Method and apparatus for remote audiovisual signal recording service
First Claim
1. A media program delivery method comprising:
- receiving a request for media program services, from a client amount a plurality of clients, for recording a delivery of media programs from a media program provider having access to sources of media and a plurality of media delivery systems having a scheduler for recording and playback control of media programs;
determining a client storage capacity in storage remote to the client based on a grade of service selected by the client, wherein the grad of service comprises a duration of total media program time and a media program delivery data rate;
storing the determined client storage capacity as a storage capacity parameter in a client file; and
assigning a cost of the media program services by the media program provider to the client base on the client'"'"'s selected grad of service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for receiving requests for the remote storage of time schedule media programs from a client over the Internet and the delivery of such media programs in a specified streaming video format to the client is disclosed. The client requests the recording of a media program by a delivery device which delivery device identifies, in an e-mail message to the client, the storage location of the requested program in the delivery system. The client then accesses the delivery system via the Internet using the storage location identity and the delivery system delivers the stored program. The method and apparatus receives media program signals from distributed geographic locations to provide the client access to media programs not available at the client'"'"'s location. Tools are also provided to simplify media program selection and storage.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A media program delivery method comprising:
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receiving a request for media program services, from a client amount a plurality of clients, for recording a delivery of media programs from a media program provider having access to sources of media and a plurality of media delivery systems having a scheduler for recording and playback control of media programs; determining a client storage capacity in storage remote to the client based on a grade of service selected by the client, wherein the grad of service comprises a duration of total media program time and a media program delivery data rate; storing the determined client storage capacity as a storage capacity parameter in a client file; and assigning a cost of the media program services by the media program provider to the client base on the client'"'"'s selected grad of service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A storage allocation method comprising:
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receiving a request from a client for media program services from a media program provider; determining a client storage capacity allocation based on a client'"'"'s selected grade of service, wherein the grade of service comprises a duration of total media program time and a media program delivery data rate; allocating in a selected media storage facility shared for media program serviced the client'"'"'s storage capacity allocation to use for media program storage; receiving a request for recording of an identified media program from the client; determining whether the storage capacity required by the identified media program exceeds the client storage capacity allocation; storing the identified media program for a predetermined time period if the identified media program does not exceed the client storage capacity allocation; and automatically reclaiming the amount of storage capacity used to store the identified media program at the end of the predetermined time period, wherein the reclaimed storage capacity may be reused by the client. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A media program storage system comprising:
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a plurality of storage units for receiving and storing a predetermined plurality of requested media program sand for supporting a plurality of grads or service, said storage units being located in different geographic locations and each grade of service of the plurality of grades of service comprising a duration of total media program time and a media program delivery data rate; a network accessible server for receiving requests for storage of the requested media programs from network connected clients and in response to a request from a client for a media program operates to notify one of the plurality of storage units to receive and store the requested media program in a client selected format wherein the network accessible server stores a value identifying an amount of storage available to the client and the network accessible server operates to notify the requesting client of a network address at which to retrieve the stored media program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification