Television – Basic receiver with additional function
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2002-12-03
Lee, Michael H. (Department: 2714)
Television
Basic receiver with additional function
C348S559000, C348S714000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490000
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television system for delaying the display of incoming video and audio signals. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delaying the display of television programming by passing incoming video and audio signals through a queue before routing them to an output device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Viewers of TV broadcasts have always suffered from interruptions and distractions. These interruptions take the form of telephone calls, visitors, children, meals, etc. The viewer often is unable to view television programming during the interruption. While broadcasted sporting events often show instant replays, such replays immediately follow the live event and cannot be seen at a later time. Similarly, when a viewer is watching a broadcasted movie, interruptions can cause the viewer to miss critical parts of the movie and leave the viewer confused for the remainder of the movie. This problem is more significant with the advent of on demand video offered to subscribers at a premium price, where interruptions experienced during the broadcast of the program translate directly into wasted money.
Videotaping or otherwise recording the broadcast is often an unacceptable solution. By the same token, interruptions are often spontaneous, and give the viewer no advance warning to record the broadcast. Interruptions are often brief, allowing the user to quickly return to viewing the broadcast. In order to view a portion of a broadcast recorded during the interruption, the viewer must wait until the broadcast terminates, or record the broadcast in its entirety and view the entire recording. Again, the viewer would be required to keep a recorder and recording media prepared during all viewing times, thus eliminating the capability to record one broadcast while viewing another broadcast.
To solve the dilemma of viewer interruptions occurring during TV broadcasts, a solution is required that delays the viewing of portions of the TV broadcast without the use of traditional, dedicated video recording devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus to delay the display of television programming broadcast from a remote location. Broadcast video and audio signals are placed in a first-in/first-out storage queue to enable the control of the playback of the original video signal. Signals may be placed in the tail of the storage queue while other signals are simultaneously routed from the head of the storage queue to a television monitor. A delay is created as the signals are passed through the queue. The system may be controlled either from input to the receiver by the viewer or by remote control from the broadcast facility. The control mechanisms that are available to the viewer are pause, play, fast forward, and replay.
The control from the broadcast facility is through the ability to designate segments of the video and audio program to be immune to the fast-forward function. The present invention may thereby guarantee that a commercial advertisement is shown. The present invention enables TV commercial advertisers to mark their commercials with a prevention instruction in the signal to insure their advertisements are viewed by the user. In other words, the user is prevented from fast forwarding past these commercials. Also, other required broadcasts which must be viewed by the user, such as warnings of severe weather or national warnings broadcast by the Emergency Broadcast Association, can be so marked.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when it is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5311317 (1994-05-01), Ogura et al.
patent: 5774186 (1998-06-01), Brodsky et al.
patent: 6018612 (2000-01-01), Thomason et al.
McGary Douglas E.
Minnick Danny J.
Schaefer Germar
EchoStar Communications Corporation
Lee Michael H.
Miller Kerry
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