Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages

• US 8,312,504 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carlucci, John B., Williamson, Louis D., Callahan, John W., Urdang, Erik G., Kimble, David M., Gonder, Thomas L., Buehl, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/428,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,484 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/145
• US Class Current: 725/145
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/218 Source of audio or video content , e.g. local disk arrays details of retrieval in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 : Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 : Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• 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 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 : Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 : with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of storing expanses of portions of program signal streams by a headend of a cable television system, the method comprising:

receiving a program signal stream from a source of programming content by a headend of a cable television system, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially, advertising, and a plurality of segmentation messages, wherein at least certain of the segmentation messages define respective starts of respective expanses of the program signal stream and/or respective ends of respective expanses, and at least some of the plurality of segmentation messages include rights-related information related to respective expanses, wherein at least certain first expanses include program content without advertising and at least certain second expanses include advertising without program content;

segmenting by the headend the at least one respective program signal stream into the respective expanses based, at least in part, on respective segmentation messages, as the program signal stream is received;

creating assets containing the respective expanses based, at least in part, on the respective segmentation messages, by the headend;

storing the created assets by the headend;

receiving a request for program content including a plurality of stored assets from a respective requesting party;

determining if the rights-related information in a respective segmentation message for a respective expanse corresponding to one of the plurality of stored assets gives the headend the right to offer the requested program content comprising the plurality of stored assets without advertising; and

if the headend has the right to offer the requested program content without advertising, assembling the program content from the stored assets; and

transmitting the assembled program content without advertising, to the respective requesting party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an expanse comprises a program, the method comprising:

identifying a start of the program in the program signal stream based, at least in part, on a first respective segmentation message;

identifying an end of the program in the program signal stream based, at least in part, on a second respective segmentation message;

segmenting the expanse of the program from the start of the program to the end of the program; and

creating an asset comprising the segmented program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an expanse of a program signal stream comprises a predetermined portion of a program defined by the source of the respective program, the method comprising:

identifying a start of the program portion based, at least in part, on a respective first segmentation message;

identifying an end of the program portion based, at least in part, on a respective second segmentation message;

segmenting the expanse of the program portion based, at least in part, on the first segmentation message and the second segmentation message; and

creating the respective asset comprising the segmented program portion.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

identifying the start of the program portion by a first segmentation message in the program stream prior to the start of the program portion; and

identifying the end of the program portion by a second segmentation message in the program stream after the start of the program portion and prior to the end of the program portion.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the program portion is a chapter of the program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a first segmentation message comprising information defining a start time of the expanse is outside the respective expanse, prior to a start of the expanse in the program signal stream and a second segmentation message is within the respective expanse, the second segmentation message comprising rights-related information relating to the respective expanse, the method further comprising:

receiving the first segmentation message;

receiving the start of the expanse after receiving the first segmentation message;

receiving the second segmentation message after receiving the start of the expanse;

receiving the end of the expanse after receiving the second segmentation message;

segmenting the program signal stream and storing the expanse based, at least in part, on the first segmentation message; and

processing the asset containing the expanse based, at least in part, on the second segmentation message, after storing the asset.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining if there is a right to store a respective expanse of the program signal stream based, at least in part, on the rights-related information in a respective segmentation message; and

segmenting the expanse and storing the asset containing the expanse only if there is a right to store the portion.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein creating an asset comprises creating the asset containing the rights-related information;

and

storing the asset comprises storing the asset in a single memory location of a storage device comprising a plurality of memory locations.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

processing the asset after storing the asset by deleting the stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the segmentation messages are encrypted, the method comprising:

decoding the encrypted segmentation messages after receiving the program signal stream.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segmentation messages include first segmentation messages indicative of an amount of time, in units of time, until a start of respective expanses.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a program signal stream comprising a plurality of first segmentation messages prior to a start of a respective expanse.

13. The method of claim 2, comprising:

identifying a start of a program, based, at least in part, on at least one segmentation message, wherein the at least one segmentation message indicates a start of the program prior to interstitial material.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a program signal stream with segmentation messages in a vertical blanking interval.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising receiving a program signal stream comprising segmentation messages in Extended Data Services format.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a digital program signal stream.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving a compressed digital program signal stream comprising segmentation messages in DVS 253 format.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving an analog program signal stream.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising receiving an analog program signal stream comprising segmentation messages comprising at least one dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing electronic program guide data by the headend; and

updating the electronic program guide data based on respective segmentation messages, by the headend.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the rights-related information includes a right to store an expanse, the method further comprising:

storing the rights-related information within the created asset;

retrieving a requested stored asset containing the requested program;

determining whether there is a right to transmit the requested stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information contained within the asset; and

transmitting the requested stored program to the party, if there is a right to transmit the stored asset.

22. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving the plurality of segmentation messages in the form of a table.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the program signal stream comprises coded picture frames, the method comprising segmenting the program signal stream at an I-frame or P-frame proximate a location defined, at least in part, by a respective segmentation message.

38. The method of claim 9, comprising deleting the stored assed after a predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective expanse comprises unscheduled content and a respective segmentation message defines an amount of time, in units of time, to a start time for unscheduled content.

40. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing at least certain of the segmentation messages from the program stream prior to broadcasting the program stream.

41. The method of claim 1, comprising:

broadcasting the program stream by the headend including at least one of the at least one segmentation messages.

42. The method of claim 1, comprising creating the asset by:

including a program identification code (PIC) with the expanse.

43. The method of claim 1, comprising:

deriving the PIC from the at least one segmentation message.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising creating the asset by:

including program specific information (PSI) with the expanse.

45. The method of claim 1, comprising:

storing created assets separate from other stored assets.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the rights-related information further defines a right to manipulate presentation of the expanse by a user by fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse.

23. A headend of a cable television system for storing expanses of program signal streams, the headend comprising:

means for receiving a program signal stream from a source of programming content by a headend of a cable television system, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially, advertising, and a plurality of segmentation messages, wherein at least certain of the segmentation messages define respective starts of respective expanses of the respective program signal stream and/or respective ends of respective expanses, and at least some of the plurality of segmentation messages include rights-related information related to respective expanses, wherein at least certain first expanses include program content without advertising and at least certain second expanses include advertising without program content;

means for segmenting by the headend the program signal stream into the respective expanses based, at least in part, on respective segmentation messages, as the program signal stream is received;

means for creating an asset containing the respective expanses based, at least in part, on the segmentation messages;

storing means for storing the created asset;

means for receiving a request for program content corresponding to a plurality of stored assets from a respective requesting party;

means for determining if the rights-related information in a respective segmentation message for a respective expanse gives the headend the right to offer the requested program content comprising the plurality of stored assets without commercials;

means for assembling the program content from the stored assets, if the headend has the right to offer the program content without advertising; and

means for transmitting the assembled program content without advertising to the respective requesting party.

24. The system of 23, further comprising means for identifying a start and an end of respective expanses based, at least in part, on respective segmentation messages.

25. A headend of a cable television cable system, the headend comprising:

an interface to receive a program signal stream from a source of programming content, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially, advertising, and a plurality of segmentation messages, wherein at least certain of the segmentation messages define respective starts of respective expanses of the respective program signal stream and/or respective ends of respective expanses, and at least some of the plurality of segmentation messages include rights-related information related to respective expanses, wherein at least certain first expanses include program content without advertising and at least certain second expanses include advertising without program content;

memory; and

at least one processor programmed to;

segment the program signal stream into the respective expanses based, at least in part, on respective segmentation messages, as the program signal stream is received;

create assets containing the respective expanses based, at least in part, on the segmentation messages;

store the created assets in the memory;

receive a request for program content corresponding to a plurality of stored assets;

determine if the rights-related information in a respective segmentation message for a respective expanse gives the headend the right to offer the requested program content comprising the plurality of stored assets without commercials;

if the headend has the right to offer the program content without commercials assemble the program content from the stored assets; and

transmit the assembled program content without commercials.

26. The headend of claim 25, wherein:

the plurality of segmentation messages include first segmentation messages defining, in units of time, a first amount of time to a start of the expanse; and

the at least one processor is programmed to segment the program signal stream based, at least in part, on the respective amounts of time to the start respective expanses defined by the first segmentation messages.

27. The headend of claim 26, wherein:

the plurality of segmentation messages further include second segmentation messages defining respective amounts of time, in units of time, to the ends of the respective expanses; and

the at least one processor is programmed to segment the program signal stream based, at least in part, on the first and second segmentation messages.

28. The headend of claim 25, wherein the requested program content is a program, a first asset comprises the entire program, the program comprises a plurality of chapters, at least one advertising is between at least two adjacent chapters of the program, and the at least one processor is configured to:

segment respective chapters from a beginning of a respective chapter to an end of a respective chapter based, at least on part, on at least one respective segmentation message in the program signal stream;

create second assets containing respective chapters;

store the second assets separate from the first asset;

segment the at least one advertising from a beginning of the at least one advertising to the end of the at least one advertising based, at least on part, on the at least one respective segmentation message in the program signal stream;

create at least one third asset containing the at least one advertising;

store the at least one third asset separate from the first and second assets;

assemble the second assets without the at least one third asset; and

transmit the assembled second assets.

29. The headend of claim 25, wherein the plurality of segmentation messages are encrypted, the processor being further programmed to:

decrypt the plurality of segmentation messages.

30. The headend of claim 25, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

create an asset containing program content and rights-related information based, at least in part, on a respective segmentation message;

receive a request for the asset from a respective requesting party;

retrieve the stored asset corresponding to the requested program content;

determine whether there is a right to transmit the retrieved asset, based, at least in part, on the rights-related information contained within the retrieved asset; and

if there is a right to transmit the requested asset, transmit the program content to the party.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the asset is a chapter of a program.

32. A method of generating a program signal stream comprising:

creating a program signal stream comprising a serial sequence of programs and advertising, by a processor;

inserting a plurality of segmentation messages in the program signal stream, the wherein at least certain of the segmentation messages define respective starts of respective expanses of the respective program signal stream and/or respective ends of respective expanses, and at least some of the plurality of segmentation messages include rights-related information related to respective expanses, wherein at least certain first expanses include program content without advertising and at least certain second expanses include advertising without program content, and the rights-related information includes a right of a headend of a cable television system to assemble at least certain program content from at least certain expanses, without including advertising; and

transmitting the program signal stream including the expanse and the at least one segmentation message to the headend.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the plurality of segmentation messages are in a table inserted into the program signal stream.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein a respective expanse is a chapter, the method comprising:

inserting a first segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the chapter to define the amount of time to the start of the chapter; and

inserting a second segmentation message prior to an end of the chapter to define the amount of time to the end of the chapter.

35. The method of claim 32, comprising:

inserting at least one segmentation message in the program signal stream to indicate a start of an expanse of a program prior to interstitial material, by the at least one processor.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

inserting the at least one segmentation message indicating storage rights related to a portion of the program signal stream, proximate the portion of the program signal stream.