A data communication system including a least one encoder and one decoder. The encoder encodes a received input signal into encoded output data. The data communication system includes a data communication network coupled to at least one encoder, wherein the data communication network communicates the encoded output data from the encoder to the decoder. The decoder decodes the encoded output data to generate a rendition of the input signal. The system is characterized in that the data communication network is configured to function according to joint source channel coding (JSCC). Moreover, the encoder and the decoder are configured to employ an hierarchical data structure for representing data to be communicated from the encoder to the decoder.

Systems and methods are presented to facilitate caching of programming from broadcast and/or content streaming services to a user device for local playback. In addition, metadata can be provided to guide the user in selecting, caching, or playing the cachable content. In some exemplary embodiments, a receiver or other user device can automatically select the programming to be cached based on a user's historical topic interest and listening history. In some exemplary embodiments, the metadata can also include DRM information that can limit the ability of a user to playback the content, so as to comply, if necessary, with operative legal requirements related to usage of the content.

Systems and methods for interaction of satellite and Internet protocol features in content delivery systems are presented. Using such systems and methods, the delivery of some content to the same product by Satellite delivery, other content by IP delivery, and still other content by both Satellite and IP delivery can enhance the utility of both the content and the product for an end user and can further optimize the costs and quality of service associated with delivering the content. A method of providing content and data to a combined satellite and IP network receiver is presented, including broadcasting via satellite content and data to the receiver, and sending via an IP based communications network content and data to the receiver, where the content and data provided over the Satellite broadcast enables capabilities of the receiver needed to consume content received by IP delivery, and the content and data provided via IP delivery enables capabilities of the receiver needed to consume content received from the satellite broadcast.

Embodiments are related to faster provisioning of targeted advertisements at a set-top box (STB) via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the STB and a remote server. The disclosed IP-based advertisement distribution system enables targeted advertisements to be pulled from the remote server efficiently, causing the advertisements to be made available within a short time frame (e.g., less than one day from the time when the advertisements are available). The disclosed methods enables a STB to determine whether to retain existing targeted advertisements, discard them, or provision newly-available advertisements. The targeted advertisements can depend on various factors such as demographic information of an owner of the STB, lifestyle information of the owner of the STB, etc.

A wideband receiver system comprises a wideband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module and a digital frontend (DFE) module. The wideband ADC is configured to concurrently digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of desired channels and a plurality of undesired channels. The DFE module is coupled to the digital in-phase and quadrature signals. The DFE module is configured to select the plurality of desired channels from the digitized band of frequencies, and generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal comprising the selected plurality of desired channels and having a bandwidth that is less than a bandwidth of the band of frequencies, where the generation comprises frequency shifting of the selected plurality of desired channels. The IF signal may be a digital signal and the DFE is configured to output the IF signal via a serial or parallel interface.

Systems and methods for dynamically multiplexing requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link to a craft media delivery system are provided. Furthermore, systems and methods for receiving dynamically multiplexed requested linear media channels and network data on forward link traffic streams of a communication link by a craft media delivery system are also provided.

A transmission method includes: generating one or more transfer frames that each store one or more streams used for content transfer; and transmitting the one or more generated frames through broadcast, each of the one or more streams storing one or more second transfer units, each of the one or more second transfer units storing one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units storing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets. In at least one stream among the one or more streams, each of the first transfer units positioned at a head contains reference clock information indicating time used for reproduction of the content.

The disclosure provides a satellite finding apparatus and satellite finding method, includes a set-top-box (STB) and a satellite antenna receiving device (SARD). The STB receives signals from the satellite antenna receiving device, and the STB comprises a central processing unit, a power transforming unit, a satellite switching judging module, a driving controlling module and a current detecting module. The SARD includes motors, tuners and antennas. The disclosure further provides a satellite finding method. The satellite finding apparatus will perform short-circuit detection if a switch of satellite is determined upon. The disclosure enables the motor only at the time when the satellite finding apparatus needs to find the satellite, it can save energy and prevents the destroying of the motor.

A transmission/reception installation for microwave radio signals, including a unit for transmission/reception including a receiver for receiving the electric signals from the conversion of radio signals received via a terrestrial or satellite link, referred to as forward-link signals, a demodulator for demodulating the electric signals using a first modulation/demodulation protocol, a modulator for modulating electric signals using a second modulation/demodulation protocol that is different than the first protocol, the second protocol being a spread-spectrum protocol, the modulator modulating the signals demodulated by the demodulator, and a converter for converting the electric signals modulated using a spread-spectrum protocol into radio signals that can be transmitted via a satellite link. The installation also includes one or more boxes including a modulator for modulating the electric signals using the first modulation/demodulation protocol, and a coaxial cable connecting the unit for transmission/reception to the boxes.

A wideband receiver system comprises a wideband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module and a digital frontend (DFE) module. The wideband ADC is configured to concurrently digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of desired channels and a plurality of undesired channels. The DFE module is coupled to the digital in-phase and quadrature signals. The DFE module is configured to select the plurality of desired channels from the digitized band of frequencies, and generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal comprising the selected plurality of desired channels and having a bandwidth that is less than a bandwidth of the band of frequencies, where the generation comprises frequency shifting of the selected plurality of desired channels. The IF signal may be a digital signal and the DFE is configured to output the IF signal via a serial or parallel interface.