U.S. patent application number 09/809797 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-16 for system and method for providing video programming information to television receivers over a unitary set of channels.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ucentric Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Parise, Sergio, Tarr, Morton, Vasilevsky, Alexander.
Application Number | 20020059616 09/809797 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22715110 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020059616 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vasilevsky, Alexander ; et
al. |
May 16, 2002 |
System and method for providing video programming information to
television receivers over a unitary set of channels
Abstract
A system is disclosed for providing video programming
information from a plurality of sources over a unitary set of
channels comprising a notch filter, a video program information
receiver, a modulator, and a composite video generator. The notch
filter is configured to receive the receive video programming
information from a first source over the unitary set of channels
and provide notched video programming information comprising the
received set of channels, except a selected channel. The video
program information receiver is configured to receive other video
programming information from a second source. The modulator is
configured to modulate the other video programming information onto
a channel corresponding to the selected channel, thereby to provide
modulated other programming information. The composite video
generator is configured to combine the notched video programming
information from the notch filter and the modulated other
programming information generated by the modulator thereby to
provide composite video programming information over the unitary
set of channels for provision to a television receiver.
Inventors: |
Vasilevsky, Alexander;
(Westford, MA) ; Tarr, Morton; (Bolton, MA)
; Parise, Sergio; (Westford, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard A. Jordan
P.O. Box 81363
Wellesley Hills
MA
02481-0004
US
|
Assignee: |
Ucentric Holdings, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22715110 |
Appl. No.: |
09/809797 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60193813 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/78 ;
348/E7.05; 348/E7.071; 375/E7.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/2805 20130101;
H04N 21/4382 20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; H04W 76/10 20180201;
H04M 3/42314 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101; H04N 21/439
20130101; H04N 21/4131 20130101; H04L 12/2834 20130101; H04M 1/6505
20130101; H04L 2012/2849 20130101; H04N 21/2665 20130101; H04M 1/57
20130101; H04N 21/478 20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 5/445
20130101; H04N 7/106 20130101; H04N 21/440236 20130101; H04N
21/43637 20130101; H04L 2012/2841 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101;
H04W 76/30 20180201; H04L 12/2812 20130101; H04W 4/00 20130101;
H04M 3/005 20130101; H04L 12/2803 20130101; H04M 1/715 20210101;
H04W 88/14 20130101; H04N 21/2143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/78 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/18 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A system for providing video programming information from a
plurality of sources over a unitary set of channels comprising: A.
a notch filter configured to receive the receive video programming
information from a first source over said unitary set of channels
and provide notched video programming information comprising the
received set of channels, except a selected channel; B. a video
program information receiver configured to receive other video
programming information from a second source; C. a modulator
configured to modulate the other video programming information onto
a channel corresponding to said selected channel, thereby to
provide modulated other programming information; and D. a composite
video generator configured to combine the notched video programming
information from the notch filter and the modulated other
programming information generated by the modulator thereby to
provide composite video programming information over said unitary
set of channels for provision to a television receiver.
2. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: A. a tuner
configured to receive video programming information from the first
source over the unitary set of channels and provide an output
comprising video programming information from said selected
channel; and B. a channel combiner configured to combine the video
programming information from said selected channel as provided by
the tuner and the other video programming information from the
second source as received by the video program information receiver
thereby to provide a combined video programing information for the
selected channel, the modulator being configured to use the
combined video programming information for the selected channel in
generating said modulated other programing information.
3. A system as defined in claim 2 in which said channel combiner
comprises: A a frame buffer configured to store at least one frame
of video programming information; B. a frame grabber configured to
receive the video programming information from said selected
channel as provided by the tuner and store at least one frame in
said frame buffer; C. a blender configured to receive the video
programing information from the second source and store at least a
portion of at least one frame in said frame buffer, thereby to
provide at least one combined frame; and D. a frame retriever
configured to retrieve said at least one combined frame from said
frame buffer for provision to said modulator as the combined video
programming information.
4. A system as defined in claim 3 in which: A. the frame buffer
stores said at least one frame of video programming information in
digital form; B. the frame grabber is configured to convert the
video programming information from said selected channel as
provided by the tuner to digital form for storage in said frame
buffer; C. the blender is configured to convert the video
programming information from the second source to digital form for
storage in said frame buffer; and D. said frame retriever is
configured to convert the said at least one combined frame as
retrieved from said frame buffer from digital form to analog form
for provision to said modulator as the combined video programming
information.
5. A method of providing video programming information from a
plurality of sources over a unitary set of channels comprising: A.
a notch filter step in which video programming information is
received from a first source over said unitary set of channels and
notched video programming information comprising the received set
of channels, except a selected channel is provided; B. a video
program information receiving step in which other video programming
information is received from a second source; C. a modulation step
in which the other video programming information is modulated onto
a channel corresponding to said selected channel, thereby to
provide modulated other programming information; and D. a composite
video generation step in which the notched video programming
information generated during the notch filter step and the
modulated other programming information generated during the
modulation step is generated thereby to provide composite video
programming information over said unitary set of channels for
provision to a television receiver.
6. A method as defined in claim 5 further comprising: A. a tuning
step in which video programming information is received from the
first source over the unitary set of channels and an output
comprising video programming information from said selected channel
is provided; and B. a channel combining step in which the video
programming information from said selected channel as provided
during the tuning step and the other video programming information
from the second source as received during the video program
information receiving step are combined to provide a combined video
programing information for the selected channel, the combined video
programming information for the selected channel being used during
the modulation step in generating said modulated other programing
information.
7. A method as defined in claim 6 in which said channel combining
step comprises: A. a frame grabbing step in which at least one
frame of the video programming information from said selected
channel as provided during the tuning step is stored in a frame
buffer; B. a blending step in which at least a portion of at least
one frame of the video programing information received from the
second source is stored in said frame buffer, thereby to provide at
least one combined frame; and C. a frame retrieval step in which
said at least one combined frame from said frame buffer is
retrieved for provision to said modulator as the combined video
programming information.
8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which: A. the frame grabbing
step includes the step of converting video programming information
from said selected channel as provided by the tuner to digital form
for storage in said frame buffer; B. the blending step includes the
step of converting the video programming information from the
second source to digital form for storage in said frame buffer; and
C. the frame retrieval step includes the step of converting said at
least one combined frame as retrieved from said frame buffer from
digital form to analog form for use as the combined video
programming information during the modulation step.
9. A computer program product for use in connection with a
programmable device to provide a system for providing video
programming information from a plurality of sources over a unitary
set of channels, the computer program product comprising a device
readable medium having encoded thereon: A. a notch filter module
configured to enable said programmable device to receive the
receive video programming information from a first source over said
unitary set of channels and provide notched video programming
information comprising the received set of channels, except a
selected channel; B. a video program information receiver module
configured to enable said programmable device to receive other
video programming information from a second source; C. a modulator
module configured to enable said programmable device to modulate
the other video programming information onto a channel
corresponding to said selected channel, thereby to provide
modulated other programming information; and D. a composite video
generator module configured to enable said programmable device to
combine the notched video programming information from the notch
filter and the modulated other programming information generated by
the modulator thereby to provide composite video programming
information over said unitary set of channels for provision to a
television receiver.
10. A computer program product as defined in claim 9 further
comprising: A. a tuner module configured to enable said
programmable device to receive video programming information from
the first source over the unitary set of channels and provide an
output comprising video programming information from said selected
channel; and B. a channel combiner module configured to enable said
programmable device to combine the video programming information
from said selected channel as provided by the tuner and the other
video programming information from the second source as received by
the video program information receiver thereby to provide a
combined video programing information for the selected channel, the
modulator being configured to enable said programmable device to
use the combined video programming information for the selected
channel in generating said modulated other programing
information.
11. A computer program product as defined in claim 10 in which said
channel combiner module comprises: A a frame grabber module
configured to enable said programmable device to receive the video
programming information from said selected channel as provided by
the tuner and store at least one frame in a frame buffer; B. a
blender module configured to enable said programmable device to
receive the video programing information from the second source and
store at least a portion of at least one frame in said frame
buffer, thereby to provide at least one combined frame; and C. a
frame retriever module configured to enable said programmable
device to retrieve said at least one combined frame from said frame
buffer for provision to said modulator as the combined video
programming information.
12. A computer program product as defined in claim 11 in which: A.
the frame grabber module is configured to enable said programmable
device to convert the video programming information from said
selected channel as provided by the tuner to digital form for
storage in said frame buffer; B. the blender module is configured
to enable said programmable device to convert the video programming
information from the second source to digital form for storage in
said frame buffer; and C. said frame retriever module is configured
to enable said programmable device to convert the said at least one
combined frame as retrieved from said frame buffer from digital
form to analog form for provision to said modulator as the combined
video programming information.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3,
1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled "Multi-Service In-Home
Network With An Open Interface" and assigned to the assignee of
this application, incorporated by reference.
[0002] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/193,813,
filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F. Tabloski, et al.,
entitled "Home Area Network" and assigned to the assignee of this
application, incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates generally to the field of
user-premises or home area networking, to allow different types of
systems and/or communications devices to utilize one in-home
network to communicate with each other and to access a number of
external communication services, and more specifically to systems
and methods of providing video programming information from a
plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of
channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/365,726, filed Aug. 3,
1999, in the name of Richard Edson, entitled "Multi-Service In-Home
Network With An Open Interface" (hereinafter "the Edson
application") and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
60/193,813, filed Mar. 31, 2000, in the name of Theodore F.
Tabloski, et al., entitled "Home Area Network" (hereinafter "the
Tabloski, et al., application") describe various embodiments of an
in-home network and server therefor that provides a number of
services. Generally, one of the services is to distribute video
program information to, for example, television receivers for
viewing thereon. In one embodiment, the video program information
may be provided by one or more of a number of sources, including,
for example, over-the-air broadcast, a cable provider or a digital
satellite provider, and the server generally distributes the video
program information to the television receivers over a cable
connection that defines a unitary set of channels to which the
television receives are adapted to tune. It is also desirable to
allow the server to also receive video program information from one
or more secondary sources, such as a local video source, and
integrate that video program information with the video program
information from the other source(s), over the same unitary set of
channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides a new and improved system and method
of providing video programming information from a plurality of
sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to
which the television receivers are adapted to tune.
[0006] In brief summary, the invention provides system for
providing video programming information from a plurality of sources
over a unitary set of channels comprising a notch filter, a video
program information receiver, a modulator, and a composite video
generator. The notch filter is configured to receive the receive
video programming information from a first source over the unitary
set of channels and provide notched video programming information
comprising the received set of channels, except a selected channel.
The video program information receiver is configured to receive
other video programming information from a second source. The
modulator is configured to modulate the other video programming
information onto a channel corresponding to the selected channel,
thereby to provide modulated other programming information. The
composite video generator is configured to combine the notched
video programming information from the notch filter and the
modulated other programming information generated by the modulator
thereby to provide composite video programming information over the
unitary set of channels for provision to a television receiver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] This invention is pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. The above and further advantages of this invention
may be better understood by referring to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a home area network including an arrangement
for providing video programming information from a plurality of
sources to television receivers over a unitary set of channels to
which the television receivers are adapted to tune; and
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of the video
program information providing arrangement useful in the home area
network depicted in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a home area network 10 including an
arrangement for providing television programming information from a
plurality of sources to television receivers over a unitary set of
channels to which the television receivers are adapted to tune.
FIG. 1 depicts a home area network 10 including an interface to the
public switched telephony network (PSTN), constructed in accordance
with the invention. Generally, the home area network 10 facilitates
the connection of a plurality of household appliances, devices,
television and radio receivers, telephone sets, and other
facilities (generally "devices") 11(1) through 11(N) (generally
identified by reference numeral 11(n)) to a home server 12 over one
or more digital communication links generally identified by
reference numeral 13 and one or more analog communication links
generally identified by reference numeral 14. The home server 12
can also connect to a number of external connections, including a
central office in the public switched telephony network (PSTN) over
a PSTN link 23, a network such as the Internet over a network link
20, a cable connection (for use in providing cable television,
telephony, Internet and other services as will be apparent to those
skilled in the art) over cable link 22, a compact disk player over
a compact disk link 21, a barcode reader over barcode link 24, a
local video source 25, and perhaps other devices (such as devices
providing information via satellite and the like, home security
devices, and so forth) over other links generally identified by
reference numeral 26.
[0011] As described in, for example, the aforementioned Edson and
Tabloski, et al, applications, the devices 11(n) can transfer
information among themselves over the respective communication link
13, 14 to which they are connected. In addition, the devices 11(n)
connected to one communication link 13, 14 can transfer information
to devices connected to another communication link 13, 14 and
between the devices 11(n) and the PSTN, network, cable, etc.,
through the server 12; in that operation, if one device 11(n') is
connected to an analog communication link 14 and another device
11(n") (n".noteq.n') is connected to a digital communication link
13, the server 12 can perform a digital to analog or analog to
digital conversion as necessary. In addition, the server 12
operates to store information received from the PSTN, network,
cable, and devices 11(n) for later transmission over the PSTN,
network, cable, etc., and later transmission to the devices 11(n).
The information transferred over communication links 13 is
preferably in digital form, as is the information stored on the
server. On the other hand, information may be transferred over
other connections in digital or analog form as appropriate.
[0012] The devices 11(n) that can be connected to the home area
network 10 can include a number of types of appliances, including
but not limited to devices such as personal computers, personal
digital assistant (PDA) devices, telephony devices (illustratively
device 11(N)), and home entertainment devices such as radio and
television receivers, DVD, compact disk, video and audio tape and
record players, and the like. In addition, devices 11(n) that can
be connected to the home area network can include lighting, heating
and cooling, and similar systems, as well as appliances such as
stoves and ovens. If a particular device is a "legacy" device, that
is, a device that itself does not have an interface that can be
connected to a digital communication link 13, that legacy device
can be provided with a suitable interface to allow it to be so
connected.
[0013] Generally, the home area network 10 operates to allow
information to be stored on the server 12, transferred among the
devices 11(n), and transferred from or to a number of external
sources or destinations, including, for example, sources or
destinations over a network such as the Internet or the public
switched telephony network (PSTN), cable or satellite television or
radio, music sources such as compact disks. The information may
comprise any form of information, including, for example, audio
information, image and video information, information in text form,
control information for, for example, controlling one device from
another or from the server 12 in relation to, for example,
occurrence of certain events, computer programs, and so forth. The
home area network can be used to, for example, transfer audio
information from sources to destinations such as the server 12 for
storage or to various devices 11(n) for playing. Similarly, the
home area network 10 can be used to transfer image or video
information from sources to destinations such as the server 12 for
storage or to various devices 11(n) for display. In addition, the
home area network 10 can be used to transfer control information to
control controllable devices, such as lighting, appliances such as
stoves and ovens, heating and cooling systems, alarm systems and
the like.
[0014] The communication links 13 may be in any form, including a
hard link such as a wire, optical fiber or other arrangement for
transferring electrical, optical or other signals among the
appliances. Alternatively or in addition, communication links 13
may comprise wireless links, such as but not limited to infrared
links or links provided by signals in other parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Communication links 13 may comprise
communication links specially provided for the home area network
10, and/or they may include pre-existing links such as telephone
lines, wiring provided for, for example, AC power distribution, and
the like.
[0015] Each device 11(n) connected to a digital communication link
13 preferably includes or is provided with an interface (not
separately shown) that enables it to transmit information, in the
form of message packets to, and/or receive information in the form
of message packets from each other and the home server 12 over the
respective communication link 13. When a device 11(n) receives
message packets containing information, it can use the information
as described below.
[0016] Generally, the server 12 includes a number of components
(not separately shown), including components for processing,
storing and retrieving data in digital form, and for converting
data between digital and analog form. With particular reference to
the instant invention, the home area network 10, and, in
particular, server 12, provides an arrangement whereby video
program information provided by, for example, a local video source
over local video link 25, can be integrated with video program
information provided by a cable provider over cable link 22, and
distributed to the television receivers over a unitary set of
channels. The unitary set of channels will conform to the set of
channels over which the cable provider normally provides video
program information, and which are tunable by the television
receivers to which the server 12 provides the video program
information. For example, if the cable provider provides video
program over a set of channels arbitrarily numbered 1 through N,
the video program information arrangement essentially removes the
video program information provided by the cable provider for one
channel "n," and substitute for some or all of the channel "n"
video program information that is received over the local video
link 25 in that channel. Accordingly, the video program information
arrangement will provide, to the television receivers connected to
the server 12, a composite video signal for channels 1 through
"n-1" and "n+1" through N as provided by the cable provider, and a
substituted video image signal for channel "n" as generated by the
server's video program information arrangement. The video program
information arrangement described herein does not provide, in the
substituted channel, a substitute audio signal for the substituted
channel, but a substitute audio signal may be provided using
arrangements not described herein.
[0017] The video program information from the local video link 25
may completely substitute for the video program information from
the cable provider in the substituted channel. Alternatively, the
video program information from the local video link 25 may
substitute for a portion of the video program information from the
cable provider, in a window in, for example, a picture-in-picture
format, in the channel, with the video program information from the
local video link 25 being displayed in a region of the video screen
of predetermined size, with the video program information from the
cable provider being displayed in the rest of the video screen. As
another alternative, the video program information from the cable
provider may be displayed in a small region of the video screen,
with the video program information from the local video link 25
being displayed in the rest of the video screen. The video program
information from the local video link 25 may be any form of video
program information, including, for example, information from one
or more cameras to facilitate monitoring of areas of the home, such
as for security, baby or child monitoring and other operations that
will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a functional block diagram of a video program
information providing arrangement 30 useful in the home area
network depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, video program
information providing arrangement 30 includes a tuner 31, a frame
grabber 32, a frame buffer 33, a graphics blending circuit 34, an
encoder 35, a modulator 36, a notch filter 37 and a signal combiner
38, all of which operate under control of a processor 40. The
processor 40 may be dedicated to the video program information
providing arrangement 30, or it may also perform operations in
connection with other functions performed and services provided by
the server 12. The tuner 31 is tuned to the channel in which the
video program information from the local video link 25 is to be
substituted or with which the video program information from the
local video link 25 is to be blended. The video programming
information input received by the tuner 31 from the cable 22 is in
analog form and comprises a number of analog signals associated
with a number of channels. The respective channels are arbitrarily
identified by numerical identifiers 1 through N, where "N" may be
any convenient integers. The respective channels may include
signals containing both video image information and audio
information, or only video image information or audio information.
In the following, it will be assumed that the channel to which the
tuner 31 is tuned will include at least a signal that contains
video image information. The tuner 31 will selectively couple that
video image information signal for that channel as a SEL AN VID CH
selected analog video channel signal to the frame grabber 32.
[0019] The frame grabber 32 receives the SEL AN VID CH selected
analog video channel signal from the tuner 31 and converts video
image information contained in the signals to digital form,
represented by a DIG FR IN digitized frame in signal, for storage
in the frame buffer 33. The frame buffer 33 buffers digitized video
image information from the frame grabber 32 for later retrieval for
use in providing video image information for the channel to which
the tuner 31 is tuned, as will be described below, which channel
will be substituted for the channel as received from the cable link
22 before being provided to the television receivers to which the
server 12 is connected. As is conventional, television receivers
(not separately shown) that are to receive video image information
from the server 12 display images comprising a plurality of picture
elements, or "pixels," in a plurality of rows and columns, and the
frame buffer 33 stores digitized video image information in a
plurality of storage locations, which are logically organized in
rows and columns that conform to the rows and columns of the
television receivers' pixels. In addition, as is conventional,
images are displayed on television receivers on a video
frame-by-video frame basis, and the frame buffer 33 stores the
digitized video image information in a video frame-by-video frame
basis. In one embodiment, in which the rows of consecutive pairs of
frames are interleaved, the frame buffer 33 includes separate sets
of storage locations for two frames, and, while digitized video
image information is retrieved for one frame from one set of
storage locations, digitized video image information for the other
frame can be stored in the other set of storage locations.
[0020] As noted above, the video image information from the local
video link 25 is to be substituted for some or all of the video
image information received over the cable link 22. The graphics
blending circuit 34 receives the video image information from the
local video link 25, and, if the video image information is in
analog form, converts it to digital form. In addition, the graphics
blending circuit 34 blends the digitized video image information
that it generates with the digitized video image information
provided by the frame grabber 32, and provides a BL DIG FR IN
blending digitized frame input signal therefor. Generally, the
graphics blending circuit 34 will be enabling digitized video image
information that it generates to be stored in storage locations
that are associated with the respective pixels in regions of the
television receivers' video display screen in which the video image
information is to be displayed. Accordingly if the video image
information from the local video link 25 is to be displayed on the
entire video display screen, the digitized video image information
from the graphics blending circuit 34 will substitute for all of
the digitized video information from the frame grabber 32, for each
frame. On the other hand, if the video image information from the
local video link is to be displayed in only a predetermined region
of the video display screen, such as in a window in a "picture in a
picture" format, the graphics blending circuit 34 will enable
digitized video image information therefrom to be stored in storage
locations associated with that region. If the video image
information received over the local video link 25 would normally
provide a video image that is larger or smaller than the
predetermined region, the graphics blending circuit 34 will provide
a scaling operation to so that the digitized video image
information will conform to the window. It will be appreciated that
information as to the location and size of the window, and,
accordingly, the storage locations in the frame buffer 33 in which
digitized video information from the graphics blending circuit is
to be store, can be provided to the graphics blending circuit 34 by
the processor 40.
[0021] As noted above, video image information that is stored in
the frame buffer 33 is in digital form. The digital video program
information will, on a video frame-by-video frame basis, be
retrieved from the frame buffer 33, converted to analog form, and
the analog video image information will be used to modulate a
carrier wave. The carrier wave that is to be modulated will be of
the frequency that is associated with the video image signal for
the channel to which the tuner 31 is tuned, and the modulated
carrier wave will be substituted for the video portion of the
channel to which the tuner 31 is tuned, in the signals that are
provided by the server 12 to the television receivers connected
thereto. These operations are performed by the encoder 35,
modulator 36, notch filter 37 and combiner 38.
[0022] More specifically, the processor 40 enables digitized video
image information to be retrieved from the frame buffer 33 on a
video frame-by-video frame basis and provided to the encoder 35.
The frame buffer 33 provides the digitized video image information
to the encoder as a DIG BL FR OUT digitized blended frame out
signal. As noted above, the frame buffer stores digitized video
image information in two sets of storage locations and, while
digitized video image information for one frame is being loaded
into the set of storage locations associated with one frame, the
digitized video image information can be retrieved from the frame
buffer from the set of storage locations associated with the other
frame. After encoder 35 receives the digitized video image
information, it will convert the digitized video program
information to analog signal form, which it provides to the
modulator 36 as an AN BL FR OUT analog blended frame out
signal.
[0023] The modulator 36 will modulate the analog video image
information onto a carrier wave to create a video signal that is to
be substituted for the video signal for the channel to which the
tuner 31 is tuned, in the cable signal that is to be provided to
the television receives connected to the server 12. The modulator
36 will generate a carrier wave of the frequency that corresponds
to the frequency of the carrier wave of the channel to which the
tuner 31 is tuned, and use the analog video image signal provided
by the encoder 35 to modulate the carrier wave. The modulator 36
provides the modulated carrier wave to the combiner 38 as a MOD FR
modulated frame signal.
[0024] The notch filter 37 receives the signal from the cable 22
and deletes, or notches out, at least the signal that carries the
video image portion of the channel to which tuner 31 is tuned, and
provides the signals associated with the remaining channels to the
combiner 38 as a NOTCHED CABLE signal. Accordingly, if channel "n"
is the channel for which video image information is to be
substituted, which, as noted above, corresponds to the channel to
which tuner 31 is tuned, the notch filter 37 will couple the
signals from the cable link 22 for the video image and audio
information for channels 1 through n-1 and n+1 through N to the
signal combiner 38. In addition, the notch filter may couple the
signal for the audio information for the channel "n" for which the
substitute video image information is to be provided to the signal
combiner 38. As noted above, the notch filter will not couple the
signal for the video information for the channel "n" for which the
substitute video information is to be provided to the signal
combiner 38.
[0025] The signal combiner 38 receives the signals from the notch
filter 37 and the modulator 36 and combines them to provide a COMP
VIDEO composite video signal for transmission over the internal
cable link 27 to the television receivers. It will be appreciated
that, since the signal provided by the modulator 36 is associated
with the same channel as that of the signal that was removed by the
notch filter 37, the composite video signal provided by the signal
combiner 38 comprises video image signals for all of the channels 1
through "n-1" and "n+1" through "N" as provided by the cable
provider, as well as the substituted video image signal for channel
"n" from the modulator 36. In addition, the composite video signal
provided by the combiner 38 includes the audio signals for the
respective channels as provided by the notch filter 37.
Accordingly, if the notch filter 37 provides the audio signals for
channels 1 through N to the signal combiner 38, the signal combiner
38 will provide audio signals for those channels 1 through N in the
COMP VIDEO composite video signal. On the other hand, if the notch
filter 37 provides audio signals for channels 1 through "n-1" and
"n+1" through "N" as provided by the cable provider to the signal
combiner 38, the signal combiner will provide audio signals for
those channels 1 through "n-1" and "n+1" through N in the COMP
VIDEO composite video signal. In that case, if the signal combiner
38 is also provided with an audio signal for channel "n" from
another source (not shown) it can also include that audio signal in
the COMP VIDEO composite video signal.
[0026] The invention provides a number of advantages. In
particular, the video program information providing arrangement 30
whereby video program information provided by, for example, a local
video source over local video link 25, can be integrated with video
program information provided by a cable provider over cable link
22, and distributed to the television receivers over a unitary set
of channels over an internal cable link 27. This will allow
television receivers (not separately shown) that are connected to
the internal cable link 27 to receive and, if tuned to the channel
over which the video program information provided by the local
video source is transmitted, display the video program information
provided by the local video source, thereby avoiding any necessity
of having a separate or special display arrangement for viewing the
video program information provided by the local video source.
[0027] It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be
made to the video program information providing arrangement 30
described herein. For example, if it is desired to provide video
program information from a plurality of local video sources, a
plurality of arrangements 30 may be cascaded together to facilitate
notching out of video image signals associated with successive ones
of channels n.sub.1, n.sub.2, . . . and substitute therefor video
program information from successive ones of local video links
25.sub.1, 25.sub.2, . . . .
[0028] In addition, although the video program information provided
over cable link 22 has been described as being provided by a cable
provider, it will be appreciated that the video program information
may, instead or in addition, be provided by, for example, a
satellite provider or one or more over-the-air broadcasters. In
addition, although the video program information has been described
as being provided by a video source that is local to the home
associated with the server 12, it will be appreciated that the
video program information may instead be provided by other video
program sources, including, for example, a broadcast source, a
source that provides video program information over global networks
such as the Internet, or any other source, as will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art.
[0029] Furthermore, as noted above, the video program information
providing arrangement 30 may either substitute video image
information that it receives over the local video link 25 for all
of the video image information for a channel "n" that it receives
over the cable link 22, or, alternatively, it may substitute the
video image information that it receives over the local video link
25 for some portion, in a window in a "picture-in-picture"
arrangement, with the size and location of the window being
determined by the processor 40. If it is desired to just have the
video program information providing arrangement 30 substitute the
video image information that it receives over local video link 25
for all of the video image information for channel "n," and not
provide the option of substituting for only a portion of the video
image information for the channel "n," the arrangement 30 need not
provide a tuner 31 and frame grabber 32.
[0030] It will be appreciated that a system in accordance with the
invention can be constructed in whole or in part from special
purpose hardware or a general purpose computer system, or any
combination thereof, any portion of which may be controlled by a
suitable program. Any program may in whole or in part comprise part
of or be stored on the system in a conventional manner, or it may
in whole or in part be provided in to the system over a network or
other mechanism for transferring information in a conventional
manner. In addition, it will be appreciated that the system may be
operated and/or otherwise controlled by means of information
provided by an operator using operator input elements (not shown)
which may be connected directly to the system or which may transfer
the information to the system over a network or other mechanism for
transferring information in a conventional manner.
[0031] The foregoing description has been limited to a specific
embodiment of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that
various variations and modifications may be made to the invention,
with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the
invention. It is the object of the appended claims to cover these
and such other variations and modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of the invention.
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