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`dates to be played, a start date (for continuous play) and start
`
`times 318. Many dates and start times may be assigned to any
`
`given program. Using this methodology. programs may be
`
`purchased by viewers in time slices (e.g.. one week). The
`
`program information for these categories may then be
`processed for allocation of transponder space and setting of
`
`prices, as indicated at blocks 320. 322, respectively.
`
`Mini pays 310 and data services 312 require less
`
`processing by the CAP 260. After identifying the mini pays
`310. the CAP 260 may proceed to allocation of transponder
`
`space and pricing, block 320. for the mini pays 310. Data
`
`services in the preferred embodiment generally do not
`
`require allocation of transponder space and generally do not
`require price setting. The information for data services 312
`
`may be directly processed for menu configuration. block 324.
`
`In alternate embodiments.
`
`the data services 312 may be
`
`processed through these portions of the CAP 260 program.
`
`The CAP 260 uses an interactive algorithm 418 to
`
`allocate transponder space 320 and set prices 322. The
`
`factors weighed by the algorithm are: 1. buy rates of the
`
`program. 2. margin of profit on the program. 3. length of the
`
`program, 4. any contractual requirement which overrides
`
`other factors (such as requirement to rim a specific football
`
`game live in its entirety). The information on buy rates of the
`
`program may be obtained by the Marketing Information
`
`Interface 400 from a Central Statistical and Billing Site. a
`
`Regional Statistical and Billing Site, the cable headend 208 or
`
`directly from the set top terminals 220 as will be described
`
`later. The CAP 260 must consider the priority levels of
`
`programming (e.g.. Figure 16) when allocating transponder
`
`space.
`
`Particularly. as in the preferred embodiment.
`
`transponders are assigned to three specific priority levels.
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`dates to be played, a start date (for continuous play) and start
`
`times 318. Many dates and start times may be assigned to any
`
`given program. Using this methodology. programs may be
`
`purchased by viewers in time slices (e.g.. one week). The
`
`program information for these categories may then be
`processed for allocation of transponder space and setting of
`
`prices, as indicated at blocks 320. 322, respectively.
`
`Mini pays 310 and data services 312 require less
`
`processing by the CAP 260. After identifying the mini pays
`310. the CAP 260 may proceed to allocation of transponder
`
`space and pricing, block 320. for the mini pays 310. Data
`
`services in the preferred embodiment generally do not
`
`require allocation of transponder space and generally do not
`require price setting. The information for data services 312
`
`may be directly processed for menu configuration. block 324.
`
`In alternate embodiments.
`
`the data services 312 may be
`
`processed through these portions of the CAP 260 program.
`
`The CAP 260 uses an interactive algorithm 418 to
`
`allocate transponder space 320 and set prices 322. The
`
`factors weighed by the algorithm are: 1. buy rates of the
`
`program. 2. margin of profit on the program. 3. length of the
`
`program, 4. any contractual requirement which overrides
`
`other factors (such as requirement to rim a specific football
`
`game live in its entirety). The information on buy rates of the
`
`program may be obtained by the Marketing Information
`
`Interface 400 from a Central Statistical and Billing Site. a
`
`Regional Statistical and Billing Site, the cable headend 208 or
`
`directly from the set top terminals 220 as will be described
`
`later. The CAP 260 must consider the priority levels of
`
`programming (e.g.. Figure 16) when allocating transponder
`
`space.
`
`Particularly. as in the preferred embodiment.
`
`transponders are assigned to three specific priority levels.
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`The CAP may automatically (without packager intervention)
`
`access the M11 400 and the EIS to obtain necessary decision
`
`making information on transponder allocation.
`
`Following transponder allocation and price setting 320.
`
`5
`
`322.
`
`respectively.
`
`the CAP 260 proceeds
`
`to menu
`
`configuration 324. The positioning of programs within the
`
`menu configuration 324 can have an effect on subscriber buy
`
`rates
`
`for
`
`the program.
`
`(The processing of menu
`
`configurations 432 is also described in reference to Figure 8.)
`
`10
`
`Therefore. an algorithm accounting for either a manually
`
`assigned program importance or a calculated weight of the
`
`program importance is used to determine each programs
`
`position within the menu scheme. For instance. a popular
`
`program with a high profit margin may be assigned a high
`
`15
`
`weight of importance and shown in a prominent place in the
`
`menu scheme. Alternatively, a high profit program with
`
`sagging sales may be manually assigned a prominent place in
`
`the program schedule to increase sales.
`
`After a series of entries by the programmer/ packager at
`
`20
`
`the Operations Center 202. the CAP 260 displays draft menus
`
`434 or schedules (including priority levels) for programming.
`
`The packager may now manipulate the menus and schedules
`
`and make changes as necessary 436. After each change. the
`
`packager may again display the menus or schedules and
`
`25
`
`determine if any more changes are necessary 436.
`
`The
`
`packager may use the Executive Information System with
`
`yield management as described below to assist in editing the
`
`menus and schedules. When the packager is satisfied with
`
`the menu configuration 324 and scheduling of television
`
`30
`
`programs. the packager may then instruct the CAP 260 to
`
`complete the process.
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`After menu configuration 324. the CAP 260 may begin
`
`the process of generating a program control
`
`information
`
`signal 326 (see also Figure 8 software description at 442 and
`
`404).
`
`In order to generate program control
`
`information
`
`5
`
`signals 326 which are specific to a particular cable headend
`
`208 system,
`
`the CAP 260
`
`incorporates cable franchise
`
`configuration information 328.
`
`In the preferred embodiment,
`
`unique cable franchise configuration information 328 is
`
`stored at the Operations Center 202. The cable franchises
`
`10
`
`upload changes to their specific franchise information 426
`
`from time to time to the Operations Center 202 for storage
`
`328. Preferably. a separate CPU (not shown) handles the
`
`management of the cable franchise information 328. From
`
`the stored cable franchise information 328.
`
`the CAP 260
`
`15
`
`generates a cable franchise control infonnation signal 330
`
`unique to each franchise.
`
`Using the unique cable franchise control information
`
`signals 328 and the menu configuration 324 information. the
`
`CAP 260 generates the program control information signal
`
`20
`
`276. as shown at function block 326. The program control
`
`information that is unique to a particular cable franchise may
`
`be identified in various ways such as with a header. With the
`
`header identification. the cable headend 208 may extract the
`
`portions of the program control information signal 276 it
`
`25
`
`needs. Now.
`
`the CAP 260 may complete its process by
`
`electronically packaging the programs into groupings 280 for
`
`the signal transmission and adding the program control
`
`information 276 to the packaged programs 334 to form a
`
`single signal for transmission. Through manual entries by the
`
`30
`
`packager
`
`(PDEI 400] or by comparing against a list of
`
`programs. the CAP 260 will determine whether the programs
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`are arriving from external sources 280 or sources internal
`
`286 to the Operations Center 202.
`
`Referring back to Figure 11, upon completion of the
`
`CAP's functions. the Operations Center 202. or the uplink site
`
`204 (Figure 1). compresses 288 (if necessary), multiplexes
`
`290, modulates 292 and amplifies 294 the signal for satellite
`
`transmission 296.
`
`In a basic embodiment. the CAP 260 will
`
`also allow entry of time slots for local avails where no national
`
`programming will occur.
`
`Figure 13 is a more detailed flow chart 340 of some of
`
`the functions performed by the CAP 260 after an initial
`
`program schedule has been entered and menu configurations
`
`generated. This flow chart highlights that some of the
`functions described earlier in reference to Figures 8. 9. 11
`
`and 12 can be performed in parallel. The flow chart 340
`
`shows six basic functions that are performed by the CAP 260:
`
`(1) editing program schedule for local availability 342 [only
`for non-standard services.
`i.e.. those services that are not
`
`(2) generating program control
`national cable services):
`(3) processing external programs
`information signals 344;
`346;
`(4) processing internal programs 348:
`(5) processing
`live feeds 350: and.
`(6) packaging of program information
`
`352.
`
`In an alternate embodiment, the CAP 260 is capable of
`
`10
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`15
`
`20
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`25
`
`incorporating local programs and accommodating local
`availability for local television stations.
`
`Following completion of the programming scheduling
`[accounting for local availability if necessary) and menu
`
`generation 342,
`
`the CAP 260 may perform three tasks
`
`30
`
`simultaneously. generating program information signals 344.
`
`processing external programs 346 and processing internal
`programs 348.
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`The CAP 260 automatically identifies extemal programs
`feeds 356 and identifies which external feed to request the
`external program 358. The CAP 260 gathers and receives the
`
`external programming information 280. 282 (Figure 11) and
`
`converts it to a standard digital format 360 for use. The CAP
`
`260 also identifies internal programs 362 (and defined
`
`program services). accesses the internal programs 364 (and
`
`program services). and converts them to a standard digital
`format 366. if necessary.
`ln addition. the CAP 260 identifies
`live signal feeds 368 that will be necessary to complete the
`packaged programming signal 370.
`In its last task depicted
`in Figure 13 the CAP 260 completes the packaging of the
`programs and combines the packaged program signal with
`the program control information signal 352. amplifies the
`signal 354 and sends it out for further processing prior to
`uplink.
`
`F-
`
`One of the primary tasks of the Operations Center 202
`
`is, with assistance from the cable headends 208. effective
`
`utilization of available bandwidth from the Operations Center
`202 to the subscriber homes.
`Figure 14 shows effective
`allocation of 750 ml-lz of bandwidth {I mHz to 750 ml-I2) for
`
`television programming.
`
`In Figure 14. bandwidth is allocated
`
`In
`for both analog 226 and digitally compressed 227 signals.
`the preferred embodiment. the bandwidth is divided so that
`
`each category of programs receives a portion of
`
`the
`
`bandwidth. These categories correspond with major menus
`of
`the set
`top terminal
`software.
`The representative
`
`categories shown in Figure 14 include: (1) high definition TV
`
`(HDTV) made possible through the use of compression
`
`technology.
`
`(2) A La Carte Channel category which provides
`
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`specialty channels for subscription periods such as monthly.
`
`and (3) pay—per—view.
`
`Figure 15 shows a chart 228 of compressed channel
`
`allocation for a variety of programming categories 229 that
`
`5
`
`have been found to be desirable to subscribers. By grouping
`similar shows or a series of shows into blocks of channels
`
`230. the system 200 is able to more conveniently display
`
`similar programming with on—screen television menus. For
`
`example.
`
`in the movie category. which has the greatest
`
`10
`
`allocation of channels.
`
`the same movie may be shown
`
`continuously and simultaneously on different channels. Each
`
`channel starts the movie at a different time allowing the
`
`subscriber to choose a more suitable movie starting time (e.g..
`
`every 15 minutes).
`
`15
`
`In order to accommodate cable TV systems that have
`
`different bandwidths and channel capacities. the television
`
`programming and television program control information may
`
`be divided into parts such as priority one. two and three. The
`
`large bandwidth cable TV systems can accommodate all the
`
`20
`
`parts of the television programming and all parts of the
`
`television programming control information. Those cable ‘IV
`
`systems with a more limited bandwidth are able to use the
`
`program delivery system 200 by only accepting the number of
`
`parts that the cable system can handle within its bandwidth.
`
`25
`
`For instance. as is shown in Figure 16,
`
`three cable
`
`television systems with different bandwidths may use the
`
`program delivery system 200 simultaneously with each
`
`system accepting only those parts of the information sent
`
`which it
`
`is capable of handling.
`
`Priority one television
`
`30
`
`programming and menus 240 are accepted by all
`
`three
`
`systems. Priority two television programming and menus 242
`
`are not accepted by the cable television system whose
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`capacity is the smallest or in this case 330 ml-lz (40 channels)
`system. Priority two television programming and menus 242
`
`are accepted and used by the two larger capacity cable
`television systems
`shown.
`Priority three television
`
`programming and menus 244 are only used by the largest
`capacity television system which is capable of handling all
`three parts -— Priority one.
`two and three programming and
`menu information.
`
`With this division of television programming and
`menus.
`the program delivery system 200 may be utilized
`simultaneously by a variety of concatenated cable systems 210
`(depicted in Figure 1) with varying system capacities. By
`placing the heavily watched or more profitable programming
`and menus in the priority one division 240. both users and
`
`owners of the cable TV systems will be accommodated as best
`as possible within the limited bandwidth.
`
`Figure 17 shows three different cable headend 208
`
`systems. each system receiving the entire satellite signal from
`the Operations Center 202 and stripping those parts of the
`signal which cannot be handled by the local cable system due
`to bandwidth limitations.
`In this particular embodiment. the
`three local cable television systems shown have bandwidth
`
`limitations which correspond with the bandwidth limitations
`
`depicted in the previous Figure 16. As the bandwidth
`
`decreases. the programming options available to the viewer in
`
`Using this
`the exemplary on—screen menu decreases.
`preferred embodiment. the Operations Center 202 is able to
`
`send one identical signal to the satellite 206 that is sent to all
`
`the cable headends 208. Each cable headend 208 accepts the
`entire signal and customizes the signal for the local cable
`
`system by stripping those portions of the Operations Center
`
`signal that are unable to be handled by the local cable system.
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`An alternate embodiment
`
`(not
`
`shown)
`
`requires
`
`the
`
`Operations Center 202 (and uplink sites 204)
`
`to send
`
`different signals for reception by different capacity cable
`headends 208.
`
`5
`
`There are several ways in which a cable headend 208
`
`may strip the unnecessary signal from the Operations Center
`
`202.
`
`A person skilled in the art will derive many methods
`
`from the three examples discussed below. The first method
`
`is for the signal originating from the Operations Center 202
`
`10
`
`(and uplink site 204) to be sent in portions with each portion
`
`having a separate header. The respective cable headend 208
`
`would then recognize the headers and transmit
`
`to the
`
`concatenated cable system 210 only those signals in which
`
`the proper headers are identified. For example. using three
`
`15
`
`concatenated cable systems shown in Figure 17. the headers
`
`may be “O01.” “O02.” and "003.“
`
`A wide bandwidth
`
`concatenated cable system can accept program signals with
`
`all
`
`three headers. while
`
`the narrowest bandwidth
`
`concatenated cable system may only be able to accept signals
`
`20
`
`with a "001" header.
`
`For this first method, a central
`
`Operations Center 202 must divide the program signal into
`
`three parts and send a separate leading header before each
`
`signal for each part. This method requires has the additional
`
`signal overhead of a header on the program signal. The
`
`25
`
`header would be transmitted from time to time as necessary.
`
`A second method requires a set of transponders to be
`
`assigned to each priority level and the cable headend 208 to
`
`route signals from the transponders corresponding to the
`
`proper priority level for the concatenated cable system 210.
`
`30
`
`For example,
`
`if there are three priority levels and eighteen
`
`transponders.
`
`transponders one through nine may be
`
`assigned to priority level one.
`
`transponders ten through
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`fourteen priority level two. and transponders fifteen through
`
`eighteen assigned to priority level
`
`three.
`
`Thus. a
`
`concatenated cable system 210 capable of operating only at
`
`priority level
`
`two. would only receive signals
`
`from
`
`transponders one through nine, and ten through fourteen
`
`from the respective cable headend 208. The program signal
`
`from transponders fifteen through eighteen would not be
`
`transmitted to the priority level
`
`two concatenated cable
`
`system. This method requires the Operations Center 202 to
`
`properly assign programs to transponders by priority level.
`
`This can be accomplished by the CAP using the software
`
`described earlier [e.g.. Figure 8 at 438 and 440).
`
`The third and the preferred method is for the cable
`
`headend 208 to pick and choose programming from each
`
`transponder and create a customized priority one.
`
`two. and
`
`three signal with chosen television programming. The cable
`
`headend 208 would then route the appropriate customized
`
`signal to each part of the concatenated cable system 210 that
`
`the cable headend 208 serves. This third method requires
`
`that the cable headend 208 have a component. such as the
`
`combiner (described in greater detail in a co-pending U.S.
`
`Patent Application entitled Digital Cable Headend For A Cable
`
`Television Delivery System. Ser. No. PCT/US93/11615. filed
`
`Dec. 2, 1993, owned by the assignee of
`
`the present
`
`application) which can select among programs prior to
`
`combining the signal
`
`for
`
`further
`
`transmission on a
`
`concatenated cable system 210. The third method requires
`
`the least coordination between Operations Center 202 and
`the cable headend 208.
`
`In addition to dividing the television programming and
`
`menus into parts. the Operations Center 202 of the preferred
`
`embodiment is also capable of dynamically changing the
`AMENDED SHEET
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`.............i...i....._i......_...........».........._............_...4 i__....-i._..._......i.. ,,
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`bandwidth allocation for
`
`a particular
`
`category of
`
`programming. Figure 18 depicts this dynamic change in
`
`bandwidth allocation from a typical week day prime time
`
`signal 250 to a Saturday afternoon in October signal 252
`
`5
`
`'
`
`(during the college football season). Figure 18 highlights the
`
`fact that the bandwidth allocated to sports is limited to eight
`
`selections 251 during week day prime time 250 but
`
`is
`
`increased to sixteen selections 253 during a Saturday
`
`afternoon in October 252.
`
`This dynamic increase in
`
`10
`
`bandwidth allocation allows the system to accommodate
`
`changes in programming occurring on an hourly. daily.
`
`weekly. monthly. seasonal and annual basis.
`
`In addition to dynamically allocating bandwidth for
`
`programming categories. the Operations Center 202 can also
`
`15
`
`dynamically change the menu capacities
`
`in order
`
`to
`
`accommodate the change in programming and bandwidth.
`
`For example. on a Saturday afternoon in October 252. the
`
`major menu for sports may include a separate subcategory for
`
`college football. This subcategory would.
`
`in turn. have a
`
`20
`
`separate submenu with a listing of four. six. eight. or more
`
`college football games available for viewing.
`
`In order to
`
`accommodate this dynamic menu change.
`
`the Operations
`
`Center 202 must add a submenu listing to the major sports
`
`menu.
`
`create a new or temporary submenu for college
`
`25
`
`football. and allocate the necessary menu space on the college
`football submenu.
`
`Once the television programs have been packaged and a
`
`program control information signal is generated to describe
`
`the various categories and programs available. the packaged
`
`30
`
`programs are then digitized. compressed. and combined with
`
`the program control information signal. Upon the signal's
`
`departure from the Operations Center 202 the breakdown
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`into categories is insignificant and the signal is treated like
`
`any other digitally compressed signal
`
`G-
`
`After packaging. the packaged television program signal
`
`5
`
`is prepared for satellite transmission and sent from the
`
`Operations Center 202 to the cable headend 208 via satellite
`
`206. Depending on the specific embodiment. the television
`
`program signal may
`
`need
`
`to
`
`be
`
`compressed.
`
`combined/multiplexed.
`
`encoded. mapped, modulated,
`
`10
`
`upconverted and amplified. This system. which is intended
`
`to be compatible with existing C and Ku Band satellite
`
`transmission technologies. accepts video. audio and data
`
`signals ranging in signal quality. and input from a number of
`sources.
`
`15
`
`As shown in Figure 3. in the preferred embodiment.
`
`the packaged program signal will be treated at a master
`
`control uplink site 211 prior to being transmitted to the
`
`satellite 206.
`
`Following compression the channels must be
`
`multiplexed for each transponder carrier and sent to the
`
`20
`
`satellite 206 dish that will provide the uplink. A variety of
`
`multiplexing schemes may be used in the system.
`
`In some
`
`situations.
`
`it may be advantageous
`
`to use different
`
`multiplexing schemes in different parts of the overall system.
`
`In other words. one multiplexing scheme may be used for
`
`25
`
`satellite transmission 206 and a second remultiplexing
`scheme for the land transmission. Various satellite multi-
`
`accessing schemes and architectures can be used with the
`
`system.
`
`including both single channel per carrier ISCPC)
`
`frequency division multiplex (FDM) and multiple channel per
`
`30
`
`carrier
`
`(MCPC)
`
`time division multiplexing (TDM).
`
`Time
`
`division multiplexing is the more desirable scheme. 0 n c e
`
`the signal has arrived at the uplink or master control site
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`211.
`
`it must be modulated, upconverted. and amplified.
`
`Various types of satellites and transponders capable of
`
`handling digital signals may be used in this cable television
`
`packaging and delivery system. One of the achievements of
`
`5
`
`the present
`
`invention is effective utilization of digital
`
`compression technology by packaging television programs
`
`into categories that allow easy access to television programs
`
`by consumers. With current digital compression techniques
`
`for video.
`
`the typical 50-channel capacity cable satellite
`
`1 0
`
`receiving system can be increased to 300 channels.
`
`Presently. one transponder is used for each satellite
`
`delivered channel.
`
`The preferred embodiment uses 18
`
`satellite transponders and compression ratios of 4:1 to 8:1 to
`
`achieve a capacity of 136 satellite delivered channels. More
`
`15
`
`transponders or higher compression ratios can be used to
`
`deliver up to the channel capacity of any existing cable
`system.
`
`An example of a satellite that may be used is the AT&T
`
`Telstar 303. The signal is transmitted from the satellite 206
`
`20
`
`to the cable headend 208 where a computer system including
`a digital switch treats the signal and delivers it through cables
`to a subscribers home.
`In alternate embodiments. multiple
`
`Operations Center 202 and multiple uplink sites 211 can be
`
`simultaneously utilized.
`
`25
`
`H.
`
`l
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`1
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`1
`
`Figures 19 through 21 depict sample menu screens
`
`produced by the set top terminal 220 using the program
`control information signal 276. Figure 19 shows a menu
`
`30
`
`which enables the viewer to select a program category or
`program service from among a choice of eight program
`categories. Figure 20 shows a menu for the viewer to select a
`
`hit movie from among ten hit movies. Figure 21 provides
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`information about a movie (or event) and enables a viewer to
`
`order the movie for viewing.
`
`Figure 19 through 21 show text generation by the set
`
`top terminal 220. This text is generated using information
`
`5
`
`received via the program control information signal. Figure
`
`20 shows the text 380 generated for the hit movies major
`
`menu.
`
`In the preferred embodiment, text 380 such as that
`
`shown in Figures 19 through 21 is generated separately by a
`
`text generator (not shown) in the set top terminal unit 220.
`
`10
`
`Those portions of the text that generally remain unchanged
`
`for a period of weeks or months may be stored in EEPROM or
`
`other local storage. For example.
`
`the text “HIT MOVIES
`
`from‘ 382 will consistently appear on each hit movies‘ major
`
`menu. This text may be stored on EEPROM or other local
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`15
`
`storage. Further. text such as that which appears at the lower
`
`center part of the screen ‘PRESS HERE TO RETURN TO
`
`CABLE TV‘ 384 appears many times throughout the menu
`
`sequence. This text may also be stored locally at the set top
`
`terminal 220. Text which changes on a regular basis. such as
`
`20
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`the movie titles (or other program selections), will be
`
`transmitted to the set
`
`top terminal 220 by either the
`
`operations center 202 or the cable headend 208.
`
`ln this
`
`manner.
`
`the cable headend 208 may change the program
`
`selections available on any major menu modifying the program
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`25
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`control information signal sent by the operations center 202
`
`and transmitting the change. The network controller 214 of
`
`the cable headend 208 generally modifies the program
`
`control information signal and transmits the set top terminal
`
`control information signal (STTCIS).
`
`It is preferred that the
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`30
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`text 380 is generated by the set top terminal 220 separately
`
`from the graphics because the text can be stored locally in a
`
`more compact manner requiring less storage space at the set
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`
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`top terminal 220.
`
`In addition.
`
`it allows
`
`for easy
`
`communication of text changes from-» the operations center
`202 or cable headend 208 to the set top terminal 220.
`
`Figures 19 through 21 show the use of day. date and
`
`5
`
`time 386 information on menus. This information may be
`
`obtained in a variety of ways. The day. date. and time
`
`information 386 may be sent from the operations center 202.
`
`the cable headend 208 (signal processor or network
`
`controller 214). the uplink site. or generated by the set top
`
`10
`
`terminal unit 220 internally. Each manner of generating the
`
`day. date. and time information 386 has advantages and
`
`disadvantages which may change given the particular
`
`embodiment and costs.
`
`In the preferred embodiment.
`
`the
`
`day. date. and time 386 are generated at a central location
`
`15
`
`such as the operations center 202 and are adjusted for
`regional changes in time at the cable headend 208.
`
`in order for the set
`
`top terminal 220 to generate
`
`submenus for subcategories of categories shown in Figure 19
`
`(which relate to the content of the programs), and to
`
`20
`
`generate menus for movies such as Figure 21. the terminal
`
`must receive information on the content of the programs
`from the Operations Center 202 (via the cable headend 208).
`
`Normally the set
`
`top terminal 220 would receive this
`
`information in the form of the program control information
`
`25
`
`signal (or STFCIS). As shown figure 21.
`
`in addition to the
`
`text needed for these program menus. video or program
`
`scenes are also necessary.
`
`Live video signals may be used in windows of certain
`
`menus such as Figure 21. These video signals can be sent via
`
`30
`
`the program control information signal. STTCIS. or can be
`
`taken off channels being transmitted simultaneously with the
`
`menu display.
`
`If the video signal is taken off a channel, less
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`information needs to be sent via the program control
`information signal. However. this technique requires that
`separate decompression hardware be used for the program
`control
`information and the channel carrying the video.
`
`Separate decompressors for the video signals and program
`information signal allows for the greatest flexibility in the
`
`system and is therefore the preferred embodiment.
`
`A
`
`separate decompressor also assists in assuring that the switch
`
`from menus to television programming is smooth and without
`
`any significant time delay.
`
`Live video for menus. promos or demos may be sent to
`the set top tenninal 220 in several ways: a) on a dedicated
`
`channel. b) on a regular program channel and scaled to size.
`
`cl sent along with the program control information signal.
`etc. However. in the preferred embodiment. a great deal of
`
`short promos or demo video are sent using a split screen
`
`technique on a dedicated channel.
`
`Using a split screen technique. any number of different
`
`video clips may be sent (e.g.. 2, 4. 6. or 8 video clips). To
`
`show the video clip on a menu. the video must either be
`
`scaled and redirected to a video window on a menu screen or
`
`a masking methodology can be used. Masking involves playing
`
`the entire channel of video (all 2. 4. 6. or 8 split screens) in
`
`background and masking the unwanted video clip portions of
`
`the split screen by playing the menu in foreground and
`
`overlaying the unwanted background video. Masking is the
`
`least expensive method because it does not require any
`
`special hardware and it increases video throughput to the set
`
`top terminal 220. However. using the masking technique
`
`without any video redirecting causes each video clip to be
`
`located in a different position on the screen.
`
`It also requires
`
`the masking to be different for each video clip and makes
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`consistent format difficult. On the other hand. scaling and
`redirecting video is generally difilcult. expensive and requires
`additional hardware.
`In order for the Operations Center 202 to prepare the
`promo video signal to be sent to the set top terminal 220. the
`Operations Center 202 must first identify the duration and
`
`actual video cut to be used for each promo and its position
`within the promo video signal.
`This
`information is
`
`maintained within the Operations Center 202 database. When
`
`it is time to produce the promo video signal (either to tape or
`to broadcast), each promo cut is scaled. positioned and
`combined with the other promos to form the single promo
`video signal.
`This
`is performed by readily available
`commercial equipment. Each promo is run repeatedly while
`the promo video signal is being generated. The audio signals
`of the individual promo cuts may be combined into the promo
`video signal audio tracks based upon the number of audio
`tracks available. The mapping of the audio tracks to the
`
`promos is also stored in the Operations Center database.
`Additionally.
`the mapping of promos to the programs that
`they are previewing is also stored in the Operations Center
`database. All promo database data is made available to the set
`
`top terminal 220 through the S'I‘l‘ClS.
`
`the Operations Center
`In the preferred embodiment.
`202 transmits six video/graphic promos for advertising
`purposes all on one channel.
`The throughput of the
`video/graphics on a single channel can be increased through
`the use of digital compression techniques.
`The set
`top
`terminal 220 uses either video scaling and redirecting
`techniques or masking to utilize the six video scenes.
`
`Although the set top terminal 220 actually performs the
`manipulation of video as necessary to generate the "live"
`
`5
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`1 0
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`20
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`5
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`10
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`menus for the subscriber. the appropriately prepared video
`signals must be formed and sent by the Operations Center
`
`202 to the set top terminal 220.
`
`If a promo for a given program is available at the set top
`terminal 220. the viewer may command the set top terminal
`220 to display the promo. Generally. this is done through
`
`program selection from a menu screen by the subscriber.
`
`The selected program is referenced to information about
`
`available promos and allows the set top terminal 220 to tune
`to the proper channel. select the appropriate menu overlay
`mask based on the promos position and switch on the audio
`
`track(s) if they are available. The promos position on the
`
`screen dictates the displaying of the "live" text (refer to the
`
`video window of Figure 21). The program associated with the
`
`15
`
`currently selected promo may be purchased from this menu
`
`screen. Events. services and slices of time may be purchased
`from promotional menus.
`
`Management of promo video signals at the Operations
`
`Center 202 is similar to that of other programs except that
`more information is needed in order to specify the details of
`
`20
`
`the promo video signal. The broadcasting of the promo video
`
`signal is identical to the broadcasting of a video program.
`
`In order to limit the amount of bandwidth needed to
`
`transmit
`
`the program control
`
`information signal. various
`
`25
`
`compression techniques employed for non-video may be used
`
`such as block coding. contour coding. blob encoding. and run-
`
`length encoding. Further. the program control information
`
`signal may be divided into text and graphics. or video. text
`
`and graphics and then recombined at the set top terminal
`
`30
`
`220 using a text generator. graphics decompression. and
`
`video decompression as necessary.
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`As shown in Figure 2. an analog cable TV system 205
`
`can continue to exist alongside andiwithin the digitally
`
`compressed system of the present invention. The digital
`
`transmissions do not effect the analog system.
`
`In fact. the
`
`5
`
`analog cable signal may be transmitted simultaneously on the
`
`same cable as the digital signal. Cable headends 208 may
`
`continue to supply subscribers with local channels in an
`
`analog signal format.
`
`In the preferred embodiment.
`
`the Operations Center
`
`10
`
`202 and uplink 204 (Figure 1) or master control site 211
`
`(Figure 3) are collocated. However. the Operations Center
`
`202 and uplink site 204 may be located in different
`
`geographical places. Also. functions and equipment within
`
`the Operations Center 202 may be remotely located.
`
`Fo
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