Technique for effectively providing various entertainment services through a communications network

• US 20100050218A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williamson, Louis D., Carlucci, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,752,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• 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 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/4335 : Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• 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 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A switched broadcast service and a network personal video recorder (NPVR) service are provided synergistically in a cable TV system having limited resources. For example, in providing the switched broadcast service, a resource manager allocates network bandwidth for broadcast of materials from selected program channels on an as needed basis. Such allocation is conducive to an effective provision of the NPVR service which requires dedicated bandwidth for transmitting recorded broadcast program material in a headend to each set-top terminal requesting the NPVR service. Thus, unlike the switched broadcast service where a program stream containing program material is shared by one or more set-top terminals, the NPVR service provides a dedicated program stream to each set-top terminal so that a user at the terminal may manipulate (e.g., rewind, pause and/or fast-forward) a presentation of program material at will.

Claims

1. A system for providing program material to a plurality of devices in an area, the system comprising:

at least one mechanism configured to;

provide first program streams containing respective program material to the area in accordance with a first, broadcast service for sharing among devices in the area, each of the program streams being received by one or more devices in the area; and

at least one processing unit configured to;

withhold provision of a respective first program stream to the area if no devices in the area receive the respective program stream, thereby making available transmission capacity;

receive requests for program material associated with a second, on demand service, from respective devices in an area;

generate program streams containing the requested program materials in accordance with the second, on demand service for exclusive use by respective requesting devices; and

integrate the generated second program streams with at least one first program stream to be provided to the area by the at least one mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to:

receive second requests for program material associated with a first, broadcast service from respective second devices in an area; and

identify to respective second devices respective first program streams containing the requested program material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to track a number of devices in the area selecting each channel associated with the first, broadcast service.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control element to block respective first program streams associated with non-selected channels from delivery to the area, if no devices in the area select a respective channel associated with the respective first program stream, under the control of the at least one processing unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second, on demand service allows manipulation of presentations of requested program material in second program streams.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second, on demand service provides program material according to a broadcast schedule.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism provides the first and second program streams to the plurality of devices through at least one transport stream via a communications network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the communications network comprises a cable TV network; and

at least some of the devices in the area include a set-top terminal for receiving cable TV.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a service area node coupling the plurality of devices in the area to the communications network.

10. The method of claim 2, comprising:

receiving first requests for program material attributed to at least one selected first channel associated with the second, on demand service; and

receiving second requests for program material attributed to at least one selected second channel associated with the first, broadcast service.

11. A system for providing program material to a plurality of devices in an area, the system comprising:

at least one mechanism configured to provide first program streams to the area in accordance with a first, broadcast service for sharing among devices in the area, in at least one transport stream, via a communications network, the respective first program streams being received by at least one device in the area;

at least one processing unit configured to;

receive requests for program material attributed to at least one selected channel associated with the first, broadcast service or a second, on demand service, respectively, from respective devices in an area;

for requests for program material attributed to selected program channels associated with the first, broadcast service, identify to requesting devices respective first program streams containing the requested program material;

track a number of devices in the area selecting each channel associated with the first, broadcast service;

withhold provision of a respective first program stream to the area if no devices in the area select a respective channel associated with the respective first program stream, thereby making available transmission capacity in the at least one transport stream;

for requests for selected program channels associated with the second, on demand service, generate program streams containing the requested program material for exclusive use by respective requesting devices, and

integrate the generated second program streams with at least one first program stream in the at least one transport stream to be provided to the area by the mechanism, for the exclusive use of each requesting device.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a control element to block respective first program streams associated with non-selected channels from delivery to the area, if no devices in the area select a respective channel associated with the respective first program stream, under the control of the at least one processing unit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second, on demand service allows manipulation of a presentation of the requested program material in the second program streams.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the communications network comprises a cable TV network; and

at least some of the devices in the area include a set-top terminal for receiving cable TV.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a service area node coupling the plurality of devices in the area to the communications network.

16. A method for providing program material to a plurality of devices in an area, the method comprising:

providing first program streams containing program material to the area in accordance with a first, broadcast service, for sharing among devices in the area, the first program streams being received by at least one device in the area;

withholding provision to the area of first program streams not received by any device in the area, thereby making available transmission capacity;

receiving requests for program material associated with a second, on demand service, from respective devices in an area;

generating second program streams in response to the requests for program material associated with the second, on demand service, for exclusive use by the respective requesting devices; and

integrating the generated second program streams with at least one first program stream provided to the area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving second requests for program material associated with the first, broadcast service from respective devices in an area; and

identifying to requesting devices respective first program streams containing the requested program material.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

tracking a number of devices in the area selecting each channel associated with the first service.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising withholding provision of respective first program streams by blocking the respective first program streams associated with non-selected channels from delivery to the area.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving requests to manipulate presentation of program material in second program streams from respective devices; and

manipulating the presentations of the provided program material, in accordance with the requests.

21. The method of claim 16, comprising providing program material in accordance with the second, on demand service, according to a broadcast schedule.

22. The method of claim 16, comprising:

providing the first and second program streams to the area in at least one transport stream, via a communications network.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising;

providing the at least one transport stream via a cable TV network; and

receiving the requests from set-top terminals for receiving cable TV.

24. The method of claim 17, comprising:

receiving the first and second requests from devices in the area and providing the first and second program streams to respective devices through a service area node.

25. The method of claim 17, comprising:

receiving first requests for program material attributed to at least one channel associated with the second, on demand service; and

receiving second requests for program material attributed to at least on channel associated with the first, broadcast service.

26. A system for providing program material to a plurality of devices in an area, the system comprising:

means for providing one or more program streams containing broadcast program material to the area for sharing among devices in the area in accordance with a first, broadcast service, each of the one or more program streams being received by one or more devices in the area;

means for withholding provision of a selected one of the program streams to the area when the number of devices in the area receiving the selected program stream becomes zero, thereby making available transmission capacity;

means for receiving a request for a second, on demand service from a certain device in the area; and

means responsive to the request for allocating at least part of the available transmission capacity to provide a program stream containing program material for exclusive use by the certain device.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising;

means for generating second program streams in response to the request.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for manipulating presentation of program material provided to the certain device, in response to a request from the certain device.