US5752160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive entertainment network system and method with analog video startup loop for video-on-demand
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1995-05-05
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2015-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An interactive entertainment network system supplies previews in an analog format while operating in a video-on-demand (VOD) mode. The previews are displayed instantaneously when a viewer switches to a designated VOD channel. The previews are played in a continuous loop to attract viewers that are switching through channels. The VOD channel therefore appears like traditional broadcast channels, as opposed to a still screen. In this manner, the viewer will be less inclined to skip past the VOD channel. If the viewer does nothing, the previews of the new releases cycle through, one after another. No digital resources are utilized to this point; rather, the analog video stream is continually transmitted in a "broadcast" fashion. However, if the viewer actively requests information or a new set of previews while in the VOD application, the system ceases the analog presentation and transitions to a fully interactive digital system. Any requested programs or other information is supplied from the headend in a digital format. After a period of inactivity, the system reverts to playing the analog video stream of previews to further conserve digital resources.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew W. Dunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/816; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, the content provider having a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in digital format, a system comprising: a video processing unit at the content provider to convert preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for transmission to the user interface units; the video processing unit being configured to determine a schedule of the preview video trailers for transmission to the user interface units, the schedule defining an order that the preview video trailer appear within the analog video stream to be supplied to the user interface units; and an on-demand application resident at a user interface unit to display the analog video stream when the user interface unit initially executes the on-demand application and to generate requests for services from the content provider in response to user input; and the video processing unit, in response to receiving a request from the on-demand application, outputting the preview video trailers and video content programs as digital video data streams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, the content provider having a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in digital format, a system comprising: a video processing unit at the content provider to convert preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for transmission to the user interface units; the video processing unit being configured to determine a schedule of the preview video trailers for transmission to the user interface units, the schedule defining an order that the preview video trailer appear within the analog video stream to be supplied to the user interface units; and an on-demand application resident at a user interface unit to display the analog video stream when the user interface unit initially executes the on-demand application and to generate requests for services from the content provider in response to user input; and the video processing unit, in response to receiving a request from the on-demand application, outputting the preview video trailers and video content programs as digital video data streams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the analog video stream contains a selected number of preview video trailers which are repeatedly shown in a continuous loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein: the on-demand application is activated when the user interface unit is tuned to a designated on-demand channel; and the analog video stream is transmitted on the on-demand channel so that the preview video trailers are readily displayed when a viewer tunes to the on-demand channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, the content provider having a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in digital format, a system comprising: a video processing unit at the content provider to convert a set of preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for transmission to the user interface units; an on-demand application resident at a user interface unit to enable a viewer to select a different set of preview video trailers and to send a request for the different set to the content provider; and in response to the request, the video processing unit transmits the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams to the requesting user interface unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an interactive entertainment network system in which a content provider serves video content programs to one or more user interface units over a distribution network, the content provider having a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in digital format, a system comprising: a video processing unit at the content provider to convert a set of preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for transmission to the user interface units; an on-demand application resident at a user interface unit to enable a viewer to select a different set of preview video trailers and to send a request for the different set to the content provider; and in response to the request, the video processing unit transmits the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams to the requesting user interface unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as recited in claim 4 wherein the video processing unit reverts to transmitting preview video trailers as an analog video stream to the requesting user interface unit following a period of inactivity from the requesting user interface unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the video processing unit strictly adheres to the schedule by timely transmitting the start of each preview video trailer at a scheduled time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as recited in claim 1 wherein: the video processing unit transmits data records which contain information pertaining to the preview video trailers; and the on-demand application displays the preview video trailers while simultaneously overlaying the information pertaining to the preview video trailers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a video-on-demand user interface which executes on the user interface unit, the video-on-demand user interface enabling a viewer to order a video content program directly from a displayed analog preview video trailer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A content provider for an interactive system, comprising: a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format; a video processing unit connected to the storage medium to convert the preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for output to the user interface units; the video processing unit determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; and in response to receiving a request from a particular user interface unit, the video processing unit enables output of the preview video trailers and video content programs as digital video data streams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A content provider for an interactive system, comprising: a storage medium to store the video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format; a video processing unit connected to the storage medium to convert the preview video trailers from the digital format to an analog format and thereby form an analog video stream for output to the user interface units; the video processing unit determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; and in response to receiving a request from a particular user interface unit, the video processing unit enables output of the preview video trailers and video content programs as digital video data streams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A content provider according to claim 9 wherein the video processing unit reverts to the analog format for output of the preview video trailers as the analog video stream following a period of inactivity from the particular user interface unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers in digital format and provides the program content programs and preview video trailers to user interface units, a method for operating the content provider comprising the following steps: converting a set of preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a particular user interface unit; and in response to receiving a request for a different set of preview video trailers, transmitting the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams from the content provider to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers in digital format and provides the program content programs and preview video trailers to user interface units, a method for operating the content provider comprising the following steps: converting a set of preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a particular user interface unit; and in response to receiving a request for a different set of preview video trailers, transmitting the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams from the content provider to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the following additional step: reverting to transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream to the particular user interface unit following a period of inactivity from the particular user interface unit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for operating an interactive entertainment system in a video-on-demand mode, the interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores preview video trailers about associated video content programs in a digital format and provides the preview video trailers to a user interface unit, the method comprising the following steps: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that the preview video trailers appear within the analog video stream; activating the video-on-demand mode at a particular user interface unit; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to the particular user interface unit; and transmitting the schedule to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for operating an interactive entertainment system in a video-on-demand mode, the interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores preview video trailers about associated video content programs in a digital format and provides the preview video trailers to a user interface unit, the method comprising the following steps: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that the preview video trailers appear within the analog video stream; activating the video-on-demand mode at a particular user interface unit; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to the particular user interface unit; and transmitting the schedule to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the following additional steps: displaying the preview video trailers at the particular user interface unit; transmitting data records with information pertaining to the video segments; and overlaying the information pertaining to the preview video trailers on the displayed preview video trailers.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for operating an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a plurality of user interface units, the method comprising the following steps: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit; requesting, at the user interface unit, a full length video content program that is associated with one of the preview video trailers; and transmitting the full length video content program as a digital video data stream to the user interface unit.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for operating an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a plurality of user interface units, the method comprising the following steps: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit; requesting, at the user interface unit, a full length video content program that is associated with one of the preview video trailers; and transmitting the full length video content program as a digital video data stream to the user interface unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the following additional steps: displaying the preview video trailers at the user interface unit; transmitting data records with information pertaining to the preview video trailers; and overlaying the information pertaining to the preview video trailers on the displayed preview video trailers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of repeatedly transmitting a selected number of preview video trailers in a continues loop until said requesting step occurs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
A program embodied on a computer-readable medium, for use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers in digital format, the program comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting a set of preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting, in response to receiving a request for a different set of preview video trailers, the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A program embodied on a computer-readable medium, for use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers in digital format, the program comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting a set of preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting, in response to receiving a request for a different set of preview video trailers, the different set of preview video trailers as digital video data streams.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
143 words
For use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores preview video trailers about associated video content programs in a digital format and provides the preview video trailers to a user interface unit, computer-readable media resident at the content provider and the user interface unit comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computer-readable instructions for determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that the video segments appear within the analog video stream; computer-readable instructions for activating the video-on-demand mode at a particular user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for initially transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to the particular user interface unit; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting the schedule to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
143 words
For use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores preview video trailers about associated video content programs in a digital format and provides the preview video trailers to a user interface unit, computer-readable media resident at the content provider and the user interface unit comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computer-readable instructions for determining a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that the video segments appear within the analog video stream; computer-readable instructions for activating the video-on-demand mode at a particular user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for initially transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to the particular user interface unit; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting the schedule to the particular user interface unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
181 words
For use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a plurality of user interface units, computer-readable media resident at the content provider and the user interface unit comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computer-readable instructions for computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for requesting, at the user interface unit, a full length video content program that is associated with one of the preview video trailers; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting the full-length video content program as a digital video data stream to the user interface unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
181 words
For use in an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a plurality of user interface units, computer-readable media resident at the content provider and the user interface unit comprising: computer-readable instructions for converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format at the content provider; computer-readable instructions for computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit; computer-readable instructions for requesting, at the user interface unit, a full length video content program that is associated with one of the preview video trailers; and computer-readable instructions for transmitting the full-length video content program as a digital video data stream to the user interface unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a user interface unit, computer-readable media resident at the content provider having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format; computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; and transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
117 words
In an interactive entertainment system having a content provider which stores video content programs and associated preview video trailers about the video content programs in a digital format and provides the video content programs and preview video trailers to a user interface unit, computer-readable media resident at the content provider having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: converting the preview video trailers from a digital format to an analog format; computing a schedule of the preview video trailers in an order that they appear within the analog video stream; transmitting the preview video trailers as an analog video stream from the content provider to a user interface unit; and transmitting the schedule to the user interface unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of repeatedly transmitting the preview video trailers in a continuous loop.
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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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |