Granted Patent B2

US 7,523,479 · App. 10/237,400 · Granted Apr 21, 2009

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A method for implementing a first and a second communication mode for a communication terminal, comprising:

implementing the first communication mode based on a first data communication mode identifier, the implementing including receiving at the communication terminal a first type of data in accordance with a first communication standard;

receiving from an agent external to the communication terminal a first message authorizing a change from the first communication mode to the second communication mode;

receiving from the agent external to the communication terminal a second message comprising a second data communication mode identifier specifying a communication mode;

responsive to receiving the first message and the second message, implementing the second communication mode if the second communication mode identifier is different than the first communication mode identifier, the second communication mode different than the first communication mode, otherwise maintaining implementation of the first communication mode if the second communication mode identifier is the same as the first communication mode identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message and the second message are UNConfigIndication messages that comply with a Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving non-audio, non-video broadcast data in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and receiving or transmitting non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, in accordance with the DAVIC communication standard.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving audio, non-video broadcast data in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and receiving or transmitting non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the second communication mode includes receiving audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the second communication mode includes receiving audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing the first communication mode comprises receiving the first type of data that is transmitted using a first type of modulation scheme, and receiving a second type of data that is transmitted using a second type of modulation scheme.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first type of modulation scheme is quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and the second type of modulation scheme is quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK).

12. A communication terminal comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner; and

a processor that is programmed to:

to cause the communication terminal to operate in either a first communication mode or a second communication mode different than the first communication mode, the first communication mode and the second communication mode each comprising communication between an agent and the communication terminal in accordance with one of a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard, a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard, or a combination of both

while implementing the first communication mode, receive a communication mode update message through at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner that authorizes the communication terminal to implement a change from the first communication mode to the second communication mode;

receive a configuration message from the agent through at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner subsequent to the communication mode update message, the configuration message comprising a data communication mode identifier that specifies a communication mode to be used by the communication terminal;

responsive to receipt of the data communication mode identifier, cause the first tuner and the second tuner to implement the second communication mode if the data communication mode identifier is different than an immediately preceding data communication mode identifier corresponding to the first communication mode, otherwise continue to cause the first tuner and the second tuner to implement the first communication mode.

13. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the communication terminal is a set-top terminal.

14. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the communication mode update message and the configuration message are UNConfigIndication messages that comply with a Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) standard.

15. A method for communicating by a communication terminal with an agent external to the communication terminal, comprising:

establishing a first interactive session with the agent based on a first data communication mode identifier, the first data communication mode identifier specifying to the communication terminal a manner of communication between the agent and the communication terminal in accordance with a first communication standard; and

responsive to an impairment of the first interactive session, establishing a second interactive session in a manner inconsistent with the first data communication mode identifier until a session consistent with the first data communication mode identifier can be established.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first data communication mode identifier and the second data communication mode identifier each specify a different communication standard, the communication standard comprising one of a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard and a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard.

17. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving at a first tuner non-audio, non-video broadcast data in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and receiving or transmitting at the second tuner non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, in accordance with the DAVIC communication standard.

18. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving at the first tuner non-audio, non-video broadcast data in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard and receiving or transmitting at the second tuner non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

19. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the second communication mode includes simultaneously receiving at the first tuner non-audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting at the second tuner non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

20. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the second communication mode includes receiving at the first tuner or the second tuner non-audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting at the first tuner or the second tuner non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DAVIC (Digital Audio-Visual Council) communication standard.

21. The communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the second communication mode includes receiving at the first tuner or the second tuner non-audio, non-video broadcast data and receiving or transmitting at the first tuner or the second tuner non-audio, non-video unicast data from or to the agent, respectively, both in accordance with a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) communication standard.

Assignments (8)