SIMULCASTING DIGITAL VIDEO PROGRAMS FOR BROADCAST AND INTERACTIVE SERVICES

摘要

To provide interactivity, data communication through a wireless telephone network (41, 43) is combined with a broadband digital transmission through a broadcast network. The broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters (TX) simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Customer premises receiving systems (30) include a receiving antenna (38) and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and a digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a TV set (75). The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signalling information for interactive services via a data modem and a wireless telephone transceiver included in the terminal and the wireless telephone network (41, 43). The terminal may include a telephone interface that permits standard customer premises telephone to send and receive calls, bypassing local loop services.