Methods for entertainment-programming distribution
First Claim
1. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:
- transmitting a menu of entertainment programs over a public network for display on user computers in communication with the public network;
determining which of the entertainment programs in the menu is identified as available for download to user computers in accordance with a subscription agreement;
superimposing a notification symbol associated with each of the entertainment programs identified as available for download on the menu;
receiving a request from one of the user computers over the public network to download a specified one of the entertainment programs identified as available for download, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over a television-programming distribution system; and
transmitting the specified one of the entertainment programs to a subscriber set-top box via the television-programming distribution system for downloading onto a storage medium in communication with the subscriber set-top box, wherein the public network and the television-programming distribution-system are different networks,wherein a user is permitted to rewind, fast-forward or pause playback of the transmitted specified one of the entertainment programs;
transmitting a second notification signal with at least another of the entertainment programs to identify the at least another of the entertainment programs as part of an SVOD service; and
receiving a request from a third of the user computers, over the public network to be given access to the specified one of the entertainment programs identified as available for download;
wherein tile request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over the public network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for entertainment-programming distribution are provided. A set of entertainment programs is transmitted in real time over a public network for display on user computers in communication with the public network and identified as subscribers to the set of entertainment programs. A notification signal is transmitted with at least one of the entertainment programs to identify that entertainment program as available for download. A request is received from one of the user computers over the public network to download that entertainment program. It is verified that the user computer is authorized to receive downloaded entertainment programs in accordance with a subscriber agreement. The identified entertainment program is then downloaded to the user computer.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:
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transmitting a menu of entertainment programs over a public network for display on user computers in communication with the public network; determining which of the entertainment programs in the menu is identified as available for download to user computers in accordance with a subscription agreement; superimposing a notification symbol associated with each of the entertainment programs identified as available for download on the menu; receiving a request from one of the user computers over the public network to download a specified one of the entertainment programs identified as available for download, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over a television-programming distribution system; and transmitting the specified one of the entertainment programs to a subscriber set-top box via the television-programming distribution system for downloading onto a storage medium in communication with the subscriber set-top box, wherein the public network and the television-programming distribution-system are different networks, wherein a user is permitted to rewind, fast-forward or pause playback of the transmitted specified one of the entertainment programs; transmitting a second notification signal with at least another of the entertainment programs to identify the at least another of the entertainment programs as part of an SVOD service; and receiving a request from a third of the user computers, over the public network to be given access to the specified one of the entertainment programs identified as available for download;
wherein tile request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over the public network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:
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transmitting a set of entertainment programs in real time over a television-programming distribution system to set-top boxes connected with the television-programming distribution system for display on televisions connected with the set-top boxes, wherein a user may pause, rewind or fast-forward at least one of the transmitted set of entertainment programs using one of the set-top boxes; transmitting a notification signal with at least one of the entertainment programs to identify the at least one of the entertainment programs as available for download; receiving a request initiated by the user from the one of the set-top boxes over the television-programming distribution system to download the at least one of the entertainment programs, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over a public network to a user computer associated with the one of the set-top boxes; identifying the user computer authorized to receive downloaded entertainment programs and associated with the one of the set-top boxes, the user computer in communication with the public network; and downloading the at least one of the entertainment programs over the public network to the user computer, wherein the public network and the television-programming distribution system are different networks; transmitting a second notification signal with at least another of the entertainment programs to identify the at least another of the entertainment programs as part of an SVOD service; receiving a request initiated by a second user from another of the set-top boxes over the television programming distribution, system to access the at least another of the entertainment programs, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over the television programming distribution system to the another of the set-top boxes; and modifying SVOD offerings available to the second user through the another of the set-top boxes, such that the modified offerings include the at least another of the entertainment programs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for distributing programming, the method comprising:
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transmitting a menu of entertainment programs over a television-programming distribution system to set-top boxes connected with the television-programming distribution system for display on televisions connected with the set-top boxes; determining which of the entertainment programs in the menu is identified as available for download to user computers in accordance with a subscription agreement; superimposing a notification symbol associated with each of the entertainment programs identified as available for download on the menu; receiving a request initiated by a user from one of the set-top boxes over the television-programming distribution system to download a specified one of the entertainment programs identified as available for download, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over a public network to a user computer associated with the one of the set-top boxes; identifying the user computer authorized to receive downloaded entertainment programs and associated with the one of the set-top boxes, the user computer in communication with the public network; and downloading the specified one of the entertainment programs over the public network to the user computer, wherein the public network and the television-programming distribution system are different networks; transmitting a second notification signal with at least another of the entertainment programs to identify the at least another of the entertainment programs as part of an SVOD service; receiving a request initiated by a second user from another of the set-top boxes over the television programming distribution, system to access the at least another of the entertainment programs, wherein the request specifies that the specified one of the entertainment programs is to be transmitted over the television programming distribution system to the another of the set-top boxes; and modifying SVOD offerings available to the second user through the another of the set-top boxes, such that the modified offerings include the at least another of the entertainment programs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification