United States Patent (19)
`Kostreski et al.
`
`[54] SIMULCASTING DIGITAL VIDEO
`PROGRAMS FOR BROADCAST AND
`INTERACTIVE SERVICES
`.
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Bruce Kostreski. Wheaton, Md.; Allan
`Schneider, Falls Church, Va.
`
`(73] Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.,
`Arlington, Va.
`
`(21] Appl. No.: 491,515
`Jon. 19, 1995
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63]
`
`[51]
`(52]
`
`[58]
`
`Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 405,558, Mar. 16, 1995,
`Pat No. 5,651,010.
`Int. CL 6
`............................ _. B84B 7/005; H04J 4/00
`U.S. CI . .............................. 370/522; 370/535; 348n;
`455/4.1
`Field of Search ............................... 370/50, 69.1, 73,
`370/75, 84, 112. 108, 100.L 485, 312,
`486,487,496.522,523,535.537,538;
`348n. 6. 12. 13, 21,423.385, 387, 723;
`455/4.1, 4.2, 3.1, 51.1, 51.2. 5.1; 375/11,
`99, 356; 364/514 R
`
`[56]
`
`References Qted
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`[57]
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`To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data net(cid:173)
`work is combined with a broadband digital broadcast net(cid:173)
`work. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network
`utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites
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`the service area Customer premises receiving systems
`include a receiving antenna and one or more digital enter(cid:173)
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`and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream
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`program information from the transport stream for
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`selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The
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`data network provides transport for data communications
`between other data devices.
`
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`83 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 36
`
`

`

`5,729,549
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`
`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 36
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 36
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 12
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`5,729,549
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 36
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
`
`5,729,549
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`
`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 36
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`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 17, 1998
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`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 36
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`Mar. 17, 1998
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 36
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 17, 1998
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`Sheet 7 of 12
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 17, 1998
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`Sheet 8 of 12
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`APPLE INC. / Page 10 of 36
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`Mar. 17, 1998
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`Sheet 9 of 12
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`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
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`5,729,549
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 12 of 36
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 13 of 36
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`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 14 of 36
`
`

`

`5,729,549
`
`1
`SIMULCASTING DIGITAL VIDEO
`PROGRAMS FOR BROADCAST AND
`INTERACTIVE SERVICES
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/405,558 filed Mar. 16, 1995 entitled
`"SIMULTANEOUS OVERLAPPING BROADCASTING
`OF DIGITAL PROGRAMS", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,651.010,
`the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety
`by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention relates to wireless distribution of
`program information, e.g. video, audio and data. More
`specifically, the present invention relates to a broadband
`network providing substantially concurrent distribution of
`multiple RF channels from separately located transmitters, 20
`each RF channel carrying a digital transport stream contain(cid:173)
`ing multiplexed data relating to a plurality of different
`programs, in combination with wireless packet data trans(cid:173)
`port of signaling information for data and interactive ser-
`vices.
`
`2
`ers and other types of receivers, in the exact same manner as
`for a cable television system. The headend system H fre(cid:173)
`quency multiplexes those television program signals into a
`combined spectrum signal in the 50-450 Mhz range. This
`5 combined signal has a frequency distribution similar to that
`found on a cable television network. The headend system
`upconverts the combined spectrum signal to the UHF fre(cid:173)
`quency range, typically centered around 2.6 Ghz. The hea(cid:173)
`dend system supplies the UHF signal to a single transmitter
`10 antenna tower T which broadcasts the signal to subscribers
`who each have an individual home receiving system. Inter(cid:173)
`activity requires use of separate telephone line
`communications, and as a result, typically is very limited.
`For example, a subscriber can call in to the headend to order
`15 pay-per-view events via the telephone network. and the
`headend transmits one or more codes to the subscriber's
`receiver system to enable descrambling of encoded pay-per(cid:173)
`view programs.
`If the telephone line communication involves data
`reporting, e.g. transferring records of programs viewed to
`the headend, then a modem in or associated with the
`converter/descrambler box can transfer the information via
`a telephone line at some time not typically used for normal
`telephone conversation, for example between 2:00AM and
`25 4:00AM. Such off-hours telephone line communications,
`however, do not offer real time interactivity.
`Telephone line data communications associated with
`video programming can provide interactivity, for example to
`permit ordering of items presented on home shopping chan-
`30 nels. However, one user on the premises ties up the tele(cid:173)
`phone line during such interactions. Other users viewing
`televisions in other locations in the home can not conduct
`interactive session unless there is a corresponding number of
`telephone lines to the customer premises. The interaction via
`the telephone line also prevents normal use of the line until
`the interactive session is complete.
`Proposals have been made to provide a wireless signalling
`channel for use with the wireless cable service. Specifically.
`the proposed system would use bandwidth otherwise allo(cid:173)
`cable to video channels to provide a shared use return data
`channel for upstream interactive signaling. This type of
`proposal, however, utilizes an extremely scarce resource, i.e.
`available channel capacity, and would require FCC autho(cid:173)
`rization. Use of such a channel with a shared transmit and
`receive antenna also would be subject to cross-talk
`interference, unless substantial guard-bands were provided.
`Substantial guard-bands. however, further reduce available
`channel capacity.
`With the telephone line approaches, the telephone net(cid:173)
`work already exists, and the video service provider need not
`incur any additional expense in developing the network for
`carrying the return channel data. With the wireless return
`channel type of proposal, however. the return channel and
`equipment for processing signals on that channel are dedi(cid:173)
`cated to the interactive portion of the wireless cable video
`service. As a financial matter, this approach forces the
`wireless video services to support the entire cost of the
`associated infrastructure. At least initially. the number of
`60 subscnbers actually using interactive services will not pro(cid:173)
`vide sufficient revenue to support the cost of the wireless
`back-channel equipment.
`From this discussion. it should be clear that a need exists
`for a cost effective system for providing real-time interactive
`65 services in combination with a wireless cable television
`system. without disrupting other communication services. A
`variety of other needs arise out of the number and transmis-
`
`35
`
`40
`
`BACKGROUND ARf
`"Wrreless cable" is a term usually used to refer to a
`multi-channel video distribution medium that resembles
`franchise cable television, but which uses microwave chan(cid:173)
`nels rather than coaxial cable or wire to transmit programing
`to the subscriber. Programming for wireless cable systems is
`received at the headend of the wireless cable system in the
`same manner as it is for landline based cable television.
`These programs are then re-transmitted, utilizing the high
`end of the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) portion of the
`microwave radio frequency spectrum (2.1 to 2. 7 GHz), by a
`microwave transmitting antenna located on a tower or other
`tall structure to small antennas on subscriber rooftops,
`typically within a 40 mile radius.
`At the subscriber's location, microwave signals are
`received by an antenna, down-converted and passed through
`conventional coaxial cable to a descrambling converter
`located on top of a television set. The signals are converted 45
`at the antenna location to lower frequencies in order to be
`carried over conventional in-house cable to a converter box,
`decoded and then output to a standard television set.
`Because wireless cable signals are transmitted over the air
`rather than through underground or above-ground cable 50
`networks, wireless systems are less susceptible to outages
`and are less expensive to operate and maintain than fran(cid:173)
`chise cable systems. Most service problems experienced by
`wireless cable subscribers are home-specific rather than
`neighborhood-wide, as is frequently the case with franchise 55
`cable systems.
`As a general matter, the transmission of wireless frequen(cid:173)
`cies requires clear line-of-sight (LOS) between the trans(cid:173)
`mitter and the receiving antenna. Buildings, dense foliage
`and topography can cause signal interference which can
`diminish or block signals. Certain LOS constraints can be
`reduced by increasing transmission power and using engi(cid:173)
`neering techniques such as pre-amplifiers and signal repeat(cid:173)
`ers.
`In a typical prior art system, such as shown in HG. 1, a
`headend system H receives a number of analog television
`program signals from a variety of satellite down-linkreceiv-
`
`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 15 of 36
`
`

`

`5,729,549
`
`3
`sion characteristics of the channels utilized for wireless
`cable type services, as discussed below.
`FIG. IA shows a typical service area for a wireless cable
`type system of the type shown in FIG. 1. In accord with
`relevant regulations, the wireless cable operator has a pro(cid:173)
`tected or 'primary' reception area P. At the relevant frequen(cid:173)
`cies here under consideration, the primary area P is a circle
`having a radius of 15 miles from the operator's transmitter
`T. Within this area, the operator is guaranteed that there will
`be no interference with his transmissions on the assigned
`frequency channel(s). However, at the allowable power
`levels, the transmissions from antenna tower T will propa(cid:173)
`gate out over a secondary area S having a radius of up to 40
`miles. Within the secondary area, some locations will
`receive sufficient signal strength to utilize the wireless cable
`services.
`UHF signals in the relevant frequency band arrive at the
`customer location by direct line-of-sight (LOS)
`transmission. Typically an elliptical dish shaped antenna
`18-36 inches long, formed of parallel curved elements, is
`aimed from the subscriber location to receive the strongest
`signal from the transmitter. The captured signals are down(cid:173)
`converted at the antenna from the microwave band to the
`broadcast band and transmitted via coaxial wiring into the
`house. For scrambled signals (the typical case), a set top
`converter functionally similar to a cable set top box is used
`In many UHF installations, to conserve UHF capacity for
`premium services, a VHF/UHF off-air broadcast receive
`antenna is installed with the UHF antenna to pick up the
`local programming.
`The evolution of wireless cable may be briefly summa(cid:173)
`rized as follows. Wireless cable technology has existed in a
`single channel version for commercial purposes since the
`1970's and had been available even longer for educational
`use. In mid-1983, the FCC, invoking the need to promote
`competition with conventional cable television systems,
`established a change in the rules for using a portion of the
`microwave spectrum previously designated for educational
`use. In the past, 28 microwave channels had been available
`to accredited and non-profit educational organizations for
`educational use exclusively by Instructional Television
`Fixed Service (ITFS) operators. The new rules reallocated
`eight of those channels for outright commercial use, and
`educational organizations were permitted to lease excess
`hours on the remaining 20 channels to commercial opera(cid:173)
`tors. In any local market, this makes it possible for a
`commercial operator to combine available time on any or all
`of those 28 channels with five other channels already
`available for commercial use. Thus, under the current FCC
`rules, the available spectrum results in a maximum of 33
`analog channels. This number of 'wireless cable' channels is
`less than the number offered on many competing franchise
`type cable television systems.
`Since 1983 spectrum blocks in the 2.1-2.7 Ghz range
`have been allocated for the purpose of delivering video
`content from a single transmit site to multiple receive
`locations. A total of 198 Mhz has been allocated for down(cid:173)
`stream transmissions for the wireless cable service. The
`channelization and transmission modulation (6 Mhz ampli(cid:173)
`tude modulation/vestigial side band) are equivalent to broad(cid:173)
`cast TV or cable but up-converted to the assigned micro(cid:173)
`wave frequencies.
`The relevant portion of the UHF spectrum was originally
`licensed in blocks of four video channels each separately
`licensed with each block allocated to a specific purpose.
`Five blocks, each with four channels, were allocated to
`
`5
`
`4
`instructional Television Fixed Service (IlFS). Two blocks of
`four channels were made available to anyone wishing to
`provide an alternative multi-channel video program service.
`The final four channels were licensed individually to insti-
`tutions for the purpose of providing a private video network.
`Through licensing and leasing arrangements, the FCC now
`allows all of the channels to be aggregated for the purpose
`of providing an alternative to cable television.
`The 33 channels potentially available to wireless cable
`10 operators thus are subdivided into two types of channels.
`Twenty channels are referred to as IlFS. The remaining 13
`channels are generally referred to as Multi-channel Multi(cid:173)
`point Distribution Service (MMDS).
`In many ways, current typical UHF wireless TV is equiva-
`15 lent to a low tier franchise cable television system (i.e.
`having relatively few channels), with the only real difference
`lying in the medium used to transport signals from the
`headend to the customer. Functionally identical headend
`equipment is utilized in both systems. In the case of UHF
`20 service, signals leave the headeod via a microwave trans(cid:173)
`mitter. With cable television, the same signals leave the
`headeod on fiber or coaxial cable facilities.
`Wireless cable technology provides a relatively low cost
`medium to transmit video and does not require extensive
`25 coaxial cable networks, amplifiers and related equipment.
`The three major advantages of such service are variable cost
`technology where capital is spent in establishing cash flows,
`manageable financial risk because of variable costs, and the
`possibility of establishing broad based market entry more
`30 quickly than is feasible with wireline based video systems.
`Wireless cable systems are attractive to potential subscribers
`not yet served by franchise cable operators and can provide
`customers in cabled areas with an economical alternative to
`both existing franchise cable and satellite television recep-
`35 tion systems. However, the current analog technology pre(cid:173)
`sents several problems which have severely limited actual
`use of 'wireless cable'.
`Propagation characteristics at the relevant UHF operating
`frequencies require clear line-of-sight (LOS) between the
`40 transmit and receive antennas for reliable service reception.
`Both natural obstructions such as hills and vegetation, and
`man-made obstructions such as buildings, water towers and
`the like, limit the actual households capable of receiving an
`LOS transmission. FIG. lA shows a simplified example of
`45 one such obstruction 0. As illustrated, the obstruction O is
`within the primary reception area P. The obstruction blocks
`line-of-sight transmissions from transmitter antenna tower T
`in a radially extending blockage or shadow area B. Receiv(cid:173)
`ing systems within this area can not receive the transmis-
`50 sions from antenna T, and potential customers in that area B
`can not subscribe to the wireless cable services broadcast
`from that tower.
`One solution to the blockage problem has been to provide
`repeaters. A repeater receives the primary transmission from
`55 tower T on the tower side of the obstruction, amplifies the
`signal if necessary. and retransmits the signal into the area
`of blockage. This may be an effective solution to one
`blockage or obstruction 0, but in many major metropolitan
`areas there are many obstructions. The power levels of such
`60 repeaters tend to be low. necessitating use of a large number
`of repeaters. Also, because of delays and multipath effects,
`repeater transmissions may interfere with reception from the
`primary source in areas close to the blockage area B.
`Overcoming blockages using repeaters together with the
`65 necessity for minimizing the attendant distortions that result
`when amplifying combined RF channels would therefore
`require an inordinate number of repeaters.
`
`Ex.1031
`APPLE INC. / Page 16 of 36
`
`

`

`5,729,549
`
`5
`
`5
`In the industry, a nominal figure for households reachable
`by LOS is 70%, even with a small, commercially practical
`number of repeaters. This projected number, however, is
`based solely on computer models, not actual field measure(cid:173)
`ments. It is believed that actual coverage by the current
`wireless cable technology in the UHF medium is consider(cid:173)
`ably lower. Typical antenna heights required to achieve the
`present level of coverage in commercial service are 800-plus
`feet for transmitters and 30-60 feet for receivers. That
`means that many receive antennas must be mounted atop 10
`masts or nearby trees as an alternative to a rooftop mounting.
`While current regulations provide a 15 mile protected ser(cid:173)
`vice area for MMDS, it is desired that e:ffective system
`coverage for approximately 40-70% of the affected house(cid:173)
`holds may be achieved to a 40 mile radius from the trans- 15
`mitter antenna and using relatively low roof-mounted
`receiving antennae wherever possible.
`Besides signal blockage, several other propagation factors
`can a:ffect reliable UHF service delivery. One factor is
`multi-path reflections of the desired signal arriving at the 20
`receiver by way of differing paths and therefore arriving
`with slight delay. For analog video signals, multi-path
`appears as ghost images on the viewer's TV. For digital
`signals, multi-path can cause intersymbol interference that
`results in multiple bit errors. In either case, near-coincident 25
`multi-path signals can cause a degree of signal cancellation
`that looks like additional propagation loss. Multi-path also
`results from reflections and di:ffraction.
`Path fading is another significant coverage factor. Tune(cid:173)
`variant path fading can result from atmospheric e:ffects, e.g.,
`temperature or pressure inversions. Weather inversions can
`result in an upward bending of the wave front due to
`refraction. There are engineering measures to mitigate the
`troublesome e:ffects of time-variant path fading, such as
`suitable fade margins and antenna diversity.
`In the paging and radio communication fields, various
`systems of sequencing and simulcasting have been proposed
`to achieve some increased coverage. Examples of typical
`proposed systems are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
`r