CATV systems

ES 2 199 948 T3

DESCRIPTION

CATV systems.

Invention sector

The present invention relates to CATV systems in general, and more particularly to CATV systems that provide additional services to subscribers.

Background of the invention

Existing CATV systems use radio frequency (RF) links such as cable and satellite links, as well as optical links using fiber optic cables for transmission of TV program material. CATV systems that provide transmissions only from one endpoint to a series of subscribers are called one-way systems. CATV systems that additionally involve transmissions from subscriber units are called two-way systems.

Some of the one-way systems also use a telephone link for transmission of administration or management data to subscribers, while others transmit administration or management data via RF links or optical links.

Today's two-way CATV systems transmit TV and audio programs via cable or satellite and receive data from subscriber units via telephone links. The data obtained is mainly CATV subscriber viewing data, subscriber program ratings and the like.

In order to enable telephone communications, currently known CATV converters incorporate modem units that are directly coupled to existing telephone links.

Descriptions of telephone "transponders" of the art that are also suitable for CATV systems can be found in various patents. For example, US Patent 3,922,492 to Lumsden describes a remote read transponder comprising a modem. The Binnie et al. Patent 3,868,640 describes a system for interrogating remote stations via an automatic dialer.

Neither of the existing one-way CATV systems nor the two-way systems known today are used to provide services to subscribers. While existing two-way systems use telephone modems, they are used primarily for communication management and for reading subscriber viewing data. At present, telephone communication via a modem is mainly performed for low data rates and for short periods of time at long intervals, thus leaving telephone modems without exploitation for long periods of time.

In an article entitled "An Evolutionary Approach to the Development of Two-Way Cable Technology Communication" by JB Wright, MP Block and DS McVoy in IEEE Transactions on Cable Television, Vol. CATV-2, No. 1, January 1977, it is made mention of CATV systems that are proposed with two routes in which automated electronic periodicals, mail items and on-demand catalogs will be distributed to subscribers.

Characteristics of the invention

The present invention is intended to achieve CATV systems that have significant additional applications such as facsimile, electronic mail (E-mail), voice mail, and mail. The term "CATV" is used throughout this description and claims in an unusually broad sense, including cable television networks and also satellite television and pay television generally. The term "mail" is used throughout this description and claims in a broad sense, including any written or printed material such as typewritten writings commonly provided to domestic households such as bills, credit card statements, advertising, messages of institutions, etc. The term "mail" does not include billing data for CATV programs and messages related to CATV operator programming.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "encrypt" in all its forms will be used in a broader sense than usual, to cover all forms of data encoding from simple intermixed or scrambled to hard encryption.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a CATV system is disclosed comprising:

a CATV network comprising a program transmitter and a series of television subscriber units, the transmitter transmitting to the subscriber units television programs and, through a telephone link, individually addressed, non-audible information, without the initiative of the users of the the television subscriber units, each of the television subscriber units comprising;

a receiver for receiving television programs comprising audio information and also, via the telephone link, the individually addressed, non-audible information addressed to the subscriber unit;

means to accompany the individually addressed, non-audible information by said audio information if such individually addressed, non-audible information is not accompanied by voicemail information, and to inhibit such audio information and accompany the individually addressed, non-audible information, by voicemail information if the non-audible individually addressed information is accompanied by voicemail information; and a television set for displaying television programs and at least a portion of the individually addressed non-audible information, respectively accompanied by said audio information or said voice mail information.

Preferably, the individually addressed information includes at least one of the following:

email information; facsimile information; and mail information.

Preferably, each subscriber unit comprises:

a copy output unit for providing individually directed information copy output; and a selector operated by a subscriber for selectively directing individually addressed information to at least one of the television sets for display and the copy output unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a CATV transmission method is disclosed comprising:

ES 2 199 948 T3 the transmission from a transmitter to television subscriber units of television programs comprising audio information and also transmit ir via a telephone link, without initiative of the subscriber unit users, individually addressed information not audible;

receiving at each subscriber unit the television programs comprising the audio information and also, through the telephone link, the information addressed individually in a non-audible way;

accompany unaudible individually addressed information by such audio information if such unaudibly individually addressed information is not accompanied by voicemail information, and to inhibit such audio information and the accompanying unaudible individually addressed information by voicemail information if the non-audible individually addressed information is accompanied by voicemail information; and displaying on a television set at least part of the non-audible individually addressed information accompanied respectively by said audio information or said voice mail information, as well as television programs.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a television subscriber unit for use with a CATV system is disclosed comprising:

a CATV network that includes a program transmitter and a multiplicity of television subscriber units, the transmitter transmitting to the subscriber units television programs and, via telephone link, individually addressed non-audible information, without initiative of the users of the television subscriber units, the television subscriber unit comprising:

a receiver for receiving television programming comprising audio information and also, via telephone link, individually addressed non-audible information addressed to the subscriber unit;

means to accompany the individually addressed information not audible by such audio information if such individually addressed information not audible is not accompanied by voice mail information, and to inhibit such audio information and individually addressed information not audible accompanying by mail information of voice if the non-audible individually addressed information is accompanied by voicemail information; and a television set for viewing television programs and at least some of the unaudible individually addressed information respectively accompanied by said audio information or said voice mail information.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, which should be considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general block diagram of a CATV system constructed and operating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a general block diagram of a part of the subscriber unit made and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 3A and 3B together show a flow chart description of the functionality of the apparatus of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a general block diagram of a CATV system constructed and operating in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a general block diagram of a part of the subscriber unit constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 6A, 6B and 6C together show the description of a flow chart of the functionality of the apparatus of Figure 5.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Reference will now be made to Figure 1, which is a general illustration block diagram of a CATV system constructed and operating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The CATV system comprises or is used with a CATV network (10) which, typically but not necessarily, is constituted by a radio frequency (RF) network that includes a program transmitter (11) coupled through a communication link. communications satellite (12) with a series of subscriber units (14). Alternatively, the communication link 12 may be cable or a fiber optic communication link.

Preferably, each of the subscriber units (14) comprises a television set (16) and a CATV interface unit (18). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each subscriber unit may also include a copy output device (20). Preferably, a copy output device 20 can be any suitable printer, such as a laser printer or a thermal printer having graphics capability. The copy output device may be integrally formed as part of the interface unit 18 or it may be a separate device connected thereto by a wired or wireless link.

The CATV interface unit (18) may include a conventional decoder that is commercially available from multiple vendors.

The conventional CATV data such as authorizations, program display data, etc. they can be communicated to and from the subscriber units (14) in a conventional manner. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an addressed information generator (22) is provided to transmit encrypted information to subscribers through a CATV system.

The encoded addressed information generator (22) may comprise a fax generator, E-mail generator, voice mail generator, mail generator, or any other suitable information generator that is capable of providing information suitable for broadcast to through a CATV system to subscribers. The generator (22) may include a scanner for inputting written or printed material and may receive information to output directly from a computer or other data source. The generator (22) may comprise a facsimile apparatus. The generator (22) preferably provides the information in encrypted form together with a

ES 2 199 948 T3 address or addresses that identify one or more subscribers who are the intended recipients of the information.

Additionally, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the CATV interface unit (18) in each subscriber unit (14) comprises an information decoder that is operative to decrypt only the information from the generator (22) that is addressed to the same. It should be noted that the address can be individual, that is. to individual subscribers, or alternatively grouped, that is, to subscribers who meet certain criteria, such as demographic or geographic criteria.

It will be appreciated that the system of Figure 1 can be provided with a copy output device (20) or alternatively without the corresponding encoded address information generator (22) and decoder in the CATV interface unit.

A possible application of the system of figure 1 is the transmission of bank or credit card reports. Instead of transmitting said information by mail, as is usual practice, said reports can be transmitted via CATV systems in periods of time that are not of maximum or “peak” use, each of them being addressed to a specific subscriber, and each being decrypted by the CATV interface unit (18) of the appropriate subscriber unit (14). The decrypted information can be stored in a suitable memory, which is part of the subscriber unit (14) or which is coupled to it, and can then be viewed at will by the subscriber and / or produced in permanent or "hard" copy. by means of the copy output device (20).

Another possible application of the system of Figure 1 is in the transmission of "business mail" such as advertisements for grocery stores and the like. Instead of transmitting said material by mail or by hand delivery, as is usual practice, this material can be transmitted by CATV systems at times of non-peak use, that is, they are not “peak”, and can be directed to subscribers within a given geographic area, which can be additionally selected by demographic criteria.

