US6160988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for managing hardware to control transmission and reception of video broadcasts
Assignee: Xylon LLC
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Filing: 1996-05-30
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Granted: 2000-12-12
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Expires: 2016-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A telecommunication management system is provided for managing hardware and software systems within a telecommunication network. The management system includes an Operator Services component, a Management Services component and an External Interfaces component. The Operator Services Component provides a user interface between one or more operators and the remainder of the system's processes. The Management Services Components provides servers which function as an interim stage of information transmittal between the operators and the external interfaces. The External Interfaces provide interfacing between network devices and the management system's operators by way of the Management Services component. The management system, for example, can efficiently manage a group of integrated receiver/decoders grouped together according to a satellite circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen R. Shroyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H40/00; H04H40/18; H04H40/27; H04H40/90; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25808; H04N21/25866; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6143; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/6547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a broadcast site having a transmitter for transmitting a program signal; an encoder operable to encode the program signal; a plurality of satellite circuits; a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders for receiving the program signal, each integrated receiver/decoder assigned to one of the plurality of satellite circuits; and a satellite for relaying the program signal from the broadcast site to each of the integrated receiver/decoders; and wherein the encoder is further operable to receive a program command, the program command operable to cause a change in a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change in a configuration ofthe integrated receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a broadcast site having a transmitter for transmitting a program signal; an encoder operable to encode the program signal; a plurality of satellite circuits; a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders for receiving the program signal, each integrated receiver/decoder assigned to one of the plurality of satellite circuits; and a satellite for relaying the program signal from the broadcast site to each of the integrated receiver/decoders; and wherein the encoder is further operable to receive a program command, the program command operable to cause a change in a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change in a configuration ofthe integrated receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein at least two intergrated reciver/decoders are assigned to the selected satellite circuit, the program command is operable to cause a change in the configuration of the selected satellite circuit, which causes a corresponding change in a configuration of each of the integrated receiver/decoders assigned to the selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of the other integrated receiver/decoders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the program command comprises a macro, the macro comprising a plurality of commands, each of the plurality of commands changing a corresponding characteristic of the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the encoder is further operable to encrypt a portion of the program signal, and wherein each integrated receiver/decoder is operable to decrypt the encrypted portion of the program signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the program command is delivered to the selected satellite circuit through an interface with the encoder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The telecommunication system of claim 5, further comprising at least one other encoder, wherein the system is adapted to reroute the program command through the at least one other encoder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, further comprising a management system operable to transmit the program command to the encoder, wherein the management system is adapted so that the program command is issued by an operator of the management system at a first time and is scheduled for execution on the selected satellite circuit at a second time, wherein the interval between the first and second time is predetermined.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, each integrated receiver/decoder having a plurality of slots, wherein the program command causes a set of decryption keys to be loaded into one of the plurality of slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein an execution of the program command is automatically performed according to a predetermined schedule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of program signals are transmitted to each of the plurality of satellite circuits, and wherein the encoder is operable to encode each of the plurality of program signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a broadcast site having a transmitter for transmitting a program signal and an encoder for encoding the transmitted program signal; a plurality of satellite circuits; a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders, wherein each of the receiver/decoders is assigned to one of the plurality of satellite circuits; a satellite for relaying the program signal from the broadcast site to each of the plurality of satellite circuits; and a management system operable to change a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change in a configuration of the receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit by transmitting a program command to the encoder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
A telecommunication system, comprising: a broadcast site having a transmitter for transmitting a program signal and an encoder for encoding the transmitted program signal; a plurality of satellite circuits; a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders, wherein each of the receiver/decoders is assigned to one of the plurality of satellite circuits; a satellite for relaying the program signal from the broadcast site to each of the plurality of satellite circuits; and a management system operable to change a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change in a configuration of the receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit by transmitting a program command to the encoder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The telecommunication system of claim 11, wherein the management system comprises an operator services component; a management services component and an external interface component, wherein the operator services component provides an interface between the management system and a plurality of operators, wherein the management services component includes a plurality of servers to communicate with the operator services component and the external interface component, and wherein the external interface component provides an interface between the management services component and a plurality of external devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein one of the plurality of external devices comprises the encoder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of external devices comprises the plurality of integrated receiver/decoders.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for managing a telecommunication system, comprising: transmitting a program signal from a broadcast site to a satellite; relaying the program signal from the satellite to each of a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders, each integrated receiver/decoder assigned to one of a plurality of satellite circuits; and transmitting a program command to an encoder coupled to the broadcast site, the program command operable to change a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change to a configuration of the receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for managing a telecommunication system, comprising: transmitting a program signal from a broadcast site to a satellite; relaying the program signal from the satellite to each of a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders, each integrated receiver/decoder assigned to one of a plurality of satellite circuits; and transmitting a program command to an encoder coupled to the broadcast site, the program command operable to change a configuration of a selected satellite circuit independently of a configuration of other satellite circuits and a corresponding change to a configuration of the receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 15, wherein at least two intergrated reciever/decoders are assigned to the selected satellite circuit, wherein transmitting the program command is further operable to change a configuration of all the receiver/decoders assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising: encrypting a portion of the program signal using the encoder prior to transmitting the program signal to the satellite; and decrypting the encrypted portion of the program signal using the receiver/decoders.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the program command is further operable to load a set of decryption keys into one of a plurality of slots of the receiver/decoder assigned to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the program command is further operable to assign another receiver/decoder to the selected satellite circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the program command is further operable to delete one of the receiver/decoders assigned to the selected satellite circuit from the selected satellite circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |