CA2057642C - Secure hierarchial video delivery system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved system for the delivery of entertainment and educational programming from a plurality of electronic libraries to a plurality of users. Users actuate a hand operated control device to: review a listing of available programming; enable the delivery of a program from a library; or control the delivery of forwarding and rewinding through the programming, and authorizing the purchase of advertised consumer goods by entering in personal identificationnumbers. The network of libraries and the paths for delivering the programming stored therein is arranged for optimum transmission efficiency and maximum access capacity. The key idea in optimizing transmission efficiency and access capacity is to recognize that programming can be grouped into different classes,and that not all classes of programs should be stored in all libraries. High demand entertainment programming should be stored and delivered from a central source whereas low demand educational or cultural programming should be stored and delivered from a local neighborhood library where there is a special interest in such programming. The system is intrinsically secure and encryption is not required. Programs are not delivered to any physical address other than that of the ordering user. Apparatus is employed to discourage the unauthorized copying of delivered programming. The system also permits the delivery of conventional cable television signals on a competitive basis. Apparatus is employed that maximizes access capacity and minimizes investment cost.

Description

-" 20~764~

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(General) This invention relates to apparatus for use in the user initizlted and controlled delivery of educa~innal and entertainment television proy~l~n~ ing S from remotely located electronic libraries, and collv~ ional cable television sources, to the users physical location.

BACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION
(Addresses Fclllc~tion~1 Needs) As residents of a co.l.llluni~y have dirrelell~
10 erlllc~ti~m~l needs, and there is a need for a system for electronically delivering audio-visual edl1cati~n~1 pro~l~llllllillg from an electronic library to the learners physical location, and it is desirable to deliver educational progl~llllllillg when the learner desires such prog,~"~"~ g, and it is required that learners have the ability to start, stop, fast-forward and rewind the playing of such progl~"""i,le; apparatus 15 is needed to provide for such requirements. This invention provides for such edu( ational needs.

(A Form of Pay TV) Although an educational electronic library and delivery system may be publically funded by a colllnlullily library or a public 20 educational institution, the sp~ cr~ e agencies may wish to incorporate such a service on a user pay basis. In adtlitinn~ private educati~m~1 in~titutjon~ may desire to make use of such apparalus. When so employed the system becomes a form of pay television.

2S (Flimin~tion of Monopoly) Pl~ sen~ly competing cable TV operators within a franchise area are faced with the lm~cnnomir~l prospect of duplicate distribution networks. Usually this has resulted in an avoidance of colllpelilion, the result being that a single op~ l~lor monopolizes the distribution of cable TV
pro~l~llllllillg within a franchise area. Potential competing operators are discouraged from entering into competition within a franchise area as the duplicate distribution network has a polenlia] of only 50% of the return of a monopoly franchise area of equal investment cost. It is observed that -- 20~76~

ap~lu, illlately 15% of the capital investment in a cable TV distribution system is in primary trunking costs compared with 85% in the secondary distribution network. If the secondary distribution network could be made available for use by competing cable T~ operators and duplication of same avoided, then the probability of a plurality of cable operators competing for business within an area becomes econ~mi~lly feasible.

(Accessability Limits) An educational e]ectronic library and de]ivery system requires the ability to provide all residents of an urban society, who have a desire to access and a means to pay for such eduçation~l services, the ability to access the widest possible variety of pro~ g at the time desired with the Illinilllulllof conflict between users. All pay TV systems employed to date severely restrictuser choice as the apparatus provided is limited in its capacity to simultaneously access and deliver the required quantity and variety of programs (Prior-Art - Bradley, switchinglbus techniques) Most cable TV systems in use today frequency division multiplex a plurality of subscription television ch~nnelc and a plurality of pay per view ch~nnçlc onto a single coaxial cable for tr~n~nni~cion and distribution to re~idenrçs A few also allocate some channel capacity for the ll ~ ", ;C~;on of user selected video-on-demand pro~l ~llllnillg from a central library to user's residences. An example of such apparatus is given inan associate prior patent, Bradley, Stretten, Stretten and Wentzel (US Pat. No.
4,878,245). The prior Bradley et al. patent teaches that user pro~ l ~lllllling choice can be ~Yp~n(led by using the same radio-frequency TV channels to carry dirrerent pro~lal,lllling by sepal2l1ing duplicate frequencies onto a plurality of physically separate ll~n~ n paths, each path serving a separate group of subscribers, where each user controls a radio frequency isolation switch to permit the user to access extra ch~nnelc when desired.

In a previous associated patent, Bradley, Stretten, Stretten and Wentzel (US Pat. No. 4,878,245), each col~ uniLy of about 100 homes was provided an individual fiberoptic fiber as the l~ k~;~n facility from a central electronic - 205~B~2 library to the colllmullily. With this previous proposed arrangement the quantity of programs that cou~d be simultaneously delivered is restricted by the capacityof the fiber link. Also if a single library serves the entire urban centre, many of the collllllunilies of 100 homes would be very distant from the library making the S cost of adding additional fiberoptic l~ ",i~ n facilities expensive. In addition ~lirre~enl comll.unilies have dirrel enl ed~lcatir n~l and cultural needs. For example, an Italian collllllullily would want pro~ lllillg diLrel ent than a Hispanic coll~ ullily, a low income collllllullily would have a greater need for basic job skills programming than a high income collllllunily. Therefore, it would be more10 efficient to store and llallslllil special interest pro~ldlllllling from a library located in the neighborhood conllllu~ y than Llan~"lil such pro~l~mlllillg over a long distance from the central library. This previous proposal suggests no allelnalive to a single centralized electronic library.

Pro~lallllllillg should therefore be classified and distributed among a network of libraries in order to reduce implementation cost and hllprov~
ll~n~ n efflrienries Plo~ lg for which there is a cnmmon interest, and high demand, should be distributed from a central library. Pro~lallllllillg of local interest and modest demand should be stored and di~ uled from libraries 20 located in the neighborhood col~",ll~ y. Progr~llllllillg of comm-m interest but very low demand should be di~lAl)ul~d from the central library for short term storage at a local library where it is available for user access and control. The apparatus embodied herein illl~ ,S upon the distribution efficiency by taking into consideration the diffeAng nature of and demand for progl~."-l~illg.
(VCR Like Control) In addition our previous embodiment provided user control of only the starting of the delivery of a program. No means is provided for the user to control the stopping, fast rolw~ldillg, rewinding, or replaying of a program. As the educati~-n~l user needs to have access to the ordering and 30 control link at all times to permit control over the delivery of the prog.~ gan allelllalive to the public telephone nelwulh~ as ~loposed in our previous patent, was required in order to avoid telephone facility blocking problems.

2~6~2 (Control Path Blocking) Another object of this invention is the provisioning, for each of a plurality of users, an ordering and control link that is effectively available for user use at all times, and that is intrin~ir.~lly secure.

