control system messages transmitted via a hi-directional signalling path. The requested interactive service is transmitted from the service provider over a portion of the bandwidth of a broadband transmission network which is dedicated to interactive digital services. A Video Session Connection (VSC) is provided for setting up and maintaining interactive sessions between the set-top terminal and a video service provider during the time the interactive programming is provided to the customer. The set-top terminal and service provider establish the Video Session Connection via a two-way signalling path within the bandwidth of the transmission medium into the customer's home. Applications of the system of the invention include 'movie on demand' services where the set-top terminal not only requests a movie to be transmitted from the service provider for immediate transmission, but also the bi-directional command channel permits the set-top terminal to control the video presentation by sending commands such as Play, Pause, Fast-Forward and the like to the Service Provider while the movie is being transmitted. Other applications of the invention include on-line data retrieval services, shop at home services and other services which require the use of an interactive connection.

Interactive information services control system

An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber's digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Apparatus for communicating program information corresponding to digital

A digital audio communication system includes a digital modulation and demodulation scheme which efficiently uses the bandwidth and channel spacing of a cable television system. A 30 channel digital bit stream is demultiplexed into six groups of five channels. Each group of channels thereafter modulates a carrier by a quadrature partial response (QPR) process. The QPR signal, an amplitude modulated, double sideband, carrier suppressed (AM DSBSC) signal, is then transmitted over the cable system to a multiplicity of subscribers, each of which has a QPR demodulator. The demodulators are of the decision feedback type having a modified Costas loop carrier recovery circuit. The grouping of an odd number (five) of digital audio channels per QPR modulator minimizes error propagation due to the correlative QPR demodulation process. The decision feedback decoding is implemented in simple current nodes where a bilevel output from the decoded data is subtracted from a tertiary level output of a mixer. The resulting bilevel current is converted to a voltage, filtered, and limited to produce a logic output level. The modified Costas loop provides an error voltage based upon the difference of the received data states versus the nominal data states and the quadrant the data occupies. The error voltage is generated by differencing the outputs of two analog switches which have as their inputs analog signals representative of the amplitude level of the data and its inverse of one phase. The sign of the data bit of the opposite phase is used to control the switch and thus select which signal is used.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

William E Wall