Method for Transmitting Information in a Multicast Environment

Abstract

It is disclosed that in a multicast network environment individual information ( 10 ) can be transmitted via a barker channel ( 12 ) between a server ( 2 ) and an individual end-user device. In the case of digital television services the present invention enables, inter alia, individual information ( 10 ) that is addressed to a specific customer to appear on the television screen. This is accomplished by transmitting the individual information ( 10 ) via the barker channel ( 12 ) from a server ( 2 ) to the set-top box ( 5 ) via which the television is connected to the access infrastructure. It is also disclosed that an identification number ( 11 ) can be added to the individual information ( 10 ). In relation to digital television services, the present invention makes use of the insight that set-top boxes already are provided with a unique code. As a result of this, the adding to the individual information ( 10 ) of an identification number ( 11 ) that is related to the unique code of a specific set-top box ( 5 ) enables to individually address set-top boxes.

1 : A method for transmitting individual information from a server to an end-user device, the server being connected to a network and a customer environment being connected to the network by means of an access infrastructure, comprising the steps of:
 transmitting by the server the individual information via a barker channel to said end-user device; and   adding an identification number to the individual information.   
   
   
       2 : A method according to  claim 1  wherein said end-user device processes the individual information in the case that the identification number equals or is related to a unique code of said end-user device. 
   
   
       3 : A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the individual information comprises an announcement informing said end-user device that information is available at server. 
   
   
       4 : A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said end-user device is a set-top box. 
   
   
       5 : A method according to  claim 4  wherein the identification number corresponds to a unique code of the set-top box. 
   
   
       6 : A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the access infrastructure comprises a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). 
   
   
       7 : A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the individual information is contained in a data packet and the identification number is contained in the header field of said data packet. 
   
   
       8 : A signal adapted for use in a barker channel between a server and an end-user device in an environment comprising a network that is connected to the server, and an access infrastructure that connects a customer environment to the network, the signal comprising individual information and an identification number. 
   
   
       9 : A signal according to  claim 8 , wherein the individual information is contained in a data packet and the identification number is contained in the header of said data packet. 
   
   
       10 : A signal according to  claim 8 , wherein the identification number corresponds to a unique code of said end-user device. 
   
   
       11 : A multicast environment comprising a network that is connected to a server, an access infrastructure that connects a customer environment to the network, and means for transmitting individual information and an identification number via a barker channel between the server and an end-user device comprised by the customer environment. 
   
   
       12 : A multicast environment according to  claim 11 , wherein said end-user device is a set-top box. 
   
   
       13 : A multicast environment according to  claim 11 , wherein the individual information is contained in a data packet and the identification number is contained in the header field of said data packet. 
   
   
       14 : A set-top box comprising means for reading an identification number received via a barker channel in a multicast environment between the set-top box and a server. 
   
   
       15 : A set-top box according to  claim 14 , the set-top box comprising means for processing individual information received via said barker channel. 
   
   
       16 : A server comprising means for generating individual information and an identification number, the individual information and the identification number being able to be transmitted to an end-user device via a barker channel between the server and said end-user device. 
   
   
       17 : A server according to  claim 16 , wherein the individual information is contained in a data packet and the identification number is contained in the header of said data packet.