Integrated cable modem and cable television management system

• US 8,745,682 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Danielson, Arvin D., Bishop, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US09/954,520
• Time in Patent Office: 4,642 Days
• Field of Search: 725/75, 725/87, 725/91, 725/100, 725/111, 725/114, 725/131, 725/110, 348/148, 348/552
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4622 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

An integrated cable modem and cable television management system. The invention may include a stand alone device, a portable device, or a vehicle adapted device in various embodiments of the invention. The invention allows for two-way communication and interaction between a television service provider and a user of the device. In addition, other various circuitries may reside in the device allowing storage and processing of received signals. The invention allows a device operable to receive different broadcast signals, including analog and digital signals. In addition, the invention allows for download of selectable programming from a cable television server using the device, either offline, streaming, or in real time when online. The invention allows for recording and buffering of received signals. In addition, the invention allows for control of commercials, publications, and content contained within received signals. The invention allows for time compression of such signals as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in an audio/video (A/V) processing device;

receiving a record indication to record an A/V program during a current broadcast of the A/V program, the record indication received after an initial portion of the A/V program has already been broadcast, and in response;

recording the A/V program by;

obtaining and recording the initial portion of the A/V program by obtaining the initial portion of the A/V program from a remote program server connected to the A/V processing device through a communication network; and

obtaining and recording a remaining portion of the A/V program that follows the initial portion.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising obtaining and recording the remaining portion of the A/V program during the current broadcast of the A/V program.

3. The method of claim 1, where obtaining the initial portion of the A/V program from a remote program server comprises:

obtaining the initial portion from an A/V program database of the remote program server.

4. The method of claim 1, where obtaining the remaining portion of the A/V program comprises:

obtaining the remaining portion from an A/V program database of the remote program server.

5. The method of claim 1, where:

obtaining the initial portion comprises obtaining A/V program data for the initial portion of the A/V program that has already broadcast from an A/V program database of the remote program server, while contemporaneously presenting the current broadcast of the A/V program through a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, where:

obtaining the initial portion, the remaining portion, or both, comprises obtaining A/V program data from an A/V program database of the remote program server after the current broadcast of the A/V program completes.

7. The method of claim 1, where obtaining the initial portion and obtaining the remaining portion occur concurrently.

8. A system comprising:

a memory; and

circuitry in communication with the memory, the circuitry operable to;

identify a record indication to record an audio/video (A/V) program during a current broadcast of the A/V program, the record indication received after an initial portion of the A/V program has already been broadcast, and in response;

obtain the A/V program by;

obtaining and storing the initial portion of the A/V program in the memory by obtaining the initial portion of the A/V program from a remote program server connected to the system through a communication network; and

obtaining and storing a remaining portion of the A/V program in the memory, where the remaining portion of the A/V program follows the initial portion.

9. The system of claim 8, where the circuitry is operable to:

obtain and store the remaining portion of the A/V program by recording the remaining portion during the current broadcast of the A/V program.

10. The system of claim 8, where the circuitry is operable to:

obtain the initial portion of the A/V program from an A/V program database of the remote program server.

11. The system of claim 8, where the circuitry is operable to:

obtain the remaining portion of the A/V program from an A/V program database of the remote program server.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface; and

where the circuitry is further operable to;

obtain the initial portion by obtaining A/V program data for the initial portion of the A/V program that has already broadcast from an A/V program database of the remote program server while contemporaneously presenting the current broadcast of the A/V program through the user interface.

13. The system of claim 8, where the circuitry is operable to:

obtain the initial portion, the remaining portion, or both, by obtaining A/V program data from an A/V program database of the remote program server after the current broadcast of the A/V program completes.

14. The system of claim 8, where the circuitry is further operable to:

obtain the initial portion and obtain the remaining portion concurrently.