Virtual video on demand using multiple encrypted video segments
First Claim
1. A method of providing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service;
receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and
after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program, retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel in the local storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of providing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service;
receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and
after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program, retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel in the local storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of storing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission separated in time from a preceding transmission of the video program by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs; and
receiving a plurality of time segments of the selected video program in parallel, wherein each of the time segments is received on a different one of the channels. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for providing a video program in response to a user demand wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service;
means for receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and
means for retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for storing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission separated in time from a preceding transmission of the video program by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising:
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means for selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs; and
means for receiving a plurality of time segments of the selected video program in parallel, wherein each of the time segments is received on a different one of the channels. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. An apparatus for providing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:
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an input device for accepting a selection of at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service;
a tuner for receiving multiple segments of the selected video program in parallel, wherein each segment is received on one of the plurality of channels; and
a storage device, for pre-storing a first segment of the selected video program, and for storing subsequent segments of the selected video program in parallel while retrieving the pre-stored first segment of the selected video program. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. An apparatus for providing a video program transmitted in segments on a plurality of channels in response to a user demand, comprising:
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an input device for accepting a selection of at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service;
a tuner for receiving time segments of the selected video program in parallel, wherein each segment is received on one of the plurality of channels; and
a storage device, for storing the segments of the selected video program in parallel wherein each of the time segments is received on a different one of the channels. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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Specification