Recording and playback system

• US 20050275758A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: McEvilly, Chris, Haque, Shaheedur Reza
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive television system is provided which provides personal video recorder services for users. In the embodiment described, content is recorded at a head-end of the system and stored in the user'"'"'s set top boy for future playout. Access to the content stored in the user'"'"'s top box is also controlled by the head end.

Claims

1. A content delivery system comprising:

a user device and a capture system located remote from said user device and operable to capture and process content data as it is broadcast from a content broadcaster;

wherein the user device includes;

i) a first receiver operable to receive user input;

ii) a transmitter operable to transmit, in response to a first user input identifying content to be recorded, a request to said remote capture system to capture the content identified by said first user input;

iii) a second receiver operable to receive captured and processed content data from said remote capture system;

iv) a storage device for storing the captured and processed content data received by said second receiver; and

v) a playout unit operable, in response to a second user input identifying stored content to be played out, to retrieve the content identified by said second user input from said storage device and operable to playout the retrieved content.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to process said captured content data to determine tag data identifying the timing of content segments within the captured content.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said capture system is operable to transmit said captured content data together with said tag data to said second receiver of said user device and wherein said storage device is operable to store both the captured content data and the generated tag data.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said playout unit is operable to control the playout of said stored content data in dependence upon on the tag data associated with the content data.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said playout unit is operable to control the playout of said content data in accordance with said tag data and a user input identifying the rate at which the content data is to be played out.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said playout unit is operable to control the rate at which said content data is played out to provide fast forward and/or rewind capabilities.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said content data represents a video broadcast.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said capture system includes a video server operable to capture video data as it is broadcast by said content broadcaster.

9. A system according to claim 7, further comprising a personal video recorder (PVR) server operable to receive the requests transmitted by said user device and operable to control the capturing of said video data by said video server.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said capture system includes a database, wherein said PVR server is operable to store received user requests for content recordal in said database and further comprising a scheduler operable to process the requests stored in said database together with programme guide data identifying the timing at which content is to be broadcast by said content broadcaster, to control the capturing of content by said video server.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said scheduler is operable to provide channel data identifying the channels to be recorded together with data identifying the start and end time for the recordings.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to generate a contents schedule for each piece of content captured by the capture system, which contents schedule identifies a sequence of content portions of captured content to be played out by the playout unit of said user device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said contents schedule identifies a sequence of programme segments and adverts to be played out by said playout unit.

14. A system according to 12, wherein said capture system is operable to generate a personalised contents schedule for the user device based on a user profile associated with a user of the user device.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said capture system is operable to personalise said contents schedule by selecting advert data defining personalised adverts to be played out by said playout unit.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein said capture system is operable to personalise said contents schedule by varying the number of adverts identified in the contents schedule for playout by said playout unit.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said capture system is operable to generate a plurality of different contents schedules one for each of a corresponding plurality of different user types, wherein the user associated with the user device is categorised as belonging to one of said user types and wherein said capture system is operable to transmit to said user device the contents schedule for the type of user associated with the user device.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein said capture system is operable to mark one or more of said sequence of content portions to restrict playout control available to a user of said user device.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to transmit guide data identifying different content that will be broadcast by said contents broadcaster and wherein said user device is operable to output said guide data to said user.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to generate a menu page identifying the content that can be recorded by said capture system and wherein said user device is operable to display said menu page to said user.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to capture and buffer all content broadcast by said content broadcaster during a previous N hours.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said user device includes a third receiver for receiving live content broadcast from said content broadcaster and wherein said capture system is operable to use the content captured during said previous N hours to provide pause live content functionality to said user device.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to maintain a record of all content transmitted to said user device for storage in said storage device.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein said capture system is operable to download data defining a graphical user interface illustrating different types of content recorded for a user associated with the user device and wherein said graphical user interface identifies content that has been captured by said capture system in response to a request received by said user device and content that has been captured automatically by said capture system based on a user profile for the user associated with the user device.

28. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system includes a transmitter for transmitting the captured and processed content data to said user device at a data rate which is less than a data rate required for real time playout of the content by said playout unit.

32. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a second storage device provided remote from said user device and operable to store content captured by said capture system for a user associated with the user device.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein said user device is operable to transmit a recorded content playout request to said capture system and wherein said capture system is operable to redirect the user to the storage device containing the requested content.

34. A system according to claim 1, wherein said capture system is operable to make suggestions of content to be recorded to said user device and is operable to record suggestions selected by a user associated with the user device.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein said capture system is operable to make said suggestions based on user profile data for the user associated with the user device.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein said capture system is operable to make said suggestions based on previous programmes viewed by the user associated with the user device.

39. A system according to claim 1, wherein multiple users are associated with said user device, wherein said capture system includes user profile data for each user associated with the user device, and wherein said user device is operable to transmit current user ID data to said capture system to identify the current user associated with the user device, and wherein the capture system is operable to use said current ID data to select the user profile data for the current user.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein said capture system maintains a record list for each user associated with the user device and is operable to use the current user ID to select the record list for the current user of the user device.

19. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

29-31. -31. (canceled)

37-38. -38. (canceled)

41-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A content delivery system comprising one or more client terminals coupleable to a server terminal via a data communications link, wherein the or each client terminal is operable to transmit a request to said server terminal to record content data as it is broadcast by a content broadcaster and wherein said server terminal is operable to record the requested content data and to store the recorded content data in the client terminal that requested the recordal for subsequent playout to a user associated with the client terminal.

45-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A content delivery system comprising one or more client terminals couplable to a remote server terminal via a data communications link, wherein one or more of said client terminals is operable to store content data for subsequent playout to a user and wherein access to the content stored in the client terminal is controlled by said server terminal.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein said client terminal includes a user input for receiving requests for the playout of stored content, wherein said client terminal is operable to transmit the request for said content to said server terminal and wherein said server terminal is operable to identify the storage location of the requested content in a storage device of the client terminal.

50. (canceled)

51. A user device for use in a content delivery system, the user device comprising:

a first receiver operable to receive user input;

a transmitter operable to transmit, in response to a first user input identifying content to be recorded, a request to a remote capture system to capture the content identified by said first user input;

a second receiver operable to receive captured and processed content data from said remote capture system;

a storage device for storing the captured and processed content data received by said second receiver; and

a playout unit operable, in response to a second user input identifying stored content to be played out, to retrieve the content identified by said second user input from said storage device and operable to playout the retrieved content.

52. A user device according to claim 51, wherein said captured and processed content data includes tag data identifying the timing of content segments within the captured content and wherein said storage device is operable to store both the captured content data and the generated tag data.

53. A user device according to claim 52, wherein said playout unit is operable to control the playout of said stored content data in dependence upon on the tag data associated with the content data.

63. A user device according to claim 51 to 62, operable to receive said captured and processed content data at a data rate which is less than a data rate required for real time playout of the content by said playout unit.

65. A user device according to claim 51, operable to transmit a recorded content playout request to said remote capture system and operable to receive a redirect instruction from said capture system to the storage location of the requested content.

76. A system according to any of claims claim 7051 to 75, wherein said capture device includes a database, wherein said receiver is operable to store received user requests for content recordal in said database and further comprising a scheduler operable to process the requests stored in said database together with programme guide data identifying the timing at which content is to be broadcast by said content broadcaster, to control the capturing of content by said capture device.

77. A system according to claim 76, wherein said scheduler is operable to provide, to said capture device, channel data identifying the channels to be recorded together with data identifying the start and end time for the recordings.

144. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for causing a programmable computer device to become configured as the user device of claim 51.

145. Computer executable instructions for causing a programmable computer device to become configured as a user device according to any of claims claim 51 to 69.

54-62. -62. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

66-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A capture system for use in a content delivery system, the capture system comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a user request from a remote user device, identifying content to be captured;

a capture device operable to capture and process content data as it is broadcast from a content broadcaster in accordance with said user request; and

a transmitter operable to transmit captured and processed content data to said remote user device for storage therein.

71. A system according to claim 70, operable to process said captured content data to determine tag data identifying the timing of content segments within the captured content.

72. A system according to claim 71, operable to transmit said captured content data together with said tag data to said user device for storage in said user device.

73. A system according to claim 70, wherein said capture device is operable to capture a video broadcast and wherein said capture device includes a video server operable to capture video data as it is broadcast by said content broadcaster.

78. A system according to claim 70, operable to generate a contents schedule for each piece of content captured by the capture device, which contents schedule identifies a sequence of content portions of captured content to be played out by the user device.

92. A system according to claim 70, wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit the captured and processed content data to said user device at a data rate which is less than a data rate required for real time playout of the content by said user device.

146. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for causing a programmable computer device to become configured as the capture system according to claim 70.

147. Computer executable instructions for causing a programmable computer device to become configured as the capture system of claim 70.

74-75. -75. (canceled)

79-91. -91. (canceled)

93-105. -105. (canceled)

106. A content delivery method comprising:

transmitting from a user device in response to a user input, a request to a remote capture system to capture content identified by the user input;

receiving the user request at the remote capture system and capturing and processing the identified content when it is broadcast from a content broadcaster;

transmitting the captured and processed content data to said user device;

storing the content data received by said user device in a storage device of the user device; and

retrieving, in response to a user input identifying stored content to be played out, the content identified by said user input from said storage device and playing out the retrieved content to an associated user.

107-143. -143. (canceled)