System and method for facilitating fast-forwarding of first-run programs
First Claim
1. A method of distributing first-run programming content to a viewer, said method comprising:
- digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time, said first-run programming content comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment has an associated segment publication time, and wherein the segment publication time occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the at least one segment is broadcast by a broadcast system;
prior to said scheduled publication time, transmitting said digitally encoded first-run programming content to a recording device; and
transmitting a release code to the recording device to enable playback of the digitally encoded first-run programming content, wherein said release code enables said at least one segment to playback before said associated segment publication time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of distributing first-run programming content to a viewer, said method comprising:
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digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time, said first-run programming content comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment has an associated segment publication time, and wherein the segment publication time occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the at least one segment is broadcast by a broadcast system; prior to said scheduled publication time, transmitting said digitally encoded first-run programming content to a recording device; and transmitting a release code to the recording device to enable playback of the digitally encoded first-run programming content, wherein said release code enables said at least one segment to playback before said associated segment publication time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A media distribution server for distributing first-run programming content to a viewer, said media distribution server comprising:
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a storage device to store at least one digitally encoded first-run program segment, wherein said digitally encoded first-run program segment has an associated segment publication time that occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the digitally encoded first-run program segment is broadcast by a broadcast system; and a network configured to transmit said digitally encoded first-run program segment and a release code, wherein said release code enables said digitally encoded first-run program segment to playback before said associated segment publication time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A recording device for receiving and replaying first-run programming content, said recording device comprising:
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a set-top box configured to receive a digitally encoded first-run programming content segment from a digital media server, wherein said digitally encoded first-run program segment is a portion of a digitally encoded first-run program, and wherein said digitally encoded first-run program segment has an associated segment publication time that occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the digitally encoded first-run programming content segment is broadcast by a broadcast system; a set-top box configured to block access to said digitally encoded first-run program segment until a scheduled publication time associated with said digitally encoded first-run program; and a set-top box configured to replay said digitally encoded first-run programming content segment after said scheduled publication time and before said segment publication time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of distributing first-run programming content, said method comprising:
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digitally encoding first-run programming content having a scheduled publication time, said first-run programming content comprising a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment has an associated segment publication time, and wherein the segment publication time occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the at least one segment is broadcast by a broadcast system; and digitally transmitting the digitally encoded first-run programming content at or after said scheduled publication time at a rate greater than a normal viewing rate, wherein said at least one segment is enabled to playback before said associated segment publication time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of distributing first-run programming content, said method comprising:
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broadcasting digitally encoded first-run programming content on or after a scheduled publication time, said first-run programming content comprising at least one segment, wherein the at least one segment has an associated segment publication time that occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which the at least one segment is broadcast by a broadcast system; receiving a request for transmission of the at least one segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content, wherein the at least one segment is beyond a current broadcast point that is before the segment publication time associated with the at least one segment; transmitting the at least one segment of said digitally encoded first-run programming content prior to a normal broadcast time for said digitally encoded first-run programming content, wherein said at least one segment is enabled to playback before said associated segment publication time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification