WO2002058382A1 - Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications Download PDFInfo
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- WO2002058382A1 WO2002058382A1 PCT/GB2002/000030 GB0200030W WO02058382A1 WO 2002058382 A1 WO2002058382 A1 WO 2002058382A1 GB 0200030 W GB0200030 W GB 0200030W WO 02058382 A1 WO02058382 A1 WO 02058382A1
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- digital television
- television program
- qam
- based tuner
- stb
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
- H04N21/42676—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
- H04N21/42607—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream
- H04N21/42615—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream involving specific demultiplexing arrangements
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
- H04N21/42607—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream
- H04N21/4263—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
- H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
- H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
- H04N21/6118—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
- H04N5/445—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
- H04N5/455—Demodulation-circuits
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
- H04N5/50—Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to combined digital television and communication systems.
- Provisional Patent Application 0101338.2 the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, describe an STB with QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) demodulator sharing between DTV/PVR and cable modem applications.
- QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
- the present invention in preferred embodiments thereof, seeks to enable a subscriber unit of a combined digital television and communication system to utilize digital television applications and downstream broadband communication applications by sharing a single quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based tuner.
- QAM quadrature amplitude modulation
- a single QAM based tuner in a set-top box (STB) in the subscriber unit is controlled to selectively enable shared use of the QAM based tuner between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency; and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- the downstream cable-modem link may be utilized by a cable-modem to enable downstream communication via the downstream cable-modem link when the QAM based tuner is enabled to provide the downstream cable-modem link.
- the cable-modem may be used, for example, either with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard or the Digital Video Broadcasting Return Channel (DVB_RC) standard.
- DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
- DVD_RC Digital Video Broadcasting Return Channel
- an STB in a subscriber unit of a combined digital television and communication system including a controller, and a QAM based tuner operatively controlled by the controller to selectively enable shared use of the QAM based tuner between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency, and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- the function of tuning to a digital television frequency includes one of the following: tuning to a first digital television program for enabling viewing of the first digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit, and tuning to a second digital television program for recording the second digital television program by the user of the subscriber unit.
- the first digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical.
- the STB may also preferably include an additional QAM based tuner operative to tune to a third digital television program for enabling viewing of the third digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit. Additionally, the STB may also include a storage device operative to store the second digital television program when the QAM based tuner is tuned to the second digital television program.
- the STB may also include a cable-modem operatively associated with the QAM based tuner and operative to enable downstream communication via the downstream cable-modem link when the QAM based tuner is enabled to provide the downstream cable-modem link.
- the STB may also include a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) based modulator operative to enable a report back of an indication of availability resources of the QAM based tuner by upstream transmission to at least one of the following: a headend of the combined digital television and communication system, and a broadband communication network in the combined digital television and communication system.
- QPSK quadrature phase shift keying
- the indication of availability resources may include an indication indicating whether the QAM based tuner is currently available and/or an indication indicating a time period within which the QAM based tuner is expected to be available.
- the indication of availability resources may also include an indication indicating an available storage capacity of the storage device.
- each one of the first digital television program and the second digital television program is received at the STB in a compressed form, and the STB also includes a decompressor operatively associated with the QAM based tuner and operative to decompress each one of the first digital television program and the second digital television program.
- the decompressor may include a Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) based decompressor.
- MPEG Moving Picture Expert Group
- the controller is preferably operative generate a message indicating that the downstream cable-modem link cannot be used while the QAM based tuner is tuned to the second digital television program, and a message indicating that the second digital television program cannot be recorded while the QAM based tuner is enabled to provide the downstream cable-modem link.
- an STB in a subscriber unit of a combined digital television and communication system including a first QAM based tuner operative to tune to a digital television program for enabling viewing of the digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit, a controller, and a second QAM based tuner operatively controlled by the controller to selectively enable shared use of the second QAM based tuner between the following two functions: recording the digital television program, and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- a combined digital television and communication system including a headend operative to broadcast digital television programs, a broadband communication network operative to transmit a downstream cable-modem application, and a multiplicity of subscriber units, each including a first QAM based tuner operative to tune to a first digital television program of the digital television programs broadcast by the headend, a decompressor operatively associated with the first QAM based tuner and operative to decompress the first digital television program prior to displaying of the first digital television program on a display, a controller, a second QAM based tuner operatively controlled by the controller to selectively enable shared use of the second QAM based tuner between the following two functions: tuning to a second digital television program of the digital television programs broadcast by the headend for recording the second digital television program, and tuning to the downstream cable-modem application, a cable-modem operative to enable use of the downstream cable-modem application when the second QAM based tuner is tuned to the downstream
- the first digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical.
- each of the multiplicity of subscriber units also includes a QPSK based modulator operative to enable a report back of an indication of availability resources of the second QAM based tuner by upstream transmission to at least one of the following: the headend, and the broadband communication network.
- the headend is preferably operative, upon receiving the report back from at least one the controller, to program the at least one the controller to tune the second QAM based tuner to the second digital television program for storing the second digital television program.
- a method for use with an STB in a subscriber unit of a combined digital television and communication system including selectively enabling shared use of a QAM based tuner between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency, and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- the function of tuning to a digital television frequency includes one of the following: tuning to a first digital television program for enabling viewing of the first digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit, and tuning to a second digital television program for recording the second digital television program by the user of the subscriber unit.
- the method may also include storing the second digital television program when the QAM based tuner is tuned to the second digital television program. In such a case, the method may also include displaying a message indicating that the downstream cable-modem link cannot be used during the storing.
- the method may also include enabling downstream communication via the downstream cable-modem link when the QAM based tuner is enabled to provide the downstream cable-modem link.
- the method may also include enabling usage of the downstream cable-modem link when the QAM based tuner is enabled to provide the downstream cable-modem link, and displaying a message indicating that the second digital television program cannot be recorded while the downstream cable-modem link is used.
- the method may also include, regardless of whether the QAM based tuner is tuned to a digital television frequency or provides the downstream cable- modem link, enabling a report back of an indication of availability resources of the QAM based tuner to at least one of the following: a headend of the combined digital television and communication system, and a broadband communication network in the combined digital television and communication system.
- the indication of availability resources preferably includes at least one of the following: an indication indicating whether the QAM based tuner is currently available, an indication indicating a time period within which the QAM based tuner is expected to be available, and an indication indicating an available storage capacity of a storage device within which a digital television program accessed when the QAM based tuner is tuned to the digital television frequency can be stored.
- a method for use with an STB in a subscriber unit of a combined digital television and communication system including tuning a first QAM based tuner to a digital television program for enabling viewing of the digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit, and selectively enabling shared use of a second QAM based tuner between the following two functions: recording the digital television program, and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- the method may additionally include decompressing the digital television program.
- FIG. 1 is a simplified partly pictorial partly block diagram illustration of a combined digital television and communication system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a preferred implementation of a set-top box (STB) in a subscriber unit (SU) in the system of Fig. 1; and
- Figs. 3A - 3C together comprise a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in the system of Fig. 1.
- FIG. 1 is a simplified partly pictorial partly block diagram illustration of a combined digital television and communication system 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the system 10 includes at least one headend 15 that transmits digital television programs, preferably including pay television programs, to a plurality, typically a multiplicity, of subscriber units (SUs) 20, and a broadband communication network 25 that communicates with the SUs 20 via broadband communication links.
- the broadband communication network 25 may be implemented by an appropriate network or a combination of appropriate networks well known in the art, such as, but not limited to, at least one of the following: a local-area-network (LAN); a metropolitan-area-network (MAN); and a wide-area- network (WAN).
- LAN local-area-network
- MAN metropolitan-area-network
- WAN wide-area- network
- the SUs 20 may preferably communicate via appropriate infrastructure.
- the infrastructure may include any appropriate combination of coaxial cables, satellite, telephone wires, fiber optic cables, cellular infrastructure, and wireless infrastructure, or any other suitable infrastructure. It is appreciated that the present invention is not limited by the type of infrastructure used in the system 10.
- the system 10 in Fig. 1 is implemented by infrastructure that includes coaxial cables for communicating the digital television programs and data to the SUs 20.
- a multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) unit 30 may preferably multiplex headend transmissions provided by the headend 15 and broadband transmissions provided by the broadband communication network 25 to provide multiplexed transmissions to each SU 20 over one or more coaxial cables 45.
- the headend transmissions and the broadband transmissions are preferably provided over coaxial cables 35 and 40 respectively.
- Each coaxial cable 45 may be in operative association with a distribution board 50 that may be installed at, or nearby, a subscriber residence or office in which a corresponding SU 20 is housed.
- a distribution board 50 may be installed at, or nearby, a subscriber residence or office in which a corresponding SU 20 is housed.
- the multiplexed transmissions are carried over coaxial cables (not shown) emanating from the distribution board 50 and passing through walls at the subscriber residence 55.
- coaxial cables are typically terminated by at least one coaxial cable wall outlet 60 that can feed, for example via a coaxial cable 65, a coaxial cable appliance such as a set-top box (STB) 70 that is comprised in the SU 20.
- STB 70 is preferably in operative communication with a television 75 and a computer 80, which are also preferably comprised in the SU 20, via respective cables 85 and 90 or any other appropriate means, such as wireless transmitters and receivers (not shown).
- the television 75 may preferably display the headend transmissions portion of the multiplexed transmissions and the computer 80 may preferably process the broadband transmissions portion of the multiplexed transmissions. It is appreciated that the television 75 and the computer 80 may be operated by different users of the SU 20. For example, a first user 95 may view programs on the television 75 and a second user 100 may run applications on the computer 80.
- digital television applications broadcast from the headend 15 and broadband applications transmitted via the broadband communication network 25 are multiplexed by the MUX/DEMUX unit 30 to form multiplexed transmissions.
- the multiplexed transmissions are then transmitted to the SU 20 at the subscriber residence 55.
- the STB 70 at the SU 20 receives the multiplexed transmissions via the wall outlet 60 and the coaxial cable 65.
- the STB 70 may then selectively enable sharing between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency; and providing a broadband downstream link.
- a broadband communication element in the STB 70 such as a cable-modem (not shown in Fig.
- downstream refers to a direction of communication from the broadband communication network 25, or the headend 15, towards the SU 20
- upstream refers to a direction of communication from the SU 20 towards the broadband communication network 25, or the headend 15.
- the function of tuning to a digital television frequency may preferably include one of the following: tuning to a first digital television program for enabling viewing of the first digital television program by the user 95 of the SU 20; and tuning to a second digital television program for recording the second digital television program in a storage device (not shown in Fig. 1) in the STB 70 by the user 95 of the SU 20.
- the STB 70 may enable, in an optional preferred configuration, simultaneous tuning to a third digital television program for enabling viewing of the third digital television program by the user 95.
- the STB 70 may enable only one of the following combinations: (1) Tuning only to the first digital television program for enabling viewing of the first digital television program by the user 95.
- the user 100 cannot use the downstream cable-modem link, and the user 95 cannot record the second digital television program or any other television program while the first television program is being displayed on the television 75; (2) Tuning only to the second digital television program for recording the second digital television program.
- the user 100 cannot use the downstream cable-modem link, and the user 95 cannot view the first digital television program or any other television program while the second digital television program is being recorded; and (3) Providing the downstream cable-modem link for enabling downstream communication with the computer 80.
- the user 100 can utilize the downstream cable-modem link and the computer 80 to perform operations such as web browsing, and downloading of data provided by the broadband communication network 25 to the storage device.
- the user 95 cannot view or record any digital television program.
- the STB 70 may additionally enable one of the following combinations:
- the user 100 can utilize the downstream cable-modem link and the computer 80 to perform operations such as web browsing and downloading of data provided by the broadband communication network 25 to the storage device, the user 95 can view the third digital television program, but the user 95 cannot record the second digital television program while the downstream cable-modem link is provided.
- first digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical, or the third digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical.
- the STB 70 may report back an indication of availability resources of tuning, link provision, and/or storage by upstream transmission to at least one of the following: the headend
- the headend 15 may be operative to program a tuning selection of the STB 70.
- the user 100 may preferably receive on a display 105 of the computer 80 a message indicating that the downstream cable-modem link cannot be used during viewing and/or recording of any digital television program.
- the user 95 may preferably receive on the television 75 a message indicating that digital television recording is not available while the downstream cable-modem link is in use.
- the cable-modem may be used, for example, either with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard or the Digital Video Broadcasting Return Channel (DVB_RC) standard.
- DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
- DVD_RC Digital Video Broadcasting Return Channel
- FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a preferred implementation of the STB 70 in the SU 20 in the system 10 of Fig. 1.
- the STB 70 includes the following elements: a first quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) based tuner 200; a second QAM based tuner 205; a controller, such as a processor 210; a cable-modem 215; a demultiplexing unit (DEMUX) 218; a decompressor and decoder unit 220; and a storage device such as a memory implemented in a hard-disk drive (HDD) 225.
- the decompressor in the unit 220 may preferably include a Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) based decompressor.
- MPEG Moving Picture Expert Group
- Examples of suitable commercially available integrated circuits that include the functionality of the processor 210, the DEMUX 218 and the decompressor and decoder unit 220 in combination are: STMicroelectronics 5514; EMMA2 by NEC; and Europa by IBM.
- the STB 70 may operate either with or without the QAM based tuner 200.
- the QAM based tuner 205 preferably receives the multiplexed transmissions provided by the MUX/DEMUX unit 30 via the coaxial cable 65 and a coaxial port 230 which is also comprised in the STB 70.
- the second QAM based tuner 205 is preferably operatively controlled by the processor 210 to selectively enable shared use of the QAM based tuner 205 between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency; and providing a downstream cable-modem link.
- the function of tuning to a digital television frequency may preferably include one of the following: tuning to a first digital television program for enabling viewing of the first digital television program by the user 95 of the SU 20; and tuning to a second digital television program for recording the second digital television program by the user 95. It is appreciated that the first digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical. If the processor 210 instructs the second QAM based tuner 205 to tune to the digital television frequency, the second QAM based tuner 205 preferably tunes to the digital television frequency by performing QAM demodulation of the multiplexed transmissions. The DEMUX 218 then separates the first digital television program or the second digital television program from other television programs carried over the frequency.
- the first and second digital television programs are provided in a compressed form, such as in an MPEG form.
- the first digital television program is preferably decompressed and decoded in the decompressor and decoder unit 220, for example by employing MPEG decompression and decoding, and provided to the television 75 for displaying thereon.
- the processor 210 preferably instructs the DEMUX 218 to provide the second digital television program to the HDD 225 for recording therein in a compressed form.
- the processor 210 in response to the selection entered by the user 95, preferably retrieves the second digital television program from the HDD 225, and provides the second digital television program to the DEMUX 218.
- the DEMUX 218 then preferably separates the second digital television program from other television programs, and provides the second digital television program to the decompressor and decoder unit 220 for decompressing and decoding of the second digital television program, for example by employing MPEG decompression and decoding.
- the decompressor and decoder unit 220 then preferably provides the second digital television program to the television 75 for displaying thereon.
- selection of any of the functions enabled by tuning to the digital television frequency may preferably be performed, for example, by the user 95 operating a remote control 235, and entering commands and selections that are sensed by an input interface 240 in the STB 70.
- the input interface 240 is preferably operatively associated with the processor 210.
- the second QAM based tuner 205 preferably provides the downstream cable-modem link by performing QAM demodulation of the multiplexed transmissions to separate a frequency used by the cable-modem 215 in the downstream over which downstream cable-modem applications provided by the broadband communication network 25 are carried.
- the term "downstream cable- modem application" is used throughout the specification and claims to refer to a broadband application used in the downstream by the computer 80 via the cable- modem 215.
- downstream cable-modem applications may refer to a variety of broadband applications that may run on a computer such as a personal computer (PC), or on various electronic devices having processing capabilities such as a videophone, a VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) telephone, and a personal organizer.
- a downstream cable-modem application may thus include, for example, at least one of the following: a video-clip; a still image; and a VoIP session.
- the STB 70 may therefore include at least one of the following optional elements: a VoIP interface 245; and an IEEE 1394 interface 250.
- the VoIP interface 245 is preferably operatively associated with an Internet telephone (not shown) that may be operated via the computer 80 or be embodied in a separate unit (not shown).
- the IEEE 1394 interface 250 is preferably operatively associated with the computer 80.
- the cable-modem 215 may be used, for example, either with the DOCSIS standard or the DVB_RC standard.
- the cable-modem 215 may preferably employ a built-in demultiplexer 252 to separate a downstream cable-modem application selected by the user 100 from the rest of the broadband transmissions. It is appreciated that the user 100 may preferably select the downstream cable-modem application, for example, by selecting an icon displayed on the computer display 105 or entering a command.
- the downstream cable-modem application selected by the user 100 is then preferably provided to the computer 80 where the downstream cable-modem application may, in response to a selection or an instruction entered by the user 100, be utilized. It is appreciated that utilization of the downstream cable-modem application may include, for example, downloading of the downstream cable-modem application to at least one of the following: the HDD 225; the Internet telephone via the VoIP interface 245; and the computer 80 via the IEEE 1394 interface 250. In a case where the STB 70 operates with the first QAM based tuner
- the first QAM based tuner 200 preferably receives the multiplexed transmissions provided by the MUX/DEMUX unit 30 via the coaxial cable 65 and the coaxial port 230 and performs QAM demodulation of the multiplexed transmissions for independently tuning to a digital television frequency over which a third digital television program, that the user 95 may either view or record, is carried. It is appreciated that the third digital television program and the second digital television program may be identical.
- the DEMUX 218 preferably separates the third digital television program from other television programs, and, if the user 95 chooses to view the third digital television program, the processor 210 preferably instructs the DEMUX 218 to provide the third digital television program to the decompressor and decoder unit 220.
- the decompressor and decoder unit 220 preferably decompresses and decodes the third digital television program, for example by employing MPEG decompression and decoding.
- the decompressor and decoder unit 220 then preferably provides the third digital television program in a decoded and decompressed form to the television 75 for displaying thereon.
- the processor 210 preferably instructs the DEMUX 218 to provide the third digital television program to the HDD 225 for storage therein in a compressed form.
- the processor 210 in response to the selection entered by the user 95, preferably retrieves the third digital television program from the HDD 225, and provides the third digital television program to the DEMUX 218.
- the DEMUX 218 then preferably separates the third digital television program from other television programs, and provides the third digital television program to the decompressor and decoder unit 220 for decompressing and decoding of the third digital television program, for example by employing MPEG decompression and decoding.
- the decompressor and decoder unit 220 then preferably provides the third digital television program to the television 75 for displaying thereon.
- the STB 70 in a configuration that includes both the first and second QAM based tuners 200 and 205, enables each of the combinations mentioned above with reference to Fig. 1. Furthermore, whereas the first and second QAM based tuners 200 and 205 execute similar functions with regard to digital television frequencies tuned thereto, the second QAM based tuner 205 additionally executes functions with regard to providing the downstream cable- modem link.
- the STB 70 may also preferably include a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) based modulator 255 that is operatively associated with the cable- modem 215, and with the coaxial cable 65 via the coaxial port 230.
- QPSK quadrature phase shift keying
- the QPSK based modulator 255 preferably provides a permanent low bit-rate connection with the headend 15 and/or the broadband communication network 25 via the coaxial cables 65 and 45. It is appreciated that the QPSK based modulator 255 may be used to provide upstream communication regardless of whether the second QAM based tuner 205 is used for digital television or for providing the downstream cable- modem link.
- the QPSK based modulator 255 is preferably operative to enable, inter alia, a report back of an indication of availability resources of the second QAM based tuner 205 by upstream transmission to at least one of the following: the headend 15; and the broadband communication network 25.
- the indication of availability resources preferably includes at least one of the following: an indication indicating whether the second QAM based tuner 205 is currently available; an indication indicating a time period within which the second QAM based tuner 205 is expected to be available; and an indication indicating an available storage capacity ofthe HDD 225.
- the headend 15 may program the processor 210 in the STB 70 to force-tune the second QAM based tuner 205 to a digital television program selected by the user 95 for storing the program in the HDD 225.
- the processor 210 may generate a message indicating that digital television recording cannot be used while the downstream cable-modem link is used.
- the processor 210 may preferably provide the message to an on-screen- display (OSD) 260 that preferably prepares the message for display on the television 75.
- OSD on-screen- display
- the processor 210 may generate a message indicating that the downstream cable-modem link cannot be used while digital television recording is used. This message may preferably be provided to the computer 80, for example via the IEEE 1394 interface 250, for display on the computer display 105.
- the STB 70 preferably receives digital television programs and broadband information via the coaxial cable 65.
- the STB 70 may preferably selectively enable shared use of the QAM based tuner 205 between tuning to a digital television frequency that enables viewing of a selected digital television program or recording of the selected digital television program, and use of a downstream cable-modem link that enables operations to be performed on downstream broadband information.
- the first QAM based tuner 200 may be tuned to another digital television program and therefore each of the combinations mentioned above with reference to Fig. 1 is enabled. It is appreciated that operation of the second QAM based tuner 205 is preferably carried out based on a first-requested first-served logic.
- downstream cable-modem link cannot be used as long as a digital television program is in a storage process, and a digital television program cannot be stored as long as the downstream cable-modem link is in use.
- Digital television recording can be performed either by the user 95 or according to an instruction transmitted from the headend 15.
- upstream communication may be carried out at all times regardless of an operation mode of the second QAM based tuner 205.
- FIG. 3A - 3C comprise a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in the system of Fig. 1.
- a combined digital television and communication system in which a headend and a broadband communication network communicate with a multiplicity of subscriber units is preferably provided (step 300).
- a first QAM based tuner is tuned to a digital television program for enabling viewing or recording of the digital television program by a user of the subscriber unit (step 310). If the first QAM based tuner is tuned so as to enable viewing of the digital television program, the digital television program is preferably decompressed (step 320) prior to displaying on a display.
- the digital television program is preferably stored (step 330) in a memory in the subscriber unit. Then, if the user chooses to view the digital television program (step 340), the digital television program is retrieved (step 350) from the memory and decompressed prior to displaying on the display. Additionally, a second QAM based tuner is selectively controlled to enable shared use between the following two functions: tuning to a digital television frequency; and providing a downstream cable-modem link (step 360).
- the function of tuning to the digital television frequency includes one of the following: tuning to a first digital television program for enabling viewing of the selected digital television program by the user; and tuning to a second digital television program for enabling recording of the second digital television program by the user.
- the first and second digital television programs may be identical.
- the selected digital television program is preferably stored (step 370).
- the selected digital television program may be either the digital television program tuned to by the first QAM based tuner and viewed by the user, or another digital television program selected by the user.
- a message indicating that the downstream cable-modem link cannot be used is displayed (step 380) at the subscriber unit.
- a downstream cable-modem application can preferably be used (step 390).
- a message indicating that digital television recording cannot be used while the downstream cable-modem link is used is then preferably displayed (step 400) at the subscriber unit.
- the subscriber unit may be used without the first QAM based tuner.
- the functionality of the subscriber unit is limited to one of the following: viewing of a digital television program; recording of a digital television program; and using the downstream cable-modem link.
- a report back of an indication of availability resources of the second QAM based tuner to at least one of the headend and the broadband communication network is enabled (step 410) regardless of mode of operation of the second QAM based tuner.
- the indication of availability resources preferably includes at least one of the following: an indication indicating whether the second QAM based tuner is currently available; an indication indicating a time period within which the second QAM based tuner is expected to be available; and an indication indicating an available storage capacity of a storage device in the subscriber unit in which the selected digital television program and at least a portion of the downstream cable-modem application can be stored.
- the report back is provided by a permanent low bit-rate upstream communication link that enables communication with the headend and the broadband communication network.
- a QPSK based modulator in the subscriber unit is used to enable the permanent low bit-rate upstream communication link.
- various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment.
- various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP02732122A EP1354473A1 (en) | 2001-01-18 | 2002-01-04 | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications |
US10/221,609 US20040034877A1 (en) | 2001-01-18 | 2002-01-04 | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem aplication |
IL15170202A IL151702A0 (en) | 2001-01-18 | 2002-01-04 | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0101338.2 | 2001-01-18 | ||
GBGB0101338.2A GB0101338D0 (en) | 2001-01-18 | 2001-01-18 | Set-top-box with qam demodulator sharing between dtv/pvr and cable modem applications |
US26293601P | 2001-01-19 | 2001-01-19 | |
US60/262,936 | 2001-01-19 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2002058382A1 true WO2002058382A1 (en) | 2002-07-25 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2002/000030 WO2002058382A1 (en) | 2001-01-18 | 2002-01-04 | Method and apparatus for qam tuner sharing between dtv-pvr and cable-modem applications |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1354473A1 (en) |
IL (1) | IL151702A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002058382A1 (en) |
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CN100372371C (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2008-02-27 | 株式会社日立制作所 | Digital broadcasting receiver, control method for digital signal processor |
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US7873102B2 (en) | 2005-07-27 | 2011-01-18 | At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp | Video quality testing by encoding aggregated clips |
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US7908621B2 (en) | 2003-10-29 | 2011-03-15 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | System and apparatus for local video distribution |
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IL151702A0 (en) | 2003-04-10 |
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