Use of messages in program signal streams by set-top terminals
First Claim
1. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location, the method comprising:
- programming the receiving device to record a selected one of at least one program to be received in an MPEG encoded program signal stream, starting at a first program start clock time;
receiving the MPEG encoded program signal stream comprising at least the selected program and at least one message containing a second program start time for the selected program, the second program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the MPEG encoded program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start of the selected program in the program stream, the program signal stream and the at least one message being received from a same originator;
identifying the at least one message in the received program stream;
comparing the first program start clock time of the selected program with the second program start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message; and
starting to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time in units of time, contained in the at least one message, if the second program start time is different from the first program start clock time.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of operating a communications system comprise inserting advertising in a program stream by a receiving device based, at least in part, on an embed, encrypted segmentation message embedded in the program stream. The at least one segmentation message defines an expanse of the program stream to receive the advertising. At least one embedded decoy message is included in the program stream, as well. The receiving device, which may be a set-top terminal, for example, is coupled to a display device, such as a television, at a user location. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location is also disclosed, comprising programming the receiving device to record a program and recording the program based, at least in part, on at least one segmentation message in a program stream. Systems are disclosed, as well.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location, the method comprising:
-
programming the receiving device to record a selected one of at least one program to be received in an MPEG encoded program signal stream, starting at a first program start clock time; receiving the MPEG encoded program signal stream comprising at least the selected program and at least one message containing a second program start time for the selected program, the second program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the MPEG encoded program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start of the selected program in the program stream, the program signal stream and the at least one message being received from a same originator; identifying the at least one message in the received program stream; comparing the first program start clock time of the selected program with the second program start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message; and starting to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time in units of time, contained in the at least one message, if the second program start time is different from the first program start clock time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
21. A receiving device to receive a program signal stream, the receiving device to be coupled to a display device, the receiving device comprising:
-
an interface to receive an MPEG encoded program signal stream comprising at least one program and to provide the program signal stream to the display device, the program signal stream comprising at least one message containing a first program start time for a selected one of the at least one programs, the first program start time being in units of time with respect to progression of the MPEG encoded program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start time of the selected program in the program stream, wherein the program signal stream including the at least one message is received from a same originator;
a processor coupled to the interface, wherein;the processor is programmable by a user to record the selected program starting at a second program start clock time; the processor being programmed to; receive the MPEG encoded program signal stream; identify the at least one message in the received program signal stream; compare the first program start time of the selected program in units of time, contained in the at least one message to the second program start clock time; and start to record the selected program starting at the first start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message, if the second start time is different from the first start clock time; the receiving device further comprising memory coupled to the processor to store the selected recorded program. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A method of operating a receiving device coupled to a display device at a user location, the receiving device receiving a program signal stream comprising at least one program, the method comprising:
-
programming the receiving device to record a selected program to be received, starting at a first start clock time and to end recording at a first end clock time; receiving a program signal stream including the selected program from an originator; receiving at least one first message in the form of at least one first respective transport packet in the same program signal stream from the same originator, the at least one message containing a second program start time indicating an amount of time to the start of the program, in units of time with respect to progression of the program stream, from receipt of the message to a start time of the selected program in the program stream; comparing the first program start clock time of the selected program with the second program start time, in units of time, contained in the at least one message; and starting to record the selected program based on the second program start time defined by the at least one message, in units of time, if the first program start clock time is different than the second program start time; after starting to record the selected program, receiving at least one second message in the form of at least one respective second transport packet in the program signal stream, the at least one second message defining a second program end time by indicating an amount of time until the end of the program, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to an end of the selected program in the program stream; comparing the programmed first program end clock time of the program with the second program end time, in units of time, contained in the at least one second message; and ending recording of the program at the second program end time, in units of time, contained in the at least one second message, if the first program end clock time is different from the second program end time. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
Specification