Program transmission optimisation
First Claim
1. A method for optimising transmission of a program to multiple receivers over a distribution system, wherein if one or more receivers request a particular program at a same time or different times, the distribution system responds to each request irrespective of whether or not a receiver other than said one or more receivers is already receiving the same particular program, while minimizing transmission resources required to service the requests, the method comprising:
- at a head end of the distribution system,(a) providing the program divided into a plurality of program segments for implementing a scheduling algorithm by which the program segments are organized into a predetermined sequence; and
(b) transmitting the program segments according to the scheduling algorithm such that during a time required for normal playback of the program at the multiple receivers, at least some of the program segments are transmitted more than once simultaneously from the head end to the multiple receivers with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receiver;
and at a receiver of the distribution system,(c) storing the transmitted program segments in a buffer storage means in the receiver for subsequent playback, wherein if a same program segment is received by the receiver more than once, said same program segment is stored only once in the buffer storage means, and wherein said scheduling algorithm ensures that any receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback of the program at a normal playback rate of the program while providing flexibility to structure the buffer storage means to be smaller than is required to hold the entire program if desired.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of optimizing transmission of a program to multiple users over a distribution system, with particular application to video-on-demand for a CATV network. The system includes, at a head end of the CATV network a scheduling and routing computer for dividing the video program stored in long term fast storage or short term fast storage into a plurality of program segments, and a subscriber distribution node for transmitting the program segments in a redundant sequence in accordance with a scheduling algorithm. At a receiver of the CATV network there is provided a buffer memory for storing the transmitted video program segments for subsequent playback whereby, in use, the scheduling algorithm can ensure that a user'"'"'s receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback in real time of the program. Under the control of controller the receiver distinguishes received program segments by a segment identifier so that redundant segments captured in capture memory are then stored in buffer memory from which the segments can be retrieved and decompressed in data decompressor for immediate or subsequent viewing.
261 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for optimising transmission of a program to multiple receivers over a distribution system, wherein if one or more receivers request a particular program at a same time or different times, the distribution system responds to each request irrespective of whether or not a receiver other than said one or more receivers is already receiving the same particular program, while minimizing transmission resources required to service the requests, the method comprising:
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at a head end of the distribution system, (a) providing the program divided into a plurality of program segments for implementing a scheduling algorithm by which the program segments are organized into a predetermined sequence; and (b) transmitting the program segments according to the scheduling algorithm such that during a time required for normal playback of the program at the multiple receivers, at least some of the program segments are transmitted more than once simultaneously from the head end to the multiple receivers with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receiver; and at a receiver of the distribution system, (c) storing the transmitted program segments in a buffer storage means in the receiver for subsequent playback, wherein if a same program segment is received by the receiver more than once, said same program segment is stored only once in the buffer storage means, and wherein said scheduling algorithm ensures that any receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback of the program at a normal playback rate of the program while providing flexibility to structure the buffer storage means to be smaller than is required to hold the entire program if desired. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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8. A system for optimizing transmission of a program to multiple receivers, wherein when one or more receivers request a particular program at a same time or different times, the system responds to each request irrespective of whether or not a receiver other than said one or more receivers is already receiving the same particular program, while minimizing transmission resources required to service the requests, the system comprising:
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at a head end of the system; means for providing the program divided into a plurality of program segments for implementing a scheduling algorithm by which the program segments are organized into a predetermined sequence; and
,means for transmitting the program segments according to the scheduling algorithm such that during a time required for normal playback of the program at the multiple receivers, at least some of the program segments are transmitted more than once simultaneously from the head end to the multiple receivers with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the system to any specific receiver; and at a receiver of the system, buffer storage means for storing the transmitted program segments for subsequent playback on the receiver, wherein if a same program segment is received by the receiver more than once, said same program is stored only once in the buffer storage means, and wherein said scheduling algorithm ensures that any receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback of the program at a normal playback rate of the program while providing flexibility to structure the buffer storage means to be smaller than is required to hold the entire program if desired. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A receiver for receiving a program supplied to multiple receivers by a program transmission optimization system, wherein more than one of the multiple receivers request a particular program at a same time or different times, the system responds to each request irrespective of whether or not a receiver other than said more than one of the multiple receivers is already receiving the same particular program while minimizing transmission resources required to service the requests, the receiver comprising:
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buffer storage means for storing a plurality of program segments of the program transmitted from a head end of the program transmission optimization system according to a scheduling algorithm such that during a time required for normal playback of the program at the multiple receivers, at least some of the program segments are transmitted more than once simultaneously from the head end to the multiple receivers with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the system to any specific receiver, and wherein if a same program segment is received by the receiver more than once, said same program segment is stored only once in the buffer storage means; and processing means for processing said program segments stored in the buffer storage means and for supplying the segments in a correct sequence for playback, wherein said scheduling algorithm ensures that the receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback of the program at a normal playback rate of the program while providing flexibility to structure the buffer storage means to be smaller than is required to hold the entire program if desired. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A scheduling apparatus for a program transmission optimization system for optimizing transmission of a program from a head end to multiple receivers, wherein if one or more of the multiple receivers request a particular program at a same time or different times, the system responds to each request irrespective of whether or not a receiver other than said one or more of the multiple receivers is already receiving the same particular program, while minimizing transmission resources required to service the requests, the scheduling apparatus comprising:
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means for providing the program divided into a plurality of program segments for implementing a scheduling algorithm by which the program segments are organized into a predetermined sequence; and means for scheduling said plurality of program segments according to the scheduling algorithm such that during a time required for normal playback of the program at the multiple receivers at least some of the program segments are transmitted more than once simultaneously from the head end to the multiple receivers with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the system to any specific receiver; and wherein said scheduled program segments are transmitted to one or more receivers of users requesting the program such that if a same program segment is received by a receiver more than once, said same program segment is stored only once in a buffer storage means provided in the receiver, and wherein said scheduling algorithm ensures that a user'"'"'s receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback of the program at a normal playback rate of the program while providing the flexibility to structure the buffer storage means to be smaller than is required to hold the entire program if desired. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification