Abstract:
In a data distribution system for distribution of music data from an information service center to remote user terminal equipment, the music data distributed to the user's terminal is divided into an outline data part representing an outline of the music data and a supplement data part recombinable with the outline part to restore the music data. The outline and supplement parts are time-division transmitted to the terminal equipment. Even if the terminal equipment receives data at a low transfer rate it can receive the outline part first and reproduce, for continuous monitoring, the music data being downloaded.
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 subscriber's 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:
An FM radio receiver receives and displays program data which is affixed with a return destination box number and return form type data and has been transmitted from an FM broadcasting station 1 in the multiplexed form on FM broadcast radio waves. In responding to a displayed program through the FM radio receiver, first, the FM radio receiver 2 reads a return form corresponding to the return form type data from a ROM card 24 and displays the form. A user inputs return message data according to the displayed return form. FM radio receiver 2 transmits the return destination box number data in addition to the return message data to a service center 5. The service center 5 stores the received return message data in a box corresponding to the return destination box number data affixed to the received return message data. The return message data is edited and collected box by box. The edited and/or collected results are sent to the FM broadcasting station 1 as needed.
Abstract:
A method for interfacing between a transmitter and receiver of a digital broadcasting system using a satellite, includes the steps of: searching a program association table of the receiver for a corresponding program, and detecting a receiver control message packet number; detecting a receiver control message through the detected packet number; detecting public switched telephone network and public switched data network numbers through the receiver control message; searching for a network information table of the receiver and then detecting an event information table packet number at a time zone corresponding to an event information table construction descriptor, in order to search for a corresponding event information table; inserting a VCR reserved recording descriptor into the event information table to impose an identification number on a corresponding program, thereby performing a reserved recording; inserting a price information descriptor table into the event information table to transmit program price information; and inserting a caption information descriptor into the event information table to provide information about a caption of a program before broadcasting it.
Abstract:
An architecture for distributing digital information to subscriber units wherein selection from among multiple digital services is accomplished by transmitting a tuning command from a subscriber unit to an intermediate interface. The intermediate interface selects the desired service from a broadband network and transmits it to the subscriber unit over a bandwidth-constrained access line. The bandwidth-constrained access line may be implemented with existing infrastructure, yet the subscriber unit may access a wide variety of digital information available on the broadband network. Universal broadband access is thus provided at low cost. Output bandwidth of broadcast equipment may also be optimized.
Abstract:
A system and method that overcomes the deficiencies of prior television/multimedia system integrity monitoring schemes by providing a system and method wherein a remote field component receives a test signal from a given source via a particular signal path, and, in response, provides feedback indicative of the received test signal to the source via a standard voiceband telephone connection. This enables the invention to facilitate simple, economical real-time testing/monitoring of television/multimedia distribution systems. The invention is particularly suited to television/multimedia systems that employ terrestrial cables as a means to distribute signals to end-users or remote nodes, but can also be applied to wireless signal distribution systems.
Abstract:
An interactive broadcast or cable radio or television system includes methods for transmitting a telephone number to a receiving apparatus with receiver antenna and telephone-autodialer, to receive and autodial transmitted telephone number, transmitted code identification of an interactive, response-activated or emergency alert response speech synthesizer and transducer to reproduce predetermined dat representative activated by responding with at least one response option such as at least one response mode to activate a voice message addressed to the receiver or to purchase or order at least one product, service or program element, to request information concerning at least one product, service or program element or to make voice contact with an agent or marketing representative for at least one associated product, service or program element and further to purchase or order, request information concerning or make voice contact with an agent or marketing representative for at least one product, service or program element displayed in product/service or program element listings scrolled as text.
Abstract:
A remote broadcast listening apparatus includes a conventional telephone communication system and a plurality of receivers for receiving broadcasts of electromagnetic waves and for converting the received broadcasts into signals transmissible over the telephone communication system. The receivers are connected to the telephone communication system and are deployed in diverse locations throughout the globe. A central station assembly is connected to the telephone communication system for receiving telephone-communication-system transmitted signals from the receiver and for sending control signals to the receiver by way of the telephone communication system. A customer interface unit, which includes a conventional telephone, is connected to the telephone communication system for accessing the central station assembly and for receiving signals from the receiver through the central station assembly. Each of the globally-deployed receivers includes a central station assembly and can include one or more of the following functional components: an AM tuner assembly for tuning in amplitude modulated radio broadcast signals; an FM tuner assembly for tuning in frequency modulated radio broadcast signals; a volume control assembly for controlling volume of the telephone-communication-system-compatible signals; a treble control assembly for controlling treble of the telephone-communication-system compatible signals; a bass control assembly for controlling bass of the telephone-communication-system compatible signals; a mass storage device for storing received broadcast signals; a TV tuner assembly for tuning in television broadcast signals; and a SW tuner assembly for tuning in short wave broadcast signals.
Abstract:
A method for synchronizing timing of signal transmissions in a telecommunication system (100) determines a "fixed portion" (222) of the propagation delay between the central unit (102) and subscribers (206, 208) in a particular node (202). Additionally, the method determines a `variable portion` (226) of the propagation delay that accounts for the variation of spacing of different subscribers (e.g., homes (206, 208)) on a particular node (202). The preferred method offsets the control unit's (102) receiving window (410) in accordance with the fixed portion, and directs the various subscriber units (206, 208) to offset the timing of signals (314, 322) (i.e., bursts of data) that they transmit by the variable portion (226).
Abstract:
A broad band broadcasting transmission system for sending broad band downstream data and telephone signals from a central office to a number subscriber set top terminal. Each frame of data is marked to indicate the set top terminals it is to be received by. A downstream light fiber is located between the head office and a curbside box. A transmitter transmits the frames along a light fiber to a SAC box. A converter converts the light signals from the light fiber to electrical signals. A distribution line coupled to the curbside box carries the electrical signals to a plurality of drop line twisted pair conductors connected to the distribution line. The drop lines are coupled via a residential units to the set top terminals. The downstream data is transmitted in a single broad frequency band in a frequency range starting sufficiently greater than zero so that distinct frequency bands are available between zero and the starting frequency for the transmission of ordinary telephone service and upstream signals from the set top terminals to the central office.