Interactive video system
First Claim
1. A method for distributing video programs to a group of subscribers comprising:
- creating digital video programs by converting and compressing said video programs;
determining a preferred program type based on a previous selection made by said group of subscribers, wherein at least one of said video programs is of said preferred program type;
selecting at least one of said digital video programs based at least in part on said determined preferred program type;
distributing said selected digital video programs to a remote site;
broadcasting identification information for at least one of said selected digital video programs to said group of subscribers;
receiving a subscriber selection from a selecting subscriber, said selecting subscriber being a member of said group of subscribers, said subscriber selection identifying a subscriber-selected digital video program; and
broadcasting a broadcast program to said group of subscribers, said broadcast program including said subscriber-selected digital video program and at least one other program segment, wherein said subscriber-selected digital video program is broadcasted in an order based in part on a time when said subscriber selection is received, and wherein a content of said at least one other program segment is based in part on at least one previous selection made by said group of subscribers.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention distributes digital video programs to a predetermined group of subscribers. The video programs are converted into a digital format in a central site (100) and then distributed to a remote site (110). Identification information for the digital video programs is broadcast to the group of subscribers. Each of the subscribers has the option of selecting one of the digital video programs for broadcast to the group. A continuous program which includes the digital video programs is broadcast to the group of subscribers or displayed on televisions (130-133). The order of the selected digital video programs within the continuous program is based at least in part on when the subscriber selections are received.
416 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for distributing video programs to a group of subscribers comprising:
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creating digital video programs by converting and compressing said video programs; determining a preferred program type based on a previous selection made by said group of subscribers, wherein at least one of said video programs is of said preferred program type; selecting at least one of said digital video programs based at least in part on said determined preferred program type; distributing said selected digital video programs to a remote site; broadcasting identification information for at least one of said selected digital video programs to said group of subscribers; receiving a subscriber selection from a selecting subscriber, said selecting subscriber being a member of said group of subscribers, said subscriber selection identifying a subscriber-selected digital video program; and broadcasting a broadcast program to said group of subscribers, said broadcast program including said subscriber-selected digital video program and at least one other program segment, wherein said subscriber-selected digital video program is broadcasted in an order based in part on a time when said subscriber selection is received, and wherein a content of said at least one other program segment is based in part on at least one previous selection made by said group of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for distributing video programs to a group of subscribers comprising:
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determining a preferred program type based on a previous selection made by said group of subscribers, wherein at least one of said video programs is of said preferred program type; converting and compressing said video programs to generate digital video programs; distributing said digital video programs to a remote site; broadcasting identification information for at least one of said digital video programs to said group of subscribers; receiving a subscriber selection from a selecting subscriber, said selecting subscriber being a member of said group of subscribers, said subscriber selection identifying a selected digital video program; and broadcasting a broadcast program through an Internet to said group of subscribers, said broadcast program including said selected digital video program and at least one other program segment, wherein said selected digital video program is broadcasted in an order based in part on a relative order of receiving said subscriber selection, and wherein a content of said at least one other program segment is based in part on at least one previous selection made by said group of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for distributing video programs to a group of subscribers comprising:
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determining a preferred program type based on a previous selection made by said group of subscribers, wherein at least one of said video programs is of said preferred program type; converting and compressing said video programs to generate digital video programs; distributing said digital video programs to a remote site; broadcasting identification information for at least one of said digital video programs to said group of subscribers; receiving a subscriber selection through an Internet from a selecting subscriber, said selecting subscriber being a member of said group of subscribers, said subscriber selection identifying a selected digital video program; and broadcasting a broadcast program to said group of subscribers, said broadcast program including said selected digital video program and at least one other program segment, wherein said selected digital video program is broadcasted in an order based in part on a relative order of receiving said subscriber selection, and wherein a content of said at least one other program segment is based in part on at least one previous selection made by said group of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for distributing video programs to a group of subscribers comprising:
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converting and compressing said video programs to generate digital video programs; distributing said digital video programs to a remote site; broadcasting identification information through the Internet for at least one of said digital video programs to said group of subscribers; receiving a subscriber selection from a selecting subscriber, said selecting subscriber being a member of said group of subscribers, said subscriber selection identifying a selected digital video program; and broadcasting a broadcast program to said group of subscribers, said broadcast program including said selected digital video program and at least one other program segment, wherein said selected digital video program is broadcasted in an order based in part on a relative order of receiving said subscriber selection, and wherein a content of said at least one other program segment based in part on at least one previous selection made by said group of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification