FORM -2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION
TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD.,
an Indian Company
of Nirmal Building, 9th floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai400 021,
Maharashtra, India;
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION DESCRIBES THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to the field of entertainment.
Particularly, this invention relates to the field of television and Internet.
More particularly, this invention relates to the field of Internet Protocol Television.
Background of the Invention:
Television as a means of entertainment and telecommunication for televising moving images and sound has been commercially available since the 1930s. Television sets evolved from delivering basic monochromatic images along with sound, to delivering colour images, to relaying high-definition digital signals through digital channels of communication.
Evolution of the Internet enabled an inter-networking of computers and provided another medium of telecommunication, even for delivering moving images and sounds such as a television. Further, it provides a plurality of interaction means and networking means to utilise the virtues of the Internet as a shared-medium.
Seamless development aided in provisioning the television through a computer via television cards and appropriate cable lines. Counteractively, the cable medium of the television provided a route for facilitating an Internet connection, and the: television set became a viewing mechanism for said television-cable-routed Internet. Thus, an Internet Protocol Television was provided for enabling access of the Internet through the television medium.


General Architecture includes:
1) Head end: A master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution over a telephone company's network infrastructure;
2) Middleware: is an application mechanism that connects various application mechanisms of various components. The application mechanism consists of a set of enabling services that allow multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact across a network. This technology evolved to provide for interoperability in support of the move to coherent distributed architectures, which are used most often to support and simplify complex, distributed applications;
The architecture that lies at the heart of Middleware providers' offerings is driven by user-defined inputs. They provide a foundation for creating new revenue-generating features and services, the architecture also extends to interface with existing service provider systems to offer a truly seamless service that overlays a provider's legacy infrastructure, architecture provides application-programming interfaces (APIs), which extend the ability to perform new functions, and pass data between systems. From the creation of a subscriber in a service provider's Subscriber Management System (SMS), to presentation of a unified bill through a provider's billing system, Middleware facilitates the entire flow from beginning to end.
3) Set-top box: device that connects to a television and an external source of
signal, turning the signal into content, which is then displayed on the
television screen; and
4) Servers: Hosting mechanisms, preferably located remotely from IPTV
systems, in order to provide user-demanded content

Objects of the Invention:
An object of the invention is to provide a multi-modal, multi-tier, hierarchical, variable plug-in, user-configurable interface and platform for an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).
Another object of the invention is to provide a selection of means at various levels of the IPTV system.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings:
The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic drawing of the systern of this invention; and
Figure 2 illustrates a detailed drawing of the system of this invention.
Description of the Invention:
This invention, as illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 1, envisages a multi-modal, multi-tier, hierarchical, variable plug-in, user-configurable interface and platform for providing an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). Said IPTV, in accordance with this invention, is adapted to provide a plurality of internet-actuated mechanisms on a single platform of a television set. This renders a modular platform in a manner such that the multiple tiers of an IPTV may be tampered with in relation to the facilities and functions that may be provided to a specific user of the IPTV.
In accordance with an embodiment of this inversion, there is provided a modular platform and architecture for a head end means (HEM) (also seen in


Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings). A head end means is typicalJy a master processing means adapted for receiving television signals, processing them in accordance with pre-defined or user-defined specification (UDS), and further distributing over a service provider's distribution network. The head end means includes a modular plug-in means adapted for providing a head end equipment selected from the following:
HI) Dish Antenna with a Low Noise Block: is adapted to receive satellite signals and convert said received signals to a pre-defined frequency range for feeding to a receiver of IPTV;
H2) Power Divider: is adapted to divide the incoming signal from a dish antenna to make it available in required number of ports for feeding to receivers;
H3) Satellite Receivers: is adapted to receive the signal from a satellite and further adapted to demodulate/decrypt the signal to give out composite video and audio signals for analog processing, and also typically provide ASI output for digital processing of free to air channels;
H4) Integrated Receiver cum Decoder (IRD): is adapted to demodulate and decrypt the received satellite signal to provide composite video, audio or/and ASI output for analog and IP/digital streaming respectively. It may be typically used for 'video guard' and 'power vu' encrypted channels. The IRD ASI output will eliminate the need for additional encoders to convert from composite video and audio into ASI signal. The ASI signal is given to the IP streamer;


H5) Encoders: are typically adapted for converting composite video and audio/SDI output of IRDs to ASI or IP stream for processing to IP/Digital streaming;
H6) ASI Routers: are typically adapted for routing any particular input port to any specified output port. It may be used for providing online redundancy. It is further adapted to perform according to the task written on a head end management system. The router provides online automatic switching of signal to the redundant receiver and IP streamer in case of failure of any of these equipment. This facilitates high uptime and availability of broadcast programs;
H7) IP streamer: is adapted to convert ASI streams of the IRD to IP
stream. The IP streamer is further adapted to take up multiple SPTS/MPTS ASI streams depending upon the throughput capacity. Said IP streamer can monitor and change the bit rate (transrating) of the incoming ASI stream of each channel to have a control on the bit rate of output IP stream. This transrating feature can reduce the incoming bit rate by 30% without any perceptive picture degradation depending upon the input content. It can assign multicast IP address to each program present in a MPTS ASI stream by de-multiplexing he stream or can assign a single IP to the MPTS as per the requirement. The output of the IP streamers from the head end equipment will be fed into a Jong haul IP network (LONG-HAUL LINKS) (as seen in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings), which include connections to banking gateways, payment gateways, authentication gateways, and the like. The IP streams will be multicast through the IP network to optimise bandwidth. The IP output of this heand-end equipment shall be


transmitted to the different cities using telecommunication long haul network. Typically, in each city, the IP output shall be fed directly to an the service provider's ethernet network to provide IPTV services to the service provider's broadband customers.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a modular plug-in platform and architecture for middleware means
(MWM) (also seen in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings) adapted to act as a central system that controls the interaction of IPTV components from said head end means to set-top boxes at the customer premises. The IPTV middleware means is typically integrated with OSS/BSS through APIs to enable service creation, provisioning and billing. The middleware means includes a modular plug-in means adapted for providing at least one user-end functional system, selected from the following:
Ml) Management interface means for users, services, channels, packages, and programs: adapted to provide comprehensive selection means for selecting services from a plurality of services being offered;
M2) User authentication and authorization means: adapted to provide authentication and authorization for enabling adequate security measures, typically, for restricting usage for said IPTV, for content provided through said IPTV and the like;
M3) Digital Rights Management means: adapted to authorize viewing content, preferably in relation to anti-piracy laws, or any pre-defined rules, or the like;


M4) Billing and Mediation means: adapted to monitor and generate bills in relation to subscribed services, and further adapted to regulate and/or control bill generation in relation to said subscribed services;
M5) Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) Management means:
adapted to provide digitised record of services, functionalities, programmes available through the modules of said IPTV;
M6) Subscription Management means: adapted to manage subscription settings to the variety and plurality of services of said IPTV;
M7) Interactive services means: adapted to provide a single platform for Broadcast TV, Video-on-Demand, Personal Video Recording and the like interactive services offered by said IPTV;
M8) Service statistics' means: adapted to compute statistics in relation to services provided by said IPTV and services used by a user;
M9) Picture viewing modification means: adapted to typically provide functionalities such as Picture-in-Picture (PIP) or Picture-in-Graphic functions;
M10) Pay per view means: adapted to provide an architecture and solution for ordering pre-defined content from a repository of content for scheduled viewing;
Mil) Network Personal Video Recorder (NPVR) means: adapted to provide recording systems and functionalities on a network, typically at a remote location from said IPTV;


M12) Video on demand (VoD) means: adapted to provide video relaying services to said IPTV;
M13) Near Video on demand (NVoD) means: adapted to provide a one¬way video system that emulates an interactive video-on-demand service on said IPTV;
M14) Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) means: adapted to provide a subscription based, typically unlimited, video service to said IPTV;
M15) Video sharing means: adapted to provide a system for allowing sharing of videos, either through video files located on a networked peer's IPTV system or from a central repository of the IPTV system;
i
M16) Instant Messaging means: adapted to provide real-time or offline communication between the service provider's subscriber base users over a IPTV network;
M17) Digital Photograph sharing means: adapted to provide a system and platform for allowing sharing digital images or photographs over a network of IPTVs;
M18) Internet browsing means: adapted to provide a user-interface for facilitating viewing of and interaction with the internet, and various websites;
M19) Interactive games means: adapted to provide a platform for peer-to-peer or single player gaming, typically from a central host server of said IPTV system or from a peer's local IPTV storage system;


M20) Video conferencing means: adapted to provide a system for video¬conferencing between users of said IPTV system in a network or even from other networks;
M21) E-learning means: adapted to provide learning tools as a service to
be transmitted to a user of said IPTV;
M22) E-mail on TV means: adapted to provide means for checking e-mail on said IPTV;
M23) Karaoke means: adapted to provide a multimedia application, typically for a karaoke application;
M24) Interactive application means: adapted to provide peripheral information relating to weather reports, sports news, online help, shopping portals, home banking portals and the like;
M25) Encrypted Channels support means: typically, a decryption means adapted to decrypt received channel content that is encrypted during transmission for effective viewing;
M26) Notification means: adapted to process and provide notifications to a user of said IPTV, said notification including notification in relation to subscription services, reminder services, billing services, personal services or the like;
M27) Social Networking means: adapted to provide a common platform for allowing networking between known users of a shared network as well as to extend the functionality of social networking between unknown users of said shared network;


M28) Emergency Alert System means: adapted to provide prompt notifications in relation to emergency systems, typically in relation to current happenstances in a pre-defined area or work-related systems, or the like;
M29) Audio on Demand means: adapted to provide a shared central repository for transmitting audio to a user of IPTV, based on selection of the user, or even to provide a common access shared drive on each of said IPTV users' system in order to allow seamless access to audio between the shared networked users of said IPTV system;
M30) Full VCR functionality (fast-forward, rewind, pause) means:
adapted to provide user-customized options for viewing video content on said IPTV;
M31) IPTV self care portal means: adapted to provide diagnostic evaluation of the system;
M32) Zapping functionality means: adapted to quickly scan through different television channels of the said IPTV;
M33) Web Portal access means: adapted to provide tools and handles for authorizing entry into, accessing and modifying a web portal, and the like web portal related functionalities;
M34) Multi-Language support means: adapted to provide menu options as well as viewing options for televised content and internet content in a language of choice of the user of said IPTV, said language selected from a plurality of pre-defined languages;


M35) Self installation means: adapted to provide full self-service installation kit including equipment, directions, and self-executable activation program for IPTV;
M36) Network Personal Video Recorder (NPVR) scheduling feature for Broadcast channels: adapted to provide a recording mechanism for downloading and recording televised or internet related content, in confirmation with Digital Rights Management Rules, to a local database of the user's IPTV;
M37) Program preview before selection means: adapted to automatically or selectively display a portion of said program or content, typically before ordering said program from a server, or the like;
M38) Interactive Program Guides (IPG) and Video on Demand (VoD)
service guides means: adapted to provide static or dynamic menu options for displaying the plurality of services offered by the various applications of said IPTV;
M39) Parental Control and corresponding PIN management means:
adapted to restrict content usage between various users of same IPTV by means of a lock and password for said lock;
M40) Support of multiple format means: adapted to provide a single interface for displaying/playing content available in various formats, typically, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVC,WM9, H.264 and the like.
M41) Audience watcher application means: adapted to track viewing scores for a particular program that is being telecast, typically to provide for TRP ratings or show ratings or the like;


M42) Content advisory rating mechanisms (general, PG, Adult) means:
adapted to effectively rate the content to be displayed in accordance with pre-defined norms and regulations to chalk out various segments of viewing discretion as part of a pre-awareness to the user of said IPTV;
M43) Support for large number of content sources' means: adapted to provide a compartmentalized architecture, typically, a multi-level architecture and solution for supporting a large variety and number of content sources; either to be transmitted as an add-on facility over said IPTV;
M44) Client authentication feature means: adapted to authenticate client utilizing said IPTV in order to maintain robustness of system, and to ward off discrepancies in service;
M45) Management of pricing and availability of premium content means: adapted to variably alter an IPTV user's monetary credit rating for buying premium content, and/or not permitting purchasing of premium content typically under certain conditions such as post-payment;
M46) Video on Demand (VoD) Asset Management means: adapted to regulate, maintain, cross-reference, manage, and control central repository of video files to be offered as a Video on Demand service;
M47) Middleware compatibility means: adapted to provide a universal compatible platform with multiple set-top box (STB) manufacturers;
M48) Client-side framework means: adapted to provide a customizable framework for the services of said IPTV;


M49) Soft client (on Personal Computer) support means: adapted to provide support for soft client on said IPTV;
M50) Application Program Interface (API) means: adapted to provide support to a variety of mixed media format to be presented in a single window of said IPTV;
M51) Value added service means: adapted to realise and actuate value added services by interoperating with value added service platform in operator's network means;
M52) Set Top Box (STB) Management system means: adapted to provide a menu of management modules for managing the functions of said set top box;
M53) Promotional function means: adapted to provide a solution to execute promotional services for the content available on said IPTV and system;
M54) Control means for subtitle display: adapted to control settings and synchronization and language of subtitles for providing a user-defined viewing of televised content;
M55) Control audio and video interface means: adapted to control features relating to multimedia applications, typically in karaoke service to enable the microphone interface only when this service is requested;
M56) Interactive purchase on the basis of PIN code means: adapted to provide a secure transaction architecture and platform for purchasing


articles off the Internet, typically based on a personalized identification number authentication means;
M57) Ability to identify and obtain registration information from the client device means: adapted to provide a querying means wherein a remotely located control and management means is adapted to query an end-user IPTV in order to obtain the details of registration, subscription services, charges and the like;
M58) Support Application Programming Interface (API) for obtaining content by HTTP/POST means: adapted to provide seamless transmission of data between a server means and a user-interface means;
M59) Support Application Programming Interface (API) for seamfessfy transmitting data over TCP/IP means: adapted to adapted to provide transmission of data between one network means and another network means;
M60) Application Programming Interface (API) to facilitate services provider to change the style of Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) remotely means: adapted to provide seamless transmission of data to change contents of digitized programme guide of said IPTV;
M61) Service management means: adapted to provide options typically for packaging and pricing of content means;
M62) Multiple modes support means: adapted to provide services typically in relation to program selection, including program navigation, channel switch, search and the like;


M63) Support means for Set Top Box (STB) clients means: adapted to provide a highly scalable architecture in order to support a large number of set top boxes of said IPTV;
M64) Support means for creation of favourites: adapted to provide a user-created list of customised options and render said customised options to the user of said IPTV, typically 'My TV' on a per user basis means;
M65) Searching means: adapted to provide feature based searching on a single criterion or a combination of criteria such as title, reference, genre, keyword, director, actor, movie name, actor, actress, language or the like;
M66) Support means for standard Operating Software (OS) and hardware platforms means: adapted to support a variety of OS and hardware;
M67) Integration with multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) vendors means: adapted to avoid contentious issues relating to digital transmission and authorized viewing;
M68) Rating solution means: adapted to facilitate user-defined rating of videos sourced from Video on Demand (VoD) means in real time, and to allow sharing of said ratings by users of IPTV network;
M69) Content pull and push from the server means: adapted to provide off-line or real-time connection with a server, for transfer of content, in order to distribute network traffic and regulate peak-time and non-peak-time network data traffic;


M70) Content Distribution System Integration means: adapted to provide effective and efficient distribution of content, in a pre-defined manner, to said IPTV;
M71) Software implement means: adapted to provide ability to implement software version upgrade and configuration data download by connecting to download server means;
M72) Customizable interface means: adapted to provide interface with existing billing systems means;
M73) Component-lifecycle management means: adapted to provide ability to manage the lifecycle of each component application (of said IPTV) in one or multiple services;
M74) Maintains state information for each application component
means: adapted to analyse and display active or inactive state of each of the applications provided as a part of said IPTV subscription;
M75) Standard Interfaces for Digital Rights Management (DRM) integration means: adapted to provide a standard and regulated interface for actuating pre-defined Digital Rights Management modules for viewing;
M76) Customizable subscriber management interface means: adapted to provide an effective interface with existing Subscriber Management systems;


M77) Usage reports for all services means: adapted to provide user-specific, use-related statistics in relation to the plurality of services provided in relation to television and Internet;
M78) Set Top Box (STB) upgrade server means: adapted to provide ability to control up-gradation routines in relation to set top boxes and associated servers;
M79) Standard interface and integration means: adapted to provide efficient interface and integration capabilities with other systems or third party application means;
M80) Application clustering and load balancing means: adapted to efficiently manage packet transfer or data transfer within a network of IPTV systems in order to pre-empt downtime due to busy or clogged channels of network;
M81) Bandwidth monitoring and control system means: adapted to ensure service delivery (to said IPTV) as per pre-defined service level agreement (SLA);
M82) Web-based interface and management means: adapted for user-defined configuration and management of internet related services;
M83) Open Source Software (OSS) Interface means: adapted to integrate IPTV functionalities with the entire genre of Open Source Software (OSS) systems to provide functions such as user management, product management, user service order management, accounting and billing functions and the like;


M84) Classification and filtering means: adapted to classify and filter reports relating to said IPTV, typically based on different criteria;
M85) Inventory and Fraud control means: adapted to itemize allowed/disallowed content from said television or Internet, subscribed/unsubscribed content from said television or Internet, ordered items from a central repository of multimedia content, and peripheral content for internet effected networking or the like, typically in order to have a detail map of the services ordered/allowed/available in order to pre-empt misuse and fraud;
M86) Digital certificates support means from standard CA means:
adapted to provide digital certificates typically in relation to authorization, or encryption, or permission, or the like;
In accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a Digital Rights Management (DRM) means, typically adapted for restricting a user's access to multimedia applications such as movies, music, literature, software and the like forms of digital data. DRM means is used for authentication of a user. As opposed to CAS, DRM provides a wider variety of network supported architectural structures and provides for bi-directional nature of the IPTV networks. The DRM means includes, as a core, a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), typically to identify each component in the system as well as the means to securely encrypt data using public/private keys. The DRM system is envisaged to be deployed, typically in cluster mode for high availability and redundancy. Accurate pairing, in a pre-defined manner, of a smart card with a set top box in a secure manner is envisaged. The system of IPTV, in accordance with this invention, is adapted to provide security keys to


multiple DRM key distributors. It is also envisaged that the system should have a database of all smart card actions and set top box actions performed over a pre-defined period of time, typically with a time stamp, a date stamp, and an action stamp for accountability purpose. The system shall include support means for secure delivery and process transactions request form client means to server means. Compatibility means are executed such that DRM equipment are globally compatible with monitoring systems typically, like HPOV. A robust secure system shall ensure secure and authenticated communication between its various components, client applications and web services.
Further non-limiting features of the subsystems of the DRM means include:
Dl) Strong encryption mechanisms and support;
D2) Real time stream encryption mechanism for live television;
D3) Authentication means for client devices such as STB, PC and the like;
D4) Multiple keyword dependent encryption mechanism;
D5) Support mechanism for PVR to both network and client without the need of re-encryption of the content for storage of the same on content servers
The system is thus adapted to support encryption delay, typically less than 5% of the content duration. The system is further adapted to typically support x.509 v3 certificates
In accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a authentication means (AM), typically a finger Printing means adapted to allow CA to pass through overt and covert fingerprints and On-Screen-Display


(OSD) messaging of original signal without tampering. It is adapted to force the set top box to display its fingerprint through an OSD message. The finger print duration, the location (x, y - coordinates across the screen) and frequency of display of the fingerprint is typically controllable in accordance with this invention. Further, the system provides for global or individual and group addressing of finger prints. Also, finger printing on a single channel or all channels is envisaged to be possible. Still further, the fingerprints would be visible on the channel in the Electronic Programme Guide and the Picture-in-picture mode. Additionally, the finger printing technique is envisaged to be robust, in that, the fingerprint provided by the system of this invention would not be removable by the viewer by any set top box front panel or remote control operation.
In accordance with still another embodiment of this system, there is provided a server (S) for video on demand (VoD) services (also seen in Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings), said server including a repository of a plurality of video files and a management means for timely allocation of said video files to users of said IPTV system. The management means of the VoD server means is adapted to support hardware clustering and load balancer mechanisms to manage traffic and streaming capabilities for optimum utilisation of the network resources without being a cause for network jams. The VoD server means is adapted to cater to different types of VoD services such as VoD, NPVR, NVoD and the like. Further, it is adapted to provide streaming of multiple video formats such as MPEG2, MPEG4, MPEG-1, MPEG Layer 3, and WM9. Still further, multiple streaming protocols are supported by this server, such as the RTP, RTSP, UDP, FTP, and the like. Still further, multiple video delivery mechanisms such as unicast, multicast, scheduled multicast are


supported by this server means. Additionally, compatible mechanisms for reliable download of video content from one media server to another or from server to set top box is made possible by this VoD server means. Still additionally, an advertisement server (ADS) (as seen in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings) is included and an interception means is also included for inserting advertisements during the relay of videos. The management means is adapted to manage and control bandwidth and congestion in network, multiple bit rates in streaming, application level load balancing, and the like, and also includes means to remotely monitor and manage the system. Still further, automatic ingestion, distribution and publishing of VoD assets are based on pre-defined policies.
As seen from Figure 2, components for insertion of advertisement include switches, Integrated Receiver/Decoder, patch panels, IP streamers, Radio encoders, Radio Decoders and the like for efficient management and conversion of advertisement into compatible formats for interleaving with videos.
In accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention, there is provided a network management system (NMS) adapted to take care of monitoring, configuration of all active equipment of the head-end equipment and network elements, redundancy management and the like. The network management system is adapted to communicate with all equipment, preferably in a time-sharing fashion, to perform fault management, maintain fault log and perform automatic switch. The redundancy factor of the network management system is adapted to cater for detection, self-diagnosis, self-correction within redundancy limits, symptomatic alarm generation, healing and the like. Further, the network management system is adapted to provide handles for a


telecommunication open source system. Some features of the network management system, in accordance with this invention include:
1) A well defined interface to Configure IRD's, receivers, Encoders, IP Streamers, network elements and other third party devices such as SDI matrix, ASI routers, L2/L3 Switches etc.
2) Monitoring means having monitoring capabilities of each and every component of the IPTV;
3) Automatic redundancy switching support means;
4) Capability of all Components to work in last configuration if NMS is removed or failed;
5) Remote access capability utilizing Client- Server concept for remote control;
6) Central controlling means for controlling multiple NMSs over Wide area Networks;
7) Presence of status monitoring / alarm handling means;
8) Scalability means providing capability to scale to higher level architecture;
9) Backup means having ability to backup data and restore system in case of failure;

10) Log and report generation means for log file features, report generations;
11) Management means / upgradation means for upgradation of software revision for all devices;
12) The NMS is adapted to bring redundant devices / chains into the configuration of 1+1 and M:N into operation


automatically in case of faults recognized by the monitoring systems;
13) The NMS is adapted to manage all multiple system operator (MSO) headends and network elements;
14) Provide hooks/interfaces with OSS system of telephone companies;
15) The NMS system includes means which is adapted to provide comprehensive capability to monitor, diagnose & validate the application carousels, bandwidth utilisation & network health status;
16) Means to save the configuration settings of the integration itself with personality programming & password;
17) NMS system is adapted to be capable of setting different access control;
18) Alarm means to raise system alarms having Magnitude rating, typically in Graphic & colour code for operators' immediate attention;
19) Upgradation means for upgrading in a running operation, either locally or from a remote client location. Upgrade of a device in the system or the system itself should not result in service outage;
In accordance with yet an additional embodiment of this invention, there is provided a billing means (B) for the subscription services provided by the system of said IPTV and network.
Figure 2 illustrates a wholesome version of the system in accordance with this invention, wherein:


- a system (10) comprising an up-linking station, a satellite, and an antenna subsystem is used for effective transmission of content from one location to another, i.e. typically from a remote location to a local location;
- An encryption system (20), typically enabled with Digital Rights Management module, is synced in line with the transmission and relay of content;
- Video-on-Demand servers and related Load Balancers (30) are provided which act as a central repository of video content, and are further adapted to manage relay of content, on demand;
- Middleware Means (MWM) adapted to act as a central system that controls the interaction of IPTV components from said head end means to set-top boxes at the customer premises;
- Content Management Means (40) adapted to manage relay and storage of content in a multiplicity of formats, in a synchronized manner, and the like;
- E-commerce server (50) adapted to authorize/process payments relating to on-demand services of the system of this invention;
- Long Haul Links (60) adapted to provide a channel and network to banking gateways and payment gateways for facilitating various subscriptions provided as apart of the system of this invention;
- Advertisement Insertion Server/Splicer (ADS) adapted to insert advertisements in a format chosen from a plurality of formats and in a sycnhronised interleaved fashion with relayed audio/video content


being accessed from various servers/repositories [Typically, ADS is connected with transmission system (10) and encryption/DRM system (20)];
- Personal Storage Server (70) adapted to record and store various relayed programmes or content;
- Chat Server (80) adapted to provide chat facility between users of said system;
- Storage Area Network (90) framework adapted to provide connection and network to remote storage media ;
- VC bridge (100) adapted to provide video-conferencing;
- Additional services system (110) adapted to provide gaming servers, local VOD servers, application servers. Local content storage servers, aggregation routers, ADSL modem, Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) finally connected to a set-top box (STB) to be relayed to a Television set;
- Aggregation Switch (AGG. SWITCH) adapted to provide a consolidated control mechanism for selecting between the various servers and means described above depending upon specific pre¬defined rules as well as user-priority;
- Network Management System (NMS) (120) adapted to provide effective management modules for network systems;
- Subscriber Management System (SMS) (130) adapted to provide effective management modules for subscriber systems;


- Monitoring System (140) adapted to provide a bird's eye view monitoring of the entire system of this invention; and
- Billing System (150) adapted to peruse the reports of Monitoring System and generate an accurate bill in relation to the services rendered/used by a user of the system.
Technical Advancement:
The system in accordance with this invention is adapted to have technical advancement over the systems of the prior art, the technical advancements being of the following nature:
2) Providing a user-configurable, variable plug-in platform at a first level, typically at the head-end means in order to render the head¬end means modular, so as to allow a user to select at least one head-end means from a plurality of head-end means depending upon the need of the user;
3) Providing a user-configurable, variable plug-in platform at a second level, typically at the middleware means in order to render the middleware means modular, so as to allow a user to select at least one middleware means from a plurality of middleware means depending upon the need of the user. The user may select components through which services are rendered to be plugged-in in accordance with his requirements;
4) Providing a central console, typically the network management system for macro-managing as well as micro-managing each of the component specifications, the component functionalities, as


well as the services provided through said components in relation to user choice and demands; and
5) Providing a modular billing system in relation to the selected middleware means and the services provided or ordered through it, in order to generate a variable bill to each user;
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

MOHAN DEWAN Of R. K. DEWAN & CO. APPLICANTS' PATENT ATTORNEY