Patent Document

This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 11/782,724, filed Jul. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,090, issued Feb. 26, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and system for providing regional channels in a digital broadcasting environment, particularly but not exclusively in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The provision of a television service over internet protocol (IP) is known as IPTV and utilizes a protocol known as multicast. Multicast is a protocol to address a group of addresses in order to send data from one or more sources to a multitude of addresses. This means that only a single stream broadcast is required regardless of how many receivers the multicast is addressed to. 
     An example of a multicast transmission and reception system is shown in  FIG. 1 . The diagram shows the relative locations of HeadEnd Equipment  100 , Middleware Equipment  102  and Customer Premise equipment  104 . HeadEnd and Middleware Equipment  100  and  102  are connected to Customer Premise Equipment  104  by any appropriate network  106  which terminates at a digital subscriber line access multiplex (DSLAM)  108 . The communication to Customer Premise Equipment is then effected via a PSTN link  110 . 
     HeadEnd equipment  100  may include Encoders, Transcoders etc. and means (either via satellite, cable or any other appropriate manner) to broadcast the multicast that is produced. The multicast comprises a single stream for each of the different television channels that may be required to be transmitted to Customer Premise Equipment  104 . 
     Middleware Equipment  102  is found at the internet service provider for example, may include video on demand (VOD), unicast capabilities, time shift TV, soft switching, voice over IP (VoIP) and Network Personal Video Recording (NPVR). Middleware Equipment  102  is responsible for providing services to Customer Premise Equipment  104  as described above. 
     Customer Premise Equipment  104  includes a Residential Gateway (GW)  112  that is connected to other equipment, including a PC  114 , a telephone  116  and a Set Top Box  118 . Set Top Box  118  is connected to a television monitor  120  and can provide television programs to both the television monitor and PC  114  and any other monitor in the Customer Premise Equipment  104 . 
     Broadcasters will send the national television channels in their multicast. Regional channels may be introduced at locations closer to the user, for example at Middleware  102  or DSLAM  108 . Regional channels are channels which are relevant for a particular region. In the past regional encoders and regional channel inputs have been used to provide regional television channels to the user (customer). The drawback with this approach is that additional encoders are required at the regional locations. In fact for each different region additional encoding and transmitting equipment is required. Alternatively additional equipment is required to feed a regional stream to a DSLAM to provide these regional channels. Again this requires additional equipment in each region. This also means that some if not all, of the controls of regional channels are managed regionally, which has both advantages and disadvantages. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a regional television channel service and method in the IPTV environment which at least overcomes some of the drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a regional TV method and apparatus without additional equipment than that already existing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to the method and system for delivering a regional television channel to a user. 
     According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of delivering a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising the steps of forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, broadcasting the multicast channels to the user through a regional gateway, forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of broadcasting a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regional location comprising the steps of receiving a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, broadcasting the multicast channels to the user, receiving a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating a control signal for controlling the broadcast of regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, wherein the service is in the form of a multicast of channels, each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels and the channels being broadcast to a user through a regional gateway comprising the steps of forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and wherein the regional channel control signal, at the required time, causes switching of the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for delivering a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising means for forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, means for broadcasting the multicast channels to the user through a regional gateway, means for forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, means for transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, means for switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for broadcasting a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regional location comprising means for receiving a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, means for broadcasting the multicast channels to the user, means for receiving a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, means for switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for broadcasting a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service from a regional location comprising means for receiving a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, means for broadcasting the multicast channels to the user, means for receiving a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, means for switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for generating a control signal for controlling the broadcast of regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, wherein the service is in the form of a multicast of channels, each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels and the channels being broadcast to a user through a regional gateway comprising means for forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, means for transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and wherein the regional channel control signal, at the required time, causes means for switching of the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channels. 
     According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for delivering a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service when the program is executed on a computer comprising the steps of forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including at least one regional channel corresponding to one of the multicast channels, broadcasting the multicast channels to the user through a regional gateway, forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels, transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway, and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding one of the multicast channel. 
     Further embodiments of the invention are provided in the appended dependent claims. 
     The advantages of the present invention are that a new protocol exists between HeadEnd Equipment  100  and DSLAM  108  which enables all the broadcast channels to be provided from the HeadEnd Equipment and selection to be made on regional bases at Middleware Equipment  102 . In addition, the user has the ability to select the regional channel the user would prefer to watch, for example, if this is not the user&#39;s local regional channel. Another advantage is that the present invention does not require additional hardware and instead reorganizes the channels (that are all transmitted from HeadEnd Equipment  100 ) in accordance to individual user needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a general IPTV system; 
         FIG. 2  is a IPTV system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a table showing how the channels are changed for the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing details of a new protocol which exists in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a table used at the HeadEnd Equipment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a table used at the DSLAM end of the equipment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the protocol description in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a table for extension of the service provided in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the method steps in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  shows the IPTV system for delivery of regional television channels in accordance to the present invention. Equivalent equipment is found at the HeadEnd  200 , Middleware Equipment  202  and the Customer Premises End  204  similar to what was previously described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The HeadEnd Equipment  200  and Middleware Equipment  202  are connected via Networks  206 , DSLAM  208  and PSTN connection  210  to the customer premises. As previously indicated Customer Premises Equipment  204  includes equipment such as PC  214 , Phone  216 , Set Top Box  218  and television monitor  220 . In addition to the standard equipment of an IPTV system, the present invention includes two additional features which are used to adapt Multicast  222  transmitting from HeadEnd equipment  200 . These two new additional elements are a Switch Regional Channel Server (SRC Server)  224  which is found in Middleware Equipment  202  and connects into Network  206 ; and a Switch Regional Channel Client (SRC Client)  226  found in DSLAM  208 . The function of SRC Server  224  and SRC Client  226  will now be described in greater detail. 
     Multicast  222  broadcast from the HeadEnd Equipment  200  will include a plurality of channels. Each channel will generally have a name and a channel slot on which it is broadcast. For example in France the multicast will include a plurality of channels for example TF 1 , TF 2 , TF 3  and many others. TF 3  may have timeslots during which a regional version of TF 3  may be broadcast. There may be a plurality of different regional TF 3  channels for many different areas of France, for example region  1  may relate to Nice, region  2  may relate to Alsace and region  3  may relate to Toulouse. 
     At certain times the broadcaster may decide to switch from the national TF 3  channel to broadcast a regional TF 3  channel. This may be to provide regional advertising or regional programming as the case may be. For example there may be a number of regional football games and each regional area may wish to watch the regional game. Also advertisers may wish to target regional customers at specific times of the day, for example a pizza delivery company may wish to target regional customers an hour before lunch or dinner. 
     In accordance with the present invention, Multicast  222  broadcast from HeadEnd Equipment  200  may include not only the national channel of TF 3 , but also all possible regional channels for TF 3  and any other channel where regional television may be anticipated or provided. Multicast  222  of multiple channels is broadcast and received at DSLAM  208  in any appropriate manner. 
       FIG. 3  shows a table  300  having a row showing Channel Names  302  and a row  304  showing the received Channel Number or slot on the DSLAM for the corresponding Channel Names. At the DSLAM if a regional channel is required to be broadcast to the end-users, the channel number for the regional channel is converted to replace the national channel number for the period of time over which the regional channel is to be transmitted. The new channel numbers or slots from the transmission end of the DSLAM are shown in row  306  of table  300 . At a time when a regional broadcast is happening it can be seen that the new channel slot for TF 3  national (NAT) has become  100  and the new channel slot for TF 3  region  1  (R 1 ) (the location of the user in question) is now channel  3 . The regional channel has thus temporarily taken the slot of the national channel. This provides an advantage for the user that when a regional program is available, the user does not need to search for the right channel to view that regional program, instead the regional program replaces the normal national transmission for that particular channel. In the case of advertising, the user will be unaware of the fact that targeted and specific advertising material in the breaks between television programs is being received. This is because, certain advertising material may be sent at certain times in accordance with advertisers requirements for a particular region. As will be described in greater detail below there is also a record kept of the number of users at any time watching a specific channel to assist with the scheduling of regional advertising or regional television programs to a time when the maximum number of users are watching. 
     As previously mentioned, the manner in which the regional channel and the national channel are exchanged at specific periods of time are dependent upon a new protocol which is called the Switch Regional Channel Protocol (SRCP). 
       FIG. 4  shows in more detail how the SRCP operates and makes the changes illustrated above. SRC Server  224  of  FIG. 2  is shown at the Middleware point in the system, however it could be found at different places, for example at the HeadEnd or at the DSLAM as is appropriate for various circumstances. SRC server  400  is shown in  FIG. 4  and includes an SRCP server  402 , an SRC DSLAM Table  404  and a Scheduler  406 . SRC Server  400  sends and receives commands  408  over Network  410 . Commands  408  in this instance are received by DSLAM  412 . The DSLAM supports the SRC Client (previously identified in  FIG. 2 )  414 . SRC Client  414  includes a Channel Table  416  and a Proxy Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)  418 . The SRCP allows a central point to request DSLAM  412  to switch to regional channel (IGMP port) for a specific period of time for the end-user connected to a given national channel (for example TF 3  as described above). As all the regional channels and national channels are multicast at all time on the network to DSLAM  412  from the HeadEnd Equipment it is at the DSLAM that the decision is made to which channel to communicate and onward broadcast to the user. This choice at DSLAM  412  is controlled by the SRCP. SRCP server  402  manages the protocol to control and demand when all requests should be sent to DSLAM  412 . SRC DSLAM Table  404  includes all the information on how to switch a channel from one slot to another. The scheduler is composed of an agenda to launch the action per hour or day as appropriate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , SRC DSLAM Table  500  is shown in more detail. The table includes a number of columns. These columns include Location  502 , DSLAM Identifier (IP Address)  504 , Main Channel (IGMP Address)  506 , Regional Channel (IGMP Address)  508 , Start Session Time and Duration of Session  510  and On Line Switch Status  512 . Table  500  has been completed for two locations, namely Nice  514  and Strasbourg  516  where the regional channel is TF 3  Nice and Strasbourg respectively. The broadcaster wishes to transfer to the regional channel in each case at 11h30 for a duration of twenty minutes. In each case the national TF 3  channel is replaced with respective channel TF 3  Nice and TF 3  Strasbourg. The full details of all IP Addresses and IGMP Addresses are not shown but the nature and format of these will be understood by the persons skilled in the art. The table as previously indicated will be sent in the communication between the SRC server and SRC client. The table will be used by the DSLAM on receipt to transfer channel slot  3  on the DSLAM output from TF 3  national to TF 3  Nice or Strasbourg as appropriate at 11h30 for twenty minutes. The on line switch status on/off will be set as appropriate depending on whether the regional channel is off or on. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , SRC DSLAM client table  600  is shown. Table  600  includes a Main Channel (IGMP Address)  602 , a Regional Channel (IGMP Address)  604 ; a Start Session Time and Duration Session  606  and again an On Line Switch Status  608 . The content of this table will be made up in accordance with the content of the earlier presented SRC DSLAM tables as transmitted from the server. 
     In order for the server and client to communicate effectively, the requests and answers as carried out in accordance with the SRC protocol are now described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The protocol is shown in general as  700 . Reference Numeral  702  shows an arrow indicating a communication from Server to Client while the reference  704  shows an arrow indicating the direction of communication from Client to Server. The Server is the SRC Server and the Client is the DSLAM or SRC Client in the DSLAM. The protocol commences with the server switch request SCrequest. This request comprises the information related to Main Channel, Second channel, Start Time and Duration. The client answers with an Accept SCrequest Switch that indicates the number of users (Nbuser) or Rejects the request (error code). If the request is accepted and the number of users is below a certain threshold, the broadcaster may change the Switch Request to be a STOP Request which will be described in more detail below. As previously indicated, the number of users is used by the broadcaster to determine whether there are sufficient viewers to justify broadcasting certain information or advertisements or whatever. 
     If the SRC Server wishes to send a Stop request, the Stop request will be sent in the from of a StopSC request which will include the same details as in the SCrequest. A client answer will be Accept-Stop request and again indicates the number of users that apply. 
     As previously described there are possibilities that the user may require a different regional channel than the one usually available based on the user&#39;s region. For example the user in Nice may prefer to watch the regional channel of Strasbourg. In these instances the protocol uses the third identified description (( 3 ) in  FIG. 7 ). Here a Client request is sent to the Server subscribing to or requesting a different regional channel than that to which it would normally receive. This request is in the form of a Tableinfoquery. The server will then answer with an Accept-Tableinfoquery which will include the DSLAM Table extension information. In the alternative, the server may for some reason or another, reject the request and send an error code with the DSLAM Table extension information again. 
     The request from the user which is transmitted to the DSLAM may be made via any appropriate means for example the IP telephony link between the DSLAM and the user or any other appropriate means including e-mail, etc. Where such has been received at the Server, the SRC Server will generate an additional DSLAM Table extension  800  as is shown in  FIG. 8 . SRC DSLAM Table extension  800  and the SRC DSLAM Table (shown in  FIG. 5 ) are identical with the exception of column  802 .  802  the Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN Number) is included. This indicates the number on which the user has called to request a variation in the regional channel which is transmitted to it. This enables the DSLAM to send over the MSISDN Channel between the user and the DSLAM, the requested alternative regional channel in the form of a unicast as opposed to the multicast of all other channels. If a user makes a request for a change to the regional channel or an additional regional channel, the user may be charged for on an independent basis. 
     The result of the above system and method is that the user receives regional television over IPTV without the requirement of having separate encoders in regional locations. In addition, since the SRC DSLAM Tables are generated at the Middleware Equipment, the local provider can have some knowledge of the user requirement for the regional channel based on the number of users that is sent back from the DSLAM. This enables the Middleware ISP service providers to manage and control the advertising and programming provider to the user in order to maximize the number of users to which the relevant material is broadcast. This may be achieved by statistical analysis of the times at which the regional channel is generally watched. In addition, the provision of requests for the user for an alternative and/or additional regional channel means that people who are away from home or living in a new environment may still watch television programs that they enjoyed in the region from which they came. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the main steps carried out by the method of the invention are now described. In the first step  900 , a multicast is generated and broadcast from the HeadEnd Equipment of the Broadcaster  900 . Thereafter in step  902  the Middleware Equipment under the control of the ISP or other intermediary service provider generates an SRC Server control signal including the elements set out in  FIG. 4 . The remote DSLAM receives both the multicast and the control signal in step  904 . The DSLAM then uses the control signal to convert channel numbers in accordance with  FIG. 2  in step  906  so that the user is broadcast on the regional channel rather than the national channel. At a certain point in time at the end of the duration in the SRC DSLAM Tables, for example, the regional programming ends at step  908 . The DSLAM reconverts channel numbers to their original position in step  910  so that the user will now view the national channel rather than the regional channel. The DSLAM then returns to the position of step  902  where it is a waiting the reception of an SRC server control signal. The regional programming may end at Step  908  due to the transmission of a Server SC Stop request as previously described. 
     The description has shown transmission of both the multicast and the control signals from the SRC Server to only one DSLAM. However, it would be appreciated that the same multicast and control signal could be sent to multiple DSLAM in the same region. In addition, both the middleware and the head end equipment could be located in the same place and be controlled by the same service providers. The service providers providing the services of both multicast and regionalisation could be any relevant body. The customer premise equipment set out in the figures and descriptions are shown only by way of example and may be replaced or augmented with any other equipment. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various changes inform and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5