System and method for facilitating fast-forwarding of first-run programs

• US 20060181606A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Beach Unlimited LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Oesterreicher, Richard T., Murphy, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

Claims

1. A method of distributing first-run programming content to a viewer, wherein said first run programming content comprises at least a portion of a pre-produced program that is not generally publicly available for viewing until a scheduled publication time, the method comprising:

loading digitally encoded first-run programming content on to a media distribution server, said first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time;

digitally multicasting the digitally encoded first-run programming content at the scheduled publication time;

receiving a request from a viewer for first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point;

transferring the viewer from a multicasting to a unicast session;

digitally transmitting first-run programming content in the unicast session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of digitally transmitting further comprises transmitting the first-run programming content at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of digitally transmitting further comprises transmitting the first-run programming content at a rate equal to a requested fast-forwarding rate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of digitally transmitting further comprises transmitting up to an allowed number of segments of said first-run programming content at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said allowed number of segments corresponds to a release code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a release code to permit said transferring and digitally transmitting.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising embedding said release code in said first-run programming content prior to digitally multicasting said digitally encoded first-run programming content.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising viewing the requested first-run programming content on a display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally multicasting the digitally encoded first-run programming content is performed at a normal viewing rate.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising digitally encoding said first-run programming content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first-run programming content comprises a pre-produced television program initially broadcast by a television station owned or affiliated with a television network.

12. A media distribution server for distributing first-run programming content to a viewer, wherein said first run programming content comprises at least a portion of a pre-produced program that is not generally publicly available for viewing until a scheduled publication time, said media distribution server comprising:

a storage comprising at least one digitally-encoded first-run program segment, wherein said digitally-encoded first-run program segment is a portion of a digitally-encoded first-run program, said digitally-encoded first-run program having a scheduled publication time; and

a transmission mechanism for multicasting said digitally-encoded first-run program segment to a plurality of recording devices;

said media distribution server configured to receive a request from a viewer for digitally-encoded first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point;

said media distribution server further configured to transfer the viewer from a multicasting to a unicast session, wherein requested digitally-encoded first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point is transmitted to said viewer in said unicast session.

13. The media distribution server of claim 12, further comprising a digital encoding mechanism for encoding at least one release code into said digitally-encoded first-run program segment.

14. The media distribution server of claim 12, said media distribution server further configured to receive a release code prior to transmitting requested digitally-encoded first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point.