System and method for delivery of short-time duration video segments
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a transport stream generator for generating a plurality of multiplexed transport streams; and
a session manager, coupled to the transport stream generator, for managing the transport stream generator to control delivery of the generated plurality of multiplexed transport streams and for monitoring demand-cast stream usage by terminals to provide to the transport stream generator for maintaining status for demand-cast streams acquired by user terminals;
wherein the transport stream generator continuously generates a multiplexed transport stream providing data and program guide video segments for an interactive program guide (IPG), wherein the plurality of program guide video segments include a first set of program guide video segments and a second set of program guide video segments;
wherein the session manager manages delivery of the IPG and identifies demand-cast program guide video segments accessed frequently by the terminals and demand-cast program guide video segments accessed less frequently including demand-cast program guide video segments specifically requested by a terminal; and
wherein the session manager causes the transport stream generator to provide demand-cast program guide video segments identified by the session manager as being accessed frequently in the first set of program guide video segments for continuous broadcast within the same multiplexed transport stream as the IPG for constant availability at the terminals and to provide a requested demand-cast program guide video segment corresponding to one of the less frequently accessed demand-cast program guide video segments into the transport stream in the second set of video segments upon receipt of a request by the session manager from one of the terminals for access to the requested demand-cast video segment as a pull demand-cast provided only upon request from one of the terminals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for efficient delivery of video segments. One embodiment relates to the delivery of short-time duration video segments. The video segments may be delivered as part of a media-rich interactive program guide (IPG) or for some other application. The system and method provides a viewer with access to a video segment starting at its beginning (or any other selectable point within the video segment). Such access may be provided using a server-centric interactive technique. The server-centric technique may involve use of a demand-cast system and method. Demand-cast messaging may occur between a session manager, transport stream generator, and terminal. For example, a video object on a screen may be activated by a viewer using a remote control for a terminal. Activation of the object may cause transmission of a request from the terminal to a session manager for a video segment corresponding to the object. In response to the request, the session manager may initiate a process to accomplish delivery of the video segment from a transport stream generator to the terminal.
181 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A system, comprising:
-
a transport stream generator for generating a plurality of multiplexed transport streams; and a session manager, coupled to the transport stream generator, for managing the transport stream generator to control delivery of the generated plurality of multiplexed transport streams and for monitoring demand-cast stream usage by terminals to provide to the transport stream generator for maintaining status for demand-cast streams acquired by user terminals; wherein the transport stream generator continuously generates a multiplexed transport stream providing data and program guide video segments for an interactive program guide (IPG), wherein the plurality of program guide video segments include a first set of program guide video segments and a second set of program guide video segments; wherein the session manager manages delivery of the IPG and identifies demand-cast program guide video segments accessed frequently by the terminals and demand-cast program guide video segments accessed less frequently including demand-cast program guide video segments specifically requested by a terminal; and wherein the session manager causes the transport stream generator to provide demand-cast program guide video segments identified by the session manager as being accessed frequently in the first set of program guide video segments for continuous broadcast within the same multiplexed transport stream as the IPG for constant availability at the terminals and to provide a requested demand-cast program guide video segment corresponding to one of the less frequently accessed demand-cast program guide video segments into the transport stream in the second set of video segments upon receipt of a request by the session manager from one of the terminals for access to the requested demand-cast video segment as a pull demand-cast provided only upon request from one of the terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification