Methods for enabling near video-on-demand and video-on-request services using digital video recorders
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- connecting a DVR to a multimedia network source;
requesting a VOD selection by the DVR from the multimedia network source;
receiving a multimedia data signal by the DVR from the multimedia network source, the multimedia data signal containing the requested VOD selection;
storing a first received portion of the received multimedia data signal on the DVR;
playing the first received segment by the DVR for display on a display device; and
simultaneously during the playing of the first received segment receiving and storing a second received segment of the received multimedia data signal on the DVR while playing the first received segment for display on the display device, whereby the requested VOD selection begins playing on the display device prior to the reception of the entire compressed multimedia data signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A near video-on-demand (VOD) service enabled using a digital video recorder (DVR) for the simultaneous storage and playback of multimedia data. A DVR is connected over a network to a multimedia network source. A VOD selection is requested by the DVR from the network source. A multimedia data signal is received by the DVR from the network source. The data signal contains the requested VOD selection. A first received portion of the received data signal is stored on the DVR. The first received segment is played by the DVR for display on a display device. Simultaneously during the playing of the first received segment, a second received segment of the received data signal is received from the network source and stored on the DVR while the first received segment is played the display device. Thus, the requested VOD selection begins playing on the display device prior to the reception of the entire compressed multimedia data signal so that a requested VOD selection can begin being displayed nearly instantaneously after the request for it is made. A video-on-request (VOR) service is also enabled using a DVR. VOR selection data is received by a centralized database device, such as a network server, from a plurality of users. Each VOR selection data includes at least one requested video selection and video recorder identifying information for identifying each particular video recorder. A transmission priority of requested video selections is determined dependent on the frequency of requests received from the plurality of users. A transmission channel and time is determined based on the transmission priority. DVR control signals are transmitted to automatically tune in the determined transmission channel at the determined transmission time and record the particular video selection.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
connecting a DVR to a multimedia network source;
requesting a VOD selection by the DVR from the multimedia network source;
receiving a multimedia data signal by the DVR from the multimedia network source, the multimedia data signal containing the requested VOD selection;
storing a first received portion of the received multimedia data signal on the DVR;
playing the first received segment by the DVR for display on a display device; and
simultaneously during the playing of the first received segment receiving and storing a second received segment of the received multimedia data signal on the DVR while playing the first received segment for display on the display device, whereby the requested VOD selection begins playing on the display device prior to the reception of the entire compressed multimedia data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method comprising:
-
requesting a VOD selection from a network source;
receiving a first portion of the VOD selection;
storing the first portion of the VOD selection;
receiving a viewer-submitted request to view the VOD selection;
playing the first portion of the VOD selection that is stored while simultaneously;
requesting a second portion of the VOD selection from the network source;
receiving the second portion of the VOD selection; and
storing the second portion of the VOD selection; and
upon playing an end of the first portion of the VOD selection, playing the second portion of the VOD selection that is stored. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A system comprising:
-
means for requesting a VOD selection;
means for receiving a portions of the VOD selection;
means for storing a first portion of the VOD selection;
means for playing the first portion of the VOD selection that is stored;
means for storing a second portion of the VOD selection, the second portion being received while the first portion is playing; and
means for playing the second portion of the VOD selection that is stored after playing an end of the first portion of the VOD selection that is stored. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:
-
request a VOD selection;
receive a first portion of the VOD selection, wherein the first portion of the VOD selection is less that the VOD selection in entirety; and
store the first portion of the VOD selection. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification