System and method for delivering media content
OwnerRobert R. Bushey, Benjamin A. Knott +1inventors
InventorsRobert R. Bushey, Benjamin A. Knott, William L. Reber
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Abstract
A television program is stored in a digital storage format for downloading to end viewers. The television program is made inactive for downloading in a first blackout period associated with its first broadcast on a broadcast television network. The television program is made inactive for downloading in a second blackout period associated with its second broadcast. The television program is made active for downloading in a first active period between the first blackout period and the second blackout period
Claims27
A method comprising:
- storing a television program in a digital storage format for downloading to end viewers;
- making the television program inactive for downloading in a first blackout period associated with its first broadcast on a broadcast television network;
- making the television program inactive for downloading in a second blackout period associated with its second broadcast;
- and
- making the television program active for downloading in a first active period between the first blackout period and the second blackout period.
A method comprising:
- storing a television program in a digital storage format for downloading to end viewers;
- making the television program inactive for downloading in a first blackout period associated with its initial broadcast on a broadcast television network which broadcasts the television program on a plurality of over-the-air local affiliates;
- making the television program inactive for downloading in a second blackout period associated with its encore broadcast on a non-local cable broadcast channel;
- making the television program inactive for downloading in a third blackout period associated with its rerun broadcast on the broadcast television network;
- making the television program active for downloading in a first active period between the first blackout period and the second blackout period;
- making the television program active for downloading in a second active period between the second blackout period and the third blackout period;
- receiving an order to download the television program;
- and
- downloading the television program during either the first active period or the second active period based on the order.
A system comprising:
- a digital storage medium to store a television program for downloading to end viewers, to make the television program inactive for downloading in a first blackout period associated with its first broadcast on a broadcast television network, to make the television program inactive for downloading in a second blackout period associated with its second broadcast, and to make the television program active for downloading in a first active period between the first blackout period and the second blackout period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.