global digital video news distribution system (us patent 5991801)

8/2/2019 Global digital video news distribution system (US patent 5991801)

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United States Patent [19]Rebec et al.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUS005991801A[11] Patent Number: 5,991,801[45] Date of Patent: Nov. 23, 1999

[54] GLOBAL DIGITAL VIDEO NEWSDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM[75] Inventors: Mohammed S. Rebec; Mihailo V.Rebec, both of Bristol, Ind.[73] Assignee: Trans Video Electronics, Ltd., Bristol,Ind.

5,023,9345,029,2325,157,4915,198,8995,239,5405,247,5755,249,3035,262,875

6/19917/199110/19923/19938/19939/19939/199311/1993

Wheeless .Nail .Kassatly .CangRovira et al..Sprague et al..Goeken .Mincer et al..

348/7348/12

[21] Appl. No.: 08/694,704[22] Filed: Ang. 9, 1996

Related U.S.Application Data

[56] References CitedU.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,672,6554,672,6564,866,7874,979,1705,014,1255,019,910

6/19876/19879/198912/19905/19915/1991

Koch .Pfeifter et al..Olesen .Gilhousen et al..Pocock et al......Filmer . 348/13

[60] Division of application No. 08/085,329, Jul. 2, 1993, Pat.No. 5,594,936,which is a continuation-in-part of applicationNo. 08/047,089, Apr. 16, 1993, abandoned.[51] Int. Cl.'...............................04N 7/14; H04H 1/02[52] U.S.Cl..................................09/219; 348/7; 348/12;348/13; 455/4.2; 455/5.1[58] Field of Search ..................................48/6, 7, 8, 12,348/13; 455/3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1,5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3; 375/211, 212, 219, 220,222, 257; 370/6062, 69.1,72, 73, 125,85.1, 85.7, 85.9, 85.13, 85.14; 379/93,94

Primary Examinerohn W. MillerAttorney, Agent, or Firm~leshner & Kim[57] ABSTRACT

29 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets

An information distribution system for a digital network,includes a master communications unit for establishingcommunications with the network in order to receive asynchronous digital signal, a distribution amplifier unit forreceiving and dividing the synchronous digital signal into aplurality of synchronous signals and a plurality of commu-nications units for establishing communications with a plu-rality of receiving stations. The system also includes amaster controller for controlling the plurality of communi-cations units from a central location. The invention alterna-tively relates to an information disseminating system for adigital network and includes a plurality of video clip storingunits, each storing data related to a particular subject matter,a plurality of distribution amplifiers associated with thevideo clip storing units and a plurality of communicationsunits which establish communications between the pluralityof distribution amplifiers and the digital network. A menustoring unit accessible from the digital network, storesinformation indicating the subject matter associated witheach of the plurality of video clip storing units as well asinformation as to how to access each of the video clip units.

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1GLOBAL DIGITAL VIDEO NEWSDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

5,991,801Another object of the invention is to provide a method and

apparatus which is readily compatible with digital networkssuch as ACUNET.This is a divisional application of Ser. No. OS/085,329

filed on Jul. 2, 1993 that issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,936,which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. OS/047,089, filed on Apr. 16, 1993 abandoned thecontents of both are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to an apparatus and

method for transmitting digital information to locationsthroughout the world and in particular to a global digitalnews distribution system for transmitting digital news clipsand/or digitized photographs for printing simultaneouslyfrom one or more locations anywhere in the world to one ormore locations anywhere in the world.II. Description of the Related ArtFIG. 1A shows how a television station 2II receives avideo clip from a remote location and sends that clip to

another location for broadcasting. In particular, FIG. 1Ashows a satellite earth station 40 with a large C or Ku disk44 which uplinks C or Ku microwaves to satellite 20.Satellite 20 in turn downlinks these microwave signals totelevision station 2II where it can be broadcast live to asurrounding area or taped for broadcast at a later time.Alternatively, television station 2II can retransmit the videoclip from disk 25 to another television station 29 having itsown disk 30.This process has a variety of drawbacks. First, the news

information must be sent from point to point (a serial typeof data transfer) rather than from point to multi-point (aparallel type of information transfer). Also, television station2II can only receive in one direction (the direction in whichit is pointed) and can only simultaneously transmit inmultiple directions if it has multiple satellite dishes. Thisprocess has the further limitation of transmitting and storingvideo clips in analog form and consequently is not readilycompatible with digital land networks such as ACUNET.Also, the current process does not provide on-demand news,but instead news clips must be transmitted on a prearrangedbasis from satellite earth station 40 to television station 2IIand from television station 2II to television station 29.In addition to the above limitations, the current process

does not have a news distribution system which has bothdigital recording ability. Hence, a television station 29cannot get its news clips from a hub station and immediatelydigitally edit those clips. The current process does notprovide a digital data base which organizes information sothat local television stations can log into a menu whichprovides a list of particular news clips which are available.The current process does not provide a flexible systemwhich enables a hub station to transmit its video clips atvarious rates to accommodate various rates of data transferat various receiving sites. In addition, the process is expen-sive and local stations cannot selectively choose which newsclips they wish to receive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide an

information distribution system which can disseminateinformation from one point to a plurality of receivers in a

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Another object of the invention is to provide on-demandaccess to audio/video news clips.One advantage of the invention is that it eliminates theneed to prearrange times to transmit from one satellite earth

station to a television station or from one television stationto another television station.Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a

news distribution system which has both digital recordingand scan conversion capabilities so that a local televisionstation can get its news clips from a hub station andselectively edit those clips.Another advantage of the invention is that it transmits

news clips inexpensively.Another advantage of the invention is that it provides

news information organized so that local television stationscan log into a menu which provides a list of available newsclips and how to acquire those clips.One feature of the invention is that it provides a hub

station which can transmit its video clips at various rates toaccommodate various rates of data transfer at various receiv-ing locations.Another feature of the invention is that local stations can

selectively choose which news clips they wish to receive.Another feature of the invention is that it makes it possible

to selectively edit news clips at the local station, if desired.These and other objects advantages and features are

accomplished according to the invention by the provision ofan information distribution system for a digital network,which includes: a master communications unit coupled tothe digital network for establishing communications with thenetwork in order to receive a synchronous digital signalfrom the network. The system further includes a distributionamplifier unit coupled to the master communications unit forreceiving and dividing the synchronous digital signal into aplurality of synchronous signals. The system also providesfor a plurality of communications units coupled to thedistribution amplifier unit for establishing communicationswith a plurality of receiving stations and for receiving andoutputting a respective one of the plurality of synchronoussignals to the plurality of receiving stations. The systemfurther includes a master controller unit coupled to theplurality of communications units for controlling the plu-rality of communications units from a central location.The above objects, advantages and features are even

further accomplished by the provision of an input unit in themaster controller unit for inputting instructions to control theplurality of communications units.The above and other objects, advantages and features are

further accomplished by the provision of a first back-upmemory for receiving and storing at least one asynchronoussignal.The above and other objects, advantages and features are

further accomplished by the provision of an equalizing unitfor equalizing respective amplitudes of the plurality ofsynchronous signals.These and other objects, advantages and features are

accomplished by the provision of an information dissemi-nating system for a digital network, including: a plurality of


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the plurality of video clip storing units and each having atleast one output, for dividing the data stored in each of theplurality of video clip storing units. The system furtherincludes a plurality of communications units at least one ofwhich is coupled to a respective one of the plurality ofdistribution amplifiers, wherein the plurality of communi-cations units establish communications between the plural-ity of distribution amplifier units and the digital network.The system further includes a menu storing unit accessiblefrom the digital network, for storing information indicatingthe subject matter associated with each of the plurality ofvideo clip storing units as well as information as to how toaccess each of the video clip storing units.These and other objects advantages and features are

further accomplished by the provision of a method fordistributing information to various locations in a digitalnetwork, including the steps of: establishing communica-tions with the network in order to receive a synchronousdigital signal from the network; receiving and dividing thesynchronous digital signal into a plurality of synchronoussignals; establishing communications with a plurality ofreceiving stations; receiving and outputting a respective oneof the plurality of synchronous signals to a respectivereceiving station; and controlling the receiving and output-t ing step with a controller unit at a central location.Further features and advantages will become apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiments

taken with the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows how a television station receives a videoclip from a remote location and sends that clip to anotherlocation for broadcasting, FIG. 1B shows a digital informa-tion distribution system according to one embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 1C shows a transmission system which canbe used to transmit video clips from remote locations andFIG. 1D shows backup units which include a signal con-verter and a receive signal processor.FIG. 2 shows the digital information distribution system

in more detail.FIGS. 3A and 3B show a rear and a front view,

respectively, of a distribution amplifier/equalizer in thedigital information distribution system.FIG. 4 shows a master controller connected to a pluralityof CSU/DSUs in the distribution system.FIG. 5 shows an on-demand video news distributionsystem according to another embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1B shows a digital network 100 having a digitalinformation distribution system 104 according to oneembodiment of the invention. Digital information distribu-tion system 104 includes a hub receiver 106 having a masterCSU/DSU 10II, a distribution amplifier/equalizer 112 and aplurality of CSU/DSUs 116. CSU/DSUs are communica-tions units which perform hand-shaking functions to initiatecommunications between synchronous digital equipment.One example of a CSU/DSU unit is CSU/DSU model 1056Sfrom Integrated Network Corporation (I.N.C.).Digital infor-mation distribution system 104 further includes a master

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135. Digital information distribution system 104 alsoincludes a first backup unit 134 having a first backup harddisk 134a and a second backup unit 136 having a secondbackup hard disk 136a. Backup unit 134 is connected to hubreceiver 106 via RS-232 line 13II. Second backup unit 136is connected to first backup unit 134 via RS-232 line 139.Digital information distribution system 104 also has arecorder 144 connected to hub receiver 106 via RS-232 lines146.Digital information distribution system 104 operates asfollows. A suitcase transmission unit 150, such as thesuitcase unit described in U.S. Patent application Ser. No.

OS/047,089, gathers a video clip, compresses that clip andthen transmits or uplinks that clip to a satellite system 160which may include one or more satellites and one or moreearth stations. Satellite system 160 eventually downlinks thecompressed video news clip to an earth station 164 which iscoupled to a land network 170 such as ACUNET. Landnetwork 170 can include microwave links, hard wire linksand optical fiber links. Land network 170 is a synchronousdigital system and consequently is coupled to hub receiver106, and in particular to master Customer Service Unit/DataService Unit CSU/DSU 10II via a V.35 pin input 174 whichreceives lines 176. Synchronous (V.35) line 17II intercon-nects master CSU/DSU 10II to distribution amplifier/equalizer 112.Digital network 100 transmits digital information corre-

sponding to a news clip from a camera (not shown) whichcan serve as a news clip for television and other audio/videomedia. Alternatively, the digital information can serve as aseries of still photographs for printed media.FIG. 1C shows a transmission system 410 which can be

used to transmit video clips from remote locations. Trans-mission system 410 includes an interface unit 430 whichreceives an analog audio/video signal from a camera (notshown) and transforms that analog audio/video signal into adigital red, green, blue (RGB) signal. Interface unit 430demodulates the audio/video signal which can be a NTSC,PAL, or SECAM signal and outputs the digital RGB signal.The digital RGB signal is received by a transmit signalprocessor 440 which compresses the digital RGB signal intoan asynchronous compressed signal and stores that asyn-chronous compressed signal on a hard disk 440A. Transmitsignal processor 440 can then output the asynchronouscompressed signal which, in turn, is received by a signalconverter 450T.Signal converter 450T includes a protocol converter 454Tand a level translation unit 45IIT. Protocol converter 454T

receives the asynchronous compressed signal and convertsthat signal to a synchronous compressed signal. The syn-chronous compressed signal is then input to level translationunit 45IIT which translates it into a level translated synchro-nous compressed signal ready to be received by a micro-wave transmitter (not shown) which is part of digital net-work 100.Returning to FIG. 1B,hub receiver 104 distributes digital

information such as a compressed video news clip or a seriesof still pictures as follows. The compressed video news clipis input to master CSU/DSU 10II via line 176which receivesa synchronous digital data stream and performs handshakingfunctions. These handshaking functions initiate communi-cations between network 170 and distribution amplifier


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a plurality of synchronous signals to each of the plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116via output lines 180.Each of the plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116 is coupled into land network 170 via lines172 which in turn are coupled to receiving stations 184.Alternatively, if no digital network (e.g., ACUNET) isavailable, remote suitcases 188 can be used as receivingstations as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/047,089.First and second backup units 134 and 136 function as a

