Video dial tone network synchronization

Claim 2

A video communication system comprising: a plurality of user terminals; a digital broadcast network connected to said user terminals; and a plurality of video information sources, having inputs derived from respective video information providers, coupled to said digital broadcast network, wherein each of said sources comprises a plurality of encoders and an asynchronous transport mode (ATM) processing element for converting said video information sources from analog to digital format signals and combining said signals into a single digital ATM stream; and said system further comprises a timing signal generator having a reference timing output coupled to said encoders and to said ATM processing element.

Claim 3

A video communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said timing signal generator has an input connected to a master reference clock of the digital broadcast network.

Claim 4

A video communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein an output of said ATM processing element from each of a plurality of said sources is connected to a super trunk transmitter.

Claim 5

A video communication system as recited in claim 3, wherein said super trunk transmitter is coupled to said reference timing output of said timing signal generator.

Claim 6

A video communication system as recited in claim 3, wherein said ATM processing element comprises a multiplexer and said single digital ATM stream is transmitted at a bit rate of Digital Service, level three (DS-3).

Claim 7

A video communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said super trunk transmitter comprises a multiplexer for combining signals received from said plurality of said sources into a digital stream at a rate higher than DS-3 level.

Claim 8

A video communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said encoder comprises an analog to digital converter having an input for receiving NTSC signals; an MPEG encoding unit connected to said analog to digital converter; and an ATM formatting unit connected to said MPEG encoding unit.

Claim 9

A video communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said multiplexer comprises a TDM switch having inputs for receiving signals from said encoders; a segmentation and reassembly unit for setting DS-3 transmission protocol; and receiving means for receiving timing signals from said timing signal generator.

Claim 10

A video communication system as recited in claim 8, wherein the signals from said timing signal generator are at a DS-1 standard and said receiving means comprises a logic circuit for converting received signals from said timing signal generator to DS-3 rate timing signals; and a clock circuit having an input connected to said logic circuit and an output connected to said segmentation and reassembly unit.

Claim 11

A video communication system as recited in claim 3, wherein said digital broadcast network comprises an ATM edge multiplexer having a plurality of inputs for receiving digital signals from a plurality of super trunk transmitters, said super trunk transmitters each coupled to a plurality of said video information sources; at least one host digital terminal for routing digital streams transmitted from said ATM edge multiplexer to said user terminals.

Claim 12

A video communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoders are connected to said inputs and at least one of said sources comprises encoders connected to inputs from a plurality of said video information providers.

Claim 15

A method for delivering video programs as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of said DS-3 rate common bit streams contains fewer digital program channels than can be transmitted in the bit stream at maximum DS-3 rate capacity and said mixing step comprises grooming said plurality of DS-3 rate common bit streams; and multiplexing digital channels of said DS-3 rate common bit streams into to said higher rate digital bit stream at maximum capacity thereof.

Claim 16

A method for delivering video programs as recited in claim 12, wherein said synchronizing step comprises generating a DS-1 rate standard signal; converting said DS-1 rate standard signal to a reference DS-3 frequency rate signal; and applying said reference DS-3 frequency rate signal in said multiplexing step, whereby accurate time frame alignment of ATM cells for each of said ATM protocol data streams is obtained.

Claim 17

A method for delivering video programs as recited in claim 14, wherein said mixing step comprises applying said reference DS-3 signal as a timing standard.

Claim 18

A method for delivering video programs as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of said DS-3 rate common bit streams contains digital program channels that originate from different video information providers.

Claim 19

A method for delivering video programs as recited in claim 12, wherein transmitting step comprises contemporaneously distributing at least one of said digital program channels to a plurality of said users.

Claim 20

A digital broadband communication system for transporting broadband data from a plurality of information providers to at least one subscriber, each of said information providers outputting an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data stream, comprising: a plurality of video information sources, having inputs derived from respective information providers, each of said sources comprising a plurality of encoders and an asynchronous transport mode (ATM) processing element for converting said video information sources from analog to digital format signals and combining said signals into a single digital ATM stream in DS-3 format; a plurality of super trunk transmitters, each connected to receive a plurality of said single digital ATM streams from said sources, each said super trunk transmitter comprising a multiplexer for combining the received plurality of DS-3 streams into a higher rate bit stream for transmission on an optical fiber; a plurality of receivers adapted to receive optical fibers carrying said higher rate bit streams from said super trunk transmitters, said receivers outputting corresponding ATM data streams in DS-3 format; an ATM edge device adapted to receive said ATM data streams from said plurality of receivers, said ATM edge device comprising a plurality of DS-3 input ports corresponding to a maximum capacity of DS-3 streams output by said receivers from said corresponding optical fibers, said DS-3 input ports adapted to receive said respective ATM broadband data streams in DS-3 format, an ATM processor coupled to said DS-3 input ports, and output ports connected to said ATM processor; a timing signal generator having a reference timing output coupled to said encoders and to said ATM processor; switching means for supplying at least one selected group of said ATM cells corresponding to a selected one of said information providers from one of said ATM output streams to said at least one subscriber, and a plurality of optical network units supplying said assigned ATM cells from said switching means to corresponding subscribers.

Claim 21

A digital broadband communication system for transporting broadband data from a plurality of information providers to at least one subscriber, each of said information providers outputting an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data stream, comprising: a plurality of video information sources, having inputs derived from respective information providers, each of said sources comprising a plurality of encoders and an asynchronous transport mode (ATM) processing element for converting said video information sources from analog to digital format signals and combining said signals into a single digital ATM stream in DS-3 format; a plurality of super trunk transmitters, each connected to receive a plurality of said single digital ATM streams from said sources, each said super trunk transmitter comprising a multiplexer for combining the received plurality of DS-3 streams into a higher rate bit stream for transmission on an optical fiber; a plurality of receivers adapted to receive optical fibers carrying said higher rate bit streams from said super trunk transmitters, said receivers outputting corresponding ATM data streams in DS-3 format; an ATM edge device adapted to receive said ATM data streams from said plurality of receivers, said ATM edge device comprising a plurality of DS-3 input ports corresponding to a maximum capacity of DS-3 streams output by said receivers from said corresponding optical fibers, said DS-3 input ports adapted to receive said respective ATM broadband data streams in DS-3 format, an ATM processor coupled to said DS-3 input ports, and output ports connected to said ATM processor; a timing signal generator having a reference timing output coupled to said encoders and to said ATM processor; switching means for supplying at least one selected group of said ATM cells corresponding to a selected one of said information providers from one of said ATM output streams to said at least one subscriber, and a plurality of optical network units supplying said assigned ATM cells from said switching means to corresponding subscribers.

Claim 22

A digital broadband communication system as recited in claim 18, wherein said timing signal generator is connected to a DS-1 standard and comprises a logic circuit for converting received DS-1 signals to DS-3 rate timing signals; and a clock circuit having an input connected to said logic circuit and a plurality of outputs connected to said encoders and said ATM processor.