Use of messages in or associated with program signal streams by set-top terminals

• US 9,264,761 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carlucci, John B., DeHart, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hance, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/891,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• 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 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/435 : 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 21/47 : 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 21/6582 : 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 21/8545 : 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 5/782 : 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

Methods of operating a communications system comprise, in one example, inserting advertising in a program stream by a receiving device based, at least in part, on an encrypted segmentation message embedded in the program steam. 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. In one example, 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.

Claims

1. A method of operating a receiving device comprising:

programming the receiving device to record a selected one of at least one program to be received in a program signal stream, starting at a first program start clock time;

receiving the program signal stream comprising at least the selected program and at least one message defining a second program start time for the selected program, the second program start time being based, at least in part, on a position of a respective message in the program signal 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, defined by the at least one message; and

starting to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time, if the second program start time is different from the first program start clock time.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising;

programming the receiving device to record the selected program by selecting the program from a program listing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the program listing defines the first program start clock time of the selected program, the method further comprising;

setting a recording start clock time for the selected program based on the first program start time defined by the program listing.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

setting a recording end clock time for the selected program based on a first program end clock time defined by the program listing;

wherein the program signal stream further comprises at least one second message defining a second program end time of the selected program, the second program end time being based, at least in part, on a position of a respective second message in the program signal stream;

the method further comprising;

comparing the second program end time defined by the at least one message to the recording end time;

adjusting the recording end time of the selected program to the second program end time, if the recording end time is different than the second program end time; and

ending recording of the selected program at the second program end time, if the recording end time has been adjusted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the originator comprises a program origination system.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the program signal stream, including the at least one message, via a cable television network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the message defines the second program start time in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start of the selected program in the program signal stream.

8. A receiving device to receive a program signal stream comprising:

an interface to receive a program signal stream comprising at least one program and at least one message defining a first program start time for a selected one of the at least one programs, the first program start time being based, at least in part, on a position of a respective message in the program signal stream, wherein the program signal stream including the at least one message is received from a same originator;

a processing device configured to;

be programmable by a user to record the selected program starting at a second program start clock time;

receive the program signal stream from the interface;

identify the at least one message in the received program signal stream;

compare the first program start time of the selected program 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 defined by 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.

9. The receiving device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is programmable to record the selected program by selecting the program from a program listing.

10. The receiving device of claim 9, wherein the program listing defines the second program start time of the selected program and the processing device is programmed to:

set a recording start time for the selected program based on the second program start clock time defined by the program listing.

11. The receiving device of claim 10, wherein the processor is programmed to:

set a recording end time for the selected program based on a second end clock time defined by the program listing; and

at least one second message defines a second program end time of the selected program, the second program end time being based, at least in part, on a position of a respective second message in the program signal stream;

the processing device being further programmed to;

compare the recording program end time of the selected program to the second program end time defined by the at least one message; and

adjust the recording end time of the selected program to the second program end time if the second program end time is different than the recording program end.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising;

setting a recording end clock time for the selected program based on a first program end clock time defined by the program listing;

wherein the at least one message defines a second program end time of the selected program, the second program end time being 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, the method further comprising;

comparing the second program end time, in units of time, defined by the at least one message to the recording end time;

adjusting the recording end time of the selected program to the second program end time, if the recording end time is different than the second program end time; and

ending recording of the selected program at the second program end time, if the recording end time has been adjusted.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one message comprises a single message defining the second program start time and the second program end time, the method comprising:

receiving the program signal stream including the single message.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one message comprises at least one second message, the method further comprising:

after starting to record the selected program, receiving the at least one second message 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; and

ending recording of the program at the second program end time defined by the at least one second message.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after starting to record the selected program;

receiving at least one second message defining a start time for unscheduled content of the selected program, wherein the unscheduled content follows the first program end clock time, the at least one second message being received prior to the scheduled end time, in the program signal stream;

continuing to record the selected program after the scheduled end time;

while recording the selected program, receiving at least one third message defining an end time for the unscheduled content of the selected program, the end time for the unscheduled content being after the first program end clock time of the selected program, the at least one third message being received prior to the end time of the unscheduled content, in the program signal stream; and

ending recording of the selected program at the end time of the unscheduled content defined by at least one of the at least one third message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected program comprises a sporting event and the unscheduled content comprises overtime of the sporting event.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one third message comprises at least one fourth message defining at least one respective expected end time of the unscheduled content and at least one fifth message defining an actual end time of the unscheduled content, the method comprising:

receiving the at least one fourth message prior to receiving the at least one fifth message; and

ending recording of the selected program at the actual end time defined by the at least one fifth message.

18. The receiving device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is configured to start to record the selected program based, at least in part, on the second program start time defined by the at least one message, if a difference between the second program start time and the first program start time is greater than a threshold.

19. The receiving device of claim 8, wherein:

the message defines the first program start time in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, from receipt of the message to a start time of the selected program in the program stream.

20. The receiving device of claim 19, wherein the processor is programmed to:

set a recording end time for the selected program based on a second end clock time defined by the program listing; and

the at least one message defines a second program end time of the selected program, the second program end time being 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;

the processing device being further programmed to;

compare the recording program end time of the selected program to the second program end time in units of time, defined by the at least one message; and

adjust the recording end time of the selected program to the second program end time if the second program end time is different than the recording program end.

21. The receiving device of claim 20, wherein the at least one message comprises a single message defining the first program start time and the first program end time, the processing device being programmed to:

receive the program signal stream including the single message.

22. The receiving device claim 20, wherein:

the at least one message comprises at least one second message defining a start time for unscheduled content of the selected program and at least one third message defining an end time for the unscheduled content of the selected program, the end time for the unscheduled content of the selected program being after the scheduled end time of the selected program; and

the processing device is further programmed to;

receive the at least one second message defining a start time for the unscheduled content of the selected program after starting to record the selected program;

continue to record the selected program after the scheduled end time for the selected program;

receive the at least one third message defining an end time for the unscheduled content, while recording the selected program; and

end recording of the program at the end time of the unscheduled content defined by the at least one third message.

23. The receiving device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the at least one second message and at least one of the at least one third message are a single message.

24. The receiving device of claim 22, wherein the unscheduled content starts at the scheduled end of the selected program.