System and method for delivery of short-time duration video segments

• US 20060184979A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Edmonds, Jeremy S., Gordon, Donald F., Bayrakeri, Sadik, Ludvig, Edward A., Comito, John P., Gershtein, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A system and method for efficient delivery of video segments. One embodiment relates to the delivery of short-time duration video segments. The video segments may be delivered as part of a media-rich interactive program guide (IPG) or for some other application. The system and method provides a viewer with access to a video segment starting at its beginning (or any other selectable point within the video segment). Such access may be provided using a server-centric interactive technique. The server-centric technique may involve use of a demand-cast system and method. Demand-cast messaging may occur between a session manager, transport stream generator, and terminal. For example, a video object on a screen may be activated by a viewer using a remote control for a terminal. Activation of the object may cause transmission of a request from the terminal to a session manager for a video segment corresponding to the object. In response to the request, the session manager may initiate a process to accomplish delivery of the video segment from a transport stream generator to the terminal.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transport stream generator for generating and providing at least one transport stream to a plurality of terminals, the transport stream including an interactive program guide (IPG), the IPG including a plurality of video segments, the video segments including a set of frequently accessed video segments that are broadcast continuously within the same transport stream as the IPG and a set of less frequently accessed video segments that are demand-cast; and

a session manager for managing delivery of the IPG and for monitoring demand-cast stream usage by the terminals, and for requesting that the transport stream generator insert one of the less frequently accessed video segments into the transport stream, upon request from one of the terminals and based on the demand-cast stream usage.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a distribution center including the transport stream generator and the session manager.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport stream generator and the session manager are at a set of local neighborhood equipment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport stream generator is at a set of local neighborhood equipment and the session manager is at a headend.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one of terminals sends a request to the session manager for one of the less frequently accessed video segments, when a user selects a video object in the IPG.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the less frequently accessed video segments include a plurality of previews and a plurality of advertisements.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the less frequently accessed video segments are pull demand-cast.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the session manager de-registers one of the terminals from a transport stream registry, after a period of time within which the terminal did not release the demand-cast stream.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the session manager registers one of the terminals to a transport stream registry, after the terminal acquires a demand-cast stream.