System for local processing/accessing and representation of large volumes of data

• US 5,761,607 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Opticom ASA (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Opticom ASA (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Gudesen, Hans Gude
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/612,345
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 348/1, 348/2, 348/3, 348/5, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/5.5, 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A system for transmitting films to consumers having reduced response time, an increased number of available films and improved user interactivity. The system utilizes a simple inexpensive communication system and can avoid the need to transfer data from external sources. The system also provides mechanism to prevent fraud and a simple updating mechanism. The system has the capability to process large volumes of data locally and includes an input/output interface and at least one output interface for transferring data to a playback drive.

Claims

1. A system for local processing/accessing and representation of large volumes of data, in the form of a complete data library, wherein the system comprises at least one input/output interface (101) to one or more bandwidth-limited telecommunication networks and at least one output interface (208) for the transfer of processed or unprocessed data to at least one playback device (300) for display and/or playback of data, at least one local mass storage unit (201) for storing said large volumes of data and connected with a decoder (202) for processing and decoding said large volumes of data in case the latter are coded, an internal traffic controller (206), a controlling mixer device (203) connected with the decoder (202), a user control interface (207a) connected with said internal traffic controller (206), and a modem (205) connected with said internal traffic controller (206) and said input/output interface (101) for two-way communication over said one or more bandwidth-limited telecommunication networks with an external control center or centers (100), characterized in that said at least one local mass storage unit (201) comprises at least one replaceable or exchangeable storage medium (201a) for storing said large volumes of data and at least one input interface (204) connected with said at least one local mass storage unit (201), wherein said input interface (204) is adapted for physically receiving said replaceable or exchangeable storage medium (201a), said local mass storage unit (201) in any case being the only mass storage unit wherewith said decoder (202) is permanently connected for accessing, retrieving and processing said large volumes of data in a normal operating mode of the system, wherein said large volumes of data or part thereof are transferred from said mass storage unit (201) either via said decoder (202) for decoding or via said controlling mixer device (203) to said output interface (208) for display and/or playback on said playback device (300), said internal traffic controller (206) being connected with said local mass storage unit (201) for controlling the retrieval of data as selected over said user control interface (207a) and further via said modem (205) handling said two-way communication with said external control center (100) for transmitting or receiving information over said at least one input/output interface (101) on said one or more bandwidth-limited telecommunication networks, said information being restricted to information for authorization, validation and debiting which in any case requires a low data transfer capacity in the course of a normal operation of the system as enabled and controlled from said user control interface (207a), the system thus providing local accessing/retrieval of said large volumes of data or parts thereof, without recourse to or need for downloading or accessing any external databases, as said large volumes of data may form a self-contained, permanently and locally stored data library which may be entered in the system in a once-through operation via said input interface (204).

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises at least one non-replaceable or permanent storage medium.

3. The use of a system according to claim 2, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

4. The use of a system according to claim 2, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.

5. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said decoder is connected via an additional input/output interface (102) with the external control center (100) via a telecommunication system with substantial data transfer capacity.

6. The use of a system according to claim 5, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

7. The use of a system according to claim 5, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.

8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said local mass storage unit (201) is optionally implemented by one or more of the following types of replaceable or exchangeable storage media (201a):

magnetic memories, semi-conductor memories, optical memories, magneto-optical memories or electro-optical memories with a typical storage capacity in the range of 500 Mbit-100 Gbit.

9. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that said replaceable or exchangeable storage medium (201a) is of the once-only type or permanent.

10. The use of a system according to claim 9, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

11. The use of a system according to claim 9, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.

12. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that said replaceable or exchangeable storage medium (201a) is writable or erasable.

13. The use of a system according to claim 12, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

14. The use of a system according to claim 12, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.

15. The use of a system according to claim 8, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

16. The use of a system according to claim 8, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.

17. The use of a system according to claim 1, in a video-on-demand (VOD) service with cash, all-included payment or pay-per-view.

18. The use of a system according to claim 1, in a general information supplying system with payment on ordering or payment per item, document or file.