[19]
`United States Patent
`5,566,353
`
`[45] Date of Patent;
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`[11]
`
`Patent Number:
`
`Cho et al.
`
`U8005566353A
`
`POINT OF PURCHASE VIDEO
`DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`5,155,591
`
`10/1992 Wachob .
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Nack Y. Cho, Mill Valley; Jerry E.
`Magilton, Jr., San Francisco, both of
`Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: Bylon Company Limited, Kowloon,
`Hong Kong
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 301,320
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 6, 1994
`
`Int. Cl.5 ..................................................... .. H04N 7/00
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`..................................... 455/2; 348/2; 348/13;
`455/3.1; 455/6.3
`[58] Field of Search ............................... 455/3.1, 3.2, 4.1,
`455/4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 63,111, 121,131,
`13.3, 7, 14,15,16,18,19,2, 31.1, 32.1,
`33.1, 39, 49.1, 53.1, 66; 345/2; 348/2, 6,
`12, 13, 61, 552; H04N 7/00, 7/10, 7/20,
`7/22
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Re. 31,735
`4,028,733
`4,630,108
`4,720,873
`4,724,491
`4,725,886
`4,814,883
`4,916,539
`4,937,821
`5,029,014
`5,099,319
`5,119,188
`5,132,992
`5,133,081
`5,151,782
`
`.
`
`11/1984 Davidson .
`6/1977 Ulicki.
`................................. 358/84
`12/1986 Gomersall
`1/1988 Goodman et al. .
`2/1988 Lambert.
`2/ 1988 Galumbeck et al.
`3/1989 Perine et al. .
`4/1990 Galumbeck.
`6/1990 Boulton.
`7/1991 Lindstrom.
`.
`3/1992 Esch et a1.
`7/1992 McCalley et a1.
`7/1992 Yurt et al.
`.
`7/1992 Mayo ...................................... .. 455/66
`9/1992 Ferraro.
`
`.
`
`....... H04N 7/173
`11/1994 European Pat. Off.
`0624040A2
`
`2613520 10/1988
`France ............................. .. 345/2
`3534652
`4/1987 Germany ................................. .. 345/2
`62-36932
`2/1987
`Japan .
`62—235835
`10/1987
`Japan .
`63-276337
`11/1988
`Japan .
`1-97028
`4/1989
`Japan .
`l-103335
`4/1989
`Japan .
`1—220925
`9/1989
`Japan .
`2—295240
`12/1990
`Japan .
`3-70438
`3/1991
`Japan .
`3—117123
`5/1991
`Japan .
`3—145828
`6/1991
`Japan .
`3—196726
`8/1991
`Japan .
`WO94/03995
`2/1994 WIPO .
`
`H04K 1/02
`WO94/10775
`5/1994 WIPO
`WO94/14283
`6/1994 WIPO .......................... .. H04N 7/163
`
`Primary Examiner—David E. Harvey
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Townsend and Townsend and
`Crew LLP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A video distribution system for full motion video media,
`usually in the form of advertisements, that allows video
`programs to be transmitted from a distribution center to a
`multitude of receiving sites, typically retail stores, dispersed
`over a wide geographic area. Video program segments are
`transmitted from the distribution site (100) and received at
`the receiving sites (254). Television monitors located at
`selected points in the receiving sites display the video
`program segments to an audience, which usually will
`include shoppers in the course of shopping. The invention
`allows users located in the distribution center to customize
`the video programs for particular target audiences or mar-
`kets, such that the series of programs played in one receiving
`site could be quite different from that played in another.
`
`23 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`,AOD
`
`
`
`STATION
`
`
` RECEIVE SITE
`
`NETWORK
`MANAGEMENT
`
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 1 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 1 of 108
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 0f 14
`
`5,566,353
`
` - EARTH
`
`STATION
`
`
`NETWORK
`MANAGEMENT
`
`
`
`
` RECEIVE SITE
`
`FIG.
`
`I.
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 2 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 2 of 108
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`5,566,353
`
`
`
`226
`
`INTERFACE
`
`PRIIIIRI
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`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 3 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 3 of 108
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`5,566,353
`
`PRIMARY
`055
`INTERFACE
`
`{252
`
`
`
` NORTHERN
`
`I FIBER
`TELECOM
`00-2 GUST
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`
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`
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`
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`SITE
`I
`——-———-——————_——————__—————
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 4 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 4 of 108
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 14
`
`5,566,353
`
`
`
`EDIT
`
`UPLINK
`
`FIG: 5.
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 5 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 5 of 108
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
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`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
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`Oct. 15, 1996
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
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`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
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`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
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`
`Page 15 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 15 of 108
`
`

`

`1
`POINT OF PURCHASE VIDEO
`DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains material which is subject to copyright protection.
`The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure, as it
`appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or
`records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatso—
`ever
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to audio-visual
`media broadcasting and advertising. More specifically, the
`invention relates to transmission systems for distributing
`point-of—purchasc video advertising and related information
`to stores.
`
`Commercial network television has been recognized as a
`powerful and efficient medium for broadcasting advertising
`messages to a large, widely disbursed audience. As a result,
`network television traditionally has garnered a major share
`of advertising budgets. However, due to a variety of factors,
`commercial television advertising revenues have been drop-
`ping over the past several years, a trend which is expected
`to continue. One major drawback of television advertising is
`network television’s ability to do nothing more than deliver
`a large number of impressions to a large and relatively
`undifferentiated audience. Advertising dollars are ineffec-
`tively spent on messages that reach the wrong audiences
`under the wrong circumstances. Further, national network
`television is well suited only for the limited number of
`product categories which are truly national in scope and
`relatively impervious to regional and seasonal variation.
`Moreover, the cost of multiple regional campaigns will often
`equal or exceed that of a national program.
`Point of purchase promotion accomplishes what in-home
`television cannot, in large part because it is directed not
`toward passive, unreceptive viewers, but rather toward con-
`sumers who are actively making choices and seeking infor-
`mation. Ample evidence demonstrates consumers in a shop-
`ping environment are much more susceptible to televised
`messages than otherwise.
`While meeting with substantial success, prior point of
`purchase advertising systems have met with some limita-
`tions. In some cases they are based on a static, print-oriented
`media comprised of signage or packing labels, with product
`messages lost
`in the clutter. On-site demonstrations or
`educational devices are often prohibitively expensive, take
`up valuable selling space and are limited to a store by store
`approach.
`One known system of electronic point of purchase adver-
`tising utilizes silent electronic dot repeating message signs,
`similar to reader boards found in major airports and broker-
`age houses, in the high-traffic aisles of supermarkets. Such
`silent reader boards, with limited two-dimensional displays,
`do not have the effectiveness of television in catching and
`retaining viewer attention.
`Another known variation on electronic point-of-purchase
`advertising utilizes electronic display screens such as liquid
`crystal displays on individual shopping carts which convey
`messages to the shopper. Such systems again do not have the
`effectiveness of television, and further require a great deal of
`maintenance down-time due to their susceptibility to dam-
`age.
`
`5,566,353
`
`2
`
`Other known systems have used satellite-transmitted tele-
`vision to broadcast advertising into supermarkets. However,
`such systems are typically based on commercial network
`programming and have typically located television monitors
`only at checkout counters. Further, known satellite-based
`systems do not permit on-line selective customizing of
`promotional messages.
`US. patent application Ser. No. 07/926,664, incorporated
`herein by reference for all purposes, and PCT international
`application No. PCT/US93/O7449, also incorporated herein
`by reference for all purposes, respond to the need for an
`effective and cost-efficient point-of-purchase promotional
`medium. These patent applications provide methods and
`apparatus for distributing and broadcasting a customized
`video program from a distribution center to a plurality of
`geographically dispersed receiving sites. These patent appli-
`cations are pioneering in the field of audiovisual media
`broadcasting and the advertising field. A unique aspect of
`these systems are their capability for on—line creation of
`audio-visual programs customized for
`individual
`retail
`chains, stores, or ultimately aisles within a store, as well as
`for particular geographic areas and times of day. Unique
`programs tailored to a particular demographic market are
`assembled on-line and broadcast simultaneously to a mul~
`titude of different locations. This feature eliminates the need
`for producing separate video programs on separate video—
`tapes for each customized program desired, and requires
`little or no operational intervention of personnel at the store.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention responds to the need for a more
`effective,
`cost-efiicient
`point-of—purchase
`promotional
`scheme. The invention provides a method and apparatus for
`distributing and broadcasting a customized video program
`from a distribution center to a plurality of geographically
`dispersed receiving sites.
`The present invention is a video media distribution net—
`work including (1) a distribution center which transmits
`video program segments to the receiving sites, (2) receivers
`which receive the segments, (3) a tracking system which
`tracks the product movement at the receiving sites, (4) a
`network management system which forms playlists for each
`of the receiving sites in response to inputs from a user, and
`(5) display units which display the playlists in the receiving
`sites. The user, located in the distribution center, has access
`to the product movement information.
`In the preferred embodiment, entertainment—based com-
`mercial promotional programming in full motion video
`format is broadcast via a communication medium to the
`
`point of purchase in retail outlets nationwide. The signal is
`received at each retail store and later broadcast throughout
`the store by monitors, preferably located over the aisles and
`the major walls. The location of monitors and the volume
`level of the speakers are preferably designed to unobtru—
`sively blend in with each stores decor and enhance its
`aesthetics while being easily visible to shoppers as they
`move through the aisles.
`invention is an advanced
`One aspect of the present
`method of providing a “store and forward” feature. “Store
`and forward” occurs when the video program segments are
`stored in the receiving site and later forwarded to the display
`unit by the system’s network management software when
`the segments are needed for a playlist. A playlist is a
`particular program sequence requested by a user who is
`located in the distribution center. Currently available trans—
`
`5
`
`10
`
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`
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`
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`
`30
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 16 of 108
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 16 of 108
`
`

`

`3
`
`4
`
`5,566,353
`
`mission equipment cannot provide the required store and
`forward feature of the present invention. Thus, the present
`invention provides a new store and forward feature which
`allows for flexible access to the various video program
`segments (clips) at the receiving site.
`The present invention is compatible with many different
`media of data transportation. Several different communica-
`tion media between the distribution center and the receiving
`site can be implemented. These communication media may
`include one or more of a satellite with one channel, a
`dedicated communication channel, a dedicated optical fiber
`link and/or telephone connections. These communication
`media can also be used as a back up to one another, in
`conjunction with one another or alone in order to efficiently
`and cost—effectively transmit and assist in the transmission of
`the required video from the central site to the receiving sites.
`In the preferred embodiment,
`the program segments
`(clips) are transmitted in digital signals. Therefore, only a
`single transponder of a satellite is required. Usually, the
`digital signals are compressed in the distribution center
`using advanced digital compression techniques.
`The invention further afiords communication between the
`
`system’s technical operation center and the receiving com-
`puters in each retail location. This is particularly useful for
`product promotions and pricing changes, wherein a network
`advertiser offers a reduced price, coupon, two—for—one sale,
`or other such promotion. Additionally, purchase time, aisle
`where purchased, and cashier information can be tracked for
`monitoring product movement (sales of consumer goods) in
`each receiving site. The monitoring of product movement
`can also be used to determine the effectiveness of the overall
`system and to refine the video distribution system.
`Because of its ability to more efiiciently tailor its com—
`mercial messages to particular chains, stores, times of day
`and geographic regions, the video distribution system of the
`present invention provides advertisers the capability to reach
`target audiences with customized messages. Further, such
`customized programming is assembled on-line at each
`receiving site, eliminating the need for preassembly of
`multiple unique programs, or the involvement of personnel
`at the receiving sites.
`The distribution center includes an uplink technical opera-
`tion center and an uplink earth station which utilize two-to-
`one redundancy in order to reduce system downtime. In
`addition, the receiver system can be a time division multi—
`plex system which receives a digital data sent by the uplink
`control system. The data are stored in compressed form and
`then decoded/converted such that it can be viewed and heard
`in the receiving sites (stores).
`system in the preferred
`The network management
`embodiment schedules and sequences commercials and
`other programming segments comprised of digitized videos
`which are played in the receiving sites. A wheel concept is
`used to continually display commercials and other program
`segments in an efficient manner. The network management
`system determines what is displayed at the stores along with
`when it is to be displayed, and it also determines commercial
`placement in the various levels within retail organizations
`(produces a customized program).
`The distributed audio system in the preferred embodiment
`provides audio control assistance to the display of the
`customized program by adjusting the level of audio in
`various areas of the retail store in response to the existing
`noise levels in various zones within the retail stores.
`
`The receiving sites of the present invention are not limited
`to stores. The present invention could be used to distribute
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`customized programs to many difierent types of receiving
`sites. For example, hospitals, schools, other facilities open to
`the public, and/or other community gathering places could
`be receiving sites.
`Moreover, the video segments distributed to the receiving
`sites could contain picture alone, audio alone, a combination
`of video and audio, and/or multi-media.
`A further understanding of the nature and advantages of
`the invention may be realized by reference to the remaining
`portions of the specification and the drawings.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the distribution network
`system’s compression uplink and downlink system.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of the distribution network system’s
`technical operation center.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of the distribution network system’s
`earth station.
`
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of the distribution network system’s
`receive system.
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of a possible Windows menu setup for
`the Network Management Program.
`FIG. 6 is a process flow chart of the system’s Socket
`Management form.
`FIG. 7 is a process flow chart of the system’s Edit Playlist
`form
`
`FIG. 8 is a process flow chart of the system’s Open
`Template form.
`FIG. 9 is a process flow chart of the system’s Edit
`Template form.
`FIG. 10 is a process flow chart of the system’s New
`Playlist form.
`FIG. 11 is a process flow chart of the system’s Modem
`form
`
`FIG. 12 is a process flow chart of the system’s Serial Store
`Communications form.
`
`FIG. 13 is a process flow chart of the system’s Uplink
`form.
`
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the distributed audio
`system.
`FIG. 15 is a process flow chart for the control processor
`in the audio controller.
`
`FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the audio controller in the
`distributed audio system.
`FIG. 17 is a drawing of the loudspeaker for the distributed
`audio system in the preferred embodiment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention provides a distribution network for
`transmitting real-time motion video, usually in the form of
`promotional advertisements, from a distribution center to a
`multitude of receiving sites, typically retail stores, dispersed
`over a wide geographic area. Video segments (clips) for
`programs are transmitted from the distribution center and
`received at the receiving sites. Television monitors located at
`selected points in the receiving sites display programs to an
`audience, which usually will include shoppers in the store.
`Importantly, the invention provides for customizing pro-
`grams for particular target audiences or markets, such that
`the program played in one receiving site could be quite
`different from that played in another. Equally important is
`the invention’ s flexibility in on-line formation of customized
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 17 of 108
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`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 17 of 108
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`programs without the need for preassembly of each unique
`program or operational
`involvement of personnel at
`the
`receiving sites.
`After the clips have been received and stored in the
`receiving sites, the system’s software scheme performs the
`on-line program formation automatically in order to form
`the playlists. In the preferred embodiment, users enter the
`desired playlists for each receiving site into the system from
`the technical operation center. The user may enter one set of
`playlists for many stores, may update playlists in a few
`stores, etc. For each individual receiving site, the software
`assembles the desired playlist with the clips stored in that
`receiving site, and then forwards the clips to monitors for
`display.
`This advanced method of storing and forwarding clips is
`similar to the accessing of data files in a personal computer.
`The store and forward feature allows for flexible access to
`various video clips. Each video clip is separately encoded
`and compressed such that it can be handled as a data file is
`handled in a personal computer. Currently available trans-
`mission equipment cannot provide the required store and
`forward feature because of the extensive access to the
`compressed data files needed at the local receiving sites.
`In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the
`distribution network includes a distribution center 100 (tech-
`nical operation center 200, earth station 234 and network
`management 261) and a receiving site (receive system 254).
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of the video distribution system’s
`compression uplink and downlink system. Clips are com-
`plied in technical operation center 200, prepared for distri-
`bution in earth station 234, and sent from earth station 234
`to receive site 254 via one of the system’s available media.
`Network management 261, which is coupled to technical
`operation center 200, contains the software which prepares
`the programs for display.
`
`A. Communication Media
`
`Several communication media are used in the preferred
`embodiment for sending clips and control data from earth
`station 234 to receive site 254. The media described below
`can be used (1) as a back up to one another,
`(2)
`in
`conjunction with one another, or (3) alone in order to
`efficiently and cost effectively transmit and assist in the
`transmission of the required video from the distribution site
`to the receiving sites. The available communication media
`for this system include: (1) satellite, (2) dedicated commu—
`nication channel, and (3) dedicated optical fiber link (T1). In
`the preferred embodiment, only one satellite channel with a
`typical bandwidth (tag, 36 MHz) is employed.
`The dedicated communication channel involves a com
`mercially available telephone line which is dedicated to the
`transrrrission of the video distribution network data. Com—
`
`mercially available modem products are suflicient connec-
`tions for this communication medium. The dedicated optical
`fiber link (T1) is a dedicated data line on optical fiber link
`(MCI and AT&T provide this type of commercial service).
`Each mode of transmission through a different selected
`transmission medium results in a different transmission rate
`
`and a different transmission time. For example, the trans-
`mission rate of a 30 second video segment (clip) compressed
`at 8.3 Mbps and sent through satellite (half transponder) is
`21.5 Mbps. In comparison, the same clip with the same
`compression has a transmission rate of 1.5 Mbps when sent
`through an optical fiber link (T1). For further comparison,
`the transmission rates and transmission times for a 30
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`second clip compressed at 8.3 Mbps and 1.2 Mbps, and sent
`through the described media are presented below:
`
`Medium
`
`Compression
`
`Trans. Rate Trans. Time
`
`Half transponder
`Tl circuit
`Dial up
`Half transponder,
`Tl circuit
`Dial up
`
`8.3 Mbps
`8.3 Mbps
`8.3 Mbps
`1.2 Mbps
`12 Mbps
`1.2 Mbps
`
`21.5 Mbps
`1.4 Mbps
`56.0 Kbps
`21.5 Mbps
`1.5 Mbps
`56.0 Kbps
`
`116 seconds
`2.6 minutes
`1 hr. 15 min.
`1.7 seconds
`30 seconds
`11 minutes
`
`B. Uplink Control System
`
`1. Technical Operation Center
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of the video distribution system’s
`technical operation center. Technical operation center 200
`arranges and prepares the clips along with control data
`which will be sent to the receiving sites from earth station
`234. In the preferred embodiment, this system has a 2-to-1
`redundancy such that channel 1, which travels through
`encoder 202,
`is replaced by channel N, which travels
`through encoder 204, if any difficulties arise. These two
`channels could be utilized together in order to prepare and
`send clips along with control data to earth station 234.
`Moreover, additional channels could be employed to work in
`unison with or as back—up to channel 1. In the preferred
`embodiment, channel N is a stand-by unit. Thus, channel N
`is used, for example, when channel 1 is down.
`Video, audio 1 and audio 2 (represented by V, A1 and A2)
`enter encoder 202 and are encoded from analog to digital
`signals. Video, audio 1 and audio 2 make up the program
`clips which are sent to the receiving sites. After the signals
`are encoded, they are then sent to-channel personal com-
`puter (“PC”) 206. Channel PC 206 decodes and compresses
`the signal and then sends the signal to digital storage 210
`and/or primary MUX 214. Digital storage 210 houses the
`clips until they are needed, and MUX 214 multiplexes the
`signal sent by channel PC 206. Multiplexer control terminal
`(“MCT”) 218 controls MUX 214 and contains the systems
`clock. The signal sent to MUX 214 is the signal which will
`ultimately be sent to the receiving sites. Thus, channel PC is
`directly controlled by the Network Management software
`which determines which clips are needed in the receive sites.
`The signal then travels from MUX 214 into two alarm
`switchover units 220 and 222. Alarm switchover units 220
`
`and 222 work in conjunction with PC 224 in order to ensure
`minimum system downtime by providing for data transport
`through several paths to DS—3 Interface 226 or DS-3 Inter-
`face 228. The DS—3 samples the received signal, detects
`where information is in the signal and preserves that infor—
`mation. The data next enters Northern Telecom OC-12 230,
`which transforms the signal into light such that the signal
`can travel through optical fiber. The signal is then sent from
`technical operation center 200 to earth station 234 through
`optical fiber.
`Many different hardware configurations can be employed
`to achieve the signal transfer described in the above para-
`graphs. In the preferred embodiment, encoder 202 is, for
`example, a D5200 DSR MPEG-1 (Moving Picture Experts
`Groups) encoder commercially available from Scientific
`Atlanta. This unit, which is combined with the record,
`uplink, transport and decoder boards described below, sup-
`ports a wide spectrum of digital storage, transmission and
`retrieval applications.
`
`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
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`Page 18 of 108
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`Petitioner Barco’s Exhibit 1004
`Page 18 of 108
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`Channel PC 206 preferably contains a PC based satellite
`uplink board (D5320 Scientific Atlanta), a PC decoder board
`(D5101 HI-MEM Scientific Atlanta) and a PC record board
`(D5310 Scientific Atlanta). The PC based satellite uplink
`board is used to transfer compressed digital data to digital
`multiplexer 214 (D9100 Scientific Atlanta). The PC decoder
`board formats and transfers compressed digital video, audio,
`and closed captioned data to SCSI-2 (Small Computer
`Standard Interface) digital storage device 210. The PC
`decoder board also decodes the compressed audio and video
`data in real time from digital storage 210 or from an ISA
`(Industry Standard Architecture) bus at bit rates from 8.3 to
`1.5 Mbps while maintaining the audio-video synchroniza-
`tion at all times. The PC’s utilized in technical operation
`center 200 and in receive site 254 can be any IBM compat—
`ible 386 or 486 PC operating at, for example, 33 MHz.
`Channel PC 206 contains a PC uplink board which prepares
`the data for serialization.
`
`The outgoing data from PC 206 may be stored in digital
`storage device 210. Digital storage 210 interfaces with a fast
`SCSI-2 drive. The storage device may be, for example, a
`Seagate Barracuda series hard disk. The primary MUX 214
`is, for example, a time division multiplexer. According to
`one specific embodiment, the MUX 214 is a D9100 21.5
`Mbs multiplexer from Scientific Atlanta. MCT 218 is a
`computer (PC) and software which controls the MUX and
`contains the systems clock. The MCT allows for the com-
`bining of video control data (used for the remote site) with
`the actual video footage.
`Alarm switchover units 220 and 222 can be D9157 Alarm
`
`Switchover Units from Scientific Atlanta. When the primary
`MUX is down the alarm warns the operator and activates the
`stand-by components (channel N back-up MUX 216 etc.).
`Monitoring PC 224, which includes a PC transport board
`(D5330 Scientific Atlanta) and a PC decoder (D5101 PH-
`MEM Scientific Atlanta), controls which channel is being
`used as a primary or as a back-up. The monitoring PC also
`checks and monitors the data traveling through the alarm
`switchover unit for problems. If a problem arises, PC 224
`controls the switchover units such that the signal is sent via
`a different path. The monitoring PC in conjunction with the
`two alarm switchover units form a four-way system similar
`to a bus in a network. Thus, four different paths are available
`for data transport which results in little, if any, downtime in
`the system.
`Next, under normal circumstances, the data enters pri—
`mary DS-3 interface 226 which can be a D9700 DS-3
`Interface that accepts two 21.5 Mbs inputs, such devices are
`available from Scientific Atlanta. As stated above, DS-3 226
`samples the received signal at a rate of 21.5 Mbs and detects
`where information is in the signal and preserves the detected
`information.
`
`0012 230 (consumer supplied TX) is a passive device
`with an opto-coupler which transforms the received modu-
`lated signal into light so that the signal can travel through
`optical fiber. As stated above, the signal is then sent from
`technical operation center 200 to earth station 234 through
`optical fiber.
`
`2. Earth Station
`
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of the video distribution system’s
`earth station. In the preferred embodiment, earth station 234
`is physically distanced from technical operation center 200.
`Devices DS-3 Interface 226 through DS-3 Interface 240 are
`only required if uplink earth station 234 is remotely located
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`from technical operation center 200. The data enters earth
`station 234 and goes directly to Northern Telecom 0012
`customer supplied TX 236 where it is transformed back into
`the digital form it had before entering Northern Telecom
`OC-12 customer supplied TX 230. The information then,
`under normal conditions, enters primary DS-3 interface 238
`which is the same device as primary DS—3 interface 226.
`The data next enters primary QPSK Mod 242 which is a
`Quadrature Phase Shift key Modulator. This device Modu—
`lates the signal into the quadrature phase which results in a
`better signal-to-noise ratio than the normal PSK. The signal
`then enters Ku-band upconverter
`(“U/C”) 246 which
`changes the baseband signal entering the device into a Ku
`band frequency.
`Various