(12) United States Patent
`Hicks, III et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,601,519 B1
`Dec. 3, 2013
`
`USOO86O1519 B1
`
`(54) DIGITAL RESIDENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT
`SYSTEM
`(75) Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Roswell, GA
`(US); Randy Scott Zimler, Gainesville,
`GA (US)
`(73) Assignee: AE ly Property I, L.P.,
`anla,
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1449 days.
`
`Dec. 28, 2000
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(22) Filed:
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04N 7/8
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ................... T25/78: 725/74. 725/79: 72.5/80:
`s 725 /81. 725 /82. 725783
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`s
`s
`USPC ................................................ 725,74,7883,
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`EP
`EP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`JP
`
`4f1988
`0 288 928 A2
`O 873 014 A1 10, 1998
`O910 188 A1 g 1999
`40-6030470 A
`2, 1994
`40-6165.179 A
`6, 1994
`40-9121335 A
`5, 1997
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`8, 1997
`40-9224234 A
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ramanathan et al., "Home Network Controller: A Cost-Effective
`Method for Providing Broadband Access to Residential Subscrib
`ers'. International Conference on Consumer Electronics-Digest of
`Tech. Papers, Rosemont, Jun. 7-9, 1995. IEEE, pp. 378-379, Jul. 6,
`1995."
`Primary Examiner — Dominic D Saltarelli
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Scott P. Zimmerman, PLLC
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention is a comprehensive digital residential
`entertainment system. A system includes a data Switch, a
`mass storage device, a tuner and a demodulator. The data
`Switch has a plurality of Switch ports, and the mass storage
`device is coupled to a switch port of the plurality of switch
`ports of the data switch. The tuner selects an information
`channel of a plurality of information channels. The demodu
`lator is coupled to a switch port of the plurality of switch ports
`of the data switch and to the tuner. A Web-based graphical
`user interface can be provided for accessing and controlling
`the features and functions of the digital residential entertain
`ment system.
`
`9 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`11
`
`20
`
`SS3 &
`
`21
`
`CATW
`
`32
`
`5
`
`2
`RESIDENTA H. BROADBAND
`GATEWAY
`DATA
`80
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1205
`
`

`

`US 8,601,519 B1
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
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`JP
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`1, 1998
`JP
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`9, 1998
`JP
`O2-00035O179 A 12/2000
`JP
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`JP
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`8, 2001
`JP
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`1, 1997
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`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`mD
`Dec. 3, 2013
`31023,
`
`%hS
`Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 8,601,519 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 3, 2013
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`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 8,601,519 B1
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`
`Dec. 3, 2013
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`Sheet 3 of6
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`US 8,601,519 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 3, 2013
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`Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 8,601,519 B1
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`
`405
`A PLURALITY OF TRANSMISSION
`SIGNALSARE RECEIVED, EACH
`TRANSMISSIONSIGNAL INCLUDING
`AN INFORMATIONSGNA
`
`410
`AFIRST TRANSMISSIONSIGNAL OF
`THE PLURALITY OF TRANSMISSION
`SIGNALS SSELECTED
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`NFORMATIONSGNAL TO A FIRST
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`BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS LINK
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`SIGNAL TO BE RECORDED?
`
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`STORED ONAMASS STORAGE
`DEVICE
`
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`FROM THE SECOND INFORMATION
`APPLIANCE WATHE SECONO
`BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS
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`SECOND INFORMATION SIGNAL
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`INSTRUCTION TO SENDA SECOND
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`PROCESSOR
`
`450
`THE PROCESSORSENDSA SELECT
`SECONDTRANSMISSION
`NSTRUCTION
`
`455
`THE SECONDTRANSMISSION
`SIGNAL OF THE PLURALITY OF
`TRANSMISSION SIGNALS IS
`SELECTED
`
`460
`THE SECONDTRANSMISSION
`SIGNALS DEMODULATED TO
`SOLATEA SESNFORMATION
`465
`THE SECOND INFORMATION
`SIGNAL SSENT TO THE DIGITAL
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`
`470
`THE DIGITAL DATA SWCSENDS
`THE SECOND INFORMATION
`SGNAL WATHE SECOND
`BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS
`LINK TO THE SECOND
`INFORMATIONAPPANCE
`
`END
`
`FIG. 4
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`US 8,601,519 B1
`
`1.
`DIGITAL RESIDENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT
`SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to entertainment systems.
`More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and
`methods for digital residential entertainment systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`2
`including Web-enablement, a hard drive, a second tuner).
`Although many consumers will have multiple digital STBs in
`their homes, it is likely that only one digital STB per home
`will be an enhanced digital STB. Therefore, consumers will
`only have access to enhanced services—such as video/audio
`on demand, interactive TV. Web surfing, e-mail, electronic
`shopping and recording/storing/playback of broadcast pro
`grams—when they are using their enhanced digital STB.
`In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a Sub
`stantial need exists for systems and methods that can advan
`tageously provide for a comprehensive digital residential
`entertainment system.
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Consumers’ homes typically include separate physical net
`works to support the distribution of video, audio, telephony,
`and data. For example, coaxial cable (Such as quad-shielded
`RG6 coax), is often installed in homes for the distribution of
`audio/video (e.g., cable television (“CATV), satellite broad
`cast television, local broadcast television) signals, while
`speaker wire is installed for the distribution of audio signals.
`Conventional home phone lines carry telephony and data. For
`example, the HomePhoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA)
`2.0 specification Supports networking speeds of 10 megabits
`per second (Mb/S). Twisted pair wiring, such as Category of
`Performance 5 (“CAT5'), CAT5e, CAT 6, or CAT 7, can be
`installed to Support telephony networking and broadband
`data networking. CAT 5 cabling can Support applications
`requiring a carrier frequency of up to 100 megahertz (“MHz),
`and CAT 5e cabling can Support signaling rates of up to 200
`MHz over distances of up to 100 meters. Proposed cabling
`standards (proposed as of July, 2000) CAT 6 and CAT 7 are
`intended to support signaling rates of up to 250MHz and 600
`MHz respectively. Broadband data networking can also be
`supported by optical fiber cabling, such as Optical Carrier 3
`(“OC-3') or better. OC-3 fiber cabling can support data trans
`mission rates of up to 155.52 Mb/S.
`To support delivery of integrated services (e.g., Web-en
`hanced TV) over these separate physical networks, known
`digital set top boxes (“STBs) typically have a plurality of
`physical interfaces for connection to the separate networks,
`e.g., a coax network interface for delivery of audio-video, a
`twisted pair network interface for broadband data network
`ing, and other types of networks. In addition to having sepa
`rate physical networks to handle video distribution, audio
`distribution, telephony networking, and broadband data net
`working, consumers often must learn to use different user
`interfaces for accessing and using video, audio, telephony and
`broadband data networking applications and services.
`In the direct digital broadcast satellite TV business and in
`the digital cable TV business, service providers have started
`to introduce enhanced digital STBs that are Web-enabled and
`include computer hard drives for Supporting the recording,
`storage, and playback of broadcast content. In addition, some
`enhanced digital STBs include two tuners so that a consumer
`can be watching one program while recording another pro
`gram. The enhanced digital STBs can provide for pay-per
`view movie delivery, but such services typically require the
`consumer to select a pay-per-view that is pre-scheduled for a
`particular time. For example, the consumer may have the
`choice of watching the pay-per-view movie at 8:00 p.m. or at
`9:00 p.m. If the consumer, for example, wanted to watch the
`pay-per-view movie beginning at 7:00 p.m., she nevertheless
`would have to wait until 8:00 p.m. to begin viewing the
`pay-per-view movie.
`The enhanced digital STBs are usually more expensive
`than a basic digital STB. Service providers have estimated
`that most households will be unlikely to purchase more than
`one of the enhanced digital STBs because of the significantly
`higher costs associated with the enhanced digital STBs (e.g.,
`
`Systems and methods inaccordance with the embodiments
`of the present invention disclosed herein can advantageously
`provide a comprehensive digital residential entertainment
`system. In an embodiment, a digital residential entertainment
`system can provide access to multimedia content over an
`in-house broadband data network that is coupled to a data
`Switch, a mass storage device and a variety of information
`appliances. The broadband data network can include Cat
`egory 5 or better twisted pair wiring that can Support the
`distribution of broadcast video, multimedia-on-demand ser
`vices, broadcast audio, Web surfing, and other multimedia
`applications and services.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
`comprehensive digital residential entertainment system is
`based on a client/server architecture. A core element of the
`system is a broadband multimedia gateway (BMG) that can
`operate both as a multimedia gateway and content server
`within a client/server architecture. The BMG contains an
`Ethernet switch that, in an embodiment, is capable of data
`communications of at least 100 Mbps per switch port. The
`BMG can receive video, audio and otherforms of multimedia
`content from a variety of broadcasts (e.g., direct digital broad
`cast satellite TV, digital cable TV, terrestrial broadcast analog
`and/or digital TV), Intranet, and Internet sources. The BMG
`can deliver multimedia content to a wide range of information
`appliances, such as digital televisions, computers, sound sys
`tems, electronic book displays, and graphical data tablets. In
`an embodiment, a BMG contains a Web server and supports
`user access to and control of the BMG functionality via a
`Web-based graphical user interface.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodi
`ment of a broadband multimedia gateway.
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of a thin-client digital set top box
`according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 5 shows a data table in accordance with an embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present inven
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`OVERVIEW
`
`25
`
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`According to the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, a comprehensive digital residential entertainment
`system can provide access to multimedia content over an
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`in-home broadband data network coupled to a variety of
`information appliances. A primary broadband data network is
`implemented over twisted pair (Category 5 or better) wiring
`in conjunction with Ethernet Switch technology operating, in
`an embodiment, at a minimum of 100 Mbps. In general,
`twisted pair wiring is easier and cheaper to install than the
`coaxial wiring that is typically installed in homes to distribute
`video content. When used with Ethernet switch technology,
`twisted pair wiring is capable of supporting the distribution of
`broadcast quality entertainment video, Such as direct digital
`broadcast satellite TV or digital cable TV, as well as, simul
`taneously supporting a wide range of multimedia applications
`and services.
`Within the digital residential entertainment system, the
`primary broadband data network can be Supplemented and
`extended by the addition of plug-in modules for other lower
`bandwidth data networking technologies, such as Home
`Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) Version 2.0,
`HomeRF Shared Wireless Access Protocol (Home RF
`SWAP), IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, and other similar technolo
`gies. For example, HomePNA Version 2.0 allows for the
`multiplexing of 10Mbps of data over existing phone wiring in
`the home without interfering with analog telephony Services
`operating over the same telephone wiring. HomeRF, IEEE
`802.11 and Bluetooth are wireless data, or voice/data, tech
`nologies. Within the digital residential entertainment system,
`HomePNA, HomeRF, IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth can prin
`cipally be used for transmitting lower bandwidth multimedia
`content, such as audio content, as opposed to entertainment
`quality audio-video transmitted over the primary broadband
`data network. As newer technology emerges that improves
`the performance characteristics of HomePNA and "wireless”
`technology, entertainment quality audio-video can be Sup
`ported over what is defined today as lower bandwidth tech
`nologies.
`In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
`digital residential entertainment system is based on a client/
`server architecture. A core element of the system is a broad
`band multimedia gateway (BMG) that can operate both as a
`multimedia gateway and content server within a client/server
`architecture. It contains an Ethernet Switch that, in a typical
`embodiment, is capable of data communications of at least
`100Mbps per switch port. The BMG can receive video, audio
`and other forms of multimedia content from a variety of
`broadcasts (e.g., direct digital broadcast satellite TV, digital
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`cable TV, terrestrial broadcast analog and/or digital TV),
`Intranet, and Internet Sources. As used to describe embodi
`ments of the present invention, the term “multimedia encom
`passes video, audio, audio-video, text, graphics, facsimile,
`data, animation, and combinations thereof. The BMG can
`deliver multimedia content to a wide range of information
`appliances, such as digital televisions, computers, sound sys
`tems, electronic book displays, and graphical data tablets.
`A digital residential entertainment system can include a
`BMG that has multiple tuner/demodulators which receive
`broadcast multimedia content and send the received tuner/
`demodulators have a shared communication link to a Switch
`port of the Ethernet switch. Upon receiving multimedia con
`tent, the BMG can transmit the multimedia content through
`the Ethernet switch over the twisted pair data network to an
`information appliance (e.g., a thin-client digital set-top box,
`an audio system, a wireless MP3 player, or a wireless elec
`tronic device), store the multimedia content for future access,
`or transmit and store coincidentally (e.g., simultaneously).
`The BMG includes a mass storage device (e.g., a computer
`hard drive) that can store multimedia content from broadcast
`Sources, an Intranet or the Internet.
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`In an embodiment, multimedia content can be stored in an
`encrypted format on the mass storage device. Thin-client
`information appliances, such as digital STBs, can include
`decoding and/or deciphering capabilities. Encryption of mul
`timedia content can ensure that proprietary and/or copy
`righted material is protected as it is transmitted across the
`residential broadband data network. Conditional access sys
`tems ("CAS) using Smartcard technology, such as those
`manufactured by NagraCard S.A. of Cheseaux, Switzerland
`and NDS Group PLC of the United Kingdom, can be inte
`grated in the entertainment system.
`The BMG can manage multiple demodulators/tuners to
`allow recording one or more broadcast programs while
`watching another broadcast program. A program that is being
`watched can also be recorded to provide a viewer of the
`program with the ability to control the playback of the pro
`gram (e.g., the ability to pause, rewind, and so forth). Multi
`media content that is stored on the BMG can be accessed from
`any of the information appliances on the broadband home
`network.
`In an embodiment, the BMG can include a Web-server to
`support a structured, Web browser-based user interface on
`each information appliance coupled to the BMG, such as
`digital STBs, audio systems, wireless MP3 players and wire
`less electronic books. For example, an infrared remote control
`and/or an optional wireless keyboard can communicate with
`a digital STB to interact with the Web browser-based graphi
`cal user interface that is presented on an information appli
`ance such as a TV screen. The Web browser-based graphical
`user interface may be used to access broadcast and on-de
`mand video and audio content and multimedia applications
`and services. Because the enhanced functionality resides in
`the central BMG as opposed to peripheral thick-client digital
`STBs, a broad range of functionality, including record/store/
`playback of broadcast programs, video/audio on demand,
`interactive TV. Web Surfing, e-mail and electronic shopping,
`is accessible from everythin-client digital STB in the home.
`For example, to view broadcast video content, a consumer
`can use an infrared remote control to select the content that he
`or she wants to view by utilizing a broadcast program guide,
`a search function, entering a channel number, and so on. After
`the consumer makes a selection, the thin-client digital STB
`communicates with the BMG requesting that the digital mul
`timedia content be delivered to the digital STB. When the
`consumer selects playing of a broadcast satellite television
`channel, for example, the BMG can tune a demodulator/tuner
`to the selected broadcast channel and begin streaming the
`selected MPEG video stream through the Ethernet switch and
`over the twisted pair wiring to the digital STB where the video
`steam is decoded and displayed on the TV. Service providers
`will be able to download multimedia content, such as movies,
`to the mass storage device of the BMG. The downloading can
`be accomplished using a broadband data service to the home,
`such as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), or
`via a satellite direct multicast/broadcast service. In a movies
`on-demand service, when a consumer wants to watch a
`movie, they would use their infrared remote control to access
`a Web page on the BMG Web server to determine what
`movies are currently stored on the BMG. After the consumer
`selects a movie for viewing, the BMG would begin streaming
`the selected movie out to the thin-client digital STB/TV for
`viewing. While viewing a movie-on-demand, a consumer
`would have playback control. Such as play, pause, stop,
`rewind and fast forward. The consumer could also opt to
`purchase a personal copy of the movie. The copy could be
`stored on the BMG, or output to separate mass storage
`medium (e.g., written to a Digital Versatile Disc). Audio
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`content, such as an albums-on-demand service, could be
`implemented in a similar manner to allow playback and pur
`chasing of audio content.
`The preferred embodiment of the digital residential enter
`tainment system is to couple the BMG to a residential gate
`way, where the residential gateway is coupled to analways-on
`broadband data service, such as ADSL or a fiber optic service.
`The BMG can be installed in homes without a residential
`gateway and/or a broadband data service. When the BMG is
`installed in homes without a broadband data service, the
`BMG can be coupled to a Voiceband analog modem (e.g., a
`V.90 modem) coupled to an analog telephone line. The dial
`up voiceband analog modem may be used to Support mainte
`nance, administration and billing applications (e.g., billing
`for movies-on-demand, music-on-demand).
`As consumer data services offering significantly higher
`bandwidth to the home become available, such as fiber optical
`networks extending into the home, it will be possible to install
`a BMG, or a system with comparable functionality, outside of
`the home in a network-based platform.
`Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously
`provide:
`1. A common physical network in the home that Supports
`the distribution of broadcast video, the distribution of audio,
`telephony networking, and broadband data networking, as
`opposed to using separate networks;
`2. Less expensively installed twisted pair wiring can be
`installed for the distribution of broadcast quality entertain
`ment video content as compared to a discrete coaxial cable
`system for the distribution of broadcast quality entertainment
`video content;
`3. A relatively consistent, easy-to-use, Web-browser-based
`user interface can provide a user access to broadcast and
`on-demand video and audio content, as well as multimedia
`applications and services, on a range of information appli
`ances,
`4. Consumer access to many enhanced services—such as
`video/audio on demand, interactive TV. Web surfing, e-mail,
`electronic shopping and recording/storing/playback of
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`broadcast programs from each thin-client digital STB/TV
`in the home;
`5. Quality of Service (QoS) concerns associated with deliv
`ering multimedia content via an Ethernet Internet Protocol
`(IP) can be addressed because each information appliance,
`Such as a thin-client digital STB, is connected to a respective
`port on an Ethernet switch that is operating at a speed of 100
`Mbps or higher. In an embodiment, each demodulator/tuner
`and the mass data storage device are also connected to a
`respective port on the Ethernet switch; and
`6. Centralized functionality in the BMG and use of Ether
`net interfaces withina thin-client digital STBs that can reduce
`the complexity and cost of digital STBs.
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`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention. A BMG 100 includes a data switch
`101 coupled to a tuner/demodulator 102 and a mass storage
`device 103. As used to describe embodiments of the present
`invention, the term “coupled encompasses a direct connec
`tion, an indirect connection, or a combination thereof. More
`over, two devices that are coupled can engage in direct com
`munications, in indirect communications, or a combination
`thereof. In an embodiment, the data switch 101 is an Ethernet
`switch, such as a 100Base-T Ethernet switch. In another
`embodiment, the data Switch 101 is a router.
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`Tuner/demodulator 102 can be coupled to one or more of a
`plurality of multimedia transmission systems, where each
`multimedia transmission system transmits a plurality of
`transmission signals (e.g., audio, video, television, data, etc.).
`Examples of multimedia transmission systems include
`CATV, direct broadcast satelliteTV, direct broadcast satellite
`radio, terrestrial broadcast TV, terrestrial broadcast radio, and
`so forth. Tuner/demodulator 102 can be coupled to a CATV
`system (e.g., a headend of a CATV system) via communica
`tions link32 (e.g., a coaxial cable). A plurality of transmission
`signals from a direct broadcast satellite TV system including
`satellite 20 and satellite dish 21 can be received by tuner/
`demodulator 102 via communications link 22. Also, tuner/
`demodulator 102 can be coupled to a terrestrial broadcast TV
`system via transmitter 10, antenna 11, and communications
`link 12.
`The plurality of transmission signals from the multimedia
`transmission systems can be transmitted over a plurality of
`information channels, such as, for example, frequency
`divided information channels, time divided information
`channels, code divided information channels, wave divided
`information channels, or dense wave divided information
`channels. A tuner of tuner/demodulator 102 can select an
`information channel of the plurality of information channels
`and pass a transmission signal to a demodulator of tuner/
`demodulator 102. The demodulator of tuner/demodulator
`102 can extract an information signal from the transmission
`signal. For example, a tuner can pass a transmission signal at
`a particular frequency to a demodulator, and the demodulator
`can extract the information signal from the transmission sig
`nal. In Such an example, the transmission signal includes a
`carrier signal and an information signal. The information
`signal can be a discrete (i.e., singular) information signal or a
`multiplexed, composite information signal. For example, a
`multiplexed, composite information signal may contain a
`plurality of information signals where discrete information
`signals are time-division multiplexed, frequency-division
`multiplexed, and/or code-division multiplexed. Accordingly,
`tuner/demodulator 102 can include a plurality of tuners and/
`or demodulators to isolate an information signal that is mul
`tiply multiplexed (e.g., frequency-multiplexed and time-mul
`tiplexed).
`The information signal can be an analog information signal
`ora digital information signal. When the information signal is
`an analog information signal, an analog-to-digital converter
`can convert the analog information signal to a digital infor
`mation signal (e.g., a Motion Picture Experts Group 2
`(MPEG-2) signal). In an embodiment, a BMG can support
`multiple MPEG2 encoding sessions (e.g., two or more
`MPEG2 encoding sessions) and handle overlay processing.
`An example of overlay processing is presenting MPEG2 or
`other digital information in a multiple layerformat. In another
`embodiment, a service application running on a BMG system
`can Support transparent layers such as, for example, overlay
`ing a Web page on top of a TV program image used for
`int