An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.

Interactive television program guide with remote access

A wireless audio distribution system having a wireless transmitter, responsive to a plurality of audio input channels, for transmitting a encoded digital bitstream serially combining each of the audio input channel, the encoded digital bitstream further including control data disbursed therein, a receiver, responsive to the transmitted encoded digital bitstream, for decoding and demultiplexing the digital bitstream, a manual selector switch, connected to the receiver device for selecting one or more of the audio input channels to be reproduced, and a sound producing device for selectively reproducing the one or more selected audio channels in accordance with the control data.

Multiple channel wireless communication system

A system for redistributing a multiple input audio/video signals having a redistributing device equipped to receive signals in multiple formats and redistribute a selected signal to a user's premises over conductors, preferably existing twisted-pair telephone wire. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with a communications interface located in the user's premises which receives user-input control signals and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user's premises where it is received by the receiving unit such as a television receiver. A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point, and services multiple users independently. The system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time.

Audio/video signal redistribution system

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving decoded satellite signals, obtaining media channels from the decoded satellite signals, selecting a portion of the media channels for distribution to a plurality of media processors, encoding the portion of the media channels selected according to a satellite distribution protocol, such as a protocol that facilitates satellite switching, to generate satellite encoded content, formatting the satellite encoded content according to a transport protocol to generate formatted content, and providing the formatted content for distribution to the plurality of media processors via a communication network, such as a single wire communication network or other network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for distributing content in a communication network

A multiple-room communication system is adapted to provide digital television programming (e.g. DBS) to a plurality of rooms in a single family dwelling and may be further adapted to provide digital television programming to a plurality of dwelling units in a multiple dwelling unit such as an apartment. A central unit includes a plurality of integrated receiver decoder modules that receive e.g. satellite signals from a satellite antenna and filter and supply the signals to a distribution system that is coupled to a plurality of display devices that are located in various rooms throughout the single family home. A plurality of hand-held remote controllers, each being associated with one of the integrated receiver decoder modules, are used to communicate with and control the associated integrated receiver decoder module to cause it to supply a desired signal to a desired display device. Each of the remote controllers are adapted to ensure exclusive communication with the associated integrated receiver decoder module and to prevent interference with the operation of the other integrated receiver decoder modules. A single power supply is used to power the co-located integrated receiver decoder modules, and a single modem is used to report billing information to the satellite provider.

Multiple-room signal distribution system

A system for redistributing a broadband audio-visual-data signal to a multiplicity of receiver units within a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) includes a main receiving antenna that receives a broadband video/audio/data signal having a number of individual program multiplex signals therein and a transmodulator device that transmodulates the individual program multiplex signals associated with the broadband signal from a first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme to reduce the bandwidth of the broadband signal The transmodulated signals are broadcast over a cable network, along with terrestrial signals, to individual receiver units at the MDU The receiver units demodulate the transmodulated and/or terrestrial signals and provide user-specified channels to television sets for display

Transmodulated broadcast delivery system for use in multiple dwelling units

A system for redistributing a broadband audio-visual-data signal to a multiplicity of receiver units within a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) includes a main receiving antenna that receives a broadband video/audio/data signal having a number of individual program multiplex signals therein and a transmodulator device that transmodulates a selected subset of the individual program multiplex signals associated with the broadband signal from a first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme The transmodulated signals are broadcast over a cable network, along with terrestrial signals, to individual receiver units at the MDU The receiver units send requests for user-selected ones of the individual program multiplex signals to the transmodulator device, demodulate the transmodulated and/or terrestrial signals and provide user-specified channels to television sets for display

Transmodulator with dynamically selectable channels

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute a set of A-V signals subject to program multiplexing to low of receivers in an MDU or over by allowing each receiver to receive a request signal from pluralities of respective receivers, allowing a controller to reply the request signal to select a specific transponder signal thereby using an MDU cable network or other transmission channels SOLUTION: A trans-modulator 20 applies re-modulation to at least one subset of a signal received from a low noise block 16 or converts the modulation system by using an output modulation technology that a band width of a signal received preferably from the low noise block 16 is reduced into a band width smaller than two 500 MHz bands The modulation system of the trans-modulator 20 is converted by distributing lots of detectors IRDs 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 relating to each receiver distributed through the MDU and gives the signal whose band width is reduced to a cable plant or cable network 26 in the MDU COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO

Jim C. Williams

Papers

Transmodulated broadcast delivery system for use in multiple dwelling units

Transmodulator with dynamically selectable channels

Trans-modulator with dynamically selectable channel