EP1335601A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audio and video transmission and receiving system
Assignee: Acacia Media Technologies Corp
•
Filing: 1992-01-03
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-01-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention generally relates to methods and systems in which audio or audiovisual information is transmitted to or received at a user reception system having an address. More particularly, a method is provided of providing audiovisual information to a remotely located reception system responsive to a request generated by a user terminal interface, the receiving system being identified by a first address, the method comprising: associating a program note with a selected item comprising audiovisual information, the audiovisual information comprising at least one time encoded digital audiovisual data block in a compressed format (413b, 413c, 413d); associating a second address with the selected item; storing program note information in an item database (300); storing (414) a plurality of items comprising audiovisual information together with the selected item in a data library (118), the data library comprising a mass storage device; receiving via a communication channel the request (415) for the selected item comprising audiovisual information, the request comprising the first address and the second address; retrieving the selected item from the data library; and transmitting (416) at least a portion of the selected item via a communication channel to the remotely located reception system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Yurt
- 👤 H. Lee Browne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; H04N7/54; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/38; H04H20/40; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/23; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/218; H04N21/2181; H04N21/23; H04N21/233; H04N21/234; H04N21/2343; H04N21/234381; H04N21/236; H04N21/2368; H04N21/238; H04N21/2381; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2543; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25875; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/434; H04N21/4341; H04N21/44; H04N21/4402; H04N21/440281; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4627; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/47211; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8352; H04N21/8355; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336; H04H2201/00; H04H2201/30; H04H2201/33; H04H2201/70; H04H60/18; H04H60/27; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/68; H04H60/73; H04H60/74; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 118
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of providing audiovisual information to a
remotely located reception system responsive to a request
generated by a user terminal interface, the receiving system
being identified by a first address, the method comprising: associating a program note with a selected item
comprising audiovisual information, the audiovisual
information comprising at least one time encoded digital
audiovisual data block in a compressed format (413b, 413c,
413d); associating a second address with the selected item; storing program note information in an item database
(300) ; storing (414) a plurality of items comprising
audiovisual information together with the selected item in a
data library (118), the data library comprising a mass storage
device; receiving via a communication channel the request
(415) for the selected item comprising audiovisual
information, the request comprising the first address and the
second address; retrieving the selected item from the data library;
and transmitting (416) at least a portion of the
selected item via a communication channel to the remotely
located reception system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the program note
comprises the title of the selected item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the program note
comprises at least one credit for the selected item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the program note
comprises the running time of the selected item.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the item database
(300) is searchable by a user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data
blocks of the selected item are organized into frames.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising
associating a code with the selected item.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the code comprises
an address code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the code comprises
an identification code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the code comprises a
popularity code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data
blocks of the selected item are addressable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the selected item
comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein
the compressed video information is compressed using a
compression method comprising discrete cosine transform and
motion compensation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the item database
(300) communicates with the data library (118) via a library
access interface (121).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the library access
interface (121) communicates with a library system control
computer (1123) adapted to communicate with and access the
data library (118).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the communication
channel on which the request is received and the communication
channel on which the item is transmitted are different.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the selected item
comprises at least one time encoded data block.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for providing audiovisual information to a
remotely located reception system (200) identified by a first
address, comprising: an interface (121, 1123) device adapted to receive
via a communication channel a transmission request generated
via a computer program for a selected item comprising
audiovisual information, the audiovisual information
comprising at least one digital data block in a compressed
format, the request comprising the first address and a second
address associated with the item; a data library (118) comprising a mass storage
device adapted to store at least one item comprising
audiovisual information, including the selected item; a signal transmitting device (122)adapted to
transmit at least a portion of the selected item, via a
communication channel, to the remotely located reception
system; and a control device (1123) in data communication with
the signal transmitting device (122) and adapted to manage the
transmission by the signal transmitting device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the selected item
further comprises an associated program note.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the program note
comprises the title of the selected item.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the program note
comprises at least one credit for the selected item.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the program note
comprises the running time of the selected item.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the signal
transmitting device is adapted to transmit the program note
with the selected item.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 18, further comprising an item
database (300) adapted to store program note information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23, wherein the item database
(300) is searchable by a user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the digital
audiovisual data blocks are organized into frames.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the selected item
comprising audiovisual information further comprises an
associated code.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 26, wherein the code comprises
an address code.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 26, wherein the code comprises
an identification code.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 26, wherein the code comprises
a popularity code.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the digital
audiovisual data blocks are sequenced (413c).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the digital
audiovisual data blocks are time encoded (114).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the digital
audiovisual data blocks are addressable.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the selected item
comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein
the compressed video information is compressed using a
discrete cosine transform.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the selected item
comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein
the compressed video information is compressed using a motion
compensation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the selected item
comprises compressed audio and video information and wherein
the compressed video information is compressed using a
compression method comprising discrete cosine transform and
motion compensation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the communication
channel on which the request is received and the communication
channel on which the item is transmitted are different.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the interface
device is a library access interface (121).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
System of claim 17, wherein the control device is a
library system control computer (1123).
Claim 39
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for providing video information to a
remotely located reception system comprising: a plurality of remote order processing and item
databases (300) each adapted to store information associated
with a plurality of items comprising video information; a library system control computer (1123) adapted to
control the transmission of at least one requested item
comprising video information to a remotely located reception
system (200); wherein the remote order processing and item
database is further adapted to process and download user
transmission requests to the library system control computer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the remote order
processing and item database (300) is capable of being
searched by a user for available items comprising video
information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 39, further comprising a master
item database residing in the library system control computer
(1123), the master item database being adapted to store the
information associated with the plurality of items comprising
video information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 39, further comprising a data
library (118) adapted to store the plurality of items
comprising video information.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 42, wherein the data library
comprises a mass storage device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the remote order
processing and item database (300) is located at a first
location and the library system control computer (1123) is
located at a second location and wherein the first location
and the second location are remote from each other.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the remote order
processing and item database (300) is capable of being
accessed by a user via a query type of computer program
interface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the remote order
processing and item database is capable of being accessed by a
user via a user terminal interface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 46, wherein the user terminal
interface (207) is built into a user reception system (200).
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 46, wherein the user terminal
interface (207) permits the user to conduct a search of
available items comprising video information from a computer
screen.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 39, further comprising a
library access interface (121) adapted to receive transmission
requests.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 49, wherein the library access
interface (121) is further adapted to retrieve a requested
item comprising video information from the data library (118).
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 49, wherein the library access
interface (121) receives transmission requests directly from a
user.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 49, wherein the library access
interface (121) receives transmission requests directly from
the remote order processing and item database (300).
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the library system
control computer (1123) is further adapted to receive
transmission requests and wherein the transmission requests
are placed in a transmission queue.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 53, wherein the transmission
queue is managed by a queue manager program residing on the
library system control computer (1123).
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
93 words
Transmitted digital audiovisual data blocks
transmitted via a communication channel, the digital
audiovisual data blocks being formed by separating audiovisual
information into audio information and video information,
placing the audio information into a predetermined format,
placing the video information into a predetermined format
(413b), sequencing the formatted audio information whereby
sequenced audio data blocks are provided (413c), sequencing
the formatted video information whereby sequenced video data
blocks are provided, and compressing the sequenced audio data
blocks and compressing the sequenced video data blocks (413d)
using a discrete cosine transform and motion compensation
process.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of obtaining audiovisual information on a
remotely located user reception system identified by a first
address comprising: accessing by a computer program an item database
(300) containing a plurality of items of factual information,
at least some of the items of factual information being
associated with a corresponding item comprising audiovisual
information; sending via a communication channel a request to a
first remote location, the request comprising the first
address and a second address, the second address being
associated with a selected item; and receiving at least a portion of the selected item
from a second remote location, wherein the selected item
comprises digital compressed audiovisual information.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 56, wherein at least one of the
items of factual information comprises a program note.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 56, wherein at least one of the
items of factual information comprises a title.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 56, wherein at least one of the
items of factual information comprises at least one credit.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 56, wherein accessing via a
user terminal interface (207) at the user location an item
database (300) containing plurality of items of factual
information comprises providing a request for search results
and receiving an indication of matching items.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 60, wherein the search results
comprise the identity of items comprising audiovisual
information stored in the item database (300) having
associated factual information which matches search query
factual information.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56, further comprising storing
at least a portion of the received selected item.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 62, wherein at least a portion
of the received selected item is stored on a random access
media.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 62, further comprising storing
a complete copy of the received selected item (200c).
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 64, wherein the complete copy
of the received selected item is stored on a recording medium
and further comprising decompressing audio information and
video information in the stored selected item from the
recording medium and playing the decompressed audio and video
information of the received item comprising audiovisual
information from the recording medium (200c).
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the digital,
compressed audiovisual information comprises addressable
compressed digital audiovisual data blocks.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 66, wherein the addressable
compressed digital audiovisual data blocks are organized into
frames.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the compressed
digital video information was compressed using a compression
technique comprising discrete cosine transform and motion
compensation.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56, wherein at least a portion
of the selected item is copy protected.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the reception
system comprises playback controls having a fast forward
control.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 70, further comprising
simulating fast forwarding for the fast forward control using
a random access medium.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the reception
system comprises playback controls having a rewind control.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 72, further comprising
simulating rewinding for the rewind control using a random
access medium.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the user terminal
interface (207) operates with a personal computer.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the item database
(300) is accessed by any available telecommunication channel.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 56, further comprising
distinguishing audio information from video information in the
selected item.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 76, further comprising
separating the audio information from the video information.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 77, further comprising
decompressing the audio information and the video information.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 78, wherein the decompressed
audio information is realigned with the decompressed video
information.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 78, further comprising
converting the decompressed audio information and video
information into a format suitable for playback.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the first remote
location and the second remote location are the same location.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 56, wherein the first remote
location and the second remote location are different
locations.
Claim 83
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of distributing video information
comprising: storing (413e) digital (413b), time encoded (413c),
compressed (413d) video information in a compressed video
library (118); receiving a request for transmission (415) of at least
some of the digital, time encoded, compressed video
information to a user receiving system, the request including
a user address; and transmitting (417) at least some of the digital, time
encoded, compressed video information to the user receiving
system.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 83, wherein the digital, time
encoded, compressed video information is stored as data
blocks.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 84, wherein the data blocks are
addressable.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 84, further comprising
buffering the data blocks prior to transmission.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 83, wherein the digital, time
encoded, compressed video information is stored on a mass
storage device.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 83, wherein the digital, time
encoded, compressed video information is stored on a network
of mass storage devices.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 83, wherein the digital, time
encoded, compressed video information comprises a plurality of
video items.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 89, wherein the video items are
stored as files.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 89, further comprising uniquely
identifying each of the video items.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 89, further comprising
assigning each of the video items a unique identifier.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 92, wherein the request
includes at least one unique identifier.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 89, further comprising storing
information about the video items.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 94, further comprising
transmitting at least some of the information to the user
receiving system.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 94, wherein the information
about the video items includes a title.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 94, wherein the information
about the video items includes a running time.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 89, wherein the video items are
stored as data blocks.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 98, wherein transmitting at
least some of the digital, time encoded, compressed video
information to the user receiving system comprises
transmitting an initial data block forming the video item to
the user receiving system.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 99, further comprising
receiving reception of the initial data block.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 100, further comprising
transmitting remaining data blocks of a video item.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 83, wherein transmitting at
least some of the digital, time encoded, compressed video
information to the user receiving system comprises
transmitting at least some of the digital, time encoded,
compressed video information to the user receiving system over
a cable television system.
Claim 103
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of providing multiplexed sequenced
compressed digital information to a user system, comprising: associating program note information with sequenced
compressed digital information; making the program note information available to the
user; receiving a request from the user system for the
sequenced compressed digital information associated with the
program note information, the request including an address of
the user system; forming data blocks of the sequenced compressed
digital information (413b, 413c, 413d); multiplexing the data blocks with other data blocks
by placing the data blocks and the other data blocks onto a
transmission path in an interleaved manner; and transmitting the multiplexed data blocks to the user
system.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the user system is
a remote user system.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the sequenced
compressed digital information is time encoded (413c).
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the program note
information includes a title.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the program note
information includes a running time.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 103, further comprising storing
the sequenced compressed digital information (413e).
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 103, further comprising storing
the sequenced compressed digital information in a compressed
data library (413e).
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 103, further comprising storing
the sequenced compressed digital information in a mass storage
device.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 110, further comprising storing
the sequenced compressed digital information on a network of
mass storage devices.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the data blocks
are addressable.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 103, further comprising
receiving confirmation of reception of data blocks from the
user system.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 103, wherein the multiplexed
data blocks are transmitted over a cable television system.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
79 words
A transmission system comprising: a compressed data library (118), the compressed data
library containing items of compressed digital video
information, the compressed digital video information having
been compressed (413d) using a discrete cosine transform and
motion compensation; an identification encoder (112) providing the items
of compressed digital video information unique identification
codes; a transmitter (122) in data communication with the
compressed data library (118), the transmitter transmitting
items of compressed digital video information to user systems
(200) upon request.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
57 words
The transmission system of claim 115, further
comprising a transmission formatter (119), the transmission
formatter receiving the items of compressed digital video
information in the compressed data library (118), converting
the items of compressed digital video information into a
format suitable for transmission, and providing the converted
items of compressed digital video information to the
transmitter (122).
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transmission system of claim 115, wherein the
compressed data library (118) includes a mass storage device.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transmission system of claim 115, wherein the
compressed data library (118) includes a network of mass
storage devices.
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