Remote control of video-on-demand system

• US 6,754,907 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Straley, Jay Cee, Schumacher, James, OʼBrien, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shang, Annan Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/501,054
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 725/141, 725/153, 725/110, 725/121, 725/122, 725/106, 725/108, 725/133, 725/58, 725/86-104, 725/1-8, 725/112, 725/113, 725/114, 725/116, 725/117, 725/118, 348/734, 348/460, 348/552
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

A video-on-demand system transfers video content signals to a first communication system. The video-on-demand system transfers a control screen signal to a second communication system and receives a video control signal from the second communication system. The video-on-demand system implements a viewer control selection indicated by the video control signal. The control screen could be a web page that includes a video display control menu comprising play stop, pause, rewind, and fast forward. The control screen could include a video content selection menu. The video-on-demand system implements the control screen menu selections.

Claims

1. A video-on-demand system comprising:

a first communication interface configured to transfer video content signals to a first communication system;

a second communication interface configured to transfer the video content signals to a second communication system, transfer a control screen signal to the second communication system, and receive a video control signal from the second communication system; and

a processing system configured to transfer the control screen signal to the second communication interface, receive the video control signal from the second communication interface, implement a viewer-control selection indicated by the video control signal, and transfer the video content signals to the first communication interface if the first communication interface is indicated by the video control signal received from the second communication interface or transfer the video content signals to the second communication interface if the second communication interface is indicated by the video control signal.

2. The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen signal includes a video display control menu comprising play and stop.

3. The video-on-demand system of claim 2 wherein the viewer control selection comprises a video display control menu selection.

4. The video-on-demand system of claim 3 wherein the video display control menu further comprises pause, rewind, and fast forward.

5. The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen includes a video content selection menu.

6. The video-on-demand system of claim 5 wherein second communications interface is configured to receive a video content menu selection signal from the second communications system, and the processing system is configured to process the video content selection signal to transfer selected video content in the video content signals.

7. The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface is configured to interface with an internet.

8. The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface is configured to interface with a world-wide web.

9. The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen comprises a web page.

10. A method of operating a video-on-demand system, the method comprising:

transferring a control screen signal to a second communication system;

receiving a video control signal from the second communication system;

implementing a viewer control selection indicated by the video control signal; and

transferring video content signals to a first communication interface if the first communication interface is indicated by the video control signal received from a second communication interface or transferring the video content signals to the second communication interface if the second communication interface is indicated by the video control signal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the control screen signal includes a video display control menu comprising play and stop.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein implementing the viewer control selection comprises implementing a video display control menu selection.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the video display control menu further comprises pause, rewind, and fast forward.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the control screen includes a video content selection menu.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a video content menu selection signal from the second communications system and processing the video content selection signal to transfer selected video content in the video content signals.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein transferring the control screen signal comprises interfacing with an internet.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein transferring the control screen signal comprises interfacing with a world-wide web.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the control screen comprises a web page.

19. A product comprising a processor-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions for performing a method for operating a video-on-demand system, the method comprising:

transferring a control screen signal to a second communication system;

receiving a video control signal from the second communication system;

implementing a viewer control selection indicated by the video control signal; and

transferring video content signals to a first communication interface if the first communication interface is indicated by the video control signal received from the second communication interface or transferring the video content signals to the second communication interface if the second communication interface is indicated by the video control signal.

20. The product of claim 19 wherein the control screen signal includes a video display control menu comprising play and stop.

21. The product of claim 20 wherein implementing the viewer control selection comprises implementing a video display control-menu selection.

22. The product of claim 21 wherein the video display control menu further comprises pause, rewind, and fast forward.

23. The product of claim 19 wherein the control screen includes a video content selection menu.

24. The product of claim 23 further comprising receiving a video content menu selection signal from the second communications system and processing the video content selection signal to transfer selected video content in the video content signals.

25. The product of claim 19 wherein the control screen comprises a web page.