System and method for providing broadcast programming, a virtual vcr, and a video scrapbook to programming subscribers
First Claim
1. A system for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations, the system comprising:
- an intermediate video supplier which includes a video buffer and a video server that processes received subscriber requests and retrieves, according to the received subscriber requests, either of currently broadcast programming or broadcast programming previously buffered in the video buffer by the video server;
the subscriber locations having subscriber location equipment which includes a local control unit that transmits the subscriber requests to the video server via at least one data link and receives, from the video server, either of the currently broadcast programming or the previously buffered broadcast programming for display on a local video display via the at least one data link; and
at least one video source that transfers the currently broadcast programming to the video server;
wherein the local control unit is configured to issue a subscriber request to the video server to instruct the video server to retrieve programming that corresponds to a currently viewed program from the video buffer and transfer the corresponding buffered programming to the local control unit for viewing the currently viewed program on a local video display.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations including an intermediate video supplier, subscriber location equipment and one or more video sources. The intermediate video supplier includes a video buffer and a video server that processes received subscriber requests and retrieves, according to the subscriber requests, either of currently broadcast programming or broadcast programming previously buffered in the video buffer by the video server. The subscriber location equipment includes a remote control and a local control unit that transmits the subscriber requests to the video server via one or more data links and receives, from the video server, either of the currently broadcast programming or the previously buffered broadcast programming for display on a local video display via the data link. A subscriber may initiate a restart command with a single action via the remote control to restart a currently viewed program from the beginning for viewing the entire program on the local video display even if the currently viewed program was joined in progress.
367 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A system for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations, the system comprising:
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an intermediate video supplier which includes a video buffer and a video server that processes received subscriber requests and retrieves, according to the received subscriber requests, either of currently broadcast programming or broadcast programming previously buffered in the video buffer by the video server;
the subscriber locations having subscriber location equipment which includes a local control unit that transmits the subscriber requests to the video server via at least one data link and receives, from the video server, either of the currently broadcast programming or the previously buffered broadcast programming for display on a local video display via the at least one data link; and
at least one video source that transfers the currently broadcast programming to the video server;
wherein the local control unit is configured to issue a subscriber request to the video server to instruct the video server to retrieve programming that corresponds to a currently viewed program from the video buffer and transfer the corresponding buffered programming to the local control unit for viewing the currently viewed program on a local video display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing video signals from at least one video source in a video buffer located at an intermediate video supplier;
transmitting a function command initiated by a subscriber action, to thereby initiate a subscriber request;
transmitting the subscriber request to the intermediate video supplier via at least one data link from a subscriber location having subscriber location equipment which includes a local video display, and a local control unit;
processing the received subscriber request at the intermediate video supplier which further includes a video server, the video server retrieving from the video buffer a program buffered therein that corresponds to a currently viewed program; and
transmitting from the video server to the local control unit the corresponding buffered program of the currently viewed program for display on the local video display. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing video signals from at least one video source in a video buffer located at an intermediate video supplier;
transmitting a function command by a subscriber, to thereby initiate a subscriber request;
transmitting the subscriber request to the intermediate video supplier via at least one data link from a subscriber location having subscriber location equipment which includes a local video display, and a local control unit;
processing the received subscriber request at the intermediate video supplier which further includes a video server, the video server retrieving from the video buffer a plurality of programs on a plurality of channels, the plurality of programs being organized in the video buffer by channel, program and time originally aired; and
transmitting from the video server to the local control unit the corresponding plurality of buffered programs for selective display on the local video display. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification