Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 1 of 24
`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 1 of 24
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`EXHIBIT A
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`EXHIBIT A
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 2 of 24
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`(12) United States Patent
`Geer et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,788,882 B1
`Sep. 7, 2004
`
`USOO6788.882B1
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING A
`PLURALITY OF VIDEO STREAMS ON RE
`WRITABLE RANDOM-ACCESS MEDIA AND
`TIME-AND CHANNEL BASED RETRIEVAL
`THEREOF
`
`Inventors: James L. Geer, Hoover, AL (US); Ivan
`H. Darius, Richardson, TX (US)
`Assignee: Timesurf, L.L.C., Dallas, TX (US)
`Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`Appl. No.: 09/062,022
`Filed:
`Apr. 17, 1998
`Int. Cl........................... H04N 5/225; H04N 5/76;
`H04N 5/91; H04N 5/781; H04N 5/85, H04N 5/90
`U.S. Cl. .......................... 386/116; 386/125; 725/39
`Field of Search ....................... 386/1, 83; 348/906,
`348/512, 513; 725/92, 115, 145, 39, 48,
`56, 55
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8/1993 Goldwasser et al. ........ 386/109
`5,241,428 A
`5,283,659 A * 2/1994 Akiyama et al. ......
`... 386/33
`5,357.276 A 10/1994 Banker et al. ................. 348/7
`
`5,371,551 A * 12/1994 Logan et al. ............... 386/112
`5,477.263 A * 12/1995 O’Callaghan et al. ...... 725/102
`5,488,409 A
`1/1996 Yuen et al. ................... 386/83
`5,751,371. A * 5/1998 Shintani ..............
`... 348/564
`5,771,334 A * 6/1998 Yamauchi et al. ............ 386/95
`5,774,170 A * 6/1998 Hite et al. ..................... 34.8/9
`5,852,705 A * 12/1998 Hanko et al. ................. 386/83
`5,870,553 A * 2/1999 Shaw et al. ................... 725/92
`5,949.954. A * 9/1999 Young et al. ................. 386/83
`5,995,709 A * 11/1999 Tsuge ...............
`... 386/83
`6,005,562 A * 12/1999 Shiga et al. ..........
`... 345/721
`6,018,612 A
`1/2000 Thomason et al. ........... 386/82
`6,028,599 A
`2/2000 Yuen et al. ................... 725/50
`6,151,059 A * 11/2000 Schein et al. .....
`... 348/906
`6.253,375 B1 * 6/2001 Gordon et al. ................ 725/88
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Thai Tran
`ASSistant Examiner Polin Chieu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Slater & Matsil, L.L.P.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A digital video recorder (DVR) and a method of operating
`the same. In one embodiment, the DVR includes: (1) a mass
`data Storage unit that concurrently and continuously receives
`and digitally stores a plurality of channels and (2) a channel
`Viewer, coupled to the mass data Storage unit, that retrieves
`a portion of one of the plurality of channels from the mass
`data Storage unit based on a received command and presents
`the portion on a Video display device.
`
`33 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`BYTE COUNT (N CONTENT
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`NEXT DIRECTORY OFFSET 620a
`SECOND NUMBER
`62Ob
`CHANNEL NUMBER
`630a
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`CHANNEL NUMBER
`STARTING BYTE OFFSET
`ENDING BYTE OFFSET
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`640b
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`2 CHANNEL NUMBER
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`8 ENDING BYTE OFFSE
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`64On
`640
`640p
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`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND1
`, CHANNE1 WIDEO
`Compressed Pg Data
`For Channel 1,Second 1
`CHANNE 2 VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 2,Second 1
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`11a
`
`CHANNEL in VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channeln,Second
`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND2
`CHANNEL WIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 1,Second 1
`CHANNEL 2WDEO 6b
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 2.Second 1
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`10b
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`CHANNEL n. VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channeln, Second 1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 3 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 1 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 4 of 24
`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 4 of 24
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 5 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 3 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`SET TOP BOX () () CPU
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 6 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 4 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 7 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 5 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`510a
`-
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`511a
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`500 &
`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND 1
`CHANNELP VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`SeCOnd 1
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`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND 2
`CHANNEL PVIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`Second 2
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`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND 86400
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`Compressed Digital Data
`Second 86400
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`51 On
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`511n
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`BYTE COUNT
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`CONTENT
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`NEXT DIRECTORY OFFSET 520
`4 SECOND NUMBER
`21
`5 m
`2 CHANNEL NUMBER
`2
`522 2
`STARTING BYTE OFFSET
`23
`5
`ENDING BYTE OFFSET
`524
`
`Figure 5
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`

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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 8 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 6 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`DIRECTORY ENTRY SOa
`SECOND 1
`CHANNEL 1 VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 1 Second 1
`CHANNEL 2 VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`, For Channel 2, Second 1
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`610a
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`11a
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`CHANNEL in VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channeln, Second 1
`DIRECTORY ENTRY
`SECOND 2
`CHANNEL 1 VIDEO
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 1 Second 1
`CHANNEL2 VIDEO 61 lb
`Compressed Digital Data
`For Channel 2,SeCond 1
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`610b
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`BYTE COUNT
`CONTENT
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`Figure 6
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 9 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 7 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`NUMBER OF BYTES
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`COMMENT
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`NACTIVE CODE
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`710a
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`71 Ob
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`8BYTE OFFSET OF CHANNEL FILEDIRECTORY ENTRY FORTIME UNIT 86400
`SEQUENCENUMBER OF CHANNEL FILE
`NACTIVE CODE
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`71 On
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`Figure 7
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 10 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 8 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 11 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 9 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`910a
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 12 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 10 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 13 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 11 of 12
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 14 of 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 7, 2004
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`Sheet 12 of 12
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 15 of 24
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING A
`PLURALITY OF VIDEO STREAMS ON RE
`WRITABLE RANDOM-ACCESS MEDIA AND
`TIME-AND CHANNEL BASED RETRIEVAL
`THEREOF
`
`2
`Stores a plurality of channels and (2) a channel viewer,
`coupled to the mass data Storage unit, that retrieves a portion
`of one of the plurality of channels from the mass data Storage
`unit based on a received command and presents the portion
`on a Video display device.
`The present invention therefore introduces the broad
`concept of capturing multiple channels concurrently to allow
`a user to choose what to view both temporally and Spatially
`(if a channel is thought of as a spatial dimension). The digital
`Video recorder of the present invention remedies the short
`comings of traditional video recording methods. The DVR
`does this by combining an essentially limitless (only limited
`by the cost of the equipment) capability concurrently to
`record a number of channels on a random-access medium
`while being able concurrently to play back any of these
`channels for viewing.
`“Continuously” is defined, for purposes of the present
`invention, as without interruption over at least a finite period
`of time. With respect recording of commercial television,
`“continuously” may connote indiscriminate inclusion of
`commercials, Station identifications and the like. However, it
`should be understood that “continuously” does not preclude
`interruption. Certainly, a user may turn the DVR on or off or
`pause one or more channels. In Some embodiments of the
`present invention, dead air time, commercials, credits or the
`like may not be recorded. In a more Specific embodiment,
`the decision of what, or what not, to record is the users.
`A “channel’ is defined, for purposes of the present
`invention, as a stream of video data (and any accompanying
`audio data). Channels typically correspond one-for-one with
`Satellite, cable television or digital broadcast television
`channels.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the digital
`Video recorder records the plurality of channels as a matter
`of course, and without being specifically prompted. This
`may be thought of as “automatic' recording. At any point in
`time, the DVR contains video data that covers a window of
`time (the length of which depends upon memory capacity)
`for each of the plurality of channels. The user therefore is
`relieved of the responsibility of Starting and stopping
`recording, allowing the user to view any video recorded
`during the window of time.
`In a related embodiment, the mass data Storage unit Stores
`the plurality of channels on a first-in-first-out basis. AS the
`window of time moves forward, the newest Video data can
`overwrite the oldest. Of course, other criteria may govern
`overwriting. Further, the window of time may vary depend
`ing upon the channel being recorded. The user may identify
`more important channels for which the window is extended
`or less important channels for which the window is short
`ened.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass data
`Storage unit Stores the plurality of channels in Separate files
`based on channel and timeslot identification. In an alterna
`tive embodiment, the data Storage unit Stores the plurality of
`channels in a combined channel file. In an embodiment to be
`illustrated and described, Specific formats for Separate and
`combined channel files are presented. Those skilled in the art
`will recognize, however, that the broad Scope of the present
`invention is in no way limited to a particular file-naming or
`data-Structuring Scheme for channel files.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass data
`Storage unit Stores the plurality of channels together with
`time information to allow the plurality of channels to be
`Synchronized with respect to one another. The time infor
`mation can Synchronize corresponding portions of the plu
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed, in general, to Video
`Storage and playback and, more specifically, to Systems and
`methods for Storing a plurality of Video streams on
`re-writable random-access media and time- and channel
`based retrieval thereof.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Ever Since the advent of television, the popular and useful
`programs and their air times have molded people's Sched
`ules. Examples Such as the Six o'clock news (during or after
`the family dinner) and prime-time shows are abundant. AS
`Viewer habits change and the choice of programming
`(channels) grows, people want to adapt television program
`ming to their Schedule, rather than the other way around.
`Video cassette recorders (VCRs) have enabled people to
`tape certain programs at the time they are aired and view
`them later. The recording medium used in these devices is
`magnetic tape and is therefore inherently Sequential and
`Slow in access. The VCR, although extremely Successful as
`a consumer device, has limited flexibility when the number
`of television channels increases. Also, the consumer has to
`remember to program the VCR to record the event.
`Commercially-available VCR--(R) technology has somewhat
`facilitated the process, but still requires tape management,
`Scheduling and remembering when and what to program.
`One frequently employed method of viewing television
`involves rapidly browsing (“Surfing”) television channels to
`Search for a program of interest, to watch Several programs
`at once, or to Skip ubiquitous commercials. Surfing has
`become even more popular given the advent of cable and
`Satellite television, wherein many dozens of channels are
`available for viewing at any given time. On currently
`available Single-Screen Systems, Surfing must be done in real
`time and as time progresses. In other words, a user can watch
`one channel and record another channel on a VCR, but the
`user cannot watch a recorded program and Simultaneously
`record another (unless the user is endowed with multiple
`VCRs). One of the principle restrictions is that the user
`cannot go back in time on an arbitrary channel without
`making a conscious effort to record the channel in advance.
`Ideally, a user should be able to walk up to his television
`Set and be able to View, on demand and without delay,
`everything that he missed during Some previous period of
`time (for instance one day), regardless of channel.
`Therefore, what is needed in the art is a fundamental
`increase in the flexibility afforded a user in Viewing pro
`grams aired over multiple channels. Moreover, what is
`needed in the art is a way of harnessing the power of digital
`computers to give the user more power in determining what
`he wants to watch.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior
`art, the present invention provides a digital Video recorder
`(DVR) and a method of operating the same. In one
`embodiment, the DVR includes: (1) a mass data Storage unit
`that concurrently and continuously receives and digitally
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass data
`Storage unit comprises a separate disk Volume for each of the
`plurality of channels. In an alternative embodiment, the
`mass Storage unit comprises a separate physical disk for
`each of the plurality of channels. Those skilled in the art will
`understand that the logical or physical Structure of the
`underlying disk Storage does not limit the Scope of the
`present invention. However, the underlying Structure may be
`optimized to increase recording or retrieval Speed.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality
`of channels are formatted in a selected one of: (1) NTSC
`analog TV, (2) PAL/SECAM analog TV, (3) digital TV, (4)
`analog HDTV and (5) digital HDTV. Those skilled in the art
`will perceive that the principles of the present invention are
`applicable to any Video (or audio) format.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the DVR
`selectively moves by one commercial time unit (CTU)
`within the one of the plurality of channels in response to the
`received command. The DVR can move forward or back
`ward. In a more specific embodiment, the received com
`mand is employable to achieve catch-up viewing. In a
`manner to be illustrated and described, a user can command
`the DVR to skip commercials until the time of the portion
`being viewed merges with real time, at which point the user
`has “caught up” with the program being viewed.
`The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, preferred and
`alternative features of the present invention So that those
`skilled in the art may better understand the detailed descrip
`tion of the invention that follows. Additional features of the
`invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject
`of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should
`appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception
`and Specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modi
`fying other Structures for carrying out the same purposes of
`the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also
`realize that Such equivalent constructions do not depart from
`the Spirit and Scope of the invention in its broadest form.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`For a more complete understanding of the present
`invention, reference is now made to the following descrip
`tions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
`in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary digital
`video recorder (DVR) constructed according to the prin
`ciples of the present invention in which Set-top box cards
`provide an interface between channel Sources and a com
`puter System;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of another exemplary
`DVR constructed according to the principles of the present
`invention wherein Set-top boxes provide an interface to an
`IEEE 1394 Firewire Bus;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary circular
`FIFO buffers in memory for each recorded channel;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a portion of an
`exemplary circular FIFO buffer illustrated in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary data
`and directory Structure for a single channel file;
`FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary data
`and directory Structure for a combined channel file;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary data
`structure for an address translation file (ATF);
`FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary data
`Structures for table of contents retrievals,
`FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary method
`for time block program Selection in real time;
`
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`rality of channels that the DVR recorded concurrently. This
`allows a user to Surf Synchronized, prerecorded channels in
`a way that imitates the real-time channel Surfing that the
`prior art constrains the user to do.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel
`Viewer comprises a channel guide database containing point
`ers to locations in the mass data Storage unit. The locations
`may correspond to Starting points for individual programs.
`The channel guide database allows individual programs to
`be selected efficiently. However, the present invention does
`not require a channel guide database.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel
`Viewer displays a channel guide on the Video display device.
`The channel guide may provide information regarding a
`content of the plurality of channels. In a more specific
`embodiment, the channel guide contains links to locations in
`the maSS data Storage unit. The linkS maybe hypertext links,
`wherein a user can initiate retrieval and presentation of a
`particular portion of a Selected channel Simply by clicking
`on a particular location in the channel guide. Of course,
`those skilled in the art will readily perceive other ways of
`employing an electronic channel guide to advantage.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the DVR
`further includes a pointing device, cooperable with the
`channel Viewer, that allows a user to issue the command. The
`pointing device, which may be a conventional mouse, allows
`a user to “navigate' the Video display device in an intuitive
`manner. However, those skilled in the art will understand
`that the present invention is in no way limited to a particular
`type of input device.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel
`viewer presents the portion nonlinearly. Sections of the
`portion may therefore be Skipped, repeated, reversed, ran
`domized or presented at a rate that differs from real-time. In
`an embodiment to be illustrated and described, commercials
`or other tedious content may be skipped to advantage. This
`gives rise to viewing concepts, Such as "catch-up viewing
`as described hereinafter.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass data
`Storage unit receives, digitally compresses and digitally
`Stores the plurality of channels. Of course, the present
`invention does not require compression and is not limited to
`a particular type of compression.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass data
`Storage unit is a redundant array of independent disks
`(RAID). Those skilled in the art are familiar with the
`structure and function of RAIDs and their ability to cause
`otherwise independent disks to cooperate to provide greater
`Speed, reliability, Storage capacity or a combination thereof.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the DVR
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`further includes an archive Storage unit, coupled to the
`channel Viewer, that Stores the portion Selected for archiving
`. The archive Storage unit may be a conventional, analog
`Video tape recorder, digital Video tape recorder, Video disk
`recorder or other disk (such as commercially available
`Sygueset(R) and Jazz(R) disks). In a manner to be set forth
`below in greater detail, archiving allows the portion to
`escape overwriting.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the DVR
`further includes a channel Selector, coupled to the mass data
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`Storage unit, that allows a user to identify the plurality of
`channels. Alternatively, the DVR may record all available
`channels indiscriminately. Selection of channels may be
`time-based (including, for example, more sports channels
`over the weekend). The present invention is not limited to a
`particular manner in which channels are Selected for record
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 17 of 24
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`S
`FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary
`method for time block program Selection and time Surfing,
`FIG. 11 illustrates a highly Schematic diagram showing
`the related concepts of commercial time units and commer
`cial breaks,
`FIG. 12 illustrates a highly Schematic diagram showing
`the concept of catch-up viewing;
`FIG. 13 illustrates a plan view of exemplary “skip com
`mercials' control button cluster; and
`FIG. 14 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary channel
`and time Surf button cluster.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The following Detailed Description is directed to very
`Specific embodiments of the present invention. The Systems,
`methods, (data, file and physical) structures and other details
`are provided Solely as examples and in no way limit the
`Scope of the present invention.
`General Support for Time and Channel Surfing
`The Support of both channel and time Surfing requires (at
`least) the temporal storage of more than one video channel
`(e.g., television or cable channels). If all channels available
`to the user in question are recorded for an unlimited amount
`of time, then it is, in principle, possible to Support channel
`Surfing at any moment later than the Start of the recording
`process. In practice, a limited number of channels (e.g., the
`user's favorites) recorded over a limited amount of time
`(e.g., 24 hours) should Support most users channel and time
`Surfing needs. AS will be described in greater detail below,
`the requirements for Such a System also enable "catch-up
`viewing” (joining a certain program in mid-broadcast and
`then, through skipping of commercials, catching-up with the
`real-time broadcast). In other words, time and channel
`Surfing and catch-up viewing now become possible.
`Channel Surfing can be described as follows: a user, using
`the currently available technology in televisions and cable
`converters (“boxes”) can, in rapid Succession (but only in
`real-time, as time progresses) Switch from one channel to
`another by either entering a channel number or hitting a
`channel “up” (or “down”) button. In this context, the user
`has no access to the time variable. The only way for him to
`watch Something that was broadcast prior to the current
`time is to use a VCR and view the recorded program.
`Time Surfing is Similar to channel Surfing, except that the
`user hops from one time (e.g., 6 p.m. yesterday) to another
`(e.g., 5 p.m. today) using a device similar to the channel
`changer. The previous (lower) times are the equivalent of the
`lower channel numbers; the later (higher) times are equiva
`lent to the higher channel numbers. The user can freely time
`Surf in either time direction. The only time-boundaries are
`that one cannot Surf past now into the future (on the higher
`time side), and the current time minus the total recorded time
`(on the lower time side). Both of these boundaries move
`with time, as will be described in greater detail below.
`The System requirements to Support the above function
`ality cannot be met using traditional recording techniques
`Such as used in VCRs, because of the inherently Sequential
`nature of the recording medium, which inhibits the capabil
`ity of recording (writing) in one place and playing back
`(reading) in another concurrently.
`The present invention provides for all channels, or Some
`Subset thereof, to be concurrently recorded, at all times, onto
`a random-access medium. In one of the illustrated
`embodiments, the recording is done on a computer disk
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`connected to the traditional bus of a personal computer (PC).
`Other implementations can look at proprietary bus, central
`processing unit and input card technologies to implement the
`functionality.
`AS the recording medium reaches its capacity, the oldest
`recorded video is overwritten on a first-in-first-out (FIFO)
`basis. Obviously the size of the medium determines how
`many channels can be recorded for how long. With current
`and projected (within 2 to 3 years) technology recording 10
`to 15 channels for 24-hour periods is feasible.
`For the remainder of this Detailed Description, the term
`“all channels' is defined as the number of video sources
`available and of interest to a given user.
`To support the above functionality, one of the illustrated
`embodiments uses a digital recording technique of the
`compressed digital Video signals. Converting the classic
`Video (or television) Signals to compressed digital data
`Streams can be accomplished in a variety of ways. A growing
`number of cable and Satellite television companies are
`providing their television Signals in compressed digital
`format, usually MPEG II. Proprietary schemes based on
`technologies Such as Wavelets or other compression tech
`niques can be envisioned. In the near future, broadcast
`television Stations are expected to begin broadcasting digital
`Signals and compressed digital Signals.
