Content storage method and system
First Claim
1. A content storage method for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast video programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the method comprising:
- establishing a personal file locker on the network for a user, the file locker including network storage space allocated for personal use by the user;
establishing a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the user for placing broadcast video programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user;
upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, storing that video program in the user'"'"'s file locker;
making the stored video program available to the user for viewing;
establishing a buffer enhancement for the file locker; and
enabling the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the file locker buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A content storage method and system for use in a content distribution network are provided. A personal file locker is established on the network for a user. A content-storage-request database is established. The database tracks requests by the user for placing video programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user. Upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, the requested video program is stored in the user'"'"'s file locker. The stored video program is then made available to the user for viewing. Alternative approaches to content storage methods and systems are also described, including the use of a buffer enhancement to enable the performance of operations on “live” television.
87 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A content storage method for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast video programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the method comprising:
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establishing a personal file locker on the network for a user, the file locker including network storage space allocated for personal use by the user;
establishing a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the user for placing broadcast video programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user;
upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, storing that video program in the user'"'"'s file locker;
making the stored video program available to the user for viewing;
establishing a buffer enhancement for the file locker; and
enabling the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the file locker buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A content storage system for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast video programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the system comprising:
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a personal file locker on the network for a user, the file locker being a construct created to hold the user'"'"'s content and including network storage space allocated for personal use by the user, the file locker including a buffer enhancement;
a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the user for placing broadcast video programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user; and
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to, upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists a request by the user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, store that video program in the user'"'"'s file locker, and make the stored video program available to the user for viewing; and
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to enable the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the file locker buffer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A content storage method for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast video programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of personal file lockers on the network for a plurality of users, each file locker including network storage space allocated for personal use by the corresponding user, each file locker including a buffer enhancement;
establishing a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the plurality of users for placing broadcast video programs into their file lockers for personal use;
upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists at least one request by a user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, storing that video program in each requesting user'"'"'s file locker;
making the stored video program available for viewing by each user whose file locker received the video program; and
enabling a user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement in that user'"'"'s file locker, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the user'"'"'s file locker buffer.
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26. A content storage system for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast video programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the system comprising:
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a plurality of personal file lockers on the network for a plurality of users, each file locker including network storage space allocated for personal use by the corresponding user, each file locker including a buffer enhancement;
a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the plurality of users for placing broadcast video programs into their file lockers for personal use;
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to, upon the broadcasting of a video program for which there exists at least one request by a user to place the video program into the user'"'"'s file locker, store that video program in each requesting user'"'"'s file locker;
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to make the stored video program available for viewing by each user whose file locker received the video program; and
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to enable a user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement in that user'"'"'s file locker, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the user'"'"'s file locker buffer.
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27. A method for time-shifted viewing of content for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network delivering a plurality of broadcast video programs over the network to a plurality of viewers in accordance with a broadcast schedule, the method comprising:
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allocating a remote personal storage resource on the network for a user;
receiving a request by the user for storage of a desired one or more of the broadcast video programs;
only if said request is received no later than a scheduled broadcast of the desired program, in response to the request automatically storing the desired video program in the user'"'"'s remote personal storage resource upon the scheduled broadcasting of the desired video program;
automatically making the stored video program available to the user over the network for viewing at a subsequent time specified by the user;
establishing a buffer enhancement for the remote personal storage resource; and
enabling the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the remote personal storage resource buffer. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A content storage method for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the method comprising:
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establishing a personal file locker on the network for a user, the file locker including network storage space allocated for personal use by the user;
establishing a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the user for placing broadcast programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user;
upon the broadcasting of a program for which there exists a request by the user to place the program into the user'"'"'s file locker, storing that program in the user'"'"'s file locker;
making the stored program available to the user for viewing;
establishing a buffer enhancement for the file locker; and
enabling the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the file locker buffer.
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32. A content storage system for use in a content distribution network, the content distribution network providing broadcast programming over the network to a plurality of users in accordance with a broadcasting schedule, the system comprising:
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a personal file locker on the network for a user, the file locker being a construct created to hold the user'"'"'s content and including network storage space allocated for personal use by the user, the file locker including a buffer enhancement;
a content-storage-request database for tracking requests by the user for placing broadcast programs into the user'"'"'s file locker for personal use by the user;
computer instructions executable by a computer on the network to, upon the broadcasting of a program for which there exists a request by the user to place the program into the user'"'"'s file locker, store that program in the user'"'"'s file locker, and make the stored program available to the user for viewing; and
computer instructions executable by a computer to enable the user to pause broadcast programming during the broadcasting thereof via utilization of the buffer enhancement, thereby further personalizing the viewing of an otherwise traditionally delivered program, whereby after unpausing of the broadcast programming, the delayed programming is viewed from the file locker buffer.
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Specification