Storage of audio/visual program data with associated promotional material

• US 20030061624A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lennerbrant, Stefan, Wennerstrom, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/151
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A multimedia apparatus, such as a set top box for use with a television set, comprises a receiver for receiving program data from a communication channel and a processor which stores said program data with a file containing associated secondary program data, such as a promotional trailer. The processor compiles a menu of secondary program data files allowing a viewer to watch a trailer and decide whether to retrieve the full program or film. The secondary data may be broadcast in parallel with the program data. Alternatively, the processor may run an application for producing the secondary program data, e.g. using earmarked portions of the full program data.

Claims

1. A multimedia apparatus comprising a receiver to receive primary program data and associated secondary program data from a communication channel, a data storage medium and a data processor operable to record the primary program data and the associated secondary program data on the data storage medium, provide a user interface for selection of the program data files and retrieve a secondary program data file selected by a viewer for display.

2. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1 operable to record the primary and secondary program data when received contemporaneously by the receiver.

3. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the secondary program data comprises promotional material selected from the group comprising forms:

audio, video, pictures, text and graphics.

4. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1, where the primary program data and secondary program data are in the form of MPEG-2 files.

5. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1, where the secondary program data is of a lower resolution than that of the primary program data.

6. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to selectively allow marking of the primary program data for deletion or prolonged keeping upon user input during display of the secondary program data.

7. A set top box comprising a multimedia apparatus as in claim 1.

8. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 1 further including a display device to display the primary and secondary data retrieved from the storage medium.

9. A multimedia apparatus comprising a receiver to receive primary program data from a communication channel, a data storage medium, a data processor operable to record primary program data on the storage medium, run a software agent arranged to compile an associated secondary program data file, provide a user interface for selection of the stored program data files and retrieve a secondary program file selected by a viewer for display.

10. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the processor is operable to identify portions of the primary program data that have been earmarked and store a copy of said earmarked data in the associated secondary program data file.

11. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the software agent is operable to replace at least a portion of audio data in the secondary program data with audio data from tertiary program data received by the receiver from the communication channel.

12. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the primary program data and secondary program data are in the form of MPEG-2 files.

13. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the secondary program data is of a lower resolution than that of the primary program data.

14. A set top box comprising a multimedia apparatus as in claim 9.

15. A multimedia apparatus as in claim 9 further including a display device to display the primary and secondary data retrieved from the storage medium.

16. A method of providing access to program data held in a storage medium within a multimedia apparatus comprising receiving primary program data and associated secondary program data from a communication channel, storing said primary program data and the associated secondary program data, providing a user interface for selection of the stored program data and retrieving secondary program data selected by a viewer for display.

17. A method as in claim 16 including receiving the secondary program data in parallel with the primary program content.

18. A method as in claim 16 where the secondary program data comprises promotional material in one or more of the following forms:

audio, video, pictures, text or graphics.

19. A method as in claim 16 where the primary program data and secondary program data are in the form of MPEG-2 files.

20. A method as in claim 16 where the secondary program data is of a lower resolution than that of the primary program data.

21. A method of providing access to program data held in a storage medium within a multimedia apparatus comprising receiving primary program data from a communication channel, storing the primary program data on a data storage medium, running a software application so as to compile associated secondary program data from the primary data, and selectively retrieving the secondary program data for display.

22. A method as in claim 21 including identifying earmarked portions of the primary program data and compiling the secondary program data from said portions.

23. A method as in claim 22 including replacing at least a portion of audio data in the secondary program data with audio data from tertiary program data received by the receiver from the communication channel.

24. A method as in claim 21 where the secondary program data comprises promotional material in one or more of the following forms:

audio, video, pictures, text or graphics.

25. A method as in claim 21 where the primary program data and secondary program data are in the form of MPEG-2 files.

26. A method as in claim 21 where the secondary program data is of a lower resolution than that of the primary program data.

27. A multimedia apparatus comprising a receiver, to receive primary program data from a communication channel, a data storage medium and a data processor operable to record the primary program data on the data storage medium together with a file of associated secondary program data, compile a menu of the stored secondary program data files and retrieve a secondary program data file selected by a viewer for display.