US6701528B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Virtual video on demand using multiple encrypted video segments
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
•
Filing: 2000-01-26
•
Granted: 2004-03-02
•
Expires: 2020-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Arsenault
- 👤 Leon J. Stanger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26216; H04N21/44; H04N21/44016; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of providing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service; receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program, retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel in the local storage device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of providing a video program in response to a user demand, wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service; receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program, retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel in the local storage device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of: scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and identifying a video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the program guide is stored in the local storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of: accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and associating the VOD service indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of video programs for VOD is performed by the user and the method further comprises the step of presenting a program guide to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: accepting a selection of a category of video programs for VOD service; and associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program that is a member of the selected category of video programs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting at least one of the plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises the steps of: scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of scanning the program guide comprises the step of comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of scanning the program guide comprises the step of comparing video program information for each of the entries, where the video program information comprises a unique program identifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device comprises the step of receiving data representing the first segment of the video program from a program source in a receiver communicatively coupled to the local storage device at a time scheduled by the program source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user in response to the user demand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments each sub-segment associated with a time code, and the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises the step of sorting the sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the time code is an SMPTE time code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the time code is a program time stamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments, each sub-segment associated with a time code and a channel identifier, and the step of splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises the steps of: assembling the sub-segments by the associated channel identifier; and sorting the assembled sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the subsequent segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable with a key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the method further comprises the steps of: in response to the user demand and while retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user, transmitting a message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program and the user to a program source; and receiving the key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of decrypting the encrypted subsequent segments with the key.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable by a different key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the method further comprises the steps of: in response to the user demand, transmitting a message separately identifying each of the segments of the selected video program and the user to a program source; and receiving a key for each of the segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of decrypting the encrypted segments with each of the different keys.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
165 words
An apparats for providing a video program in response to a user demand wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission on temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising: means for selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service; means for receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and means for retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
165 words
An apparats for providing a video program in response to a user demand wherein the video program is repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission on temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission, the apparatus comprising: means for selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service; means for receiving and storing a first segment of the selected video program in a local storage device before accepting a user demand to view the selected video program, wherein a temporal length of the first segment is substantially equivalent to the retransmission interval; and means for retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user while receiving and storing subsequent segments of the video program from each of the plurality of channels transmitting a portion of the selected video program in parallel after accepting the user demand to view the selected video program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the means for selecting at least one of the plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises: means for scanning a program guide stored in the local storage device having an entry for each of the video programs for a VOD service indicator; and means for identifying the video program associated with the VOD service indicator as the selected video program.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising: means for accepting a selection of a category of video programs for VOD service; and means for associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program that is a member of the selected category of video programs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the program guide is stored in the local storage device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the means for selecting at least one of a plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises: means for accepting a selection of at least one of the video programs for VOD service; and means for associating the VOD indicator with the entry of each video program selected for VOD service.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of video programs for VOD is selected by the user and the apparatus further comprises means for presenting a program guide to the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of video programs are selected for VOD service by a VOD service provider.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the means for selecting at last one of the plurality of video programs for VOD service comprises: means for scanning a program guide having an entry for each of the video programs to identify at least one video program scheduled to be repeatedly transmitted on one of a plurality of channels, each repeated transmission temporally separated from a previous transmission by a retransmission interval and being transmitted on a different channel than the previous transmission; and means for selecting the identified video program as the selected video program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means for comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein the video program information comprises a program title.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the means for scanning the program guide comprises means fox comparing video program information for each of the entries, wherein be video program information comprises a unique program identifier.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the means for storing a first segment of a selected video program in a local storage device comprises means for receiving data representing the first segment of the video program from a program source in a receiver communicatively coupled to the local storage device at a time scheduled by the program source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user in response to the user demand.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the video segments each comprise a plurality of video sub-segments each sub-segment associated with a time code, and the means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises means for sorting the sub-segments in accordance with the time codes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the time code is the SMPTE time code.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the time code is a program time stamp.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the video segments each comprises a plurality of video sub-segments, each sub-segment associated with a time code and a channel identifier, and the means for splicing the subsequent segments to the first segment for presentation to the user comprises: means for assembling the sub-segments by the associated channel identifier; and means for sorting the assembled sub-segments in accordance with the rime codes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each of the subsequent segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable with a key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprising: means for transmitting a message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program and the user to a program source while retrieving the stored first segment for presentation to the user; means for receiving the key; and wherein the message separately identifying each of the subsequent segments of the selected video program and the user to a program source is transmitted in response to a user demand.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 36 , further comprising means for decrypting the encrypted subsequent segments with the key.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein each of the segments is encrypted so as to be decryptable by a different key before being received and stored in the local storage device, and the apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting a message separately identifying each of the segments of the selected video program and the user to a program source in response to the user demand; and means for receiving a key for each of the segments.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 38 , further comprising means for decrypting the encrypted segments with each of the different keys.
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