US5550863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audio and video transmission and receiving system
Assignee: H LEE BROWNE D/B/A GREENWICH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
•
Filing: 1993-10-08
•
Granted: 1996-08-27
•
Expires: 2013-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A system of distributing video and/or audio information employs digital signal processing to achieve high rates of data compression. The compressed and encoded audio and/or video information is sent over standard telephone, cable or satellite broadcast channels to a receiver specified by a subscriber of the service, preferably in less than real time, for later playback and optional recording on standard audio and/or video tape.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Yurt
- 👤 H. Lee Browne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/40; H04H20/86; H04H20/95; H04H60/00; H04H60/27; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/218; H04N21/2181; H04N21/23; H04N21/231; H04N21/23109; H04N21/233; H04N21/234; H04N21/2343; H04N21/234381; H04N21/2347; H04N21/23473; H04N21/236; H04N21/23614; 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; H04N21/4334; H04N21/434; H04N21/4341; H04N21/4348; H04N21/44; H04N21/4402; H04N21/440281; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4627; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/47211; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6143; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6581; H04N21/6583; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8352; H04N21/8355; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; H04N7/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A transmission system for providing information to be transmitted to remote locations, the transmission system comprising: a plurality of library means for storing items containing information; identification encoding means for retrieving the information in the items from the plurality of library means and for assigning a unique identification code to the retrieved information; conversion means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for placing the retrieved information into a predetermined format as formatted data; ordering means, coupled to the conversion means, for placing the formatted data into a sequence of addressable data blocks; compression means, coupled to the ordering means, for compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; compressed data storing means, coupled to the data compression means, for storing as files the compressed, sequenced data blocks received from the data compression means with the unique identification code assigned by the identification encoding means; and transmitter means, coupled to the compressed data storing means, for sending at least a portion of one of the files to one of the remote locations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A transmission system for providing information to be transmitted to remote locations, the transmission system comprising: a plurality of library means for storing items containing information; identification encoding means for retrieving the information in the items from the plurality of library means and for assigning a unique identification code to the retrieved information; conversion means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for placing the retrieved information into a predetermined format as formatted data; ordering means, coupled to the conversion means, for placing the formatted data into a sequence of addressable data blocks; compression means, coupled to the ordering means, for compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; compressed data storing means, coupled to the data compression means, for storing as files the compressed, sequenced data blocks received from the data compression means with the unique identification code assigned by the identification encoding means; and transmitter means, coupled to the compressed data storing means, for sending at least a portion of one of the files to one of the remote locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of libraries are geographically separated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
151 words
A receiving system responsive to a user input identifying a choice of an item stored in a source material library at a transmission system, the item containing information to be sent from the transmission system to the receiving system, the receiving system comprising: requesting means for transmitting to the source material library in the transmission system the identity of the item; transceiver means, coupled to the requesting means, for receiving the item from the transmission system as at least one formatted data block; receiver format conversion means, coupled to the transceiver means, for converting the at least one formatted data block into a format suitable for storage processing, and for playback at the receiver system; and storage means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for storing a complete copy of the formatted data, the storage means including an off line recording media allowing for future multiple playbacks of the data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
A receiving system responsive to a user input identifying a choice of an item stored in a source material library at a transmission system, the item containing information to be sent from the transmission system to the receiving system, the receiving system comprising: requesting means for transmitting to the source material library in the transmission system the identity of the item; transceiver means, coupled to the requesting means, for receiving the item from the transmission system as at least one formatted data block; receiver format conversion means, coupled to the transceiver means, for converting the at least one formatted data block into a format suitable for storage processing, and for playback at the receiver system; and storage means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for storing a complete copy of the formatted data, the storage means including an off line recording media allowing for future multiple playbacks of the data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver system as recited in claim 3, further comprising play back means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for playing back the copy of the data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A receiver system as recited in claim 4, further comprising: recognizing means for recognizing protected data; and disabling means, coupled to the recognizing means and the storage means, for disabling the second storage means when the recognizing means recognizes protected data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A receiving system responsive to a user input identifying a choice of an item stored in a source material library at a transmission system, the item containing information to be sent from the transmission system to the receiving system, the receiving system comprising: requesting means for transmitting to the source material library in the transmission system the identity of the item; transceiver means, coupled to the requesting means, for receiving the item from the transmission system as at least one compressed, formatted data block; receiver format conversion means, coupled to the transceiver means, for converting the at least one compressed, formatted data block into a format suitable for storage processing, and for playback at the receiver system; first storage means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for storing a complete copy of the formatted data; decompressing means, coupled to the first storage means, for decompressing the copy of the formatted data; and second storage means, including an off line recording media allowing for future multiple playbacks, for storing a complete copy of the data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
A receiving system responsive to a user input identifying a choice of an item stored in a source material library at a transmission system, the item containing information to be sent from the transmission system to the receiving system, the receiving system comprising: requesting means for transmitting to the source material library in the transmission system the identity of the item; transceiver means, coupled to the requesting means, for receiving the item from the transmission system as at least one compressed, formatted data block; receiver format conversion means, coupled to the transceiver means, for converting the at least one compressed, formatted data block into a format suitable for storage processing, and for playback at the receiver system; first storage means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for storing a complete copy of the formatted data; decompressing means, coupled to the first storage means, for decompressing the copy of the formatted data; and second storage means, including an off line recording media allowing for future multiple playbacks, for storing a complete copy of the data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A receiver system as recited in claim 6, wherein the second storage means is coupled to the decompressing means, and the second storage means stores the decompressed copy of the data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A receiver system as recited in claim 6, further comprising play back means, coupled to the decompressing means, for playing back the decompressed copy of the data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A receiver system as recited in claim 8, further comprising: recognizing means for recognizing protected data; and disabling means, coupled to the recognizing means and the second storage means, for disabling the second storage means when the recognizing means recognizes protected data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for providing information to be transmitted to remote locations, comprising: identification encoding means for assigning a unique identification code to items of information; conversion means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for placing each item of information into a predetermined format as formatted data; ordering means, coupled to the conversion means, for placing the formatted data for each item of information into a sequence of addressable data blocks; compression means, coupled to the ordering means, for compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; compressed data storing means, coupled to the data compression means, for storing as files the compressed, sequenced data blocks; and first transmitter means, coupled to the compressed data storing means, for selectively sending at least a portion of one of the files; a distribution system, remote from the transmission system, the distribution system comprising: means for receiving and storing a complete copy of the portion of one of the files sent by the first transmitter means; and second transmitter means, responsive to the stored portion of the one of the files, for transmitting a representation of the stored portion to at least one of a plurality of the remote locations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for providing information to be transmitted to remote locations, comprising: identification encoding means for assigning a unique identification code to items of information; conversion means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for placing each item of information into a predetermined format as formatted data; ordering means, coupled to the conversion means, for placing the formatted data for each item of information into a sequence of addressable data blocks; compression means, coupled to the ordering means, for compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; compressed data storing means, coupled to the data compression means, for storing as files the compressed, sequenced data blocks; and first transmitter means, coupled to the compressed data storing means, for selectively sending at least a portion of one of the files; a distribution system, remote from the transmission system, the distribution system comprising: means for receiving and storing a complete copy of the portion of one of the files sent by the first transmitter means; and second transmitter means, responsive to the stored portion of the one of the files, for transmitting a representation of the stored portion to at least one of a plurality of the remote locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A transmission system as recited in claim 10, wherein; the first transmitter means transmits the portion of the one of the files at a non-real time rate; and the second transmitter means transmits the stored portion in substantially real time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transmission system as recited in claim 11, wherein the second transmitter means comprises a decompressor for decompressing the complete copy of the stored portion of the one of the files.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transmission system as in claim 10, further comprising library means for storing and supplying to the identification encoding means items containing information.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
250 words
A method of distributing audio/video information comprising: transmitting compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of at least one item of audio/video information at a non-real time rate from a central processing location; receiving the transmitted compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of the at least one item of audio/video information, at a local distribution system remote from the central processing location; storing the received compressed digitized data representing the complete copy of the at least one item at the local distribution system; in response to the stored compressed, digitized data, transmitting a representation of the at least one item at a real-time rate to at least one of a plurality of subscriber receiving stations coupled to the local distribution system; and decompressing the compressed, digitized data representing the at least one item of audio/video information after the transmission step wherein the decompressing step is performed in the local distribution system to produce the representation of the at least one item for transmission to the at least one subscriber station; wherein the transmitting step comprises: inputting an item having information into the transmission system; assigning a unique identification code to the item having information; formatting the item having information as a sequence of addressable data blocks; compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; storing, as a file, the compressed, formatted, and sequenced data blocks with the assigned unique identification code; and sending at least a portion of the file at the non-real time rate to the local distribution system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
250 words
A method of distributing audio/video information comprising: transmitting compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of at least one item of audio/video information at a non-real time rate from a central processing location; receiving the transmitted compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of the at least one item of audio/video information, at a local distribution system remote from the central processing location; storing the received compressed digitized data representing the complete copy of the at least one item at the local distribution system; in response to the stored compressed, digitized data, transmitting a representation of the at least one item at a real-time rate to at least one of a plurality of subscriber receiving stations coupled to the local distribution system; and decompressing the compressed, digitized data representing the at least one item of audio/video information after the transmission step wherein the decompressing step is performed in the local distribution system to produce the representation of the at least one item for transmission to the at least one subscriber station; wherein the transmitting step comprises: inputting an item having information into the transmission system; assigning a unique identification code to the item having information; formatting the item having information as a sequence of addressable data blocks; compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks; storing, as a file, the compressed, formatted, and sequenced data blocks with the assigned unique identification code; and sending at least a portion of the file at the non-real time rate to the local distribution system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the inputting step comprises inputting the item having information as blocks of digital data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the inputting step comprises: inputting the item having information as an analog signal; and converting the analog signal to blocks of digital data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of distributing audio/video information comprising: formatting items of audio/video information as compressed digitized data at a central processing location; transmitting compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of at least one item of audio/video information from the central processing location; receiving the transmitted compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of the at least one item of audio/video information, at a local distribution system; storing the received compressed, digitized data representing the complete copy of the at least one item at a local distribution system; and using the stored compressed, digitized data to transmit a representation of the at least one item to at a plurality of subscriber receiving stations coupled to the local distribution system; wherein the formatting step comprises: inputting an item having information into the transmission system; assigning a unique identification code to the item having information; formatting the item having information as a sequence of addressable data blocks; and compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of distributing audio/video information comprising: formatting items of audio/video information as compressed digitized data at a central processing location; transmitting compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of at least one item of audio/video information from the central processing location; receiving the transmitted compressed, digitized data representing a complete copy of the at least one item of audio/video information, at a local distribution system; storing the received compressed, digitized data representing the complete copy of the at least one item at a local distribution system; and using the stored compressed, digitized data to transmit a representation of the at least one item to at a plurality of subscriber receiving stations coupled to the local distribution system; wherein the formatting step comprises: inputting an item having information into the transmission system; assigning a unique identification code to the item having information; formatting the item having information as a sequence of addressable data blocks; and compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the inputting step comprises inputting the item having information as blocks of digital data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the inputting step comprises: inputting the item having information as an analog signal and converting the analog signal to blocks of digital data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3599178A
Cited
US3746780A
Cited
US4062043A
Cited
US4009346A
Cited
US4009344A
Cited
US4028733A
Cited
US4206316A
Cited
US4071697A
Cited
US4122299A
Cited
US4734765A
Cited
US4295154A
Cited
US4538176A
Cited
US4518989A
Cited
US4381522A
Cited
US4400717A
Cited
US4450477A
Cited
US4590516A
Cited
WO1984000863A1
Cited
US4521806A
Cited
US4567512A
Cited
US4533936A
Cited
US4506387A
Cited
US4833710A
Cited
US4679079A
Cited
US4755872A
Cited
US4807023A
Cited
US4688246A
Cited
US4763191A
Cited
US4937821A
Cited
US4907081A
Cited
US4785349A
Cited
US4868653A
Cited
US4847827A
Cited
US4920432A
Cited
US5032927A
Cited
US4914508A
Cited
US4847677A
Cited
US4890320A
Cited
WO1989012370A1
Cited
EP0355697A2
Cited
US4949187A
Cited
US4963995A
Cited
US5057932A
Cited
US5164839A
Cited
US5014267A
Cited
US4947244A
Cited
US4949169A
Cited
US5130792A
Cited
US5133079A
Cited
US5132992A
Cited
US5133179A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-27 | 2000-02-26 | 2000-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-27 | 2004-02-26 | 2004-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-02-26 | 2008-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |