Method and apparatus for encoding and formatting data representing a video program to provide multiple overlapping presentations of the video program
First Claim
1. A method of providing concurrent access to an ordered sequence of a plurality of n segments wherein each of the n segments corresponds to a different temporal portion of the same video program, said method comprising the steps of:
- partitioning a data stream comprising an ordered sequence of data representative of the video program into n subsequences, each of the n subsequences comprising a portion of the data stream representative of one of the n segments, the data of each of the n subsequences organized as an ordered sequence of elements, at least two of the elements in at least one of the subsequences corresponding to different temporal portions of the video program; and
interleaving the elements of the n subsequences to produce an interleaved data stream.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Virtually random and on-demand access is provided to a virtually unlimited number of subscribers by partitioning the video program into an ordered sequence of n segments and providing the subscribers concurrent access to each of the n subsequences. A data stream representative of the video program is partitioned into n subsequences, each representative of one of the n segments. The data of each of the n subsequences is organized as an ordered sequence of elements. The elements of each of the n subsequences are interleaved and the interleaved data stream is continuously transmitted over a video program distribution medium at a rate which renders the data representing each segment concurrently available to any subscriber having a receiver capable of selecting, assembling, and displaying the data of a particular segment. The data stream can be compressed prior to interleaving using one of many known video data compression standards and techniques. Data compression can be performed in real time, or iteratively using software. The interleaved data stream can be transmitted in real time, or it can be stored on a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disk for later retrieval and transmission. The interleaved data stream can be ordered using any known standard by which video data is transmitted for reconstruction and display by a receiver. Data can be inserted into the interleaved data stream to inform the receiver to which of the n segments a portion of the interleaved data stream belongs, as well as the encoding level necessary for decompression of the data and time stamps to indicate order of display.
272 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of providing concurrent access to an ordered sequence of a plurality of n segments wherein each of the n segments corresponds to a different temporal portion of the same video program, said method comprising the steps of:
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partitioning a data stream comprising an ordered sequence of data representative of the video program into n subsequences, each of the n subsequences comprising a portion of the data stream representative of one of the n segments, the data of each of the n subsequences organized as an ordered sequence of elements, at least two of the elements in at least one of the subsequences corresponding to different temporal portions of the video program; and interleaving the elements of the n subsequences to produce an interleaved data stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of providing concurrent access to an ordered sequence of a plurality of n segments comprising a video program, said method comprising the steps of:
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partitioning a data stream comprising an ordered sequence of data representative of the video program into n subsequences, each of the n subsequences comprising a portion of the data stream representative of one of the n segments, the data of each of the n subsequences organized as an ordered sequence of elements wherein at least two of the elements in at least one of the subsequences correspond to at least part of different frames of the video program; and interleaving the elements of the n subsequences to produce an interleaved data stream.
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Specification