System for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming

• US 5,572,442 A
• Filed: 07/21/1994
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Information Highway Media Corporation
• Inventors: Janky, James M., Schulhof, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/279,243
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 455/4.2, 455/3.2, 455/6.3, 348/6, 348/7, 369/30, 364/514 C, 364/401, 395/425
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A distribution system for audio program materials includes a portable audio storage and retrieval device that is programmable from a high speed data transfer system, and that includes a high-capacity data storage medium, a base control interface for identifying and accepting program material, a mobile control interface for displaying the identity of recorded material for playback selection, a recording mechanism for accepting very high speed digital data from an external source at rates faster than real time, and a playback mechanism for retrieving the stored data from the storage medium and for converting the data into audio signals for playback.

Claims

1. A system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming comprising:

a library containing a pluality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;

a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time wherein said information request manager sorts said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library, fetches a copy of the requested program, queues the program, and commands transfer of the program to said data transmission system, and wherein said information request manager stores subscriber addresses in said bins to track the subscriber address of each subscriber who has requested a particular program;

and further comprising;

a counter for determining when a preset number of subscriber requests is reached in each bin, such that said information request manager activates a program transfer routine when said preset number is reached.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transfer routine first broadcasts a message containing the addresses of those subscribers that have requested specific program material;

and wherein the program materials are then transferred after the addresses are sent.

3. A system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, comprising:

a library containing a plurality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;

a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time wherein said information request manager sorts said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library, fetches a copy of the requested program, queues the program, and commands transfer of the program to said data transmission system, and wherein said information request manager batches and transfers said programs if a preselected number of subscribers request a preselected number of the same programs.

4. A system for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, comprising:

a library containing a plurality of audio program materials stored in a digital format;

a program selection module that allows a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

an information request manager that selects program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library and that forwards said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to the subscriber at rates faster than real time, wherein said information request manager sorts said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library, fetches a copy of the requested program, queues the program, and commands transfer of the program to said data transmission system, and wherein said information request manager processes a first set of bins during a prescribed time period; and

wherein additional subscriber program requests continue to be added to said bins in real time while said information request manager is processing.

5. A method for distributing subscription and on demand audio programming, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of audio program materials in a library in digital format;

allowing a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

selecting program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library;

forwarding said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to said subscriber at rates faster than real time;

sorting said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library;

storing subscriber addresses in said bins to track the subscriber address of each subscriber who has requested a particular program;

determining when a preset number of subscriber requests is reached in each bin;

activating a program transfer routine when said preset number is reached;

fetching a copy of the requested program;

queuing the program; and

commanding transfer of the program to said data transmission system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

first broadcasting a message containing the addresses of those subscribers that have requested specific program material; and

transferring said program materials after the addresses are sent.

7. A method for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of audio program materials in a library in digital format;

allowing a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

selecting program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library;

forwarding said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to said subscriber at rates faster than real time;

sorting said subscriber library requests into bins to determine of the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library;

fetching a copy of the requested program;

batching and transferring said programs if a preselected number of subscribers request a preselected number of the same programs;

queuing the program; and

commanding transfer of the program to said data transmission system.

8. A method for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of audio program materials in a library in digital format;

allowing a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

selecting program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library;

forwarding said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to said subscriber at rates faster than real time;

sorting said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library;

processing a first set of bins during a prescribed time period;

simultaneously continuing to add subscriber program requests to said bins in real time;

fetching a copy of the requested program;

queuing the program; and

commanding transfer of the program to said data transmission system.

9. A method for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of audio program materials in a library in digital format;

allowing a subscriber to request program materials contained within said library;

selecting program materials chosen by said subscriber from said library;

forwarding said selected program material to a data transmission system for distribution to said subscriber at rates faster than real time;

sorting said subscriber library requests into bins to determine the number of subscriber requests for each program in said library;

emptying the contents of those bins that receive fewer requests to avoid having program requests contained therein becoming stale;

fetching a copy of the requested program;

queuing the program; and

commanding transfer of the program to said data transmission system.