US5351075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Home video club television broadcasting system
Assignee: IREACTOR Inc
•
Filing: 1990-03-20
•
Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2010-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for providing access to a plurality of video programs of a video library in accordance with viewer preferences. Members of the Home Video Club of the invention may phone in or write in their video program choices and the received viewer choices are tabulated in accordance with a selection priority scheme at the transmission side so that the most popular video programs as determined by the voter choices may be broadcast more regularly for the viewer's convenience. For this purpose, a "prime time" viewing period is defined in accordance with the viewer preferences so that the more popular video programs can be shown more frequently to meet viewer demand. The selected video programs are broadcast over rented or dedicated cable television channels for reception by the viewer. The received video programs may then be recorded and time-shifted so that the viewers may view the video programs at their leisure. The technique of this invention is particularly advantageous in that the broadcast system is directly responsive to the viewer preferences and is dynamically programmable in accordance with those preferences so that differing numbers of regular and prime time programs may be viewed in a given time period. Revenue may be raised by charging for the viewer's calls and by the subscription fee for joining the Home Video Club.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Herz
- 👤 Michael Negin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/38; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26241; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4334; H04N21/47; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/4756; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising: scheduling means for defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted, for receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods, and for selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating all of the viewer video program preferences during a predetermined time period, said scheduling means subsequently establishing, responsive to the tabulated viewer video program preferences, when and how often each selected prerecorded video program is to be transmitted during said future viewing periods; and means responsive to said scheduling means for transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising: scheduling means for defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted, for receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods, and for selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating all of the viewer video program preferences during a predetermined time period, said scheduling means subsequently establishing, responsive to the tabulated viewer video program preferences, when and how often each selected prerecorded video program is to be transmitted during said future viewing periods; and means responsive to said scheduling means for transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises a plurality of video cassette recorders with multiple tape changers and a cable head end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scheduling means further comprises prime time scheduling means for defining a future daily prime time viewing period in accordance with said viewer video program preferences during which at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is to be transmitted daily.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said transmitting means transmits the at least one selected prerecorded video program for seven consecutive days during said prime time viewing period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said scheduling means further includes means for tabulating said viewer video program preferences on a weekly basis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said transmitting means transmits said selected prerecorded video programs over respective transmission channels to said viewer operated video recording systems, each transmission channel having a prime time viewing period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said transmission channels are cable television channels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said scheduling means defines said future viewing periods to each have a duration of two hours such that 84 viewing periods are available in a week.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said prime time scheduling means defines said prime time viewing period so that it occurs during the same viewing period each day and said transmitting means transmits the at least one selected prerecorded video program during said prime time viewing period during each day of said week, thereby enabling at least 78 different prerecorded video programs to be provided to said plurality of viewers during said week.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said prime time scheduling means defines said prime time viewing period to have a duration of two viewing periods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said prime time scheduling means defines said prime time viewing period so that is occurs during the same two viewing periods each day and said transmitting means transmits two selected prerecorded video programs during said prime time viewing period during each day of said week, thereby enabling at least 72 different selected prerecorded video programs to be provided to said plurality of viewers during said week.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said prime time scheduling means defines said prime time viewing period to have a duration of 24 hours in which a plurality of prerecorded video programs are repeated for each day of the week.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one of a telephone, a facsimile device and written ballots for conveying said viewer video program preferences to said scheduling means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted; receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating all of the viewer preferences during a predetermined time period and subsequently establishing, responsive to the tabulated viewer preferences, when and how often each selected prerecorded video program is to be transmitted during said future viewing periods; and transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted; receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating all of the viewer preferences during a predetermined time period and subsequently establishing, responsive to the tabulated viewer preferences, when and how often each selected prerecorded video program is to be transmitted during said future viewing periods; and transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method in accordance with claim 14 comprising the further step of defining a future daily prime time viewing period in accordance with said viewer video program preferences during which at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is to be transmitted daily.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting the at least one selected prerecorded video program for seven consecutive days during said prime time viewing period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting said selected prerecorded video programs over respective transmission channels to said viewer operated video recording systems, each transmission channel having a prime time viewing period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said defining step includes the step of defining said future viewing periods to each have a duration of two hours such that 84 viewing periods are available in a week.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said prime time viewing period defining step includes the step of defining said prime time viewing period so that it occurs during the same viewing period each day and said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting the at least one selected prerecorded video program during said prime time viewing period during each day of said week, thereby enabling at least 78 different prerecorded video programs to be provided to said plurality of viewers during said week.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said prime time viewing period defining step defines said prime time viewing period to have a duration of two viewing periods.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said prime time viewing period defining step includes the step of defining said prime time viewing period so that it occurs during the same two viewing periods each day and said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting two selected prerecorded video programs during said prime time viewing period during each day of said week, thereby enabling at least 72 different selected prerecorded video programs to be provided to said plurality of viewers during said week.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said prime time viewing period defining step includes the step of defining said prime time viewing period to have a duration of 24 hours in which a plurality of prerecorded video programs are repeated for each day of the week.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising: means for scheduling a plurality of future viewing periods during which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted; means for receiving and tabulating viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; means responsive to said receiving and tabulating means for selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods defined by said scheduling means in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating said viewer preferences; and means responsive to said selecting means for transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority, whereby at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers each day during a variable prime time viewing period for a predetermined number of days.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising: means for scheduling a plurality of future viewing periods during which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted; means for receiving and tabulating viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; means responsive to said receiving and tabulating means for selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods defined by said scheduling means in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating said viewer preferences; and means responsive to said selecting means for transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during respective future viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority, whereby at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers each day during a variable prime time viewing period for a predetermined number of days.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said transmitting means comprises a plurality of video cassette recorders with multiple tape changers and a cable head end.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein the predetermined number of days is 7.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for receiving and tabulating viewer preferences includes means for tabulating said viewer preferences for a predetermined period preceding said predetermined number of days.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said transmitting means transmits said selected prerecorded video programs over at least one cable television channel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, further comprising at least one of a telephone, a facsimile device and written ballots for conveying said viewer video program preferences to said scheduling means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said receiving, selecting and scheduling means are together comprised of a microprocessor under software control.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said scheduling means varies the duration of said prime time viewing period in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said scheduling means divides said variable prime time viewing period into at least two contiguous viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system in accordance with claim 30, wherein said scheduling means divides said variable prime time viewing period into more than one noncontiguous viewing period in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system in accordance with claim 32, wherein said scheduling means varies the timing of said noncontiguous prime time viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted over at least one cable television channel; receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; defining a variable prime time viewing period in accordance with said viewer video program preferences during which at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is to be transmitted daily to each of said plurality of viewers, the timing and duration of said prime time viewing period varying in accordance with said viewer video program preferences; selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods and said defined prime time viewing period in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating said viewer video program preferences; and transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during at least one of respective future viewing periods and respective future prime time viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of providing to a plurality of viewers with viewer operated video recording systems selective access to a plurality of prerecorded video programs which may be recorded and played back at each viewer's convenience, comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of future viewing periods in which selected prerecorded video programs will be transmitted over at least one cable television channel; receiving viewer video program preferences from said plurality of viewers for video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during said future viewing periods; defining a variable prime time viewing period in accordance with said viewer video program preferences during which at least one prerecorded video program selected by a predetermined percentage of the viewers is to be transmitted daily to each of said plurality of viewers, the timing and duration of said prime time viewing period varying in accordance with said viewer video program preferences; selecting the prerecorded video programs to be transmitted to each of said plurality of viewers during each of said defined future viewing periods and said defined prime time viewing period in accordance with a selection priority determined by tabulating said viewer video program preferences; and transmitting the selected prerecorded video programs to each of said plurality of viewers during at least one of respective future viewing periods and respective future prime time viewing periods in accordance with said selection priority.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |