US5598276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for controlling play of multiple versions of the same motion picture stored on an optical disk
Assignee: Warner Bros Home Entertainment Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-18
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Granted: 1997-01-28
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Expires: 2015-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An optical disk containing PG-rated and R-rated versions of the same motion picture. To minimize redundant storage of data, three types of video data blocks are provided in the same track, in an interleaved fashion - - - A-type blocks which contain material unique to version A, B-type blocks which contain material unique to version B, and C-type blocks which contain material common to both. A series of codes and pointers included in each block allow play of all common blocks, play of all A or B blocks depending on which version has been selected, and skipping over of the blocks which contain data unique to the unselected version. Play of adult-rated versions are automatically prevented if a parental lock option in the player has been keyed on. The disk may contain special software for identifying multiple versions of the same material where the selection criterion is one other than a rating.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Cookson
- 👤 Lewis S. Ostrover
- 👤 Warren N. Lieberfarb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:13
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/30; G11B27/3027; G11B27/32; G11B27/327; G11B27/329; G11B27/34; G11B27/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/78; H04N5/781; H04N5/782; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545; G11B2220/2562; G11B2220/2583; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/9201; H04N5/9206; H04N5/926; H04N5/9261; H04N5/9262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of the same video program material contained on a software carrier, said software carrier having recorded thereon a single track with three different types of interleaved video data blocks containing respectively (1) video data unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) video data unique to the other of said at least two versions, and (3) video data common to said at least two versions, with said track containing at least one data block of each of said three types, comprising means for registering which of said versions is to be played, means for selecting only the blocks containing video data unique to the version being played and blocks containing video data common to said at least two versions, and means for sequentially reading only the selected video data to form a playback signal from the video data contained in the selected blocks to the exclusion of the video data in the same track in the unique to the version which is not being played.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of the same video program material contained on a software carrier, said software carrier having recorded thereon a single track with three different types of interleaved video data blocks containing respectively (1) video data unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) video data unique to the other of said at least two versions, and (3) video data common to said at least two versions, with said track containing at least one data block of each of said three types, comprising means for registering which of said versions is to be played, means for selecting only the blocks containing video data unique to the version being played and blocks containing video data common to said at least two versions, and means for sequentially reading only the selected video data to form a playback signal from the video data contained in the selected blocks to the exclusion of the video data in the same track in the unique to the version which is not being played.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said data blocks further contains an address and pointer data identifying the address of the next data block to be selected for the version being played, and further including means for operating on block addresses and pointer data to determine the successive blocks that must be selected for the version being played.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said dam blocks further contains a code identifying whether the block contains data unique to one version, or data common to said at least two versions, and said operating means further operates in accordance with block codes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain type codes for said versions, and further including means for selectively disabling formation of a playback signal from blocks containing data unique to a version having a particular type code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain software for determining how said type codes are to be used, and further including means for reading said software and thereafter using said type codes in accordance therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system in accordance with claim 5 further including means for forming a menu display under control of said software and said type codes, and means for allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 4 further including means for forming a menu display of available versions under control of said type codes and said disabling means, and means for allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain type codes for said versions, and further including means for selectively disabling formation of a playback signal from blocks containing data unique to a version having a particular type code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 8 further including means for forming a menu display of available versions under control of said type codes and said disabling means, and means for allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain codes indicative of the version types as well as software for determining how said codes are to be used, and further including means for reading said software and thereafter using said codes in accordance therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 further including means for forming a menu display under control of said software and said codes, and means for allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of playing a selected one of at least two versions of the same video program material contained on a software carrier, said software carrier having recorded thereon a single track with three different types of interleaved video data blocks containing respectively (1) video data unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) video data unique to the other of said at least two versions, and (3) video data common to said at least two versions, with said tracks containing at least one data block of each of said three types, comprising the steps of registering which of said versions of the video program is to be played, selecting only the blocks containing video data unique to the version being played and blocks containing video data common to said at least two versions, sequentially reading only the selected video data, and forming a playback signal from the sequentially read video data contained in the selected blocks to the exclusion of the video data in the same track unique to the version which is not being played.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of playing a selected one of at least two versions of the same video program material contained on a software carrier, said software carrier having recorded thereon a single track with three different types of interleaved video data blocks containing respectively (1) video data unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) video data unique to the other of said at least two versions, and (3) video data common to said at least two versions, with said tracks containing at least one data block of each of said three types, comprising the steps of registering which of said versions of the video program is to be played, selecting only the blocks containing video data unique to the version being played and blocks containing video data common to said at least two versions, sequentially reading only the selected video data, and forming a playback signal from the sequentially read video data contained in the selected blocks to the exclusion of the video data in the same track unique to the version which is not being played.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein each of said video data blocks further contains an address and pointer data identifying the address of the next video data block to be selected for the version being played, and further including the step of operating on block addresses and pointer data to determine the successive video data blocks that must be selected for the version being played to facilitate the sequential reading of the video data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said data blocks further contains a code identifying whether the block contains data unique to one version, or data common to said at least two versions, and in said operating step operations are performed in accordance with block codes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain type codes for said versions, and further including the step of selectively disabling formation of a playback signal from blocks containing data unique to a version having a particular type code.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain software for determining how said type codes are to be used, and further including the step of reading said software and thereafter using said type codes in accordance therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 further including the steps of forming a menu display under control of said software and said type codes, and allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 further including the steps of forming a menu display of available versions under control of said type codes and said disabling step, and allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain type codes for said versions, and further including the step of selectively disabling formation of a playback signal from blocks containing data unique to a version having a particular type code.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 further including the steps of forming a menu display of available versions under control of said type codes and said disabling step, and allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a lead-in section of said software carrier track may contain codes indicative of the version types as well as software for determining how said codes are to be used, and further including the steps of reading said software and thereafter using said codes in accordance therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 further including the steps of forming a menu display under control of said software and said codes, and allowing a user to select a version to be played based on displayed menu choices.
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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) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |