System for distributing video and content on demand
First Claim
1. A method for distributing content on demand over a cable network in which the subscribers are connected to a Central Unit in a hierarchical order of nodes, each node comprises a plurality of subscribers clusters, comprising:
- a. Providing a Management System at said Central Unit;
b. Providing to some of the subscribers within each cluster an STB, and to the rest of the subscribers within each cluster an SSTB;
c. Transmitting from the Central Unit titles to the SSTBs, and storing the titles within said SSTBs;
d. Providing to each STB subscriber or SSTB subscriber a viewable list of the titles stored in all the SSTBs that are connected within the cluster of that subscriber; and
e. Whenever a subscriber selects a title for viewing from said viewable list, transmitting to the STB or the SSTB of that subscriber the selected title from at least one of the SSTBs within the cluster of that subscriber which contain the title or a portion thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for distributing content on demand over a cable network in which the subscribers are connected to a Central Unit in a hierarchical order of nodes, each node comprises a plurality of subscribers clusters. A Management System is provided at the Central Unit. Some of the subscribers within each cluster are provided with an STB, and the rest of the subscribers within each cluster are provided with an SSTB. Titles are transmitted from the Central Unit to the SSTBs, and stored within the SSTBs. A viewable list of the titles stored in all the SSTBs that are connected within the cluster of that subscriber is provided to each STB subscriber or SSTB subscriber. Whenever a subscriber selects a title for viewing from the viewable list, the selected title is transmitted to the STB or the SSTB of that subscriber from at least one of the SSTBs within the cluster of that subscriber which contain the title or a portion thereof.
229 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for distributing content on demand over a cable network in which the subscribers are connected to a Central Unit in a hierarchical order of nodes, each node comprises a plurality of subscribers clusters, comprising:
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a. Providing a Management System at said Central Unit;
b. Providing to some of the subscribers within each cluster an STB, and to the rest of the subscribers within each cluster an SSTB;
c. Transmitting from the Central Unit titles to the SSTBs, and storing the titles within said SSTBs;
d. Providing to each STB subscriber or SSTB subscriber a viewable list of the titles stored in all the SSTBs that are connected within the cluster of that subscriber; and
e. Whenever a subscriber selects a title for viewing from said viewable list, transmitting to the STB or the SSTB of that subscriber the selected title from at least one of the SSTBs within the cluster of that subscriber which contain the title or a portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 31)
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22. A system for providing Content On Demand over a cable network, comprising:
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a. A conventional STBs at some of the subscribers'"'"' houses within each cluster, capable of receiving a title on a dedicated channel, and displaying the same on a subscriber TV;
b. SSTBs at homes of the rest of the subscribers'"'"' houses within each cluster, for receiving at low traffic hours one or more content titles, or portions of content titles, for storing the same, and for transmitting upon demand on at least one designated channel any ordered title to one or more STBs or SSTBs of ordering subscribers; and
c. A Management System for storing a plurality of titles, for transmitting titles to SSTBs within a cluster at low traffic hours, for transmitting a list of titles available for viewing to all STBs and SSTBs within each cluster, and for managing any demand for viewing from users'"'"' set top boxes, and conveying such demand to the one or more SSTBs storing the demanded title, for initiating transmission of the requested title from said one or more SSTBs to the set top box of the demanding subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32)
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Specification