Patent US5729280A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5729280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Near video-on-demand signal receiver having a memory which provides for VCR like functions
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1995-08-28
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2015-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Inoue
- 👤 Yukio Kubota
- 👤 Toshimichi Nagashima
- 👤 Akira Shimazu
- 👤 Keiji Kanota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/4448; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26275; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/4333; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47208; H04N21/47211; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A video signal receiver for receiving a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying a single video program comprised of video signals, each transmission of said video program on one of said channels being offset by a time interval with respect to the transmission of said video program on another one of said channels, comprising: memory means for receiving video signals for storage and reproducing stored video signals; channel selecting means, coupled to said memory means, for selecting one of said video channels and for supplying the video signals carried on the one channel to said memory means and to a display device; user input means for providing commands from a user; and control means, coupled to said memory means, said channel selecting means and said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply a selected channel of video signals to said display device and, in response to a pause command received from said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply said selected channel of video signals to said memory means and for controlling said memory means to store the video signals carried on said selected channel as a stored segment and, in response to a resume command received from said user input means, for controlling said memory means to reproduce the video signals of said stored segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A video signal receiver for receiving a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying a single video program comprised of video signals, each transmission of said video program on one of said channels being offset by a time interval with respect to the transmission of said video program on another one of said channels, comprising: memory means for receiving video signals for storage and reproducing stored video signals; channel selecting means, coupled to said memory means, for selecting one of said video channels and for supplying the video signals carried on the one channel to said memory means and to a display device; user input means for providing commands from a user; and control means, coupled to said memory means, said channel selecting means and said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply a selected channel of video signals to said display device and, in response to a pause command received from said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply said selected channel of video signals to said memory means and for controlling said memory means to store the video signals carried on said selected channel as a stored segment and, in response to a resume command received from said user input means, for controlling said memory means to reproduce the video signals of said stored segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said memory means has a storage capacity to store video signals transmitted during a time period equal to said interval but said storage capacity is insufficient to store all of said video program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Receiver according to claim 2, wherein said memory means comprises a hard disk drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Receiver according to claim 3, wherein said memory means further comprises first and second buffer memories.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises a keypad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises a mouse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a microcomputer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said control means, in response to said pause command, controls said memory means to receive the video signals carried on said selected channel, including a last stored video signal, for only a period of time approximately equal to said time interval if said resume command is not received within said period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Receiver according to claim 8, wherein said control means, in response to said resume command, determines a next channel that is next to carry said last stored video signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Receiver according to claim 9, wherein said control means, in response to said resume command, controls said channel selecting means to supply the video signals carried on said next channel to said memory means and controls said memory means to store said video signals carried on said next channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Receiver according to claim 10, wherein said control means controls said memory means to reproduce said stored video signals carried on said next channel after reproducing said stored segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Receiver according to claim 11, wherein said memory means simultaneously stores said video signals carried on said next channel and reproduces said stored segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Receiver according to claim 11, wherein said memory means simultaneously stores received video signals carried on said next channel and reproduces the stored video signals that had been carried on said next channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said memory means simultaneously stores and reproduces video signals carried on said selected channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
Receiver according to claim 1, wherein said control means is operable to control said channel selecting means to select a preview channel carrying video signals representing a preview of a video program and to supply said preview channel to said memory means, to control said memory means to store the video signals carried on said preview channel as a stored preview segment, and in response to a preview command received from said user input means, to control said memory means to reproduce said stored preview segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
196 words
A video signal receiver for receiving a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying a single video program comprised of video signals, each transmission of said video program on one of said channels being offset by a time interval with respect to the transmission of said video program on another one of said channels, comprising: memory means for receiving video signals for storage and reproducing stored video signals; channel selecting means, coupled to said memory means, for selecting one of said video channels and for supplying the video signals carried on the one channel to said memory means and to a display device; user input means for providing commands from a user; and control means, coupled to said memory means, said channel selecting means and said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply a selected channel of video signals to said display device and, in response to a pause command received from said user input means, for directing the supply of video signals to said memory means for storage, and, in response to a resume command received from said user input means, for controlling said memory means to reproduce the stored video signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
A video signal receiver for receiving a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying a single video program comprised of video signals, each transmission of said video program on one of said channels being offset by a time interval with respect to the transmission of said video program on another one of said channels, comprising: memory means for receiving video signals for storage and reproducing stored video signals; channel selecting means, coupled to said memory means, for selecting one of said video channels and for supplying the video signals carried on the one channel to said memory means and to a display device; user input means for providing commands from a user; and control means, coupled to said memory means, said channel selecting means and said user input means, for controlling said channel selecting means to supply a selected channel of video signals to said display device and, in response to a pause command received from said user input means, for directing the supply of video signals to said memory means for storage, and, in response to a resume command received from said user input means, for controlling said memory means to reproduce the stored video signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Receiver according to claim 16, wherein said memory means stores video signals for a period of time approximately equal to said time interval.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
Receiver according to claim 17, wherein said control means, in response to said resume command, determines a next channel that is next to carry video signals from where the stored video signals end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
Receiver according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores video signals carried on said next channel and reproduces the stored video signals carried on said next channel after finishing reproduction of the stored video signals carried on said selected channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |