Method and device for distributing multimedia data, providing both video broadcast and video distribution services

Claim 3

A network for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program data sources, to a multiplicity of users, according to a first mode enabling each user to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and a second mode enabling said user to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, said network linking said sources with a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminals each comprising a viewing and dialog means, said network comprising: at least one server connected to said sources and comprising means for managing accesses to said sources, means for editing program data flows from said sources into time-multiplexed data cells assigned respectively to virtual channels linking respectively said sources to each user terminal in a first mode and linking respectively said user terminals to each source in a second mode, means for collecting said cells associated to each of said virtual channels, and means for multiplexing said virtual channels towards said user terminals, at least one head end connected to said server and comprising means for receiving program data from said virtual channels, means for constructing from the data cells transmitted by said virtual channels a flow of data cells to be transmitted towards said user terminals, and means for routing said virtual channels in the event of there being several network head ends, and distribution cases interconnected by a ring network and linking said head end respectively to groups of at least one of said user terminals, each distribution case comprising means for receiving virtual channel selection orders coming from the user terminals linked to said case, as well as the flow of data cells coming from said head end, means for extracting or copying the cells assigned to virtual channels allocated in said second mode to said user terminals and selected in said first mode by the user terminals linked to said case, means for routing said flow of data in said virtual channels to the user terminals linked to said case, and means for transmitting to said head end program orders introduced by users in the user terminals linked to said case.

Claim 4

A network for distributing program data provided by a plurality of program data sources, to a multiplicity of users, according to a first mode enabling each user to select a broadcasting program from among a predetermined number of programs proposed by said sources, and a second mode enabling said user to access and act on said sources in order to compose a program, said network linking said sources with a plurality of receiving and dialog user terminals each comprising a viewing and dialog means, said network comprising: at least one server connected to said sources and comprising means for managing accesses to said sources, means for editing program data flows from said sources into time-multiplexed data cells assigned respectively to virtual channels linking respectively said sources to each user terminal in a first mode and linking respectively said user terminals to each source in a second mode, means for collecting said cells associated to each of said virtual channels, and means for multiplexing said virtual channels towards said user terminals, at least one head end connected to said server and comprising means for receiving program data from said virtual channels, means for constructing from the data cells transmitted by said virtual channels a flow of data cells to be transmitted towards said user terminals, and means for routing said virtual channels in the event of there being several network head ends, and distribution cases interconnected by a ring network and linking said head end respectively to groups of at least one of said user terminals, each distribution case comprising means for receiving virtual channel selection orders coming from the user terminals linked to said case, as well as the flow of data cells coming from said head end, means for extracting or copying the cells assigned to virtual channels allocated in said second mode to said user terminals and selected in said first mode by the user terminals linked to said case, means for routing said flow of data in said virtual channels to the user terminals linked to said case, and means for transmitting to said head end program orders introduced by users in the user terminals linked to said case.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission of digital data cells is performed according to the ATM model.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, said method comprising combining said first and second modes in said network.

Claim 7

The network as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flow of data from the sources is compressed.

Claim 8

The network as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a first interface between said video server and said head end, defining a format and protocol of the data traveling between said server and said head end.

Claim 9

The network as claimed in claim 2, further comprising, between said head end and said distribution cases, a second interface which defines format and protocol of the data traveling between said head end and said distribution cases.

Claim 10

The network as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second interface also connects a plurality of network head ends to one another.

Claim 11

The network as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second interfaces have a same protocol.

Claim 12

The network as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said network head ends comprises a multiplexer driven by a management unit.

Claim 13

The network as claimed in claim 2, further comprising two network head ends each comprising a switching matrix driven by a management unit, said two switching matrices exchanging data by means of a two-way link.

Claim 14

The network as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least three network head ends each comprising a switching matrix driven by a management unit, said three switching matrices being interconnected by one-way links in such a way as to constitute a loop.