Abstract:
Receiving packets of digital data includes detecting a packet header of a received packet, determining a calculated check value for the received packet, and comparing the calculated check value with a transmitted check value provided with the packet. The packet may be discarded in response to the calculated check value not being equal to the transmitted check value. The transmitted and calculated check values may be CRC values having two or four bytes. The data may be provided via digitized data superimposed onto a video signal.
Abstract:
A multiframe structure is adapted to transmit narrowband telephony signals over a broadband cable link (BCL) carrying also video or television signals. The telephony transmission occurs according to classical telephony protocols such as the channel associated signalling (CAS) or the common channel signalling (CCS) protocols, which are mapped into the multiframe structure. The multiframe is transmitted according to the time division multiple access (TDMA) technique and each frame thereof has 40 time slots (TS00-TS39) carrying bursts of data. The frames include time slots carrying signalling bursts (S01-S30; S01-S04) of telephony signalling information and time slots carrying traffic bursts (D01-D30, C01-C36) of telephony traffic data. For the CCS, the time slots (TS00-TS03) carrying signalling bursts (S01-S04) are grouped within the frames so as to form a wideband common channel, whilst for the CAS, time slots (TS04, TS09, TS14, . . . , TS39) carrying signalling bursts are separated by four time slots carrying traffic bursts (D01-D30) and are distributed over all the frames of the multiframe structure on a periodic basis. The multiframe handling protocol is adapted to the above multiframe structure wherein at least one time slot (TS00-TS01; TS00-TS03) per frame carries a control burst of cable link operation signalling which is exchanged between a telephony access node (TAN) and subscriber stations (HOME) via the broadband cable link (BCL). The telephony access node (TAN) is adapted to load the address of a subscriber station into one of the time slots carrying control bursts and each subscriber station is adapted to recognize its own address in these time slots. When a subscriber station has recognized its own address in one of the time slots carrying control bursts, any kind of information may be exchanged between the telephony access node and the subscriber station through this one time slot.
Abstract:
A packet encoder includes various sources of data, a state machine and additional circuitry. The state machine provides an S-bit output signal. N of the output bits of the state machine, (N
Abstract:
Two separate subcarriers are used to transmit portions of a single message to one or more receivers on an FM radio signal. The synchronization and addressing data necessary to identify the message to a target receiver is located in the first subcarrier. The second subcarrier, in turn, consists almost entirely of raw message data. Thus, transmitting multiple subcarriers substantially increases the overall data transmission payload when transmitting digital messages. Because each subcarrier is located within a different frequency band, the communication system is also adaptable to different subcarrier allotments in the FM baseband.
Abstract:
An expanded television program delivery system is described which allows viewers to select television and audio program choices from a series of menus. The primary components of the system include an operations center, a digital cable headend, and at least one set top terminal having a remote control. The system allows for a great number of television signals to be transmitted by using digital compression techniques. A combined signal is transmitted over satellite to a cable headend, which may modify the combined signal for changes or additions in programming or menu content. The combined or modified signal is subsequently distributed to individual set top terminals in the cable network. Menus are partially stored in a set top terminal in each subscribers home and may be reprogrammed by signals sent from the operations center or headend. Numerous types of menus may be used, incorporating information included within the video/data signal received by the set top terminal. A remote control unit with icon buttons allows a subscriber to select programs based upon a series of major menus, submenus, and during program menus. Various data gathering and analysis techniques are used to compile programs watched information that in turn is used in packaging programs, customizing menu selections, targeting advertisements, and maintaining account and billing information.
Abstract:
A messaging system (500) for transmitting a message to a subscriber unit (312). The messaging system (500) includes a plurality of geographically distributed messaging transmitters (302-310), each transmitter designed to transmit in a first modulation format, such as FM, during a first transmission portion (102) including address information; and in a second modulation format, such as OFDM, during a second transmission portion (104) including message data (110) transmitted in frames. The address information includes message characterization information (108) defining a predetermined frame rate. The second transmission portion (104) includes message data (110) transmitted in frames representing a time sequence of N data bits at the predetermined frame rate and provides a plurality of carrier frequencies related to a frequency domain representation of the time sequence of data bits. The predetermined frame rate numerically matches the predetermined symbol rate. The subscriber unit (312) includes circuitry for receiving and demodulating both modulation formats.
Abstract:
An in-store advertising system for displaying advertisements involves preparing graphical art from the actual products or from flat art, for each advertised product. Each frame is stored in computer memory as a digital graphics file. As desired, pricing and advertising copies are added as overlays to the digital art of each frame. Control data is defined for each frame indicating its destination location(s) and the run time for each destination location. The digital graphic files containing a digital frame and the respective control data for each frame are then loaded into an uplink control computer. The control data is analyzed by the uplink computer to compute an adlist which lists the digital frames and their respective destination locations. The uplink control computer is interfaced to a satellite addressable network control system (ANCS) to unmute the desired satellite receiver(s) at the remote location(s), based upon a predefined transmission script. The uplink computer then transmits the respective graphic files, control data and adlist via a satellite transmitter to a commercial broadcasting satellite. The remote receivers display the graphic data based on the code data.
Abstract:
Specific text and/or graphic messages for individual subscribers or groups of subscribers are distributed on a communications network such as a cable television system. An addressable controller communicates with a plurality of subscriber terminals served by the network. Each subscriber terminal is assigned to a primary message group and may be assigned to one or more message subgroups. Messages are input to the addressable controller for subsequent transmission to a subscriber terminal for display. The messages are tagged with distribution data defining at least one primary message group or message subgroup to receive the message. The tagged text messages are transmitted over the network together with signals from network service providers. Global messages can be sent by leaving the distribution data field blank, or filling it with a special code such as a string of zeros. Wild card tags are also permitted. A subscriber terminal for receiving the messages has a first path for processing a service signal received from the network and a second path for processing a message signal received from the network. The distribution data is retrieved from a received message and used to determine if the message is targeted to the subscriber terminal. If so, the message is processed for display. The message can be displayed alone or overlaid on a video program signal being viewed.
Abstract:
A unified system of programing communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), record/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
Abstract:
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (b 74, 77, 97, 98) control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 203, 22) control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224 ), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Pressures (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.