Method and system for manipulating broadcast signals

• US 6,993,788 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stevens, J. Clarke, Lawrence, Lee G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US09/378,674
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 209/219, 209/217, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/714, 725/101, 725/102, 725/103, 725/104, 725/97, 725/98, 725 91- 94, 725/87, 725/88, 386/46, 386/68, 386/124
• US Class Current: 725/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26275 for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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 manipulating a broadcast signal utilizes a sliding-window time range multicast or a buffered storage queue at the headend. Multiple streams are available to the end user, which each stream originating from a corresponding different playback point in the sliding-window time range or headend buffered storage queue.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating a traditional television program live broadcast signal in a communication system including a headend that receives the traditional television program live broadcast signal and that sends programming to a plurality of hubs with each hub sending the programming to at least one node that distributes the programming to end users, the method comprising:

receiving the traditional television program live broadcast signal at the headend for broadcast distribution to the end users;

establishing a buffered storage queue at the headend that receives the signal; and

transmitting a stream from the headend, the stream passing through a hub and through a node to reach an end user, the stream being derived from the traditional television program live broadcast signal, and the stream originating from a user selected playback point in the buffered storage queue whereby the traditional television live broadcast signal is distributed to the user and wherein user selection of the playback point allows the user to manipulate an otherwise traditional television program live broadcast signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the stream further comprises:

unicasting a plurality of streams, each steam being derived from the signal, and each stream originating from a corresponding user selected playback point in the storage queue.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stream is being received and played at a destination, the method further comprising:

in response to a user at the destination requesting to pause, sliding the user selected playback point within the queue at such a rate to cause the playback point to remain substantially stationary in time; and

in response to a user at the destination requesting to resume, stopping the sliding.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stream is being received and played at a destination, the method further comprising:

in response to a user at the destination requesting to rewind, sliding the user selected playback point within the queue at such a rate to cause the playback point to move backward in time; and

in response to a user at the destination requesting to resume, stopping the sliding.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stream is being received and played at a destination, the method further comprising:

in response to a user at the destination requesting to fast-forward, sliding the user selected playback point within the queue at such a rate to cause the playback point to move forward in time; and

in response to a user at the destination requesting to resume, stopping the sliding.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the stream has a destination, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the stream at the destination;

establishing a buffered storage queue at the destination that receives the stream; and

in response to a user selecting a desired position in the destination buffered storage queue, playing the stream at the destination from the desired position in the destination buffered storage queue.

7. A system for manipulating a traditional television program live broadcast signal, the system comprising:

a communication system including a headend, a plurality of hubs and a plurality of nodes that distribute programming to end users, the headend receiving the traditional television program live broadcast signal for broadcast distribution to the end users, the headend being operative to establish a buffered storage queue at the headend, and the headend being further operative to transmit a stream from the headend, the stream passing through a hub and through a node to reach an end user, the stream being derived from the traditional television program live broadcast signal, and the stream originating from a user selected playback point in the buffered storage queue whereby the traditional television live broadcast signal is distributed to the user and wherein user selection of the playback point allows the user to manipulate an otherwise traditional television program live broadcast signal.