digital receiving system similar to digital receiving system510 in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 047,089. Inparticular, referring to FIG. 1D, backup units 134 and 136include a signal converter 550R followed by a receive signalprocessor 460. Signal converter 550R includes level trans-lation unit 558R followed by protocol converter 454R. Ahigh speed digital (HSD) signal is received on line 516 bysignal converter 550R. Level translation unit 558R in turntranslates the voltage level of that high speed digital signalfor transmission on serial line 456R as a synchronouscompressed signal. Protocol converter 454R then receivesand transforms this synchronous compressed signal into anasynchronous, compressed signal for transmission on a bus446 to receive signal processor 460. Receive signal proces-sor 460 decompresses this asynchronous, compressed signaland stores a resulting asynchronous, compressed signal on ahard disk 460A. If the decompression of the asynchronouscompressed signal received by signal processor 480 is theinverse of the compression which the digital clip underwentat transmission unit 150, receive signal processor 460 out-puts a digital signal corresponding to the news clip outputfrom the camera at unit 150.FIG. 2 shows digital information distribution system 104

in somewhat more detail. Again, land network 170 iscoupled to master CSU/DSU 108 via line 176. V.35 input174 is coupled to master CSU/DSU 108 via synchronousline 178.V.35 input 174 is in turn coupled to a synchronous-to-asynchronous converter 210 (such as converter 450T inFIG. 1C and in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 08/047,089)in distribution amplifier/equalizer 112. Distributionamplifier/equalizer 112 further includes outputs 230 and 234connected to recorder 144 and backup unit 134 via RS-232lines 146 and 138, respectively. Distribution amplifier/equalizer 112 also has an input 242 for receiving the backupsignal from backup unit 134 or backup unit 136. Theplurality of CSU/DSUs 116 have respective output cables217which are coupled to receiving stations 184 of FIG. 1B.Master controller 126 is coupled to the plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116 via RS-232 line 220. RS-232 line 220 can

be a bundle of individual RS-232 lines, wherein each line isconnected to a dilferent CSU/DSU, or each of the pluralityof CSU/DSUs 116can have a unique address, in which caseline 220 can be a single RS-232 line. Distribution amplifier/equalizer 112 also has an input 242 for receiving a backupsignal via RS-232 line 239 from backup unit 134 or backupunit 136.This backup signal is received by backup unit 134or backup unit 136 at the same time it is transmitted out ofdistribution amplifier/equalizer 112 to CSU/DSUs 116.Master controller 126 sends commands to the plurality ofCSU/DSUs on RS-232 line 220. These commands can be

entered using master controller keypad 132.The plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116 can send commands to master controller126 indicating which, if any, CSU/DSU in the plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116, did not receive the news clip, or received a

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bution amplifier/equalizer 112 has a housing 304 with a rearpanel 310 and a plurality of outputs 316 coupled to theplurality of CSU/DSUs 116 via lines 117.FIG. 3B showsthat distribution amplifier/equalizer 112 has a display 324and a keypad 328 for manually controlling which particularlines 117 and consequently which particular CSU/DSU ofthe plurality of CSU/DSUs 116 are activated.FIG. 4 shows master controller 126 connected to theplurality of CSU/DSUs 116 via RS-232 lines 220. Here, aseparate RS-232 line is connected to a respective CSU/DSU.However, as discussed above, a single RS-232 line can beconnected to the plurality of CSU/DSUs 116, if CSU/DSUs116 are separately addressable. Again, an operator sendscommands to the CSU/DSU 116by entering commands intomaster controller 126 using keypad 132 and then mastercontroller 126 in turn sends these commands along theappropriate RS-232 line 220. Also, a particular CSU/DSU116 can send information back to master controller 126along the appropriate RS-232 line 220. The plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116 can have transmission rates varying from9.6 kilobytes/s (corresponding to normal telephone linerates) up to 2 Megabytes/s (corresponding to special highspeed data line rates). It should be understood, however, thathub receiver 106 can couple to very low rate telephone linessuch as telephone lines having rates of 2.4 kilobytes/spresently found in some undeveloped countries. Also, theplurality of CSU/DSUs 116 can be connected in parallel.Consequently, multiples of such 9.6 kilobyte can be multi-plexed to yield a "virtual" 54 kilobyte line or a virtual 64kilobyte line.FIG. 5 shows an on-demand video news distributionsystem 500 according to another embodiment of the inven-tion. System 500 includes a video menu unit 504 coupled toa telephone line unit 508 (corresponding to distributionamplifier-equalizer 112 in FIGS. 1B and 2) via line 512.Telephone line unit 508 has a plurality of output lines 514which in turn are coupled to a plurality of menu CSU/DSUunits 516.This plurality of menu CSU/DSU units are in turncoupled to network 520 (corresponding to land unit 170 ofFIG. 1B) via menu lines 524.Video news distribution system 500 includes a plurality of

units 525A25H similar to backup units 134 or 136 of FIG.1B interconnected via bus 526. Each unit 525A25Hcorresponds to a dilferent news topic or subject matter. Forexample, unit 525A could correspond to current alfairs inJapan, unit 525B could correspond to events in Germany,unit 525C could involve information regarding internationalfinancing, and unit 525D could be sports information. Eachof the plurality of units 525A25H includes a respectivememory 527A27H such as a hard disk in which digitalinformation can be stored. The plurality of video clip storingunits 525A25H are coupled to distribution amplifier/equalizers 531A31H via synchronous lines 529A529H,respectively. Distribution amplifier/equalizers 531A31Hare identical to distribution amplifier/equalizer 112 previ-ously discussed. Each of distribution amplifier/equalizers531A31H like distribution amplifier/equalizer 112of FIG.1B and FIG. 2, has multi-line outputs 533A33H which arerespectively coupled to CSU/DSU units 535A35H. Forexample, distribution amplifier 531A has three multi-lineoutputs 533A coupled to CSU/DSU units 535A. Similarly,CSU/DSU units 535A35H correspond to the plurality ofCSU/DSUs 116 of FIG. 1B. CSU/DSU units 535A35H


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printing houses 550A50C dual the telephone number ofvideo menu unit 504 using computers 555A55C (such asa personal computer with a modem), respectively, whichestablish communications with menu unit 504.A connecteduser can then view a menu listing the various clips and/orstill photographs available on units 525A25H. If the userwishes to obtain a particular clip, he or she simply enters acommand to menu unit 504 which in turn sends a "request-to-send" command to the appropriate video storing unit525A25H. The video storing unit with that video clip orphotograph then sends the video clip (photograph) via itscorresponding distribution amplifier/equalizers 531A31Hvia one of the corresponding CSU/DSU units 535A35H.For example, if a user of computer 555A wants to receive anews clip on Japan which is stored in unit 525A, the usersends a command to menu unit 504 via one of the menuCSU/DSUs 516 and menu amplifier/equalizer 50II. Menuunit 504 then sends a command to unit 527A via bus 526, tosend that particular clip to computer 555A via amplifier/equalizer 531A. If a second user at station 550B is currentlyacquiring that or a dilferent clip from unit 525A and con-sequently is using one of the CSU/DSUs 535A, unit 525Auses the CSU/DSU 535A which is not being used.Numerous additional modification and variations of the

present invention are possible in light of the above teach-ings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced other-wise as specifically claimed.What is claimed is:1. An information distribution system for a digitalnetwork, comprising:a plurality of video clip storing means for storing data,each of said plurality of video clip storing meansstoring video data related to a particular subject matter,wherein said video data includes video and audiosignals;

a plurality of distribution amplifier means each having aninput which receives video data from and stores videodata to a respective one of said plurality of video clipstoring means and each having at least one output fordividing said video data stored in each of said pluralityof video clip storing means;

a plurality of groups of at least one communicationsmeans, each of said groups being respectively coupledto one of said plurality of distribution amplifier means,for establishing communications between said pluralityof distribution amplifier means and the digital network;and

menu storing means accessible from the digital networkfor storing information indicating the subject matterassociated with each of said plurality of video clipstoring means as well as information as to how toaccess each of said video clip storing means.2. An information distribution system for a digital

network, comprising:a plurality of video clip storing means for storing data,each of said plurality of video clip storing meansstoring data related to a particular subject matter;

a plurality of distribution amplifier means each having aninput which receives data from a respective one of saidplurality of video clip storing means and each having atleast one output for dividing said data stored in each of

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for establishing communications between respectiveones of said plurality of distribution amplifier meansand the digital network; and

menu storing means for storing and communicating infor-mation indicating the subject matter associated witheach of said plurality of video clip storing means aswell as information as to how to access each of saidvideo clip storing means, wherein the menu storingmeans comprises,menu storing unit coupled to said plurality of video clipstoring means, for storing said information,

a master distribution amplifier unit coupled to said menustoring unit for dividing said information, and

a plurality of master communication units coupled to saidmaster distribution amplifier for coupling said masterdistribution amplifier unit to the digital network tomake said information accessible from the digital net-work.

3. An information distribution system for a network,comp rts1nga plurality of video clip storage units that each store datarelated to a particular subject matter;a master communications unit coupled to the digitalnetwork that establishes communications with the net-work in order to receive a synchronous digital signalcorresponding to the data related to said particularsubject matter stored in a respective one of said plu-rality of video clip storage units;

a plurality of distribution amplifier units coupled to saidmaster communications unit, wherein each of the plu-rality of distribution amplifier units has an input thatreceives said synchronous digital signal correspondingto the data from a respective one of said plurality ofvideo clip storage units and at least one output thatdivides said synchronous digital signal correspondingto the data from said respective one of said plurality ofvideo clip units into a plurality of synchronous signals;

a plurality of communications units, each of said com-munications units being coupled to one of said pluralityof distribution amplifier units to respectively establishcommunications between respective ones of said plu-rality of distribution amplifier units and a plurality ofreceiving stations in the digital network to receive andoutput corresponding ones of said plurality of synchro-nous signals to the plurality of receiving stations;

a master controller unit coupled to said plurality ofcommunications units to control said plurality of com-munications units from a central location; and

a menu storing unit accessible from the digital networkthat stores information indicating the subject matterassociated with each of said plurality of video clipstorage units and information as to how to access eachof said video clip storage units.4.An information distribution system for digital network,

comp rts1nga plurality of digital storing units for storing data, whereinsaid video data includes video and audio signals;

a plurality of distribution amplifiers each having an inputthat receives respective data from a respective one ofsaid plurality of digital storing units and each having atleast one output for outputting the respective data;


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multiple direct communications between said pluralityof distribution amplifier units and the digital network;and

a menu storing unit accessible from the digital networkfor storing information indicating the type of dataassociated with each of said plurality of digital storingunits.5. The information distribution system for a digital net-work as claimed in claim 4, wherein said menu storing unitcomprises a plurality of inputs which provide simultaneousaccess of said information indicating the type of data formultiple users of the network.6. The information distribution system for a digital net-work as claimed in claim 4, wherein said menu storing unitstores information indicating how to access each of said

plurality of digital storing units.7. The information distribution system for a digital net-work as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said pluralityof digital storing units stores audio/video clips relating to aparticular subject matter.8.The information distribution system as claimed in claim4, wherein each of said plurality of digital storing units storeaudio information relating to a particular subject matter.9.The information distribution system as claimed in claim4, further comprising:a telephone line unit coupled to said menu storing unit;and

at least one menu communications unit coupled to thedigital network and said telephone line unit, such thatthe information indicating the type of data associatedwith each of said plurality of digital storing units isaccessible from the digital network via said at least onemenu communications unit and said telephone lineunit.10. An information distribution system for a network,

comprising:a plurality of digital storing units that store data;a plurality of groups of at least one communications unit,each receiving respective data from a respective one ofsaid plurality of digital storing units, said plurality ofgroups of at least one communications unit establish aparallel separate connection for multiple direct com-munications between said plurality of digital storingunits and the network; and

a menu storing unit accessible from the network thatstores information indicating the type of data associatedwith each of said plurality of digital storing units.

11. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 10, further comprising a plurality of distributionamplifiers each having an input which receives said respec-t ive data from a respective one of said plurality of digitalstoring units and each having at least one output for out-putting the respective data to a respective one of saidplurality of groups of communications units.12. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 10, further comprising:a telephone line unit coupled to said menu storing unit;and at least one menu communications unit coupled tothe digital network and said telephone line unit, suchthat the information indicating the type of data associ-ated with each of said plurality of digital storing unitsis accessible from the digital network via said at lastone menu communications unit and said telephone line

5

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25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

1014. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 13, wherein said data is respectively stored in saidplurality of storing units according to subject matter.15. The information distribution system of claim 10,further comprising a controller unit coupled to the pluralityof groups of at least one communications unit that controlsthe plurality of groups of at least one communications unitfrom a central location.16. The information distribution system of claim 10further comprising at least two remote users that request datafrom a selected one of the plurality of digital storage units,wherein the requested data is transmitted at substantiallyidentical times to each of the at least two remote users.17. The information distribution system of claim 16,wherein the transmitted information is on-demand and nottime divided.18. The information distribution system of claim 16,wherein the remote users are satellite suitcase units.19. The information distribution system of claim 10,wherein said plurality of groups of at least one communi-cation unit transmit the respective data to the respective oneof the plurality of digital storing units.20. An information distribution system for a network,comprising:a storing unit that stores data;at least one communications unit that receives and trans-mits said data from said storing unit, wherein each ofsaid at least one communications unit establishes aparallel separate connection that permit multiple directcommunications between said storing unit and thenetwork, wherein each connection uses a single trans-mission path to transmit and receive audio and videodata; and

a menu storing unit accessible from the network thatstores information indicating the type of data in saidstoring unit.21. The information distribution system as claimed in

claim 20, further comprising a distribution amplifier havingan input which receives said data from said storing unit, saidstoring unit having at least one output for outputting saidinformation to a respective one of said at least one commu-nications unit.22. The information distribution system, as claimed inclaim 20, wherein said menu storing unit stores informationindicating the type of data stored in said storing unit.23. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 20, further comprising:a telephone line coupled to said menu storing unit; and at

least one menu communications unit coupled to thenetwork and said telephone line unit, such that saidinformation indicating the type of data associated withsaid at least one storing unit is accessible from thenetwork via said at least one menu communicationsunit and said telephone line unit.24. The information distribution system as claimed in

claim 20, further comprising additional storing units,wherein each of said additional storing units as well as saidstoring unit store respectively data associated with respec-tive subject matter.25. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 24, further comprising:a telephone line unit coupled to said menu storing unit;


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11accessible from the network via said at least one menucommunications unit and said telephone line unit.26. The information distribution system as claimed in

claim 25, further comprising: a plurality of groups of com-munications units including said at least one communica- stions unit, respectively coupled to said storing unit and saidadditional storing units, said plurality of groups of commu-nications units being coupled to the network.27. The information distribution system as claimed inclaim 26, wherein said respective data stored in said storing tounit and in said additional storing units includes video data.

1228. The information distribution system as claimed in

claim 26, wherein said respectively data stored in saidstoring unit and in said additional storing units includesvideo news clips.29. The information distribution system as claimed in

claim 26, wherein said respective data stored in said storingunit and in said additional storing units, respectively corre-sponds to geographical regions on earth.


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UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPATENT NO.APPLICATION NO.DATEDINVENTOR(sl

: 5,991,801Cl: 90/010774: April 5, 2011:Rebec et al.

Page I of I

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Title Page:Item [57],This statement should be deleted"At the time of issuance and publication of this certificate, the patent remains subject topending reexamination control number 90/010,862 filed Feb. 12, 2010.The claimcontent of the patent may be subsequently revised if a reexamination certificate issuesfrom the reexamination proceeding."

Signed and Sealed thisTwenty-sixth Day ofApril, 2011

David J.KapposDirector ofthe United States Patent and Trademark Office


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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUS005991801C1112) EX PARTE REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE (8145th)United States Patent 110) Number: US 5,991,801C1Rebec et al. 145) Certificate Issued: Apr. 5, 2011

154) GLOBAL DIGITAL VIDEO NEWSDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM175) Inventors: Mohammed S.Rebec, Bristol, IN 1US);Mihailo V. Rebec, Bristol, IN (US)173) Assignee: Trans Video Electronics, Ltd., Bristol,IN 1US)Reexamination Request:No. 90/010,774, Mar. 3, 2010Reexamination Certificate for:

Patent No.: 5,991,S01Issued: Nov. 23, 1999Appl. No.: OS/694,704Filed: Aug. 9, 1996

Related U.S.Application Data

151) Int. Cl.HOT 7/185H04N 7/14H04N 7/16H04N 7/15H04N 7/20

12006.01)12006.01)12006.01)12006.01)12006.01)152) U.S.Cl..............25/116; 348/E7.063;348/E7.081;348/E7.083; 348/E7.093; 725/114; 725/117;725/119158) Field of ClassiTication Search ...................09/219See application file for complete search history.

160) Division of application No. 08/085,329, filed on Jul. 2, 1993,now Pat. No. 5,594,936, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication No. 08/047,089, filed on Apr. 16, 1993, nowabandoned.

157) ABSTRACTAn information distribution system for a digital network,includes a master communications unit for establishingcommunications with the network in order to receive a syn-chronous digital signal, a distribution amplifier unit forreceiving and dividing the synchronous digital signal into aplurality of synchronous signals and a plurality of communi-cations units for establishing communications with a plural-ity of receiving stations. The system also includes a mastercontroller for controlling the plurality of communicationsunits from a central location. The invention alternativelyrelates to an information disseminating system for a digitalnetwork and includes a plurality of video clip storing units,each storing data related to a particular subject matter, aplurality of distribution amplifiers associated with the videoclip storing units and a plurality of communucations unitswhich establish communications between the plurality ofdistribution amplifiers and the digital network. A menu stor-ing unit accessible from the digital network, stores informa-tion indicating the subject matter associated with each of theplurality of video clip storing units as well as information asto how to access each of the video clip units.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTSWO WO 93/11617 Al 6/1993

OTHER PUBLICATIONSAminalehi, Bahman and Kerner, Martin; "Network Archi-tectures for Digital Video Delivery Service in Mid1990s";IEEE; Jun. 1992; pp. 17581762.

1Continued)Primary Examiner Eric B Kiss

156) References CitedU.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,773,979 A 11/1973 Kirk, Jr, et al..........79/15 FD1Continued)

At the time of issuance and publication of this certificate,the patent remains subject to pending reexaminationcontrol number 90/010,S62 filed Feb. 12, 2010.The claimcontent of the patent may be subsequently revised if areexamination certificate issues from the reexaminationproceeding.500 526~0VideoEditMenu

512)506Telephone Line Unit

5'I 4516

527A 527B 5270 527D 527 527F 527G 527H

533A 533B 533C126 535B

533D 533E 533F535D 535E

533G 533H535G

525A 525B 525C 525D 525E 525F 525G 525H529A 529B~ 529C 529D 529E~ 529F~ 529G~ 529H~

531A 5316 5310 531D 531E 531F 531G 531H

220535A 5350 535F 535H

NETWORK

550A5556550B 5500

520


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US 5,991,801C1Page 2

4,141,0394,336,5394,484,2184,490,7264,506,3874,538,1764,630,1084,672,6554,672,6564,734,7644,755,8724,766,5814,769,8334,780,7574,780,7584,789,8634,789,8954,792,8494,807,2824,816,9054,829,3724,860,0224,866,7874,905,0944,912,7214,916,7374,920,4324,937,8444,949,1874,963,9954,979,1704,987,4865,014,1255,019,9105,023,9345,027,4005,029,2325,051,8225,057,9325,083,2715,093,7185,119,1gg5,130,7925,132,992

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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5,133,079 A5,157,491 A5,164,839 A5,166,886 A5,172,413 A5,181,107 A5,191,410 A5,195,092 A5,198,899 A5,208,665 A5,239,540 A5,247,347 A5,247,575 A5,249,303 A5,262,875 A5,276,866 A5,283,639 A5,291,554 A5,341,474 A5,353,337 A5,361,091 A5,371,532 A5,390,172 A5,392,353 A5,410,343 A5,412,416 A5,442,389 A5,497,479 A5,508,732 A5,539,449 A5,572,347 A5,663,757 A5,675,575 A

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Ballantyne et al.Kassatly .........Lang ..............Molnar et al.....Bradley et al.Rhoades .........McCalley et al.Wilson et al.Cang ..............McCalley et al.Rovira et al......Litteral et al.....Sprague et al.GoekenMincer et al.....PaoliniEsch et al.Morales ...........Gelman et al. ...Tsumura et al...Hoarty et al.Gelman et al....Kuang .............Morales ...........Coddington et alNemiro fskyBlahut et al......HornbuckleBottomley et al.Blahut et al......Burton et al.Morales ...........Wall, Jr, et al.

.. 455/4.1. 358/146. 358/335. 364/497

...380/20358/86...358/86370/94.2....348/7...358/86...370/77. 725/114...348/12455/33.4. 358/335. 395/600348/6....380/5.. 725/94.. 379/93348/7348/7370/60380/20.. 725/99348/10348/7. 395/491348/7348/7359/124348/13370/326

OTHER PUBLICATIONSGelman, A.D.; Kobrlnski, H.; Smoot, L.S.;Weinstein, S.B.;Fortier, M.; and Lemay, D.; "A Storendorward Archi-tecture for Video~nDemand Service"; IEEE; Jun. 1991;pp. 0842846.Sincoskie, W.D.; "System Architecture for a Large ScaleVideo on Demand Service"; Computer Networks and ISDNSystems 22 (1991)pp. 155162.* cited by examiner


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US 5,991,801C1IEXPARTEREEXAMINATION CERTIFICATEISSUED UNDER 35 U.S.C.307

THE PATENT IS HEREBY AMENDED ASINDICATED BELOW.

2AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEENDETERMINED THAT:The patentability of claims 2-17 and 24-29 is confirmed.Claims 20-23 are cancelled.Claims 1, 1S and 19were not reexamined.

global digital video news distribution system (us patent 5991801)

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