USE OF MESSAGES IN OR ASSOCIATED WITH PROGRAM SIGNAL STREAMS BY SET-TOP TERMINALS
First Claim
1. A method of operating a receiving device comprising:
- programming the receiving device to record a selected one of at least one program to be received in program signal stream, starting at a first program start clock time;
receiving the program signal stream comprising at least the selected program and at least one message containing a second program start time for the selected program, the second program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start of the selected program in the program stream, the program signal stream and the at least one message being received from a same originator;
identifying the at least one message in the received program stream;
comparing the first program start clock time of the selected program with the second program start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message; and
starting to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time, if the second program start time is different from the first program start clock time.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of operating a communications system comprise, in one example, inserting advertising in a program stream by a receiving device based, at least in part, on an encrypted segmentation message embedded in the program steam. The at least one segmentation message defines an expanse of the program stream to receive the advertising. At least one embedded decoy message is included in the program stream, as well. In one example, the receiving device, which may be a set-top terminal, for example, is coupled to a display device, such as a television, at a user location. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location is also disclosed, comprising programming the receiving device to record a program and recording the program based, at least in part, on at least one segmentation message in a program stream. Systems are disclosed, as well.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a receiving device comprising:
-
programming the receiving device to record a selected one of at least one program to be received in program signal stream, starting at a first program start clock time; receiving the program signal stream comprising at least the selected program and at least one message containing a second program start time for the selected program, the second program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start of the selected program in the program stream, the program signal stream and the at least one message being received from a same originator; identifying the at least one message in the received program stream; comparing the first program start clock time of the selected program with the second program start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message; and starting to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time, if the second program start time is different from the first program start clock time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A receiving device to receive a program signal stream comprising:
-
an interface to receive a program signal stream comprising at least one program, the program signal stream comprising at least one message containing a first program start time for a selected one of the at least one programs, the first program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start time of the selected program in the program stream, wherein the program signal stream including the at least one message is received from a same originator; a processing device configured to; be programmable by a user to record the selected program starting at a second program start clock time; receive the program signal stream from the interface; identify the at least one message in the received program signal stream; compare the first program start time of the selected program in units of time contained in the at least one message to the second program start clock time; and start to record the selected program starting at the first start time, in units of time contained in the at least one message, if the second start time is different from the first start clock time; the receiving device further comprising memory coupled to the processor to store the selected recorded program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification