US5440336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for storing and forwarding audio and/or visual information on demand
Assignee: Xylon LLC
•
Filing: 1993-07-23
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2013-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand is shown including an encoder for receiving, digitizing, and compressing audio/video signals into a data stream, and a first processing system for further compressing and storing the data stream received from the encoder, and for later transmitting the data stream via a transmitting system to a location remote from the first processing system. The first processing system preferably also includes a microprocessor. The second processing system includes a microprocessor for receiving, processing, and storing the data stream from the remote first processing system, and later transmitting a copy of the data stream, upon receipt of a request for replay of the audio/video signal after retrieving and decompressing the copy of the data stream. Such system and method also includes a decoder for further decompressing and transforming the data stream into an analog signal for transmission to at least one television set for replay.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Buhro
- 👤 Ernest W. Radowick
- 👤 John E. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand, comprising: an encoder for receiving at least one of said audio/video signals, digitizing each of said received at least one audio/video signal, and compressing said digitized signal into a data stream; a first processing system for receiving said data stream from said encoder, further compressing said data stream, storing said data stream in a first storage media, and later transmitting said data stream from storage; a transmitting system for receiving said data stream from said processing system and transmitting same to a location remote from said processing system; a second processing system including a microprocessor for receiving said data stream from said transmitting system, processing said data stream, storing said data stream in a second storage media, and, upon receipt of a request for replay of said at least one audio/video signal later transmitting a copy of said data stream from such storage media after decompressing said copy of said data stream; and a decoder for receiving said data stream copy from said storage media, further decompressing said data stream copy and transforming said decompressed data stream copy into an analog signal for transmission to at least one television set for replay.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand, comprising: an encoder for receiving at least one of said audio/video signals, digitizing each of said received at least one audio/video signal, and compressing said digitized signal into a data stream; a first processing system for receiving said data stream from said encoder, further compressing said data stream, storing said data stream in a first storage media, and later transmitting said data stream from storage; a transmitting system for receiving said data stream from said processing system and transmitting same to a location remote from said processing system; a second processing system including a microprocessor for receiving said data stream from said transmitting system, processing said data stream, storing said data stream in a second storage media, and, upon receipt of a request for replay of said at least one audio/video signal later transmitting a copy of said data stream from such storage media after decompressing said copy of said data stream; and a decoder for receiving said data stream copy from said storage media, further decompressing said data stream copy and transforming said decompressed data stream copy into an analog signal for transmission to at least one television set for replay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/visual signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said first and second storage media are random access mass storage media.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said transmission by said second processing system is synchronous replay to said decoder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said request for replay of said analog signal is from another processing system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said request for replay of said analog signal is from a program running simultaneously on said second processing system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said decompressing by said second processing system is rebuilding of said copy of said data stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said compressing by said first processing system is stripping off network overhead from said data stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 7, wherein said network overhead includes forward error correction and addressing information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said second processing system further comprises a communications board for enabling direct data transfer from said storage media to said decoder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 9, wherein said communications board bears a data queue controller for managing input, output and system channels of said communications board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 10, wherein said data queue controller ensures buffers in all output channels of said communications board are timely filled during transmission to prevent under- or over-filling of a channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said first processing system further comprises a communications board for enabling direct data transfer from said encoder to said storage media.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 12, wherein said communications board bears a data queue controller for managing input, output and system channels of said communications board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for storing and forwarding audio/video signals on demand of claim 1, wherein said first processing system further includes a microprocessor.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand, comprising: an encoder for receiving at least one of said analog signals, digitizing each of said received at least one analog signal, and compressing said digitized signal into a data stream; a first processing system for receiving said data stream from said encoder, further compressing said data stream, storing said data stream in a first storage media, and later transmitting said data stream from storage; a transmitting system for receiving said data stream from said processing system and transmitting same to a location remote from said processing system; a second processing system including a microprocessor for receiving said data stream from said transmitting system, processing said data stream, storing said data stream in a second storage media, and, upon receipt of a request for replay at least one of said analog signal later transmitting a copy of said data stream from such storage media after decompressing said copy of said data stream; and a decoder for receiving said data stream copy from said storage media, further decompressing said data stream copy and transforming said decompressed data stream copy into an analog signal for transmission to at least one presentation system for replay.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
202 words
A system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand, comprising: an encoder for receiving at least one of said analog signals, digitizing each of said received at least one analog signal, and compressing said digitized signal into a data stream; a first processing system for receiving said data stream from said encoder, further compressing said data stream, storing said data stream in a first storage media, and later transmitting said data stream from storage; a transmitting system for receiving said data stream from said processing system and transmitting same to a location remote from said processing system; a second processing system including a microprocessor for receiving said data stream from said transmitting system, processing said data stream, storing said data stream in a second storage media, and, upon receipt of a request for replay at least one of said analog signal later transmitting a copy of said data stream from such storage media after decompressing said copy of said data stream; and a decoder for receiving said data stream copy from said storage media, further decompressing said data stream copy and transforming said decompressed data stream copy into an analog signal for transmission to at least one presentation system for replay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said first and second storage media are random access mass storage media.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said transmission by said second processing system is synchronous replay to said decoder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said request for replay of said analog signal is from another processing system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said request for replay of said analog signal is from program running simultaneously on said second processing system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said decompressing by said second processing system is rebuilding of said copy of said data stream.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said compressing by said first processing system is stripping off network overhead from said data stream.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 21, wherein said network overhead includes forward error correction and addressing information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said second processing system further comprises a communications board for enabling direct data transfer from said storage media to said decoder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 23, wherein said communications board bears a data queue controller for managing input, output and system channels of said communications board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 24, wherein said data queue controller ensures buffers in all output channels of said communications board are timely filled during transmission to prevent under- or over-filling of a channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said first processing system further comprises a communications board for enabling direct data transfer from said encoder to said storage media.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 26, wherein said communications board bears a data queue controller for managing input, output and system channels of said communications board.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said first processing system further includes a microprocessor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is a television set.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is a multimedia platform.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said multimedia platform permits interaction with a user.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is an audio speaker.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are a multimedia production.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are an audio/video program.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are an audio-only presentation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are a conference video with associated program audio.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are a video-only presentation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are a television program.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are a commercial.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said analog signals are video footage.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said second processing system inserts additional programming at predetermined locations within said analog signal during said transmission of said analog signal to at least one presentation system for replay.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said additional programming is a commercial.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said additional programming is an announcement.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is a cable television distribution system.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is a fiber optic link.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system for storing and forwarding analog signals on demand of claim 15, wherein said presentation system is a VCR.
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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) | 1998-08-07 | 1999-02-06 | 1999-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-07 | 2003-02-06 | 2003-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-07 | 2007-02-06 | 2007-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |