Extended range video on demand distribution system

Claim 2

In a video distribution system in which video signals are distributed to end users over a telephone wiring plant of a central office using respective pairs of asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) interface units, a source side interface unit of each pair being located relatively closer to a source of video information than a subscriber side interface unit and the subscriber side interface unit of each pair being located at an end user's location, a method of improving operating characteristics of said distribution system comprising the steps of: (a) locating the ADSL source side interface unit at a site remote from said central office, and (b) connecting the source of video information to the ADSL source side interface unit using a broadband communication link.

Claim 7

In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising: (a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user, (b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal, (c) a signal generator at said converter for selectively generating a provisioning signal indicating that a first group of one or more CATV or broadcast channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber, or for selectively generating a demand signal indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or for selectively generating both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and (d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and a specific channel of the on demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

Claim 8

In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising: (a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user, (b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal, (c) a signal generator at said converter for selectively generating a provisioning signal indicating that a first group of one or more CATV or broadcast channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber, or for selectively generating a demand signal indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or for selectively generating both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and (d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and a specific channel of the on demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

Claim 9

The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which said signal generator is selectively activated over a network.

Claim 10

The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which said converter receives said user selection signal over a network.

Claim 11

The apparatus for channel selection of claim 4 in which the output means comprises means for controlling a variable frequency oscillator to select the specific channel to be provided to the subscriber.

Claim 12

A video distribution system constructed in accordance with the method of claim 1.

Claim 13

A telephone wiring plant adapted in accordance with the method of claim 2.

Claim 14

A video distribution system distributing video information in accordance with the method of claim 3.

Claim 15

A video distribution system comprising: a source of plural channel video programming; a first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit connected to respective channels of video programming for multiplexing video programming information into a multiplexed format and demultiplexing multiplexed formatted signals into base band signal component; a plural video channel multiplexer for multiplexing the outputs of the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits into a composite signal; broad band communication means for transmitting said composite signal to an intermediate distribution point; and distribution means at the intermediate distribution point associated with each subscriber for selecting a channel from the composite signal and for combining that channel with a plain old telephone signal for transmission to the associated subscriber.

Claim 16

A video distribution system comprising: a source of plural channel video programming; a first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit connected to respective channels of video programming for multiplexing video programming information into a multiplexed format and demultiplexing multiplexed formatted signals into base band signal component; a plural video channel multiplexer for multiplexing the outputs of the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits into a composite signal; broad band communication means for transmitting said composite signal to an intermediate distribution point; and distribution means at the intermediate distribution point associated with each subscriber for selecting a channel from the composite signal and for combining that channel with a plain old telephone signal for transmission to the associated subscriber.

Claim 17

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the source of plural channel video programming is a video library.

Claim 18

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received over a network.

Claim 19

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received from a CATV head end.

Claim 20

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the video programming is received over a satellite video feed.

Claim 21

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 in which the source of plural channel video programming is a live video feed.

Claim 22

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the plural video channel multiplexer comprises individual channel mixers connected to respective outputs of the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits and connected to respective oscillator frequency outputs from a multiple frequency generator.

Claim 23

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means includes a laser and an optical fiber.

Claim 24

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 18 in which the laser is an analog laser.

Claim 25

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means includes a coaxial cable.

Claim 26

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the broad band communication means utilizes radio frequency transmission.

Claim 27

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 20 wherein the radio wave transmission is microwave.

Claim 28

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a voltage splitter for providing individual copies of a composite spectrum to individual subscriber lines.

Claim 29

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a frequency combiner for combining upstream information into a composite frequency division multiplexed upstream spectrum.

Claim 30

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein distribution means includes a mixer for translating a desired programming channel of the composite spectrum into the passband of a subscriber filter.

Claim 31

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 25 wherein the mixer is driven by a voltage controlled variable frequency oscillator.

Claim 32

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the voltage controlled variable frequency oscillator is remotely controlled by the subscriber.

Claim 33

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the distribution means includes a first level combiner/splitter for combining a plain old telephone signal with the desired video programming channel.

Claim 34

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 28 wherein the first level combiner/splitter combines signals into an ADSL format.

Claim 35

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first level multiplexer/demultiplexer is an ADSL multiplexer and the multiplexed format is in ADSL format.

Claim 36

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distribution means combines a selected video channel with a telephone signal in an ADSL format.

Claim 37

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said distribution means includes: means for receiving viewer control signals; means for receiving supervisory control signals; means for applying said viewer control signals to the base of a first transistor; means for selectively applying a first supervisory control signal to one of the emitter or collector of the first transistor and for applying the output of the first transistor to the base of a second transistor; means for selectively applying a second supervisory control signal to the base of said second transistor; and means for connecting the output of the second transistor to a voltage control oscillator.

Claim 38

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the first supervisory control signal is a signal indicating that CATV service is provisioned.

Claim 39

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the second supervisory control signal indicates the video on demand is being provided.

Claim 40

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 32 wherein the viewer control signals are channel change signals.

Claim 41

A video distribution system in accordance with claim 31 wherein the viewer control signals are channel select signals.

Claim 42

In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising: (a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user, (b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal, (c) authorization control means for receiving channel specific provisioning information and storing it and for selectively generating (1) a provisioning signal, indicating that a first group of one or more channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber (2) a demand signal, indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or (3) both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and for generating (4) a channel specific authorization signal indicating for each channel whether that channel is authorized to be received by that user (d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and the channel specific authorization signal indicates the channel is authorized and for providing a specific channel of the on-demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

Claim 43

In a multichannel information distribution system in which only some channels are authorized for access by a subscriber and in which the subscriber controls selection of one or more particular channels to be provided to the subscriber, apparatus for channel selection comprising: (a) a user operated channel selector for generating a user selection signal indicative of a particular channel or channel change desired by the user, (b) a converter for receiving said user selection signal and converting it into a specific channel selection signal, (c) authorization control means for receiving channel specific provisioning information and storing it and for selectively generating (1) a provisioning signal, indicating that a first group of one or more channels is authorized to be received by the subscriber (2) a demand signal, indicating that one or more special services is authorized to be received by the subscriber on one or more channels of an on-demand group or (3) both a provisioning signal and a demand signal, and for generating (4) a channel specific authorization signal indicating for each channel whether that channel is authorized to be received by that user (d) output means for providing a specific channel of the first group indicated by the channel selection signal to the subscriber only if the provisioning signal is present and the channel specific authorization signal indicates the channel is authorized and for providing a specific channel of the on-demand group indicated by the channel selection signal only if the demand signal is present.

Claim 44

Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a programmable logic device.

Claim 45

Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a programmable gate array.

Claim 46

Apparatus for channel selection as claimed in claim 37, in which the authorization control means comprises a microprocessor.