throbber
(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0023264 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Feb. 21, 2002
`Aaltonen et al.
`
`US 20020O23264A1
`
`(54) BROADCAST NETWORK
`(76) Inventors: Janne Aaltonen, Turku (FI); Juha
`Salo, Littoinen (FI)
`Correspondence Address:
`ANTONELL TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
`SUTE 1800
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`ARLINGTON, VA 22209
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/893,418
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 29, 2001
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jun. 29, 2000 (GB)......................................... OO16065.5
`
`Publication Classification
`
`... H04N 7/16; H04N 7/173
`(51) Int. CI.7.
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................. 725/62; 72.5/109
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A broadcast network 1 is described in which to improve
`network efficiency and quality of Service, a particular trans
`mitter 11a within the network 1 is selected to transmit
`content to a particular, preferably mobile terminal 3. The
`selection of the transmitter 11a is carried out by reference to
`information available in a second network 27, the user of the
`terminal 3 having a further terminal 12 connected to the
`Second network 27 and either integrated with or in close
`proximity to their mobile terminal 3.
`
`
`
`- - - - - - - - -
`
`Netflix v. VideoLabs
`IPR2023-00630
`Netflix. Ex. 1011
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 21, 2002 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 21, 2002 Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`
`
`3
`
`23
`
`12
`
`a
`
`- we
`
`was ea
`
`and an era
`
`-o
`
`C
`- MODEM
`
`14
`
`RECEIVER
`
`DISPLAY
`
`F G 2
`
`5
`
`-
`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`7
`
`9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Feb. 21, 2002 Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`MS
`
`
`
`DR
`
`SMS
`
`HLR
`
`LOCATION
`UPDATE
`REQUEST 100
`MS LOCATION
`
`MSOCATION
`DETAS
`
`110
`
`DELIVER
`CONTENT N N 120
`
`DELIVERY
`STATUS
`
`130
`
`140
`
`DELVERY
`STATUS
`DELIVERY
`STATUS
`31
`
`12
`
`3
`
`29
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`Feb. 21, 2002
`
`BROADCAST NETWORK
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001. The present invention relates to the delivery of
`content over a broadcast network, particularly although not
`exclusively a broadband digital broadcast network.
`0002 Broadband digital broadcast networks are known
`in which Video and audio data are transmitted to a users
`equipped with Suitable receivers. One Such well known
`network is the terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB
`T) system found in Europe and elsewhere where the video
`and audio data comprises a plurality of channels allowing
`the user to Select from a range of content. It has also been
`proposed to utilise Such networks not only for the transmis
`sion of video and audio data but also for the delivery of more
`general data types including TCP/IP data traffic.
`0003. The delivery of more general data types such IP
`data as may differ from the typical delivery of video and
`audio data in that rather than the network operator providing
`the same content to all users (broadcast), a specific user
`(unicast) or group of users (multicast) may require specific
`content. In order to deal with Such a range or transmission
`Scenarios, the addressing of content using conditional acceSS
`has been proposed. Conditional acceSS adds a unique, usu
`ally encrypted, identifier to content Such that only a receiv
`ing terminal with the relevant decryption capability can
`receive the content. Further details of Conditional Access in
`relation to DVB can be found in the following ETSI Pub
`lications DVB-CI Common Interface Specification for Con
`ditional Access and other Digital Video Broadcasting
`Decoder Applications EN50221 (V1:02/97) and Guidelines
`for Implementation and Use of the Common Interface for
`DVB Decoder Applications R 206 001 (V1: 1998) AO25
`(5/97).
`0004. However, although conditional access allow the
`addressing of an individual terminal or, indeed a group of
`terminals, it nevertheless remains necessary to transmit
`content using all the transmitters in the network irrespective
`of whether the content is included in a broadcast, multicast,
`or unicast.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0005 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a method for locating a terminal for delivery of
`content in a broadcast network comprising: associating the
`terminal with a transmitter operable in another network;
`interrogating the another network to determine the location
`of the transmitter; and delivering the content to the terminal
`at the location of the transmitter.
`0006 According to a second aspect of the invention,
`there is provided a System for delivering content to a
`terminal in a broadcast network, the System comprising at
`least one terminal in a broadcast network, the terminal being
`asSociated with a transmitter in another network, wherein
`the broadcast network includes a processor operable to
`interrogate the another network to determine the location of
`the transmitter and thereby deliver content to the terminal at
`the determined location.
`0007 According to a third aspect of the invention, there
`is provided an apparatus for delivering content to a terminal
`in a broadcast network comprising a processor operable to
`
`interrogate another network to determine the location of a
`transmitter associated with the terminal and deliver content
`to the terminal at the determined location.
`0008. The another network may be a public land mobile
`network. In which case, the transmitter associated with the
`terminal may be a mobile Station. Thus, the terminal may be
`asSociated with a mobile Station in the control of a single
`user. Consequently, the another network might make avail
`able, at the request of the user, location details relating to the
`mobile station to the broadcast network.
`0009. According to another aspect of the invention, there
`is provided head end apparatus for use in a first multi
`transmitter broadcast network, the apparatus comprising a
`terminal locator operable in response to a request to deliver
`content to a terminal in the first network to obtain terminal
`location information from a Second, different network, a
`memory having Stored therein transmitter location informa
`tion and a controller operable in response to the request to
`transmit content to determine from the terminal and trans
`mitter location information a Suitable transmitter to deliver
`the content to the terminal.
`0010 Advantageously, as a result of the more effective
`utilisation of the transmitter network there is an improve
`ment in Service quality and Spectral efficiency of the net
`work. Such an improvement arises in the first case because
`the network can Select a transmitter which meets the par
`ticular reception requirements for the Terminal receiving
`that content. Thus, where it is known that in a particular area
`there exist terrain features, for example, which dictate
`against the use of one transmitter in favour of another this
`information could be used in Selecting a transmitter to
`transmit to a terminal in that area. In the Second case, the
`ability to Select a particular transmitter means that the
`frequencies previously used by the other transmitters to
`deliver that content are freed for other purposes. The appa
`ratus may further include a router to route content to the
`Suitable transmitter. The router may be responsive to data
`stored with content to be transmitted identifying the Suitable
`transmitter.
`0011. According to another aspect of the invention, there
`is provided a terminal for use with a first multi-transmitter
`broadcast network, including a receiver operable to receive
`content transmitted by a Selected one of a plurality of
`transmitters of the first network and a further transmitter
`connected to a second network from which the first network
`derives information relating to the location of the further
`transmitter to facilitate Selection of the one transmitter.
`0012 Conveniently, the further transmitter is integrated
`in the terminal. In this way, the user can be certain that the
`content will be delivered to the correct location. Alterna
`tively, the terminal may include an interface to permit
`connection to an external transmitter Such as a mobile
`Station of a cellular network. In either case, the further
`transmitter may also be used to provide a back or return
`channel which could be used to acknowledge delivery of
`content to the terminal and might also be used to make
`requests for content. Where no Such acknowledgement abil
`ity exists, the assumption is, of course, that the further
`transmitter is reasonably certain to be co-located with the
`terminal. Furthermore, a profile might be established for
`each terminal user which could be consulted by a Service
`provider desirous of delivering content to terminals of users
`likely to be interested in the content.
`
`

`

`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`Feb. 21, 2002
`
`0013. According to still further aspect of the invention,
`there is provided a System for delivering content to a mobile
`terminal comprising a first broadcast network having a
`plurality of transmitters, and at least one terminal, the
`terminal having a receiver for receiving content from the
`first network, and in proximity thereto a further transmitter
`connected to a second network from which the first network
`derives information relating to the location of the further
`transmitter, wherein the Selection of a transmitter to deliver
`content to the terminal is made in accordance with the
`location information.
`0.014
`Whilst according to another aspect of the invention
`there is provided a method of delivering content using a
`Suitable transmitter of a first broadcast network to a first
`terminal in proximity to a Second terminal of a Second
`network comprising deriving location information relating
`to the Second terminal from the Second network and utilising
`that information in the Selection of a Suitable transmitter.
`0.015 The selection of a suitable transmitter is preferably
`made based on the coverage pattern or footprint of the
`transmitter. Advantageously, where the position of the Sec
`ond terminal is insufficiently well defined to enable the
`Selection of a particular transmitter from a plurality of
`potential Suitable transmitters, delivery of the content is
`attempted via each of the potential transmitters in turn.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0016. In order to aid in understanding the present inven
`tion, a particular embodiment thereof will now be described
`by way of example and with reference to the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`0017 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a digital broad
`cast network according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`0.018
`FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagrammatic view of the
`network of FIG. 1;
`0019 FIG. 3 is schematic view illustrative of part of the
`method according to the invention; and
`0020 FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a transmitter
`coverage pattern generated by the network of FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`Referring to FIG. 1, this shows a terrestrial digital
`0021
`video broadcast (DVB-T) network 1 having a plurality of
`transmitters 11a, 11b, 11c. A user equipped with a Suitable
`Digital Receiver (DR) hereinafter referred to as a terminal 3
`incorporating a receiver 5, display 7 and user interface 9, can
`receive data broadcast by the network 1 from a transmitter
`11 forming part of the network 1. The data broadcast by the
`transmitter 11 is derived from a variety of sources 13,15 via
`gateways 17.19 and may respectively include TCP/IP, data
`grams (UDP/IP) and Television content. Furthermore, as is
`becoming increasingly common, the user is also in posses
`sion of a mobile station (MS) forming part of a Public Land
`Mobile Network (PLMN). The MS is interfaced with the
`terminal 3 over an infrared link 14.
`0022. Before transmission, the data received from a
`Source 13,15 is processed in head-end equipment. AS is well
`known in the art, the head end equipment places the data into
`
`MPEG-based data containers. To cater for the delivery of
`data to a particular terminal or group of terminals, the
`containers may also hold address information which can be
`identified and read by a conditional acceSS component in the
`terminal do determine whether the data is intended for that
`terminal. The network 1 also provides the facility for Suit
`ably equipped terminals 3 to interact with the network 1.
`Thus, a user may request the delivery of a computer file via
`the network 1 to her terminal 3. Such functionality requires
`a return channel 23 from the terminal 3 to the DVB-T
`network 1 and a conditional acceSS component in the ter
`minal 3. The return channel 23 can be provided in the form
`of a dial-up connection using a modem function of the MS
`12. The MS 12 which is connected to the terminal 3,
`establishes a connection over a telecommunications network
`27 Such as a PLMN and/or PSTN 27 to a Subscriber
`management system (SMS) 29 (shown externally of network
`1 for clarity only) of the DVB-T network 1. The subscriber
`management System 29 has connections to both the gate
`ways 17.19 and the transmitter head-end equipment. It is
`thus possible for the user to issue a request for Specific
`content via the user interface 9 of the terminal 3. The request
`is received by the SMS 29 which obtains the content from
`the relevant gateway 17,19 and passes it to the transmitter
`head-end for placing into data containers for onward trans
`mission. It should be noted that the request from the user
`might include a request for content which is not presently
`being transmitted by the network 1. To ensure that the user
`only receives the requested content, the data is broadcast
`with an identifier which the conditional access component in
`the terminal 3 recognises as being intended for delivery to
`the user. In the event that the content is received by another
`terminal, the conditional acceSS component of that terminal
`will prevent delivery of the content.
`0023. In the situation illustrated in the FIG. 2, a user has
`requested via her return channel 23 a Specific item of content
`R. The return channel 23 in this instance is provided by the
`MS 12 connected, in use, to the PLMN 27. In this instance,
`the user has requested using her terminal 3, a webpage made
`up of textual and graphical material, although the request
`could have been for a particular channel of television
`content. The request R from the user is passed via the IR
`link 14 to the MS 12 which connects via the PLMN 27 to the
`SMS 29 of the broadcast network 1, where it is identified as
`being a request for Internet content. The SMS 29 passes the
`request to the appropriate gateway, in this case the Internet
`gateway 17. This gateway 17 processes the request R and
`retrieves the requested content C, from the Internet. The
`content C, which, as has already been explained, is made up
`of textual and graphical elements, is returned to the SMS 29.
`In the meantime, the SMS 29 attempts to identify firstly
`whether the terminal 3 for which the content is intended is
`mobile or fixed. Thus, the SMS 29 queries a database 30 to
`obtain a user profile for the user identified in the request R.
`If the terminal 3 is found to be fixed then the content will be
`broadcast in the known manner. Otherwise, the SMS 29
`SeekS to determine from the request R whether it originated
`in the terminal 3 itself or from another external Source Such
`as a push from an advertiser or the like. Should the SMS 29
`determine that the request R has come from the terminal 3
`then the SMS 29 will attempt to determine the calling line
`identity (CLI) of the MS 12 sending the request R. If the
`CLI is not available or alternatively the request originated
`externally as a push, the SMS 29 retrieves a mobile tele
`
`

`

`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`Feb. 21, 2002
`
`phone number of a MS, which number has previously been
`Supplied by the user for Storage in the user profile.
`0024) Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, these
`illustrate the coverage patterns and overlap of individual
`transmitters of a digital broadcast network (chain lines) and
`base stations of a Public Land Mobile Network (solid lines).
`Once the SMS has determined a number, a direct connection
`is then established to a Home Location Register (HLR) 31
`of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) 27 identified as
`being the home network of the number found by the SMS
`29. In response to a request 100 from the SMS 29, the PLMN
`27 provides 110 an indication, if available, of the latest cell
`(LC) (shown hatched in FIG. 3) in which the MS 12
`corresponding to that identified from the CLI or failing that
`the number stored in the user profile is located. The SMS 29
`passes the latest cell indication returned by the HLR 31
`together with the retrieved content C to a transmitter mapper
`35. The transmitter mapper 35 identifies a transmitter 11a
`from those in the network 1 whose footprint (FP) includes
`most, if not all, of the latest cell (LC) identified by the HLR
`31. The mapper 35 may carry out the identification of the
`most Suitable transmitter using a look-up table in which cells
`of the PLMN 27 are cross-referenced with a suitable trans
`mitter, for example. This information is then attached to the
`content C, the latter having been encrypted as an MPEG-2
`data stream before both the transmitter and content infor
`mation are passed to a router 37. The router 37 retrieves the
`information identifying the transmitter assigned to the con
`tent C by the transmitter mapper and passes the content Cit
`to the appropriate transmitter 11a for transmission 120. The
`user's terminal 3, which hopefully has remained within the
`footprint FP, of the transmitter, is then able to receive the
`content C.
`0.025
`Optionally, where the terminal 3 is provided with a
`return channel 23 via the MS 12, this can be utilised in the
`generation of a delivery status report 130. Such an acknowl
`edgement is not, however, a requirement, it being assumed
`with a reasonable probability that a user will be carrying her
`MS 12 along with her terminal 3. However, where acknowl
`edgement is possible and desirable the status report 130 is
`passed 140 over the return channel 23 via the PLMN 27 to
`the SMS 29 and contains confirmation of whether the
`content C has reached the terminal 3 successfully. Where the
`request R was originated in the terminal 3 and In the event
`that the content C does not reach the terminal 3 within a
`pre-determined period, the terminal 3 will generate a report
`indicating that no delivery has taken place. Otherwise,
`where the request was originated in the terminal 3 and their
`followed Successful reception of the content C, a corre
`sponding report will be made. In the event that the SMS 29
`receives a report of unsuccessful delivery then the SMS 29
`will first attempt to re-send the content C. Thus, the SMS 29
`will first update the MS 12 location from the HLR 31.
`Should this update reveal that the MS 12 remains in the same
`cell, it may be that the MS 12 is within a region of the cell
`covered by a different transmitter footprint FP. Thus, whilst
`the update continues to indicate the same location cell, the
`SMS 29 will instruct the mapper 35 to provide details of
`each transmitter covering at least part of that cell So that
`content C may be sent by that transmitter. Otherwise, if the
`terminal has moved to a cell covered by a different trans
`mitter footprint FP, that transmitter 11 will be used to deliver
`the content. However, in the event that the above described
`
`re-Sends fail after a pre-determined number attempts, the
`content will be transmitted over all the transmitters in the
`network.
`0026. In another embodiment of the invention, particu
`larly Suitable to a situation where the Overlap of the trans
`mitter footprints FP do not correspond closely to the under
`lying cell structure of the PLMN 27, a different method of
`obtaining the location of the MS 12 is employed. In this
`case, instead of the SMS 29 obtaining the latest cell infor
`mation from the HLR 31, the SMS 29 requests the PLMN
`27 to carry out a location update using a more precise
`positioning method Such as base Station triangulation or
`GPS. Particularly in the case where a MS 12 is located in a
`cell LC which is covered by separate transmitter footprints
`FP, the more accurate positioning information obtained in
`this way should allow the transmitter mapper 35 to direct the
`content C to the transmitter most likely to deliver the content
`to the terminal 3.
`0027. It will be further appreciated that the terminal 3
`may incorporate a mobile Station 12 rather than rely on the
`presence of an MS 12 in close proximity to the terminal 3 to
`provide the location information. By having the MS 12
`incorporated in the same housing as the terminal 3 the user
`would both have leSS items of equipment to carry and also
`could be assured that the terminal 3 was always co-located
`with the mobile Station 12 or, indeed another communica
`tions device which provides the positioning information for
`use by the network. In addition, the integrated MS 12 could
`be employed to provide a return channel 23 in the same
`manner that an independently carried MS 12 could be
`interfaced to the terminal 3 to facilitate the option of a return
`channel 23.
`0028. Furthermore, it will be clear that although in the
`above embodiment the Return Channel 23 is provided over
`the same network, namely the PLMN 27, as is used to derive
`the location information, a separate return channel using a
`different bearer could be employed. Indeed, as has already
`been Stated, the request for content need not originate with
`the terminal 3. For example, an advertiser or Service pro
`vider may wish to push particular content to a certain user
`or group of users perhaps located in a certain area relevant
`to the content being pushed.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for locating a terminal for delivery of content
`in a broadcast network comprising:
`asSociating the terminal with a transmitter operable in
`another network interrogating the another network to
`determine the location of the transmitter; and
`delivering the content to the terminal at the location of the
`transmitter.
`2. A System for delivering content to a terminal in a
`broadcast network, the System comprising at least one
`terminal in a broadcast network, the terminal being associ
`ated with a transmitter in another network, wherein the
`broadcast network includes a processor operable to interro
`gate the another network to determine the location of the
`transmitter and thereby deliver content to the terminal at the
`determined location.
`3. Apparatus for delivering content to a terminal in a
`broadcast network comprising
`
`

`

`US 2002/0023264 A1
`
`Feb. 21, 2002
`
`a processor operable to interrogate another network to
`determine the location of a transmitter associated with
`the terminal and deliver content to the terminal at the
`determined location.
`4. A head end apparatus for use in a first multi-transmitter
`broadcast network, the apparatus comprising a terminal
`locator operable in response to a request to deliver content
`to a terminal in the first network to obtain terminal location
`information from a Second, different network, a memory
`having Stored therein transmitter location information and a
`controller operable in response to the request to transmit
`content to determine from the terminal and transmitter
`location information a Suitable transmitter to deliver the
`content to the terminal.
`5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
`terminal locator is further operable to identify Said Second,
`different network type from Said request.
`6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein
`the terminal locator is further operable to determine a Source
`of Said request.
`7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6,
`further including a router connectable to a plurality of
`transmitters and operable to deliver the content to the
`Suitable transmitter.
`8. A terminal for use with a first multi-transmitter broad
`cast network, including a receiver operable to receive con
`tent transmitted by a Selected one of a plurality of transmit
`ters of the first network and a further transmitter connected
`to a second network from which the first network derives
`information relating to the location of the further transmitter
`to facilitate Selection of the one transmitter.
`9. A terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the further
`transmitter provides a back channel to Send a request for
`Specific content to the first network.
`10. A terminal as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein
`the further transmitter is included in a mobile station inter
`faced with the terminal.
`11. A System for delivering content to a mobile terminal
`comprising a first broadcast network having a plurality of
`
`transmitters, and at least one terminal, the terminal having a
`receiver for receiving content from the first network, and in
`proximity thereto a further transmitter connected to a Second
`network from which the first network derives information
`relating to the location of the further transmitter, wherein the
`Selection of a transmitter to deliver content to the terminal is
`made in accordance with the location information.
`12. A System as claimed in claim 11, wherein the further
`transmitter is integrated with the terminal.
`13. A System as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein
`the Second network is a public land mobile network.
`14. A System as claimed in claim 13, wherein the location
`information is derived from a Home Location Register of the
`public land mobile network.
`15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the location
`information is derived by base Station triangulation.
`16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 11, 12 or 13,
`wherein the further transmitter provides location informa
`tion.
`17. A System as claimed in claim 16, wherein the location
`information is obtained from a global positioning System
`receiver.
`18. A method of delivering content using a Selected
`transmitter of a first broadcast network to a first terminal in
`proximity to a Second terminal in a Second network com
`prises deriving location information relating to the Second
`terminal from the Second network and utilising that infor
`mation in the Selection of a Suitable transmitter.
`19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the location
`information is derived by consulting a Home Location
`Register of the Second network.
`20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the location
`information is derived from co-ordinates transmitted by the
`Second terminal.
`
`

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