CA2484518A1 - Technique for synchronizing deliveries of information and entertainment in a communications network - Google Patents

Technique for synchronizing deliveries of information and entertainment in a communications network Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2484518A1
CA2484518A1 CA002484518A CA2484518A CA2484518A1 CA 2484518 A1 CA2484518 A1 CA 2484518A1 CA 002484518 A CA002484518 A CA 002484518A CA 2484518 A CA2484518 A CA 2484518A CA 2484518 A1 CA2484518 A1 CA 2484518A1
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Canada
Prior art keywords
program stream
delay
programming content
copy
user terminal
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Granted
Application number
CA002484518A
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French (fr)
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CA2484518C (en
Inventor
Erik G. Urdang
Louis D. Williamson
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Time Warner Cable LLC
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Individual
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/242—Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
    • G06F3/0482—Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
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    • H04N21/236—Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
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Abstract

In a broadband communications system, a broadcast program stream is transmitted to broadcast programming content, and the broadcast program stre am is recorded in a headend (105) of the system to enable a user (158-1 to 158- L) to perform network private video recorder functions (e.g., rewinding, pausin g, and fast-forwarding. In accordance with the invention, a delay is introduced into the transmission of the broadcast program stream to reduce the unsynchronization between its transmission and that of the recorded program stream.

Claims (56)

1. A communications system for delivering programming content, comprising:
a first transmitting device for transmitting a first program stream containing the programming content;
a server for generating a second program stream containing a copy of the programming content;
a second transmitting device for transmitting the second program stream, a transmission of the second program stream lagging behind a transmission of the first program stream by a time period; and a controlling device for introducing a delay into the transmission of the first program stream to reduce the time period.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the delay is adjustable.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the delay is adjusted periodically.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interface for receiving a signal from a user terminal, wherein the first program stream is provided to a user terminal, and in response to the received signal, the second program stream is provided to the user terminal in lieu of the first program stream.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the signal contains a request for performing a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the programming content.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second program stream is provided to a user terminal, and upon detection of a condition, the first program stream is provided to the user terminal in lieu of the second program stream.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the copy of the programming content includes a copy of program material being currently broadcast, and the condition occurs when the user terminal receives the copy of program material being current broadcast.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first program stream is transmitted to broadcast the programming content.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the second program stream is transmitted upon a request received by the system.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the delay is effected by allocating a storage space for temporarily storing the first program stream.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein an amount of the storage space varies with an amount of the delay.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the second program stream is manipulatable to perform a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the copy of the programming content.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein an amount of the delay is limited by an upper bound.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein an amount of the delay is predetermined.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the first transmitting device includes the second transmitting device.
16. A communications system for delivering programming content, comprising:
a first transmitting device for transmitting a first program stream containing the programming content;
a server for providing a second program stream containing a copy of the programming content;
a second transmitting device for transmitting the second program stream;
a mechanism for measuring at least one processing time for providing the second program stream; and a controlling device for introducing a delay into a transmission of the first program stream to compensate for at least the processing time.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the delay is adjustable.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the delay is adjusted periodically.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one processing time includes a duration for recording the programming content.
20. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one processing time includes a duration for preparation for a transmission of the second program stream in response to a request received by the system.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the duration is a function of a condition of a network which the request traverses.
22. The system of claim 20 wherein the delay comprises a statistical measure of the duration.
23. The system of claim 16 wherein the first program stream is transmitted to broadcast the programming content.
24. The system of claim 16 wherein the second program stream is transmitted upon a request received by the system.
25. The system of claim 16 wherein the delay is effected by allocating a storage space for temporarily storing the first program stream.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein an amount of the storage space varies with an amount of the delay.
27. The system of claim 16 wherein the second program stream is manipulatable to perform a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the copy of the programming content.
28. The system of claim 16 wherein the delay is limited by an upper bound.
29. The system of claim 16 wherein the first transmitting device includes the second transmitting device.
30. A method for use in a communications system for delivering programming content, comprising:
transmitting a first program stream containing the programming content;
generating a second program stream containing a copy of the programming content;
transmitting the second program stream, a transmission of the second program stream lagging behind a transmission of the first program stream by a time period; and introducing a delay into the transmission of the first program stream to reduce the time period.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the delay is adjustable.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the delay is adjusted periodically.
33. The method of claim 30 further comprising an interface for receiving a signal from a user terminal, wherein the first program stream is provided to a user terminal, and in response to the received signal, the second program stream is provided to the user terminal in lieu of the first program stream.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the signal contains a request for performing a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the programming content.
35. The method of claim 30 wherein the second program stream is provided to a user terminal, and upon detection of a condition, the first program stream is provided to the user terminal in lieu of the second program stream.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the copy of the programming content includes a copy of program material being currently broadcast, and the condition occurs when the user terminal receives the copy of program material being current broadcast.
37. The method of claim 30 wherein the first program stream is transmitted to broadcast the programming content.
38. The method of claim 30 wherein the second program stream is transmitted upon a request received by the system.
39. The method of claim 30 wherein the delay is effected by allocating a storage space for temporarily storing the first program stream.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein an amount of the storage space varies with an amount of the delay.
41. The method of claim 30 wherein the second program stream is manipulatable to perform a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the copy of the programming content.
42. The method of claim 30 wherein an amount of the delay is limited by an upper bound.
43. The method of claim 30 wherein an amount of the delay is predetermined.
44. A method for use in a communications system for delivering programming content, comprising:
transmitting a first program stream containing the programming content;
providing a second program stream containing a copy of the programming content;
transmitting the second program stream;
measuring at least one processing time for providing the second program stream; and introducing a delay into a transmission of the first program stream to compensate for at least the processing time.
45. The method of claim 44 wherein the delay is adjustable.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein the delay is adjusted periodically.
47. The method of claim 44 wherein the at least one processing time includes a duration for recording the programming content.
48. The method of claim 44 wherein the at least one processing time includes a duration for preparation for a transmission of the second program stream in response to a request received by the system.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein the duration is a function of a condition of a network which the request traverses.
50. The method of claim 48 wherein the delay comprises a statistical measure of the duration.
51. The method of claim 44 wherein the first program stream is transmitted to broadcast the programming content.
52. The method of claim 44 wherein the second program stream is transmitted upon a request received by the system.
53. The method of claim 44 wherein the delay is effected by allocating a storage space for temporarily storing the first program stream.
54. The method of claim 53 wherein an amount of the storage space varies with an amount of the delay.
55. The method of claim 44 wherein the second program stream is manipulatable to perform a selected one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding functions on the copy of the programming content.
56. The method of claim 44 wherein the delay is limited by an upper bound.
CA2484518A 2002-05-03 2003-05-05 Technique for synchronizing deliveries of information and entertainment in a communications network Expired - Lifetime CA2484518C (en)

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CA2484518C (en) 2012-03-06
US20030208765A1 (en) 2003-11-06
AU2003230262A1 (en) 2003-11-17
US7614070B2 (en) 2009-11-03
AU2003230262A8 (en) 2003-11-17
WO2003093949A2 (en) 2003-11-13
WO2003093949A3 (en) 2004-02-19
US20070089147A1 (en) 2007-04-19

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