Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of generating a program signal stream comprising:
- creating a program signal stream comprising a serial sequence of programs;
inserting at least one first segmentation message into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to a start of a respective program;
inserting at least one second segmentation message different from the first segmentation message into the program signal stream, to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to an end of the respective program; and
transmitting the program signal stream including the respective program and the at least one first and second segmentation messages to a program content distribution system.
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Abstract
Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed.
141 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of generating a program signal stream comprising:
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creating a program signal stream comprising a serial sequence of programs; inserting at least one first segmentation message into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to a start of a respective program; inserting at least one second segmentation message different from the first segmentation message into the program signal stream, to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to an end of the respective program; and transmitting the program signal stream including the respective program and the at least one first and second segmentation messages to a program content distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for generating a program signal stream comprising:
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at least one source of a serial sequence of video program signal streams; and at least one processing device configured to; insert at least one first segmentation message into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to a start of a respective program; insert at least one second segmentation message different from the first segmentation message, into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the respective program; and transmit the program signal stream including the respective program and the at least one first and second segmentation messages to a program content distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of generating a program signal stream comprising:
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creating a program signal stream comprising a serial sequence of programs, to be broadcast in accordance with a broadcast schedule; inserting an expanse of unscheduled content into the created program signal stream; inserting at least one first segmentation message into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to the start of the expanse; and inserting at least one second segmentation message different from the first segmentation message, into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse; and transmitting the program signal stream including the expanse and the at least one first and second segmentation messages to a program content distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for generating a program signal stream comprising:
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at least one source of a serial sequence of video program signal streams to be broadcast in accordance with a broadcast schedule; and at least one processing device configured to; insert an expanse of unscheduled content into the program signal stream; insert at least one first segmentation message into the program signal stream to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to the start of the expanse; and insert at least one second segmentation message different from the first segmentation message into the program signal stream, to indicate, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse; and transmit the program signal stream including the expanse and the at least one first and second segmentation messages to a program content distribution system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification