METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPOSITE DATA STREAM STORAGE AND PLAYBACK

• US 20020071658A1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: XM Satellite Radio Incorporated (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Inventors: MARKO, PAUL D., WADIN, CRAIG P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,564,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/19 digital satellite radio [DSR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

A composite data stream is stored on a data storage medium. The composite data stream comprises a plurality of program channels to provide services such as satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS), among others. The program channels are multiplexed into the composite data stream, which also comprises control data for indicating where services are located in the composite data stream. A playback device is configured to access the composite data stream on the data storage medium, to demultiplex at least the program channels and to retrieve selected services from the data storage medium in response to user inputs by using the control data.

Claims

1. A method of using a composite data stream comprising a plurality of program channels, each of the program channels supporting at least one service having one or more audio, video and data information, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a data storage medium having a portion of said composite data stream thereon to allow playback of any of said program channels for a selected period of time; and

operating a playback device for said composite data stream, said composite data stream comprising said program channels multiplexed therein, program channel information to identify the types of services provided by said program channels, and control data for demultiplexing said composite data stream to allow extraction of said services therefrom, said playback device being programmable to receive a user input, and to process said control data in response to said user input by accessing said composite data stream on said data storage medium to demultiplex and playback said service requested via said user input using said control data.