Advanced television system

• US 20070067800A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wachtfogel, Reuven, Richardson, David, Maissel, Jonathan, Silver, Yonatan, Tsuria, Yossef, Kipnis, S.hlomo
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 : having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/44016 : involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 : Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/84 : using optical recording H04N5/80, H04N5/89, H04N5/91 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user, receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited addressable program; and storing the edited addressable program.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A broadcast system comprising:

a headend for broadcasting program material with commercials; and

a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, each receiving said program material being broadcast and including a commercial unit for dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein each said receiver-decoder deals with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which they are viewed by a user,

and said receiver decoder deals with said commercials by one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

36. A broadcast system according to claim 35 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said receiver-decoder deals with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.

37. A receiver-decoder for use with a broadcast system having a headend for broadcasting program material with commercials and a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, said receiver-decoder comprising:

a receiver for receiving said program material being broadcast; and

a commercial unit for dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein said receiver-decoder deals with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which they are viewed by a user,

and said receiver decoder deals with said commercials by one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

38. A receiver-decoder according to claim 37 and wherein said receiver-decoder deals with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials via said receiver-decoder.

39. A receiver-decoder according to claim 37 and wherein said receiver-decoder deals with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials by multiple users.

40. A receiver-decoder according to claim 37 and wherein said receiver decoder deals with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

41. A receiver-decoder according to claim 37 and wherein said receiver decoder deals with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which their viewing may be obviated independently of user action.

42. A receiver-decoder according to claim 37 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said receiver-decoder deals with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.

43. A broadcast method comprising:

broadcasting program material with commercials; and

receiving, at a multiplicity of user locations, said program material being broadcast and dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises determining conditions pursuant to which they are viewed by a user,

and said dealing with said commercials comprises one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

44. A broadcast method according to claim 43 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.

45. A method for use with a broadcast system having a headend for broadcasting program material with commercials and a multiplicity of user locations, said method comprising:

receiving said program material being broadcast; and

dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises determining conditions pursuant to which they are viewed by a user,

and said dealing with said commercials comprises one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

46. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials at said user location.

47. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials by multiple users.

48. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

49. A method according to claim 45 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises determining conditions pursuant to which their viewing may be obviated independently of user action.

50. A broadcast method according to claim 45 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.

51. A broadcast system comprising:

means for broadcasting program material with commercials; and

means for receiving, at a multiplicity of user locations, said program material being broadcast and for dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

52. A broadcast system according to claim 51 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said receiver-decoder deals with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.

53. A receiver-decoder for use with a broadcast system having a headend for broadcasting program material with commercials and a multiplicity of user locations, said receiver-decoder comprising:

means for receiving said program material being broadcast; and

means for dealing with said commercials based at least partially on past viewing thereof,

wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises one of the following;

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials may be obviated independently of user action; and

determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

54. A receiver-decoder according to claim 53 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials at said user location.

55. A receiver-decoder according to claim 53 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials based at least partially on a history of viewing of said commercials by multiple users.

56. A receiver-decoder according to claim 53 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises dealing with said commercials by determining conditions pursuant to which viewing of said commercials is obviated by user action.

57. A receiver-decoder according to claim 53 and wherein said dealing with said commercials comprises determining conditions pursuant to which their viewing may be obviated independently of user action.

58. A receiver-decoder according to claim 53 and wherein, for at least one of said commercials, said receiver-decoder deals with said one commercial by preventing the user from skipping said one commercial.