Method and system for controlling a back-up receiver and encoder in a local collection facility from a remote facility
View Patent ↗A system and method suitable for processing television signals includes a local collection facility that has a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver. The system also includes a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility. A back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility. The monitoring system displays the back-up receiver signal. The remote facility switches the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal.
1. A method comprising:
forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at a primary receiver and a primary encoder of a local collection facility;
monitoring the local collection facility at a remote facility;
tuning a back-up receiver to the first channel;
generating a back-up receiver signal at the back-up receiver for the first channel;
communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility;
displaying the back-up receiver signal;
switching the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal;
wherein switching the broadcast signal comprises mirroring the primary encoder at a back-up encoder, and communicating the back-up receiver signal through the back-up encoder to form the broadcast signal;
and after mirroring, discontinuing forming the broadcast signal in response to the primary receiver and primary encoder.
2. Method as recited in claim 1 further comprising commanding an antenna switch to feed the back-up receiver with the first channel.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter at the local collection facility.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility comprises communicating the back-up receiver signal through a monitor network adapter and an ATM switch at the local collection facility and an ATM network between the local collection facility and the remote facility.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying the back-up receiver signal comprises displaying the back-up receiver signal while continuing to form the broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the primary receiver and the primary encoder.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tuning comprises tuning to a channel frequency.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tuning comprise tuning to a station identifier.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein switching comprises broadcasting the broadcast signal through a satellite.
10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first channel signal comprises a high definition television signal.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first channel signal comprises a digital television signal.
12. A system comprising:
a local collection facility comprising a primary receiver and a primary encoder forming a broadcast signal in response to a first channel signal received at the receiver;
a remote facility having a monitoring system monitoring the local collection facility at the remote facility;
a back-up receiver at the local facility tuning to the first channel, generating a back-up receiver signal for the first channel and communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility from the local collection facility;
said monitoring system displaying the back-up receiver signal;
said remote facility switching the broadcast signal to correspond to the back-up receiver signal;
wherein the monitoring system commands the back-up encoder to mirror the primary encoder;
wherein the back-up receiver communicates the back-up receiver signal to the back-up encoder to form the broadcast signal; and
wherein the monitoring system commands a discontinuance of the broadcast signal from the primary receiver and primary encoder.
13. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising an antenna switch, said monitoring system commanding antenna switch to feed the back-up receiver with the first channel.
14. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility.
15. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility.
16. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a monitor network adapter and ATM switch at the local collection facility communicating the back-up receiver signal to the remote facility through an ATM network.
17. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a satellite broadcasting the broadcast signal through a satellite.
18. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the first channel signal comprises a digital television signal.
19. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the local collection facility comprises a plurality of geographically spaced collection facilities.