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`· . ~..;..;.;...: • P,ractitioner's.Docket No. 1287
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`Preliminary Classification:
`Propo.sed Class:
`Stibclass:
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`J
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`A
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`PAT'PNT
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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRAD~MARKOFFICE
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`Box Patent Application
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents· ·
`W~shii;igton, D.C. 20231
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`NEW APPLICATION T.RANSMITTAL
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`Transrnitted. herewit~ ·for filing is the pate~t appli~ation of ·
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`James Schumacher; Mike O'Brien; Ja:y Cee S~aley
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`. DISPLAY SELECTION IN A VIDEO~ON-DEMAND SYSTEM
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`Inventor(s): .
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`.For (title):
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`CERTIFICATION UNDER37 C.F.R. SECTIONS 1.8(a) AND 1.10*.
`(When using Express Mail, the E:xpreis Mail label number is mandatory;.
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`Express Mail cen_ification is ~ptional.) .
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`·I hereby cei;tify that, on the·date sho:,vn .below, this correspondence is being: .
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`[]
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`'. MAILING
`deposited .with the United .states Postal ~ervice in an enveiope ~dcfressed to ,the· Assistari~ Comrrti'ssione~ for Patents,
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`Washington, D.C'. 20231.
`. · 37 C.F.R. Section ,1~10*
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`37 C.F.R. Section· 1.8(a)
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`with suffi'cientpostage as fidt class mail.
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`:as/Express Maj! Post·Officeto Address"
`Mailing Label No. El.398585744US
`· · (marti:latory)
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`' . Laura S. Mellblom
`(tyJ?.e or print name of person certifying)
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`. *WARNING:. .
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`.. Each·paper or fee filed;.by "Express Mail" must have the nu~ber onhe "Express Mai' mailing label placed
`· · ·
`·
`·
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`thereon pr/or to mailing. 37 C:iR. Section J·:'10( bJ. ·
`"Since·thefiling of correspondente under [Section] 1.10:without the Express Mail mailing label thereon is
`an oversight°thai can be avoided by the exercise of reasonable 'care, requests for waiver of this requirement
`will.not be granted on pe!ition: '.'. Notice ofOi:t. 24;,1996,:.60 Fed. Reg. 56,439, ·at 56,4#i. ·
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`. · .,<l'fow Application Trans?U~tal--page 1 of 4)
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 1
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`1.
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`Type of Application
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`· This transmittal is for an original (nonprovisional) application.
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`2. .
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`Papers Encl6s~d
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`·.A~
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`Required for filing date ~nder 37 C.RR. l.53(b )'(Regular) or 37 C.F,~. 1.153 (Design)·
`Appli~atio11
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`· •20 Page(s) of Specification .
`. . 8 Pag~(s) of qaims-
`. 7 Sheet(i) 6f Dra:~h1g(s)--lnformal
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`B.
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`. Other Paper:s Enclosed
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`3 Page(s) of.declaration and power of attorney .
`. 1 Page(s) of abstract
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`3· Page(s) of Assignment and Agreement 'in an Application;for Le'tters Patent of the United States
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`of America
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`3.
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`· Declaration or Oath
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`·Enclosed·
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`E,cecuted ·by:
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`4.
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`lnventorship Statement
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`. · The in.ventorship for all the c1aims·in this application is the.same.
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`Language
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`. Englis.h
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`· .6.
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`Assig~ent
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`An assignment of the invention to Sprint Communications Company, L. P. is attache~L A .
`separate "COVER SHEET FOR ASSIGNMENT '(DOCUMENT) ACCOMPANYINO NEW PATENT·
`APPLICATION'; i~ also attached.
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`(New Application Transmittal--page 2 of 4) ·
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 2
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`... ,,
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`Fe¢ Calculation (37 C.F.R .. Section 1.16)
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`Regular Application
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`CLAIMS AS FILED,.
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`·;·,
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`Claims
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`Number Filed
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`'··
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`. Basic Fee
`Allowance
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`Number. Extra
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`Rate
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`Basic Fee
`37 CFR l.16(a)
`:$690.09
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`Total Claims
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`(37 CFR1.16(c))
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`53.
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`- 20=
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`33
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`$1&.00 .
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`$594.00.
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`··Independent Claims
`(37 CPR l.16(b))
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`· 3 ·.
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`- 3 =
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`0
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`:.·$78.00
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`$Q.OO
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`·M,,dtiple Dependent'.
`Claim(s), if any.
`(37°GFR 1. i6(d))
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`1·
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`·.,
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`+ ..
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`$260:00
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`$0.00
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`. Fili~g Fee Caltulation .·
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`Fee Payinent Being Mad; at This Time
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`8.
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`Enclosed
`Filing Fee
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`_'$1,284.00
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`$1,284.00 ·
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`· · . Recording assignment ($40; 37 C.F.R. Section l:21(h)) (See attached · · $40.00
`. "COVER SHEET.FOR ASSIGNMENT ACCOMPANYING NEW . ·
`. .
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`. Ai>PLICA TION")
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`·.
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`. Total ·Fees Enclosed .
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`._ $L324.oo.
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`9.
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`· ~ethod of Payment of Fees.
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`Charge Account No. 21-076~ in the l4-TI6unt of $1~324.00.
`}\_duplicate of this. transmittal is attac;hed ..
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`(New Application J'ransmittal--page 3 of 4)
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 3
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`Authorization to Charg~ Addi9~nal Fees ·
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`The Commission~r· is hereby authori;edto charge:the f~ilowing additionalfees by this: paper and·
`· during the entire pendency of this application to Account No. 21-0765.
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`· 37 C.F.R. Se~tion 1.16(a), (f) or (g) "(filing foes)
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`· 37 C.F.R. S,ection 1.16(b), (c) or (d) (pr~sentation of extra claims)
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`37 C.RR Section 1.16(e) (surcharge ft>r filing the basic fiiing fee and/ot: declaration on a date
`later than the filing date of th,e application)
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`37 C.F.R. Section 1.17(a)(l)-(5) (extensfon fees pursuant to s:µCTION l.l36(a))
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`37 C::.F.R. Section L17 (application processing fees)
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`il.
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`Instr1.1ctfons as to Ov.erpayment
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`· Credit As;count iNo. 21-0765.
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`· Respectfully: submitted,
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`ATTORNEY CONTACT:
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`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS:
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`Customer No. 021396 .
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`. Michael J. Setter, Reg. No. 37,936
`Phone: (303) 449-9497
`·
`Fax: ·
`(303) 449-0814
`
`Attn: Harley-R. BaH
`Sprint Law Department
`8140 Ward Parkway
`Mailstop:· MOKCMP0506
`Kansas· City, Missouri 64114
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`(New A~plication Transmittal--page 4 of 4)
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 4
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`Sprint.Docket 1287
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`. SPECIFICATION·
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`TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
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`Beit known that We, Jam~s Schu~acher, Mike-O'Bnen, and Jay Cee Straiey;
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`with residence and citizenship: listed below, nave inverited the inventions described in the
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`following specification entitle_d:
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`DISPLAY SELECTION IN A ·v1DEQ~ON-DEMAND SYSTEM . .
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`10
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`J am¢s 'Schumacher
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`residence: 5829 Virmar Ave, Oakland·, CA 94618
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`chizenship: Uilited States of America
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`Mike. O'Brien
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`residence: 44 Oviedo Ct, Pacifica· CA 94044
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`·citi'zen~hip: United S~ates of_Ame~ca
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`· Jay Cee'Straley
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`residence: 859 ·o~ange Ave; s·~n Carlos CA94070
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`citizenship: United States ~f America'
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 5
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`~print Docket 1287 ·
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`·. DIS?LA Y SELECTION IN A VIDEO-ON-DEl\:IANP SYSTEM·
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`·RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT .
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`· ' Not applicable
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`BACKGROUND OF.THE INVENTION
`1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION .
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`The invention is r~lated to the fi~ld of vid~o. systems; and in-particular, fr> a video:
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`on-demand.system that provides a viewer with a.~electiort of displays for view1~g·vide6 ..
`. i PESCRIPTION OF THE:PRIOR ART
`Video-on-:dem~nd _systems are c,urrently being designed and implemented: The
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`. video--o~~demand system offers an individual viewer various .selections from a video.:
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`20 · · content iibrary for yiewing on~demand. Some exaµiples of video content include in_ov{es,
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`televi_sion. snows, documentaries, news, and.sports: ·.The video..:on~d~mand systerri.·
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`receives a requ·e.stfr~ni the viewer to vi~w a particularselection from the video ~~ntent .-.
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`. library. In .:response to the request, the video-on-demand system· transfers the selected .
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`. . viqeo. 'C~n~erit ~~er a communf¢ati~n· system to the viewer·~ display. ·T~m;; the .viden-:~.n~ . ·
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`dem~d system ailows a viewer to irnmecii.ately view seiec.ted video content ·.
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`. : ·. · · ~idec>;,on-demand systems use a-television set-top box for remote ~o~troL Usin~ .· .. ·
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`O the set-top bo:x., the viewer i:nay view a video content menu on the television and•order • C
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`video content for display on the television. Un(or.tunately, the set-top box is a special
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`COillponent that is closely coupled to the television. Th,e set-top b~x.- does not.have ·a
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 6
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`. video display and is not mobile. The set-top box does not offer a-selection of displays or
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`S_print Docket 1287
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`SUMMA~Y OF TI:IE INVENTION
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`The inventiqn solves the above p}obleins with a·video-on-de~and sys~erri that
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`uses a second commuriic~tions systen1 and display ... Jhe seco~d co~munic&tions system
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`could be the web, and the second display could a :w.el;> browser running on a portable .
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`computer.· Advantageously, the viewer cal) preview video content on thtir portable
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`computer using_ a cheap web C?nnection ,before _selecting video content .for teleyfsion
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`viewi~g. ·_ The portable computer has _many 6th er uses and elimiilat~s the .cost of a special
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`television set-top box.
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`The video-,:on-demand system transfers a control scree!1 signal to a second
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`communication system an_d 'receives a viewer control signai- from the second
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`communication system. The video:..on-der:nand syste~ transfers video signals to either a
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`first communication system or the second communication system· based on the viewer
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`control signal. The second communication system uses ·1ess bandwidth to transfer the
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`\ideo signals than the first co~munications system. The control screen could be a web
`pag~ that includes: 1) a video display menu with a selection of displays and ba~dwidths to
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`,display the video signals, 2) a video content me.nu with a -vide~ preview selection, and/or
`3) _a vid~o display control menu comprising play; pause: rewind, fast forward, and stop: .
`: The video~on-demand system i!llplements the Coiltrol 0scrken inenu. seleCtiq~s ..
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`2S
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`T_he s~me reference number tepies~nts the s·ame element on all drawings. ·
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the cbnfig~ration ·and operati_ng
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`e~vironment for.a vjdeo-on-dem~d-system in an-example of .the inv~ntiop.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a control screen on a display in an
`ex.ample of the invention .
`. , .FIG. 3 ·is a block di~gram th~t illustrates a control scree_n on a display in an
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`30 . example of the invention.
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 7
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`FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illust~ates a control screen on a display in an
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`. · FIG_. s· is a block diagram that-illustrates a control screen on a display in an
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`FIG .. 6 is a block d.iagram:·that ill1'_strates the configuration of a web~pased system: .
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`FIG. 7.is a message sequence.ch~ that illustrates the operation of a web-based ·
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`. DETAILED DESCRJPTION
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`System Configuration .. FIG.1
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`FIG. l is a block diagram that illustrates a vid~o~ori-deinand sys(em 100 and its
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`... bperating ~nvirortment in an example of th~ invention. The video:.ori~·demarid system 100
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`· . comprises a first communication· interface 101 and a second communication iT1terface 102
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`a second display 122. The se~ond communication system 112 uses less bandwidth to ·
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`transfer video_ than the first communication hstem 111.
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`Some examples of the first comrriiinicatio~ syst~mJ 11 include optical fiber:
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`~1th_ software and_ coiwentio~al ·communication interfaces:
`platform th_at i$. configured
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`The software direct~ the computer platfo~ to ~perate as follows: .. the _pro~essing system
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`103 transfers a control.screen signal to the seccmd:communication interfac.e 102: The.,
`second co~unication interface l02 transfers the con~ol s~reeti'·signal to. the s'econd .
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 8
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`· communication system 112. The second corrimupicaiion· system 112 transfer~ the control
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`.~creen signai to the second display -12:f The second .·display 122 displ~ys the control
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`. screen .. In some ex~mplyf OI the invention, the co.ntrol; screen is a we~ ·page.
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`In response to viewer input to the c6ntrol screen, the second display 122" transfers
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`·• acorresponding ~ie~er controi 1si~~l t~)he second coriununic~ti~n ~yst~~l 12 .. The
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`• · secorid·communicati~n. system 112. transfer~ the viewer conttql signai to th~ second.
`comniunicatio~s interlace 102. The second communication-interface 102·fransfers the·
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`communication interface or th,e. se~o~d corrimunic~tion interlace 'i-n .. resJ:>onse to the viewer
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`control signal. If the first communication interface 101 is used, the~· the first
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`-commu~ication interface 101 · transf~rs the video signals to .the first ~omm~ri.ication
`system.· 1 i 1. The flrst communicatiori system l i 1 transfers the video signais to the first
`ctispl~y 121. · i'~e first display .121. ~ispiays the vide~ .. If ~he sec~;ct c~iiimunication.
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`interface 102is Used; then th,e second c~mmunic~tion interface 10~ '.ti:ansfers the_.video
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`112. transfers. the v~d~o· ~ignals t~ the:second display 12~.· The ~eco~~ displa; 12£, .
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`displays the video.
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`The Control Screen.:...: FiGS. 2-5
`fIQS. Z-5 depict various versions of the con~rol scree}) 230 that is·generat~d by
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 9
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`

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`. communications interface 102 tran;fers the memi·selection·signals io the processing
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`The order ·selection allow~_the viewer to view the selected video cont~nt in its entirety .
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 10
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`

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`Sprint Docket 1287
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`· processing system 103 processes the video display menu selection. signal to responsively
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 11
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`•
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`· Spriiit Docket 1287
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`then ~he video-<;m-dern.artd system 100 transfers the video content #2 to the ·display 121.
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`viewer selects fast.forward using the ~isplay 122, theri. the videc:>-:on..:de~and system-JOO
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 12
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`

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`Sprint Docket 1287
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`viewer selects "menus" on the 'i::cmtrol screen 230, then.the display reverts to the ~ontrol
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`over the video distribution syst~m 611 and with the browser 622 over the web 612: The
`~lements 611, 612; 621, · and 622,/623 respectively ·correspond ~o the_ elements .1 i 1, 112,
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 13
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`.instruction to the system 100: In r~sp~nse, the s'ystetti ioo transfers the rewo~nd'video
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`As the television 621 displays the selected video content; the browser 622
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`t~ansf~~s menu selection~ to the syst~m 100 .fo; the .browser 622 to display the sel~cted · ·
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`depe~ding on the full .screen selection. It should be'appreciaied th~t the video-on-dem.and
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`system 100 ailows the viewer to sel~ct-the desir~d display and bandwidth for seiected .
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`video previews and .content. The viewer can switch between different displays, ·
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`bandwidths, and videos as desired. · .
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`There are numerous vari~tions that ~e· included in variO.us ex~mples of the ·
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`communication interface· to the web.
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`The above-described processing sys.tern in~ludes iE_striictions .that are· stored on ·
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`storage media., The instructions can be read arid executed by·~ processor.. ~Orne.
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`examples of instructipns are s·oftw~e, .program code, and firmware. Some exan:iples of
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`storage me.dia fu"e memory d~vices, tape; disks; integratect:cfrctiits, ~nd servers. ·.:ihe f
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`instructions are operational whe11 ·e.xecuted by the processor to 9-irectthe prncessor,to.
`operate in accord· with the invention. The term "processor" refers to a single processing
`device· or a group of inte~~opetati~nal p~ocessing ctevice~; .. so~e- example{ or p;.o~essors
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`Those skilled in the .art·will ap~r~ciate variations of the aboye-de~cribed
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 14
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`

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`Sprint ·oqcket 1287
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`Charter Ex. 1004, Page 15
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`'''
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`Sprint Docket 1287
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`'video'."on~dem.and'system·comprising: ..
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