System and method for transmitting television advertisement

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to the transmission of television programs, and more particularly to the transmission of television advertisements.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Advertisements are inserted into television programs during commercial hours for national or regional consumption. In either situation, TV viewers usually surf the channel during commercial hours, that is, switch from channel to channel. Channel surfing is possible or "favorable" because the commercials may be on different channels at different times, and some channels may be completely commercial. This is because I haven't surfed.

【0003】

The reason for this so-called channel surfing is that the ads are not interesting to the viewer, and there is no incentive or motivation for the viewer to see such ads. This channel surfing is extremely undesirable from the advertiser's point of view and is a waste of money. In addition, viewers may be more interested in other programs while surfing the channel and may not return to the program they were originally watching.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

These and other problems and limitations of prior art known advertising transmission systems are sought to be resolved by adopting advertising transmission systems that prevent viewers from channel surfing. To this end, advertisers agree to pay at least some, if not all, of the mass video service fees, and instead the masses are offered to their viewers. Make sure you agree to see the ad as a feature of the agreed subject of interest.

【0005】

[Means for solving problems]

Viewers and advertisers are interested in advertising services, such as specific households to which they are transmitted, specific types of programs, specific times of the day, specific days of the week, and subscriber interests. Book to convey a particular ad to the viewer as one feature, such as a target with. To this end, television programs and advertisements are served to subscribers from a central video server that notifies them when they change channels they are watching.

【0006】

Furthermore, even if the program being watched is a broadcast program, it is possible to insert different advertisements for point-to-point advertisements, that is, different viewers or different groups of viewers.

【0007】

In one embodiment of the invention, there is no reason to channel surf by running the same advertisement over all channels reserved by a particular subscriber during the same commercial time period.

【0008】

In another embodiment of the invention, if channel surfing is initiated while the advertisement is being aired, the airing of the advertisement is "paused" until it returns to the original channel that the subscriber was watching. When the subscriber returns to the original channel, the ad will automatically resume broadcasting.

【0009】

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the subscriber is controllably restrained from selecting a channel other than the one currently being viewed during the commercial time zone.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

【0010】

FIG. 1 shows a simplified configuration diagram of a video distribution system to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied. Specifically, network 100 is shown that includes a video server 101 that supplies downstream video signals to broadband network 102 in response to upstream communication including select messages. The broadband network 102 exchanges communication signals with the optical line terminal 103. In the optical line terminal (OLT) 103, the optical line circuit (OLC) 104 interfaces with the optical fiber line. This fiber optic line is, for example, a power split passive optical network (PSPON) that includes fiber optics 110 and 111 to which optical signals are transmitted using sparse wavelength split multiplexing.

【0011】

Transmission over fiber lines 110 and 111 is carried out using two wavelengths, 1550 nanometer (nm) downstream, eg, at home, and using 1310 nm upstream, eg, home. The PSPON fiber 110 can be split into a predetermined number of fiber optics 111, eg 32 fiber 111, via a passive splitter, thereby interfacing with 32 locations via the associated ONU. Note that the OLT103 works for the corresponding number of fiber optic lines, one or more OLC104s connected to 110-1 to 110-Z, respectively, that is, 104-1 to 104-Z, and one OLC104. Works for one or more ONUs via fiber optics 111-1 to 111-W. In this example, the downstream transmission of the video signal is done in an asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) cell via time division multiplexing (TMD), and the upstream transmission of communication is done in time division multiple access (TDMA). Both down-stream and upstream communications are performed at a rate of 155.52 Mb / sec.

【0012】

For efficient TDMA communication in the upstream direction, all optical network units (ONUs) 106 must have equal loop delays in relation to their associated OLC104. This is achieved by using the range determination procedure performed when installing, moving, returning to service, etc. of each ONU106 associated with a particular OLC104. This is achieved by using the range determination procedure performed when installing each ONU106. This range determination procedure determines the artificial delay that produces the required common loop delay when added to the ONU106's transmit loop delay. Such a range determination method is known in the prior art. However, the preferred scope determination method was submitted at the same time as the present application and is described in the co-pending US patent application serial number No. (DEBlahut-P Magill Case 46-20), which was assigned to the assignee of this application.

【0013】

In fact, the OLT 103 is a special ATM switch point that includes traditional ATM configurations and input / output (I / O) ports. This example requires two types of I / O infrastructure: standard SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) such as OC-12 equipment and OLC equipment 104. The video signal received from the OLT 103 as an ATM cell from one or more SONET substrates is sent to the OLC device 104. As a result, the upstream channel selection message sent to the video server controller 202 in the video server 101 is intercepted inside the OLT 103, thereby accumulating the number of viewers of each video program transmitted throughout the OLT 103. Will be done.

【0014】

Only the unusable channel (program) portion in the currently receiving SONET VC is sent to the video service controller 202 in the video server 101. In addition, the message is sent by the OLT 103 to the video server 101, within which the transmitted video program is sent to the video server controller 202 whenever it is not viewed by any of the OLT 103-supported TV 107s. In this example, each OLC device 104 includes a memory (not shown) which may be a microprocessor having a CPU and a memory.

【0015】

The optical network unit (ONU) 106 terminates the PSPON fiber 110 via the associated PSPON fiber optic 111, and in this example, the appropriate inter for one or more television receivers (TVs) through the 107-N. Offers phases. Each TV from 107-1 to 107-N is associated with any one of the remote control (RC) devices 108-1 to 108-N, respectively.

【0016】

The network 100, for example, in response to a particular program request, via one or more video server controllers in the video server 101, a regular TV program, a cable TV provider, a satellite TV provider, a video- Providing programs similar to those offered via on-demand and the like. The method of requesting and transmitting a video program is described in more detail below.

【0017】

As shown in FIG. 1, the general household video subsystem includes an ONU 106 and one or more TV 107s, and an associated RC device 108. In this example, ONU106 and TV107 are interconnected via a coaxial (COAX) cable.

【0018】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in line with a video server for an interactive television system. A video program is a material such as a movie, a musical selection, an interactive television program, a commercial broadcast program, a CATV, etc., and a commercial that can include one or more program elements for a user. Video server 101 responds to requests from users.

【0019】

Such a request may be a mere display request for a particular program element or element group, however, in a two-way case, such request may include a user response to another element. .. In general, the video server 101 has multiple channels of ATM data blocks sent through 109 (Figure 1) at appropriate intervals for the amount of data required for a particular program element, and in this embodiment. Is sent in the form of a digital packet using. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the methods and devices of the present invention can be used in the context of all types of data, not just the programs and commercials described herein.

【0020】

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the video server 101 used in the system of FIG. More specifically, one block of video storage server 201, video service controller 202, and MPEG2 video encoders 203-1 to 203-Y is shown. Broadcast video signals are received from input terminals 204-1 to 204-Y and are supplied on a one-to-one basis via MPEG2 video encoders 203-1 to 203-Y, respectively, digitally as known herein. It is encoded and compressed. The digitally encoded MPEG2 video signal is then sent to the video storage server 201.

【0021】

As described below with reference to FIG. 3, the video storage server 201 stores the digitally encoded MPEG2 video signal transmitted to the subscriber. The transmission of this digitally encoded MPEG2 video signal is in response to a control signal from the subscriber, in this example being sent to the video server 101 via transmit link 109 via TDMA in the ATM cell. Inside it, it is sent to the video server controller 202 via 207. Further, the video service control device 202 sends and receives control signals to and from the video storage server 201.

【0022】

Upon request from the subscriber, the video storage device 201 sends a video signal containing advertisements during commercial hours or according to services provided to one or more subscribers. This video signal is placed in an ATM cell and formatted as an ATM signal for transmission. The ATM formatted signal is then sent over the 206 as output from the video server 201 to the bidirectional transmit link 109.

【0023】

When activated, the video server 101 transmits all video signals as MPEG2-encoded video signals. As also mentioned above, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a video server 101 composed of a bank of an MPEG2 video encoder 203, a video storage server 201, and a video service controller 202. All coded broadcast video signals are provided through video storage server 201 in order to carry advertisement insertion services tailored to individual needs.

【0024】

Therefore, each video signal stream is written to the real-time video storage server 201 and similarly read from that server 201 in near real time. The read memory pointer in the video service controller 202 has a near zero delay, which also only activates the write pointer in the controller 202. Note that the delay between writing and reading the video signal stream is not significant. In fact, an advanced video service that could be realized soon is "Delayed Broadcast on Demand."

【0025】

The video service controller 202 manages the writing and reading of all video signal streams and provides each digital video signal stream to be written and read and ATM virtual circuit (VC) information. In addition, control operations such as "pause" are also performed. In this example, the data is written as a block divisible by 48. When the data is read, the ATM cell is formatted as part of its server's I / O operation and the ATM formatting signal is sent as output via 206.

【0026】

All VCs are connected to OLT103 (Figure 1, and related OLC104). Within the OLC104, only the video signal stream corresponding to the VC being decoded by one or more ONUs on the PSPON fiber optic line 110 and its associated fiber optic line 111 is transmitted through that fiber optic. Therefore, remote channel selection is done inside the OLC104.

【0027】

Video service The transmission of broadcast digital video signals mentioned above can be extended to more advanced video services. Some examples are briefly described below. For the sake of simplicity, the VC coding is as follows. (1) VPI supports reserved services such as broadcast, delayed broadcast on-demand, video-on-demand, sports channel, penthouse channel, HOB, etc. (2) VCI corresponds to the channel number.

【0028】

Delayed broadcasting All broadcast video signals are stored on the video storage server 201, so the video signals can be broadcast at any time by simply assigning a new, temporary, and unique VCI for the "broadcast" of the individual video signal output stream. Can be done. By combining that VCI with the desired OCU106, the VPI provides the ONU106 MPEG decoder with the necessary routing information. Subscribers can watch soap opera, sports programs, news broadcasts, etc. at any time. In fact, with enough server storage, VCRs become obsolete. This service is called "Delayed Broadcast on Demand".

【0029】

Video-On Demand The addition of one or more ONU106 (Figure 1) MPEG2 encoder 203 (Figure 2) to encode and store movies enhances the ability to provide "movie on demand" services. It is also possible to provide a video program as pre-encoded digital information. Similarly, any other video-on-demand service can be supported, such as non-movie or broadcast video, such as how-to, lectures at remote universities.

【0030】

Insert ads All video shows are stored with ads removed. The broadcast video signal contains the control information needed to identify the advertisement. If desired, these advertisements can be encoded and stored, but in that case they are recorded and stored as separate video signals. All videos broadcast from the video storage server 201 may be "paused" by the video service controller 202 at any time, at the request of the subscriber or regardless of the subscriber. The subscriber chooses "pause" as in the case of VCR. However, when used by the video service controller 202, it is usually for inserting advertisements. As described below, each ONU (Fig. 1) MPEG2 decoder can perform a cold trap that selects two VC streams at the same time, but in reality it is never possible for two VC streams to be transmitted at the same time. To insert the advertisement, the control device 202 activates the desired advertisement broadcast, but starts from the "hibernation" state. The advertisement contains the target TV1107, that is, FIG. 4 or 6, directed to the MPEG2 decoder 404 assigned to that TV107, that is, the appropriate VC. In order to start an advertisement, the video program is stopped from being broadcast, and the advertisement is "restarted", that is, the "pause" state is stopped. When the ad is finished, the original video show is "restarted" and the ad is "paused".

【0031】

In the video services known in the prior art, the viewer was required to pay for on-demand video, that is, VOD. The "new" VOD service mentioned here includes advertising, and the cost will be borne by the advertiser.

【0032】

All on-demand services can therefore be made to insert ads on a regular basis. Since this is a booking service, that is, the subscriber is obliged to see the advertisement in order to secure an advertiser for its on-demand service. When a subscriber attempts to surf a channel, or change from channel to channel, the system is automatically notified, which means remote channel selection is assumed, as mentioned above. Therefore, the transmission of all video programs is controlled by the video server 101, which suppresses channel changes during the commercial hours when the advertisement is being broadcast. This can be easily done by refraining from responding to any new program requests from subscribers other than those being viewed.

【0033】

Also, if channel surfing is started while the ad is "aired", the ad will be "paused" until the subscriber returns to the original show. For example, if a 30-second ad is airing and the subscriber surfs the channel for 20 seconds, and the viewer returns, the ad will be aired from the beginning and then the video show will resume. .. However, the program will be shortened by that amount of time. In other words, instead of shortening the ad by 20 seconds, the show is lost by 20 seconds.

【0034】

Insert extended ads These ad insertion techniques can be extended to all broadcast video signals. All broadcast video shows are stored ad-free, so all on-air broadcast video shows are "paused" at the same time, and the same ads are shown during the "pause" hours of all the on-air video shows. To. If there is a received broadcast video program during the broadcast of the advertisement, the program is still encoded and stored in the video server 101, and inside it, stored in the video storage server 201. Note that the video program is interrupted by the commercial time zone, so the ad insertion must be provided during the first commercial time zone for all broadcast video programs. If a subscriber starts channel surfing during commercial hours, the viewer will see the same ad on all channels. Broadcast video shows coming into the MPEG2 encoder have a commercial time slot, so unless the inserted ad exceeds that commercial time slot of the received broadcast video show, all video shows will eventually air that ad. Will be done.

【0035】

The process described above can only be used on broadcast video channels that include commercial time zones. Programs such as CSPAN cannot be included. The viewer may surf the channel to a channel such as CSPAN, but the system, the video service controller 202, will be notified immediately. Advertisers are only charged for the transmission of the ads actually served. Viewers who refuse to fulfill their contract with the advertiser and refuse to see the directed advertisement will be charged for the provision of premium services on behalf of the advertiser. One technically easy way to do this is to keep the ads running, for example, even if the channel is switched to CSPAN. And part of the CSPAN video show is lost. In yet another way, if a subscriber switches to a video show that does not include commercial time zones, such as CSPAN, they "pause" the ad and return to the original video show that the subscriber was watching. Advertising will resume in some cases, or when returning to a video show that has a commercial time zone that includes advertising. As mentioned above, this results in the loss of some of the video shows that are being broadcast, not ads. In yet another method, the video program that the viewer returns is viewed as an "on-demand delay" video program. In this case as well, the service is reserved, and the operation described above is performed with the consent of the subscriber in advance. Video programs containing national advertisements that service providers cannot interfere with are treated in the same way as CSPAN mentioned above. From the point of view of ad insertion, these programs do not have "ad insertion slots".

【0036】

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a video storage server (FIG. 2) including the program library 302. Program Library 302 also includes advertisements sent to subscribers during commercial hours according to the invention. Further, the broadcast video program is sent from the MPEG2 encoder via the line 205 to be stored in the program library 302. Server 300 includes controller 310, data memory 311, switchboard 312, and clock 313. In response to the received request and, in the two-way system, the response, the video service controller 202 (Figure 2) issues a control message sent to controller 310 in server 300 over data links 208 and 304, and further. Send a control message sent to program library 302 through data links 208 and 305. Data links 208, 304, and 305 are shown bidirectional because it is also desirable for the video service controller 202 to be able to receive messages such as status messages from controller 310 and program library 302. Program library 302 sends data about the provided video program to data memory 311 in server 300 through data link 306. Server 300 sends a video program to distribution interface 314 through distribution link 315. Delivery interface 314 also sends programs to users, that is, subscribers to advertising services. Data link 304, 305 and 306 can be implemented as either a dedicated data link or a network, depending on the intended use. The server 300 and the program library 302 may be in the same geographical position or different positions depending on the purpose of use. An example of a typical configuration of the elements shown in Figure 3 is a two-way cable television system, in which the video service controller 202 is located at the two-way television service provider's facility and has a program library. The 302 and server 300 are located elsewhere to serve a large number of such suppliers, and the distribution interface 314 is a cable system headend located at a cable television company's facility. A configuration in which the program is provided through a telephone line network and the distribution interface 314 is the appropriate interface on such a network, or the program is distributed via a very high frequency distribution system, in this example an ATM transmission system. Similar systems with have are also possible.

【0037】

In this example, as mentioned above, the request and subscriber verification information is sent from the ONU 106 via the VC to the video server 101 and its internal video service controller 202.

【0038】

As can be seen from the above description, the server 300, the program library 302, and the distribution interface 314 can have many configurations, and the number of the server 300, the program library 302, and the distribution interface 314 may be any number. All of these are used together according to the principles of the present invention.

【0039】

The video service controller 202 (FIG. 2) also processes incoming requests and responses, sends appropriate control messages to server 300 and program library 302, and if necessary, server 300 and program library 302. It may be a general-purpose computer such as a workstation that can receive messages from. Such processing stores the data memory 311 in the server 300 to send the video program on a specific channel through the distribution link 315 and the appropriate video program to send the video program without the video bang to the server 300. In some cases, by sending an appropriate control message to the program library 302, it is only necessary to respond to a request for a program such as a movie or a broadcast video program including a commercial time zone. Alternatively, such processing may involve the actual combination of video and / or video programs from audio clips stored by program library 302 and storage in data memory 311. The combined program may be bidirectional in the sense that the clip sent in the later part of the program can be determined by the response from the user received by the video service controller 202. In addition, appropriate advertisements sent to specific subscribers or specific groups of subscribers are inserted in a controllable manner during commercial hours within the video program being watched. In this case as well, the commercial time zone can be easily realized by pausing the video program being watched for an appropriate time zone. In addition, such a combination program may include multiple video or audio clips that are sent to the user at the same time. For example, a video array consists of a background and one or more overlays, each transmitted as a separate signal by server 300 through distribution link 315. These individual signals are used to connect the headend of a cable television system or the user's television receiver to the cable system.

【0040】

The program library 302 may be any compatible large-capacity system using a device such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magnetic tape. One of the developments that made video storage server 201 (Figure 2) possible is the availability of large-scale RAM for use with the data memory 311 in server 300.

【0041】

In this example, controller 310 includes a microprocessor and various other elements. Each distribution board 312 contains a FIFO, a channel memory, a communication interface, and other elements. Each output stream is represented by a channel identification field assigned by controller 310. Under general conditions, for each packet transmitted, one of the memories 311 places the channel identification information on the channel identification bus 320 via 327 and 48 programs on the data bus 321 via 325. Either a byte is placed, or the controller 310 places a channel identifier on bus 320 via 326 and 48 control message bytes via 323 on bus 321. Each distribution board 312 can be set to transmit one or more selected channels. If the selected channel identifier is present on the channel identification bus 320, the distribution board writes the channel identifier and program, or the message data that subsequently appears on the data bus 321 to its FIFO. The communication interface sends from the other end of the FIFO onto the SONET OC-3 system at a speed suitable for the associated delivery link 315, eg, 155 megabits / second, and translates its channel identifier into the appropriate ATM VC.

【0042】

FIG. 4 shows details of a specific example of an ONU 106 using a household centralized video controller, i.e., one embodiment of the invention that can be used in the system of FIG. 1 in the form of a simplified configuration diagram. In this example, the ONU 106 includes at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver 401, CPU 402, one or more programming devices 403-1 to 403-M, and an RF combination device 409. It should be noted that there must be at least M RF receivers 401 corresponding to the number M of the program apparatus 403. The number of programming devices 403, that is, M, indicates the number of video programs that can be viewed simultaneously by the location, eg, multiple TVs in the home. To give a simple example, if you have four program devices, you can watch only four programs at the same time. Therefore, if there are four TV107s in that place, the program "clogging" cannot occur. But even with four or more TVs in place, you can only watch four different shows. More than four TVs that have started receiving channels can only watch one of the programs they are watching on those four TVs, and cannot switch to a channel other than the program that those four TVs are watching.

【0043】

The RF receiver 401 receives an RF signal containing a control message from the remote controller associated with the TV 107 (FIG. 1). This is the RF transmitter and RF receiver in the type of TV remote control device, both of which are described below in the context of FIG. 5, that is, cordless, well known in the art. It can be easily realized using a telephone. In addition, there may be a plurality of remote control devices corresponding to a plurality of TVs. ONU106 includes as many RF receivers as remote controllers. The RF control message includes, for example, the associated remote controller identifier (ID) and the selected channel number. The remote control ID 108 also displays the subscriber or subscriber household, and therefore the reserved service. In addition to the remote control ID, other control messages also include, for example, related indications indicating whether the TV is powered on or off. The information received in the RF control message is sent to COU402. The CPU 402 is, for example, a microprocessor including a memory. When CPU 402 receives RF transmission from a remote control device that was not operating until now, it assigns one of the program devices 403 to the TV associated with that remote control device and writes the VC corresponding to the received channel number in register 404. Then, use the quick reference table to determine the VC. In addition, it counts how many TV 107s are matched to the selected program and saves the channels selected for this TV 107 in a quick reference table. If there is no other matched TV 107 for the selected program, CPU 402 sends a message upstream to the video server 101 and its internal video service controller 202, requesting transmission of the selected video program. .. The selected program is transmitted downstream into an ATM cell on the virtual circuit (VC) indicated by the selected program channel number and received by the selected program device 403, in this example program device 403-1. To. The VC and channel number of the selected channel number are virtual times

【0044】

In this example, the VC filter 405 is programmed with two VCs. One VC corresponds to the selected video program to be watched, and the second VC corresponds to the specific advertisement watched by the subscriber. In fact, VCs for advertising can be unique to a particular household or can be offered to different groups of subscribers at the same time. In this example, video server 101 does not send both VCs at the same time. Send only the video show VC until the ad is inserted during the commercial time zone. After that, the video server 101 suspends the transmission of the video program and starts transmitting the advertisement. When the commercial time zone, and therefore the advertisement is complete, the video program will resume transmission. The selected channel number (VC) and advertising number (VC) are sent to the virtual circuit (VC) filter 405, and the selected channel number is sent to the agile up-converter 408 to match the selected program channel. Be done.

【0045】

The selected video program is received by the ONU 106 and sent to the VC filter 405 as a series of ATM cells. The VC405 selects the received signal and obtains the selected program channel signal as an MPEG2 digital video signal, that is, a compressed digital video signal sent to the MPEG2 decoder 406. The MPEG2 digital decoder 406 then generates an analog version of the selected video channel, which is sent to the NTSC encoder 407 where it is encoded. The NTSC encoded signal is then sent to the up-converter 408, where the video signal is frequency converted to the selected standard video channel frequency, eg 6MHz. Also in this case, the up-converter 408 is a so-called agile up-converter that corrects the frequency to the frequency of the supplied program channel number. The resulting channel signal is sent to RF combination device 409, where signals from other programming device 403, if any, are combined with one or more TV 107s through COAX, i.e. at a particular location, such as at home. Sent to all TVs.

【0046】

FIG. 5 shows the details of the remote control device 108 (FIG. 1) including the embodiment of the present invention, which can be used in combination with the video control device of FIG. 4, in the form of a simplified configuration diagram. A button pad 501 for keying in the desired channel number sent to the RF transmitter 502 and the infrared (IR) transmitter 503 is shown. The RF transmitter 502 sends to the ONU 106 a packet containing an RF signal, eg, a message containing the remote device identifier and the selected channel number. The IR transmitter 503 transmits an infrared signal to the associated TV 107-1 by a known method.

【0047】

In the actual operation, the user turns on the TV107-1 by pressing the ON button on the button pad 501 of the remote control device 108-1. This causes two things. First, wireless IR signal transmission is made to the TV 107-1 via the IR transmitter 503, which powers it on in the usual way. Second, wireless RF transmission of the control packet including the identifier of the remote control device 108-1 and the power ON command is performed via the RF transmission device 502. ONU106 (Figure 1) via CPU 402 is about the channel that each TV107 in that location was matched when a particular TV was last turned off, that is, the channel that TV should be matched first when it is turned on. You can know. This is done to keep the TV107 as close as possible to traditional analog video transmission technology. ONU106 uses this information to perform two actions. First, if the channel you were watching before is not currently being watched on another TV107, the ONU106 will use that information to reserve the MPEG2 encoder 406 and associated circuitry, if available. Corresponding ATM Make sure it is assigned to VC. Second, the ONU106 sends a control packet upstream to the video server 101 (Figure 1) and its internal video service controller 202, requesting that the desired previously viewed channel be sent to the ONU106. .. Assuming that the MPEG2 decoder 406 is available, the associated TV will broadcast the program on the last channel it was tuned to before it was turned off.

【0048】

When the user switches the TV channel using the remote controller 108-1 as in the case of a normal remote controller, the TV channel is changed through the IR wireless link. However, in addition, wireless RF control messages are sent via the RF transmitter 502 to the ONU 106 and its internal RF receiver 401. ONU106 properly composes an upstream message and sends it via CPU 402 to the video server 101 and its internal remote video service controller 202, and the transmitted digital to its PSPON fiber 110 and associated fiber 111. Request that the video program be modified appropriately. If not already assigned, the MPEG2 decoder and associated circuitry will be assigned. If a digital video program already decoded by the MPEG2 decoder 406 is selected, the previously assigned MPEG2 decoder 406 is released. CPU 402 holds information about the number of TV 107s watching each requested video program. If the requested video program is not being watched by that TV 107, CPU 402 will send an upstream message to the video server 101 and its internal video service indicating that the video program is no longer being watched. It is transmitted to the control device 202.

【0049】

If the selected program is not a regular broadcast program, the behavior of the system may be different. For example, if Video on Demand (VOD) is selected, the user is assigned to an unused channel for point-to-point transmission in a two-way video preview / select program. In this example, the MPEG decoder 406 is assigned to the pair of TV 107 and remote controller 108. Other TVs can watch the video, but their bidirectional control is lost while the TV 107 associated with the remote controller that started it is still watching the program. If the initiated remote controller 108 is used to watch another program, control of the VOD is abandoned and the bidirectional control function, eg, the next remote controller 108 that attempts to pause, becomes the initiated remote controller 108 It is regarded. Similarly, other interactive TV devices can be accessed. For some bidirectional devices such as games, the multi-control remote control device 108 is suitable. However, in these situations, the device distinguishes the remote control 108 during normal operation.

【0050】

In summary, when CPU 402 (Figure 4) receives an RF transmission from a previously inactive remote controller 108, it responds as follows: If another active TV is not looking at the currently selected program channel number, assign program operation 403. -Write the VC of the selected channel number included in the quick reference table of CPU302 to register 404. -Holds a count of how many active TV 107s are receiving the selected program channel number, and saves the selected channel number in the above quick reference table. -Upstream messages are sent to the video server 101 and the video service controller 202, requesting the program channel number selected by VCI = the selected channel number and the VPI corresponding to that service group. -If another operating TV107 is watching the selected program channel number, only the count for how many TV107s are receiving the selected program channel number is updated. -Program the VC filter 405 in both the program VC and the advertising VC.

【0051】

FIG. 6 shows the details of another centralized video control device using the embodiment of the present invention that can be used in the system of FIG. 1 in the form of a simplified configuration diagram. In this example, the ONU 106 has at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver 401 and at least one associated RF receiver 603, CPU 402, one or more programming devices 601-1 to 601-M, and RF controller 409. Includes. The number of RF transceivers including the receiving device 401 and the transmitting device 603 is the same as that of the remote control device. The number of program devices 601, or M, indicates the number of video programs that can be watched simultaneously by multiple TVs in one place, for example, at home. As a simple example, if you have four programming devices, you can only watch four programs at the same time. Therefore, if there are only four TVs in that place, the program "clogging" will not occur. However, even if there are five or more TVs in the area, only four channels can be watched at the same time. More than the first four TVs that start receiving a channel can only watch one of the four active channels and cannot switch which channel is watching from.

【0052】

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the RF receiver receives an RF signal including a control message from the remote controller associated with TV107 (FIG. 1). This can be achieved by using the RF transmitter and RF receiver 401 within the TV107 remote controller 108 described below in the context of FIG. 7, both of which are of the type used in wireless telephones. , Known in the prior art. In this example, each RF receiver 401 is a related RF transmitter 603 for transmitting wireless RF signals to the associated remote controller 108 containing a fixed channel number to which the up-converter 602 is matched as described below. have. There may be a plurality of remote control devices 108 corresponding to the plurality of TV 107s. In addition, the ONU 106 will each include as many RF receivers and associated RF transmitters as the remote controller 108. The RF control message contains, for example, the associated remote controller identifier (ID) and the selected channel number. Other control messages include, for example, a display indicating whether the associated TV is ON or OFF, in addition to the remote control ID. The information received in the RF control message is sent to CPU 402. CPU 402 is, for example, a microprocessor including memory. CPU 402 holds a quick reference table containing information including the last selected program channel number for each TV 107, including that of the currently operating TV 107. When CPU 402 receives an RF transmission from a previously inactive remote controller 108, it assigns one of the program devices 601 to the TV associated with that remote controller and registers the last selected program channel number in register 404. Writes to the RF video program channel number used by the assigned programming device 601 to the RF transmitter 603, which sends the RF signal to the RF receiver in the associated remote controller 108, and further. CPU 402 is about how many TVs are in operation that are matched to the selected channel number It keeps the count and saves the selected channel number for this TV107 in a quick reference table. If the other active TV 107 is already tuned to the selected channel number, CPU 402 sends a message upstream into the video server 101 and its internal video service controller 202 and is selected. Request to send a channel. The selected channel is transmitted downstream to the ATM cell of the virtual circuit identification device (VCI) identified by the VPI corresponding to the selected channel number and video service group, and the selected programming device 601, the book. In the example, it is received by the programming device 601-1. The VC with the selected channel number is sent to the virtual circuit (VC) filter 405 to tune it to the selected program channel.

【0053】

In this example, the VC filter 405 is programmed with two VCs. One VC corresponds to the selected video program being watched, and the second VC corresponds to the specific advertisement viewed by the subscriber. In fact, the VC for advertising may be unique for a particular home or may be offered simultaneously to different subscriber groups. Video server 101 does not transmit both VCs at the same time in this example. It only sends video shows until the ad is inserted within the commercial time zone. After that, the video server 101 stops the transmission of the video program and starts transmitting the advertisement. Video program transmission resumes during commercial hours and therefore when the ad ends. Selected channel number (VC) and Ad number (VC) virtual circuit (VC) full sent to Iruta 405.

【0054】

Again, the selected video program channel is received by the ONU 106 and sent to the VC filter 405 as a series of ATM cells. The VC filter 405 receives the selected program channel signal as an MPEG2 digital decoder signal sent to the MPEG2 decoder 406. The MPEG2 digital decoder 406 then creates an analog version of the selected video channel, which is sent to the NTSC encoder for encoding. The NTSC encoded signal is then sent to the up-converter 602, where the video signal is frequency converted to a given standard channel frequency, i.e. 6MHz channel. The resulting channel signal is sent to RF combination device 409, where channel signals from other programming device 601 are combined, if any, and via COAX, in a particular location, eg one in the home, or Sent to multiple TVs.

【0055】

FIG. 7 shows the details of the remote control device 108 (FIG. 1) including the embodiment of the present invention that can be used with the video control device 106 of FIG. 6 in the form of a simplified configuration diagram. The figure shows a button pad 501 for keying in the desired channel number sent to the RF transmitter 502. The RF transmitter 502 transmits an RF packet signal containing the remote device identifier and the selected channel number to the ONU 106. The RF receiver 701 receives an RF signal including the RF video program channel number of the up-converter 602 of the assigned program device 601 from the RF transmitter 603 (FIG. 6) and sends the channel number to the IR transmitter 702. Then, the RF transmitter 702 transmits an infrared signal to the TV 107 activated by a known method.

【0056】

The ONU 106 in FIG. 6 has a fixed channel, i.e. the RF frequency assigned to each MPEG2 decoder 406, actually its up-converter 602. Therefore, the video signal from each MPEG2 decoder 406 in FIG. 6 is always transmitted on the same channel. When TV107 is turned on, it will be assigned to the MPEG2 decoder 406. When the channel changes, so does the VC, but the TV107 remains matched to the channel number of the MPEG2 decoder 406 to which it was assigned.

【0057】

As in the case of ONU 106 in FIG. 4, the user presses the power ON button of the related remote control device 108 to turn on TV 107. This behavior results in only one communication event. A "wireless" RF control packet containing the remote controller identifier and the "power on" command is sent to the ONU106. The ONU106 can get information about the channel that each TV107 was matched to when it was last turned off, and therefore knowledge about the channel that should be provided to the TV107 first, which is traditional analog video transmission. It's almost the same as technology. As mentioned above, ONU106 uses this information to perform three actions. First, the MPEG2 decoder 406 and associated circuitry, if available, is on its video channel, namely ATM. Make sure it is assigned to VC. In addition, if the selected program channel is not being watched by another TV 107, the ONU 106 sends a control packet upstream to the video server 101 and its internal video service controller 202 for the selected program. Requests that the channel, or VC, be transmitted to its access PSPON fiber 110 and associated fiber 111. Finally, the ONU 106 sends a return wireless control message containing the channel number used by the assigned MPEG2 decoder 406 back to the associated remote controller 108. Accordingly, the remote controller 108 sends an IR transmission to the associated TV 107, turns it on, and tunes it to the designated channel. Assuming that the MPEG2 decoder 406 can be used, the TV 107 will display the program of the channel that was displayed when it was last turned off.

【0058】

When the user changes TV channels using the remote control device 108 as is done with a conventional remote control device, a wireless RF control message containing those channel changes is sent to the ONU 106. ONU106 modifies the VC of the MPEG2 decoder appropriately to send messages upstream, requesting that the digital video channel transmitted to the PSPON fiber 110 and associated fiber 111 be modified appropriately.

【0059】

If the MPEG2 decoder 402 is not available (which only happens when there are more TVs than the decoder 406), then that TV107 must be decoded for the selected channel to another TV107. , Display noise. In such a situation, a wireless RF control message is sent to the remote controller 108 and sent to the associated TV 107 using the IR wireless link to change the TV channel appropriately. Only the remote controller 108 that selected the program can change it. However, if the TV 107 is turned off, the control of the MPEG2 decoder 406 is entrusted to the next remote controller 108 that intends to change its channel.

【0060】

In short, if CPU 402 (Figure 6) receives an RF transmission from a previously inactive remote controller 108, it responds as follows: If another active TV is not looking at the currently selected program channel number, assign program operation 403. -Write the VC of the selected channel number included in the quick reference table of CPU 402 to register 404. -Holds a count of how many active TV 107s are receiving the selected program channel number, and saves the selected channel number in the above quick reference table. -Upstream messages are sent to the video server 101 and the video service controller 202, requesting the program channel number selected by VCI = the selected channel number and the VPI corresponding to that service group. -If another operating TV107 is watching the selected program channel number, only the count for how many TV107s are receiving the selected program channel number is updated. Send an RF message to the corresponding remote controller 108 containing the last selected channel number.

