The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 22, 2014
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2005
Convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network
Sandi Hannum, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Peter Sheedy, Huntington Valley, PA (US);
James R. Albrecht, Girdwood, AK (US);
Matt Wong, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Bruce R. Bradley, Wayne, PA (US);
Sandi Hannum, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Peter Sheedy, Huntington Valley, PA (US);
James R. Albrecht, Girdwood, AK (US);
Matt Wong, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Bruce R. Bradley, Wayne, PA (US);
Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A system and method are described herein for providing an convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network whereby a user may interactively revert back to the beginning of an ongoing video program that is currently broadcasted over the video distribution network. The novel system and method may be implemented on any video network having interactive television (ITV) capabilities, wherein user requests from a client are serviceable at an upstream head end, and video storage means exist for the purpose of storage of time based broadcast video programs. The system preferably utilizes a process that involves a minimally complicated sequence of commands that are easily understood and remembered by virtually any user, thereby enhancing the probability of consumer acceptance. The start over system and method may be embodied as a program of instructions, defining a controller, that are executed by a micro-processor located in the STB (client) or head end (server). Optional means are also provided for allowing only a subset of all available broadcast video programs that emanate from a plurality of programming sources to be used with the start over system.