In cases where the copy output device 20 does not exist, all of the aforementioned functionalities operate except for the provision of a permanent or "hard" copy on the subscriber unit.

In cases where the encrypted addressed information generator (22) and corresponding decoder do not exist, but the copy output device does exist, the copy output device can be used to provide permanent copies output of any information received to through the CATV network, using suitable buffers or memories, which can be part of the permanent type copy output device or separate from it. This system can be useful for providing permanent copies of free broadcast material, which can be, for example, program material, educational material or commercial material.

In the event that a series of cable or fiber optic links with different coverage areas are used as opposed to a single satellite communication link, it will be appreciated that different materials or information can be transmitted by each of said links.

The material received through a CATV system is decrypted by the CATV interface unit (18) at the subscriber units (14) to which it is addressed. The decrypted material can be stored in a suitable memory, in the subscriber unit (14) or fixed thereto, and can then be viewed at will by the subscriber and / or can lead to the production of a permanent copy by means of the copy output device (20).

Reference will now be made to Figure 2, which is a general illustration block diagram of a CATV interface (18) that is part of the subscriber unit (14).

The CATV interface unit (18) receives information such as fax, email, voicemail, and mail through the communication link (12). This information is received by a CATV tuner and receiver unit (30) which preferably include a compression / decompression unit (32), such as an MPEG unit. The information is transmitted directly or through the unit (32) to a processor (34).

The processor (34) provides fax, Email, voice mail and mail data to an internal memory unit (36) or to an external memory unit (38) through a memory controller (40). Preferably, the external memory unit (38) includes a memory card (42) and a memory card reader.

In many cases, the incoming information arrives in a compressed form. If incoming information is not compressed, it may be necessary to compress it before being stored in memory. In this case, the compression / decompression unit (32), which is used for regular compression / decompression of CATV digital video and audio, can be used to provide fax, E-mail, voice mail and mail information to an internal memory unit (36) or to an external memory unit (38) under the control of the processor (34).

Stored faxes, E-mail, voice mail and mail data are provided by any of the memories (36) and (38) to the processor (34) through the memory controller (40) and, in the event that the data has been previously compressed by the compression / decompression unit (32), through the unit (32). The stored data can then be provided to an on-screen display (OSD) unit (44). The OSD unit 44 prepares the fax data, E-mail data, voice mail data and mail data in a format suitable for reception by a TV receiver and supplies them to a CATV tuner and unit. receiver (30). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the OSD unit (44) can be part of the CATV tuner and receiver unit (30).

The CATV tuner and receiver unit (30) also receive encrypted video and audio program transmissions via satellite or cable link (12) and provide decrypted video and audio data to TV (16) (Figure 1). The CATV tuner and receiver unit (30) can be operative upon receiving the appropriate authorization from a headend (not shown).

By synchronizing the television receiver to an information display channel, such as a broadcast channel,

ES 2 199 948 T3 fax display or in the selection of a non-CATV data display option on a CATV remote control unit when the television receiver is tuned to any channel, the receiver unit (30) and CATV tuner they display on the television receiver images of stored information, such as faxes, along with audio from the communication link (12) or voicemail, accompanying the information received. The audio on link 12 may alternatively be any suitable background music.

At any time, before, during or after the display of the information received by television, a permanent or "hard" copy thereof can be provided by the copy output device (20).

Reference will now be made to Figures 3A and 3B which together provide a flow chart description of the functionality of the apparatus of Figure 2.

A data delivery device provides faxes, E-mail, voice mail and mail data to be selectively transmitted to subscribers by means of a transmitter (11) (Figure 1). The data is preferably encrypted at the transmitter, so that only the recipient is able to decrypt the data. Alternatively, additional stronger encryption techniques can be used.

The encrypted data is transmitted to subscribers through the fiber optic or RF communication link (12) (figure 1). If the data provider data includes only visual data, accompanying background music or audio programs can be added to the transmitter. Alternatively, visual data can be transmitted without accompanying audio. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the accompanying audio is intermixed.

If the data from the data provider comprises visual data accompanied by voice mail data, then the visual data is transmitted with the accompanying voice mail data.

When data transmissions are terminated, data providers are charged at the appropriate rate. Alternatively, in certain circumstances, the subscriber may be billed for the data transmission.

Typically, fax, email, voicemail, and mail data communications are sent by service providers to promote their own business. These data are generally sent late at night, when CATV programming has usually ended and transmission rates are low. However, data can also be transmitted during the day at higher rates.

After successfully completing the data transmission, the facsimile, E-mail and voice mail are stored in the internal memory (36) or the external memory (38) of the CATV interface unit (18) (figure 2). The subscriber then receives a message confirming the receipt of new data on a television receiver on whatever channel he is tuned to at the time.

After selecting a CATV Fax / Email display channel on the TV receiver, the subscriber can view a Fax / Email / Mail / Voicemail list and listen to background music from CATV or cable broadcasts. The subscriber is then in a position to select the fax / E-mail / mail / voice mail data and messages that he prefers to view using a CATV remote control unit or the keyboard of the CATV interface unit (18).

If a fax, E-mail or mail message is accompanied by a voice mail message, the subscriber is able to view both the fax, the E-mail or the mail and listen to the voice mail message at the same time . However, if the fax, E-mail or mail is delivered without any accompanying voice message, the subscriber can listen to background music from CATV satellite or cable broadcasts.

Reference will now be made to Figure 4, which is a general block diagram of a CATV system constructed and operating in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The CATV system comprises or is used with a CATV network (110) which is typically a combination telephone-radio frequency (RF) network that includes a program transmitter (111) coupled via a satellite communication link (112) with a multiplicity of subscriber units (114). Alternatively, the communication link 112 may be a cable or a fiber optic communication link.

Preferably, each of the series of subscriber units includes a television set (116), a CATV interface unit (118) preferably associated with it a telephone modem (119) and a fax reception-transmission unit ( 120). Preferably, the fax unit (120) may be part of the telephone modem (119). In this case, the telephone modem and the fax unit are usually incorporated in a single electronic panel which is called "Fax-modem". Alternatively, this should not be essential, and the fax unit can be a separate unit.

The CATV interface unit 118 may comprise a conventional decoder that is commercially available from multiple vendors. A fax-modem panel can replace the standard modem panel on the cable box and provide fax services as well as standard telephone communications, E-mail, voice mail, and mail service. Fax-modem panels are commercially available from various vendors, such as the Everfax 24/96 2400 bps, EVEREX fax with internal w / 9600 bps modem card.

The CATV interface units (118) may be connected, via the fax units (120) and telephone links (122), to a standard telephone network (124) for voice, data and fax communications.

Conventional CATV data, such as authorizations and program viewing data, is communicated to and from a subscriber management system (126). Facsimile data, E-mail, voice mail and mail data can be provided to the subscriber units (114) through the CATV network from an information generator (127), such as a standard fax machine ( 128) or a computer and associated modem (129).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the CATV interface unit (118) can also be associated with a keyboard (130) to produce faxes to be sent to any of the fax machines or internal fax-modem cards through the CATV network. .

ES 2 199 948 T3

Reference will now be made to FIG. 5, which is a general block diagram as an illustration of the CATV interface unit (118) that is part of the subscriber unit (114).

The CATV interface unit (118) receives facsimile data, E-mail data, voice mail data, and mail data, as well as communication management data from the telephone network (124) (Figure 4), which is part of a CATV network (110), through the fax-modem reception-transmission unit (150) and a standard telephone link (152). The fax-modem unit (150) provides data to a processor (156) through a communication interface (154) BUS.

The processor (156) provides fax data, E-mail data, voice mail data, and mail data to either the internal memory unit (158) or an external memory module (160) via a controller. memory (162). Preferably, the external memory unit (160) comprises a memory card (161) and a memory card reader.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processor (156) also receives data input through the subscriber keyboard (130) (figure 4) and prepares it in a suitable format for transmission such as fax, E-mail or mail data. through the telephone link (152). The processor (156) may also provide fax data, E-mail data, voice mail data, and mail data to the copy output unit (132) for printing copies.

In many cases, the fax-modem card already includes a standard compression / decompression unit for fax transmission and reception. If the fax data is not compressed on the fax modem, it may be necessary to compress it before storing it in memory. In this case, the compression / decompression unit that is used for conventional CATV digital audio and video transmissions can be used, so that the processor (156) provides the data for fax, E-mail, voice mail and data from Mail to the internal memory unit (158) or to the external memory module (160) through the compression / decompression unit (164), preferably in MPEG format, and through the memory controller (162).

Stored faxes, E-mail, voice mail and mail data are provided by any of the memories (158) or (160) to the processor (156) through a memory controller (162) and, in the case in that the data has been previously compressed by the compression / decompression unit (164), through the unit (164). The stored data is then provided to an on-screen display (OSD) unit (166). The OSD unit 166 prepares the fax data, Email data, voicemail data and mail data in a format suitable for reception by a TV receiver and provides them to a CATV tuner and the receiving unit. (168). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the OSD unit (166) can be part of the CATV tuner and the receiver unit (168).

The CATV tuner and receiver unit (168) also receive encrypted video and audio program transmissions from the communication link (112) and provide decrypted video and audio data to the TV set (116). The CATV tuner and receiver unit (168) may operate under authorization received from the subscriber management system (126).

By tuning the television receiver to an information display channel such as a fax display channel or by selecting a non-CATV data display option on a CATV remote control unit when the television receiver is tuned to any channel, the CATV tuner and the receiver unit (168) display on the television receiver images of the stored information, such as fax messages, along with audio messages from the communication link (112) or voicemail, accompanying the information received. The audio signal from link 112 may alternatively be any appropriate background music.

At any time, before, during or after the display of the information on the TV set, a permanent copy thereof may be provided by the "hard" copy output device (132).

Reference will now be made to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, which together provide a description of the flow chart of the functionality of the apparatus of Figure 5.

Fax data, E-mail, voice mail, and mail data are sent over the CATV network by a data delivery device from one end of the telephone communications link to a subscriber at the other end. At the same time, conventional CATV programs are received by the subscriber. If the subscriber's phone line is currently busy, the data is not sent. However, if the line is free, a link process is initiated to remove the phone call and the sender's data is transmitted to the subscriber. The sender then receives the charge at the appropriate rate. Alternatively, in some cases, the subscriber may be billed.

If communication of fax, E-mail, voice mail and mail data messages takes place at the same time as communication of CATV management data or viewing data of a subscriber program, CATV data is given priority with respect to other non-CATV data. However, on special occasions, if non-CATV data is important, it may be necessary to complete transmissions without interference. For these cases, special priority codes are used that are used with conventional telephone data communications.

Generally, CATV data has higher priority than normal non-CATV data, and special non-CATV data has higher priority than CATV data. Therefore, the rates for special non-CATV data transmission are higher than the rates for normal non-CATV data transmission. Preferably, the priority codes are a digit having the value of 1- for normal non-CATV data transmissions, 2- for CATV data transmission and 3- for non-CATV special data transmission.

Typically, fax, e-mail, voice mail, and mail data messages are sent by service providers to promote their business. This data is generally sent late at night when phone lines are not regularly busy and rates are low. No obstan6

ES 2 199 948 T3 te, if a service provider prefers to send the data during the day, they will be charged at higher rates.

If the subscriber interrupts the transmissions when picking up the phone, the data transmissions are interrupted and the part of the data that has already been transmitted is stored in an internal memory module (158) or in an external memory module (160) (figure 5 ), along with a notice of incomplete transmission. The sender also receives this message, and as a consequence will try to send the data later. This feature is similar to the process of fax transmission between two fax modems or fax machines.

After successfully completing the data transmission, the facsimile, E-mail, voice mail and mail data are stored in an internal memory (158) or an external memory (160) (Figure 5). The subscriber then receives a message confirming the receipt of new data on a television receiver on whatever channel it is tuned to.

After selecting a CATV fax / email viewing channel, the subscriber can view a fax / email / voicemail / mail list and listen to background music from CATV satellite or cable broadcasts. The subscriber is then able to select from a list the fax / E-mail / voicemail / mail data and messages that he prefers to view using a CATV remote control unit or the keyboard on the CATV interface unit (118).

If a fax, E-mail or mail message is accompanied by a voicemail message, the subscriber can view the fax and hear the voice message at the same time. However, if the fax, E-mail, or mail is delivered without accompanying voicemail, the subscriber can hear background music from CATV satellite or cable broadcasts.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the following claims. In the case in which the technical characteristics mentioned in any of the claims are followed by reference signs, said reference signs have been included solely for the purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims, and accordingly, said reference signs Reference symbols do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each of the elements identified by way of example by said reference signs.