Direct IPTV distribution
US8610827B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4408
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention defines a method for leveraging the standard conditional access module interface of a digital TV receiver to deliver IPTV or other TV content without the need of a set top box. An IP-connected interface (“probe”) is used in place of a conditional access module to establish a two-way communication link between the TV and the IPTV headend or other IP content source and to deliver IP content. In an embodiment, the invention covers the specifics of content navigation without requiring any modification of the TV receiver application software or provisioning of IPTV-specific software. Content navigation is achieved by supporting a catalog/grid browsing session on the TV receiver and enabling a flat multiplex navigation, a virtual MPEG multiplex that contains the definition of several available programs but a single video and audio channel is dynamically switched to carry the selected program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.