System and method for facilitating fast-forwarding of first-run programs
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
14 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification