US 6,543,053 B1 · Interactive video-on-demand system

Abstract

A data distribution system and a protocol for interactive information services over a network and in particular for video-on-demand applications. A shared buffer and a split-and-merge protocol are implemented to allow multiple users to share the same video stream multicasted over a network with true VOD services including the ability to access any available video at any time, and to perform any VCR-like functions and random access. Video requests for a video program are served in batches. A user interaction is first handled by splitting off the interactive user from a shared video stream in a batch, and by subsequently assigning the user a new dedicated video stream. The interactive user is subsequently merged back to one of the batching video streams shared by multiple users upon resuming normal play mode.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for providing video-on-demand services to a plurality of users accessing a video through a channel, comprising:

generating a plurality of service streams, each indicative of the video;
multicasting said service streams to the plurality of users in batches to allow a number of the users to retrieve the video in a single batch;
generating one or more interaction video streams each indicative the video, each being designated to serve a single user for executing an interactive command;
allowing any one of the users in said single batch to execute an interactive command which requires a different viewing than what will be viewed by other users in said single batch who have not executed said interactive command and splitting said one user from said other users by connecting said one user to an interaction video stream to be an interactive user to allow for execution of said interactive command;
and
after completion of said interactive command, merging said one user to a service stream with one of said plurality of batches.

3 more elements

A digital data distribution system, comprising:

an information channel which transports digital data and communication signals;
a plurality of data receivers connected to said information channel and configured to communicate with said information channel;
at least one digital server connected to said information channel, having a digital data storage device which stores information, said server operating to produce a plurality of data streams indicative of said stored information and multicast said stored information over said information channel to said receivers;
a synchronization buffer memory device connected to receive said data streams from said server and connectable to feed said data receivers, said synchronization buffer memory device operable to duplicate a received data stream into one or more delayed data streams that are delayed in time by different amounts with respect to said received data stream;
and
an electronic controller connected to said information channel to select a data stream from said server and from a delayed data stream generated by said synchronization buffer memory device to feed a data receiver according to a user's request, said electronic controller operating to control said multicasting by said server such that a number of said receivers receive said stored information in a batch assigned with one of said data streams and to control said multicasting using a split-and-merge protocol in which a data receiver requesting an interactive command is split from said batch and merged into another batch upon completion of said interactive command.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive video-on-demand system

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Interactive video-on-demand system

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Abstract

Claims29