System for automatic pause/resume of content delivered on a channel in response to switching to and from that channel and resuming so that a portion of the content is repeated

• US 5,721,829 A
• Filed: 05/05/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Joseph H. III, Dunn, Matthew W., Chai, Seung-Yup
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US08/437,087
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 379/89, 379/88, 379/203, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 395/200.49, 395/200.01
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The interactive entertainment network system has a headend connected to multiple user interface units in individual homes via a distribution network. The user interface units are operable in a video-on-demand (VOD) mode to order and receive video content programs from the headend. The VOD mode is activated when the viewer tunes to a designated VOD channel. In the event that a viewer orders a video content program, the headend transmits the ordered video content program to the particular user interface unit. The viewer can watch the program at their leisure. In the event that the viewer changes from the VOD channel to a non-VOD channel prior to completion of the ordered program, the headend automatically pauses transmission of the ordered video content program. When the viewer once again tunes to the VOD channel, the headend automatically resumes transmission of the ordered video content program to the user interface unit. In this manner, the viewer is afforded flexibility to watch the ordered program at their own schedule, and is not penalized by missing part of the rented program simply for changing channels.

Claims

1. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over multiple channels on a distribution network, a system comprising:

a channel selector resident at a user interface unit to choose between (1) a video-on-demand (VOD) channel which permits a viewer to request and receive a particular video content program and (2) one or more non-VOD channels;

in the event that the channel selector selects the VOD channel to request a video content program, the content provider transmitting the ordered video content program to the user interface unit;

in the event that the channel selector changes from the VOD channel to a non-VOD channel, the content provider pausing transmission of the ordered video content program to the particular user interface unit in response to the channel change;

in the event that the channel selector changes from the non-VOD channel back to the VOD channel, the content provider resumes transmission of the ordered video content program to the particular interface unit; and

the content provider pauses transmission of the ordered video content program at a pause point and later resumes transmission of the ordered video content program at a resume point that is earlier in the video content program than the pause point so that a portion of the video content program is repeated.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each video content program has a unique program ID;

each viewer has a unique viewer ID; and

the content provider stores the program ID and viewer ID in an associated relationship when the ordered video content program is paused.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein:

the content provider identifies a juncture of the ordered video content program that is playing when the video content program is paused.

4. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over multiple channels on a distribution network, a system comprising:

a continuous media server database at the content provider to store the video content programs;

a program information database at the content provider to maintain program data records, the program data records containing program IDs of the video content programs stored within the continuous media server database;

a content playing unit at the content provider coupled to the continuous media server and the program information database;

a video-on-demand (VOD) application which executes on a user interface unit to enable a viewer to order a video content program from the content provider whereby when ordered, the content playing unit retrieves the ordered video content program from the continuous media server database and transmits the ordered video content program to the user interface unit on a VOD channel;

in the event the viewer selects a non-VOD channel prior to completion of the ordered video content program, the user interface unit automatically sending a pause message to the content provider, the pause message containing a viewer ID associated with the user interface unit and a program ID of the ordered video content program;

the content playing unit, in response to the pause message, stopping transmission of the ordered video content program at a pause point;

the content playing unit storing the viewer ID, the program ID, and the pause point in a correlated relationship within the program information database;

in the event the viewer tunes again to the VOD channel, the user interface unit automatically sends a resume message to the content playing unit, the resume message containing the viewer ID;

the content playing unit, responsive to the resume message, retrieves from the program information database the program ID and the pointer that are correlated with the viewer ID in the resume message, the content playing unit using the program ID and the pointer to access the continuous media server database and retrieve the video content program that has been paused;

the content playing unit resumes transmission of the video content program to the user interface unit that is associated with the viewer ID; and

the content playing unit resumes transmission of the video content program at a memory location prior to the memory location referenced by the pointer so that a portion of the video content program is repeated.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the pause point is a temporal reference marking a juncture at which the video content program is paused.

6. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the pause point is a memory pointer to a memory location within the continuous media server database which corresponds to a juncture at which the video content program is paused.

7. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the VOD application remains active at the user interface unit when the viewer changes from the VOD channel to the non-VOD channel.

8. A system as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

a memory at the user interface unit;

at least one application other than the VOD application which is executable on the user interface unit; and

the memory having limited capacity to support one of the applications so that when the viewer changes from the VOD channel to the non-VOD channel, the VOD application ceases to execute on the user interface unit and said other application is initiated to execute on the user interface unit.

9. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves streaming content to a user interface unit over multiple channels on a distribution network, a system comprising:

a channel selector at a user interface unit to choose between a first channel and a second channel;

a playing unit at the content provider configured to transmit, upon selection of the first channel by the channel selector, a video content program to the user interface unit;

the playing unit being configured to pause, in response to the channel selector changing from the first channel to the second channel, transmission of the video content program on the first channel to the user interface unit;

in the event that the channel selector changes from the second channel back to the first channel, the playing unit resumes transmission of the video content program to the user interface unit; and

the playing unit resumes transmission of the video content program at a resume point that is earlier in the video content program than a pause point so that a portion of the video content program is repeated.

