MXPA00003673A - System for prioritizing bi-directional broadcast data - Google Patents

Abstract

A video decoder system (615, 620, 640) processes packetized data including header information, payload information and attributes associated with the content of the payload information. The decoder system identifies and compares (620) the attributes of the received packetized data with attributes in a predetermined hierarc hical priority (640) profile for associating individual attributes with a desired data output priority. The priority profile (640) may be provided by a remote service provider, or be entered locally by a user or be a default pre-set profile. The received packetized data is collated and output (660) based on the attribute comparison and in accordance with the desired output priority.

Description

SYSTEM TO GIVE PRIORITY TO BIDIRECTIONAL DIFFUSION DATA FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to priority bidirectional communication data in a broadcast system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Home entertainment cable TV box systems, which combine personal computer and television functions (PC / TV functions), are becoming enormously multi-source and multi-destination, interactive user, generic communication devices. Such systems are required to communicate in different data formats between multiple locations for a variety of applications in response to user requests. For example, a cable TV box system can receive data from satellite or terrestrial sources comprising high definition television broadcasts (HDTV), multi-point microwave distribution system broadcasts (MMDS), and digital video broadcasts (DVB). A cable TV box system can also receive and transmit data through telephone lines (for example, the Internet) and coax (for example, cable TV) and both from distant and local sources such as digital video disc ( DVD), CDROM, VHS, and digital VHS (DVHS ™) type players, PCs, and many other types of sources. It is desirable that a cable TV box system be able to support bidirectional communication and control functions at home and be able to access and decode information from multiple broadcast sources. It is also desirable that a cable TV box system be able to wirelessly combine the decoded information to be presented to a user. There are a number of problems in obtaining such systems. Specifically, the problems that arise in efficiently acquiring information from different data formats from different sources and giving priority to the processing of information. These problems are addressed through a system according to the present invention.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A video decoder system processes data in packets including header information, payload information and attributes associated with the content of the payload information. The decoder system advantageously identifies and compares the attributes of the data in received packets with attributes in a predetermined hierarchical priority profile to associate individual attributes with a desired data output priority. The priority profile can be provided through a remote service provider, entered locally by a user, or it can be a default profile by default. The data in received packets are compared and extracted based on the attribute comparison and according to the desired output priority. The system in this way allows a user or service provider to adapt adaptively to services in a decoder for purposes of adaptation or structured billing, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a scalable decoder system for efficiently communicating with a plurality of sources and for processing illustrative TCP / IP and MPEG format data, according to the invention. Figures 2 and 3 present Illustrative characteristics of the broadcast, data and return channels illustrated in the system of Figure 1, according to the invention. Figures 4 and 5 list the type of data traffic and an illustrative bit rate distribution for services provided through the upstream channel and downstream channels of Figure 1. Figure 6 shows a priority program system for providing priority to the processing of data and broadcast packets for bidirectional applications, according to the invention. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of a method for prioritizing the processing of broadcast and data packets suitable for use in the system of Figure 6, according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a server distribution hub for distributing broadcast data from a plurality of service providers to the decoder of Figure 1 and for processing upstream data from the decoder of Figure 1, in accordance with the invention. Figure 9 lists and describes illustrative interfaces 1-10 identified in the server system of Figure 8, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a decoder system providing efficient communication with a plurality of sources, according to the invention. The decoder system advantageously incorporates a separate tuner, demodulator and processing paths to concurrently process and decode data encoded in different data formats. The decoder system also advantageously incorporates a separate back channel communication path that allows secure return communication with a discussion source, for example. The illustrative mode of Figure 1 supports the decoding of data in a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and MPEG (Moving Image Experts) format, (for example MPEG2 ISO / IEC 13818- 1 of June 10, 1994, and 13818-2, of January 20, 1995). In addition, the cable TV box system of Figure 1 is compatible with the preliminary requirements of the multimedia cable network (MCNS) systems. The architecture of Figure 1 allows concurrent decoding in scalable form (i.e., dynamically variable bit rate) representative images of data from separate sources in different formats. As such, data of different data formats can be processed through the scalable decoder system of Figure 1 without being coded according to a higher layer communication format. Therefore, the decoder system avoids the overhead and inefficiency involved in the hierarchically decoded data processing using said additional communication format. The decoder system also incorporates a program system to prioritize the processing of both received data and data for communication back to a broadcast source, for example. The received and returned data are distributed to a desired hierarchical data output priority based on aspects that include, (a) a function associated with the data, (b) a protocol characteristic of the data, or (c) a physical communication channel through which the data is transported. The illustrative functions performed by the decoder include (i) e-mail, (ii) webpage examination, (iil) Internet telephony, (iv) conventional telephony, (v) fax, (vi) videophone, (vii) video of broadcasting, audio and radio processing, and (viii) home control functions. The desired hierarchical data output priority is derived from a priority profile or map. The priority profile comprises a database that distributes a priority relative to data packets associated with an individual function, protocol characteristic or communication channel. The information in the priority profile comprises pre-stored default information, information entered by the user, or dissemination of information to the decoder from a service provider, for example. The profile can also comprise information derived from several of these sources. Although the decoding system is described as a processor of data received via coaxial cable in the format compatible with the MPEG and / or Internet protocols, this is only illustrative. The decoder system processes data that supports functions that include e-mail, web page examination of the Internet, Internet telephony, conventional telephony, fax, videophone, broadcast video, audio and radio control functions and home. In addition, the principles of the invention can be applied to systems where the types of transmission channels and communication protocols may vary, or to systems where the types of coding and modulation may vary. Such systems may include, for example, broadcast, satellite, terrestrial, Internet and inter-network communication systems employing compatible protocols that are not MPEG and are not from the Internet. further, the principles of the invention apply to the processing of any form of data such as telephone messages, computer programs, Internet data or other communications, for example. In summary, in the cable TV box system 12 of Figure 1, a first modulated carrier with broadcast video data and a second carrier modulated with Internet data, eg, web page information, is received by the division / combination unit 25 and processed by the input decoder 13. The unit 13 tunes to the respective first and second carriers and demodulates, corrects errors in front and gives priority to the received data to provide demodulated digital data for further processing to through the output decoder 20. The unit 13 also derives an analog video signal from the received data and provides the signal to the unit 20. The unit 20 processes the digital data including video and audio data compatible with MPEG and data from Internet protocol to deploy and for audio playback through units 60 and 63, respectively. In another mode, the unit 20 also processes the analog video data of the unit 13 to be displayed by the device 60.

A user of the cable TV box selects a function for it to be carried out, for example, the vision of a particular program or website data, through the selection of the on-screen menu and the cursor command using the unit of remote control 67. The unit 15 controls the operation of the elements of the input decoder 13 and of the output decoder 20 and responds to the commands of the remote control unit 67 using a bidirectional data and control signal collector, C. The controller 15 controls the functions of individual elements within the units 13 and 20 by setting control register values within these elements with the control collector C. In addition, the unit 15, together with the unit 13, initiates and gives priority to the generation and transmission of messages for the return communication on the coaxial cable link to a service provider, for example. Considering Figure 1 in detail, the division / combination unit 25 provides a multiplexed frequency signal incorporating first and second Modulated Quadrature Amplitude (QAM) carriers to the tuners 30 and 65. The first and second carriers are independently modulated by QAM. using a selectable symbol constellation of either the 256 or 64 points. The tuner 30 derives a first modulated carrier with the MPEG compatible program representative of audio, video and associated data of the multiplexed frequency signal. The tuner 65 derives a second modulated carrier with the data representative of the web page of the Internet protocol of the multiplexed frequency signal. The tuners 30 and 65 include frequency demultiplexers, radio frequency tuner (RF) and an intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and amplification stages to reductively convert the signal from the unit 25 to reduce the frequency bands to derive the first and second carriers, respectively. The tuner 30, together with the controller 15, determines whether the first carrier contains digital MPEG compatible video data or comprises an analog video signal. A first representative carrier of digital video data is provided by the tuner 30 to the demodulator 40 through the multiplexer (mux) 25 and an analog video signal is provided through the multiplexer 35 to deploy the processor 55 in the output decoder 20. The tuner 65 provides the second carrier to the demodulator 70. In this illustrative system, the multiplexed input frequency signal of the unit 25 contains 33 physical transmission channels (PTCs 0-32). Each physical transmission channel (PTC) is distributed over a 6 MHz bandwidth and contains, for example, up to 6 subchannels, each with a single carrier frequency. It is assumed for illustrative purposes that a user of the cable TV box selects a sub-channel (SC) for vision, using the remote control unit 67. The controller 15 uses the selection information provided from the remote control unit 67 through of the interface 69 to appropriately configure the elements of the input decoder 13 to receive the PTC and the corresponding carrier frequency of the selected sub-channel SC. After the conversion in a reductive manner, the first carrier output signal of the tuner 30 for the selected PTC has a bandwidth of 6 MHz and a center carrier frequency in the range of 54-806 MHz. In the following discussion, an RF channel or a physical transmission channel (PTC) refers to a distributed transmitter radio channel band, which encompasses one or more subchannels. The controller 15 configures the radio frequency (RF) tuner and the intermediate frequency (IF) mixer and amplification stages of the tuner 30 to receive the frequency of the first carrier of the selected PTC. The frequency output of the first carrier converted into reductive form for the selected PTC provided by the tuner 30, through the multiplexer 35, is demodulated by the unit 40. The main functions of the demodulator 40 are the recovery and tracking and the frequency of the carrier, recovery of the clock frequency of transmitted data and the recovery and forward correction of errors of the same video data compatible with MPEG. The unit 40 also retrieves sampling and synchronization clocks that correspond to the transmitter clocks and are used to time the operation of the tuner 30, demodulator 40 and programmer 43.

The unit 40 demodulates the signal of the first modulated carrier by QAM to provide demodulated digital output data. Also, in unit 40, the demodulated digital output data is mapped to one-byte length segments, which are deinterleaved and corrected for Reed-Solomon error in accordance with known principles. In addition, the unit 40 provides a forward error correction validity (FEC) or closing indication to the controller 15. The Reed-Solomon error correction is a known type of forward error correction. The FEC closure indication signals that the Reed-Solomon error correction is synchronized for the data that is being corrected and provides a valid output. It should be noted that the tuner, demodulator and decoder functions implemented by the units 30 and 40 (and also the units 65 and 70) are individually known and generally described, for example, in the reference text Digital Communication, Lee and Messerschmidt (Kluwer Academic Press, Boston, MA, USA, 1988). The output recovered from the unit 40 is in the form of a program containing an MPEG-compatible transport data stream representative of multiplexed audio, video and data components. This transport stream is provided to the programmer 43. The second carrier, modulated with the representative data of the Internet protocol web page, is derived by the demodulator 65 and demodulated and corrected for errors by the unit 70. The tuner 65 and the demodulator 70 duplicates the functions of the tuner and demodulator of units 30 and 40, respectively, and advantageously provides an independent processing path allowing concurrent processing of Internet protocol data and data compatible with MPEG, for example. The tuner 65 and the demodulator 70 operate in the previously described manner in relation to the corresponding units 30 and 40. The tuner 65 and the demodulator 70 provide data to the programmer 43 in an Internet protocol format representing a web page selected by the user. The programmer 43 together with the controller 15 gives priority to both the Internet protocol data of the demodulator 70 and the MPEG-compatible transport stream data of the demodulator 40, to process through the elements of the output decoder 20. programmer 43 and controller 15 also give priority to the data to return the communication through the coaxial cable link to a broadcast source, for example. The programmer 43, under the control of the unit 15, identifies individual Internet protocol packets of the unit 70, representing a specific function, for example, information of the web page requested through a web browser. In addition, the programmer 43, under the controller of the unit 15, identifies individual MPEG compatible packets representing a specific program, for example, "Seinfeld ™" on a selected NBC ™ channel and associated data. The associated data comprises identification of the packet and assembly information supporting the MPEG decoding and retrieval of a program also includes information of passing sub-images to display such as program guide data. The programmer 43 incorporates a demultiplexer to match the MPEG packet PIDs of input in the data stream of the unit 40 with pre-loaded PID values in control registers within the unit 43 through the controller 15. Similarly, the programmer 43 equals data identifiers such as data source and data destination, data type, IP address, and Universal Registry Locator (URL) codes in the Internet protocol data stream of unit 70 with pre-registered values in registers of control within the unit 43 through the controller 15. This matching process serves to identify the function and representative program of Internet and MPEG data packets to give priority and additional processing. The resulting identified Internet and MPEG packets are stored in memory and sequentially accessed according to a predetermined priority profile (map) by associating data having a specific characteristic and function with a desired priority. In this way, the unit 43 provides regulated priority Internet protocol data including HTML ™ data from the associated web pages (Hypertext Markup Language) and Java ™ (and other data, eg, JPEG, GIF, TIF data) to the processor 75 of HTML ™. The unit 43 also provides the priority MPEG video, audio packets and sub-pictures to the MPEG 50 video decoder, the audio processor 61 and the sub-picture processor 80, respectively. The method of operation of the programmer 43 and its implementation are described in more detail below with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The MPEG decoder 50 decodes and decompresses video data into priority MPEG compatible packets of unit 43 and provides representative pixel data. of the decompressed priority program for storage in the pixel representative memory in the NTSC 55 display processor and encoder. The audio processor 61 decodes audio data in priority packets of unit 43 and provides decoded and amplified, priority, synchronized audio data with the decompressed video data associated with the device 63 for audio playback. The processor 75 decodes the HTML ™ and Java ™ encoded web information from the unit 43 and provides representative image pixel data of the web page for memory storage within the sub-image processor 80. The processor 75 also decodes the encoded data into other images. formats, for example, the JPEG, TIF, GIF, and other brand languages, for example, SGML (Generalized Standard of Trademark Language) and provides the decoded data to the sub-image processor 80 for further processing. The processor 80, under the direction of the controller 15, formats the stored web page image pixel data to be stored as a coating in the pixel representative memory contained in the display processor 55 for reproduction by the unit 60 as an emergent deployment. In addition, the controller 15 incorporates a web page browser support execution of a full complement of web page browser functions. In this way, the unit 15, together with the processor 75 and the processor 80, provide a display through the unit 60 either of a custom web page browser or a standard browser such as Netscape Navigator ™ through which All Internet access is available. The sub-image processor 80 incorporates a screen display text (OSD) and the graphics generator used to decode and process sub-picture data of the unit 43. The processor 80 also uses its internal OSD generator to create program guide representation of data traced by pixel, subtitling, control menu screens and information including selectable menu options and other passenger items. The text and graphics produced by the processor 80 are generated in the form of coating pixel map data under the direction of the controller 15. This overlay pixel map data is combined and synchronized with the decompressed pixel data of the MPEG decoder 50 and Internet protocol web page data decoded from the processor 75 in the pixel representative memory contained in the display processor 55. The combined pixel map data representing a video program in a sub-channel, SC, of the unit. 50 together with the web page display data and associated sub-picture text message data of the unit 80 are encoded as an NTSC signal by the processor 55 and output for output through the unit 60 as an emergent display. The unit 55, in another mode, also encodes the analog video signal provided by the multiplexer 35 from the tuner 30 as an NTSC signal for output and reproduction through the unit 60. The cable TV box system 12 supports a full complement of multimedia functions in addition to the described illustrative web exam and MPEG video processing functions. These multimedia features include, for example, electronic mail, Internet telephony, conventional telephony, fax, videophone, radio, broadcast audio, domestic storage and control functions. The decoding and property principles detailed herein are also applied in data processing for multimedia functions. For example, in the processing of Internet telephony data, the processor 75 decompresses and decodes audio data and tablets encoded in the Internet protocol format and assigned to a high level, for example, priority of real-time processing by the unit 43. The decompressed audio data is provided by the processor 75 to the unit 63 for audio reproduction. In addition, the processor 75 incorporates functions for the processing of multimedia data in different data formats and protocols for presentation to a user after processing by the units 80, 55, 60, 61 and 63 in a manner similar to that previously described. The controller 15, together with the modulator 85 and the scheduler 43, initiates and implements back channel communication with an Internet service provider or broadcast on the coaxial cable entry link through the split / combination unit. A request message for Internet web page information (or a request associated with another function), for example, can be initiated through user selection of a menu option displayed in unit 60. Controller 15, together with the unit 85 and the programmer 43 generates, prioritizes and encodes the web page request message for transmission to a service provider on the coaxial cable link through the unit 25. The controller 15 also determines whether the access The requested Internet is authorized for conditional access or master card user information, for example, from a master card unit (not shown to simplify the drawing). If the requested Internet access is authorized, the controller 15 initiates communication with a service provider on the return channel. The controller 15, together with the units 43 and 85, establishes communication with the service provider using pre-stored request access data (such as telephone numbers, IP addresses, URL code and conditional access data) and generates request message data of web page. The generated message message data is in an Internet protocol format and incorporates the appropriate source, destination and IP address codes. The programmer 43 stores and regulates the web page request message data packets in memory and gives sequential access to the packets according to a profile (map) of predetermined priority by associating the return data having a specific characteristic and function with a desired priority. In this way, the unit 43 provides regulated priority web page request message data to the modulator 85. The modulator 85 makes a forward error correction, interleaves and encodes the request message data using the QPSK modulation (keyed-in keypad). Quaternary phase). The unit 85 optionally also cryptically encodes the request message data (under the address of the controller 15) in a security data format and transmits the encoded data with the desired priority to a service provider through the cable link and unit 25. The unit 85 may alternatively code, mix or intersperse the requested message (or other return data) or employ another protection mechanism to improve the security of the data. Said data security is of particular importance in electronic transaction type messages, for example, involving credit card data. In addition, the return channel can also be used for functions such as, (a) telemetry including measurement reading, (b) verification of video and alarm, (c) verification of domestic environment, (d) verification of household items, (e) ordering of merchandise and (f) conditional access to programs and management of titles. The method for prioritizing received and returned data used by the programmer 43 is described below in detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

As previously described, the architecture of the cable TV box system of Figure 1 provides independent concurrent processing of broadcast data in different formats and from different sources (eg, MPEG program data from a broadcast source and broadcast data). Internet protocol web page of an Internet service provider). This architecture is fully scalable and allows the decoding of dynamically divisible data and the bandwidth between two downstream processing paths (eg, MPEG and Internet). As such, the architecture supports the concurrent decoding of an MPEG broadcast of an HBO movie and accompanying Internet web page data, for example. In this example, the accompanying web page data is intermittent and the bandwidth occupied by the web page data can be dynamically redistributed to the MPEG data or other supplementary data services, eg program guide, email, etc. . The architecture also allows the dynamic division of the bandwidth between the return channel path and the two downstream processing paths. Figure 2 shows illustrative characteristics of downstream Internet protocol data and MPEG broadcast video channels. Although Figure 2 shows identical characteristics for both channels downstream, this is only illustrative and the characteristics may be different for each channel. Figure 3 shows illustrative characteristics of the upstream communication communication channel. Figure 4 lithe type of data traffic and an illustrative bit rate distribution for services provided through a downstream channel of Figure 1. Figure 5 lithe type of data traffic and a bit rate distribution. illustrative for services provided through the upstream channel of Figure 1. The processing architecture of the cable TV box system 12 of Figure 1 is fully scalable and capable of processing in the form of adaptation dynamically distributed data between the two channels downstream. If the cable TV box system 12 is also capable of adaptively processing data that occupies a bandwidth that is dynamically distributable between the downstream channels and the return channel. Figure 6 shows a priority program system for prioritizing MPEG broadcast processing and Internet protocol data packets received from units 40 and 70 (Figure 1), respectively. The system of Figure 6 is also used to prioritize data processing for communication back to a service provider through unit 85 (Figure 1). In the system of Figure 6, the input data, e.g., MPEG data, Internet TCP / IP protocol or return, is placed in an input storage stack 600. The network interface 610 identifies the type of data storage. data received in the stack 600 (for example, MPEG, Internet protocol or return data) and formats them for feature information (attributes) through the smart scheduler 620. The scheduler 620 responds to control and synchronization messages 615 of controller 15 (Figure 1) to perform intelligent programming functions. The scheduler 620 (Figure 6) examines the formatted data of the interface 610 for function, protocol and communication channel attributes contained in the priority profile 640 stored in the internal DRAM storage. The scheduler 620 also compares the attributes in the received data with the attributes in the priority profile and compares the received data packets by the desired output priority based on this comparison. The scheduler 620 distributes the storage in the sequential 650 FIFO (first input-first output) unit based on the desired output priority (e.g., critical priority, high, medium or low-640) and provides the priority data compared to storage locations distributed in FIFO 650 through a high-speed DMA (Direct Memory Access) 630 interface. The output processor 600 sequentially access the FIFO 650 priority data and format it to be further processed by units 40, 70 and 85 (Figure 1). Figure 7 shows a flow diagram detailing a method for prioritizing input MPEG broadcast data processing, Internet protocol data and return data suitable for use in the system of Figure 6. In step 705 of Figure 7, after the start in step 700, the programmer 620 (Figure 6), receives the input data and in step 710 retrieves the priority profile information from the memory. The priority profile hierarchically associates a particular desired output priority with the input data exhibiting a particular attribute or attribute combination. The priority profile can be transmitted from a service provider, entered by a user, or it can comprise pre-stored default information or it can be derived from a combination of these sources. A service provider is able to provide different degrees of service, each offering a user different data access on the corresponding different billing scales downloaded a priority profile to a user's cable TV box system. The downloaded priority profile allows the service provider to control the user's access to the information received. For example, when downloading (or pre-installing) a priority profile, an Internet service provider can provide Internet access at a data rate of at least 1 kbit per second at $ 10 per month and 5 kbit per second at 20 dollars per month.

Alternatively, a user may enter priority profile information to configure his system to process and communicate data or messages in a desired order or with a desired precedence. Priority profile information can be securely encrypted, for example, through critical, mixed or encrypted coding for data protection purposes with the purpose of avoiding unauthorized use of high-speed and previous data access levels of service. In this case, the priority profile information is decoded (eg, cryptically decoded or disassembled) by the controller 15 (Figure 1) together with the scheduler 630 (Figure 6), before use. Said critical decoding or disassembly may be authorized and implemented in a conditional access and authorization management system in the cable TV box system 12 of Figure 1 (not shown to preserve the clarity of the drawing). It should be noted that the priority profile can be transmitted to any and all nodes in a network system such as the Internet or between networks, LAB or WAN, etc., to ensure quality of service (QOS). The nodes can include network devices such as servers (distribution masses), composites, terminals, routers and switches. The priority profile can also be distributed and used together with communication protocols incorporating data priority indicators to reserve network resources to ensure the quality of the service through a network communication path or merely for sections of a path. Such communication protocols include, for example, Resource ReServation Protocol (RSVP) Internet moved on June 14, 1997; Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) Request (Request for Real-Time Transport Protocol) for comment document RFC 1889, 1 °. February 1996, both documents are available on the Internet. Priority profile information can also be used in systems that operate according to standards that define system elements for multimedia and communication networks such as H.323 of November 1996 and H.324 developed by the International Telecommunication Union ( AND YOU). In step 715 of Figure 7, the scheduler 620 identifies attributes in data received in step 705. The identified attributes include (i) protocol characteristics, (i) function type characteristics and (iii) communication channel characteristics . The protocol features include, for example, a) a data source identifier, b) a data destination identifier, c) a data type identifier, d) a data priority indicator, e) an indicator of data type, data error, f) an authorization indicator, g) an Internet protocol indicator, h) an MPEG compatible indicator, and (i) a packet identifier. Characteristics of function type identifies, for example, functions that include a) e-mail, b) examination of Internet website, c) Internet telephony, d) conventional telephony, e) fax, f) broadcast video processing, g ) videophone processing, h) broadcasting processing, i) broadcast audio processing and j) domestic control functions such as alarm, telemetry, apparatus and environmental control and verification. The communication channel characteristics identify the type of physical communication link, for example, telephone line, terrestrial, cable or satellite link, fiber optic link, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN) , Internet, or between networks. The communication channel characteristics also identify different channels of the same type of communication link, for example, different telephone lines. In step 720 of Figure 7, the scheduler 620 compares attributes identified in step 715 with attributes in the priority profile, and in step 725 compares the input data in packets by desired output priority based on this comparison. The use of a priority profile in this manner provides flexible means for structuring the priority of a wide variety of data derived from a plurality of different sources. The data can advantageously be given priority through any combination of communication link, protocol or function characteristics. In this way, the data of a particular function, or data communicated in a particular link, can be given priority through a source or destination or type. E-mail messages, for example, can be given priority according to the source identifier, that is, e-mail from certain sources can be given a higher priority. Similarly, messages returning to specific destinations (identified by the destination identifier) can be distributed and encoded with a higher priority. In addition, the programmer 620 interprets dedicated priority indicators, for example, an Internet Protocol data type indicator (precedence) in the input data and distributes this data to the appropriate priority. Similarly, the hierarchical processing priority can also be distributed using the priority profile based on authorization indicators, Internet protocol indicator, MPEG compatible indicator, for example, package identifiers. In step 730, the scheduler 620 distributes the storage in a sequential output FIFO (first in unit-first output 650 of Figure 6) based on the desired output priority and provides the priority data compared to the location of the output. storage distributed in FIFO 650 through a DMA (Direct Memory Access) 630 high-speed interface. The compared priority packet data is taken out of FIFO 650 with the desired output priority in step 733 (Figure 7). In step 735, the compared priority output data is processed for reproduction and representation to a user or for transmission back to a service provider. Such processing may involve the encoding and critical coding of the data to ensure return communication, for example, and synchronize the data with other cable TV box processes. The process ends in step 740. Figure 8 shows a server distribution hub 102 for distributing broadcast data and providing multimedia services from one or more service providers 109 to the cable TV box system 12 (Figure 1 and 8) and to process data upstream of the unit 12, according to the invention. The broadcast data modulated by QAM such as MPEG compatible video data or analogue representative video data from one or more service providers 109 (Figure 8), are provided through fiber optic link 145 and channel 135 to multiplexer 125 The unit 125 provides a multiplexed source output including the broadcast data received from the channel 135, the data generated by the local hub 137, and data modulated by QAM from the cable modem termination 150 (through a rising converter 134). The multiplexed output of the multiplexer 125 is output to the fiber optic communication interface 120. The unit 120 communicates with the cable TV box system 12 of FIG. 1 by transmitting the downstream QAM data and receiving QPSK (or QAM) data. ) upstream in the high frequency channel 110 through the optical fiber link 115, coaxial 105 and optical to optical converter 107. The data upstream of the cable TV box 12 is received by the unit 120 through the channel 110 and directed through the separator 155 and reductive converter 160 to the cable modem termination system 150. The system 150 demodulates the upstream data modulated by QPSK of the converter 160 and provides the data upstream demodulated to the service provider 109 through of the network interface 154, optional hub switch 140 and fiber optic link 145. Alternatively, optional hub switch 140 may provide the upstream data demodulated to an optional WAN device 130. Unit 154 of system 150 also receives data downstream from the service provider 109 or of the WAN device 130 via the switch 140. The unit 154 formats and processes the data downstream from the switch 140 and provides it to the unit 152 for modulation by QAM and subsequent upconversion by the converter 134. The converted data in ascending form in the converter 134 are transmitted to the cable TV box system 12 through the multiplexer 125 as previously described. Figure 9 lists and describes the illustrative interfaces 1-10 identified in the server system of Figure 8 according to the invention. The architectures of Figures 1, 6 and 8 are not exclusive. Other architectures may be derived in accordance with the principles of the invention to achieve the same objectives. In addition, the functions of the elements of the system 12 of Figure 1 and the process steps of Figure 7 can be implemented all or in part within the programmed instructions of a microprocessor.

Claims (19)

1. - In a video decoder system, a method for processing data in packets comprising header information and payload information and containing attributes associated with the content of said payload information, comprising the steps of: receiving said payload information; data in packages; identify an attribute of said data in received packets; comparing the identified attribute with an attribute in a predetermined hierarchical priority profile to associate individual attributes with a desired data output priority; comparing said data in received packets through the desired output priority using said attribute comparison; and output said data in packets compared to the desired output priority.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said attribute represents at least one of a) a data source identifier, b) a data destination identifier, c) a data type identifier, ) a data priority indicator, e) a data error indicator, f) an authorization indicator, g) an Internet protocol indicator, h) an MPEG compatible indicator, and i) a packet identifier.

3. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of receiving hierarchical priority profile data provided through a data entry menu and a data entry device.

4. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of receiving hierarchical priority profile data from a service provider.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said service provider hierarchical priority profile data allows said service provider to control the quality of service and therefore the structure billing.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said attribute represents at least one of a) a user identification, b) a password, c) a data destination identifier, d) an identifier of type of data, e) a data priority indicator, and f) an authorization indicator.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined hierarchical priority profile comprises pre-stored default priority information.

8. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of distributing the storage priority in the video decoder according to said hierarchical priority profile.

9. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of processing said data in compared output packets for transmission to a service provider.

10. - A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of processing said data into compared output packets to be displayed on a playback device.

11. A method according to claim 1, including the step of decoding securely said predetermined hierarchical priority profile.

12. In a video processing system, a method for processing data in packets comprising header information and payment load information and containing attributes associated with the content of said payment load information, comprising the steps of : receive data in packages; receiving hierarchical priority profile data provided by at least one of: a) a user input and b) transmission of a service provider, said hierarchical priority profile data associating individual attributes with a desired data output priority; identify an attribute of said data in received packets; compare said identified attribute with an attribute in said hierarchical priority profile; comparing said data in received packets through the desired output priority using said attribute comparison; and output said data in packets compared to the desired output priority.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said attribute represents at least one of a) a data source identifier, b) a data destination identifier, c) a data type identifier, d) a data priority indicator, e) a data error indicator, f) an authorization indicator, g) an Internet protocol indicator, h) an MPEG compatible indicator, and i) a package identifier.

14. A method according to claim 12, which includes the step of processing said data in compared output packets for transmission on an output channel.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said hierarchical priority profile data gives priority to packet data associated with two or more functions from among, a) e-mail, b) web page examination of the Internet , c) Internet telephony, d) telephony, e) fax, f) broadcast video, g) videophone, h) broadcasting, i) audio broadcast and j) home control.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said hierarchical priority profile data also gives priority to packets of one of said functions from a) to i) through at least one of A) an identifier of data source, B) a data destination identifier, C) a data type identifier, D) a data priority indicator, and E) an authorization indicator.

17. In a video processing system, a method for processing data in packets comprising header information and payment load information and containing attributes associated with the content of said payment load information, comprising the steps of : receive such data in packages; receive hierarchical priority profile data by associating individual attributes with a desired data output priority to prioritize data for output based on at least one of: a) a function associated with said data in packets, and b) a characteristic protocol of said data in packages; identify an attribute of said data in received packets; compare said identified attribute with an attribute in the hierarchical priority profile; comparing said data in packets received by the output priority using said comparison; and output the data in packets compared to the desired output priority.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said function comprises one or more of a) e-mail, b) web page examination of the Internet, c) Internet telephony, d) telephony, e) fax, f ) broadcast video, g) videophone, h) broadcasting, i) audio broadcast and j) home control.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said protocol feature comprises at least one of a) a data source identifier, b) a data destination identifier, and c) a data type identifier. .