SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A VIRTUAL MEDIA CHANNEL
First Claim
1. A method for creating a virtual media channel at an end user, comprising:
- receiving a first signal including national programming;
receiving a second signal including local programming;
receiving a network command originating from somewhere other than the end user; and
switching between said first and second signals in response to said network command, wherein said switching occurs at the end user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for creating a virtual media channel including video, audio, multimedia, or other data, at or near the point of reception by end users remotely controls an operation of an end user receiving device. The present invention remotely controls an input source selection at the end user receiving device in a coordinated manner. These input sources may include terrestrial digital broadcast stations, direct broadcast satellites, other broadband data networks, data stored at the end user receiving device, internet content, multimedia files, and other programs or programming. By synchronizing the delivery of programs and programming from various sources and by remotely controlling the input source selection of the end user receiving device, the present invention provides for highly efficient integration of local and national broadcast signals, programs or programming available on other broadband networks, and programs and programming stored at the end user"s receiving device. In particular, the present invention provides for the dynamic integration of programming originating from multiple sources, including integration of locally-originated programming with the programming of national program networks delivered by direct broadcast satellite providers or other satellite systems on a market-by-market basis. The present invention further provides for the direct addressing of individual end user receiving devices, allowing the creation of virtual channels of programming or other data that is unique to each end user or to certain classes of end users.
99 Citations
124 Claims
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1. A method for creating a virtual media channel at an end user, comprising:
- receiving a first signal including national programming;
receiving a second signal including local programming;
receiving a network command originating from somewhere other than the end user; and
switching between said first and second signals in response to said network command, wherein said switching occurs at the end user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 109, 110, 111, 112)
- receiving a first signal including national programming;
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17. A method for creating a virtual media channel at an end user, comprising:
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receiving a first signal including a first program stream; receiving a second signal including a second program stream; receiving a command originating from somewhere other than the end user; and switching between said first and second signals in response to said command, wherein said switching occurs at the end user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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30. A receiving device located at an end user comprising:
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a first receiver channel that receives a first signal including a first data stream; a second receiver channel that receives a second signal including a second data stream; a third receiver channel that receives a third signal including a network command originating from somewhere other than the end user; and a switch that switches between said first receiver channel and said second receiver channel based on said network command. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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44. A receiving device comprising:
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a first receiver that receives a first data stream from a direct broadcast satellite system; a second receiver that receives a second data stream from a broadcast television system; and a switch connected to said first receiver and said second receiver and responsive to a network command. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A switch comprising:
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a first input connected to a first receiver; a second input connect to a second receiver; and an output for providing one of said first input and said second input device to an output device, wherein said switch switches between said first input and said second output in response to a remotely originated command.
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49. A method for creating a virtual media channel, comprising:
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monitoring a first signal for cue data, wherein said first signal includes national programming; generating an avail profile using said cue data; selecting a delivery commitment that can be satisfied by said avail profile, wherein local program content is associated with said delivery commitment; transmitting a second signal with said local program content according to said avail profile; and causing a receiving device located at or near the point of reception by an end user to switch between said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for delivering a program stream to an end user comprising:
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maintaining a database of available inventory for the delivery of program streams; receiving a request regarding delivery of a program stream within said available inventory; scheduling said program stream for delivery; delivering said program stream to the end user; and verifying that said program stream was delivered. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 121, 122, 123, 124)
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78. A method for providing a local program stream to an end user receiving a national program stream:
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monitoring said national program stream for indicia regarding a local program segment; transmitting said local program stream during said local program segment; causing an end user receiving device to switch between said national program stream and said local program stream at the start of said local program segment.
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79. A method for providing an electronic exchange for delivery commitments comprising:
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providing an electronic interface to a plurality of buyers and sellers of delivery commitments; receiving a post from a seller for bandwidth that can be used to satisfy a delivery commitment; maintaining said post of bandwidth in an available inventory database; and receiving a bid from a buyer to purchase a delivery commitment to be satisfied from said available inventory. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
receiving a bid from a second buyer to purchase a second delivery commitment to be satisfied from said available inventory; and prioritizing said delivery commitment and said second delivery commitment to determine an order of executing same.
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87. The method of claim 86, wherein said prioritizing comprises:
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forwarding said delivery commitment and said second delivery commitment to a local command server; forwarding a degree of fulfillment for each of said delivery commitments to said local command server; and determining a priority for each of said delivery commitments based on said degree of fulfillment.
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88. A method for prioritizing delivery commitments comprising:
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scheduling a first delivery commitment based on a first priority; scheduling a second delivery commitment in accordance with said first priority; executing at least a portion of said first delivery commitment thereby establishing a degree of fulfillment for said first delivery commitment; and determining an adjusted priority based on said degree of fulfillment. - View Dependent Claims (89)
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90. A system for sending a data file to a end user comprising:
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a direct television system for transmitting the data file to an end user receiving device; and a network command server for providing a network command to said end user receiving device to initiate receipt of the data file by said end user receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93)
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94. A method for controlling an end-user receiving device, comprising:
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receiving a command from a remote user; receiving a first program signal; receiving a second program signal; and selecting one of the first program signal and the second program signal for the end-user receiving device based on the command, the remote user being remote from the end-user receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A system, comprising:
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a remote user interface, the remote user interface configured to receive a command from a remote user; a master command server coupled to the remote user interface; a program channel coupled to the master command server, the program channel including a first program signal and a second program signal; and an interface to an end-user receiving device, the interface to the end-user coupled to the master command server, the master command server configured to select one of the first program signal and the second program signal for output to the interface to the end-user receiving device based on the command. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A system comprising:
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means for receiving a command from a remote user; a program channel coupled to the means for receiving a command, the program channel configured to receive the command, the program channel having a first user signal and a second user signal; a local command server coupled to the program channel and configured to receive the command from the program channel and output a digital television signal based on the command; and an end-user receiving device coupled to the program channel and the local command server, the end-user receiving device configured to select one of the first user signal, the second user signal and the digital television signal based on the command. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108)
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Specification