Digital video recording with remote storage
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method of distributing telecast video content to a user, requiring a computer comprising a memory and a processor at a multi-system operator (MSO), wherein the user is operating at least one of an individual set-top box, an individual conditional-access device, a collection of set-top boxes, or a collection of conditional-access devices, the method comprising:
- providing a user interface, to facilitate input and receipt of an initial command and a playback command from the user;
receiving the initial command to store a desired telecast video content;
dynamically allocating, by the computer at the MSO, remote storage space dedicated to the user for the desired telecast video content in response to the initial command, wherein the dynamically allocated remote storage space is configured to be under exclusive control of the user and dedicated to the user, and wherein the desired telecast video content is made available only to the user;
receiving the desired telecast video content in a primary buffer, wherein, at any given time, only a de minimis portion of the desired telecast video content is stored in the primary buffer;
transferring the desired telecast video content, from the primary buffer to a secondary buffer at the MSO and at a packet level in response to the initial command from the user;
creating in response to the initial command from the user, and not under direction of the MSO, a copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user by transferring the desired telecast video content from the secondary buffer to the dynamically allocated remote storage space that is under the exclusive control of the user and is dedicated to the user, and wherein in accordance with copyright laws the MSO does not create a back-up copy of the copy of the desired televised video content;
providing, via the user interface, a menu of stored programs that include the copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user and under the exclusive control of the user in the dynamically allocated remote storage space;
receiving, via the user interface, the playback command to transmit the copy of the desired telecast video content from the dynamically allocated remote storage space; and
transmitting only to the user, in response to the playback command, the copy of the desired telecast video content from the dynamically allocated remote storage space for display.
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Abstract
Centralized storage and playback of user-recorded television programming eliminates the need for expensive DVR devices to be deployed in the field. Further, the methods used to initiate storage and provide playback of stored media respect copyright principles.
59 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of distributing telecast video content to a user, requiring a computer comprising a memory and a processor at a multi-system operator (MSO), wherein the user is operating at least one of an individual set-top box, an individual conditional-access device, a collection of set-top boxes, or a collection of conditional-access devices, the method comprising:
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providing a user interface, to facilitate input and receipt of an initial command and a playback command from the user; receiving the initial command to store a desired telecast video content; dynamically allocating, by the computer at the MSO, remote storage space dedicated to the user for the desired telecast video content in response to the initial command, wherein the dynamically allocated remote storage space is configured to be under exclusive control of the user and dedicated to the user, and wherein the desired telecast video content is made available only to the user; receiving the desired telecast video content in a primary buffer, wherein, at any given time, only a de minimis portion of the desired telecast video content is stored in the primary buffer; transferring the desired telecast video content, from the primary buffer to a secondary buffer at the MSO and at a packet level in response to the initial command from the user; creating in response to the initial command from the user, and not under direction of the MSO, a copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user by transferring the desired telecast video content from the secondary buffer to the dynamically allocated remote storage space that is under the exclusive control of the user and is dedicated to the user, and wherein in accordance with copyright laws the MSO does not create a back-up copy of the copy of the desired televised video content; providing, via the user interface, a menu of stored programs that include the copy of the desired telecast video content that is unique to the user and under the exclusive control of the user in the dynamically allocated remote storage space; receiving, via the user interface, the playback command to transmit the copy of the desired telecast video content from the dynamically allocated remote storage space; and transmitting only to the user, in response to the playback command, the copy of the desired telecast video content from the dynamically allocated remote storage space for display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A multi-system operator (MSO) media distribution system for storing media content, comprising:
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a memory located at the MSO media distribution system and remotely from a user of the MSO media distribution system; a primary buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to receive media content transmitted from the memory by a content provider and for storing at any given time only a de minimis portion of the media content; a secondary buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to temporarily store the received media content from the primary buffer prior to storage in a segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under exclusive control of the user; and a processor, at the MSO, programmable to; receive an initial command corresponding to a desired media content from the user; in response to the initial command from the user, and not from the MSO, create a copy of the desired media content that is unique to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user by transferring and storing the desired media content from the primary buffer via the secondary buffer into the segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user, wherein in accordance with copyright laws the processor does not create a back-up copy of the copy of the desired media content for the user; and in response to a playback command from the user, distribute the copy of the desired media content to the user from the segment of the memory that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A multi-system operator (MSO) media distribution system comprising:
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a first server, at the MSO media distribution system, configured to receive media from a content provider; a first buffer, at the MSO media distribution system, coupled to the first server, configured to receive the media and store at any given time only a de minimis percentage of the media; a second server including a plurality of storage areas; a plurality of second buffers, coupled to the first buffer and the second server, configured to temporarily store the media from the first buffer prior to storage in a storage area of the plurality of storage areas in the second server that is allocated exclusively to the user and is under exclusive control of the user; wherein the second server is configured to receive a first command from the user, and not from the MSO, to store a copy of the media that is unique to the user into the storage area that is allocated to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user by transferring the media from the primary buffer via one or more of the plurality of second buffers into the storage area that is allocated to the user and is under the exclusive control of the user, wherein in accordance with copyright laws the second server does not create a back-up copy of the copy of the media for the user; and a third server, coupled to the second server, configured to only distribute the copy of the media from the second server to the user that issued the first command, in response to a second command from the user.
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Specification