System for data management and on-demand rental and purchase of digital data products
First Claim
1. A system for the processing, recording, and playback of audio or video data, comprising:
- a. a receiver apparatus for receiving audio or video data from at least one data feed;
b. memory circuitry comprising a built-in, high capacity, non-movable storage device;
c. processing circuitry for processing the data and for storing the processed data in the storage device;
d. a user interface operatively connected to the processing circuitry for programming which processing functions are to be applied to the received data by the processing circuitry;
e. playback circuitry, which reads the data from the non-movable storage device and which converts the data to electronic signals for driving a playback apparatus; and
f. a microprocessor having software programming to control the operation of the processing circuitry and the playback circuitry enabling the recording of rented data and enacting a simulated return of said rented data by deleting or scrambling said data from said non-movable storage device or blocking further access to said data, and notifying a data supplier of said simulated return.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for handling data and transactions involving data through the use of a virtual transaction zone, which virtual transaction zone removes the dependency of such transaction on the delivery medium of the product. The invention may reside and operate on a variety of electronic devices such as televisions, VCRs, DVDs, personal computers, WebTV, any other known electronic recorder/player, or as a stand alone unit. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for combining mediums, data feeds, and manipulation of those feeds. The transaction zone also provides a mechanism for controlling the content, delivery, and timing of delivery of the end consumer'"'"'s product.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for the processing, recording, and playback of audio or video data, comprising:
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a. a receiver apparatus for receiving audio or video data from at least one data feed;
b. memory circuitry comprising a built-in, high capacity, non-movable storage device;
c. processing circuitry for processing the data and for storing the processed data in the storage device;
d. a user interface operatively connected to the processing circuitry for programming which processing functions are to be applied to the received data by the processing circuitry;
e. playback circuitry, which reads the data from the non-movable storage device and which converts the data to electronic signals for driving a playback apparatus; and
f. a microprocessor having software programming to control the operation of the processing circuitry and the playback circuitry enabling the recording of rented data and enacting a simulated return of said rented data by deleting or scrambling said data from said non-movable storage device or blocking further access to said data, and notifying a data supplier of said simulated return. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 36, 37)
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29. A video-on-demand system, comprising:
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a. a receiver apparatus receiving a single program on a plurality of channels, each of said channels broadcasting said program at successive delayed time intervals;
b. a high capacity storage device which is built into the system;
c. processing circuitry for processing the broadcast data and for storing the broadcast data in the storage device;
d. a user interface operatively connected to the processing circuitry for programming which processing functions are to be applied to the received data by the processing circuitry;
e. playback circuitry which reads the data from the storage device and which converts that data to electronic signals for driving playback apparatus;
f. a microprocessor having software programming to control the operation of the processing circuitry and the playback circuitry;
g. said microprocessor causing said processing circuitry either to record an initial segment of said program from one of said channels or to access said initial segment from a pre-recorded source, wherein the viewing time length of said initial segment is equal to or longer than the time length of said delayed time intervals;
h. said microprocessor registering a start time indicating when a user selects to view on demand said program;
i. said microprocessor causing said processing circuitry to begin playback of said initial segment from a beginning of said initial segment at any time on demand of a user;
j. said microprocessor locating a later playing channel which has not begun broadcasting a next segment following said initial segment;
k. said microprocessor causing said processing circuitry to initiate recording said program on said later playing channel prior to or at a beginning of said next segment until an end of said program; and
l. said microprocessor beginning playback of said recorded next segment immediately following playback of said initial segment. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 35, 38)
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Specification