10. A content provider for an interactive entertainment network system, the content provider providing video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network that facilitates a plurality of channels, the content provider comprising:

a continuous media server database to store the video content programs;

a program information database to store program data records pertaining to the video content programs;

a video content playing unit connected to the continuous media server database and the program information database, the video content playing unit transmitting a selected video content program on a video-on-demand (VOD) channel to a particular user interface unit;

in response to a message indicating that the particular user interface unit is no longer tuned to the VOD channel, the video content playing unit pausing transmission of the selected video content program;

in response to a message indicating that the particular user interface unit is once again tuned to the VOD channel, the video content playing unit resumes transmission of the selected video content program;

the video content programs are stored in the continuous media server database as digital data files;

the video content playing unit generates a memory pointer to a memory location within the continuous media server database which corresponds to a juncture at which the video content program is paused; and

in response to a message indicating that the particular user interface unit is tuned to the VOD channel, the video content playing unit uses the memory pointer to locate the video content program and resumes transmission of the video content program from a memory location prior to the memory location indexed by the memory pointer.

11. A content provider as recited in claim 10 wherein:

the video content playing unit temporarily stores a viewer ID associated with the particular user interface unit and a program ID of the paused video content program in the program information database when transmission is paused; and

the video content playing unit recalls the program ID to identify the paused video content program and the viewer ID to identify the particular user interface unit in the event transmission resumes.

12. A content provider as recited in claim 10 wherein:

the video content playing unit generates a temporal reference marking a juncture at which the video content program is paused.

13. A method for operating an interactive entertainment network system having a content provider which provides streaming content on multiple channels to a user interface unit, the method comprising the following steps:

tuning the user interface unit to a first channel;

transmitting a streaming content on the first channel from the content provider to the user interface unit;

tuning the user interface unit to a second channel;

automatically pausing transmission of the content on the first channel in response to said step of tuning to the second channel;

tuning the user interface unit once again to the first channel;

automatically resuming transmission of the content on the first channel; and

repeating a portion of the streaming content upon resuming transmission.

14. A method for operating an interactive entertainment network system in a video-on-demand (VOD) mode, the interactive entertainment network system having a content provider which provides video content programs on multiple channels to a user interface unit, the method comprising the following steps:

tuning the user interface unit to a VOD channel;

sending a request for a video content program from the user interface unit to the content provider;

retrieving the requested video content program at the content provider;

transmitting the video content program on the VOD channel to the user interface unit;

tuning the user interface unit to a non-VOD channel;

automatically sending a pause message from the user interface unit to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the non-VOD channel, the pause message containing a viewer ID and a program ID;

storing the viewer ID and the program ID at the content provide;

associating the viewer ID and the program ID at the content provider;

pausing transmission of the video content program on the VOD channel;

tuning the user interface unit once again to the VOD channel;

automatically sending a resume message from the user interface unit to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the VOD channel, the resume message containing the viewer ID;

referencing the associated program ID using the viewer ID received in the message;

retrieving the video content program using the program ID;

resuming transmission of the video content program on the VOD channel to the user interface unit;

storing a pointer which corresponds to a juncture of the video content program that is playing when the video content program is paused; and

resuming transmission of the video content program before the juncture referenced by the pointer.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the following additional step:

storing a temporal reference which corresponds to a juncture of the video content program that is playing when the video content program is paused.

16. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves content to a user interface unit over multiple channels on a network, a computer-readable medium resident at the content provider having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a request to serve streaming content over a first channel to the user interface unit;

transmitting the content on the first channel to the user interface unit;

receiving a message from the user interface unit indicating that the user interface unit has switched to a second channel;

pausing transmission of the content on the first channel;

receiving a message from the user interface unit indicating that the user interface unit has switched to the first channel;

automatically resuming transmission of the content on the first channel; and

repeating a portion of the streaming content upon resuming transmission.

17. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves content to a user interface unit over multiple channels on a network, a computer-readable medium resident at the user interface unit having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

tuning the user interface unit to a first channel;

sending a request to the content provider to serve streaming content over the first channel;

receiving the content on the first channel;

tuning the user interface unit to a second channel;

automatically sending a pause message to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the second channel;

subsequently tuning the user interface unit once again to the first channel;

automatically sending a resume message to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the first channel; and

repeating a portion of the streaming content upon resuming transmission.

18. In an interactive system in which a content provider serves content to a user interface unit over multiple channels on a network, a computer-readable media distributed at the content provider and user interface unit having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

tuning the user interface unit to a first channel;

sending a request to the content provider to serve streaming content over the first channel;

retrieving the requested content at the content provider;

transmitting the content on the first channel to the user interface unit;

tuning the user interface unit to a second channel;

automatically sending a pause message from the user interface unit to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the second channel, the pause message containing a viewer ID and a content ID;

storing the viewer ID and the content ID at the content provider;

associating the viewer ID and the content ID at the content provider;

pausing transmission of the content on the first channel;

subsequently tuning the user interface unit once again to the first channel;

automatically sending a resume message from the user interface unit to the content provider when the user interface unit is tuned to the first channel, the resume message containing the viewer ID;

referencing the associated content ID using the viewer ID received in the message;

retrieving the content using the content ID; and

resuming transmission of the content on the first channel to the user interface unit;

repeating a portion of the streaming content upon resuming transmission.