Digital data broadcasting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, including in a transmission schedule times to transmit the content item, and preparing the transmission schedule, a descriptor file describing the content item, and the content item for transmitting.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, a transmission schedule includes times to transmit the content item, and the transmission schedule, a descriptor file describing the content item, and the content item are prepared for transmitting.
-
Citations
69 Claims
-
1. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, including in a transmission schedule times to transmit the content item, and preparing the transmission schedule, a descriptor file describing the content item, and the content item for transmitting.
-
20. A method comprising
assigning content items from a set of content items to positions in a queue, for each content item, storing information about the content item and the content item'"'"'s position in the queue in a schedule file corresponding to the content item, and repeatedly, transmitting the schedule files corresponding to the content items in the queue, transmitting each of the content items in the queue in turn, while transmitting the content items, assigning content items to a next cycle of the queue by doing one or more of removing a content item in the queue from the next cycle, adding a new content item not in the queue to the next cycle, and replacing a content item in the queue with a new content item in the next cycle, for each new content item, storing information about the new content item and the new content item'"'"'s position in the next cycle in a schedule file corresponding to the new content item, transmitting the schedule files corresponding to the content items in the next cycle, and transmitting each of the content items in the next cycle in turn.
-
21. A method comprising
receiving a file to transmit and information describing the file, assigning a time in a schedule to transmit the file, creating a second file from the information describing the file and the assigned time, transmitting the second file, and at the assigned time, transmitting the file.
-
27. A method comprising
receiving at a user device a schedule indicating a time when a content item will be transmitted on a one-way channel, and a description of the content item, and preparing the user device to receive the content item at the time when it is transmitted on the one-way channel.
-
58. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, including in a transmission schedule a number of times to transmit the content item, the number of times being determined by a provider of the content item, and preparing the transmission schedule, a descriptor file describing the content item, and the content item for transmitting.
-
59. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, including in a transmission schedule a number of times to transmit the content item, the number of times including a final time that is a predetermined amount of time before an expiration time of the content item, and preparing the transmission schedule, a descriptor file describing the content item, and the content item for transmitting.
-
60. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, receiving an information file corresponding to the content item, including in a transmission schedule a number of times to transmit the content item, adding information in the information file to a descriptor file describing the content item, adding other information from the information file to a schedule, adding the times to transmit the content item to the schedule, and preparing the schedule, the descriptor file, and the content item for transmitting.
-
61. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, receiving an information file corresponding to the content item, creating a unique identifier corresponding to the content item and information in the information file, and adding the unique identifier to a descriptor file describing the content item.
-
62. A method comprising
for each content item of a set of content items to be transmitted, adding the content item to a position in a queue of content items, adding the position of the content item in the queue to a schedule, adding the schedule to a queue of schedules, and simultaneously transmitting the queue of schedules and the queue of content items.
-
63. A method comprising
organizing content items to be broadcast to user devices into groups that depend on at least one of the length of the items and the rate at which the items become stale to users of the devices, and controlling transmission of different groups to the user devices in accordance with different transmission routines.
-
64. A method comprising
including in a file that contains a content item to be broadcast to user devices a lifetime value that is indicative of when the file is expected to become stale to users of the devices.
-
65. A method comprising
scheduling a content item for repeated broadcast to user devices, and establishing a glide interval representing a time after a final broadcast of an item that is sufficiently ahead of a lifetime associated with the content item permit the user to use the content item after receipt of the final broadcast and before the lifetime has expired.
-
66. A method comprising
updating content items in a recirculating set of content items to be broadcast to user devices while content items in the recirculating set are being broadcast to user devices.
-
67. A method comprising
transmitting to user devices metadata associated with content items to be transmitted to the user devices, the metadata being transmitted in at least two separate portions, one portion comprising information to enable user devices to determine whether and when to receive one or more of the content items, the other portion containing additional descriptive information about the content items.
-
68. A method comprising
receiving pieces of a transmitted content item at user devices at different times, when at least one additional piece must be received in order to have a complete content item, tracking at the user devices a time at which the one additional piece will be transmitted, and assembling the complete content item at the user devices when all of the pieces have been received, for presentation to the users of the devices.
-
69. A method comprising
enabling a user device that is configured to receive scheduling information about content items that are to be broadcast at times not controlled by the device, to save power by altering its power mode according to whether a broadcast of a desired content item is occurring.
Specification