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.
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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.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for creating a virtual media channel at an end user, comprising:
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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, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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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, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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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, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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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 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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Specification