- 5 The provisioning of the start/stop, wind/rewind feature is another reason for not locating edu( ~tion~l pro~ m~ g at the central library as learners couldtie up expensive, long ~ nC".i~ n f~Ciliti~C for extended periods of time.

(Prior Art Sub-Centres) N~k~jim~ et al (US Pat. No. 4,538,176) and Yabicki et al (US Pat. No. 4,518,989), proposed an electronic library system with optional sub-centres located between the location of where the video/audio filesare stored and the end user. The purpose of sub-centres is to reduce the cost ofpotentially long ll~n~"i~ n lines from the central pro~lalll file to the end user.
Sub-centres do not store files for direct access by users but only have buffer memory capability to permit high speed l~ ci~n from the central file and the sub-centre and real-time rell~ ion to the user. The ap~alalus as embodied in both patents fails to address the special needs of educational pro~l~",lllil~g services, the savings realized by storing some programs near the physical location of the end user and other plo~llls at a central loçatinn, and the congestion problems ~ori~tecl with the use of the public telephone nelwolk for control and ordering.

(Security) Most pay TV systems, including the Bradley et al previous embo~1im~.nt, ~imlllt~nPously deliver the same ~lC~ldllllllillg to a plurality of physical location within the unique fiberoptic fed neighborhood. Our previous embo-1iment uses a combination of filters and switches to block the delivery of programs to a potential users television receiver should the potential user not wish to pay for the progl~",l"il~g. Physical security means are required to prevent lln~uthorized users from receiving the pay progl~ ling by tampering with the filters and switches. Occ~inn~l physical inspection is required to deter tampering.
Most other pay TV systems use addressable encryption or j~mming a~palalus to prevent progl~l"",i"g, for which a ~olenlia] user has decided not to pay or is not 2~76~

permitted to purchase, from being intelligently received. The three most common methods of defeating such apparatus are; by llan~relling the internal unique descrambler identity keys from an au~horized unit to an unauthorized unit thus making both units identical as far as addressing signals are concerned, by S extracting the decoded descrambling keys from an authorized descrambling device and pro~ ,g into an unauthorized descrambler; by relocating an authorized descrambler from a physical location where it is permitted to be used to a location where it is not (for e~slmple, from a private residence where private viewing ispermitted to a public establishment where public viewing is denied).
Each of the above security systems have only a limited lifetime. Some months or years after in~t~ tjon methods of defeating the appal~lu~ become widespread and the system operator is required to change out the security appal~lus~ Another object of this invention is the proposal of a security methodthat is intrinsically secure, that does not require the use of encryption or js~mmine appa-alus.

This embodiment inlpl~.s upon the security method embodied in our previous patent by moving the point of progi~.lln.illg denial into a single secure neighborhood building or structure, thus eliminslting the need for physical inspection of a plurality of a~al~lu~ distributed throughout the neighborhood.

(Bulk Problems) The disadvantage of feeding every user location from a single neighborhood distribution point is that should coa~ial cable be used the physical bulk of the cable becomes a burden.

This embodiment i---p.~,s upon Nakajima and Yabicki by using col.ve-"ional telephone paired copper wires, or low cost fiber optics as the c",;c~itm medium from the neighborhood library to the users physical location.
Should the length of the l~ -;c~;~ n line from the local library to the user's location be less than typically 2 km., then the video and audio signals are transmitted via co-~v~nlional telephone cable, one pair for the video and one pair 2~7~

for the audio, from the local library to the home. Should the distance be longeror a higher bandwidth be required (for the simultaneous tr~ncmi~ion of 2 to 4 Arnplitude Modulated Vestigial Si~lçkanrl (AM ~SB) RF channels), theD this embodiment proposes the use of a low cost optical tr~n~mi~inn line Collsi.,lillg of a low cost optical energy sour~e, and a relatively low bandwidth, high loss fiber.
By using paired telephone cable or optical ll~"~ n, as opposed to coaxial cable tr~n~mie~ion~ the physical bulk of the cabling can be reduced as both are small compared with that of conventional coaxial cable tr~n~micsinn systems.

Nakajima and Yabicki, in~lic~tes the use of electrical tr~n~mi~ion methods.
They require no encryption or j~mmine apparatus but either they must utilize a greater number of subcentres which eYpands their physical security needs, or cable bulk becomes a problem; a problem that they have failed to address.

(Prior Art Problems-security/blocking) Typical examples of user controlled video-on-demand pay TV system are that outlined by Monslow et al. (US Pat. No.
4,890,320) and Abraham (US Pat. Numbers 4,590,516,4,567,512,4,521,806). Both the Maslow and Abraham apparalus combine a plurality of user ordered pro~a~ lil,g for multiplexed lli-n~ c;on over a conventional cable TV system from a video ]ibrary source to a user's residence, and at each of the plurality of physical locations to which the ~lc~ lllllillg is delivered is located a device to permit the intelligent ~iewing of only programs so ordered from that location.
Both fail to consider the problem of migrating receiving apparatus. This is a serious concern as a descl~lllbler located at a user's private residence which is authorized to receive a boxing match, for ~Yzlmple, may be relocated for use to a public establi~hment where viewing of the match is not ~llthori7P(l Both propose the use of the public telephone nelwolk as the ordering link between thesubscriber's re~idçnce and the library. The use of both the public telephone network and a collv~ ional CATV distribution system represent potential blocking problems. Congestion can appear in both the ordering path and the delivery path.

2~76~2 (Non Blocking ~eed) Another object of this invention is to design a delivery path that is expandable on an as required basis to ensure that as the demand for programming grows the system is capable of being modified to meet the demand.
s (Copy Protection) A concern of pro~ lllling copyright owners is that electronica]ly delivered pro~lllllPillg once received can be recorded and copiedfor un~uthorized distribution. Present art discourages recording by altering thenature of the video signal such that subsequent recording is illtelreled with. Users 10 who wish to make a business out of such a practice use video signal restoration al,~al ~tus to restore the video signal to a recordable form thus defeating the copy security system. Another object of this invention is a system of imbedding in the video signal in~oll~laLion that allows the user responsible for the nn~llth~rized distribution practice to be detçrlT in~
(Payment Responsibility) Another object of this invention is appalalus for securely enabling the purchasing of pro~...---i~lg and/or consumer goods. The implement~tirm of such a feature requires that the physical location of the userbe correctly i-lçntifi~d and is free from lalllp~ l ing, and that the personal 20 idçntifi~ ati-~n of the ordering user be idçntified and valid for the ordering address.
The purpose being to .,.i~ problems associated with users denying rcs~onsibility for payment SUMMARY OF TE~E INVENTION
The objects of the invention are as follows:

1. To econ- rnic~lly and erri. i~ ly provide for the educational and enle,l~ ent needs of an urban centre by plUVi~.lillg the required access to a 30 plurality of electronic pro~lallllllillg by a plurality of residences, businesses and schools located throughout the urban centre, with a lllinilllUlll of conflict between the needs of the plurality of users.

2~7~2 g 2. To provide for the ednratirtn~l and entertainment needs of an urban centre by providing end users with the ability to select pro~, dllllllillg for delivery to their location when they require it.

3. To provide for the educ~tionztl and entertainment needs of an urban centre by providing end users with the ability to start, stop, replay, rewind, and fastforward pro~ lllllillg as their needs require.

4. To provide for the econrtmie needs of an educati-)nzll and entertztinment pay television system by providing for the needs of the system to confirm the identity of an ordering user for the purpose of charging for access to and use of prog-;t~ e-5. To secure the delivery of pro~al"".i--g, without the use of encryption or jztmming apl,alalus, such that pro~ill~ing being ordered by, paid for, and delivered to an authorized user's physical location can not be received at a non-paying unztuthnrized user's physical locatic)n.

6. To ~llillillli:P, the construction cost associated with each user's physical location being individually fed from a central collllllunily access point.

7. To provide for a means of di~coul~ging lmztllthnri7Pd copying and di~ ulion of delivered pro~"~

25 8. To provide for the ec.~l-nic needs of a pay television system by providingfor the needs of the system to confirm the identity of a purchasing user for thepurpose of cllarging for cot ~u",er goods sold through the use of the system.

9. To provide for the economic needs of a plurality of cable TV undertakings colllpe~ g within a given cable TV franchise area.

2~76~2 In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network having at least one local comlllullily library serving a plurality of geographically plo~ late subscribers, each collllllunily library providing at least one video distribution bus 5 for att~c~ment of a plurality television channel tuners, one tuner for each subscriber, to tune a selected television channel on said video distribution bus for delivery of the tuned television signal over d~lic~ted television signal delivery lines to the subscriber, each said library having: a plura]ity of te]evision program record and playback units for 1 ecor ;ling television programming and playing back 10 previously stored television progl~ , each te]evision program record and playback unit provided with a channel tuner for tuning a television channel to be recorded and further provided with a tuneable television signal modulator for modulating the p]ayback te]evision signal to a selectable channel, each modulator tellllil.ated on said video distribution bus; and a user control signa] path forcarrying user selection and control data from the subscriber plelllises to the local COIlllllullily library whereby the user pro~lalllllling choices and control may be acted on by the local library in re~unse to user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over the dedicated television signal delivery line serving the user; and a central library serving said 20 local libraries having a wide bandw;dlh television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery of television pro~ lllhlg to said local libraries for storage on said program record and playback units or for delivery to a user served by said local library, further inrlu-1in~ a control data conllllu~lications pathextending between said central library and each said local librar~ whereby user 25 selection and control .~ign~11in~ may be effected co-operatively by the central and local library.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAVV~NGS
30 In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1.0 is an overview of the embodied hierarchial network of electronic libraries.

-' 2~76~2 Figure 2.0is a functional block diagram that shows, the interconnection of the major components of the hierarchial network of electronic ]ibraries, and theidentification of the major components of the central electronic library, the neighborhood local library and the apparatus located at user's residences.
s Pigure 3.0 is a functional block diagram that shows the apparatus for formulating and multiplexing, Type A Video-on-Demand (VOD) signals onto one of a plurality of Type A Buses, Type B Video-on-Demand (VOD) signals onto one of a plurality of Type B Buses, and the me~hod of providing a low cost 10 opportunity for one of a plurality of cable lV operators to have access to a de~lic~ted Type C bus.

Figure 4.0 is a fimction~l block diagram that shows the central library appal~us for inserting identifirati~n i..rO. I-~lioll for the purpose of identifying the 15 source of unauthorized duplication of Type B VOD progl~lllnlillg for commercial profit purposes.

Figure 5.0 is a fimrtinn~l block diagram that shows a location for the insertion of the copy deterrent il~rn....~lion which inserts an idenlirication code 20 unique for each user's physical loc~tinn Figure 6.0 shows a wireless remote control l~ c~-.il~et used to provide users with, library control and access fnn~tjc)nc, including the ability to place orders for programs and cnncumer goods.

Figure 7.0 is a functional block diagram that shows, a~a~ s for permitting the user to have user controlled selection of any of a large plurality of ch~nnelc distributed on a plurality of buses each of which can carry as many RF
television ch~nnelc as can be offered by a cable TV operator using collvellLiona]
30 technology, and appal alu~ provided for the purpose of generating text information, such as directory of offered pro~ll,millg in~oln,a~ion and consumer 2~76~2 product ordering information, in response to each users request and control signal input.

DESCRIPIION OF T~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
5With reference to Figure 1.0 there is shown an overview of the hierarchial network of electronic libraries. A typical user's residence 1 is shown, alternately an educational institution classroom could be substituted. The user shown receives television signals from a local electronic neighborhood library ~. The neighborhood library is typically located within 2 kilometres of the user's location.
10User requested television progl~ g is ~ .lil led from the local library to theusers location over a derlir~t~d television signal delivery line 3. Preferably this ll~n~",i~lnn line is co~lvenlional telephone cable or a low cost, low bandwidth fiberoptic fiber, although a narrow bandwidth Ill;lli~l u~ e coaxial cable could be substituted. A plurality of high capacity, wide bandwidth television signal delivery 15links 4, preferably, fiberoptic fibers, co~ c~ the local library with the central library 5. These high channel capacity wide bandwidth television signal deliverylinks are used to tlall~ il low demand and/or local interest programming from the central library to the local library for storage at the local library, said local library stored ~rogl allJllling is available for subsequent access by neighborhood users such 20as 1 homing on said local library. Said fiberoptic link is also available for the distribution of general d~m~n-1, high interest progr~mming, said pro~ ",lllillg is available for direct access by users from the central library without storage at local libraries. A plurality of fiberoptic links 6 is also provided for the purpose ofpermitting users to access ylo~llllllJIlg stored at any of the plurality of local 25neighborhood libraries.

We have discovered that to ",~i.,-i,ç video access and control for users while l~,;"i",i,i"g the investment n~ocesc~ry to provide the user desired control and variety of pro~"~",i~,;ng, it is useful to categorize or classify the programming into 30categories referred to herein as Class "A" Video on Demand (Class "A" VOD), Class "B" VOD and Class "C' VOD. Other classes may arise, however, the above 2~7~2 3 are fundamental to understanding the con~lguration of apparatus described in - accordance with the present invention.

Type "A" VOD progl a~~ g is indicated by a stored video program sought to be individual]y controlled by the user to permit pausing, rewinding, fast-rolwalding etc. of the actual program source where the program source is, from a network contention point of view, low demand. That is, the chance or incidenceof 2 or more users ~imnlt~neously seeking access to the video program is small.
Examples of this type of prog~ e are educational movies used by the teacher or instructor to assist in the de]ivery of educ~tinnal information to students. The teacher needs to pause the movie to permit dialogue at critical points and to rewind the movie to allow ~revio~ls points to be reviewed etc. Also in this category of video program would be cultural or special interest titles (ie yesterday's broadcast news).
Type "B" VOD pro~ g is inrlir~tecl by a stored video program sought to be individually controlled by the user to permit pausing"ewindi,lg, fast-ro,w~ldi~lg etc. of the actual program source where the program source is, from a ne~wulh cnntenti~ n point of view, high ~m~nrl That is, the chance or incidence of 2 or more users simult~neously seeking access to the video program is large. FY~mple~ of this type of pro~~ g are new release movies for which there is a general pent up demand for viewing. The user of such a movie would prefer to select the title to be viewed and have the commencement time be as close to the request as possible, ie. be viewed on demand. It is also preferable to allow such a user to have the ability to rewind or backup the movie to review missed spots or to fast-forward the movie to advance to a desired subsequent portion.
Type "C" VOD prog-allll"illg is in~ ted by a video program that may be live or stored but is not individually controlled by the user, where the programsource is, from a network contention point of view, high dem~n-l. That is, the chance or incidence of 2 or more users simultaneously seeking access to the video program is large. E~amples of this type of progl ~nJll~ g are traditional broadcast 2~576~2 TV carried on the cable media, live events such as sports events or national addresses by the G~ve~ ncnt or a public agency etc. The wseI of such a video program prefer to select the content or title to be viewed and have the event unfold with any other involvement.
s Figure 2.0 shows the inLerco~ ectinn of the major components of the hierarchial network of electronic libraries, and the identifiratinn of the majorcomponents of the central elc~llonic library, the neighborhood local library andthe appal~lus located at user's re~; lencçs It also shows three dirrelel"
embo~limrntc of user control signal paths and three dirrerellt embodiments of the de~liç~ted television signal delivery lines.

With reference to Figure 2.0 there is shown the central library 5. The central library conl~ins three basic types of apparatus, the central storage andplayback appaldlus 7 where pro~llllllillg is stored on a variety of media, magnetic tape, laser discs, and colll~uler lll~lllOl~, for subsequent lli~ cion to local libraries, the master control and billing c.~lllpuler 8 which records user usage for billing pul~oses and controls the starting and stopping of the video/audio storage and playback apl,al~lus located in the local library. Also shown is the interface al,~al~Lu~ 9, 10 and 11 for receiving and lli~ g electronic ic~;~m~ from and to a plurality of user's telephone instruments 14 and a plurality of local neighborhood libraries. A plurality of Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) Receivers 9 receives user .~ d signals via collv~nlional telephone cable 12, using a dial up public switched telephone network (PSTN) 13 that linksthe central library 5 to a plurality of user's telephone sets 14 located at a plurality of user's physical loc~tir)nc IA. The master billing and control colll~ulel 8 llan~ voice coded colllpuler il~fol".~ jrn via 12, 13 and 14 to assist the user in inputting collllllallds, using methods known to those versed in the art. A
plurality of control data cou~ llllirationC moclemi 10 are incorporated to enable the high speed ~ c~ Ou of data signals to and from a plurality of local library control colll~ulel~ 15 located in each of a plurality of local electronic libraries 2.
For security reasons, the control data co~ lionC path 17 is preferably a ~' 20~76~2 dedicated voice circuit assigned by the telephone carrier; by way of i]lustration, it is shown as a copper conductor cable. The data link ll~llsl~ s usage data and control co"""~n-lc from the local libraIy to the central library, and control co"""~l-dc from the central library to the local library. The control cn~
s ~ lcllliLled from the central libraIy master computer determine what pro~l~llJl,lilJg is stored on what storage/play device located at the local library.
A basic component of the local library is a local storage, modulation and RF busnetwork 18, said network has as input television program signals, both Class A, and Class B ~ideo on Demand (VOD) signals ll~n~ led to it via a plurality of fiber optic tr~ "i~:ol- f;l~iliti~5 19, and a plurality of television signal equal access points (EAP) 20 that may be used by television progl~lllll-ing providers to distribute their pro~l~lllllling over the network.

If the number of record/store/playback ~pl)al-dlus provided at a local library is n units, the number of record/store/playback appalalus storing proy,lalllnlillg and available for access by users at any one time is n-x units. The specific x units of ap~al~l~s not available for access at any given point in time are ~ItçrnS~tely available for the purpose of lecoldil,g progldlllllling being downloaded to the local library from the central library. Thereby permitting the infinite discreet rotation of available pro~l~lllllling over time.

Example user locations 1A, lB, and lC tçl",irl~t~ the reception of "il~ed pro~ lllling at the user's television receiving apparatus 21.
Pro~allllllillg is tr~ncmitted to each user's location using the most ec--nnmi- ~l Of the following ll~ ic~ n means, fiber optics, coaxia] cable, or paired copper conductor.

In user access method "A", twisted pair copper conductor 3A is employed as the dedicated television signal ~ n line between the local library 2 and each of the plurality of neighborhood user !ocatinne lA. Baseband video ll~n~llli~ler 28 is deci~n~d to pre-emphasize the Ir~ ed baseband video signal to compensate for high frequency capacitive roll-off effects and possible colour -- 2~576~

subcarrier intermodulation distortion that will be introduced by the twisted pair copper conductor 3A when used as the tr~ncmic~ion medium for the high frequency signals of the base band video signal. The so conditioned video signalis then amplified and converted to a balanced impedance relative to ground S output by video baseband ~ er 28 and carried to a user l--c~tit n. The associated audio signal being amplified and applied in a balanced to ground configuration to a second telephone cable pair (not shown) for simultaneous ",icci~n to said user's loç~tion At said user's location the separate audio and video signals are AM ~SB modulated onto an RF carrier by Baseband Receiver 37 for subsequent reception by user's TV receiving apparatus 21.

User generated control and selection signals are Ll~n~ ed from the user location to the local library control co~ uulel by using public switched telephone n. Iwu~h 13 by dialling the master control and billing computer 8 and using the dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) tones produced by the telephone 14. The origin of the prog.dlllllJing ~el~-cticn and control ~ien~lline being received by the master billing and control colllpuler is assured by employing one of two possible methods. Firstly, the user may be required to enter an identity and/or security code known only to the user served by de~liçated television delivery path 3A.
- 20 Alternately, the billing and control collJ~uler can be equipped to identify the incoming caller by using aulolll~lic number identific~tiQn (ANI) used, for example, in toll billing for long distance calls.

In User access method "B", fiber optics is employed as the dedicated television signal ll~ ;on line between the local library 2 and each of the plurality of neighborhood user locations lB. This configuration is the plerelledembodiment of the de~licated television signal llanc~"ic~ n line 3B as it provides the most bandwidth to each user with the least amount ûf cable bu]k at the localcol,,nlullily electronic library 2 end. Radio frequency television signals are mod~ ted onto a lightwave m~-linm via a plurality of photonic lli.n~l"illel~ 22.The ll .n~"il~ed optical signal is received from the fiber optic dedicated television signal ll~n~ n line 3B by photonic receiver 24. Photonic receiver 24 converts -' 2~76~2 the received optical signal into a radio frequency signal which is tr~n~nnitted to the user's TV 21 via coaxial cable 25.

User input to the network for selection and control of the pro lall.l..i..g 5 being received or being selected to be received can be communicated to the control co.llpulei via the user's telephone set located at the user location lB (not shown, but see 14 in user access method "A"). Alternately, pro~ nl--illg selection and control signals can be colllllll..~i~ated to the control computer 15 through user operation of a wireless llan;,~ er 28 which lldn.7lnils a low data speed wireless 10 signal to wireless receiver 29. Wireless receiver 29 then col~vells the wireless signal to an electrical signal for l~ c~ui~on over a user control signal path 30B, which is a copper ll~u~ on path that is ~le~ir~ted to the individual user. Thus the origin of the progldnllllillg selecti~n and control signal is assured by theimmovable physical path in the forrn of a de~1ic~ted user control signal path 30B.
In user access method "C" coaxial cable is employed as the de~lic~ted television signal l,~ line 3C between the local library 16 and each of theplurality of neighborhood user loc~t;on~ lC. Radio frequency television signals are amplified for l.~nc~u;c~ n by a plurality of II~D~ llel~ 26, coaxial cable 32 20 connects said amplifier apparatus to the high frequency lldnslllil port of High/Low Coupler 33, coaxial cable 3C conl~e~l~ the high frequency output port of High/Low Coupler 27 to the high frequency input port of High/Low Coupler 34, and coaxial cable 35 connects the high frequency output port of High/Low Coupler 34 to user's television receiving apyal~lu, 21. Selection and control signals can be 25 c~ ---ic?,ted to the control co..ll)uler 15 through user operation of a wireless ll,u.~ tçl 28 which is cnnn~cted to the low frequency input port of the High/LowCoupler 34 where the user control signal path 30C is carried in the reverse direction on the coaxial cable to High/Low Coupler 27 the low frequency output port of which is c~-nnectçd to the local control colllyuler 15. Thus, in this 30 configuration, the coaxial cable 3C is a 2 way ll~ l;c~;on apparatus with the high frequency TV signals going in one direction and the low frequency user control data signals going in the other direction, a technique that is well known to - 2~576~2 practitioners of the art. Thus the origin of the progla~ g se]ection and controlsignal is assured by the immovable physical path in the form of dedicated coaxial cable 30C.

S It will be understood that user input to the network for selection and control of the pro~a,lllllil,g being received or being selected to be received can be collln~ irated to the control coll~yuler via the user's telephone set located at the user location 1C (not shown, but see 14 in user access method "A"). In such a case, the need for High/Low Couplers 34 and 27 at each end of the coaxial 10 cable 3C is elimin~ted as the coaxial cable is no longer a 2 way ll~u~.n;~ ona~alalus, it is reduced to carrying high frequency TV signals in one direction only.

Referring now to Figure 3.0 which shows the appal~lus for formulating and 15 multiplexing Type A Video-on-Demand (VOD) signals onto one of a plurality of Type A Buses, for form~ ting and m-lltipl.oYing Type B Video-on-Demand (VOD) signals onto one of a plurality of Type B Buses, the method of el;.,.;"~ gthe cable TV monopoly by providing a low cost opportunity for each cable TV
operator to have derlir~ted access to one of a plurality of Type C buses and 20 providing the O~pCll luni~y for users to select the bus and cable TV pro~ illg of their choice.

With reference to Figure 3.0 there is shown the appal~lus for receiving progl~.lll.~illg ~ n~",il~ed to one of a plurality of local neighborhood electronic 25 libraries, and the a~a~lus for ~11U~,~'' llg said pro~l,.llllllil.g for subsequent distribution on radio frequency dislll~ulion busses.

Shown is one of a plurality of Type A Video-on-Demand Buses, one of a plurality of Type B Video-on-Demand Buses, and one of a plurality of Type C
30 Cable Television buses.

~576~2 Type A pro~ldlll~nillg is stored for access by users in a video library COIllp~ g a plurality of record and playback units 45. At any period in time, some of the record and play units are off-line and not available for access by users; said units are available at that time for receiving and recording S pro~l dlllllling downloaded from the central library. By so doing the Type A VOD
pro~ alllllling available at a local library is continually being changed, and by said continuous change the capacity of the ll~u~ on facility from the central libraryto the local library for Type A VOD programs need not be large. Said Lr~n~ inn facility is labelled as 4 in Figure 1.0, and as 38 in Figure 3.0 and is 10 shown as a single fiber optic fiber. A fully equipped single fiber has a capacity as high as 864 program down loads per day with each program being 2 hours in duration and download being in real time, a IllillilllUlll equipped fiber would have a capacity of 12 downloads per day of 2 hour programs at real time. The fully equipped fiber carries 72 television channels and the Illinilllulll equipped fiber 1 15 channel.

Should the facility be a coaxial cable l~ --;c~ n line from the central library, or a coaxial cable feed from a source other than the central library such as a television receive only satellite earth station, the facility is shown as 39 in 20 Figure 3Ø

All progl~llllJillg selection, recording and playback operations are controlled by information received by the local library control computer 15 fromeither the master control and billing colllpu~ei 8 via control data collllllul-iration~
25 path 17, or the User via the user control data signal path 30, as previously described in r~relence to Figure 2.0 describing embodiments 30A, 30B and 30C.

The central library Master Control and Billing Computer 8, in Figure 2 0, llall~llJil~ signals on control data cf)u.. ~ir~linne path 17 advising the local30 control com~uler 15 to ready recording a~aldlu~ for the reception of Type A
VOD progldnl,llillg about to be downl( acled to said local library 2 on fiber optic link 38; it also instructs the Local Control Computer 15 as to which one of a 2~576~2 plurality of record units 45 the pro~la~ g is to be recorded on, and informs theLocal Control Computer 15 as to the radio frequency television channel the program will be ~l~ns~ ed on.

For example, should the plO~lall~ g be Llalls~ ed on fiber optic feed 38, the Local Control Computer 15, having previously been advised of said ~r~ iCci~n by Master Control and Billing Computer 8 over control data col,llllwlications path 17, sends control data via input selector control signal path 41 to the input selector 40 to enable reception of pro~ g from said fiber optic feed 38 and internal photonic le. eivGr circuitry 60 so as to receive a plurality of television signals, electrically f~rmn1~te~, by way of example, as radio frequency slmplitude mod~ ted vestigial side band (AM VSB) signals; said RF signals are fed to distribution unit 42 via selector switch 61, said distribution unit 42 distributes said signals to a plurality of tunable, addressable demodulators 44.Said tunable demodlll~tors are controlled by the Local control computer 15 via tuneable, addressable demodlll~t~r control path 43, the audio and video outputs of said demodulators is applied to the input of one of a plurality of record andplayback units 45. Local Control C~ll~ulel 15 controls the recoldil,g operation of the record and playback units 45 over control path 46. Upon reception of a user request signal on.of a plurality of user control signal paths 30, said Local Control Co~ ulel 15 l~ a play signal to the record and playback units 45 stores i~rO~ n as what pluglall~ was ordered by what user and the time and date of the request, said ordering infnrm~ti~ n is subsequently ~ ed via control data col~ u..icati~n~ path 17 to the Master Control and Billing Co~ utel25 8 in Figure 2Ø Video and audio signals corresponding to said programming request are mod~ ted by the RF mod~ tor 47 ~soci~ted with the record and playback unit 45 playing said requested plc)~la..llllil~g. Typically each of theplurality of Type A RF Buses 49 could carry up to 72 separate simultaneous programs. Each of said busses 49 has a plurality of outputs one of which is 30 de-iicated to each of the plurality of user l~cati-n~ 1 associated with said local neighborhood library 2. Typically, there are up to 600 user ]ocations fed from each local neighborhood library.

20576~

The central library's Master Control and Billing Computer, 8 in Figure 2.0, ll~nslllil~ signals on control data colllll,ullications path 17 advising the local control computer 15 to ready recording a~palalu~ for the reception of Type A
VOD pro~,a,l,lllillg about to be received by said local ]ibrary 2 from satellite5 receiving antenna system 64, it also instructs the Local Control Co",pu~el 15 as to which one of a plurality of record units 45 the progl~lllllling is to be recorded on. For example, should the satellite television progld~ ,ing be received on coaxial cable 39, the Local Control Col~uLel 15, having previously been advised of said tr~n~mic~ n by Master Control Computer 8 over control data 10 co~ tionc path 17, sends control data to the input selector 40 to enable reception of progld"l"lillg from said coaxial cable 39, said input selector switch tunes its internal satellite receiving ap?al~lus 62 via control signal path 41 so as to receive an audio and a video signal. Said tuning signa]s received by input selector 40 over control signal path 41 control the positioning of the satellite15 receiving antenna, pola~ lion selection, and video and audio subcarrier selection.
Antenna positioning control signals are ~ "illed to satellite ~nt-o.nn~ 64 by control path 63. Said video/audio signals are VSB AM modu]ated by the satellite receiving a~p&l~us onto an RF television channel carrier and distributed to a plurality of tunable, addressable dçmndul~tors 44 and subsequently to a plurality 20 of record and playback units 45. Local Control Computer 15 controls the digital]y contro]led tuner/demodlll~tor 44 over control path 43, and also controls the recording operation of the record and playback units 45 over control path 46.
Upon lccel.lioll of a user request l.~ ion over one of a plurality of user control signal paths 30~ said Local Control Colllpuler 15 addresses the desired 25 record and playback unit 45 and ~ ils a play signal to said addressed unit, said unit stores the ~ -,.;lled program. Video and audio signals corresponding to said l,log.~l.. illg request are mndlll~ted by the RF mnd~ tor 47 associatedwith the record and playback unit 45 playing said requested pro~t."".,i.lg.
Typica]ly, each of the plurality of Type A RF Buses 49 could carry up to 72 30 separate simultaneous programs. Each of said busses 49 has a plurality of outputs one of which is de~lic~ted to each of the plurali~ of user locations 1 associated - ~ 20~76~

with said local neighborhood library 2. Typically, there are up to 600 user locations fed from each local neighborhood library.

The central library's Master Control and Billing Co"-~ul~r 8, in Figure 2.0, S llal.sl~ signals on control data "o~ lllir~tinnc path 17 advising the local control co.ll~ulel 15 as to the name and duration, and channel assignments givento Type ~ Video-on-Demand ~l u~ ~ g about to be or being ll ;~ ed from the central library 5 to the local neighborhood library 2 for access by users 1 via one of a plurality of Type B di~llibulion busses 54. The typical d-uration of each 10 lype B VOD program would be about two hours. Typically, each of a plurality of Type B programs would be ll~n~ illed on 24 dirrerenl radio frequency television ch~nn~le with the start tirne of lli~ .ion being delayed 5 minutes from the start of the first ll~ s:r~n to the start of the second, and being delayed S minutes from the start of the second ll~,n~-,ic~;on to the start of the 15 third lli1n~ n, etc. The pul~ose of so doing is to provide the user with the ability to effectively pause his or her reception of said plugl,~ ,l,i..g S minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, etc., so as to permit the user with the opportunity to replay plo~a"",-i,-g or to take a break from viewing. Typically 72 RF TV ch~nneli would be received on each fiber, or 1 fiber has the capacity to carry 3 separate20 Type B Video-on-Demand pl~l~llli~, where each of said programs offers said 24separate viewing o~pullunilies spaced 5 rninutes apart in playing time. The plerellcd embodiment is for each fiber to carry the 72 ch~nnele in a VSB AM
frequency division multiplex form, with each of said 72 ch~nn~le being modulatedonto dirrelcnl television channel. Ch~nnel frequencies are repeated on fibers 25 feeding diLrcle~ Class B buses. The photonics receivers 52 collve,l~ the signals from optical to e1ectric~l form. The bro~db~n(1 RF amplifiers 53 each amplify the 72 TV ch~nnele prior to their bemg combined onto the radio frequency distribution bus 54. Each of said busses 54 has a plurality of outputs one of which is de~l;cated to each of the plurality of user k~cation~ oci~ted with said local30 neighborhood library 2. Typically there are up to 600 user locations fed from each local neighborhood library.

~76~

Referring to the Type "C" Cable TV BUS portion of Figure 3, there is shown a television signal equal access point 20 which allows equal access by television programmers to distribution of their television signals by the network. The ~,lerelled embodiment is for each equal access point to be a single coaxial cable 5 type feed for carrying 1 to 72 çh~nn~lc in a VSB AM frequency division multiplex fonn to bro~rlb~nrl amplifier 57, with each of said I to 72 channels being modulated onto "i~îelelll television ~h~nn.ol Channel frequencies are repeated on dirrelenl coaxial cables feeding dirrelt;l~t Class C buses. The broadband RF
amplifiers 57 each amplify the 72 TV ch~nnel~ prior to their being combined ontol0 the radio frequency distribution bus 58. Each of said busses 58 has a plurality of outputs 59 one of which is deAir-ated to each of the plurality of user locations l associated with said local neighborhood library 2. Typically there are up to 600user loGations fed from each local neighborhood library.

Figure 4.0 shows the central library apparatus for inserting idenlirlcalion information for the purpose of identifying the source of unauthorized d11p1i-~ation of Type B VOD pro~dllJlllillg for commercial profit purposes.

Video play unit 65 is one of 4 shown but one of 72 provided for each 20 fiberoptic fiber, each of which has a capacity of carrying 3 Type B programs to a local library as previously said, each plo~alll being played on 24 video play units 65, each play unit starts the play of the program 5 minutes after the start of the ple~,ious unit thus pluvidillg the user the Op~Ol lullily to effectively pause or replay the program from S minutes to 120 minutes after initial playing has begun on the25 first of said video play units. Each of the plurality of video play units 65 feeds one of a plurality of vertical blanking interval (VBI) data ins~l lel~ 66. The output of each of the plurality of VBI data insel lel~ are provided to insert illrollllalion into the vertical blanking interval of the played program. The inserted VBI
infnrm~tit n identifies the time and date of the l~ ",;,~cir)n and the identity of the 30 local library to which the program is being ll~ l-,illed for subsequent distribution to local neighborhood co~ unily users. Each of the plurality of VBI data inserters 66 feeds one,of a plurality of character generators 67. The character 2~76~2 generators are provided to insert information into the visible video of the played program. The inserted video information identifies the time and date of the ,u~."i~;nn and the identity of the local ]ibrary to which the program is being Ll,u~c~ ed for subsequent distribution to local neighborhood co~ lu~ y users.
Said inrollllalion is distributed throughout the program so as to be difficult to remove without deleting valuable program in~ol.l.alion. Either the VBI data inserter or the character generator may be deleted. It is desirable but not necessary to incorporated both deterrent methods.

Figure 5.0 shows the local library appal~us for inserting identification infr~rm~ti(m for the purpose of idenliryillg the source of un~uthnrized duplication of Type B VOD proy,la..ll~ lg for commercial profit purposes. This appalalus enhances the copy protection hlrollu~ion provided by the central ]ibrary disposed equipment described in relation to Figure 5.0 as it identifies the specific user15 location to which the progl~llllllil~g is being llanslllilled co...l)ared to the identific~tion of only the local library to which the progla..llllillg is being distributed. When Type B VOD ~lo~al~lllillg is selected for distribution to one of a plurality of user loc~ir)nc by the bus selector switch 91 in Figure 7.0, 72ch~nnP1i of Type B progl,lllll llg is switched through the bus selector switch from 20 one of a pluralitg of Type B buses 54 to a tunable frequency co~ el lel 94. The Local Control Colll~ulel 14, that also controls the bus selector switch 91 via control path 93 in Figure 7.0, addresses the tunable RF converter that is provided on a dP~lirated basis to the ordering user location and ll~ iL~ digital tuning i"r .I"~ "~ via control path 101 in Figure 5.0 to the addressed collvellel 94. The 25 RF television channel that has been ordered by said ordering user is tuned to and demnd~ ted, tbe demodll1~ted video output of which is input to a dedicated VBI
data inserter 99 which inserts time, date and user location identifiratinn inform~tinn throughout the vertical blanking interval of the video signal. The output of said VBI data inserter is conn~ct~d to the de~lic~ted character generator 30 100 which inserts time, date and user location identifiç~tic~n information ~llrougllout the visible portion of the video signal. Said illLo~,lla~ion is distributed throughout the program so as to be difficult to remove without deleting valuable - 2~76~

program inform~tion. As is the case in the apparatus shown in Figure 4.0 either the VBI data inserter or the character generator may be deleted. It is desirablebut not necçs~ry to incorporate both deterrent methods.

The wireless remote control shown in Figure 6.0 is provided for the purpose of providing the user with a user friendly apparatus for requesting ~lo~ g directory il)ro~ n and, possibly, consumer goods as well. By pr. ssilJg source button 77 the user can l~nsl-lil to the local library a request to access any one of a plurality of video distribution buses. Two Source buttons are 10 shown, one far toggling upward through the available buses and the other for toggling dowllw~lld through the available buses.

A user may review a listing of the available prog.dl~ g offered on the selected bus by pl~ ing one of the two dile~ ~o,y buttons 78. Subsequent pressing 15 of the Up Direclul~ button permits the user to scroll upward through the dilb~ luly of offered pro~l~llJllJiJJg and by pressing the Down Directory buttonpermits the user to scroll back down through the directory listing for the s-o1ected bus. The program listed in the middle of the directory listing shown on the TV
screen is highlighted on said screen for the purpose of identifying the program 20 that would be ordered should the user press the File Select button 79 at that time.

- When the user has requested Type "A" VOD progra~,.. i.. g, pressing the Play button 80 initiates the start of the playing of the previously selected program.
Similarly pressing the Stop button 81 halts the play operation. Pressing the 25 Rewind button 82 permits the user to rewind the played program, the amount rewound depends on the amount of time that the user has the rewind button depressed. Similarly the pressing of the Fast Forward button 83 permits the userto fast forward through the selected ~lu~a,ll.

Should the user have sPlected a Type B VOD program, pressing the Rewind 5 min. button 84 results in the user's deAi~ted tunable RF COIIvt;l lel 94 being re-tuned to an RF TV channel delivering the selected pro~ llhlg but -' 2~76~

delayed 5 minutes re]ative to the previously selected channel. Subsequent pressing of the Rewind 5 minute button permits the user to jump back an ~rl(litjon~l S minutes, etc. Similarly pressing the Fast Forward button 85 permits the user to jump forward to an RF TV channel which is also carrying the selected5 program but the playing of which is 5 rninutes ahead of the previously selected RF
channel.

The ten digit keypad 86 is provided for the purpose of permitting the user to input a Personal Ide~ ri~-A~ n Number or PIN number. The insertion of the 10 PIN number permits the user to order consumer goods, said consumer goods being advertised on a co~ goods adve~ ing channel. Said advelli~hlg channel being distributed on one of the plurality of Type C Cable TV buses 58 (although alternatively it may be lliil~c~ e(l to the local library 2 from a central source by s~tellite coaxial cable or fiberoptic cable and distributed on a fifth bus 15 type).

The l~ n of said PIN number also permits the user to have the ~yl~enl for said ordered goods authorized to be charged to a previously approved line of credit or credit card. By pressing the Purchase button 87 the 20 ordering of the advertised goods, seen at the instant that said goods are visible on said ordering user's TV lcceiving a~al~lus screen 21, is initiated. Upon reception of such a request the local control colll~ulel 15 switches the video signal then being delivered to the user to the Directory or D Bus, the D Bus 92 is shown in Figure 6.0 as is the Bus Selector Switch 91 and the local control col~ ulel 15.
25 The Local Control Computer, ll~l, ,ulil~ a text message t~ a previously idle D Bus RF television Gh~nne1, switches said ordering user's bus selector switch to the D
Bus, tunes said ordering user's RF frequency Col~ l ler to said previously idle RF
television channel, for the purpose ~f ll~ ."i~ e a request to said ordering user's television receiving a~pal~lu~. Said request asks said ordering user to enter said 30 PIN number. Should a valid PIN number be entered within a specified time period the Local Control Colllpuler 15 then ll~llslllils a series of mPec~gPs to the purchasing user's TV 21 that asks the user to identify, using the keypad 86, the -' 2~576~2 credit card type, credit card expiry date and credit card number to which the purchase is to be charged. Upon receipt of the required information the contro]
computer then lla~ s a text description of the product ordered and requests the purchaser to confirm the product ordered by pressing the Purchase button 87 S for a second time. Alternately should the Stop button 81 be pressed the order is cancelled. The Local Control Com~uler 15 then transmits all required ordering hlro~lllalion to the central Master Cu~ )uler and Billing Computer 8 for order processing.

Figure 7.0 shows al)pal~lus for permitting the user to have user controlled selection of any of a large plurality of channels. A plurality of buses are shown, each of which carries a plurality of radio frequency, frequency division multiplexed television channels. Each bus typically would have a capacity of 72 of such channels, which is a typical III~XiIIIUIII number of channels that could be delivered by a cable TV Ope~atOl using col,v~nlional cable TV delivery apparatus.
Although only one of each of the Type A Video-on-Demand Bus 49 and one Type B Video-on-Demand Bus 54 are shown, and only one Type C Cable l~V Bus 59 and one Type D Directory Bus 92, it is understood from the earlier disclosure inrelation to this invention that, typically, there would be employed a plurality of each bus in use at each local library 2.

User input control signals are t~ led to the Local library Control Computer 15, which ~,irolllls f~ I;onc as a directory generator, on a plurality of signal paths 30 as p~eviously embodied in Figure 2Ø The local library control co~ uler 15 reacts to a user request for a specific bus and program by addressing the dedi- ated bus selector switch 91 which is provisioned for the requesting user's location, by ~ CIIl~ e to that selector switch via control path 93 instructions for it to connect the al~lu~lia~e bus to the digitally tunable RF television channelfrequency cû~ eller 94. The switching technnlllgy used may be any of the methods described in Bradley et al. in US Pat. No. 4,878,245.

---'- 2~5~6~2 Also shown in Figure 7.0 is the apparatus provided for the purpose of generating text information, such as the previously referred to directory of offered progr~mming, and consumer product ordering information and proln~l~. Said directory of offered programming information is transmitted in response to user S control and is typically dirre~ from text information being de]ivered to other usèrs at the same time. Said text information being displayed on the user's TV
screen. Said text information is converted from data format to video format and modulated onto one of a plura]ity of RF te]evision channels by one of a plura]ity of video drivers and modulators 92. Said RF te]evision channels are frequency division multiplexed onto one of a plurality of directory or D Buses 92. Said D
Bus output is amplified and split into 600 separate outputs, one of which is applied via signal path 97 to each of the bus selectors 91 dedicated to an end user loc~tion Bus selection is controlled by control signal path 93, and Rf channel selectiQn is contro]]ed by tuning signal path 95. The ordered program is tr~n~nitted to an RF modulator, baseband audio and video amplifiers or photonic trammitter via signal path 96 for subsequent trancmiCcion to the user's location as shown in Figure 2Ø

It will be understood that various mo~iifiç~tiQns will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept, whose scope it is desired to define only by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising:
at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers, each community library providing at least one video distribution bus for attachment of a plurality television channel tuners, one tuner for each subscriber, to tune a selected television channel on said video distribution bus for delivery of the tuned television signal over dedicated television signaldelivery lines to the subscriber, each said library having: a plurality of television program record and playback units for recording television programming and playing back previously stored television programming, each television program record and playback unit provided with a channel tuner for tuning a television channel to be recorded and further provided with a tuneable television signal modulator for modulating the playback television signal to a selectable channel,each modulator terminated on said video distribution bus;
a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in responseto user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over the dedicated television signal delivery line serving the user;
a central library serving said local libraries having at least one wide bandwidth television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery oftelevision programming to said local libraries for storage on said program record and playback units, further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library whereby user selections of video programs to be recorded at said local library may be effected co-operatively by the central and local library.

2. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said user control signal path is selected from one of:
a. a touch tone telephone connected to the public switched telephone network;
b. a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises.

3. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wireless receiver produces signallingon said user control signal path in response to received infra red signalling

4. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wireless receiver produces signallingon said user control signal path in response to received radio frequency signalling.

5. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subscriber channel tuner includes means for encoding user identification information in the tuned television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal.

6. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from:
(i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;
(ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program a predetermined time intervals;
(iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming

7. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising:
at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers, each community library providing at least one input videodistribution bus for attachment of a plurality of television program record and playback units for recording television programming and playing back previously stored television programming, each television program record and playback unit provided with a channel tuner for tuning a television channel to be recorded on said input video distribution bus and further provided with at least one output video distribution bus, each said televison program record and playback unit further provided with a tuneable television signal modulator for modulating the playback television signal to a selectable channel, each modulator terminated onsaid output video distribution bus;
a bus selector switch for connecting a television channel tuner to either said input video distribution bus or said output video distribution bus, one tuner for each subscriber, to tune a selected television channel on a selected video distribution bus for delivery of the tuned television signal over dedicated television signal delivery lines to the subscriber, a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in responseto user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over the dedicated television signal delivery line serving the user;
a central library serving said local libraries having at least one wide bandwidth television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery oftelevision programming to the input video distribution bus of said local libraries further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library;
whereby user selections of video programs may be made to:

(i) be recorded by the record and play back units at said local library by co-operative data communications between the central and local library over said control data communications path;
(ii) be delivered from a user selected play back unit via said bus selector switch and tuner at said local library over said dedicated television signal delivery line under play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, stop control of the user as communicated to the local library over said user control signal path;
(iii) be delivered by a user selected channel on said input video distribution bus from said central library via said bus selector switch and tuner at said local library over said dedicated television signal delivery line.

8. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said user control signal path is selected from one of:
a. a touch tone telephone connected to the public switched telephone network;
b. a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises.

9. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wireless receiver produces signallingon said user control signal path in response to received infra red signalling

10. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wireless receiver produces signallingon said user control signal path in response to received radio frequency signalling.

11. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said subscriber channel tuner includes means for encoding user identification information in the tuned television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal.

12. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from:
(i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;
(ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program at predetermined time intervals;
(iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming.

13. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising:
at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers using television signal delivery lines extending between said community library and said proximate subscribers, each said community library having: television program record and playback means connected to said delivery lines for recording television programming and playing back previously stored television programming;
a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in response to user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over one of said delivery lines serving the user;a central library serving said local libraries having at least one television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery of television programming to said local libraries for storage on said program record and playback means, further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library whereby user selections of video programs to be recorded at said local library may be effected co-operatively by the central and local library.

14. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said delivery lines include fiber optic cables.

15. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said delivery lines include paired copper conductors.

16. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said record and playback means comprises a plurality of units each generating one video signal.

17. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control signal path is provided by a subscriber means connected to a public switched telephone network.

18. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control signal path is provided by a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises.

19. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein user identification information is encoded in the television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal.

20. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from:

(i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;
(ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program at predetermined time intervals;
(iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming.