Digital home movie library
First Claim
1. A method of broadcasting a movie to a set-top box, the method comprising:
- a content provider broadcasting via wireless telecommunication over a television frequency spectrum at least one movie to a set-top box, the movie being selected by the content provider and not by the user; and
permitting storage of the movie broadcast from the content provider in the set-top box without interaction by the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system and method of the present invention provides viewers access to a library of movies, or any other audio/video content available for viewing at anytime. Specifically, the method involves transmitting movies wirelessly to a set-top box in one'"'"'s home and allowing movies to accumulate. A hard disk drive in the set-top box is used to store movies. In an exemplary embodiment, movies are wirelessly transmitted to the set-top box using a datacasting technology which allows data to be encoded onto standard television signals and transmitted using existing television transmitters and broadcast towers. Movies are transferred to the set-top box using a broadcast file transfer protocol and stored on the hard drive. Movies are “packetized” and these packets are continuously transmitted to the set-top box where they are incrementally reassembled. The user is not aware of what data is being sent to their set-top box. The movies are pushed down by the provider to reside passively in the box for a finite time period. Transmission of the data is controlled by the content or service provider. To ensure that movies are received in their entirety, the same movie may be broadcast to the set-top box several times. Any packets of data that were not received in the first attempt of transmission will be received with subsequent broadcasts. The set-top box is also connected to a phone line for billing purposes.
514 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A method of broadcasting a movie to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting via wireless telecommunication over a television frequency spectrum at least one movie to a set-top box, the movie being selected by the content provider and not by the user; and
permitting storage of the movie broadcast from the content provider in the set-top box without interaction by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of broadcasting a movie to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting movie data to a set-top box, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider;
permitting automatic storage of the movie data broadcast from the content provider onto the set-top box;
permitting assembling the movie data in the set top box to form at least one full movie and associated metadata;
permitting analysis of the metadata to determine when to make the movie available for viewing; and
permitting viewing of the movie in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the movie. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of broadcasting movies to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting movie data to a set-top box, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider and not by the user;
permitting automatic storage on the set-top box of the movie data broadcast from the content provider;
permitting assembly of the movie data to form a plurality of full movies;
making selected movies available for viewing by the user at a time pre-determined by the content provider, the selected movie having previously been stored on the set top box; and
effecting removal of the movie data representing one or more movies stored on the set top box at a time determined by the content provider. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of broadcasting a movie to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting movie data to a set-top box, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider; and
permitting automatic storage of the movie data broadcast from the content provider onto the set-top box.
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18. A method of broadcasting movies to a set-top box for storage and subsequent viewing, the method comprising the steps of:
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selectively broadcasting data wirelessly from a content provider to a set-top box;
remotely controlling when to make data available for viewing by the user; and
remotely controlling when to remove data from the set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 80, 81, 82)
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23. A method of content management for a remote hardware device, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting content to be transmitted to a remote hardware device;
generating metadata specifying various properties of the content;
associating the metadata with the content;
transmitting the content and its associated metadata to the remote device;
permitting automatic storage of the data received at the remote device;
providing software for operating on the remote hardware device to process the metadata and manage the content according to its associated metadata. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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26. A method of providing movies available for purchase or rental directly to remote viewers through broadcast communication, the method comprising:
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providing a viewer with a set top box, the set top box having a hard drive for storing a plurality of movies;
broadcasting movie data to the set top box and allowing movie data to accumulate on the hard drive; and
providing software resident on the set top box, the software being programmed to;
automatically store the movie data broadcast to the set top box;
assemble the movie data into a plurality of viewable movies and associated metadata;
analyze the metadata to determine when a movie should be made available; and
allow the user to select the available movie when available. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 34)
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30. A method of creating a digital home movie library, the method comprising the steps of:
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having a content provider broadcast movie data to a plurality of set-top boxes, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider and being uncontrolled by the user;
automatically storing on the set-top box the movie data broadcast from the content provider;
assembling the movie data to form a plurality of full movies; and
making one or more of the movies available to the user at a time predetermined by the content provider. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 35)
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36. A method of providing a dynamic media library to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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having a content provider broadcasting media data to a plurality of set-top boxes, the content of the data being selected by the content provider and not being selected by the user;
automatically storing the media data broadcast from the content provider on the set-top box; and
providing a user interface for the user to browse the media library.
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37. A method of distributing movies directly to viewers at home comprising:
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providing a viewer with a set top box, the set top box having a hard drive for storing a plurality of movies and software for permitting access to the movies;
broadcasting at least one movie and associated data to the set top box wirelessly prior to an official release date for the movie, the associated data regulating the release date of the movie on the set top box; and
automatically storing the movies and its associated data to the set top box hard drive;
analyzing the associated data to determine when the movies should be made available for viewing; and
permitting viewing of the movie on its release date.
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38. A method of renting a movie to a remote user, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting electronically a plurality of movies to a set top box located with the user, the movies comprising a selection of movies essentially similar to hard copies of movies at a local movie rental store;
automatically storing the electronic form of the broadcast plurality of movies on the set top box;
permitting the user to select from the plurality of stored electronic movies, at least one of the movies for viewing; and
charging a fee to view the one of the plurality of movies. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A digital home movie library system for providing access to movies comprises:
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an antenna and tuner for receiving broadcast signals;
a hard disk drive for storing movie data transmitted by the broadcast signals and received through the antenna; and
a processor for executing software, processing data received through the antenna and tuner, and for processing user input commands to permit access to the stored movie data under predetermined control conditions. - View Dependent Claims (42, 76)
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43. A system for providing access to movies comprising:
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an antenna and receiver for receiving broadcast signals;
a processor for executing software, processing data received through the antenna and tuner, and for processing user input commands to permit access to the stored movie data under predetermined control conditions;
a hard disk drive for storing movie data transmitted by the broadcast signals and received through the antenna; and
a smart card secured to a circuit board of the receiver, the smart card facilitating a dedicated use of the receiver with a designated user. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58)
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49. A method of a remote user receiving and processing a broadcast of a movie to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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receiving through an antenna a content provider broadcasting via wireless telecommunication over a television frequency spectrum of at least one movie, the movie being selected by the content provider and not by the remote user; and
storing of the movie broadcast from the content provider in a set-top box without interaction by the user.
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52. A method of a remote user receiving a movie broadcast to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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receiving movie data broadcast by a content provider to a set-top box of a user, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider;
storing of the movie data broadcast from the content provider onto the set-top box;
assembling the movie data in the set top box to form at least one full movie and associated metadata;
analyzing of the metadata to determine when to make the movie available for viewing; and
viewing of the movie in response to the remote user'"'"'s selection of the movie.
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56. A method of a remote user receiving a broadcast movies to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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receiving from a content provider movie data broadcast to a set-top box, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider and not by the remote user;
automatically storing on the set-top box the movie data broadcast from the content provider;
assembling of the movie data to form a plurality of full movies;
selecting movies for viewing by the user at a time pre-determined by the content provider, the selected movie having previously been stored on the set top box; and
permitting removal of the movie data representing one or more movies stored on the set top box at a time determined by the content provider.
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59. A method of receiving a broadcast a movie on a set-top box of a remote user, the method comprising:
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receiving a broadcast movie from a content provider broadcasting movie data to a set-top box, the content of the movie data being selected by the content provider; and
storing for a predetermined time on the set top box the movie data broadcast from the content provider onto the set-top box, the predetermined time being established by the content provider. - View Dependent Claims (61, 63, 65, 66, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79)
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60. A method of permitting a remote user to view a showcasing of the contents of a digital movie library, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a user interface comprising a scrolling marquee and a window, whereby the scrolling marquee features a plurality of images, each image representing a movie, and the window contains a video loop, comprising trailers for movies; and
permitting the user to view the interface. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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64. A method of broadcasting designated audio content to a hardware device, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting via wireless telecommunication over a designated frequency spectrum at least one audio to a hardware device, the designated audio content being selected by the content provider and not by the user; and
permitting storage of the designated audio content broadcast from the content provider in the hardware device without interaction by the user.
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67. A method of broadcasting a designated audio content to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting designated audio content data to a hardware device, the content of the designated audio content data being selected by the content provider;
permitting automatic storage of the designated audio content data broadcast from the content provider onto the hardware device;
permitting assembling the designated audio content data in the hardware device to form at least one full designated audio content and associated metadata;
permitting analysis of the metadata to determine when to make the designated audio content available; and
permitting access to the designated audio content in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the designated audio content.
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69. A method of broadcasting a designated video content to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting via wireless telecommunication over a television frequency spectrum at least one video to a set-top box, the video being selected by the content provider and not by the user; and
permitting storage of the video broadcast from the content provider in the set-top box without interaction by the user.
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72. A method of broadcasting a video to a set-top box, the method comprising:
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a content provider broadcasting video data to a set-top box, the content of the video data being selected by the content provider;
permitting automatic storage of the video data broadcast from the content provider onto the set-top box;
permitting assembling the video data in the set top box to form at least one full video and associated metadata;
permitting analysis of the metadata to determine when to make the video available for viewing; and
permitting viewing of the video in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the video.
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Specification