US6101180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High bandwidth broadcast system having localized multicast access to broadcast content
Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1997-11-12
•
Granted: 2000-08-08
•
Expires: 2017-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for delivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul W. Donahue
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Dankworth
- 👤 Larry W. Hinderks
- 👤 Laurence A. Fish
- 👤 Ian A. Lerner
- 👤 Thomas C. Ballister
- 👤 Roswell R. Roberts, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18578; H04B7/18595; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1836; H04L12/185; H04L12/1859; H04L49/00; H04L49/20; H04L49/201; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5007; H04L61/5038; H04L61/5046; H04L61/5061; H04L61/5069; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/1854; H04L12/189; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/604; H04L49/35; H04L49/351; H04L49/60; H04L49/602; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of transmitting digital video or audio content to independent and distal users accessing the Internet via an Internet backbone, the method comprising the steps of: a) predetermining a schedule for streaming transmission of streaming digital content from a head-end; and b) stream transmitting the streaming digital content, in a relatively time-sensitive manner, from the head-end, generally according to the schedule, through a one-way dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from the Internet backbone for receipt by at least one remote Internet service gateway providing relatively time-insensitive data transmission to a plurality of distal Internet users via two-way Internet connections through the Internet backbone, c) whereby the plurality of distal Internet users can receive and play the streaming digital content from the Internet service gateway generally according to the predetermined schedule while maintaining the two-way Internet connection of data for the Internet users, wherein the dedicated transmission channel includes a one-way satellite transmission system with a satellite down link for delivering the streaming digital content to the Internet service gateway.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of transmitting digital video or audio content to independent and distal users accessing the Internet via an Internet backbone, the method comprising the steps of: a) predetermining a schedule for streaming transmission of streaming digital content from a head-end; and b) stream transmitting the streaming digital content, in a relatively time-sensitive manner, from the head-end, generally according to the schedule, through a one-way dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from the Internet backbone for receipt by at least one remote Internet service gateway providing relatively time-insensitive data transmission to a plurality of distal Internet users via two-way Internet connections through the Internet backbone, c) whereby the plurality of distal Internet users can receive and play the streaming digital content from the Internet service gateway generally according to the predetermined schedule while maintaining the two-way Internet connection of data for the Internet users, wherein the dedicated transmission channel includes a one-way satellite transmission system with a satellite down link for delivering the streaming digital content to the Internet service gateway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the digital content received by the Internet service gateway is transmitted over the two-way connection from the remote Internet service gateway to the distal Internet users.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users provides two-way interactive communication with remote Internet sites through the Internet backbone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the method also includes the following step: Transmitting digital data in association with the streaming digital content, from at least a first remote Internet site through the Internet backbone to at least one Internet user receiving the streaming digital content.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the digital data includes HTML code determining at least a portion of a screen viewed by the receiving Internet user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the HTML code provides the location on the screen of video within the digital content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users also provides two-way interactive communication with the first remote Internet site and with other remote Internet sites.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the two-way Internet connection for the Internet users also provides two-way interactive communication with the first remote Internet site and with other remote Internet sites.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4018993A
Cited
US4437907A
Cited
US4933936A
Cited
US5394561A
Cited
US5457808A
Cited
US5432907A
Cited
US5280625A
Cited
US5412660A
Cited
US5485464A
Cited
US5625624A
Cited
US5881131A
Cited
US5594490A
Cited
US5852721A
Cited
US5541927A
Cited
US5517494A
Cited
US5550984A
Cited
US5684799A
Cited
US5818845A
Cited
US5732078A
Cited
US5751961A
Cited
US5790541A
Cited
US5857072A
Cited
US5778187A
Cited
US5907544A
Cited
WO1997048051A1
Cited
US5991306A
Cited
US5764916A
Cited
US5828844A
Cited
US5893091A
Cited
US5959989A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |