Client-server based interactive television guide with server recording
First Claim
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1. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
- storing the program at a media server;
caching a first portion of the stored program;
maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to the cached first portion of the stored program;
caching a second portion of the stored program;
maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to the cached second portion of the stored program;
receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program;
modifying the first playback pointer at the media server;
distributing the cached first portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request;
receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program;
modifying the second playback pointer at the media server;
distributing the cached second portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request;
determining that the first playback pointer is advancing towards an end of the cached first portion;
in response to the determining;
retrieving a third portion of the stored program, wherein the third portion corresponds to a portion of the program proximate to the cached first portion; and
caching the retrieved third portion of the stored program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
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storing the program at a media server; caching a first portion of the stored program; maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to the cached first portion of the stored program; caching a second portion of the stored program; maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to the cached second portion of the stored program; receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modifying the first playback pointer at the media server; distributing the cached first portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modifying the second playback pointer at the media server; distributing the cached second portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request; determining that the first playback pointer is advancing towards an end of the cached first portion; in response to the determining; retrieving a third portion of the stored program, wherein the third portion corresponds to a portion of the program proximate to the cached first portion; and caching the retrieved third portion of the stored program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:
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a memory; a storage device at a media server; processing circuitry configured to; store the program at the storage device at the media server; cache a first portion of the stored program in the memory; maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to the cached first portion of the stored program; cache a second portion of the stored program in the memory; maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to the cached second portion of the stored program; receive a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modify the first playback pointer at the media server; distribute the cached first portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receive a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modify the second playback pointer at the media server; distribute the cached second portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request; determine that the first playback pointer is advancing towards an end of the cached first portion; in response to the determining; retrieve a third portion of the stored program, wherein the third portion corresponds to a portion of the program proximate to the cached first portion; and cache the retrieved third portion of the stored program in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
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receiving a record request from an interactive program guide; storing the program at a media server in response to receiving the record request; maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modifying the first playback pointer at the media server; distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modifying the second playback pointer at the media server; and distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:
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a storage device at a media server; processing circuitry configured to; receive a record request from an interactive program guide; store the program at the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the record request; maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receive a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modify the first playback pointer at the media server; distribute a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receive a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modify the second playback pointer at the media server; and distribute a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
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storing the program at a media server; maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modifying the first playback pointer at the media server, pre-decoding a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, and distributing the pre-decoded portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; and modifying the second playback pointer at the media server, pre-decoding a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer; and distributing the pre-decoded portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request.
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28. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:
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a storage device at a media server; processing circuitry configured to; store the program at the storage device at the media server; maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receive a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modify the first playback pointer at the media server; pre-decode a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer; distribute the pre-decoded portion, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receive a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modify the second playback pointer at the media server; pre-decode a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer; and distribute the pre-decoded portion, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request.
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29. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
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storing the program at a media server; maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modifying the first playback pointer at the media server; distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modifying the second playback pointer at the media server; distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request; receiving a delete request from an interactive program guide; and deleting the program from the media server in response to receiving the delete request. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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30. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:
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storage device at a media server; processing circuitry configured to; store the program at the storage device at the media server; maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receive a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modify the first playback pointer at the media server; distribute a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receive a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; modify the second playback pointer at the media server; distribute a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request; receive a delete request from an interactive program guide; and delete the program from the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the delete request. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification