System for simultaneous delivery of digital television and interactive broadband service

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for the delivery of digital television and interactive broadband service in a manner that maximizes the useage of the digital broadcast spectrum. A digital television signal is transmitted to a given broadcast area in a relatively small part (for example, a 1 MHz band) of one or more licensed portions of the digital broadcast spectrum. Interactive broadband service is delivered within at least a portion of the same broadcast area covered by the broadcast digital television signal, in the remainder (for example, a 5 MHz band) of an unused part of the same licensed portion of the digital broadcast spectrum as is occupied by the digital television signal, or within an unlicensed (unused) portion of the digital broadcast spectrum. The broadcasting of the digital television and delivery the interactive broadband service occur simultaneously. In one embodiment, digital television and broadband service are delivered by the same equipment within the same bandwidth.

主权项

1. A method for delivery of interactive broadband service to interactive broadband service users by an Internet based interactive broadband service provider, the interactive broadband service provider normally charging a subscription fee to the interactive broadband service user for the interactive broadband service, the method comprising the steps of: providing interactive broadband service to the interactive broadband service user's communications devices, providing an interactive broadband service provider website for use by an interactive broadband service user through which the interactive broadband service user can assess and search the Internet to locate another website at which the interactive broadband service user's subsequent web activities may generate revenue, the interactive broadband service provider charging the other website a referral fee for the interactive broadband service user that accesses that other website through the interactive broadband service provider's website, wherein the referral fee collected from the other website by the interactive broadband service provider is used to reduce the subscription fee normally paid by the interactive broadband service user to the interactive broadband service provider for the interactive broadband service.