US5990881A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Near video-on-demand signal receiver
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-04-11
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2017-04-11
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
2026-11-05 10:48
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: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of 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, said method comprising the steps of: storing received video signals; reproducing the stored video signals; selecting one of said video channels and supplying the video signals carried on the one channel for storage and for display; providing commands from a user; and controlling the selection of the channel of video signals for display and, in response to a pause command from said user, controlling the supply of said selected channel of video signals for storage as a stored segment and, in response to a resume command received from said user, controlling the reproduction of the video signals of said stored segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of 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, said method comprising the steps of: storing received video signals; reproducing the stored video signals; selecting one of said video channels and supplying the video signals carried on the one channel for storage and for display; providing commands from a user; and controlling the selection of the channel of video signals for display and, in response to a pause command from said user, controlling the supply of said selected channel of video signals for storage as a stored segment and, in response to a resume command received from said user, controlling the reproduction of the video signals of said stored segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein substantially all of the video signals transmitted during a time period equal to said time interval are stored but all of said video program is not stored.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein in response to said pause command, the video signals carried on said selected channel, including a last stored video signal, are received for storage for only a period of time approximately equal to said time interval if said resume command is not received within said period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein, in response to said resume command, a next channel that is next to carry said last stored video signal is determined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein, in response to said resume command, the video signals carried on said next channel are supplied and stored.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said stored video signals carried on said next channel are reproduced after reproducing same stored segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said video signals carried on said next channel are stored simultaneously with the reproduction of said stored segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein received video signals carried on said next channel are stored simultaneously with the reproduction of the stored video signals that had been carried on said next channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein video signals carried on said selected channel are simultaneously stored and reproduced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a preview channel carrying video signals representing a preview of a video program is selected and supplied for storage as a stored preview segment, and in response to a preview command received from said user, said stored preview segment is reproduced.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of 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, said method comprising the steps of: storing received video signals; reproducing the stored video signals; selecting one of said video channels and supplying the video signals carried on the one channel for storage and display; providing commands from a user; and controlling the selection of the channel of video signals for display and, in response to a pause command from said user, detecting the supply of video signals for storage, and, in response to a resume command received from said user, controlling the reproduction of the stored video signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of 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, said method comprising the steps of: storing received video signals; reproducing the stored video signals; selecting one of said video channels and supplying the video signals carried on the one channel for storage and display; providing commands from a user; and controlling the selection of the channel of video signals for display and, in response to a pause command from said user, detecting the supply of video signals for storage, and, in response to a resume command received from said user, controlling the reproduction of the stored video signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said video signals are stored for a period of time approximately equal to said time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein, in response to said resume command, a next channel that is next to carry video signals from where the stored video signals end is determined.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the video signals carried on said next channel are stored and the stored video signals carried on said next channel are reproduced after finishing reproduction of the stored video signals carried on said selected channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5729280A
Cited
US5668948A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |