System and method for providing broadcast programming, a virtual VCR, and a video scrapbook to programming subscribers
US8584182B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/8455
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system is disclosed for providing broadcast programming to subscriber locations including an intermediate video supplier, subscriber location equipment and one or more video sources. The intermediate video supplier includes a video buffer and a video server that processes received subscriber requests and retrieves, according to the subscriber requests, either of currently broadcast programming or broadcast programming previously buffered in the video buffer by the video server. The subscriber location equipment includes a remote control and a local control unit that transmits the subscriber requests to the video server via one or more data links and receives, from the video server, either of the currently broadcast programming or the previously buffered broadcast programming for display on a local video display via the data link. A subscriber may initiate a restart command with a single action via the remote control to restart a currently viewed program from the beginning for viewing the entire program on the local video display even if the currently viewed program was joined in progress.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.