【0061】

The flowchart in Figure 8-12 shows the steps involved in the occurrence of some scenario cases of the operation of the present invention.

【0062】

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for sending the selected video program contained in the video server 101 of FIG. 2 to a specific TV receiver and inserting advertisements on a regular basis. Specifically, in step 801 the video program is selected according to the procedure described above. Then, in step 802, the VC of the selected video program and the VC of the advertisement are also loaded on the selected PUN, for example, 403-1 in FIG. 4, the register 404, and thus the VC filter 405, and the video program and the advertisement are loaded. Both are inserted into hibernation on video server 101. Step 803 resumes broadcasting the selected video program on video server 101. Step 804 then waits for the ad insertion timer (not shown) to start on video server 101. Step 805 performs a test to determine if the inserted timer has been activated. If the test result is NO, return to step 804 and repeat steps 804 and 805 until a YES result is obtained in step 805. If the test result in step 805 is YES, the video program selected in step 806 will be paused and at the same time the advertisement will be resumed. Step 807 then tests to determine if the ad has been aired. If the test result is NO, the ad will continue to air. If the test result in step 807 is YES, the advertisement has been aired, and the advertisement is stopped in step 808, and at the same time, the video program is resumed. After that, the process returns to step 804, and steps 804 to 808 are repeated. This iterative process continues.

【0063】

Figure 9 shows the case where the video program contained in the video server 101 of FIG. 2 is broadcast while the advertisement is inserted regularly and the attempt to change the video program being watched is suppressed while the advertisement is being broadcast. Steps are illustrated. Specifically, in step 901, the video program is selected as described above. Then, in step 902, the VC of the selected video program and the VC of the advertisement are loaded on the selected PUN, for example 403-1 in Figure 4, register 404, and thus VC filter 405, and both the video program and the advertisement are video. -Insert in hibernation on server 101. Step 903 resumes the broadcast of the selected video program on the video server 101. Then, in step 904, wait for the ad insertion timer (not shown) to start on the video server 101. A test is performed in step 905 to determine whether the insertion timer has been activated. If the test result is NO, the process returns to step 904, and steps 904 and 905 are switched back until a YES result is obtained in step 905. If the test result in step 905 is YES, step 906 pauses the broadcast of the selected video program and resumes the broadcast of the advertisement. In addition, step 906 prohibits any channel changes during the commercial hours when the ad is airing. In the case of ONU106 including the agile operation up-converter 408, the prohibition of channel change sends a message to the related remote control device 108 to prohibit the channel change. This is easily accomplished by using an RF transmitter on the ONU 106, and a corresponding RF receiver on the remote controller 108, and sending an RF message from the ONU 106 to the remote controller 108 to prohibit channel changes. be able to. All that is required of the remote controller 108 is to prohibit the infrared transmitter from transmitting channel information to the corresponding TV 107. Such a method can be directly applied to TV107. In other words, TV107 is a commercial time zone You can also receive a message from ONU106 prohibiting the change of the channel being watched inside. Alternatively, the message may be accompanied by a message prohibiting changes to the channel being watched while the associated ad is airing. Non-agile up-For ONU106 including converter 602, channel change prohibition either sends a message to the associated remote controller 108 to prohibit the channel change, or causes either OLC104 response to the channel change request. Accompanied by. Step 907 then performs a test to determine if the ad has been aired. If the test result is NO, the ad will continue to air. If the test result is YES, the advertisement has been aired, and in step 908, the channel change prohibition is lifted, the advertisement is suspended, and at the same time, the selected video program is resumed. After that, the process proceeds to step 904, and steps 904 to 908 are repeated. This repetition continues.

【0064】

FIG. 10 shows the case where the video program contained in the video server 101 of FIG. 2 is broadcast, advertisements are inserted regularly, and the video program belongs to a predetermined group associated with the specific advertisement to be viewed. It is a flow chart which shows the step of. As shown in this figure, each pre-stored program, or service, is associated with a group of video programs, and each program group is associated with an array of advertisements inserted internally. If a video show being aired is changed to an internal one in a part of the group while the ad is airing, the viewer will return to the video program contained in the group and be in that group. If you are allowed to watch the selected video show, you must resume the broadcast of the ad and air it to the end.

【0065】

Simply put, the ONU106 VC filter 405 requires a 1-bit P / A register (not shown). This P / A bit indicates whether the selected video program or advertisement is being broadcast. When the viewer changes the selected video program, the P / A bit is stored in the memory in the ONU 106 and associated with a given video program group and the specific remote control device 108 used by the viewer. VCs for newly selected video shows and VCs for related advertisements to be inserted therein are also therefore provided in VC Filter 405. If the P / A bit indicates that the ad was airing when the video program, or one of the video program groups, was selected, the ad will resume airing. If the ad is airing, the P / A bit discontinues the right to receive the selected video show. In order to change the broadcast video program that is stored and broadcast on the server 101 at the same time, it is necessary to suspend the right to receive the VC of the selected video program.

【0066】

Returning to Figure 10, a new video program to be aired in step 1001 is selected. Then, the P / A bit of the video program selected in step 1002 is read, and the P / A register of, for example, PUN403-1 (FIG. 4) is loaded. It also loads the VC for the selected video program and the VC for the associated advertisement into the register 404, both of which are also provided to the VC filter 405 in hibernation. Step 1003 is a test to determine if the P / A bit indicates that the video program should be aired. If the test result is NO, return to step 1004. If the test result in step 1003 is YES, the selected video program has been aired, and step 1005 resumes the airing of the selected video program from the video server 101. Step 1006 is the meeting time, which activates the ad insertion timer (not shown) on video server 101. A test is then performed to determine if the video program change has been made in step 1007. If the test result is YES, the process returns to step 1008 and the P / A bit indicating the video program is saved. Then return to step 1001. If the test result in step 1007 is NO, a test is performed to determine if the ad timer has been activated in step 1009. If the test result is NO, return to step 1006 and repeat the appropriate steps of steps 1006, 1007, and 1009 until a YES test result is obtained in step 1009. If you get a YES result in step 1009, go back to step 1010 to pause the selected video show and at the same time make the ad air, that is, resume it, and set P / A = ADVERTISEMENT. Next, the process proceeds to step 1011. Go back to step 1004 and if you get a NO result in step 1003, then step 1004 will air the ad from the video server 101, that is, resume it. Let me. Then move to step 1011. A test is performed in step 1011 to determine if any changes have been made to the video program. If the test result is YES, go to step 1012 to pause the ad, save the VC for that ad, and save the read memory pointer for that ad. After that, the process proceeds to step 1008, and the P / A bit indicating the video program is saved. Then move on to step 1001. If the test result in step 1011 is NO, a test is performed to determine if the ad timer has been activated in step 13. If the test result in step 1013 is NO, return to step 1011 and repeat steps 1011 and 1013, whichever is appropriate, until a YES test result is obtained in step 1013. When the YES test result is obtained in step 1013, the process proceeds to step 1014, PA = PROGRAM is set, the advertisement is stopped, and at the same time, the selected video program is restarted. Then, in step 1014, the next advertisement is loaded on the video server 101 air list, but this operation is performed in a dormant state. Next, the process proceeds to step 1001, and the corresponding steps from steps 1001 to 1014 are repeatedly executed. This iterative process continues. Repeat steps 1011 and 1013, whichever is appropriate, until you get a YES test result. When the YES test result is obtained in step 1013, the process proceeds to step 1014, PA = PROGRAM is set, the advertisement is stopped, and at the same time, the selected video program is restarted. Then, in step 1014, the next advertisement is loaded on the video server 101 air list, but this operation is performed in a dormant state. Next, the process proceeds to step 1001, and the corresponding steps from steps 1001 to 1014 are repeatedly executed. This iterative process continues. Repeat steps 1011 and 1013, whichever is appropriate, until you get a YES test result. When the YES test result is obtained in step 1013, the process proceeds to step 1014, PA = PROGRAM is set, the advertisement is stopped, and at the same time, the selected video program is restarted. Then, in step 1014, the next advertisement is loaded on the video server 101 air list, but this operation is performed in a dormant state. Next, the process proceeds to step 1001, and the corresponding steps from steps 1001 to 1014 are repeatedly executed. This iterative process continues.

【0067】

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the steps taken during the broadcast of the video program contained in the video server of FIG. 2 recorded during the broadcast. For this purpose, the airing pointer may immediately follow the recording pointer. The VC of the same advertisement is used for all broadcast programs. However, the ad will be broadcast as a video-on-demand show and will be offered to each PUN, or at least each home, with a different ad. Specifically, in step 1101, all broadcast video programs are recorded, memory POINTER = WPTR (j) is recorded, all recorded broadcast video programs are broadcast, and memory POINTERS = RPTR (j) is read. And if WPTR (j)> RPTR (j), read for all j. Then, it is shown that the video program is selected in step 1102. PUN both the video show VC and advertising VC selected in step 1103 in hibernation Load the VC filter 405. In step 1104, the broadcast of the selected video program on the video server 101 is resumed. Then, in step 1105, a test is performed to determine if the first commercial time zone has occurred, that is, whether WPRR (j) = RPTR (j) for all js. If the test result is ON, step 1105 is repeated until a YES result is obtained. If the result of YES is obtained in step 1105, the process proceeds to step 1106, in which all the video programs being broadcast are paused, and at the same time, the advertisement is restarted. Each PUN is assigned its own advertising VC. When the ad is reopened, that is, when the ad is aired, all ad VCs will be withdrawn. At step 1107, it is determined whether the advertisement has been aired. If the test result is NO, step 1107 is repeated until a YES test result is obtained. If a YES test result is obtained in step 1107, for all js in step 1108, is WPTR (j) = PRTR (j), that is, whether the program save was stopped, that is, was the read pointer stopped? A test is done to determine if. If the test result is YES, step 1108 is repeated until a NO result is obtained. If the result of NO is obtained in step 1108, the advertisement is stopped in step 1109, and at the same time, the selected video program is restarted. A NO result in step 1108 indicates that program storage has been resumed, that is, WPTR (j)> RPTR (j). After that, the process proceeds to step 1105, and steps 1105 to 1109 are repeated. This repetition continues.

【0068】

Figure 12A and Figure 12B connect AA, BB, and CC to periodically insert an ad in the broadcast of the video program included in the video server in Figure 2, and another program during the broadcast of the advertisement. If is selected, it is a flow chart showing the steps in the process of resuming the broadcast of the advertisement when the program is changed. Note that each pre-stored show, or service, is associated with a group of video shows, where each show group is a specific array of ads to be inserted into it, all households, groups of households, or ads for each household. Associated with different sequences of. The ONU106 register 40 requires one P / A register (not shown). The P / A bit indicates whether the selected program or advertisement is being broadcast. When the viewer changes the selected video program, the P / A bit is saved in the memory in ONU106. The VC of the newly selected video program and the VC of the related advertisement are input to the register 404, and therefore the VC filter 405. If the P / A bit indicates that the ad was airing when the video show, or one of its related groups, was last selected, the ad will resume airing.

【0069】

Specifically, in step 1201, recording all broadcast video programs, reading memory POINTERS = WPTR (j), broadcasting all recorded broadcast video programs, reading memory POINTERS = RPTR (j), and WPTR ( If j)> RPTR (j), all j are read. It is displayed that the video program was selected in step 1202. Then, in step 1203, the P / A bit is read and loaded on the associated remote controller 108 corresponding to the selected video program or video program group. At step 1204, a test is performed to determine if P / A = PROGRAM. If the test result is YES, move to step 1205. If the test result in step 1204 is NO, then in step 1206 the PUN of the hibernated ad VC corresponding to the P / A bit Load the VC filter and then resume the broadcast of the ad. Then, in step 1207, a test is performed to determine whether the video program has changed. If the test result is YES, step 1208 causes you to save the P / A, make a private copy of the ad VC, pause the private VC, and save the memory pointer for the private VC and the ad. Then, the process proceeds to step 1202, and the appropriate steps from steps 1202 to 1208 are repeated until a NO result is obtained in step 1207. If a NO result is obtained in step 1207, a test is performed in step 1209 to determine whether the advertisement has been aired. If the test result is NO in step 1207, the process proceeds to step 1207, and the appropriate steps of steps 1207 and 1208 and steps 1202 to 1209 are repeated until a YES result is obtained in step 1209. If step 1209 gives a YES result, set P / A = PROGRAM in step 1210 and move to step 1205. Both the VC for the video show selected in step 1205 and the VC for the ad to be inserted are dormant on video server 101. Load the VC filter 405. Then, in step 1205, the broadcasting of the selected video program on the video server 101 is resumed. At step 1211 a test is performed to determine if the video show has changed. If the test result is NO, the process proceeds to step 1213. If the test result in step 1211 is YES, go to step 1212 and save the P / A bit indicating the video program. Then, the process proceeds to step 1202, and the necessary steps from step 1202 to step 1212 are repeated until a NO result is obtained in step 1211. Then, in step 1213, a test is performed to determine whether or not WPTR (j) = RPTR (j) for all (j). If the test result is NO, move to step 1211, repeat step 1212 and one of the required steps 1202 to 1211 until you get a NO result in step 1211, and then move to step 1213 again. To do. Then, when the NO result is obtained again in step 1213, the necessary steps from step 1202 to step 1213 are repeated until the result of YES is obtained in step 1213, and the broadcasting of all the video programs is stopped in step 1214. At the same time, broadcast the advertisement. Then, in step 1215, a test is performed to determine whether the video program has been changed. If the test result is YES, step 1216 causes the P / A to be saved, a private copy of the ad VC to be made, the private VC to be paused, and the private VC and the ad's memory pointer to be saved. Then move to step 1202 and repeat one necessary step from steps 1212 to 1216 until a NO result is obtained in step 1215. If you get a NO result in step 1215, perform a test in step 1217 to determine if your ad has finished airing. If the test result is YES, move to step 1218. Su If the step result of step 1217 is NO, the process proceeds to step, and the necessary steps from steps 1215 and 1216 and 1202 to 1217 are repeated until a YES result is obtained in step 1217. If the test result is YES, move to step 1219. If the test result in step 1218 is NO, return to step 1215 and repeat steps 1215 and 1216 and 1202 to 1218 until a YES result is obtained in step 1218. If a YES result is obtained in step 1219, move on to step 1219. Set P / A = PROGRAM in step 1219 to pause the current ad broadcast and at the same time resume the broadcast of all broadcast video programs. In addition, step 1219 adds the following ad to the video server 101 broadcast list in a dormant manner. After that, the process returns to step 1211, and the necessary steps from steps 1211 and 1212 and 1202 to 1219 are repeatedly executed. This repetition continues.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

The block diagram of the video distribution system according to embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

A simplified configuration diagram showing details of the video server used in the embodiment of FIG.

[Fig. 3]

A simplified configuration diagram showing details of the video storage server used in the video server of Figure 2.

[Fig. 4]

FIG. 6 is a simplified configuration diagram showing details of a centralized video control device used in the practice of the present invention that can be used in the system of FIG.

[Fig. 5]

FIG. 6 is a simplified configuration diagram showing details of a remote control device that can be used with the video control device of FIG.

[Fig. 6]

A simplified configuration diagram showing details of another centralized video controller that can be used in the system of FIG.

[Fig. 7]

FIG. 6 is a simplified configuration diagram showing details of a remote control device that can be used with the video control device of FIG.

[Fig. 8]

A flow chart showing the steps to broadcast a selected video show on the video server in Figure 2 to specific subscribers, with regular ads inserted.

[Fig. 9]

Shows the steps for periodically inserting an ad into the selected video program contained in the video server in Figure 2 while suppressing attempts to change the video program during the ad airing. flowchart.

[Fig. 10]

When the selected video program contained in the video server in Figure 2 is broadcast to a specific subscriber while regularly inserting advertisements, the predetermined video program is related to the specific advertisement to be viewed. A flow chart showing the steps if you belong to a group.

[Fig. 11]

A flow chart that shows the steps in the broadcast of a video program that is included in the video server in Figure 2 and is recorded during the broadcast.

[Fig. 12]

Figure 12A and Figure 12B were connected by AA, BB, and CC, and the selected video programs included in the video server in Figure 2 were periodically inserted with advertisements, while different programs being aired were selected. Time is a flow chart showing the steps to resume the broadcast of the ad when the show changes.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 video server 102 Broadband network 103 Optical line terminal 105 splitter 106 Optical network equipment 201 Video storage server 202 Video Service Controller 203 MPEG2 video encoder 204 video broadcast 206 ATM Formatted Digital Video Stream 207 ATM formatting control 302 Program Library 304 Control message 305 control message 306 Write address and data in 310 controller 311 data memory 312 Distribution board 314 delivery interface 320 channel ID bus 321 data bus 322 Read address bus 323 message data 324 refresh 325 data out 326 Channel ID 327 Channel ID 401 RF receiver 403 Program equipment 404 register VC = CH # 405 VC filter 406 MPEG2 decoder 407 NTSC encoder 408 Up-Converter 409 RF combination device 501 button pad 502 RF transmitter 503 IR transmitter 601 Program equipment 603 RF transmitter 701 RF receiver 702 IR transmitter 801 Video program selection 802 Loads both VCs and advertising VCs for selected programs on the PUNVC filter in hibernation on the video server 803 Broadcast (restart) the selected program on the video server 804 Waiting for ad insertion timer to start 805 Ad insertion timer activated 806 Suspended broadcasting of selected programs, aired advertisements (restarted) 807 Advertising completed 808 Advertisement suspended, selected program aired (restarted) 901 Video Show Selection 902 Loads both the VC of the selected program and the VC of the advertisement on the PUNVC filter in hibernation on the video server. 903 Broadcast (restart) the selected program on the video server 904 Wait for ad insertion timer to start 905 Advertisement insertion timer activation 906 Suspended broadcasting of selected programs, broadcast (restart) of advertisements, prohibition of channel change 907 Advertising completed 908 Canceled channel change prohibition, suspended advertisement broadcasting, broadcast (restart) of selected program 1001 Select a new program 1002 Read and load of selected video programs Load the PUNVC filter with both the VC of the selected program and the VC of the advertisement in hibernation. 1003 P / A = Program 1004 Broadcast (restart) ads from video server 1005 Broadcast (Resume) Selected Programs from Video Server 1006 Waiting for ad insertion timer to start 1007 Program change 1008 P / A storage 1009 Advertisement insertion timer activated 1010 Pause the selected program and air (restart) the advertisement P / A = set to advertisement 1011 Program change 1012 Ad pause, save ad VC, save ad read memory pointer 1013 Advertising completed 1014 P / A = Set program Pause ads and air (restart) selected shows Add the following ad to the video server's airing list in hibernation 1101 Record all broadcast video programs Record memory pointer = WPTR (j) Broadcast all recorded broadcast video programs Read memory pointer = RPTR (j) Read for all j if WPTR (j)> RPTR (j) 1102 Video program selection 1103 Load the VC of the selected program and the VC of the advertisement on the PUNVC filter in hibernation. 1104 Broadcast (restart) the selected program on the video server 1105 First advertising time zone occurs WPTR (i) = RPTR (j) for any j 1106 Suspended all video programs and aired (resumed) advertisements 1107 Advertising completed 1108 WPTR (j) = RPTR (j) for any j 1109 Pauses ad broadcast, broadcasts selected program (resumes) 1201 Record all broadcast video shows Record memory pointer = WPTR (j) Broadcast all recorded video shows Read memory pointer = RPTR (j) Read for all j if WPTR (j)> RPTR (j) 1202 Select a video show 1203 Read and load the P / A bits for the remote controller corresponding to the selected video program or video program group 1204 P / A = Program 1206 Load paused ad VC (corresponding to P / A bit) on PUNVC filter and air (restart) ad 1207 Video program change Save 1208 P / A, make private copy of advertising VC Pause the above private VC Save private VC and ad memory pointer 1209 Advertising completed 1210 P / A = Set program 1205 Hibernate load on video server with VC for selected video show and VC for (inserted) ad to PUNVC filter Broadcast (restart) the selected video program on the video server 1211 Video program change Save 1212 P / A 1213 For any j, WPTR (j) = RPTR (j) 1214 Pause all on-air programs and air ads 1215 Video program change 1216 P / A save Make a private copy of your advertising VC Private VC and ad memory pointer pause 1217 Advertising completed 1218 WPTR (j) = RPTR (j) for any j 1219 P / A = Program Pause ads and air (restart) all broadcast video programs Add the following broadcast video program to the broadcast list of the video server in hibernation