Patent Publication Number: US-9906839-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for communicating electronic service guide information in a satellite television system

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/262,917 filed on Apr. 28, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/301,394 filed on Nov. 21, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,713,609, which makes reference to, claims priority to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/555,550 entitled “Method and System for a Low-Power Wide Area Network” and filed on Nov. 4, 2011. 
     The above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the invention relate to satellite communications systems. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for communicating electronic service guide information in a satellite television system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Present broadband receivers, for example those utilized in satellite television systems, are inflexible and limited in capabilities. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system and/or method is provided for communicating and/or processing electronic service guide information in a satellite television system, substantially as illustrated by and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  depicts an exemplary satellite communication system. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts an exemplary satellite communication system. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a portion of a satellite communication system such as the systems in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for receiving electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. 
         FIG. 4A  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for processing a satellite signal utilizing electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. 
         FIG. 4B  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for processing a satellite signal utilizing electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. 
         FIG. 5  is a state diagram illustrating exemplary states of a system operable to receive ESG data from a LAN/WAN. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. For example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. Similarly, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term “module” refer to functions than can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of one or more thereof. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts an exemplary satellite communication system. Referring to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a satellite communication system comprising a satellite dish  106 , a gateway  102 , and a television  104 . The gateway  102  is coupled to the satellite dish  106  via a communication link  108  and coupled to a local area network (LAN) and/or wide area network (WAN) via a communication link  110 . As a non-limiting example, the gateway  102  may be communicatively coupled to an ESG server (e.g., at or associated with a satellite broadcast company) via link  110  and the Internet. 
     Each of the communication links  108  and  110  may comprise one or more wired, wireless, and/or optical links. The communication link  110  may, for example, comprise one or more links which carry physical layer symbols in accordance with one or more of DSL, Ethernet, and/or multimedia over coaxial alliance (MoCA) standards. Also for example, the communication link  110  may operate in accordance with any of a variety of wireless communication protocols. The communication link  108  may comprise, for example a coaxial cable and/or a 60 GHz wireless link. 
     The satellite dish  106  may comprise circuitry operable to receive satellite signals and output the received signals to the gateway  102  via the communication link  108 . The satellite dish  106  may, for example, comprise an RF front-end for processing received signals in the analog domain, and conveying the analog signals to the gateway  102  via the link  108 . A signal received by the satellite dish  106  may comprise a plurality of frequency division multiplexed channels. One or more of the channels may carry media (i.e., audio, video, graphics, etc.) data, and one or more of the channels may carry electronic service guide (ESG) data. The ESG data may provide information about the channels carried in the satellite signal. For example, the ESG data may indicate the channels carried in the signal  106 , and may provide information on where and how the channels can be accessed (e.g., information for demodulating, decrypting, and/or decoding the channels). 
     The gateway  102  may comprise circuitry operable to receive satellite signals, process the received signals to recover data, and output the data to an end-user device such as the television  104 . The gateway  102  may also comprise circuitry operable to transmit and/or receive data over the communication link  110 . 
     The television  104  may comprise circuitry operable to receive media data and control data from the gateway  102 , process the received data to recover audio and/or video, and present the audio and/or video to a viewer. 
     In operation, the satellite dish  106  may receive a satellite signal, amplify and/or otherwise process the signal in the analog domain, and convey the analog signal to the gateway  102  via the communication link  108 . The gateway  102  may process the analog signal received via the link  108  to recover media and/or other data communicated in the satellite signal. The gateway  102  may obtain ESG data associated with the satellite signal by demodulating a channel of the satellite signal that carries ESG data, and/or may receive ESG data via the communication link  110 . 
     The gateway  102  may utilize the ESG data to access channels carried in the satellite signal. For example, a user of the gateway  102  may request television network XYZ. The gateway  102  may utilize the ESG to find the frequency of television channel XYZ in the signal  203 . The gateway  102  may then tune to the found frequency, and demodulate (and otherwise process, as necessary or desired) the channel at that frequency to recover the media being broadcast on television channel XYZ. The gateway  102  may output the media to the television  104  where it may be further processed (as desired or necessary), and presented. 
       FIG. 1B  depicts an exemplary satellite communication system. Referring to  FIG. 1B , there is shown a satellite dish  126 , a communication link  128 , a communication link  130 , a gateway  122 , and a television  124 . 
     The television  124  may be substantially similar to the television  104  described with respect to  FIG. 1A . The communication link  130  may be substantially similar to the communication link  110  described with respect to  FIG. 1A . 
     The satellite dish  126  may be similar to the satellite dish  106 , but may differ in that it comprises a processing module  132  that is operable to convert a received signal to a digital representation before communicating it to the gateway  122  via the link  128  (e.g., in the form of Internet Protocol (IP) packets). In some instances, the module  132  may be operable to perform additional digital-domain processing of the received signal prior to conveying the signal to the gateway  122 . 
     The gateway  122  may be substantially similar to the gateway  102  described in  FIG. 1A  but may receive digital signals over the link  128 , whereas the gateway  102  in  FIG. 1A  receives analog signals via the link  108 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a portion of a satellite communication system such as the systems in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a system  202  comprising RF front-end module  204 , a LAN/WAN transceiver module  206 , a channelizer module  208 , a switching module  210  (e.g., a multiplexer), and a plurality of demodulator modules  212   1 - 212   J−1 , where J is an integer greater than 1, and a control module  214 . The system  202  may, for example, reside in the gateway  102 , in the module  132 , or may be distributed between the gateway  122  and the module  132 . 
     The signal  203  may, for example, be the result of a plurality, K, of channels being frequency division multiplexed into a single signal. The signal  203  may occupy a frequency band from F lo  to F hi . The RF front-end  204  may be operable to process a received RF signal  203  to generate a digital signal  224 . The RF front-end  204  may, for example, amplify, down-convert, filter, and/or digitize the received signal  203  to generate the digital signal  224 . 
     The channelizer  208  may, for example, be operable to select J channels contained in the signal  224  and output the selected channels as signals  218   1 - 218   J . Each of the signals  218   1 - 218   J−1  may, for example, carry media (e.g., each corresponding to a particular television channel). The signal  218   J  may, for example, carry ESG data. The channelizer  208  may be controlled based on the signal  228 . 
     The switching module  210  may be operable to couple, at any particular time, either the signal  218   J−1  or the signal  218   J  to the demodulator  212   J−1 . Which of the signals is coupled to the demodulator  212   J−1  may depend on the signal  222 . By repeatedly switching the signal  222 , the signals  218   J−1  and  218   J  may be coupled to the demodulator  212   J−1  in a time-division multiplexed manner. 
     Each of the plurality of demodulator modules  212   1 - 212   J−1  may be operable to demodulate the signal input to it. The demodulators  212   1 - 212   J−1  may be configured based on the signals  226   1 - 226   J−1 . 
     The control module  214  may be operable to generate signals  226   1 - 226   J−1 ,  222 , and  228 . A state of one or more of the signals  226   1 - 226   J−1 ,  222 , and  228  may be controlled based on received ESG data. 
     In an exemplary operation, on power-up, the system  202  may need to obtain ESG data associated with the signal(s)  203  so that it can find and process one or more of the channels of the signal  203 . The processing may comprise, for example, demodulating, decoding, and decrypting media carried on the one or more channels for presentation via an end-user device (e.g., television  104  or  124 ). The controller  214  may determine whether ESG data is available via the link  110  and control the state of signal  222  accordingly. Such a determination may be made by, for example, detecting whether the link  110  is active (e.g., via a ping), searching for an ESG server, sending a request for ESG data to a known ESG server, pinging a known ESG server to determine if a connection to the ESG server is active, etc. 
     In instances that ESG data is available via the link  110 , the controller  214  may receive the ESG data via the link  110  and bus  230 . In instances that ESG data is not available via the link  110 , the controller  214  may configure the module  210  to route the signal  218   J  to the demodulator  212   J−1 , and may configure the demodulator  212   J−1  to demodulate the signal  218   J . Such configuration of the demodulator  226   J−1  may comprise, among other things, tuning the demodulator  212   J−1  to the center frequency of the ESG channel (which may, for example, be predetermined). When the module  210  is configured to route the signal  218   J  to the demodulator  216   J−1 , the controller may receive the ESG data via line  216   J−1 . 
     The ESG data may, for example, indicate a center frequency and/or frequency range of each the channels in the signal  203 . Once the system is in possession of the ESG data, it may begin normal operation. For illustration, we will assume J=4 and one or more users of the system  202  concurrently desire channels X, Y, and Z. The invention, however, is not limited to any particular value of J. 
     The RF front-end  204  may amplify, filter, down-covert and digitize the received satellite signal  203  to generate the digital signal  224 . The controller  214  may utilize the previously-received ESG data to configure the channelizer  208  such that channels X, Y, and Z in the signal  224  are output as signals  218   1 ,  218   2 , and  218   3 , respectively. The controller  214  may utilize the previously-received ESG data to control the signal  226   1  such that the demodulator  212   1  is tuned to the frequency range corresponding to channel X. The controller  214  may utilize the previously-received ESG data to control the signal  226   2  such that the demodulator  212   2  is tuned to the frequency range corresponding to channel Y. 
     As for the demodulator  212   3 , in instances that ESG data is continually needed, and is being received via the satellite signal  203 , the demodulator  212   3  may be allocated to demodulating the signal  218   4 . Consequently, the demodulator  212   3  may be unavailable for demodulating the signal  218   3  and the system  202  may be unavailable to output the media of channel Z concurrently with the media of channels X and Y. That is, the system  202  may be unable to concurrently output media corresponding to three television channels while also receiving ESG data via the satellite. 
     In instances that ESG data is being received via the link  110 , the demodulator  212   3  may be utilized for demodulating signal  218   3 . In this manner, the system  202  may concurrently output media corresponding to three television channels while concurrently receiving the ESG data via the link  110 . 
     In instances that ESG data is received via the demodulator  212   N , but is needed only periodically or occasionally, the controller  214  may time division multiplex the demodulator  212   3  between processing the signal  218   3  (channel Z) and the signal  218   4  (the ESG channel). For example, the signal  218   4  may be routed to the demodulator  212   3  during blanking time of a video signal carried in the signal  218   3  and/or only for a period of time sufficient to refresh ESG data when previously-received ESG data has become outdated. 
     In some instances, it may be desired to receive the ESG data from the satellite even if ESG is available via the link  110 . Accordingly, the state of the signal  222  may be controlled based, in part, on a user setting (e.g., via a user-configurable hard or soft switch) that forces the system  202  to get ESG data from the channel  218   J  regardless of whether ESG data is available via the link  110 . 
     In some instances (indicated by dashed line  232 ), the controller  214  may be operable to output ESG data onto the link  110 . The ESG data output by the controller via the link  110  may be communicated to another system (e.g., a gateway) via, for example, a MoCA network. For example, in a system comprising a plurality of gateways, one of the gateways may be designated for recovering the ESG data and distributing it to the rest of the gateways, such that the rest of the gateways can either power-down their respective demodulators  212   J−1  or allocate their respective demodulators  212   J−1  to handling media channels. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, special messages for managing power consumption may be received via the link  110  and utilized to manage power consumption, as is described in the above-incorporated U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/555,550. In an exemplary embodiment, both power-management information and ESG data may be carried in such special messages. In an exemplary embodiment, the special messages may, for example, instruct the system  202  when to place one or more components of the system  202  into a lower-power mode. For example, a special message may instruct the system  202  to power down one or more of the demodulators  212   1 - 212   J+1 . In an exemplary embodiment, the special messages may instruct the system  202  how and when to configure the switching module  210 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for receiving electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. Referring to  FIG. 3 , after start step  302 , the exemplary steps may advance to step  304 . In step  304 , the system  202  may determine whether ESG data is available via the LAN/WAN link  110 . If ESG data is available via the LAN/WAN link  110 , the exemplary steps may advance to step  306 . In step  306 , the switching module  210  may be configured to couple the channel  218   J−1  to the demodulator  212   J−1 . In step  308 , the demodulator  212   J−1  may demodulate the signal  218   J−1  to recover media carried in the signal  218   J−1 . In step  310 , the recovered media may be conveyed to an end-user device such as a monitor and/or speakers. 
     Returning to step  304 , if ESG data is not available via the LAN/WAN link  110 , the exemplary steps may advance to step  312 . In step  312 , the switching module  210  may be configured to couple the channel  218   J  to the demodulator  212   J−1 . In step  314 , the demodulator  212   J−1  may demodulate the signal  218   J  to recover ESG data carried in the signal  218   J . In step  316 , the recovered ESG data may be utilized to, for example, configure various modules of the system  202 , and update parameters stored in the system  202 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for processing a satellite signal utilizing electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. The exemplary steps may be performed by, for example, the system  202  of  FIG. 2 . After start step  402 , in step  404 , a demodulator may be allocated for demodulating an ESG channel of a received satellite signal. In step  406 , the demodulator may demodulate the ESG channel to recover ESG data. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the ESG data recovered from the satellite signal may be referred to as “primary” ESG data because, for example, it contains more complete ESG, more up-to-date, more reliable, and/or otherwise different than ESG data (if any) available via a WAN/LAN (e.g., a MoCA network). In step  408 , it may be determined whether ESG data is available via a WAN/LAN connection (e.g., link  110 ). In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, ESG data recovered from the LAN/WAN connection may be referred to as “supplemental” ESG data because it is different in some way than ESG data (if any) carried in the satellite signal. 
     In instances that supplemental ESG data is not available via the LAN/WAN connection, the exemplary steps may advance to step  410 . In step  410 , the primary ESG data recovered from the satellite signal may be utilized for processing the satellite signal. 
     Returning to step  408 , in instances that supplemental ESG data is available via the LAN/WAN connection, the exemplary steps may advance to step  412 . In step  412 , supplemental ESG data may be received from the LAN/WAN. In step  414 , the supplemental ESG data may be combined with the primary ESG data. This may comprise, for example, replacing some of the primary ESG data with some corresponding supplemental ESG data, appending the supplemental ESG data to the primary ESG data, and/or modifying some or all of the primary ESG data based on the supplemental ESG data. In step  416 , the combined ESG data may be utilized for processing the satellite signal. 
       FIG. 4B  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for processing a satellite signal utilizing electronic service guide (ESG) data in a satellite communication system. The exemplary steps may be performed by, for example, the system  202  of  FIG. 2 . After start step  452 , in step  454 , ESG data may be received from a LAN/WAN (e.g., a MoCA network, a premises-based wireless LAN, a telecommunication network, a cable television network, etc.). In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the ESG data received via the LAN/WAN may be referred to as “primary” ESG data because, for example, it contains more complete, more up-to-date, more reliable, and/or otherwise different than ESG data (if any) carried in the received satellite signal. In step  456 , it may be determined whether ESG data is available via the satellite. In this exemplary embodiment, the ESG data in the satellite signal may be referred to as “supplemental” ESG data because it is different in some way than ESG data (if any) received via the LAN/WAN. 
     In instances that supplemental ESG data is not available via the LAN/WAN, the exemplary steps may advance to step  458 . In step  458 , the primary ESG data received from the LAN/WAN may be utilized for processing the satellite signal. 
     Returning to step  456 , in instances that supplemental ESG data is available in the received satellite signal, the exemplary steps may advance to step  460 . In step  460 , a demodulator may be allocated for demodulating an ESG channel of the received satellite signal. In step  462 , the demodulator may demodulate the ESG channel to recover supplemental ESG data. In step  464 , the supplemental ESG data may be combined with the primary ESG data. This may comprise, for example, replacing some of the primary ESG data with some corresponding supplemental ESG data, appending the supplemental ESG data to the primary ESG data, and/or modifying some or all of the primary ESG data based on the supplemental ESG data. In step  466 , the combined ESG data may be utilized for processing the satellite signal. 
       FIG. 5  is a state diagram illustrating exemplary states of a system operable to receive ESG data from a LAN/WAN. The states  502  and  504  may be states of operation of a system such as the  202  of  FIG. 2 . In state  502 , the system may receive ESG data from a LAN/WAN and may utilize a particular demodulator for processing a media channel of a received satellite signal. In state  504 , the system may utilize the particular demodulator for processing an ESG channel of the received satellite signal. The system may transition between states occasionally and/or periodically. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the system may start-up in state  504  to obtain initial ESG data, transition to state  502  after acquiring the initial ESG data, and thereafter receive ESG updates via the LAN/WAN. In an embodiment of the invention, the system may generally operate in state  504  but periodically (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly, etc.) transition to state  502  for a short period of time. In an embodiment of the invention, the system may operate in either state  502  or  504  based on a user setting and may transition between states only upon the user setting being changed. In an embodiment of the invention, a system operating in state  502  may transition to state  504  upon the connection to the LAN/WAN failing or becoming unreliable. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a satellite communication system (e.g., system  202 ) may be operable to (i.e. capable of operating to) receive a signal via a first interface (e.g., an interface to a satellite dish) and receive data from a network via a second interface (e.g., an interface to a LAN or a WAN, such as the Internet). The satellite communication system may be operable to channelize the received satellite signal into a plurality of channels, wherein a first channel (e.g., the channel contained in signal  218   J ) of the plurality of channels carries electronic service guide (ESG) data. The satellite communication system may select which of the plurality of channels to input to a demodulator based, at least in part, on whether ESG data is available via the second interface. A second channel of the plurality of channels (e.g., the channel contained in signal  218   J−1 ) may carry media data. An input to the demodulator may be time division multiplexed between the first channel and the second channel. The second channel may be input to the demodulator while the ESG data is available via the second interface, such that the demodulator is utilized for processing a media channel while the ESG data is available via the second interface. The demodulator may be configured based on received ESG data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the satellite communication system may be operable to receive supplemental ESG data via the second interface. The satellite communication system may be operable to demodulate, via the demodulator, the first channel to recover the ESG data carried on the first channel. The satellite communication system may be operable to process a portion (e.g., channels carried in signals  218   1 - 218   J−2 ) of the plurality of channels utilizing the ESG data recovered from the first channel and the supplemental ESG data received via the second interface. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the satellite communication system may be operable to control supply power provided to the demodulator based, at least in part, on whether ESG data is available via said second interface. Controlling the supply power may comprise, for example, controlling whether the demodulator is connected to or disconnected from a supply power, controlling a supply voltage level applied to the demodulator, and/or controlling a supply current available to the demodulator. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the satellite communication system may be operable to demodulate, via the demodulator, the first channel to recover ESG data, and transmit the recovered ESG data via the second interface. The transmitting of the recovered ESG data may be via an in-home wireline or wireless network (e.g., an Ethernet or MoCA network). 
     Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory machine-readable (e.g., computer-readable) medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for communicating and/or processing electronic service guide information in a satellite television system. 
     Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for communicating and/or processing electronic service guide information in a satellite television system. 
     Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computing systems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computing system with a program or other code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Another typical implementation may comprise an application specific integrated circuit or chip. 
     The present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.