`Direct broadcast satellite television uses a dish that
`receives the Satellite transmission, the output of the dish is
`fed into a device called a set-top box. The set-top box
`translates the Satellite Signal to a signal usable by a televi
`Sion. The embodiment illustrated and described herein
`accordingly contains a Sub-function called a "set-top box.’
`The set-top box function can process a signal as follows: (1)
`radio frequency (RF) tuning (to select a channel or group of
`channels), (2) down conversion and phase splitter, (3) analog
`to digital (A/D) conversion and (4) quadratic phase shift
`keying (QPSK) with forward error correction (FEC), to
`produce the compressed digital signal.
`In a typical Set-top box, the output can be an analog NTSC
`RF signal for one Selected channel or a compressed digital
`Signal for one Selected channel. Analog television channels,
`Such as the one carried on cable television, use a Subset of
`the Set-top box functionality to filter the one channel being
`watched from the total signal.
`To Support the recording of multiple channels, multiple
`Video Streams must be recorded. One way to record multiple
`channels concurrently is to duplicate the Set-top box func
`tionality a number of times equal to the number of channels
`to be recorded.
`Turning now to FIG. 1, illustrated is a block diagram of
`an exemplary DVR, generally designated 100, constructed
`according to the principles of the present invention in which
`Set-top box cards provide an interface between channel
`Sources and a computer System (not separately referenced).
`A central processing unit (CPU) 110 is coupled to dynamic
`random access memory (DRAM) 120a (memory other than
`DRAM is within the scope of the present invention) and, via
`a bus 140, to video signal generation circuitry 130, typically
`provided in the form of a card, and to a mass Storage unit
`120b, which may be embodied in the form of a single drive
`or a RAID. A plurality of set-top box cards 150a, 150b, 150c
`. 150n are coupled to the bus 140, allowing data
`communication to take place between the Set-top box cards
`150a, 150b, 150c . . . 150n and the CPU 110 or directly
`between the set-top box cards 150a, 150b, 150c... 150n and
`the DRAM 120a or the mass storage unit 120b.
`Channel sources 160a, 160b, 160c (corresponding, in the
`illustrated embodiment, to cable television, broadcast tele
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`Case 1:20-cv-02970-MKV Document 1-1 Filed 04/10/20 Page 18 of 24
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`US 6,788,882 B1
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`known to the users and people skilled in the art. Among
`others, these buttons are “play,” “stop,” “fast forward” and
`“rewind.” One skilled in the art will appreciate that, within
`the context of the disclosed technology, Some of these
`functions take on an enhanced capability, because the DVR
`can “rewind” several hours of video instantly. The function
`ality described below needs to be interpreted as working in
`conjunction and/or partially or totally replacing these con
`trols.
`ASSuming Selected channels (or all channels) are auto
`matically recorded, what is needed is a way to access the
`recorded material for viewing. For regular, real-time,
`Viewing, a number of commercially-available television
`guides that are Sent over the same medium as the channels
`or that can be downloaded from the Internet or from diskette
`already exist. The guides broadcast by Satellite television
`Suppliers usually present a time-channel matrix where the
`time is blocked in broadcast units e.g., 72 hour. This is
`illustrated in FIG. 9. With additional reference to the plan
`View of an exemplary channel and time Surf button cluster
`1400 of FIG. 14, the user can browse through the programs
`by hitting “V” (up) or “v” (down) buttons 1420, 1440 to
`change the channel and “>” (forward) or “4” (backward)
`buttons 1430, 1450 to move in time units. (FIG. 14 also
`illustrates an “enter” or “go' button 1410 for concluding
`commands or answering queries.)
`When used in regular Satellite television viewing, the time
`unit containing the current time is displayed as the leftmost
`matrix column (this is not essential, just logical). Whenever
`the user Selects the menu option, the program cursor is
`positioned into the leftmost column. Pressing the “go” or
`“enter button Switches the user to the channel on which the
`cursor is positioned, provided the current time is within the
`Selected block.
`Turning now to FIG. 9, illustrated is a block diagram of
`an exemplary method for time block program Selection in
`real time. Separate channels 910, 920, 930, 940 are each
`comprised of program blockS. For illustrative purposes,
`channel 8 (the channel 910