Audio and video transmission and receiving system

• US 20030121049A1
• Filed: 11/11/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acacia Media Technologies Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Acacia Media Technologies Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Browne, H. Lee, Yurt, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23473 by pre-encrypting
• 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 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/4331 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 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 : Acknowledgement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/54 : the signals being synchronous H04N21/23602, H04N21/23614, H04N21/2365, H04N21/2368, H04N21/4341, H04N21/4342, H04N21/4347, H04N21/4348 take precedence

Abstract

A system of distributing video and/or audio information employs digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The compressed and encoded audio and/or video information is sent over standard telephone, cable or satellite broadcast channels to a receiver specified by a subscriber of the service, preferably in less than real time, for later playback and optional recording on standard audio and/or video tape.

Claims

33. A method of providing audiovisual information to a remotely located reception system responsive to a request generated by a user terminal interface, the receiving system being identified by a first address, the method comprising:

associating a program note with a selected item comprising audiovisual information, the audiovisual information comprising at least one time encoded digital audiovisual data block in a compressed format;

associating a second address with the selected item;

storing program note information in an item database;

storing a plurality of items comprising audiovisual information together with the selected item in a data library, the data library comprising a mass storage device;

receiving via a communication channel the request for the selected item comprising audiovisual information, the request comprising the first address and the second address;

retrieving the selected item from the data library; and

transmitting at least a portion of the selected item via a communication channel to the remotely located reception system.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the program note comprises the title of the selected item.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the program note comprises at least one credit for the selected item.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the program note comprises the running time of the selected item.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the item database is searchable by a user.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the digital data blocks of the selected item are organized into frames.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising associating a code with the selected item.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the code comprises an address code.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the code comprises an identification code.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the code comprises a popularity code.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the digital data blocks of the selected item are addressable.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the selected item comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein the compressed video information is compressed using a compression method comprising discrete cosine transform and motion compensation.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein the item database communicates with the data library via a library access interface.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the library access interface communicates with a library system control computer adapted to communicate with and access the data library.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein the communication channel on which the request is received and the communication channel on which the item is transmitted are different.

48. The method of claim 33 wherein the selected item comprises at least one time encoded data block.

49. A system for providing audiovisual information to a remotely located reception system identified by a first address, comprising:

an interface device adapted to receive via a communication channel a transmission request generated via a computer program for a selected item comprising audiovisual information, the audiovisual information comprising at least one digital data block in a compressed format, the request comprising the first address and a second address associated with the item;

a data library comprising a mass storage device adapted to store at least one item comprising audiovisual information, including the selected item;

a signal transmitting device adapted to transmit at least a portion of the selected item, via a communication channel, to the remotely located reception system; and

a control device in data communication with the signal transmitting device and adapted to manage the transmission by the signal transmitting device.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the selected item further comprises an associated program note.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the program note comprises the title of the selected item.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the program note comprises at least one credit for the selected item.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the program note comprises the running time of the selected item.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the signal transmitting device is adapted to transmit the program note with the selected item.

55. The system of claim 50, further comprising an item database adapted to store program note information.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the item database is searchable by a user.

57. The system of claim 49, wherein the digital audiovisual data blocks are organized into frames.

58. The system of claim 49, wherein the selected item comprising audiovisual information further comprises an associated code.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the code comprises an address code.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the code comprises an identification code.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the code comprises a popularity code.

62. The system of claim 49, wherein the digital audiovisual data blocks are sequenced.

63. The system of claim 49, wherein the digital audiovisual data blocks are time encoded.

64. The system of claim 49, wherein the digital audiovisual data blocks are addressable.

65. The system of claim 49, wherein the selected item comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein the compressed video information is compressed using a discrete cosine transform.

66. The system of claim 49, wherein the selected item comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein the compressed video information is compressed using a motion compensation.

67. The system of claim 49, wherein the selected item comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein the compressed video information is compressed using a compression method comprising discrete cosine transform and motion compensation.

68. The system of claim 49, wherein the communication channel on which the request is received and the communication channel on which the item is transmitted are different.

69. The system of claim 49, wherein the interface device is a library access interface.

70. System of claim 49, wherein the control device is a library system control computer.

71. A system for providing video information to a remotely located reception system comprising:

a plurality of remote order processing and item databases each adapted to store information associated with a plurality of items comprising video information;

a library system control computer adapted to control the transmission of at least one requested item comprising video information to a remotely located reception system;

wherein the remote order processing and item database is further adapted to process and download user transmission requests to the library system control computer.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the remote order processing and item database is capable of being searched by a user for available items comprising video information.

73. The system of claim 71, further comprising a master item database residing in the library system control computer, the master item database being adapted to store the information associated with the plurality of items comprising video information.

74. The system of claim 71, further comprising a data library adapted to store the plurality of items comprising video information.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the data library comprises a mass storage device.

76. The system of claim 71, wherein the remote order processing and item database is located at a first location and the library system control computer is located at a second location and wherein the first location and the second location are remote from each other.

77. The system of claim 71, wherein the remote order processing and item database is capable of being accessed by a user via a query type of computer program interface.

78. The system of claim 71, wherein the remote order processing and item database is capable of being accessed by a user via a user terminal interface.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the user terminal interface is built into a user reception system.

80. The system of claim 78, wherein the user terminal interface permits the user to conduct a search of available items comprising video information from a computer screen.

81. The system of claim 71, further comprising a library access interface adapted to receive transmission requests.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the library access interface is further adapted to retrieve a requested item comprising video information from the data library.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the library access interface receives transmission requests directly from a user.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the library access interface receives transmission requests directly from the remote order processing and item database.

85. The system of claim 71, wherein the library system control computer is further adapted to receive transmission requests and wherein the transmission requests are placed in a transmission queue.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the transmission queue is managed by a queue manager program residing on the library system control computer.

87. Transmitted digital audiovisual data blocks transmitted via a communication channel, the digital audiovisual data blocks being formed by separating audiovisual information into audio information and video information, placing the audio information into a predetermined format, placing the video information into a predetermined format, sequencing the formatted audio information whereby sequenced audio data blocks are provided, sequencing the formatted video information whereby sequenced video data blocks are provided, and compressing the sequenced audio data blocks and compressing the sequenced video data blocks using a discrete cosine transform and motion compensation process