Method and apparatus for processing requests for video presentations of interactive applications in which VOD functionality is provided during NVOD presentations

• US 5,771,435 A
• Filed: 12/14/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Company LP (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/572,144
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/13, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 455/3.1, 455/6.3, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

For an interactive communication system, the invention provides a method and apparatus for processing requests for video presentations of particular interactive applications. One embodiment of the invention initially receives, from a viewing node, a request for a video presentation of a particular interactive application. This embodiment then provides a near-video-on-demand (NVOD) presentation of the interactive application to the viewing node. At the time of the offer of the NVOD presentation, or during the NVOD presentation, the viewing node might request a video-on-demand (VOD) version of the interactive application. If such a request is made, and if the system'"'"'s resources would not be constrained by the transmission of the video-on-demand presentation of the interactive application, then this embodiment transmits the video-on-demand version of the interactive application to the viewing node. On the other hand, if the system'"'"'s resources would be constrained by the transmission of the VOD version, one embodiment of the invention'"'"'s interactive system again directs the requesting viewer to view a near-video-on-demand version of the particular application.

Claims

1. In an interactive communication system, a method of processing requests for video presentations of interactive applications, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request, from a viewer, for a video presentation of an interactive application;

(b) presenting to said viewer a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application;

(c) receiving a request, from said viewer, for a video-on-demand version of said interactive application;

(d) determining if said transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application would constrain resources of the interactive communication system; and

(e) presenting said video-on-demand version of said interactive application to said viewer, if said presentation of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application would not constrain resources of the interactive communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of denying said request for said video-on-demand version of said interactive application, if said presentation of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application would constrain resources of the system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said viewer requests a video-on-demand version of said interactive application in order to exercise VCR functional features.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes a step of determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand presentations of said interactive application equals a predetermined maximum number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes a step of determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand presentations of a plurality of said interactive applications equals a predetermined maximum number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes a step of utilizing a mathematical relationship to determine whether said interactive system'"'"'s resources have sufficient bandwidth to support the transmission of the requested video-on-demand version.

7. In an interactive communication system, a method of processing requests for video presentations of interactive applications, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request, from a viewing node, to transmit a video presentation of an interactive application;

(b) transmitting to said viewing node a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a shared information stream;

(c) receiving a request, from said viewing node, to transmit a video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a communication network;

(d) determining if transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a communication network would constrain shared resources of the interactive communication system; and

(e) transmitting said video-on-demand presentation of said interactive application, if said transmission of said video-on-demand version would not constrain resources of the system.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of denying said request for the transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application and providing said viewing node with an option to view another near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said viewing node requests a video-on-demand version of said interactive application in order to exercise VCR functional features.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step includes a step of determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of said interactive application equals a predetermined maximum value.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step includes a step of determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of a plurality of interactive applications equals a predetermined maximum value.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step includes a step of utilizing a mathematical relationship to determine whether said interactive system'"'"'s resources have sufficient bandwidth to support the transmission of the requested video-on-demand version.

13. An apparatus for processing requests for video presentations of interactive applications, said apparatus adapted to operate in an interactive communication network, said apparatus comprising:

(a) receiving means for receiving requests to transmit video presentations of interactive applications;

(b) determining means, coupled to said receiving means, for determining if transmission of video-on-demand versions of said interactive applications through a communication network would constrain shared resources of the interactive communication system; and

(c) responding means, coupled to said determining means, for

(1) responding to an initial request from a viewer for a video presentation of an interactive application by transmitting to said viewer a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a shared information stream, and

(2) responding to a subsequent request from said viewer for transmission of a video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a communication network by transmitting said video-on-demand presentation, if said determining means determines that said transmission would not constrain resources of the interactive communication system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said responding means denies said request for the transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application and provides said viewer with an option to view a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application, when said transmission of said video-on-demand version of said `interactive application would constrain resources of the system.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said viewer requests a video-on-demand version of said interactive application in order to exercise VCR functional features.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said determining means includes means for determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of said interactive application equals a predetermined maximum value.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said determining means includes means for determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of a plurality of interactive applications equals a predetermined maximum value.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said determining means includes means for calculating available bandwidth of said interactive system'"'"'s resources in order to determine if said resources can support the transmission of the requested video-on-demand version.

19. An interactive communication system comprising:

(a) a service source storing a plurality of interactive applications;

(b) a plurality of viewing nodes for viewing said interactive applications; and

(c) a communication network coupling said service source and said viewing nodes;

(d) wherein said service source includes means for processing requests for video presentations of said interactive applications, said processing means including;

(1) receiving means for receiving requests to transmit video presentations of interactive applications;

(2) determining means, coupled to said receiving means, for determining if transmission of video-on-demand versions of said interactive applications through a communication network would constrain shared resources of the interactive communication system; and

(3) responding means, coupled to said determining means, for (i) responding to an initial request from a viewer for a video presentation of an interactive application by transmitting to said viewer a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a shared information stream, and (ii) responding to a subsequent request from said viewer for transmission of a video-on-demand version of said interactive application through a communication network by transmitting said video-on-demand presentation, if said determining means determines that said transmission would not constrain resources of the interactive communication system.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said responding means denies said request for the transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application and provides said viewer with an option to view a near-video-on-demand version of said interactive application, when said transmission of said video-on-demand version of said interactive application would constrain resources of the system.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said viewer requests a video-on-demand version of said interactive application in order to exercise VCR functional features.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said determining means includes means for determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of said interactive application equals a predetermined maximum value.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said determining means includes means for determining if the number of currently presented video-on-demand versions of a plurality interactive applications equals a predetermined maximum value.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said determining means includes means for calculating available bandwidth of said interactive system'"'"'s resources in order to determine if said resources can support the transmission of the requested video-on-demand version.