초록 ▼

To provide interactivity, data communication through wireless telephone network (e.g. cellular) is combined with a broadband digital transmission through a broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously

To provide interactivity, data communication through wireless telephone network (e.g. cellular) is combined with a broadband digital transmission through a broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via a data modem and a wireless telephone transceiver included in the terminal and the wireless telephone network. The terminal may also include a telephone interface that permits standard customer premises telephones to send and receive calls using the wireless telephone transceiver, thus providing a bypass of local loop services marketed by a telephone company.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A communication system comprising:a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal

[ We claim:] [1.] A communication system comprising:a headend system producing a signal containing multiplexed channels, each channel carrying a transport stream comprising multiplexed streams of digitized broadband information;at least one broadband wireless transmitter for broadcasting the signal into a service area; anda plurality of receiver systems within the service area, each receiver system comprising:(i) an antenna for receiving a wireless transmission of the signal,(ii) an interface module processing the received signal to select one of the channels and acquire a transport stream from the selected channel,(iii) a digital signal processing section for processing digitized data from a selected stream of digitized broadband information contained in the acquired transport stream to present selected broadband information,(iv) a modem, and(v) a wireless telephone transceiver, the modem and transceiver providing two-way communication of signaling messages to and from the receiver system via a wireless telephone network, wherein the interface module comprises:means for selectively receiving the selected channel; andmeans for demodulating a signal from the selected channel to acquire the transport stream from the selected channel,wherein the modem and transceiver are elements of the interface module.