Automated and selective distribution of video broadcasts

• US 6,226,030 B1
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Harvey, John P., Kressin, Mark S., Meriwether, Vincent J., Mills, Richard A., Tulkoff, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/829,555
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/327, 348/328, 348/563, 348/565, 709/219, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

The system allows for the controlled distribution of video and/or audio broadcasts over a LAN to selected and approved client computers. The video broadcasts are received by at least one server on the LAN. A configuration file is created with identifying information from the various video feeds. The systems administrator can create a list of which client computers can have access to certain video feeds. When a client computer requests a video feed, a menu of video feeds approved for that client is constructed and displayed on the client computer. The display can include a selectable representative image of the available broadcast. When selected, a display window appears with the live video feed.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a video broadcast on a LAN having at least one server computer and at least one client computer, said method comprising:

(a) receiving at least one video broadcast by said at least one server computer;

(b) creating a file with an identifier of said video broadcast;

(c) responding to a request for video broadcasts from the client computer with a menu of available broadcasts;

(d) providing a selected video broadcast to the client computer; and

(e) displaying said selected video broadcast in a window on the client computer,

wherein each video broadcast displayed on each client computer includes different video broadcasts simultaneously displayed to different client computers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of responding comprises comparing a list of available broadcasts to a list of broadcasts approved for the client computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of responding comprises constructing a menu having a thumbnail image of the available broadcasts.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of constructing further comprises updating the representative image after a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1 comprises adjusting a volume of the selected video broadcasts.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

(f) ending the selected video broadcast after a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprises:

(g) generating a summary of usage.

8. A method of controlling the distribution of video broadcasts to a plurality of client computers from at least one server computer connected by a LAN, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of audio and video broadcasts by the at least on server computer;

(b) creating a file of identifiers for the plurality of broadcasts;

(c) establishing an access list for the plurality of client computers defining which audio and video broadcasts are accessible to an individual client computer;

(d) generating a menu of accessible broadcasts for display on the individual client computer;

(e) providing a selected broadcast to an approved client computer wherein different broadcasts are displayed simultaneously on different client computers.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

(f) restricting access to broadcasts not listed on the menu.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises:

(g) discontinuing said provided broadcast after a predetermined period.

11. A controller for distributing video broadcasts to a plurality of client computers from at least one server computer connected by a LAN, said method comprising:

(a) a receiver coupled to said at least one server for receiving a plurality of audio and video broadcasts;

(b) means for creating a file of identifiers for the plurality of broadcasts;

(c) means for establishing an access list for the plurality of client computers defining which audio and video broadcasts are accessible to an individual client computer;

(d) means for generating a menu of accessible broadcasts for display on the individual client computer;

(e) means for providing a selected broadcast to an approved client computer wherein different selected broadcasts are provided to different approved client computer simultaneously.

12. The controller of claim 11 further comprises:

(f) means for restricting access to broadcasts not listed on the menu.

13. The controller of claim 11 further comprises:

(g) means for discontinuing said provided broadcast after a predetermined period.