Patent ID: 8468566
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of communicating control information in a satellite broadcast communication system, the method comprising: transmitting at least one copy of a control message set from a control system by way of a satellite to a broadcast receiver, wherein the control message set comprises at least one control message; receiving at least one copy of each of the control messages of the control message set at the broadcast receiver; transmitting a feedback message from the broadcast receiver by way of a terrestrial communication link to the control system, wherein the feedback message comprises an indication that all of the control messages of the control message set were received at the broadcast receiver; receiving the feedback message at the control system; terminating transmission of subsequent copies of the control message set at the control system in response to receiving the feedback message; transmitting at least one copy of a second control message set from the control system by way of the satellite to the broadcast receiver, wherein the second control message set comprises multiple control messages; receiving less than all of the multiple control messages of the second control message set at the broadcast receiver within a predetermined time period of receiving at least one of the multiple control messages of the second control message set; transmitting a second feedback message from the broadcast receiver by way of the terrestrial communication link to the control system, wherein the second feedback message comprises an indication of those of the multiple control messages of the second control message set not received at the broadcast receiver; receiving the second feedback message at the control system; and transmitting at least one copy of at least those of the multiple control messages of the second control message set not received at the broadcast receiver from the control system by way of the satellite to the broadcast receiver in response to receiving the second feedback message.