Video content distribution system including an interactive kiosk, a portable content storage device, and a set-top box
First Claim
1. An interactive kiosk for distributing content through a portable video content storage device, the interactive kiosk comprising:
- a display for displaying information to the user;
an input device for receiving input from the user;
a receptacle configured to receive the portable video content storage device;
a content mass storage module for storing a library of available video content;
a processor configured to control the kiosk so as to allow a user to copy video content onto the portable video content storage device, the processor further configured to read content use information from the portable video content storage device; and
a secure housing configured to be located in a public location.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable content storage device is configured to hold digitally encoded video content on a disk drive. A user connects the device to a publicly located compatible interactive kiosk that stores several encoded content units, such as feature-length films. The user selects content units, and the kiosk copies the selections onto the device. At home, the user connects the device to a compatible set-top box that presents the content units as an output signal to a television set. The set-top box accumulates information related to the use of the video content units, such as how much of a content unit has been viewed and/or how many times it has been viewed. The set-top box then writes the information to the device. The information is read by the kiosk the next time the user connects the device to the kiosk and the user is billed for the use of the content.
216 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An interactive kiosk for distributing content through a portable video content storage device, the interactive kiosk comprising:
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a display for displaying information to the user;
an input device for receiving input from the user;
a receptacle configured to receive the portable video content storage device;
a content mass storage module for storing a library of available video content;
a processor configured to control the kiosk so as to allow a user to copy video content onto the portable video content storage device, the processor further configured to read content use information from the portable video content storage device; and
a secure housing configured to be located in a public location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing and monitoring the use of video content, the method performed by an interactive kiosk located in a public location, the method comprising:
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receiving a portable video content storage device in a receptacle;
presenting to the user a menu of available video content;
receiving from the user a selection from the available video content;
writing the selected video content to the portable video content storage device;
again receiving the portable video content storage device in the receptacle; and
reading data from the portable video content storage device related to the use of the selected video content. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A portable video content player comprising:
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a mass storage module configured to store at least about an hour of at least television-suitable quality digitally encoded video content;
a video decoder module configured to decode the video content;
a processor configured to control the video decoder module and the mass storage module, the processor configured to create content use data based upon the use of the video content;
a hand-held housing containing the mass storage module, the video decoder module, and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification