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  Video distribution systemUSPTO Application #: 20060212908Title: Video distribution system Abstract: The invention relates to video distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based recording, storage and playback system. Customers preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for only the video/audio content that is actually viewed. (end of abstract)
Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP - Philadelphia, PA, US Inventors: Charles Eric Hunter, Bernard L. Ballou, Kelly C. Sparks, John H. Hebrank USPTO Applicaton #: 20060212908 - Class: 725070000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Interactive Video Distribution Systems, Satellite Video Distribution System, Receiver, For Digital Signal The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060212908. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is divisional of Ser. No. 09/645,087, filed Aug. 24, 2000, which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 09/385,671, filed Aug. 27, 1999; Ser. No. 09/436,281, filed Nov. 8, 1999; Ser. No. 09/476,078, filed Dec. 30, 1999; Ser. No. 09/502,069, filed Feb. 10, 2000 and Ser. No. 09/553,524, filed Apr. 20, 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to video distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video/audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based recording, storage and playback system. Customers preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for only the video/audio content that is actually viewed. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0003] Widespread home television viewing began in approximately 1950 with broadcast networks transmitting shows on specific, prepublished schedules. This model remained the primary model for television viewing for over thirty years. [0004] Cable, and later direct broadcast satellite, increased the number of channels. But viewers were still subject to programming schedules. [0005] Video cassette recorders offered the prospect of shifting viewing times, provided the end user was one of the thirty percent or less of VCR owners who learned to program their VCR's. Even among those who learned to program their VCR, time shifting via VCR remains subject to properly setting up the timer, assuring the power is in the correct state, assuring that a correct tape is in the VCR, that the tape is not full, that the tape is properly rewound, etc. Thus, for the majority of TV viewers, even at the turn of the century, the TV viewing model has scarcely changed from the mode of 1950. [0006] Video rental stores have provided a sort of "video on demand" subject, of course, to the high cost of video cassette purchases by the rental stores, as well as the high capital outlay for real estate (land and building) and the cost of labor at the stores. Even when a title becomes available through video release, the viewer's ability to watch the show at his chosen time is subject to availability of the video at the store, round-trip transportation to the store and the inevitable problems with late returns, damaged videos, lost videos, etc. [0007] True video-on-demand has been envisioned whereby massive video servers would be positioned in every geographic location to transfer high speed video data streams to the houses of individual viewers at any time a viewer wished to access a particular movie or other content. However, this type of video demand system, after years and billions of dollars of investment, has proven to be too complex and expensive and, therefore, has not been implemented. A compromise on the video-on-demand concept has been proposed by Replay Networks, Inc. (USA) whereby viewers create their own "replay channels" containing content categorized by, for example, show titles, actor, movie type, etc., with such programming being recorded on hard disks at a local facility and later available for on-demand access by individual viewers. Another type of on-demand video distribution system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,287, whereby video-on-demand and network programming is provided from master file and network program databases through multiple community systems, each of which may serve up to approximately one hundred homes. [0008] Both the Replay Networks, Inc. and the '287 systems have severe limitations in terms of storage capability and customer options. [0009] An interactive viewing system that automatically records selected programs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,763. However, the '763 system simply provides another mechanism for recording television programs. This system attempts to simplify the VCR recording function, but because of its complex nature and limited benefits it has not been implemented. [0010] There is an acute need in the video distribution industry for a system that will provide each individual viewer with ready access to thousands of movies titles, as well as educational programming, network programming, audio programming and the like, in a convenient low-cost manner that fully satisfies user demand, while enhancing the economic incentives of content providers to create and distribute an ever expanding offering of movies and other video/audio content. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention provides a video distribution system that is beneficial to all involved parties, namely consumers, content providers and data transmission providers. In preferred embodiments, consumers are able to preselect movies for viewing from as many as one to eight thousand movies or more that are transmitted daily and as many as ten to sixty thousand movies or more transmitted monthly. Customers of the video distribution system utilize a menu driven, graphical user interface with simplified controls that provide movie selection by title, type, category (e.g., comedy new releases from major studios). In preferred embodiments, video/audio content is blanket transmitted via direct broadcast satellite (DBS) in an encoded, compressed form for playback at VHS resolution (or other desired resolution). The transmission is directly to each customer's receiving dish or antenna which is linked to the customer's user station where selected movies are stored on DVD RAM discs or CD's in a multiple disc platter, or on a hard drive having a storage capacity of, for example, 20 gigabytes or more. The movies may then be played immediately or at any time desired by the consumer, with the consumer paying for only those movies that are viewed. Preferably, the movies are encoded to prevent conversion and duplication for play on existing DVD, CD or other systems. The encoding technology also prevents playback on user stations of the video distribution system in homes that are not current on payments for previous purchases. In certain embodiments, the encoding system includes a novel time-based encoding technology, and movies may be watermarked so that copies are traceable to the customer site. [0012] The video distribution system of the present invention offers numerous advantages to consumers. For example, consumers have access to new movie releases at those times dictated by market conditions to be most favorable by the content providers and the distributors, often before the movies would be available at video rental stores. Consumers will pay for a movie only after it has been viewed, not when recorded. Thus, consumers are free to record categories or classes of movies (e.g., new releases) and later make a decision as to which movies to actually view--paying only for those that are viewed. In certain embodiments, consumers have access to movies that are automatically recorded, such as popular new release movies and movies that are being promoted by the content provider and/or system operator. Consumers may view the videos at any time without restraints related to broadcasting schedules and with no need to visit a video rental store for selection of the movie or returning the movie. There are no late fees. New movie releases will never be "sold out" as they frequently are in existing video rental stores. Another advantage to consumers is the ultimate lower cost occasioned by the system's elimination of the real estate and labor costs associated with existing video rental stores. Because literally thousands of movies are available on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, the video distribution system of the invention provides a much greater selection than any existing video rental store. The invention also provides full access to content for those who live in geographically remote and/or sparsely populated areas that may presently have little or no access to video rental stores. The invention also allows access to videos for families with young children, elderly persons and handicapped persons where theater viewing and round trips to video rental stores are inconvenient, prohibitive or expensive. Each user station utilizes high capacity storage such as DVD platters or hard drives for its read/write functions in addition to an operating system that provides greatly simplified on-screen programming. The present invention also provides the ability to update movie pricing at any time, for example on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, so that consumers can choose to view movies at times when content providers offer pricing specials or incentives. When a movie is recorded on a disc, it can be labeled and stored for future play or, depending upon the storage medium, recorded over (similar to a blank VCR tape). As new movies are recorded and shelved, new or previously used videos can be inserted into the platter for future recording. Video quality is improved over existing video rentals where, in most cases, available tapes have been degraded by previous play. [0013] Content providers (e.g., major studio producers) recognize a very significant benefit in that they receive income every time a movie is played, thereby creating significant residual value for their investments. Importantly, new release movies are always available (i.e., not "sold out") during initial peak demand when pricing power is the highest. The mentioned residual value translates into increased income for the content providers because a significant portion of existing content is available for sale every day--since thousands of movies are transmitted on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. The invention also allows content providers to change pricing at any time, e.g., daily/weekly/monthly, to optimize price vs. consumer demand. In this regard, content providers are allowed to meet consumer demand for a significant portion of the existing content inventory value every day. This provides an extremely high benefit by effectively allowing the market to clear (i.e., real demand matches supply), something that the current video distribution model (TV, movie channels, pay-per-view and video rental) do not provide. Additionally, content providers may download preview material that is specific to user profiles. [0014] According to the invention, content providers are confident that they can distribute their movies with extremely high security through the use of appropriate encoding technology. Preferably, the encoding includes time-based encoding technology, with new code keys for every distributed movie transmitted via phone/modem with billing queries every month. Time-based coding, in combination with a single standard proprietary operating system, allows the video distribution system operator to achieve the level of security demanded by content providers. Watermarks coded to each site may be placed in any playback signal to assure that movie copies, even those made by recording at the input to the TV or monitor can be traced to a specific site or purchase. [0015] Transmission providers (DBS satellite system providers, in preferred embodiments) realize the advantage of a significantly increased income base for supporting their services and the utilization of lower cost, off-peak time for transmission of a significant portion of the movies, as well as opportunities to market other products and services to specific customer profiles. [0016] In one aspect, the video distribution system of the present invention includes a data transmission system blanket transmitting a plurality of encoded movies to customer households. A user station is provided at each customer household, the user station including means permitting the customer household to preselect desired transmitted movies for recording. A receiver and associated recording device at each customer household is provided for recording movies. The recorder may be an internal or external hard drive, DVD or CD recording device or other appropriate device. A playback device permits each customer to play back those recorded movies that the customer desires to view. The video distribution system also includes a central controller system having a database for storing therein an address corresponding to each customer household, a communications link between each customer household and the central controller system to verify to the controller unit that a recorded movie has been played back for viewing and a billing system linked to the central controller system to bill customer households for only those recorded movies that are played back for viewing. [0017] In another aspect, the invention may be defined as a method of distributing movies to customer households comprising the steps of blanket transmitting a plurality of movies to customer households, permitting each customer household to preselect and record desired movies, permitting each customer household to playback for viewing any recorded movie, communicating movie playback information from each customer household to a central controller, and billing customer households for only those recorded movies that are played back for viewing. [0018] Other embodiments allow downloading and storage of marketing material, information, transmission schedules, or even several movies that are currently in high demand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Some of the features of the invention having been stated, other features will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Continue reading... Full patent description for Video distribution system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Video distribution system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Video distribution system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: System and method of network-linked digital terrestrial television broadcasting Next Patent Application: Remote antenna and local receiver subsystems for receiving data signals carried over analog television Industry Class: Interactive video distribution systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Video distribution system patent info. 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