A method of transmitting information to remote locations, the transmission method comprising the steps, performed by a transmission system, of: storing items having information in a source material library; retrieving the information in the items from the source material library; assigning a unique identification code to the retrieved information; placing the retrieved information into a predetermined format as formatted data; placing the formatted data into a sequence of addressable data blocks; compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; storing, as a file, the compressed, formatted, and sequenced data blocks with the assigned unique identification code; and sending at least a portion of the file to one of the remote locations. view more

A transmission method as recited in claim 41, wherein the storing step further comprises the step of: separately storing a plurality of files, each including compressed, sequenced data blocks.

A transmission method as recited in claim 45, further comprising the steps, performed by the transmission system, of: generating a listing of available items; receiving transmission requests to transmit available items; and retrieving stored formatted data blocks corresponding to requests from users. view more

A method of distributing audio/video information comprising: formatting items of audio/video information as compressed digitized data at a central processing location; transmitting compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of at least one item of audio/video information from the central processing location; receiving the transmitted compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of the at least one item of audio/video information, at a local distribution system; storing the received compressed, digitized data representing the complete copy of the at least one item at a local distribution system; and using the stored compressed, digitized data to transmit a representation of the at least one item to at a plurality of subscriber receiving stations coupled to the local distribution system; wherein the formatting step comprises: inputting an item having information into the transmission system; assigning a unique identification code to the item having information; formatting the item having information as a sequence of addressable data blocks; and compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks. view more

A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the inputting step comprises inputting the item having information as blocks of digital data.

A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the inputting step comprises: inputting the item having information as an analog signal and converting the analog signal to blocks of digital data.

A communication system comprising: a transmission system at a first location in data communication with a reception system at a second location, wherein said transmission system comprises a sequence encoder, an identification encoder, and a compressed data library in data communication with said identification encoder, wherein said identification encoder gives items in said compressed data library a unique identification code; and wherein said reception system comprises a transceiver in data communication with said transmission system, a storage device in data communication with said transceiver, user playback controls in data communication with said storage device, a digital compressor in data communication with said storage device, and a playback device in data communication with said digital decompressor. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a source material library storing a portion of at least one data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a converter having a data input in data communication with said source material library and a digital data output.

A communication system as recited in claim 3, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a data compressor in data communication with said digital data output of said converter.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a compressed data formatting device in data communication with said identification encoder.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said identification encoder allows entry of a popularity code.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sequence encoder transforms digital data blocks into a group of addressable data blocks.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a transmitter in data communication with said compressed data library, wherein said transmitter sends at least a portion of a compressed data file to said reception system. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a user request interface in data communication with said transmission system, wherein said user request interface enables a user to make a request for at least a portion of a data file. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 9, wherein said reception system comprises said user request interface.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said reception system further comprises: a receiver format converter in data communication with said transceiver, wherein said receiver format converter converts at least a portion of a data file into a format suitable for playback by a user. view more

A communicatioin system as recited in claim 1, wherein said reception system further comprises: an output data converter in data communication with said digital decompressor.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device stores at least a portion of a data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 13, wherein said storage device is a temporary storage device.

A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage device stores an entire data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 15, wherein said storage device is a temporary storage device.

A communication system comprising: a transmission system at a first location in data communication with a reception system at a second location, wherein said transmission system comprises a source material library, an identification encoder in data communication with said source material library, a converter having a data input in data communication with said source material library and a digital data output, a sequence encoder in data communication with said digital data output, a digital data compressor in data communication with said digital data output, a compressed data formatting device in data communication with said digital data compressor, a compressed data library in data communication with said compressed data formatting device, and a transmitter in data communication with said compressed data library; and wherein said reception system comprises a transceiver in data communication with said transmission system, a receiver format converter in data communication with said transceiver, a storage device in data communication with said receiver format converter, user playback controls in data communication with said storage device, a digital decompressor in data communication with said receiver format converter, and an output data converter in data communication with said digital decompressor. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said digital data compressor is in data communication with said sequence encoder.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said compressed data formatting device is in data communication with said identification encoder.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, further comprising: a user request interface in data communication with said transmission system.

A communication system as recited in claim 20, wherein said reception system comprises said user request interface.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said storage device stores at least a portion of a data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said storage device stores an entire data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said transceiver transmits a user request for a data file to said transmission system and receives the entire data file as compressed data blocks from said transmission system.

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said transceiver transmits a user request for at least a portion of a data file to said transmission system and receives the portion of the data file as compressed data blocks from said transmission system. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 17, wherein said output data converter is in data communication with said storage device.

A communication system comprising: a transmission system at a first location in data communication with a reception system at a second location, wherein said transmission system comprises: an identification encoder, wherein said identification encoder allows entry of a popularity code; and a compressed data library in data communication with said identification encoder; and wherein said reception system comprises a transceiver in data communication with said transmission system, a storage device in data communication with said transceiver, user playback controls in data communication with said storage device, a digital decompressor in data communication with said storage device, and a playback device in data communication with said digital decompressor. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a source material library storing a portion of at least one data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 28, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a converter having a data input in data communication with said source material library and a digital data output.

A communication system as recited in claim 29, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a data compressor in data communication with said digital data output of said converter.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a compressed data formatting device in data communication with said identification encoder.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said transmission system further comprises a sequence encoder.

A communication system as recited in claim 32, wherein said sequence encoder transforms digital data blocks into a group of addressable data blocks.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said transmission system further comprises: a transmitter in data communication with said compressed data library, wherein said transmitter sends at least a portion of a compressed data file to said reception system. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 27, further comprising: a user request interface in data communication with said transmission system, wherein said user request interface enables a user to make a request for at least a portion of a data file. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 35, wherein said reception system comprises said user request interface.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said reception system further comprises: a receiver format converter in data communication with said transceiver, wherein said receiver format converts at least a portion of a data file into a format suitable for playback by a user. view more

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said reception system further comprises: an output data converter in data communication with said digital decompressor.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said storage device stores at least a portion of a data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 27, wherein said storage device stores an entire data file.

A communication system as recited in claim 39, wherein said storage device is a temporary storage device.

A communication system as recited in claim 40, wherein said storage device is a temporary storage device.