VIRTUAL VIDEO ON DEMAND USING MULTIPLE ENCRYPTED VIDEO SEGMENTS

• US 20110173653A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arsenault, Robert G., Stanger, Leon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing a video program to a user, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user command to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and

after accepting the user command to view the selected video program, retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from at least one of the plurality of channels transmitting the video program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of

selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for video on demand (VOD) service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of:

scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and

identifying a video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the program guide is stored in the local storage device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of:

accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and

associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service is performed by the user and the method further comprises the step of presenting the program guide to the user.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of:

scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the plurality of video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and

selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of scanning the program guide comprises the step of comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of scanning the program guide comprises the step of comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a unique program identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving and storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device comprises the step of receiving data representing the first segment of the video program from a program source in a receiver communicatively coupled to the local storage device at a time scheduled by the program source.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user in response to the user command.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments each sub-segment associated with a time code, and the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises the step of sorting the sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the time code is an SMPTE time code.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the time code is a program time stamp.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments, each sub-segment associated with a time code and a channel identifier, and the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises the steps of:

assembling the sub-segments by the associated channel identifier; and

sorting the assembled sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the subsequent segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable with a key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the method further comprises the steps of:

in response to the user command and while retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user, transmitting a message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program to source of the video program; and

receiving the key.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of decrypting the encrypted subsequent segments with the key.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable by a different key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the method further comprises the steps of :

in response to the user command, transmitting a message separately identifying each of the segments of the selected video program to a source of the video program; and

receiving the different key for each of the segments.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of decrypting the encrypted segments with the different key associated with each segment.

20. An apparatus for providing a video program to a user, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving and storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user command to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and

means for retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from at least one of the plurality of channels transmitting the selected video program after accepting the user command to view the selected video program.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for video on demand (VOD) service.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and

means for identifying a video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the program guide is stored in the local storage device.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises:

means for accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and

means for associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the selected video program is selected from a plurality of video programs for VOD service by the user and the apparatus further comprises means for presenting the program guide to the user.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for selecting the selected video program from a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the plurality of video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and

means for selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a unique program identifier.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for receiving and storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device comprises means for receiving data representing the first segment of the video program from a program source in a receiver communicatively coupled to the local storage device at a time scheduled by the program source.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user in response to the user command.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments each sub-segment associated with a time code, and the means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises means for sorting the sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the time code is an SMPTE time code.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the time code is a program time stamp.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments, each sub-segment associated with a time code and a channel identifier, and the means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises:

means for assembling the sub-segments by the associated channel identifier; and

means for sorting the assembled sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the subsequent segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable with a key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprises:

means for transmitting a message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program to source of the video program in response to the user command and while retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user; and

means for receiving the key.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for decrypting the encrypted subsequent segments with the key.

37. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable by a different key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprises:

means for transmitting a message separately identifying each of the segments of the selected video program to a source of the video program in response to the user command; and

means for receiving the different key for each of the segments.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for decrypting the encrypted segments with the different key associated with each segment.

39. An apparatus for providing a video program to a user, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first segment of a selected video program before accepting a user command to view the selected video program, and for receiving subsequent segments of the video program from at least one of the plurality of channels transmitting the selected video program after accepting the user command to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval;

a storage device for storing the received first segment before accepting the user command to view the selected video program and for retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while storing the received subsequent segments of the video program after accepting the user command to view the selected video program.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the selected video program is selected by a control center.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the selected video program is selected by the user.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a transport module for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user in response to the user command.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments each sub-segment associated with a time code, and the transport module sorts the sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the time code is an SMPTE time code.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the time code is a program time stamp.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments, each sub-segment associated with a time code and a channel identifier, and the transport module assembles the sub-segments by the associated channel identifier and sorts the assembled sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein each of the subsequent segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable with a key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprises:

a modem for transmitting a message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program to source of the video program in response to the user command and while retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user; and

wherein the tuner receives the key.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a decryptor for decrypting the encrypted subsequent segments with the key.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein each of the segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable by a different key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprises:

a modem transmitting a message separately identifying each of the segments of the selected video program to a source of the video program in response to the user command; and

wherein the tuner receives the different key for each of the segments.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a decryptor for decrypting the encrypted segments with the different key associated with each segment.

51. An apparatus for pre-storing a video program to be later provided in response to a user demand to view the video program, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving and storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device before accepting the user demand, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and

wherein portions of the first segment are received and stored on the plurality of channels in parallel.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for selecting the video program, comprising:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and

means for identifying a video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for selecting the selected video program, comprising:

means for accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and

means for associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising means for selecting the selected video program, comprising:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of the plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from the previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and

means for selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing the video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing the video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a unique program identifier.

57. An apparatus for pre-storing a video program to be later provided in response to a user demand to view the media program, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device before accepting the user demand, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and

a storage device for storing the received first segment of the selected video program before accepting the user demand;

wherein portions of the first segment are received and stored on the plurality of channels in parallel.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising means for selecting the video program, comprising:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and

means for identifying a video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising means for selecting the selected video program, comprising:

means for accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and

means for associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising means for selecting the selected video program, comprising:

means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of the plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from the previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and

means for selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing the video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing the video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a unique program identifier.