IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,826,339
Granted Patent B2
US 8,826,339 · App. 11/963,175 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

RF/IP virtual channel mapping for a digital video receiver

Inventor: David Brouda (Newtown, PA)
Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
H04N21/435H04N21/64322H04N21/4345H04N21/8543H04N21/8586H04N21/4622H04N21/235H04N5/4401H04N21/6405H04N21/6125H04N60/43
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,826,339
App. No.
11/963,175
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs for implementing radio frequency (RF) and Internet Protocol (IP) virtual channel maps (VCM) in an integrated RF/IP digital video receiver (DVR) are provided. One embodiment comprises a method for managing virtual channel information in an integrated RF/IP digital video receiver. One such method comprises: receiving a data set associated with at least one IP transport stream; determining at least one virtual channel number (VCN) and at least one corresponding delivery parameter associated with the IP transport stream; and associating the VCN with the delivery parameter in a virtual channel map (VCM).

Claims (36)

1. A digital video receiver comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) tuner adapted to receive RF streams;

a network interface device adapted to communicate with an Internet Protocol (IP) network;

a virtual channel manager in communication with a user interface for selecting content received via either of the RF tuner and the network interface, wherein the virtual channel manager is configured to:

receive an RF virtual channel map referencing virtual channel numbers (VCN) for selection via the user interface, wherein virtual channel numbers (VCN) in the RF virtual channel map are mapped to access RF streams via the RF tuner,

receive an IP transport stream data set associated with one or more IP transport streams receivable via the network interface device, the data set including a delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams for relating each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number,

parse the IP transport stream data set to determine the delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams,

associate the delivery parameter associated with each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number (VCN) in an IP virtual channel map, wherein each virtual channel number (VCN) in the IP virtual channel map is selectable for access to the one or more IP transport streams via the IP network, and

overlay the RF virtual channel map and the IP virtual channel map for integrating access to RF and IP virtual channels via the user interface, wherein the IP transport stream data set comprises an XML file and a version number associated with the XML file and also associated with a parameter identifying a record in the XML file modified from a corresponding record in a previously received data set, whereby, for maintaining the overlaid virtual channel maps, the digital video receiver determines which records in the XML file for the received IP transport stream data set to modify from the previously received XML file for a previously received IP transport stream data set using the parameter associated with the version number.

2. The digital video receiver of claim 1 , wherein the RF tuner is adapted to receive at least one of an analog RF signal or a digital signal.

3. The digital video receiver of claim 1 , wherein the IP transport stream data set is received via the network interface device.

4. The digital video receiver of claim 1 , wherein the IP transport stream comprises an IP multicast stream.

5. The digital video receiver of claim 1 , wherein the delivery parameter comprises at least one of the following: an IP multicast destination address; a UDP/IP destination port number; an IP source address; an MPEG program number; or a transport stream ID.

6. The digital video receiver of claim 1 , wherein the version number comprises a modified records parameter indicating that the VCN or one of the delivery parameters has been modified.

7. A method for managing virtual channel information in an integrated radio frequency(RF)/Internet Protocol(IP) digital video receiver, the method comprising:

receiving an RF virtual channel map referencing virtual channel numbers (VCN)s for selection via the user interface, wherein virtual channel numbers (VCN)s in the RF virtual channel map are mapped to access RF streams via the RF tuner;

receiving an IP transport stream data set associated with one or more IP transport streams, the data set including a delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams for relating each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number, the data set comprising an extensible markup language (XML) file associated with a version number, the version number associated with a parameter identifying a record in the XML file modified from a corresponding record in a previously received data set;

parsing the IP transport stream data set to determine the delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams;

associating the delivery parameter associated with each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number (VCN) in an IP virtual channel map, wherein each virtual channel number (VCN) in the IP virtual channel map is selectable for access to the one or more IP transport streams via the IP network;

overlaying the RF virtual channel map and the IP virtual channel map for integrating access to RF and IP virtual channels via the user interface; and

determining which records in the XML file for the received IP transport stream data set to modify from the previously received XML file for a previously received IP transport stream data set using the parameter associated with the version number.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the IP transport stream may comprise an IP multicast stream or IP unicast stream.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the delivery parameter comprises a primary value and a secondary value for at least one of the following: an IP multicast destination address; a UDP/IP destination port number; an IP source address; an MPEG program number; and a transport stream ID.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the version number comprises a modified records parameter indicating that the VCN or the corresponding delivery parameter has been modified.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for managing virtual channel information in an integrated radio frequency(RF)/Internet Protocol(IP) digital video receiver, the non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions for:

receiving an RF virtual channel map referencing virtual channel numbers (VCN)s for selection via the user interface, wherein virtual channel numbers (VCN)s in the RF virtual channel map are mapped to access RF streams via the RF tuner;

receiving an IP transport stream data set associated with one or more IP transport streams, the data set including a delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams for relating each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number (VCN), the data set comprising an extensible markup language (XML) file associated with a version number, the version number associated with a parameter identifying a record in the XML file modified from a corresponding record in a previously received data set;

parsing the IP transport stream data set to determine the delivery parameter for each of the one or more IP transport streams;

associating the delivery parameter associated with each of the one or more IP transport streams to a respective virtual channel number (VCN) in an IP virtual channel map, wherein each virtual channel number (VCN) in the IP virtual channel map is selectable for access to the one or more IP transport streams via the IP network;

overlaying the RF virtual channel map and the IP virtual channel map for integrating access to RF and IP virtual channels via the user interface; and

determining which records in the XML file for the received IP transport stream data set to modify from the previously received XML file for a previously received IP transport stream data set using the parameter associated with the version number.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the IP transport stream data set is received via a network interface device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the IP transport stream may comprise an IP multicast stream IP unicast stream.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the delivery parameter comprises at least one of the following: an IP multicast destination address; a UDP/IP destination port number; an IP source address; an MPEG program number; or a transport stream ID.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the VCM supports a Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) and other similar standards.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the VCM further comprises information related to at least one RF stream.

Assignments (13)
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 Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 060791/0583 →
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 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 2, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049649/0062 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2015
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 037328/0341 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2015
From: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
To: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035176/0620 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2008
From: BROUDA, DAVID
To: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020491/0823 →
Continuity (1)
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