System for capture and selective playback of broadcast programs

• US 20040158870A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Video Networks IP Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Video Networks IP Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Paxton, Brian, Robinson, Dominic A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• 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 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers comprising means for receiving a broadcast channel data stream which comprises a plurality of sequential programs and, a data storage means, wherein, video and audio data relating to each program are extracted from a received broadcast channel data stream and stored on the data storage means at a known position, service information relating to each program is extracted from the data stream and stored at a known position on the data storage means with data identifying the position on the storage means at which the corresponding video and audio data for the program are stored.

Claims

1. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers, comprising:

receiving a broadcast channel data stream comprising a plurality of sequential programs,

extracting video and audio data for each program from the data stream,

extracting service information relating to each program from the data stream,

storing the video and audio data for each program at a known position on a data storage means,

storing the service information for each program at a known location on the storage means with data identifying the position on the means at which the corresponding video and audio data for the program is stored.

2. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a subscriber to retrieve a program,

identifying the requested program in the stored service information,

retrieving the requested program from the data storage disk and

transmitting the program to the subscriber.

3. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the data stream at a further data storage means,

extracting the service information from the data stream,

compiling and storing a schedule of programs from the service information,

transmitting the schedule of programs upon request to a subscriber.

4. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 1 wherein the storing the audio and video data is performed continuously while the broadcast channel data stream is being received.

5. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 4 wherein the storing the audio and video data further comprises overwriting the oldest program stored when the disk storage means is full to allow storage of the program which is currently being broadcast.

6. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 5 further comprising deleting the service information corresponding to the overwritten program.

7. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 1 wherein the service information includes program rights data which specifies rules relating to broadcast of a program.

8. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 7 further comprising transmitting the program in accordance with the program rights.

9. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting the program to a subscriber comprises transmitting the program to the subscriber'"'"'s set top box.

10. A method for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 2, further comprising transmitting a program to a further storage facility in response to a request from a subscriber.

11. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers comprising;

means for receiving a broadcast channel data stream which comprises a plurality of sequential programs and,

a data storage means,

wherein, video and audio data relating to each program are extracted from a received broadcast channel data stream and stored on the data storage means at a known position,

service information relating to each program is extracted from the data stream and stored at a known position on the data storage means with data identifying the position on the storage means at which the corresponding video and audio data for the program are stored.

12. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 11 further comprising a means for transmitting audio and video data wherein upon request from a subscriber to retrieve a particular program the requested program is identified in the stored service information, retrieved from the data storage disk and transmitted to the subscriber.

13. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 12 further comprising a further data storage means wherein the further data storage means receives the data stream, extracts the service information from the data stream and compiles and stores a schedule of programs from the service information, and, on request from a subscriber, transmits the schedule of programs to the subscriber.

14. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 11 wherein the audio and video data is stored continuously while the broadcast channel data stream is being received.

15. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 14 in which the oldest program stored is overwritten when the data storage means is full to allow storage of the program which is currently being broadcast.

16. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 15 wherein the service information in the corresponding to the overwritten program is deleted.

17. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 11 wherein the service information includes program rights data which specifies rules relating to broadcast of a program.

18. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 17 wherein the program is transmitted in accordance with the program rights.

19. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 12 in which the program is transmitted to the subscriber'"'"'s set top box.

20. An apparatus for storing broadcast programs for future transmission to subscribers according to claim 12 wherein the program is transmitted to a further storage facility in response to a request from a subscriber.

21. A method for receiving a broadcast program on demand comprising:

requesting a schedule of previously broadcast programs which are available for retrieval, the schedule formed from service information extracted from a broadcast data stream including said previously broadcast programs,

receiving the schedule,

selecting a program from the schedule for retrieval,

transmitting a request to receive the selected program and

receiving the selected program via a unicast session established between a set top box and a broadcast service provider.

22. A method for receiving a broadcast program on demand according to claim 21 further comprising requesting information about the program.

23. A method for receiving a broadcast program on demand according to claim 21 further comprising requesting that a selected program be stored in a further storage facility for subsequent access.

24. An apparatus for receiving a broadcast program on demand comprising;

means for requesting a schedule of previously broadcast programs which are available for retrieval, the schedule formed from service information extracted from a broadcast data stream including the previously broadcast programs,

means for receiving the schedule of previously broadcast programs,

means for selecting a program from the schedule for retrieval,

means for transmitting a request for the selected program, and

means for receiving the selected program via a unicast session established between said apparatus and a broadcast service provider.

25. An apparatus for receiving a broadcast program on demand according to claim 24 further comprising a means for requesting information about a program before selecting the program.

26. An apparatus for receiving a broadcast program on demand according to claim 24 further comprising a further storage facility wherein a program can be selectively stored in the further storage facility for subsequent access.

27. A broadcast method, comprising:

receiving an input data stream including a program;

extracting, from said input data stream, service information associated with said program;

transmitting said program to a plurality of subscribers;

creating, at substantially the same time as said transmitting, an archive copy of said program, said archive copy stored at a known position in a short-term archive on a storage device and associated with said service information; and

transmitting said archive copy of said program to a first subscriber upon receipt of a request from said first subscriber.

28. The broadcast method of claim 27, wherein said short-term archive is implemented as a circular buffer storing a predetermined amount of data.

29. The broadcast method of claim 27, wherein said archive copy is stored at a constant bit rate (CBR).

30. The broadcast method of claim 27, further comprising:

generating a program schedule using said service information; and

providing said program schedule to said first subscriber, wherein said request from said first subscriber is received in response to said providing said program schedule.

31. The broadcast method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting said program to a plurality of subscribers includes multi-casting said program to said plurality of subscribers.

32. The broadcast method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting said archive program to a plurality of subscribers includes uni-casting said program to said first subscriber.

33. The broadcast method of claim 31, wherein said program is multi-cast to said plurality of subscribers over digital subscriber lines at a substantially constant bit rate.

34. The broadcast method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing, upon receipt of a request from a second subscriber, a second archive copy of said program in a longer-term archive accessible to said second subscriber.

35. The broadcast method of claim 34, further comprising:

transmitting said second archive copy of said program to said second subscriber.

36. The broadcast method of claim 35, wherein said transmitting said second archive copy of said program further comprises uni-casting said program to said second subscriber.

37. The broadcast method of claim 35, wherein said second archive copy is transmitted over digital subscriber lines at a substantially constant bit rate.

38. A method for operating a broadcast system, the broadcast system receiving a broadcast data stream having a plurality of programs, comprising:

generating a schedule of said plurality of programs from service information extracted from said broadcast data stream;

receiving an archive request from a first subscriber, said archive request including a selection of a desired program from said schedule;

confirming that said first subscriber is authorized to archive said desired program;

creating an archive copy of said desired program; and

permitting access to said archive copy by said first subscriber.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

removing selected types of data from said service information to create updated service information;

inserting said updated service information into said broadcast data stream to create an output data stream; and

broadcasting said output data stream to said plurality of subscribers.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said selected types of data include teletext subtitle information.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said permitting access includes associating an identifier of said first subscriber with said archive copy of said desired program.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

notifying said subscriber of the successful creation of said archive copy of said desired program.

43. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

storing said plurality of programs in a temporary archive and associating a storage location of each of said plurality of programs with said service information.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said creating an archive copy of said desired program further comprises:

copying said desired program from said temporary archive.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said storing said plurality of programs in a temporary archive further comprises:

generating a table of frame information for each program; and

associating said table of frame information with said service information, said table of frame information allowing movement within a program.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said copying said desired program from said temporary archive further comprises:

copying said table of frame information.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein said confirming further comprises:

comparing service information associated with said desired program with a set of access rules to determine if said access to said desired program is restricted.

48. A broadcast apparatus, comprising:

a head end, coupled to receive an input broadcast channel data stream comprising a plurality of programs, said head end generating an output data stream comprising said plurality of programs in an output format;

a service information processor, in communication with said head end and receiving said input broadcast channel data stream, said service information processor retrieving service information associated with each of said plurality of programs;

a timeslip server, in communication with said head end and said service information processor, said timeslip server storing a copy of said plurality of programs and associating a storage location of each of said copies with service information associated with each of said programs; and

a transmission network, coupled to said head end and to said timeslip server, said transmission network operable to transmit said output data stream to a plurality of subscriber devices and to selectively transmit said copies of said plurality of programs to said subscriber devices.

49. The broadcast apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

an archive content server, coupled to said timeslip server and said transmission network, said archive content server storing a longer-term copy of selected ones of said plurality of programs.

50. The broadcast apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

a broadcast schedule server, coupled to said service information processor, generating a program schedule based on said service information.

51. The broadcast apparatus of claim 50, wherein said broadcast schedule server is further coupled to receive external schedule data, wherein said program schedule includes said external schedule data.

52. The broadcast apparatus of claim 50, wherein said broadcast schedule server is coupled to provide said program schedule to said plurality of subscriber devices.

53. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving an input data stream including a program;

extracting service information from said input data stream, said service information associated with said program;

creating, at substantially the same time as said broadcasting, an archive copy of said program, said archive copy stored at a known position in a short-term archive on a storage device and associated with said service information; and

broadcasting said archive copy of said program to a first subscriber upon receipt of a request from said first subscriber.

54. A method for operating a set top box, comprising:

viewing a program schedule, said program schedule created based on service information extracted from a broadcast data stream having a plurality of programs;

selecting a desired program from said program schedule;

causing said desired program to be copied from a temporary archive to a longer-term archive accessible to said set top box; and

receiving a uni-cast transmission of said copy of said desired program from said longer-term archive.

55. The method for operating the set top box of claim 54, further comprising:

decoding said copy of said desired program; and

causing said decoded copy of said desired program to be displayed on a display device coupled to said set top box.