System and method for delivering video programs to a video distribution center

• US 20050289636A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Solutions, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schiller, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are systems and methods for delivering video programs to a video distribution center. An embodiment of the invention is a method for delivering video programming to a distribution center that provides broadcast programming and store-and-forward programming, such as video on demand based on video programming recorded at the distribution center. The method comprises sending a plurality of video programs to the distribution center. Wherein, the plurality of video programs is to be provided as broadcast programming by the distribution center. The method also comprises sending ancillary data to the distribution center. The ancillary data includes business rules that include permission for the distribution center to record one or more selected video programs of the plurality of video programs.

Claims

1. A method for delivering video programming to a distribution center that provides broadcast programming and store-and-forward programming, the method comprising:

sending one or more video programs to the distribution center, wherein the one or more video programs are to be provided to a viewer as broadcast programming; and

sending ancillary data to the distribution center, wherein the ancillary data includes permissions for the distribution center to record one or more selected video programs among the one or more video programs wherein the one or more selected video programs are to be provided as store-and-forward programming.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permissions include limitations on the store-and-forward programming that the distribution center provides based on the selected video programs.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary data and the broadcast programs are multiplexed together.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the ancillary data for a selected video program and the selected video program are multiplexed together in a SPTS.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the ancillary data for a plurality of selected video programs and the plurality of selected video programs are multiplexed together in a MPTS.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary data includes instructions for the distribution center to record a particular video program for providing the store-and-forward programming based on the particular video program.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing instructions for the distribution center to broadcast a particular recorded video program at a particular time and on a particular channel.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sending the ancillary data includes sending a reference to an external server and wherein the distribution center receives the ancillary data from the external server.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the ancillary data from the external server includes updates to the permissions previously accorded to the distribution center.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the store-and-forward programming includes video-on-demand.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the store-and-forward programming includes pay-per-view.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary data gives the distribution center permission to provide the store-and-forward programming for a particular video program for a set time period.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary data specifies a price for providing the store-and-forward programming to viewers for a particular video program.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary data further includes promotional information associated with a particular video program.

15. A method of receiving video programming at a distribution center that provides broadcast programming and store-and-forward programming, the method comprising;

receiving one or more video programs;

receiving ancillary data that includes permissions for the distribution center to record one or more selected video programs of the one or more video programs;

broadcasting one or more of the video programs to viewers as broadcast programming; and

recording one or more of the video programs that the ancillary data permits the distribution center to record.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the permissions include limitations on the store-and-forward programming that the distribution center provides based on the selected video programs.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the ancillary data and the video programs are received multiplexed together.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the ancillary data for a selected video program and the selected video program as received are multiplexed together in a SPTS.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the ancillary data for a plurality of selected video programs and the plurality of selected video programs are received multiplexed together in a MPTS.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ancillary data includes instructions to the distribution to record a particular video program for providing the store-and-forward programming based on the particular video program.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the distribution center broadcasts a particular recorded video program at a particular time and on a particular channel.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein said receiving the ancillary data includes receiving a reference to an external server and wherein the distribution center receives the ancillary data from the external server.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the ancillary data from the external server includes updates to the permissions previously accorded to the distribution center.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the store-and-forward programming includes video-on-demand.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the store-and-forward programming includes pay-per-view.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the business rules give the distribution center permission to provide the store-and-forward programming for a particular video program for a set time period.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ancillary data specifies a price for providing the store-and-forward programming to viewers for a particular video program.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein the distribution center allocates a specific amount of space for storing video programs for a particular provider of programming.

29. The method according to claim 15, wherein the distribution center records a particular video program before it receives permission to record the particular video program and removes the recorded particular video program if it does not receive permission to record the particular video program.

30. The method according to claim 16, wherein the distribution center creates auditable evidence that the distribution center has obeyed the limitations when providing the store-and-forward programming.

31. The method according to claim 15, wherein the ancillary data further includes promotional data associated with the particular video program.

32. The method according to claim 15, wherein a particular video program among the one or more video programs are received over a secondary distribution channel.

33. A system for delivering video programs to a distribution center that provides broadcast programming and store-and-forward programming to viewers, comprising:

means for combining video programs and ancillary data, wherein the video programs are to be provided as broadcast programs and wherein the ancillary data includes business rules including permissions for the distribution center to record one or more selected video programs of the plurality of video programs; and

means for providing the combined video programs and ancillary data to the distribution center.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the ancillary data includes limitations on the store-and-forward programming provided by the distribution center

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the ancillary data and the video programs are multiplexed together.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the ancillary data for a selected video program and the selected video program are multiplexed together in a SPTS.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein the ancillary data for a plurality of selected video programs and the plurality of selected video programs are multiplexed together in a MPTS.

38. A system for receiving video programs by a distribution center that provides broadcast programming and store-and-forward programming comprising;

means for receiving one or more video programs and ancillary data, wherein the ancillary data includes permissions for the distribution center to record one or more selected video programs of the one or more video programs;

means for broadcasting the one or more video programs to viewers as broadcast programming; and

means for recording one or more of the video programs in accordance that the business rules permit the video distribution center to record.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the ancillary data includes limitations on the store-and-forward programming provided by the distribution center

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein the ancillary data and the video programs are multiplexed together.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the ancillary data for a selected video program and the selected video program are multiplexed together in a SPTS.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the ancillary data for a plurality of selected video programs and the plurality of selected video programs are multiplexed together in a MPTS.