Program server for interactive television system
First Claim
1. A server for sending one or more data blocks from a data memory in specified channels over a distribution system at controlled time intervals, which comprises:
- a command-word memory for storing a command word for each said data block to be sent, each command word including at least the identity of the channel for said data block, the address in said data memory of the next portion of said data block to be sent and a time indication;
first processing means for receiving requests to send data blocks and for storing said command words in said command memory in response to said requests;
second processing means for periodically processing each command word in said command-word memory, said second processing means comprising;
means for updating the time indication in said command word;
means operative when said time indication reaches a threshold value for retrieving the portion of said data block from the address in said data memory specified in said command word and updating said address; and
means for sending said retrieved portion in said identified channel over said distribution system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a system for transmitting stored programs, such as movies and musical works, to customers via a distribution network, such as a cable television system. The programs are stored in compressed form in a program library, such as a tape cartridge library. On receipt of a request for a program, a request processor sends control messages causing a data block comprising the requested program to be read from the program library at high speed and stored in a large dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in a server. The server then sends the program from DRAM over the distribution system to a customer as a series of digital packets. Each instance of sending a program is managed by a separate command word. The customer can request such operations as "fast forward" by sending control messages that change pointers in the command word. Command words can be grouped to send multiple audio and/or video overlays simultaneously and linked to send program sequences. The request processor, server, program library and interfaces to distribution networks can be at different locations.
483 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A server for sending one or more data blocks from a data memory in specified channels over a distribution system at controlled time intervals, which comprises:
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a command-word memory for storing a command word for each said data block to be sent, each command word including at least the identity of the channel for said data block, the address in said data memory of the next portion of said data block to be sent and a time indication; first processing means for receiving requests to send data blocks and for storing said command words in said command memory in response to said requests; second processing means for periodically processing each command word in said command-word memory, said second processing means comprising; means for updating the time indication in said command word; means operative when said time indication reaches a threshold value for retrieving the portion of said data block from the address in said data memory specified in said command word and updating said address; and means for sending said retrieved portion in said identified channel over said distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of sending portions of one or more data blocks from a data memory in specified channels over a distribution system at controlled time intervals, which further comprises:
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creating and storing a command word for each said data block to be sent, each command word including at least the identity of the channel for said data block, the address in said data memory of the next portion to be sent and a time indication; periodically processing each stored command word, including the steps of; updating the time indication; when said time indication reaches a threshold value, retrieving the portion of said data block from the address in said data memory specified in said command word and updating said address; and sending said retrieved portion in said identified channel over said distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of sending one or more data blocks from a storage library at controlled rates to one or more users over specified channels in a distribution system, which comprises:
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upon receipt of a request for a data block; retrieving said data block from said storage library and storing said data block in a random-access memory; creating and storing a command word for each such request, each said command word containing at least the identity of the channel for said data block, the address in said data memory of the next portion to be sent and a time indication; periodically processing each stored command word, including the steps of; updating the time indication; when said time indication reaches a threshold value, retrieving the portion of said data block from the address in said random-access memory specified in said command word and updating said address; and sending said retrieved portion in said identified channel over said distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification