US6018359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for multicast video-on-demand delivery system
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1998-04-24
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2018-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A video-on-demand system divides video files into sequentially organized data segments for transmission and playback. Each segment is repeatedly transmitted in a looping fashion over a transmission channel. The rate of transmission is equal to or greater than the playback rate, and the lengths of the segments are chosen such that: (i) the receiver tunes into no more than a fixed number of channels (preferably two) at any one time; (ii) the receiver tunes into a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and (iii) until a maximum segment length is attained, data is received from no fewer than two channels. The segments are sequentially presented even as new segments are being downloaded. When the display rate is equal to the transmission rate, it is found that the foregoing conditions are satisfied when the relative lengths of the segments form a modified Fibonacci sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger G. Kermode
- 👤 Henry Holtzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/64; H04N21/6405; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2381
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of transmitting a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing the video file into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each date segment having an internal temporal order; b. repeatedly transmitting the data segments over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; c. receiving successive sequential data segments such that data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel, at least some of the data segments being received discontiguously; d. sequentially displaying the data segments with proper internal temporal order notwithstanding discontiguous reception of some of the data segments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of transmitting a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing the video file into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each date segment having an internal temporal order; b. repeatedly transmitting the data segments over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; c. receiving successive sequential data segments such that data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel, at least some of the data segments being received discontiguously; d. sequentially displaying the data segments with proper internal temporal order notwithstanding discontiguous reception of some of the data segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein data from no more than two channels is received simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of reordering the data of discontiguously received segments prior to their display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the segments have relative lengths and are received at a download rate, the relative lengths of n segments being determined according to the series function ##EQU5## where r(n) is the download rate expressed as a multiple of the playback rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the segments have a maximum length determined according to the series function.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of transmitting a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing the video file into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments; b. repeatedly transmitting the data segments over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; c. receiving successive sequential data segments such that: i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. until a maximum segment is attained, data is received from no fewer than two channels; and d. sequentially displaying the data segments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of transmitting a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing the video file into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments; b. repeatedly transmitting the data segments over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; c. receiving successive sequential data segments such that: i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. until a maximum segment is attained, data is received from no fewer than two channels; and d. sequentially displaying the data segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein data from no more than two channels is received simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the segments have relative lengths and are received at a download rate, the relative lengths of n segments being determined according to the series function ##EQU6## where r(n) is the download rate expressed as a multiple of the playback rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the segments have a maximum length determined according to the series function.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of transmitting, from a central storage site having a library of video data files, a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate in response to a request, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing each of the video files into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, the data segments increasing in length from a first segment to a maximum-length segment; b. prior to receiving the request, pre-storing at least the first segment of a plurality of video data files on the receiver, the plurality of video data files including the requested video file; c. repeatedly transmitting the data segments of the requested video file over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; d. causing the receiver to receive successive sequential data segments such that data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; e. sequentially displaying the data segments beginning with the pre-stored data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of transmitting, from a central storage site having a library of video data files, a video data file to a receiver for presentation at a playback rate in response to a request, the method comprising the steps of: a. dividing each of the video files into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, the data segments increasing in length from a first segment to a maximum-length segment; b. prior to receiving the request, pre-storing at least the first segment of a plurality of video data files on the receiver, the plurality of video data files including the requested video file; c. repeatedly transmitting the data segments of the requested video file over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate; d. causing the receiver to receive successive sequential data segments such that data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; e. sequentially displaying the data segments beginning with the pre-stored data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the receiving step begins substantially simultaneously with display of the pre-stored data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
145 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment having an internal temporal order and being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for accessing the transmission channels and asynchronously receiving successive sequential data segments such that i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. at least some of the data segments being received discontiguously; and b. means for causing sequential display of the data segments with proper internal temporal order notwithstanding discontiguous reception of some of the data segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment having an internal temporal order and being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for accessing the transmission channels and asynchronously receiving successive sequential data segments such that i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. at least some of the data segments being received discontiguously; and b. means for causing sequential display of the data segments with proper internal temporal order notwithstanding discontiguous reception of some of the data segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The receiver of claim 12 wherein the segments have relative lengths and are received at a download rate, the relative lengths of n segments being determined according to the series function ##EQU7## where r(n) is the download rate expressed as a multiple of the playback rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for receiving successive sequential data segments such that: i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. until a maximum segment is attained, data is received from no fewer than two channels; and d. means for causing display of the data segments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for receiving successive sequential data segments such that: i. data from no more than a fixed plurality of channels is received simultaneously; ii. data is received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and iii. until a maximum segment is attained, data is received from no fewer than two channels; and d. means for causing display of the data segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The receiver of claim 14 wherein the segments have relative lengths and are received at a download rate, the relative lengths of n segments being determined according to the series function ##EQU8## where r(n) is the download rate expressed as a multiple of the playback rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
164 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files from a central storage site having a library of video data files, the data files being divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for receiving, prior to the request, at least the first segment of a plurality of video data files, the plurality of video data files including the requested video file; b. means for storing the received segments; c. means for receiving successive sequential data segments of the requested video file from no more than a fixed plurality of channels simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and d. means for causing sequential display of the data segments beginning with the pre-stored data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
164 words
A receiver for receiving, for presentation at a playback rate, video data files from a central storage site having a library of video data files, the data files being divided into a plurality of sequentially organized data segments, each data segment being repeatedly transmitted over a plurality of transmission channels at a transmission rate, the transmission rate being at least equal to the playback rate, the receiver comprising: a. means for receiving, prior to the request, at least the first segment of a plurality of video data files, the plurality of video data files including the requested video file; b. means for storing the received segments; c. means for receiving successive sequential data segments of the requested video file from no more than a fixed plurality of channels simultaneously, data being received from a new channel only after an entire segment has been received from a previous channel; and d. means for causing sequential display of the data segments beginning with the pre-stored data.
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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) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |