Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages

• US 9,538,224 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• 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., Williamson, Louis D., Callahan, John W., Urdang, Erik G., Kimble, David M., Gonder, Thomas, Buehl, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US14/519,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 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 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• 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 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/4622 : 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 : Content authoring
• 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 5/76 : Television signal recording
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A method of storing an expanse of a program signal stream by a program content distribution system, the method comprising:

receiving a program signal stream from a source of program content by a program content distribution system, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially and a plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defining rights granted by the source to the program distribution system with respect to the content of the expanse;

receiving a first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the expanse, the first rights-related segmentation message defining first rights-related information concerning a right to store the entire expanse by the program distribution system;

receiving a start of the expanse in the program signal stream;

receiving a second rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream after receiving the start of the expanse, the second rights-related segmentation message defining second rights-related information concerning the content of the entire expanse, different from the first rights-related information, wherein the respective locations of the first and second segmentation messages are based, at least in part, on the first and second rights-related information, respectively;

receiving the end of the expanse after receiving the second rights-related segmentation message;

determining whether there is a right to store the entire expanse granted by the source to the program content distribution system based, at least in part, on the first rights-related information defined by the first rights-related segmentation message, by at least one processing device;

segmenting the expanse from the program signal stream by the at least one processing device as the at least one program signal stream is received, only if it is determined that is the first-rights related segmentation message defines a right to store the entire expanse by the program content distribution system; and

storing the segmented expanse in memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages is formatted in accordance with DVS 253 Standard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages comprises a sync byte.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanse comprises a program.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second rights-related information defined by the second rights-related segmentation message defines a right to manipulate presentation of the expanse by the program distribution system for a user by at least one of fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse, the method further comprising:

receiving a request to manipulate a presentation of the expanse from a user; and

manipulating presentation of the expanse in accordance with the request of a user only if the second rights related information defines a right to manipulate in accordance with the request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating an asset including the segmented expanse and rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related segmentation messages; and

storing the asset.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first rights-related information defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising:

deleting the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the first rights-related information.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising:

storing the asset including the rights-related information in a single memory location of a storage device comprising a plurality of memory locations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of segmentation messages defines a right to transmit the expanse, the method further comprising:

receiving by the distribution system a request for presentation of a stored program, from a user;

retrieving a stored asset containing the requested program;

determining whether there is a right to transmit the stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information stored in the asset; and

transmitting the requested stored program to the party, only if there is a right to transmit the stored asset.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the rights-related information in the first rights-related segmentation message defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising:

deleting the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one time-related segmentation message defining a start of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective time-related segmentation message in the program signal stream.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message further defines an end of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective segmentation message in the program signal stream.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the expanse comprises a chapter of a program;

the program comprises a plurality of chapters;

the method comprising;

segmenting the program signal stream into a respective plurality of chapters based, least in part, on the at least one time-related segmentation message;

creating a plurality of separate assets, each containing a respective chapter;

storing each asset in a separate memory location;

receiving a request by the distribution system from a user for the program;

retrieving the separately stored assets containing the chapters of the program;

determining whether the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information expired;

assembling the requested program from the retrieved assets where the right to store has not expired; and

transmitting the assembled program to the user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message comprises:

a first time-related segmentation message defining, 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

a second time-related segmentation message separate from the first time-related segmentation message, the second time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse;

the method further comprising segmenting the expanse based, at least in part, on the first and second time-related segmentation messages.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first time-related segmentation message is outside the expanse, prior to a start of the expanse in the program signal stream; and

the second time-related segmentation message is within the expanse.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message and at least one of the plurality rights-related segmentation messages are the same message.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution system comprises a cable television broadcast system.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second rights-related segmentation message comprises second rights-related information defining a right to transmit the respective expanse to a user upon request.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

receiving the expanse in the program stream;

determining whether the at least one first rights-related segmentation message is received;

segmenting the expanse from the program signal stream as the at least one program signal stream is received, only if it is determined that at least one first rights-related segmentation message is received;

the method further comprising;

creating an asset including the segmented expanse and the at least one second rights-related information;

storing the asset including at least one second rights-related information;

receiving a request for a user to receive the stored expanse;

determining whether the second rights-related information is stored with the expanse; and

transmitting the expanse to the user only if it is determined that the at least one second-rights related information is stored with the expanse.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the program signal stream comprises:

a third rights-related segmentation message comprising third rights-related information defining a right to manipulate presentation of the respective expanse by at least one of the fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse;

wherein the third rights-related segmentation message is received after the start of the expanse and before the end of the expanse; and

the stored asset includes the third rights-related information.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a request from a user to manipulate the presentation of the stored expanse;

determining whether the third rights-related information is included in the requested stored expanse; and

manipulating the presentation of the transmitted asset in response to the request only if the requested stored asset includes the third rights-related information.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanse is a chapter of a program.

23. A program distribution system for storing an expanse of a portion of a program signal stream, the system comprising:

a receiver to receive a program signal stream from a source of program content, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially, the program signal stream comprising a plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defining rights granted to the program distribution system with respect to the content of the expanse;

the program signal stream being configured so that the receiver receives;

a first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the expanse, the first rights-related segmentation message defining first rights-related information comprising a right to store the expanse by the program distribution system;

a start of the expanse in the program signal stream;

a second rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream after receiving the start of the expanse, the second rights-related segmentation message defining second rights-related information concerning the content of the entire expanse, different from the first rights-related information, wherein the respective locations of the first and second segmentation messages are based, at least in part, on the first and second rights-related information, respectively; and

the end of the expanse after receiving the second rights-related segmentation message;

the program distribution system further comprising;

memory; and

at least one processing device configured to;

receive the program signal stream from the receiver;

determine whether there is a right to store the entire expanse based, at least in the part, on the first rights-related information in first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream;

segment the expanse from the program signal stream as the program signal stream is received only if it is determined that there is a right to store the entire expanse defined by the first rights-related segmentation message; and

store the segmented expanse in the memory.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation message is formatted in accordance with DVS 253 Standard.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality rights-related segmentation messages comprises a sync byte.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the second rights-related information defined by the second segmentation message defines a right to manipulate presentation of the expanse by at least one of fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse, and the at least one processing device is configured to:

manipulate presentation of the expanse upon request of a user only if there is a right to manipulate in accordance with the request.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

receive a request for presentation of a stored program, from a user;

retrieve a stored asset containing the requested program;

determine whether there is a right to transmit the stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information contained within the asset; and

transmit the requested stored program to the user, only if there is a right to transmit the stored asset.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the expanse comprises a program.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

create an asset including the segmented expanse and the rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related segmentation messages; and

store the asset.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the first rights-related information in the first rights-related segmentation message defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, and the at least one processing device is further configured to:

delete the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

create the asset containing the rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related messages; and

store the asset including the rights related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related messages in a single memory location of a storage device comprising a plurality of memory locations.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the program signal stream further comprises at least one time-related segmentation message; and

the at least one time-related segmentation message further defines a start of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective time-related segmentation message in the program signal stream.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message comprises:

a first time-related segmentation message defining, 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

a second time-related segmentation message separate from the first time-related segmentation message, the second time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to the progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse; and

the at least one processing device is configured to;

segment the expanse from the programs signal stream starting at the start defined by the first and second time-related segmentation messages.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein:

the expanse comprises a chapter of a program;

the program comprises a plurality of chapters;

the at least one of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defines rights-related information defining a right to store respective chapters for respective predetermined periods of time and at least respective start times of respective chapters of the program;

wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to;

segment the program signal stream into a plurality of chapters based, least in part, on the at least one rights-related segmentation message;

create a plurality of separate assets, each containing a respective chapter;

store each asset in a separate memory location;

receive a request by the distribution system from a user for the program;

retrieve the separately stored assets containing the chapters of the program;

determine whether a right to transmit a respective retrieved asset has expired;

assemble the requested program from the plurality of retrieved assets whose right to transmit has not expired; and

transmit the assembled program to the user.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the second rights-related segmentation message comprises second rights-related information defining a right to transmit the expanse to the user, the second segmentation message being located within the expanse.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein:

the at least one processing device is configured to;

receive the respective expanse in the respective program;

determine whether the first rights-related segmentation message is received; and

segment the expanse from the program signal stream only if it is determined that the first rights-related segmentation message is received;

the at least one processing device being further configured to;

create an asset including the segmented expanse and the at least one second rights-related information;

store the asset;

receive a request from a user to receive the stored asset;

determine whether the stored asset includes the second rights-related information; and

transmit the expanse to the user only if it is determined that the stored asset includes the second rights-related information.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the program signal stream comprises:

a third rights-related segmentation messages comprising third rights-related information defining a right to manipulate within the respective expanse, the third segmentation message being within the respective expanse.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

receive a request from a user to manipulate the presentation of the transmitted asset;

determine whether the transmitted asset includes the third rights-related information; and

manipulate the presentation of the transmitted asset in accordance with the request only if the third rights-related information is included in the stored asset and grants a right to manipulate presentation of the transmitted asset in accordance with the request.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the expanse is a chapter of a program.