US007373650B1
`
`United States Patent
`(12)
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,373,650 B1
`
`Rodriguez et a].
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 13, 2008
`
`(54) APPARATUSES AND METHODS T0 ENABLE
`THE SIMULTANEOUS VIEWING 0F
`MULTIPLE TELEVISION CHANNELS AND
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE CONTENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Arturo A. Rodriguez, Norcross, GA
`,
`(Us); Dean R Jerdmgs RowenaGA
`(US); Robert 0- Bankers Cummmgs
`GA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Lawrenceville,
`GA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject. to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/558,556
`
`5/1999 Pauley ........................ 725/59
`5,900,916 A *
`5/ 1999 Niijima et al.
`5,903,314 A
`9/2000 Reitmeier
`................... 348/731
`6,115,080 A *
`1/2001 Alexander et al.
`..... 725/52
`6,177,931 B1*
`
`........... 725/39
`4/2001 Tsinberg et al.
`6,212,680 B1*
`
`
`35881 ifhlarb et 31' """"" 725/39
`23:33?) E:
`agano etal
`.u.
`..... 386/83
`,
`,
`
`2/2002 Lortz ......................... 725/110
`6,349,410 B1*
`5/2002 Sciammarella et a1.
`..... 348/564
`6,384,869 B1*
`6/2002 Kim et a1.
`.................... 725/50
`6,405,372 B1*
`6,493,038 B1* 12/2002 Singh et al.
`.......
`348/565
`
`1/2003 Knowles et a1. ........... 725/49
`6,505,348 B1*
`........... 345/721
`6,563,515 B1 *
`5/2003 Reynolds et al.
`.................. 348/734
`6,590,618 B1*
`7/2003 Park et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`W0
`
`W0
`W0
`
`0725538
`WO 96/17473
`
`WO 98/17064
`WO 98/37695
`
`8/1996
`6/1996
`
`4/1998
`8/1998
`
`(22) Flled.
`
`Apr. 26, 2000
`
`:1: cited by examiner
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Primary ExamineriHunter B. Lonsberry
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/178,970, filed on Feb.
`1,2000
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl'
`(200601)
`H04N 5/445
`(200601)
`H04N 5/45
`(52) US. Cl.
`............................ 725/41; 725/39; 725/40;
`348/565
`(58) Field Of Classification Search ............ 725/3742;
`348/565
`See application file for complete Search hiStOYY
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/1989 Meyer et al' """""""" 348/446
`4’809’069 A *
`..... 348/563
`1/1996 Banker et al.
`5,485,221 A
`
`
`.....
`.. 725/41
`9/1998 Matthews, III
`5,815,145 A *
`.............. 725/47
`5,828,420 A * 10/1998 Marshall et al.
`5,844,620 A
`12/ 1998 Coleman et a1.
`
`A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) includ-
`ing a plurality of tuners, each of which can select one of a
`plurality of transmission channels provided by a Digital
`Broadband Delivery System (DBDS). The multiple tuners
`enable the DHCT to tune to a plurality of downstream media
`and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber to tune
`simultaneously to multiple channels and content transmitted
`in the downstream transmission via the DBDS, an advantage
`over conventional DHCTs. The present invention enables
`subscribers to receive and view multiple channels and
`assoc1ated content,
`including electronic program guide
`information, at will. Furthermore, using the multiple-tuner
`DHCT of the present invention, subscribers can view mul-
`tiple television stations and program content simultaneously
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`’
`Without degradation to teleViSion Signals or pictures.
`
`36 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`/ 225
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`V5
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`230
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`EPG INFO.
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`EPG INFO.
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`EPG INFO.
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 2008
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`Sheet 1 0f 7
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 2008
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`Sheet 2 0f 7
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`Analog Transmission
`Channels (ATC)
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 2008
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`Sheet 3 0f 7
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`128
`
`Digital Home Communication Terminal
`
`Infared Port
`
`.
`Security
`
`130
`
`112
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`Central
`
`Processing
`Unit
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`Transmitter
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`Interface
`t0 DBDS
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`Channe‘s
`In
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`Out Of Band
`Tuner
`
`(OOB Tuner) and
`Upstream
`
`Graphics/Media Engine
`
`Memory Controller
`
`Analog & Digital
`Video Decoder
`
`Analog & Digital
`Audio Decoder
`
`Output Ports (Coax, RF,
`Audio, S-Video. etc.)
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 13, 2008
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`Sheet 4 of 7
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`May 13, 2008
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`Sheet 5 0f 7
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`Channels Scroll Horizontally
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`Channel
`Banner
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`time)
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`US 7,373,650 B1
`
`1
`APPARATUSES AND METHODS TO ENABLE
`THE SIMULTANEOUS VIEWING OF
`MULTIPLE TELEVISION CHANNELS AND
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE CONTENT
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority to the Provisional Appli-
`cation Ser. No. 60/178,970 filed Feb. 1, 2000.
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a digital home commu-
`nication terminal having multiple tuners. More particularly,
`the invention relates to a digital home communication
`terminal that enables subscribers to simultaneously view, on
`a single television screen, a displayed presentation of the
`motion video pictures of multiple television channels and
`electronic program guide information for each of the respec-
`tive television channels.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Over the past twenty years there has been a substantial
`increase in the number and types of programming available
`to television viewers. In a typical American household, it is
`not uncommon for viewers to have available fifty or more
`television stations, and in some cases viewers have more
`than one hundred channels to choose from. Although the
`large number of programs are appreciated by those viewers
`who desire a wide variety of program selections at any given
`hour of the day, the high number of channels often makes it
`difficult for viewers to efficiently locate any single program.
`Furthermore, due to the ever increasing number of channels
`and programs at the fingertips of the television viewer,
`viewers often have difficulty in deciding what station or
`program to watch. For instance, although a viewer may
`locate an interesting program, the viewer may still spend a
`considerable amount of time navigating the remaining chan-
`nels to confirm that there isn’t a more desirable program
`selection.
`
`Aiding television viewers with program selection has
`been addressed in a variety of manners. For instance, many
`cable systems feature a preview channel that offers viewers
`a preview guide as to the programs being broadcast on each
`channel. Typically, preview guides indicate the programs
`currently airing on each channel, as well as programs to be
`aired within a certain period of time, such as during the next
`half hour or hour. Preview guides scroll program informa-
`tion on the screen so that the TV viewer can determine in a
`
`is being shown on each channel.
`passive manner what
`However, this method of providing TV viewers information
`regarding programming has some major drawbacks. First,
`subscribers cannot view a program and the preview guide at
`the same time, because the preview guide is on a dedicated
`channel. Second, the viewer is subjected to the latency of
`tuning to the preview channel and then to a desired channel.
`Third, because the preview guide is not interactive or cannot
`be controlled by the viewer, the viewer must wait until the
`preview guide posts information regarding the programming
`for each of the channels, which is inconvenient for a large
`number of channels. Because preview guides may post
`information regarding the channels sequentially according
`to channel number, a viewer may be forced to watch the
`preview information for every channel until the viewer’s
`desired channel is listed. Further drawbacks include the fact
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`that preview channels offer limited information about pro-
`grams, and only show program information for shows on air
`or for a short time interval immediately thereafter.
`More recently, satellite systems and cable television sys-
`tems have offered viewers interactive menus that allow
`
`viewers access to information regarding programming that is
`currently being aired and programming that is to be aired in
`the near future. Using these systems, viewers can access a
`program guide that allows viewers to interactively scroll
`through available programming, usually based on times and
`channels. Furthermore, viewers can view details regarding
`programs scheduled to be aired at a specific time on a
`specific channel in the near future, such as the length of the
`program, a program summary, the program players or hosts,
`the program’s rating, as well as other data. Subscribers of
`these systems can also obtain information regarding the
`particular program they are viewing, at the time they are
`viewing the programming. For instance, a viewer can watch
`a program and at the same time, retrieve information regard-
`ing that program whereby the program information is over-
`layed on the motion picture. However, these systems face
`some major drawbacks.
`For example, viewers can only receive one channel at any
`given time, although viewing separate channels at the same
`time is a desirable aspect to subscribers, as evidenced by
`television sets on the market today offering picture-in pic-
`ture. Furthermore, although some systems are capable of
`presenting programming guide information to subscribers
`using a graphical user interface, which can provide infor-
`mation for multiple channels,
`the video picture of the
`currently tuned channel is the only one presented. Addition-
`ally, satellite systems do not offer two-way interactivity to
`enhance the electronic program guide graphical user inter-
`face presentations with additional
`information, without
`delay, when the viewer requests it. Information requested by
`subscribers regarding satellite programming is also often
`slow because there might be a substantial time lapse before
`a satellite dish can receive the viewer-requested program
`information. Furthermore, viewers cannot view program-
`ming broadcast on multiple channels together with program
`information for each of those respective channels simulta-
`neously on the same screen.
`Therefore, what is needed is an interactive digital home
`communication terminal that enables TV viewers to display
`motion video pictures of multiple channels at the same time,
`while simultaneously enabling viewers to obtain on-demand
`programming information for one or more programs without
`having their program viewing interrupted and with little or
`no latency. Furthermore,
`it would be advantageous for
`viewers to interact with the data and graphics information
`displayed through the home communication terminal,
`to
`communicate with the terminal, and to access information
`rapidly, such as Internet data, so that a more comprehensive
`and entertaining experience is facilitated.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`(DHCT)
`A Digital Home Communication Terminal
`according to the present invention includes a plurality of
`tuners wherein each can select one of a plurality of trans-
`mission channels provided by a Digital Broadband Delivery
`System (DBDS). Using multiple tuners enables the DHCT
`of the present invention to tune to a plurality of downstream
`media and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber
`to tune simultaneously to multiple channels and content
`transmitted in the downstream transmission via the DBDS,
`an advantage over conventional DHCTs. Because conven-
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`3
`tional DHCTs typically contain only one in-band tuner,
`which can tune to one frequency at a time, conventional
`DHCTs generally are limited to receiving data from one
`in-band frequency, resulting in the inability to display mul-
`tiple channels and content (such as electronic program guide
`content) simultaneously under all possible circumstances.
`Furthermore, because conventional DHCTs receive elec-
`tronic program guide (EPG) data via an out-of—band channel
`that yields a low data rate, EPG content cannot be received
`rapidly on-demand nor rapidly updated. The present inven-
`tion, on the other hand, enables subscribers to receive and
`view multiple channels and associated content at will. Using
`the multiple-tuner DHCT of the present invention, subscrib-
`ers can view multiple television stations and program con-
`tent simultaneously, without degradation to television sig-
`nals or pictures. According to one aspect of the invention,
`the DHCT may be a set-top box in communication with a
`television display. According to an alternative aspect of the
`invention, the DHCT may be housed within the television
`display.
`Additionally, the multiple-tuner DHCT can receive data
`representative of EPG information, or any other type of data
`(e. g., Internet data), in addition to receiving audio and video
`channels. Therefore, the DHCT of the present invention
`enables a viewer to watch a plurality of television programs
`while simultaneously accessing and displaying EPG infor-
`mation on a TV Display connected to the DHCT. Similarly,
`a viewer can receive digital data, such as data provided by
`an Internet Service Provider, and can respond via the DHCT
`to enable an interactive television experience while continu-
`ing to watch one or more TV channels without interruption.
`EPG information, or an Internet interface, can be enabled
`with the aid of application software running on the DHCT
`device of the present invention.
`According to one embodiment of the invention, a DHCT
`for enabling subscribers to simultaneously view multiple
`television channels on a display is disclosed. The Digital
`Home Communication Terminal includes an interface for
`receiving a plurality of transmission channels from a Digital
`Broadband Delivery System, a plurality of tuners for receiv-
`ing the plurality of transmission channels, and in commu-
`nication with the interface, wherein each tuner receives a
`respective transmission channel capable of carrying one or
`more media entities, and an output port, in communication
`with the plurality of tuners, for transmitting multiple media
`entities received by each respective tuner to the TV display.
`According to one aspect of the invention, at
`least one
`transmission channel includes a digital transmission channel
`capable of carrying one or more media entities, and at least
`one other transmission channel may include an analog
`transmission channel. Furthermore, the DHCT can include a
`central processing unit that requests program data from the
`DBDS and memory and/or storage to store program data.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, a
`DHCT for enabling subscribers to simultaneously view
`multiple television channels and electronic program guide
`content received from a DBDS, on a display, is disclosed.
`The DHCT includes a plurality of tuners for receiving a
`plurality of transmission channels, wherein each tuner
`receives a respective channel of the plurality of transmission
`channels, wherein each transmission channel is capable of
`carrying one or more media entities, and an output port for
`transmitting each of the respective transmission channels for
`simultaneous viewing on the display. Furthermore, the digi-
`tal home communication terminal can include a central
`
`processing unit that requests EPG data from the DBDS, and
`wherein the EPG data is transmitted to the display simulta-
`neously with each of the respective transmission channels.
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`The DHCT can further include memory and/or storage to
`store a database containing EPG data. Additionally, at least
`one transmission channel of the DHCT includes a digital
`transmission channel capable of carrying one or more media
`entities, and at least one other transmission channel may
`include an analog transmission channel.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, a
`method for enabling the simultaneously viewing of multiple
`television channels and electronic program guide informa-
`tion is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality
`of transmission channels, wherein at least one transmission
`channel includes electronic program guide data, generating
`electronic program guide information from the electronic
`program guide data, and displaying on a display a plurality
`of television programs received as media entities via the
`plurality of transmission channels simultaneously with elec-
`tronic program guide information. According to the inven-
`tion, displaying the plurality of transmission channels on a
`display can include displaying the plurality of transmission
`channels, such as television programs, wherein each trans-
`mission channel has associated electronic program guide
`information simultaneously displayed therewith on the dis-
`play.
`the method of the present invention can
`Additionally,
`further include receiving a request for electronic program
`guide information from a subscriber and the plurality of
`electronic program guide information is displayed. The
`request for electronic program guide information can also
`include a request to view electronic program guide infor-
`mation for a plurality of media entities, such as television
`programs.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a Digital Broadband
`Delivery System (DBDS) including a Digital Home Com-
`munication Terminal (DHCT), according to one aspect of
`the invention.
`
`FIG. 2 shows the input channels supported by a DBDS,
`and input into a DHCT of the present invention, according
`to one aspect of the invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the components comprising
`the DHCT of FIG. 2, according to one aspect of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the components comprising
`the DHCT of FIG. 2, according to another aspect of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 5A-5E show illustrative screens enabled by the
`DHCT,
`including video images and Electronic Program
`Guide content, according to one aspect of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present invention now will be described more fully
`hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
`which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
`This invention may, however, be embodied in many different
`forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodi-
`
`ments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are pro-
`vided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,
`and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those
`skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements
`
`throughout.
`The functions and advantages of the Digital Home Com-
`munication Terminal (DHCT) of the present invention are
`based upon its ability to simultaneously receive, decode and
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`5
`composite into a single display presentation the audio,
`Video, graphical and textual data of multiple TV channels on
`a real-time basis. The DHCT of the present invention also
`includes the ability to scale down the spatial resolution of the
`motion Video pictures of the TV channels for insertion into
`a composited presentation while maintaining the original
`picture rate, or a fraction thereof, of the scaled Video pictures
`in the composite presentation. The DHCT can also maintain
`audio playback of a single TV channel during the composite
`presentation and update the composite presentation in
`response to Viewer input, to effect an update of displayed
`graphical and textual EPG information while simultaneously
`effecting an update of the respectiVe scaled Video pictures of
`the corresponding TV channels as if each was an indepen-
`dent object on the display. The update of the displayed EPG
`information may also be effected with an animated scrolling
`effect while simultaneously effecting the update of the
`respectiVe scaled Video pictures with an animated scrolling
`effect
`in the same scrolling direction or in a direction
`orthogonal to the EPG information scroll. Additionally, the
`DHCT of the present inVention can switch audio playback of
`a next channel responsiVe to Viewer input while effecting an
`update to the composited presentation.
`Because the functions and adVantages of the multiple-
`tuner Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) of
`the present inVention are based upon the ability to display
`audio, Video, graphical and textual data simultaneously,
`wherein one or more DHCT tuners receiVe all these media
`
`and data from multiple input channels, a brief summary of
`a Digital Broadband DeliVery System (DBDS) will first be
`described, including the form and type of data deliVered 0Ver
`the system to the DHCT of the present inVention. Next, a
`DHCT according to the present inVention and haVing a
`plurality of tuners to receiVe a plurality of data streams from
`one or more channels will be described. Finally, the use of
`the DHCT of the present inVention in conjunction with
`Electronic Program Guide (EPG) content will be described,
`as well as illustratiVe functions made possible by the DHCT
`of the present inVention.
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram View of a Digital Broad-
`band DeliVery System (DBDS) 10,
`including a Digital
`Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) 14 of the present
`inVention. Generally, the DBDS 10 is a high quality, reliable
`and integrated network system that features Video, audio,
`Voice and data serVices to Cable TV subscribers. Although
`FIG. 1 depicts a high leVel View of a DBDS including a
`regional HFC Access Network 38, as will be described
`below, it should be appreciated that a plurality of DBDSs
`can tie together a plurality of regional networks into an
`integrated global network so that Cable TV subscribers can
`receiVe content pr0Vided from anywhere in the world. The
`DBDS 10 shown in FIG. 1 deliVers broadcast Video signals
`as digitally formatted signals in addition to deliVering tra-
`ditional broadcast analog Video signals. Furthermore, the
`system can support one way broadcast serVices as well as
`both one-way data serVices and two-way media and data
`serVices. The two-way operation of the network allows for
`subscriber interactiVity with serVices, such as Pay-Per-View
`programming, View-on-Demand programs, and interactiVe
`applications, such as Email, Internet connections, and EPG
`applications.
`The DBDS 10 pr0Vides the interfaces, network control,
`transport control, session control, and servers to access
`content and serVices, and distributes content and serVices to
`Cable TV subscribers. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical DBDS
`10 is composed of interfaces to Content PrOViders 18,
`Network Operations Centers (N0C) 22, core networks 30 of
`
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`headends 26, hubs 34, Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) Access
`Networks 38, and subscribers’ DHCTs 14. It should be
`appreciated that although single components (e.g., headend
`26, core network 30, HFC Access network 38, etc.) are
`illustrated in FIG. 1, a DBDS 10 can feature a plurality of
`each of the illustrated components.
`The Content PrOVider 18 represents one or more pr0Viders
`of content, such as Video channels, music channels, data
`channels, Video serVices, audio serVices and data serVices.
`For example, according to one aspect of the inVention, the
`Content PrOVider 18 could comprise an Electronic Program
`Guide (EPG) data pr0Vider that acts as a data serVice
`pr0Vider. According to another aspect of the inVention, the
`Content PrOVider 18 could represent an Internet SerVice
`PrOVider
`(ISP) pr0Viding data to the system to enable
`subscribers web access or web-enhanced Video Via the
`subscriber’s teleVision set. The Content PrOVider 18 trans-
`mits the content to a headend 26 for further transmission to
`subscribers downstream in the network. Also in communi-
`
`cation with the headend 26 is a Network Operation Center
`(NOC) 22, which is an external management center inter-
`faced with the DBDS 10 to allow for the remote operation
`of the system.
`Content pr0Vided by the Content PrOVider 18 is commu-
`nicated by the Content PrOVider 18 to one or more headends
`26. From those headends 26 the content is then communi-
`
`cated to the core network 30 of hubs 34 and onto a plurality
`of Hybrid/Fiber Coax (HFC) Access Networks (only one
`HFC Access Network 38 is illustrated). The HFC Access
`Network 38 typically comprises a plurality of HFC nodes
`42, each of which may serVice a local geographical area. The
`content pr0Vided from the Content PrOVider 18 is transmit-
`ted through the headend 26, hub 34 and HFC Access
`Network 38 downstream to one or more taps 46 from each
`one of the HFC nodes 42 of the HFC Access Network 38.
`
`The hub 34 connects to the HFC node 42 through the fiber
`portion of the HFC Access Network 38. Usually, the HFC
`node 42 connects to a subscriber’s DHCT 14 through coaxial
`cable in a logical tree configuration, which is where the
`optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical conVersations
`of the HFC network take place. From the HFC node 42 a
`coaxial drop connects the tap 46 to a Network Interface
`Units (NIU) 52, which is a network demarcation point
`physically located on the side of the subscribers’ home. The
`NIU 52 pr0Vides a transparent interface between the HFC
`node 42 and the subscribers’ internal wiring. Coaxial cables
`are preferred in this part of the system because the electrical
`signals can be easily repeated with RF amplifiers. Typically,
`six amplifiers or less are located in series between the HFC
`node 42 and the subscribers’ DHCTs 14.
`As DBDSs are well known to those of skill in the art,
`further description of the DBDS 10 of FIG. 1 will not be
`contained herein. Because the form and content pr0Vided to
`the multiple-tuner DCHT of the present inVention by the
`DBDS 10 is essential to understanding the purpose, opera-
`tion and function of the multiple-tuner DHCT,
`the data
`pr0Vided by the DBDS to the multiple-tuner DCHT will next
`be discussed with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows illus-
`
`tratiVe channels supported by the DBDS, where the channels
`60, 64, 68, 72 and 76 are input into a DHCT 14 of the present
`inVention. These input channels can be pr0Vided by the one
`or more Content PrOViders 18 illustrated in FIG. 1. Addi-
`
`tionally, a few channels can be generated at a Headend 26 or
`at a Hub 34 functioning as a mini-Headend that possesses
`some Headend functionality.
`As depicted in FIG. 2, the DBDS 10 can simultaneously
`support a number of transport channel types and modulation
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`US 7,373,650 B1
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`7
`formats. The ability to carry analog and digital signals over
`a large bandwidth are characteristics of a Hybrid Fiber/Coax
`(HFC) Network typically employed in a DBDS, as in the
`DBDS 10 of FIG. 1. As will be appreciated by those of skill
`in the art, analog and digital signals in HFC networks can be
`multiplexed using Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM),
`which enables many different types of signals to be trans-
`mitted over the DBDS 10 to the DHCT 14 of the present
`invention. Typically, a DBDS using HFC supports down-
`stream (i.e., in the direction from the Headend to the DHCT)
`frequencies from 50 MHZ to 870 MHZ, whereas upstream
`frequencies (i.e., in the direction from the DHCT to higher
`levels of the system) are in the 5 MHZ to 42 MHZ band.
`Generally, the RF channel bandwidth spacing for analog and
`digital services is 6 MHZ. Furthermore, for a typical 870
`MHZ system in the U.S., a possible downstream RF spec-
`trum subdivision plan uses 6 MHZ spaced RF channels
`within the 50 MHZ to 550 MHZ band for analog Video
`carriers and within the 550 MHZ to 870 MHZ range for
`digital carriers. It should be understood that RF channels can
`be assigned to carry analog Video signals but the present
`invention is not limited to embodiments where a RF channel
`
`is assigned to carry analog video signals upon fulfillment of
`a complete transition of the DBDS to an all digital system.
`Referring again to FIG. 2,
`the downstream direction
`channels, having been multiplexed using frequency division
`multiplexing (FDM), and often referred to as in-band chan-
`nels, include Analog Transmission Channels (ATCs) 60 and
`Digital Transmission Channels (DTC) 64, 68, 72 (also
`known as Digital Transport Channels). These channels carry
`video, audio and data services. For example, these channels
`can carry television signals, Internet data, or any additional
`types of data, such as Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data.
`The signals and data carried on these channels are collec-
`tively referred to herein as services. The ATCs 60 shown in
`FIG. 2 are typically broadcast in 6 MHZ channels having an
`analog broadcast composed of analog video and analog
`audio, and include Broadcast TV Systems Committee
`(BTSC) stereo and Secondary Audio Program (SAP) audio.
`Additionally, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the
`art, additional data, such as EPG data, can be sent with the
`analog video image in the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI)
`of the video signal. It should be appreciated, however, that
`the amount of data that can be transmitted in the VBI of the
`
`analog video signal is typically significantly less than data
`transmitted in a DTC, as explained below.
`Like the ATCs 60, the DTCs 64, 68, 72 each occupy 6
`MHZ of the RF spectrum. However, the DTCs 64, 68, 72 are
`digital channels consisting of 64- or 256-Quadrature Ampli-
`tude Modulated (QAM) digital
`signals
`formatted as
`MPEG-2 transport streams, allocated in a separate frequency
`range. As will be described in more detail below,
`the
`MPEG-2 transport stream enables transmission of a plurality
`of DTC channel types over each 6 MHZ RF channel, as
`compared to a 6 MHZ ATC. The three types of digital
`transport channels illustrated in FIG. 2 include broadcast
`digital transmission channels 64, carousel digital transmis-
`sion channels 68, and on-demand transmission channels 72.
`MPEG-2 transport may be used to multiplex video, audio,
`and data in each of these Digital Transmission Channels
`(DTCs). However, because MPEG-2 transport stream mul-
`tiplex video, audio, and data to be placed into the same
`stream, the DTCs do not necessarily have to be allocated in
`separate 6 MHZ RF frequencies, unlike ATCs 60. On the
`other hand, each DTC is capable of carrying multiple
`broadcast digital video programs, multiple cycling data
`carousels containing broadcast data, and data requested
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`on-demand by the subscriber. Data is formatted, such as in
`Internet Protocol (IP), mapped into MPEG-2 packets, and
`inserted into the multiplexed MPEG-2 transport stream.
`According to one aspect of the invention, encryption can be
`applied to the data stream for security so that the data, such
`as EPG data, may be received only by authorized DHCTs.
`For instance, one individual subscriber may be authorized to
`receive minimal set of EPG data, while others may be
`authorized additional incremental amounts of EPG d