Method for providing programming distribution

• US 6,973,662 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Sie, John J., Basawapatna, Ganesh, Sabraw, Martin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/687,139
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 725/100, 725/101, 725/103, 725114-115, 725/116, 725/131, 725/134, 725/139, 725/142, 725/40, 725/46, 725/37, 725/34, 725/107, 725/138, 725/939, 725 1- 8, 725 25- 31, 725 86- 96, 348/563, 348/564, 386/83, 386/46
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for distributing programming. A first set of program segments is transmitted according to a schedule of programming. A second set of program segments is stored on a server, with at least one of the first set of program segments having a counterpart in the second set of program segments. A database is maintained that records user authorizations to program segments on the server. A request from a user for program control of a particular program segment is detected and a determination is made whether to grant program control to the user.

Claims

1. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:

transmitting a first set of programs according to a schedule of programming;

storing a second set of programs on a server, at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs, wherein the counterpart in the second set of programs is substantially identical to the at least one of the first set of programs;

maintaining a database that records user authorizations to programs on the server;

detecting a request from a user for control to manipulate progression of a particular program located on the server; and

determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user comprises:

identifying the particular program; and

determining whether the particular program has a counterpart stored on the server.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user further comprises ascertaining whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular program from the server.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user comprises:

identifying the particular program; and

ascertaining whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular program from the server.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein detecting the request from the user for control to manipulate progression of the particular program of the particular program comprises receiving a wireless program-control request from a remote control.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising granting permanent control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein granting permanent control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user comprises storing the particular program on the server indefinitely.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein granting permanent control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user comprises granting permission to the user to copy the particular program from the server.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the particular program comprises one of a video program and an audio program.

10. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:

transmitting a first set of programs according to a schedule of programming;

storing a second set of programs on a server, at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs, wherein the counterpart in the second set of programs is substantially identical to the at least one of the first set of programs;

preauthorizing a user to have control to manipulate progression of programs on the server to establish a preauthorization scheme;

maintaining a database that records user authorizations to programs on the server;

detecting a request from a user for control to manipulate progression of a particular program located on the server; and

determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user in accordance with the preauthorization scheme.

11. A system for distributing programming, the system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first set of programs according to a program schedule;

a server configured to store a second set of programs, at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs, wherein the counterpart in the second set of programs is substantially identical to the at least one of the first set of programs;

a database configured to record user authorizations to programs on the server;

a detector configured to detect a request from a user for control to manipulate progression of a particular program; and

a control system in communication with the transmitter, the server, the database, and the detector, the control system being configured to operate the transmitter, the server, the database, and the detector to provide control to manipulate progression of programs on the server to the user in accordance with a predetermined authorization scheme.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to identify the particular programs and to determine whether the particular programs has a counterpart stored on the server.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the control system is further configured to ascertain whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular programs from the server in accordance with the predetermined authorization scheme.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to identify the particular programs and to ascertain whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular program from the server in accordance with the predetermined authorization scheme.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein the particular program comprises one of a video program and an audio program.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a programming-distribution system including a transmitter;

a server;

a database;

a detector; and

a control system configured to provide program control of programs on the server, the computer-readable program including instructions for operating the programming-distribution system in accordance with the following;

transmitting a first set of programs with the transmitter according to a schedule of programming;

storing a second set of programs on the server, at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs, wherein the counterpart in the second set of programs is substantially identical to the at least one of the first set of programs;

maintaining on the database a record of user authorizations to programs on the server; and

detecting a request from a user for control to manipulate progression of a particular program located on the server.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16 wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for operating the programming-distribution system in accordance with determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 wherein the instructions for operating the programming-distribution system in accordance with determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user include:

instructions for identifying the particular program; and

instructions for determining whether the particular program has a counterpart stored on the server.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18 wherein the instructions for operating the programming-distribution system in accordance with determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user further include instructions for ascertaining whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular program from the server.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 wherein the instructions for operating the programming-distribution system in accordance with determining whether to grant control to manipulate progression of the particular program to the user include:

instructions for identifying the particular program; and

instructions for ascertaining whether the user is authorized to access the counterpart to the particular program from the server.

21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16 wherein the particular program comprises one of a video program and an audio program.