US5701582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for efficient transmissions of programs
Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC
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Filing: 1995-03-22
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Granted: 1997-12-23
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Expires: 2015-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of optimizing transmission of a program to multiple users over a distribution system, with particular application to video-on-demand for a CATV network. The system includes, at a head end of the CATV network a scheduling and routing computer for dividing the video program stored in long term fast storage or short term fast storage into a plurality of program segments, and a subscriber distribution node for transmitting the program segments in a redundant sequence in accordance with a scheduling algorithm. At a receiver of the CATV network there is provided a buffer memory for storing the transmitted video program segments for subsequent playback whereby, in use, the scheduling algorithm can ensure that a user's receiver will receive all of the program segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback in real time of the program. Under the control of controller the receiver distinguishes received program segments by a segment identifier so that redundant segments captured in capture memory are then stored in buffer memory from which the segments can be retrieved and decompressed in data compressor for immediate or subsequent viewing. In one embodiment, the method of this invention includes dividing at least some segments into fragments, and transmitting one fragment of each segment during a playback interval of a duration, for example, equal to a playback time of a segment.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry C. DeBey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/065; G09B5/08; G09B5/12; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/222; H04N21/2221; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26216; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/44; H04N21/44004; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6118; H04N21/6156; H04N21/6168; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6581; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/845; H04N21/8456; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336; H04N21/231; H04N21/23109; H04N21/232
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once, at different times, from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once, at different times, from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein some of the segments are transmitted in a sequence which is different from a sequence in which such segments are subsequently played back.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising storing each segment at users' receivers only once even if the same segment has been received more than once during the transmission of the program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at any given time the head end of the distribution system is not dedicated to transmitting the program to a predetermined number of receivers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a maximum response time corresponding to a maximum time interval a user need wait to commence playing back the program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 wherein each of the segments represents a portion of the program which playing time is equal to one maximum response time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the transmission of each set of the segments is separated in time by a time interval essentially equal to the maximum response time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the first segment of the program is transmitted during every maximum response time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a bandwidth limit is imposed so that at most a predetermined maximum number of segments is transmitted during any given maximum response time interval and further comprising delaying the transmission of a number of the segments exceeding the maximum number until an interval in which the number of segments scheduled for transmission is less than the predetermined maximum number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising imposing a bandwidth limit and transmitting a segment in an interval prior to the interval when it is scheduled for transmission if the number of segments scheduled for that interval exceeds the limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising storing predetermined segments of predetermined programs at receivers of at least some of the users even if such predetermined programs are not presently being requested by the users in whose receivers the segments are stored.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for transmitting a program to multiple users comprising: means for providing a program divided into a plurality of segments at a head end; and means for transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once, at different times, so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for transmitting a program to multiple users comprising: means for providing a program divided into a plurality of segments at a head end; and means for transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once, at different times, so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers, such that at least some of the segments are simultaneously sent to more than one receiver with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receivers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers, such that at least some of the segments are simultaneously sent to more than one receiver with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receivers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the segments represent portions of the program having equal playback time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for transmitting a program to users comprising: means for dividing a program into segments; means for dividing at least some of the segments into a plurality of fragments; means for transmitting at successive intervals at least one fragment of the plurality of fragments of each segment that has been divided into the plurality of fragments; and means for receiving and storing the fragments of the segments, which have been divided into the plurality of segments, necessary for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for transmitting a program to users comprising: means for dividing a program into segments; means for dividing at least some of the segments into a plurality of fragments; means for transmitting at successive intervals at least one fragment of the plurality of fragments of each segment that has been divided into the plurality of fragments; and means for receiving and storing the fragments of the segments, which have been divided into the plurality of segments, necessary for continuous playback of the program.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15 wherein each segment is consecutively numbered and the means for receiving accepts fragments relating to the segments that have numbers higher than the segment currently being played back.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the fragments of each segment are consecutively numbered and the fragments are played back in numerical order.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the played back fragments are deleted from the means for receiving and storing.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and during each predetermined interval accepting at the receivers the fragments of the segments which have not yet been played back and deleting from the receivers the fragments of the segments which have been played back.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and during each predetermined interval accepting at the receivers the fragments of the segments which have not yet been played back and deleting from the receivers the fragments of the segments which have been played back.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein each of the segments is divided into a number of fragments corresponding to a sequential position of such a segment in the program.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein each of the segments is divided into a number of fragments corresponding to a sequential position of such a segment in the program.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and receiving and permanently storing fragments of initial segments of the program.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and receiving and permanently storing fragments of initial segments of the program.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receives; wherein segments of the plurality of segments at an ending potion of the program are divided into fewer fragments than a sequential number of the segments in the ending portion of the program.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receives; wherein segments of the plurality of segments at an ending potion of the program are divided into fewer fragments than a sequential number of the segments in the ending portion of the program.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein segments of the plurality of segments belonging to a beginning portion of the program are transmitted more frequently than segments of the plurality of segments belonging to an ending portion of the program.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein segments of the plurality of segments belonging to a beginning portion of the program are transmitted more frequently than segments of the plurality of segments belonging to an ending portion of the program.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
116 words
A receiver for receiving a program supplied to multiple users over a distribution system from a head end, said program being divided into a plurality of program segments, the receiver comprising: a buffer storage means for storing a plurality of program segments transmitted from the head end of the distribution system; and a processing means including means for determining whether segments already held in said buffer storage means will be presented on the distribution system prior to playback and removing the segments that will be presented a again prior to playback from the buffer storage means whereby, in use, the program segments required for continuous playback of the program will always be available at the receiver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
116 words
A receiver for receiving a program supplied to multiple users over a distribution system from a head end, said program being divided into a plurality of program segments, the receiver comprising: a buffer storage means for storing a plurality of program segments transmitted from the head end of the distribution system; and a processing means including means for determining whether segments already held in said buffer storage means will be presented on the distribution system prior to playback and removing the segments that will be presented a again prior to playback from the buffer storage means whereby, in use, the program segments required for continuous playback of the program will always be available at the receiver.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; wherein at least some of the segments represent a portion of the program having playing time essentially equal to one maximum response time, which is a maximum time interval a user needs to wait to commence playing back the program, and wherein transmission of each set of segments of the plurality of segments is separated in time by a time interval essentially equal to the maximum response time.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; wherein at least some of the segments represent a portion of the program having playing time essentially equal to one maximum response time, which is a maximum time interval a user needs to wait to commence playing back the program, and wherein transmission of each set of segments of the plurality of segments is separated in time by a time interval essentially equal to the maximum response time.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; wherein at most a maximum number of segments, of the plurality of segments, is transmitted during a predetermined time interval, the transmission of other segments of the plurality of segments, exceeding the maximum number, is delayed until an interval in which the number of segments scheduled for transmission is less than the predetermined maximum number.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; wherein at most a maximum number of segments, of the plurality of segments, is transmitted during a predetermined time interval, the transmission of other segments of the plurality of segments, exceeding the maximum number, is delayed until an interval in which the number of segments scheduled for transmission is less than the predetermined maximum number.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; and transmitting a given segment of the plurality of segments in a time interval occurring prior to a time interval when the given segment is scheduled for transmission, if a number of segments, scheduled for the interval when the given segment is scheduled for transmission exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, the method comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers such that, at least some of the segments are transmitted more than once at different times from the head end so as to enable multiple receivers of users requesting playback of the program at different times to simultaneously receive the segments required for continuous playback of the program; and transmitting a given segment of the plurality of segments in a time interval occurring prior to a time interval when the given segment is scheduled for transmission, if a number of segments, scheduled for the interval when the given segment is scheduled for transmission exceeds a predetermined limit.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers, such that at least some of the segments are simultaneously sent to more than one receiver with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receivers; wherein each of the segments is divided into fragments such that the segments representing an ending portions of the program are divided into a greater number of fragments than the segments representing a beginning portions of the program.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system, comprising: at a head end of the distribution system, providing a program divided into a plurality of segments; and transmitting the segments from the head end to users' receivers, such that at least some of the segments are simultaneously sent to more than one receiver with no requirement at any time to dedicate the head end of the distribution system to any specific receivers; wherein each of the segments is divided into fragments such that the segments representing an ending portions of the program are divided into a greater number of fragments than the segments representing a beginning portions of the program.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 28 wherein each of the segments is divided into a number of fragments that corresponds to a sequential position of such a segment in the program, so that the first segment is divided into one fragment, the second segment is divided into two fragments, the third segment is divided into three fragments and so forth.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 wherein during each predetermined time interval at least one fragment of each segment is transmitted.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting at least one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein initial segments of the program are divided into a greater number of fragments than that corresponding to the sequential position of such segments in the program and subsequent segments are divided into a number of fragments corresponding to the position of segments in the program.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; and during each predetermined time interval transmitting at least one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; wherein initial segments of the program are divided into a greater number of fragments than that corresponding to the sequential position of such segments in the program and subsequent segments are divided into a number of fragments corresponding to the position of segments in the program.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising during each predetermined interval accepting at the receivers the fragments of the segments which have not yet been played back and deleting from the receivers the fragments of the segments which have been played back.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting at least one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and wherein the fragments of the segments that represent an ending portion of the program are not accepted at the receivers when initial segments of the program are being played to a user in order to decrease the storage requirement of the receivers.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of transmitting a program to multiple users over a distribution system comprising: providing a program divided into a plurality of segments wherein at least some of the segments are divided into a plurality of fragments; during each predetermined time interval transmitting at least one fragment of each segment to users' receivers; and wherein the fragments of the segments that represent an ending portion of the program are not accepted at the receivers when initial segments of the program are being played to a user in order to decrease the storage requirement of the receivers.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the initial segments of the program are divided into a greater number of fragments than that corresponding to the sequential position of such segments in the program and subsequent segments are divided into a number of fragments corresponding to the position of segments in the program.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the segments belonging to a beginning portion of the program are transmitted more frequently than the segments belonging to the ending portion of the program.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the predetermined interval is essentially equal to a playback interval of a segment.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
95 words
A receiver for receiving a program supplied to multiple users over a distribution system from a head end, said program being divided into a plurality of program segments, the receiver comprising: a buffer storage means for storing a plurality of program segments transmitted from the head end of the distribution system; and means for determining whether segments presented on the distribution system will be presented again prior to playback and rejecting the segments that will be presented again, but accepting the segments that will not be presented again for storing in the buffer storage means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
95 words
A receiver for receiving a program supplied to multiple users over a distribution system from a head end, said program being divided into a plurality of program segments, the receiver comprising: a buffer storage means for storing a plurality of program segments transmitted from the head end of the distribution system; and means for determining whether segments presented on the distribution system will be presented again prior to playback and rejecting the segments that will be presented again, but accepting the segments that will not be presented again for storing in the buffer storage means.
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