Method and system for providing interactive media VCR control

• US 6,609,253 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Batten, John C., Swix, Scott R., Stefanik, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, James A
• Application Number:
  US09/475,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.7173, 386/83, 725/87, 725/88, 725/89, 725/90, 725/101, 725/102, 725/93, 725/95
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A method and system for providing flexible subscriber VCR control of an interactive media system that limits the consumption of bandwidth capacity, the method comprising establishing a viewing time window during which a subscriber can watch an ordered program, enabling the subscriber to freely pause, rewind, and fast-forward the program so long as the end of the program does not exceed the end of the window, automatically tracking the remaining program running time against the time remaining in the window, deactivating the pause and rewind features if the remaining program running time equals the time remaining in the window, and reactivating the pause and rewind features if the program is fast-forwarded such that the time remaining in the window exceeds the remaining program running time. The system of the present invention is any interactive media system that delivers video streams such as an interactive television system that supports services such as pay-per-view and video-on-demand, or an internet-based interactive media system that downloads video streams through the internet to be played on a subscriber'"'"'s personal computer or other viewing device.

Claims

1. A method for providing video cassette recorder control of an interactive media system comprising:

(a) establishing a viewing time window during which a program must be watched;

(b) playing the program and providing a pause function and a rewind function;

(c) calculating a remaining viewing time of the viewing time window and a remaining program time of the program;

(d) activating the pause function and the rewind function if the remaining program time is less than the remaining viewing time; and

(e) deactivating the pause function and the rewind function if the remaining program time is equal to or greater than the remaining viewing time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the viewing time window comprises multiplying a duration of the program by a multiplier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the multiplier is approximately 1.5 to 2.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the remaining viewing time comprises:

(i) counting an elapsed viewing time; and

(ii) subtracting the elapsed viewing time from the viewing time window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the remaining program time comprises:

(i) receiving a duration of the program;

(ii) receiving a time stamp encoded in the program; and

(iii) subtracting the time stamp from the program duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the remaining program time comprises:

(i) receiving a duration of the program;

(ii) calculating an original program end time;

(iii) if the pause function is activated for a pause duration, adding the pause duration to the original program end time; and

(iv) if the rewind function is activated for a rewind duration, which shifts the program back a rewound program time, adding the rewind duration and the rewound program time to the original program end time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

(v) providing a fast-forward function; and

(vi) if the fast-forward function is activated for a fast-forward duration, which shifts the program forward a fast-forward program time, subtracting the fast-forward program time from and adding the fast-forward duration to the original program end time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the rewound program time and the fast-forwarded program time are a proportion of the rewind duration and the fast-forward duration, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) calculating a grace period; and

(g) displaying a status summarizing the remaining viewing time, the remaining program time, and the grace period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein calculating the grace period comprises subtracting the remaining program time from the remaining viewing time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying a status comprises overlaying a graphic on the program.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) calculating a remaining pause and rewind function time; and

(g) displaying a status summarizing the remaining viewing time, the remaining program time, and the remaining pause and rewind function time.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the program comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the viewing time window is calculated based on the second portion only.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the program comprises a first portion and a second portion and wherein the pause function and the rewind function are only provided during the second portion.

15. An interactive media system that provides video cassette recorder control comprising:

(a) a video server that transmits a program;

(b) a program information database that stores a duration of the program; and

(c) at least one processing device in communication with the video server, wherein the at least one processing device calculates a viewing time window within which to transmit the program, calculates a remaining viewing time of the viewing time window, calculates a remaining program time of the program, and provides a pause function and a rewind function when the remaining viewing time is greater than the remaining program time.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a program database in which the program is stored, said program database being in communication with the video server.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising an input device, in communication with the at least one processing device, for activating the pause function and the rewind function.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processing device-provides a fast-forward function, a stop function, and a scene jump function.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processing device comprises an operating system, a navigator provisioned on the operating system, and a memory storage.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a distribution network over which the video server communicates with the at least one processing device.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a connection management system in communication with the video server and the at least one processing device.

22. A method for limiting interactive media video cassette recorder (VCR) control to a fixed duration comprising deactivating VCR functions that increase program duration when a remaining program duration equals or exceeds a remaining fixed duration.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising activating the VCR functions that increase program duration when the remaining program duration is less than the remaining fixed duration.

24. A set-top box that provides interactive media video cassette recorder (VCR) control limited to a fixed duration, comprising:

(a) a receiver that receives a program, a program duration, and a program time stamp from a head end;

(b) a transmitter that sends VCR functions to the head end; and

(c) an application that counts elapsed viewing time, subtracts the elapsed viewing time from the fixed duration to determine a remaining viewing time, subtracts the program time stamp from the program duration to determine a remaining program duration, and stops the transmitter from sending the VCR functions when the remaining program duration equals or exceeds the remaining viewing time.