Interactive audiovisual distribution system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interactive distribution system comprising:
- A. a distribution center having;
a. a library of stored video programs;
b. an order processing computer connected to a plurality of subscriber stations for handling requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said plurality of subscriber stations, at least one of said requests specifying a time allowance interval within which a respective one of said selected segments is to be delivered, said order processing computer being coupled to a plurality of transmission control processing units for allocating servicing of said requests to said transmission control processing units; and
c. each of said transmission control processing units having;
a transmission control processor for receiving commands from said order processing computer and for handling the distribution of said requested selected program segments;
a memory for storing video programs including said requested selected program segments; and
an interface for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments to subscriber stations corresponding to said requests; and
B. each of said subscriber stations including;
a receiver for receiving said requested program segments from said distribution center;
a terminal processor having associated memory, input device, and display for generating said requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said distribution center and for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments delivered from said distribution center; and
a video processor for decompressing said requested program segments which are in compressed video format.
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Abstract
A distribution center according to the present invention is capable of handling requests from a plurality of subscribers for accessing programs in a central audiovisual library. The subscriber requests may specify a variable time allowance interval within which a requested program may be delivered.
316 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An interactive distribution system comprising:
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A. a distribution center having; a. a library of stored video programs; b. an order processing computer connected to a plurality of subscriber stations for handling requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said plurality of subscriber stations, at least one of said requests specifying a time allowance interval within which a respective one of said selected segments is to be delivered, said order processing computer being coupled to a plurality of transmission control processing units for allocating servicing of said requests to said transmission control processing units; and c. each of said transmission control processing units having; a transmission control processor for receiving commands from said order processing computer and for handling the distribution of said requested selected program segments; a memory for storing video programs including said requested selected program segments; and an interface for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments to subscriber stations corresponding to said requests; and B. each of said subscriber stations including; a receiver for receiving said requested program segments from said distribution center; a terminal processor having associated memory, input device, and display for generating said requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said distribution center and for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments delivered from said distribution center; and a video processor for decompressing said requested program segments which are in compressed video format. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An interactive distribution system comprising:
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A. a distribution center having; a. a plurality of libraries, each having corresponding stored video programs, each of said plurality of libraries being associated with a time allowance interval; b. an order processing computer connected to a plurality of subscriber stations for handling requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said plurality of subscriber stations, at least one of said requests specifying a selected time allowance interval and a selected video program from a library associated with said specified time allowance interval within which said selected video program is to be delivered, said order processing computer being coupled to a plurality of transmission control processing units for allocating servicing of said requests to said transmission control processing units; and c. each of said transmission control processing units having; a transmission control processor for receiving commands from said order processing computer and for handling the distribution of said requested selected program segments; a memory for storing video programs including said requested selected program segments; and an interface for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments to subscriber stations corresponding to said requests; and B. each of said subscriber stations including; a receiver for receiving said requested program segments from said distribution center; a terminal processor having associated memory, input device, and display for generating said requests for delivery of selected segments of said video programs from said distribution center and for coordinating transfer of said requested program segments delivered from said distribution center; and a video processor for decompressing said requested program segments which are in compressed video format. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of interactive distribution of video programs from a distribution center to a plurality of subscriber stations, comprising the steps of:
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storing in a plurality of libraries in said distribution center a respective selection of video programs; associating each of said plurality of libraries with a time allowance interval; receiving requests from said subscriber stations for selected program segments from said selection of video programs, at least one of said requests including a selected time allowance interval and a selected program segment from a library associated with said selected time allowance interval, within which said selected program segment is to be delivered; processing said requests; accessing said selected program segments from said library; and delivering said selected program segments to respective subscriber stations making said requests within respective time allowance intervals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification