Method and system for providing instant start multimedia content

• US 20020147979A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Corson, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,458,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/47208 for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system and method for providing multimedia content through a cable, satellite television or other content server system. A server facility which provides multimedia content divides formatted multimedia content into data chunks (e.g., collections of data corresponding to one minute lengths) prior to transmission to a user/subscriber receptor unit, and sends the divided data chunks according to a schedule which permits instantaneous starting and viewing of the multimedia content, such as movies, upon user/subscriber request. The user/subscriber receptor unit includes a cable box, video game device, or the like having a digital video recording capability and at least a memory capacity or disk space sufficient to store a complete unit of media content, such as full-length feature film. The invention does not require intensive interaction between the server facility and the receptor unit, but rather, only requires sending of content signals in the form of an interleaved media stream from the server facility to the receptor unit. Further, the invention requires the use of no more than six times the bandwidth of the original signal for operation.

Claims

1. A method for delivering digital content from a server facility to a user/subscriber, comprising:

providing, in said server facility, formatted digital content which has been divided into a plurality of data chunks prior to transmission;

providing a communications network for transmitting said digital content;

providing a user/subscriber control device for receiving, storing and playing the transmitted digital content; and

transmitting the divided data chunks from said server facility according to a predetermined time schedule.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dividing said digital content into said plurality of data chunks in the server facility.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said formatted content comprises n data chunks, each data chunk occupying a substantially equal unit of time, and wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting an nth data chunk once every n units of time.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting digital content provided by the server facility.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising scheduling the transmission of at least one of said data chunks for non-sequential transmission.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one data chunk non-sequentially.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing at least one data chunk non-sequentially onto the control device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted data chunks are made available for immediate consumption by a user/subscriber.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmitted data chunk is stored on the control device prior to consumption by a user/subscriber.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one data chunk is stored onto the control device prior to selection by a user/subscriber.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a data chunk is consumed while at least one data chunk is simultaneously stored onto the control device for subsequent consumption.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said control device has a data memory for storing at least one complete version of said digital content.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said digital content comprises at least one of video, audio and graphics.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using less than the maximum number of channels of available digital signal bandwidth per transmission signal.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dedicating at least one transmission signal to common portions of digital content.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said common portions include at least one of ratings notices, copyright notices, sound production logos and production trademarks and service marks.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a number n of digital content starts per digital transmission signal, wherein 1<

n<

M and M is the maximum number of channels of bandwidth per signal.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

allocating one multi-channel digital signal to an initial user/subscriber according to a transmission schedule of divided data chunks;

adding subsequent users/subscribers to said transmission schedule for said one signal; and

receiving said data chunks by said subsequent users/subscribers simultaneously with those being transmitted to the initial user/subscriber following a request for said digital content.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using a same amount of maximum signal bandwidth for digital content irrespective of how many users/subscribers have requested and are receiving such content transmitted to their control device.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control device includes a digital cable/satellite set-top-box and/or video game console unit.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control device includes at least one of an external memory storage device, an internal memory storage device and a detachable storage medium.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising modifying digital content consumption variables, wherein said variables include, speed, direction of play and volume of the digital content.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility comprises means for dividing said digital content into said divided data chunks.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility divides said formatted content into n discrete data chunks, each data chunk occupying a substantially equal unit of time, and wherein an nth data chunk is transmitted from said server facility once every n units of time.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein at least some of said data chunks are transmitted and stored non-sequentially on said control device prior to user/subscriber consumption of the digital content.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein said data chunks are transmitted and stored prior to selection of the digital content.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein said data chunks are transmitted and stored prior to user/subscriber consumption of the digital content.

29. The system according to claim 23, wherein said control device includes a digital cable/satellite set-top-box and/or video game console unit.

30. The system according to claim 23, wherein said control device includes at least one of an external memory storage device, an internal memory storage device and a detachable storage medium.

31. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server schedules the transmission of at least one of said data chunks for non-sequential transmission.

32. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server transmits at least one data chunk non-sequentially.

33. The system according to claim 23, wherein said control device permits the storing of at least one data chunk non-sequentially.

34. The system according to claim 23, wherein said control device makes the transmitted data chunks available for immediate consumption by a user/subscriber.

35. The system according to claim 23, wherein said control device has a data memory for storing at least one complete version of said digital content.

36. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility uses less than the maximum number of channels of digital signal bandwidth for a transmission signal.

37. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility dedicates at least one transmission signal to common portions of digital content.

38. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility provides a number n of digital content starts per digital transmission signal, wherein 1<

n≦

M and M is the maximum number of channels of bandwidth per signal.

39. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server facility allocates one multi-channel digital signal to an initial user/subscriber according to a transmission schedule of said divided data chunks;

adds subsequent users/subscribers to said transmission schedule for said one signal; and

permits the receiving of said data chunks by said subsequent users/subscribers simultaneously with those being transmitted to the initial user/subscriber following a request for said digital content.

40. The system according to claim 23, wherein said server uses a same amount of maximum signal bandwidth for digital content irrespective of how many users/subscribers have requested and are receiving such content transmitted to their control device.

23. A system for delivering digital content from a server facility to a user/subscriber, comprising:

a digital content database;

a server facility which provides formatted digital content which has been divided into discrete data chunks prior to transmission;

a user/subscriber control device for receiving, storing and playing said transmitted digital content; and

a communications network for transmitting said divided data chunks from said server facility according to a predetermined time schedule.