Data distribution apparatus and method, and data distribution system

• US 20020023269A1
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yagasaki, Yoichi, Negishi, Shinji, Koyanagi, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client

Abstract

A special playback controller receives a special playback request from a user. A data storage unit stores data. In response to the special playback request received by the special playback controller, a data converter converts the data stored in the data storage unit into special playback data according to the type of special playback operation. The special playback data converted by the data converter is transmitted to a decoding terminal via a multiplexer, a transmitter, and a communication line, thereby enabling the decoding terminal to perform the special playback operation.

Claims

1. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a special playback request from an external source;

data storage means for storing data;

decoding means for reading the data from said data storage means in response to the special playback request, and for decoding the read data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding means for encoding the special playback signal generated by said decoding means so as to generate special playback data; and

transmission means for transmitting the special playback data obtained by said encoding means to a data receiving terminal via a data transmission medium.

2. A data distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in said storage means comprises video data, and the special playback request comprises a fast-forward playback request or a frame-advance playback request.

3. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a special playback request from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data, and also storing special playback data and splicing data, both of which are used for playing back the playback data in a special mode;

data switching means for reading the special playback data from said data storage means in response to the special playback request received by said receiving means, and for reading the splicing data from said data storage means according to a buffer state of a data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to the data receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

4. A data distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the splicing data comprises repeat data which is equivalent to data positioned immediately before the splicing data is inserted.

5. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a special playback request from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data and splicing data;

decoding means for reading the playback data from said data storage means in response to the special playback request, and for decoding the read playback data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding means for encoding the special playback signal generated by said decoding means so as to generate special playback data;

data switching means for selectively reading the special playback data obtained by said encoding means and the splicing data read from said data storage means according to a buffer state of a data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to the data receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

6. A data distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the splicing data comprises repeat data which is equivalent to data positioned immediately before the splicing data is inserted.

7. A data distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a special playback request from an external source;

reading data stored in a data storage unit in response to the special playback request;

decoding the read data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding the generated special playback signal so as to generate special playback data; and

transmitting the special playback data to a data receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

8. A data distribution method for reading special playback data from a data storage unit to a receiving terminal, said data storage unit storing playback data, and also storing the special playback data and splicing data, both of which are used for playing back the playback data in a special mode, said data distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a special playback request from an external source;

reading the special playback data from said data storage unit in response to the special playback request;

reading the splicing data from said data storage unit according to a buffer state of the receiving terminal; and

transmitting the special playback data or the splicing data to the receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

9. A data distribution method for distributing special playback data by using playback data and splicing data stored in a data storage unit to a receiving terminal, said data distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a special playback request from an external source;

reading the playback data from said data storage unit in response to the special playback request;

decoding the read playback data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding the generated special playback signal so as to generate special playback data; and

reading the splicing data from said data storage unit according to a buffer state of the receiving terminal, and transmitting the encoded special playback data or the encoded splicing data to the receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

10. A data distribution system for distributing data which includes special playback data from a data distribution apparatus to a terminal device,

said data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a special playback request from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data, and also storing special playback data and splicing data, both of which are used for playing back the playback data in a special mode;

data switching means for reading the special playback data from said data storage means in response to the special playback request received by said receiving means, and for reading the splicing data from said data storage means according to a buffer state of a data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to said terminal device via a transmission medium, and

said terminal device comprising;

receiving means for receiving the data transmitted from said data distribution apparatus; and

decoding means for decoding the data received by said receiving means.

11. A data distribution system for distributing data which includes special playback data from a data distribution apparatus to a terminal device,

said data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a special playback request from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data and splicing data;

decoding means for reading the playback data from said data storage means in response to the special playback request, and for decoding the read playback data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding means for encoding the special playback signal generated by said decoding means so as to generate special playback data;

data switching means for selectively reading the special playback data obtained by said encoding means and the splicing data read from said data storage means according to a buffer state of a data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to said terminal device via a transmission medium, and

said terminal device comprising;

receiving means for receiving the data transmitted from said data distribution apparatus; and

decoding means for decoding the data received by said receiving means.