Network based digital information and entertainment storage and delivery system

• US 20030208767A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Michael T., Buehl, Joseph, Williamson, Louis D., Callahan, John W., Chiddix, James A., Leddy, Kevin J., Carlucci, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Live television broadcast and other information and entertainment programs, e.g., videos-on-demand (VOD), are provided to a user through a communications network, e.g., a cable network. A processing unit is employed at an headend of the communications network to respond to user requests for PVR-like functions, e.g., pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding, to be performed on the program content being viewed. The processing unit in accordance with the invention causes a delivery of an appropriate version of the program content to meet such user requests.

Claims

1. A system for delivering, through a communications network, program content to a terminal at a user location, the system comprising:

a processor remote from the user location for recording the program content;

a mechanism for delivering, through the communications network, the program content to the terminal according to a broadcast schedule;

an interface for receiving, from the terminal, a request for performing an action on the program content received by the terminal; and

a control unit for manipulating the recorded program content to meet the request.

2. The system of claim 1 being connected to the communications network which includes a cable network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a delivery of the program content.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the request includes data identifying the terminal.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the data concerns an Internet protocol (IP) address of the terminal.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the data concerns a media access control (MAC) address of the terminal.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cache for storing the recorded program content.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the program content delivered to the terminal includes the recorded program content.

9. A system for providing program content to a terminal through a communications network, the system comprising:

a first interface for receiving content of an in-progress program;

a memory for storing the in-progress program content;

a mechanism for transmitting first signals containing the in-progress program content through the communications network to the terminal, which in response to the first signals helps recover the in-progress program content in perceivable form;

a second interface for receiving from the terminal through the communications network a request for performing an action on the perceivable in-progress program content; and

a control unit responsive to the request for providing second signals containing at least part of the stored in-progress program content to the terminal through the communications network to realize the action on the perceivable in-progress program content.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the program content is formatted pursuant to an MPEG standard.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first signals include quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signals.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the memory includes a cache.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the perceivable form includes at least one of a viewable form and an audible form.

14. The system of claim 9 being connected to the communications network which includes a cable network.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a provision of the program content.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the request includes data identifying the terminal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the data concerns an IP address of the terminal.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the data concerns a MAC address of the terminal.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein the program content contained in the first signals includes the recorded program content.

20. Apparatus for receiving program content from a communications network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for sending, through the communications network, a request for performing an action on the program content, which is received from the communications network according to a broadcast schedule, the request including data identifying the apparatus; and

an interface for receiving, from the communications network, a version of the program content addressed to the apparatus based on the data, the version of the program content being derived from a copy of the program content in response to the request.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 comprising a set-top terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 being connected to the communications network which includes a cable network.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a reception of the program content.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the data concerns an IP address of the apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the data concerns a MAC address of the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the copy of the program content is formatted pursuant to an MPEG standard.

27. A method for delivering, through a communications network, program content to a terminal at a user location, the method comprising:

recording the program content at a location remote from the user location;

delivering, through the communications network, the program content to the terminal according to a broadcast schedule;

receiving, from the terminal, a request for performing an action on the program content received by the terminal; and

manipulating the recorded program content to meet the request.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the communications network includes a cable network.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a delivery of the program content.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the request includes data identifying the terminal.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the data concerns an IP address of the terminal.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the data concerns a MAC address of the terminal.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising storing the recorded program content.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein the program content delivered to the terminal includes the recorded program content.

35. A method for providing program content to a terminal through a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving content of an in-progress program;

storing the in-progress program content;

transmitting first signals containing the in-progress program content through the communications network to the terminal, which in response to the first signals helps recover the in-progress program content in perceivable form;

receiving from the terminal through the communications network a request for performing an action on the perceivable in-progress program content; and

in response to the request, providing second signals containing at least part of the stored in-progress program content to the terminal through the communications network to realize the action on the perceivable in-progress program content.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the program content is formatted pursuant to an MPEG standard.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the first signals include QAM signals.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the perceivable form includes at least one of a viewable form and an audible form.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the communications network includes a cable network.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a provision of the program content.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein the request includes data identifying the terminal.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the data concerns an IP address of the terminal.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the data concerns a MAC address of the terminal.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein the program content contained in the first signals includes the recorded program content.

45. A method for use in an apparatus for receiving program content from a communications network according to a broadcast schedule, the method comprising:

sending, through the communications network, a request for performing an action on the program content, the request including data identifying the apparatus; and

receiving, from the communications network, a version of the program content addressed to the apparatus based on the data, the version of the program content being derived from a copy of the program content in response to the request.

46. The method of claim 45 comprising software instructions.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the communications network includes a cable network.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the action causes a perception of at least one of rewinding, fast-forwarding, and pausing a reception of the program content.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the data concerns an IP address of the apparatus.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein the data concerns a MAC address of the apparatus.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein the copy of the program content is formatted pursuant to an MPEG standard.

52. Communication apparatus comprising:

a first number of tuners each for receiving content of a broadcast program on a channel;

an interface for receiving one or more requests for accessing content of a plurality of broadcast programs on a second number of channels, respectively, the second number being greater than the first number, the plurality of broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times; and

a mechanism responsive to the one or more requests for allowing access to content of each of the plurality of broadcast programs after the broadcast program has started being broadcast, including a duration after at least one of the plurality of broadcast programs has finished being broadcast.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 comprising a set-top terminal.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the plurality of broadcast programs is a subset of all broadcast programs available for receipt.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the one or more requests are transmitted from the apparatus through a communications network.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the communications network includes a broadband network.

57. Apparatus for facilitating provision of content of a broadcast program, comprising:

an interface for receiving one or more requests for accessing the content of the broadcast program, the one or more requests being receivable during at least one of (1) a first duration before the broadcast program is broadcast, and (2) a second duration after at least part of the broadcast program has been broadcast, the at least part of the broadcast program being unrecorded in the apparatus; and

a mechanism responsive to the one or more requests for allowing access to the content of the broadcast program, including the at least part of the broadcast program.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 comprising a set-top terminal.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the one or more requests are transmitted from the apparatus through a communications network.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein the communications network includes a broadband network.

61. A method for use in a communication apparatus, the apparatus having a first number of tuners each for receiving content of a broadcast program on a channel, the method comprising:

receiving one or more requests for accessing content of a plurality of broadcast programs on a second number of channels, respectively, the second number being greater than the first number, the plurality of broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times; and

in response to the one or more requests, allowing access to content of each of the plurality of broadcast programs after the broadcast program has started being broadcast, including a duration after at least one of the plurality of broadcast programs has finished being broadcast.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the apparatus comprises a set-top terminal.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the plurality of broadcast programs is a subset of all broadcast programs available for receipt.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein the one or more requests are transmitted from the apparatus through a communications network.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the communications network includes a broadband network.

66. A method for use in an apparatus for facilitating provision of content of a broadcast program, the method comprising:

receiving one or more requests for accessing the content of the broadcast program, the one or more requests being receivable during at least one of (1) a first duration before the broadcast program is broadcast, and (2) a second duration after at least part of the broadcast program has been broadcast, the at least part of the broadcast program being unrecorded in the apparatus; and

in response to the one or more requests, allowing access to the content of the broadcast program, including the at least part of the broadcast program.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the apparatus comprises a set-top terminal.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein the one or more requests are transmitted from the apparatus through a communications network.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the communications network includes a broadband network.