Pre-storing multiple programs with user control of playback

• US 20020095510A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Beyler, John C., Sie, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for receiving a program by a user location is disclosed. The program is sent from a content provider. In one step, at least a first segment of each of a first number of programs sent from the content provider before any user request for any of the first number of programs is recorded. The user request for one of the first number of programs is detected. At least a second segment of each of a second number of programs sent from the content provider is also recorded if the user request is not detected before a stagger period expires. The one of the first number of programs is recorded if the user request is detected before the stagger period expires.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a program by a user location that is sent from a content provider, the method comprising steps of:

recording at least a first segment of each of a first plurality of programs sent from the content provider before any user request for any of the first plurality of programs;

detecting the user request for one of the first plurality of programs;

recording at least a second segment of each of a second plurality of programs sent from the content provider if the user request is not detected before a stagger period expires; and

recording the one of the first plurality of programs if the user request is detected before the stagger period expires.

2. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein the stagger period is a time duration between beginning the first plurality of programs and the second plurality of programs.

3. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein the content provider is a cable television provider.

4. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of programs are multiplexed together in a single datastream.

5. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first plurality of programs is transported with a first transponder, and

the second plurality of programs is transported with a second transponder.

6. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of playing the one of the first plurality of programs.

7. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises steps of:

receiving a wireless request from a remote control; and

processing the wireless request to determine a desired program.

8. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 1, wherein the first listed recording step comprises a step of recording the first segment on a mass storage device associated with a set top box that is proximate to the user location.

9. A method for receiving a program by a user location that is sent from a remote provider, the method comprising steps of:

determining if any of a first segment of each of a plurality of programs sent from the content provider before any user request for any of the plurality of programs are not already stored;

recording any first segment of each of the plurality of programs that are not already stored;

detecting the user request for one of the plurality of programs; and

recording a second segment of the one of the plurality of programs in response to the detecting step.

10. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of recording any remaining segments of the one of the plurality of programs.

11. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, wherein the first segment and the second segment are on different digital channels.

12. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, wherein the first segment and the second segment are on different transponders.

13. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of playing the one of the plurality of programs.

14. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, wherein the detecting step comprises steps of:

receiving a wireless request from a remote control; and

processing the wireless request to determine a desired program.

15. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 9, wherein the first listed recording step comprises a step of recording the first segment on a mass storage device associated with a set top box that is proximate to the user location.

17. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 16, wherein the stagger period is the time between beginning the first plurality of programs and a second plurality of programs.

18. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the remote provider as recited in claim 16, wherein the recording step comprises a step of recording the segment on a mass storage device associated with a set top box that is proximate to the user location.

20. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 19, wherein the detecting step comprises a step of detecting the user request for the program during the step of recording the first segment.

21. The method for receiving the program by the user location that is sent from the content provider as recited in claim 19, wherein the recording steps comprise a step of recording on a rotating disk at the user location.

16. A method for receiving a program by a user location that is sent from a remote provider, the method comprising steps of:

recording at least a segment of each of a first plurality of programs sent from the content provider before any user request for any of the first plurality of programs;

detecting the user request for one of the first plurality of programs; and

continuing to record the one of the first plurality of programs beyond a stagger period based upon the detecting step.

19. A method for receiving a program by a user location that is sent from a content provider, the method comprising steps of:

recording a first segment of the program sent from the content provider before any user request for the program;

detecting the user request for the program;

recording a second segment of the program if the user request is detected before the period expires; and

discontinuing the recording of the first segment if the user request is not detected before a period expires, wherein the period is less than a duration of the program.