IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,184,433
Granted Patent B1
US 7,184,433 · App. 10/033,488 · Granted Feb 27, 2007

System and method for providing media content to end-users

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,184,433
App. No.
10/033,488
Granted
Feb 27, 2007
Kind
B1
Abstract

System and method for providing media packets to users, the end users coupled to a communication network having a communication network protocol, the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving non-addressable media packets; (b) blocking media packets of non-selected media streams; (c) converting non-addressable media packets of selected media streams to addressable media packets complying with transmission parameters and with specifications of the communication network protocol; and (d) routing the addressable media packets in response to selection signals received from the users.

Claims (37)

1. A method for providing media packets to users coupled to a communication network having a communication network protocol, the method comprising:

receiving non-addressable media packets;

blocking media packets of non-selected media streams;

converting non-addressable media packets of selected media streams to addressable media packets complying with transmission parameters and specifications of the communication network protocol by, first, associating the non-addressable media packets of the selected media streams with routing information to allow switching of the media packets to appropriate output ports of a routing apparatus, and, second, replacing the routing information with respective Internet protocol multicast addresses associated with the selected media streams to which the media packets belong; and

routing the addressable media packets in response to selection signals received from the end users.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available bandwidth for transmitting the addressable media packets to the users.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available processing capacity of the users.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein converting comprises compressing the media packets in response to the transmission parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein routing comprises allowing multicast transmission of the media packets.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the specifications of the communication network protocol define a format of the addressable media packets.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication network protocol is selected from a group of protocols consisting of: TCP/IP, and UDP/IP.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving RF signals representative of the non-addressable media packets and down-converting the RF signals to base band signals.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein down-converting the RF signals is followed by de-modulating the base band signals.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein converting comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: multiplexing; re-multiplexing; rate adaptation; PID re-stamping; PCR re-stamping; and updating system information embedded in transport streams.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the addressable media packets to display visual content embedded within the addressable media packets.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, in addition to the non-addressable media packets and at the routing apparatus, addressable packets and routing the addressable packets in response to routing information embedded within the addressable packets.

13. A method for displaying audio visual content to end-users, the method comprising:

receiving media stream packets from a cable communication network;

converting the received media stream packets to local area network compliant packets by, first, associating the media stream packets with routing information to allow switching of the media stream packets to appropriate output ports of a routing apparatus, and, second, replacing the routing information with Internet protocol address information associated with media streams to which the media stream packets belong; and

providing the local area network compliant packets to the end-users coupled to a local area network in response to selection signals received from the end-users.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving, at the routing apparatus, data packets from a non-cable communication network and providing the data packets to the end-users.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising processing the local area network compliant packets to display visual content embedded within the local area network compliant packets.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein converting comprises adjusting the media stream packets to comply with transmission parameters of the local area network.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available bandwidth for transmitting the local area network compliant packets to the end-users.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available processing capacity of the end-users.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein converting comprises compressing the media stream packets in response to transmission parameters of the local area network.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein converting comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of: multiplexing; re-multiplexing; rate adaptation; PID re-stamping; PCR re-stamping; and updating system information embedded in transport streams.

21. A system for providing media packets to users, the system comprising:

a receiver array for converting RF signals representative of media packets to non-addressable media packets; and

a broadband multimedia router, coupled between the receiver array and a communication network having a communication network protocol, and configured for selectively converting non-addressable media packets of selected media streams to addressable media packets complying with transmission parameters and specifications of the communication network protocol by, first, associating the non-addressable media packets with routing information to allow switching of the media packets to appropriate output ports of the broadband multimedia router, and, second, replacing the routing information with Internet protocol address information associated with the selected media streams to which the media stream packets belong, and routing the addressable media packets over the communication network in response to selection signals received from the users.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available bandwidth for transmitting the addressable media packets to the users.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the transmission parameters reflect an available processing capacity of the users.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadband multimedia router is operable to compress the media packets in response to the transmission parameters.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the addressable media packets are multicast over the communication network.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the specifications of the communication network protocol define a format of the addressable media packets.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the communication network protocol is selected from a group of protocols consisting of: TCP/IP, and UDP/IP.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadband multimedia router is operable to implement at least one step selected from the group consisting of: multiplexing; re-multiplexing; rate adaptation; PID re-stamping; PCR re-stamping; and updating system information embedded in transport streams.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049586/0470 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS, INC.; BIG BAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
Reel/Frame 048825/0294 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 14, 2017
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 041995/0031 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2015
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036601/0162 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS; BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030498/0023 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRET THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027422 FRAME 0633. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.
To: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028226/0273 →