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

• US 20060188222A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• 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 8,336,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/332
• 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, said method comprising:

digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time;

loading digitally encoded first-run programming content onto a media distribution server;

prior to said scheduled publication time, transmitting said digitally encoded first-run programming content to a recording device; and

transmitting a release code to the recording device to enable playback of the digitally encoded first-run programming content at or after said scheduled publication time.

2. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 1, wherein said release code accompanies a broadcast version of the first-run programming content.

3. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 1, wherein said release code permits viewing a segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point.

4. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 1, wherein said release code permits fast-forwarding at least one segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content.

5. 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 mechanism for digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time;

a storage device to store at least one digitally encoded first-run program segment; and

a transmission mechanism for transmitting said digitally encoded first-run program segment and a release code for accessing said digitally encoded first-run program segment after said scheduled publication time.

6. The media distribution server of claim 5, wherein said release code accompanies a broadcast version of the first-run programming content.

7. The media distribution server of claim 5, wherein said release code permits viewing a segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content beyond a current broadcast point.

8. The media distribution server of claim 5, wherein said release code permits fast-forwarding at least one segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content.

9. A recording device for receiving and replaying first-run programming content, 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 recording device comprising:

a mechanism adapted to receive a digitally encoded first-run programming content segment from a digital media server, wherein said digitally encoded first-run program segment is a portion of a digitally encoded first-run program;

a mechanism adapted to block access to said digitally encoded first-run program segment until a scheduled publication time associated with said digitally encoded first-run program; and

a mechanism adapted to replay said digitally encoded first-run programming content segment after said scheduled publication time.

10. The recording device of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism adapted to select said digitally encoded first-run programming content segment for replay prior to a segment publication time.

11. The recording device of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism adapted to receive a release code, wherein said release code permits selecting said digitally encoded first-run programming content segment for replay prior to a segment publication time.

12. The recording device of claim 9, wherein said recording device is coupled to a display.

13. A method of distributing first-run programming content, 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 method comprising:

digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time;

loading digitally encoded first-run programming content onto a media distribution server;

digitally transmitting the digitally encoded first-run programming content at or after said scheduled publication time at a rate greater than a normal viewing rate.

14. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 13, further comprising viewing said digitally encoded first-run programming segment being beyond a current broadcast point.

15. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 13, further comprising receiving said digitally encoded first-run programming content at a recording device at said rate greater than a normal viewing rate while replaying said digitally encoded first-run programming content at a normal viewing rate.

16. The method of distributing first-run programming content of claim 14, further comprising digitally transmitting a release code.

17. A method of distributing first-run programming content, 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 method comprising:

broadcasting digitally encoded first-run programming content on or after a scheduled publication time;

receiving a request for transmission of a portion of said digitally encoded first-run programming content, wherein said portion is beyond a current broadcast point;

transmitting a requested portion of said digitally encoded first-run programming content prior to a normal broadcast time for said digitally encoded first-run programming content.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a release code prior to transmitting a requested portion of said digitally encoded first-run programming content.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said portion of said digitally encoded first-run programming content is one of a plurality of digitally encoded first-run programming segments, each digitally encoded first-run programming segment having a segment publication time.

20. A digitally encoded data structure, comprising:

at least one digitally encoded first-run programming segment associated with a digitally encoded first-run program wherein said digitally encoded first-run programming segment comprises at least a portion of a pre-produced program that is not generally publicly available for viewing until a scheduled publication time;

a segment publication time associated with said digitally encoded first-run programming segment;

a scheduled publication time for said digitally encoded first-run program.