(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0041062 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Nov. 15, 2001
`Ottesen et al.
`
`US 2001 004 1062A1
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(60)
`
`MULTIMEDIA DIRECT ACCESS STORAGE
`DEVICE AND FORMATTING METHOD
`
`Inventors: Hal Hjalmar Ottesen, Rochester, MN
`(US); Gordon J. Smith, Rochester, MN
`(US); George Willard VanLeeuwen,
`Rochester, MN (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`Altera Law Group
`Suite 100
`6500 City West Parkway
`Minneapolis, MN 55344-7701 (US)
`Assignee: International Business Machines Cor
`poration
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09/771,036
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 26, 2001
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Division of application No. 09/035,624, filed on Mar.
`5, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,208,804, which is a continu
`ation of application No. 08/866,377, filed on May 30,
`1997, now Pat. No. 5,751,883, which is a continua
`tion of application No. 08/478,328, filed on Jun. 7,
`1995, now abandoned.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl. ............................................... H04N 5/781
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 386/125; 386/126
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A multimedia direct access Storage device and a method for
`transferring Source program Signals representative of a com
`pressed digital multimedia program to and from the direct
`acceSS Storage device are disclosed. A multimedia program
`is transmitted from a multimedia Server as a custom ordered
`Series of discrete program Segments and received by the
`multimedia direct acceSS Storage device, which buffers the
`compressed program Segments for Subsequent presentation
`on a local display monitor. The multimedia direct access
`Storage device is preferably incorporated as a component of
`a local Set-top control System for buffering a predetermined
`number of compressed program Segments received from the
`multimedia Server, Some of which may be non-Sequentially
`ordered and others of which may be sequentially ordered. A
`novel formatting methodology provides for the Sequential
`presentation of the program Segments asynchronously dis
`tributed on one or more data Storage disks disposed in the
`direct access Storage device. A user-definable presentation
`control window for performing local VCR-type presentation
`control functions for the portion of a multimedia program
`buffered in the direct access Storage device is also provided
`through the novel formatting methodology. The novel for
`matting methodology also provides concurrent presentation
`and buffering of program Segments received from the mul
`timedia Server for on-demand viewing of a Selected multi
`media program.
`
`
`
`-1-
`
`Amazon v. Audio Pod
`US Patent 10,735,488
`Amazon EX-1083
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 1 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 2 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`30
`
`MULTIMEDIA
`SERVER
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 4 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 5 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 6 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 7 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 8 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 9 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 10 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 11 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15,2001 Sheet 12 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 13 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 14 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`
`-15-
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 15 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
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`DISK ROTATION
`--
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`SURFACE
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`
`-16-
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 16 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`
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`DIRECTION OF
`DISK ROTATION
`- - -
`
`LOWER
`SURFACE
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`F.G. 6
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`-17-
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 17 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 21 of 30
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 22 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 23 of 30
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`US 2001/0041062 A1
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`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 24 of 30 US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Deterfine Configuration of
`Set-Top Control System
`
`306
`
`Compute DASD Storage CapaCity needed
`to Support Presentation Control Window:
`Subscriber Specified PD=Uti (Seconds)
`Ut = D X M X
`(seconds)
`SC = D x M X
`X SO (MB)
`SC = Ut X SO (MB)
`
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`DASD ACCOMTOdate
`Presentation Control
`Window of Size SC
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`TranSIt Sony'g
`Parameters O Media Serve
`
`Read Configuration Parameters:
`Number of Disks (D)
`Storage Capacity of DASD (SC)
`Presentation Control Window Duration (PTD)
`Size of Input Buffer (IBS)
`VeloCity of Spindle Motor (NW)
`
`312
`Alert Subscriber; Request
`Modification to Presentation
`Control Window Size
`
`3ll
`
`316
`
`Digitize Selected Media POgali
`
`38
`
`Segmentize Digitized Media
`Program Into Sequential Program Segments
`
`320
`
`GA)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`-25-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 25 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`Organize Sequential Program
`Segments into a Customized Program
`Segment Series
`
`330
`
`Determine Number of
`Segment Blpcks (M) per
`Disk (D); Compute Block Indexing
`COefficient: BI = modulo D X M
`
`332
`
`Determine Length (L) Of the
`Segnent BOCks (M)
`
`33l
`
`Deterfline Size Of
`Program Segment Packets
`
`336
`
`Determine Duration of
`the Transmission WindoW
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmit PrOgral Segment
`Packets During. Successive
`TransmissiOn WindoWS to
`Set-Top Control System
`
`338
`
`310
`
`FIG. 22
`
`-26-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 26 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`
`
`999
`
`892
`
`
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`
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`
`
`-27-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 27 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`092
`
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`-28-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 28 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`OO
`
`O2
`
`40 l.
`
`06
`
`MOVE Actuator and LOWer Transducer t0
`OSD of LOWer Spiral Track Of Disk
`
`8
`
`Spiral InWardly to First LOWer Block (MN)
`
`w
`
`
`
`
`
`OVerWrite Oldest Stored Program Segment With
`Next Newly Received Program Segment
`
`Read Next Sequential Program Segment
`
`Continue Spiral ing Inwardly
`
`l,08
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`Spiral nWardly to Next
`Lower Block (MLN)
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
`YeS
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`Perfor Head SWitch from
`LOWer ransducer to
`Upper Transducer
`
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`
`lO
`
`DeCOde and Display
`Program Segment
`
`FIG. 24
`
`GD
`
`-29-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 29 of 30
`
`US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`Spiral OutWardly to First Upper Block (MuN )
`
`122
`
`21
`
`126
`
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`8
`
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`
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`
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`Next Upper Block (MUN)
`
`32
`
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`
`l36
`
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`
`Perfor Head Switch from
`Upper Transducer to
`OWer Transducer
`
`Repeat Update-In-Place Procedure
`
`DeCOce and Display
`Pr0gram Segment
`
`FG. 25
`
`-30-
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2001 Sheet 30 of 30 US 2001/0041062 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`Monitor Status of Output Buffer
`
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`CO? and Initiated
`
`Output
`Buffer. Filleg
`p
`
`DiSCOntinue Transmitting Position Error Offset
`Rap Signal with the Position, Error Signal to
`Actuator for Spiral Track Following
`
`
`
`Transmit Constant Position Error Signal
`to Actuator for CO?Centric Track Foll OWing
`
`
`
`Pause
`Command DiSCOntinued
`or Output Buffer
`Not Filled
`
`Transmit Position Error Offset Ramp
`Signal With Position Error Signal to
`Actuator to Resume Spiral Track Following
`
`
`
`
`
`Continue F ling Output Buffer
`
`Continue Operation
`
`
`
`88
`
`FIG. 26
`
`-31-
`
`

`

`US 2001/004 1062 A1
`
`Nov. 15, 2001
`
`MULTIMEDIA DIRECT ACCESS STORAGE
`DEVICE AND FORMATTING METHOD
`
`RELATED INVENTIONS
`0001. The present invention is related to:
`0002 co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/288,525, filed on Aug. 8, 1994, which is entitled “ Appa
`ratus and Method for Providing Multimedia Data;”
`0003) co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/488,329, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, which is entitled
`“Media-on-Demand Communication Method and
`Apparatus,’
`0004 co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/473,328, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, which is entitled
`“Multimedia Control System and Method for Con
`trolling Multimedia Program Presentation;' and
`0005 co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/472,506, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, which is entitled
`“Multimedia Server System and Method for Com
`municating Multimedia Information,” all which are
`assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0006 The present invention relates generally to data
`Storage Systems, and, more particularly, to a direct acceSS
`Storage device and formatting method for Storing multime
`dia information.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0007 Advancements in communications technology and
`increased consumer Sophistication have challenged the dis
`tributors of multimedia programming to provide the Sub
`Scribing public with entertainment Services more convenient
`and accessible than those traditionally made available over
`cable television and telephone Systems. An improving com
`munications infrastructure has resulted in a proliferation of
`pay-per-view media Services in many of the larger broadcast
`markets. Most pay-per-view Systems permit the consumer to
`choose from a relatively Small number of motion picture
`Selections for home Viewing, with the Selected programs
`generally being presented only at pre-Scheduled viewing
`times.
`0008. A number of on-demand video services have been
`developed that permit the consumer to order desired pro
`grams for home Viewing through the household telephone
`line. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,347, assigned to Bell
`Atlantic Network Services, discloses a Sophisticated video
`on-demand telephone Service that provides consumer
`ordered Video programming to a plurality of households
`through use of a public Switched telephone network (PSTN).
`An extensive discussion regarding the inherent deficiencies
`of communicating Video and other multimedia Signals over
`Standard bandwidth limited analog telephone lines is pro
`vided in the 347 patent.
`0009. The video-on-demand system disclosed in the 347
`patent and other conventional telephony-based multimedia
`Services fail to Satisfactorily address the adverse impact to
`home communications during periods of prolonged program
`Viewing. For example, a typical theatrical motion picture can
`tie up the household telephone line for over two hours.
`
`Further, Such Sophisticated telephony-based multimedia Ser
`vices generally require procurement of expensive commu
`nications and diagnostic equipment by the pay-per-view
`provider to ensure a reasonable level of Signal quality and
`System reliability. These and other related operating
`expenses, however, are typically passed on to the consumer.
`0010 Importantly, conventional multimedia services fail
`to provide media presentation control features now expected
`by the Sophisticated consumer after enjoying more than a
`decade of home entertainment through the use of a Video
`cassette recorder (VCR). Functions such as fast forward,
`reverse, and pause, for example, are Standard presentation
`control functions now provided by all or most home VCRs,
`and are typically effectuated by use of an infrared (IR)
`remote control handset. The limited transmission bandwidth
`of household telephone lines, as well as common cable
`television channels, generally precludes accommodation of
`full VCR-type control functionality when employed to Sup
`port a conventional multimedia communication System
`adapted to provide on-demand Service to a large number of
`Subscribing customers.
`0011. In FIG. 1, for example, there is illustrated a gen
`eralized block diagram of a conventional pay-per-view
`communication Service for providing video program distri
`bution to a plurality of households over a public switched
`telephone network. Movies are typically Stored on one or
`more media servers 10, each of which is multiplexed to the
`PSTN 16. A telephonic ordering system 14 is generally
`coupled to the PSTN 16, and provides a means for accepting
`a pay-per-view order from a customer or user 20 over the
`telephone. Upon verifying the account Status of a user 20,
`the media server 10 typically transmits the ordered movie or
`program to a decoder box 22 coupled to the customer's
`telephone line 18. The transmitted program is continuously
`decoded by the decoder box 22 to provide continuous
`presentation of the Selected program on the customer's
`television 24. Limitations in the transmission bandwidth of
`the telephone lines 18, as well as limitations in the Switching
`capability of the PSTN 16, generally preclude the use of a
`PSTN 16 to support a media communication system that
`provides high quality, full-motion video signal transmission
`with full VCR-type control functionality. Such limitations
`Similarly impact a conventional pay-per-view Video com
`munication Service that utilizes cable television lines.
`0012. Other video communication systems, such as that
`disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,187, provide a local disk
`Storage System for Storing a digitized multimedia program
`received from a central archive library. After establishing a
`telephonic link with the central server 10 over a PSTN
`telephone network, a Selected digitized movie is down
`loaded in its entirety into the disk Storage System incorpo
`rated into the terminal unit disclosed in the 187 patent. This
`and other home communication Systems that employ disk
`Storage Systems to provide local Storage of a Selected
`multimedia program generally require downloading of the
`entire multimedia program prior to viewing the program on
`the Subscriber's television.
`0013 Depending on the bandwidth of the telephone line
`and Source transmission rate, the downloading procedure
`may delay viewing of a Selected movie for an appreciable
`amount of time. Very-high capacity data Storage Systems are
`generally required to locally Store an entire feature-length
`
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`
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`

`US 2001/004 1062 A1
`
`Nov. 15, 2001
`
`movie. Such local data Storage Systems must generally be
`configured to allocate Several gigabytes of memory for
`Storing a typical movie in a compressed form, and Several
`hundred gigabytes of memory for Storing a typical non
`compressed movie.
`0.014. The excessively large memory requirement of
`these and other conventional local data Storage Systems
`employed to Store Video programming in accordance with a
`conventional media communication methodology generally
`results in a commercial product that is prohibitively expen
`Sive for the average consumer. Also, Such Systems cannot
`provide instantaneous viewing of a Selected multimedia
`program immediately upon receiving the transmission of the
`program signals from the server 10. Moreover, VCR-type
`control functionality can only be provided, if at all, after
`downloading the entire multimedia program onto the disk
`Storage System.
`0.015 There exists a need in the communications industry
`for a direct access Storage device adapted to Store multime
`dia information received from a media-on-demand commu
`nication Server System, and a method for efficiently format
`ting multimedia information on one or more data Storage
`disks disposed in the direct access Storage device. There
`exists a further need for a direct acceSS Storage System
`adapted to provide local VCR-type control over the presen
`tation of a Selected multimedia program at a minimal cost to
`the consumer. The present invention fulfills these and other
`needs.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0016. The present invention is a multimedia direct access
`Storage device and a method for transferring Source program
`Signals representative of a multimedia program to and from
`the direct acceSS Storage device. A multimedia program is
`transmitted from a multimedia Server as a custom ordered
`Series of discrete, digitally compressed program Segments
`and received by the multimedia direct acceSS Storage device,
`which buffers the compressed program Segments for Subse
`quent presentation on a local display monitor. The multi
`media direct acceSS Storage device is preferably incorporated
`as a component of a local Set-top control System for buff
`ering a predetermined number of compressed program Seg
`ments received from the multimedia Server, Some of which
`may be non-Sequentially ordered and others of which may
`be sequentially ordered. A novel formatting methodology
`provides for the Sequential presentation of the program
`Segments asynchronously distributed on one or more data
`Storage disks disposed in the direct access Storage device. A
`user-definable presentation control window for performing
`local VCR-type presentation control functions for the por
`tion of a multimedia program buffered in the direct acceSS
`Storage device is also provided through the novel formatting
`methodology. The novel formatting methodology also pro
`vides concurrent presentation and buffering of program
`Segments received from the multimedia Server for on-de
`mand viewing of a Selected multimedia program.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0017 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional
`communication System for distributing Selected Video pro
`grams to a plurality of users,
`0.018
`FIG. 2 is a generalized block diagram of a novel
`multimedia communication System for distributing multi
`
`media programs concurrently to a plurality of Subscriber
`Set-top control Systems preferably on an on-demand, pay
`per-view basis,
`0019 FIG. 3 is a generalized block diagram of a novel
`multimedia Server for communicating a Synchronous, asyn
`chronous, or combined Synchronous/asynchronous Series of
`Source program Segments representative of a Selected mul
`timedia program to a plurality of Subscriber Set-top control
`Systems preferably on an on-demand, pay-per-view basis,
`0020 FIG. 4 is a generalized block diagram of a mass
`Storage library portion of a novel multimedia Server;
`0021
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of a partial series of
`Synchronous compressed Source program Segments, with
`each discrete program Segment being representative of a
`predetermined time portion of a multimedia program;
`0022 FIG. 6 is an illustration of a customized series of
`discrete Source program Segments including an asynchro
`nous Source program Segment Series portion followed by a
`Synchronous Source program Segment Series portion, with
`each discrete Source program Segment being representative
`of a predetermined time portion of a multimedia program;
`0023 FIG. 7 is an illustration of an initially synchro
`nously ordered Series of Source program Segments represen
`tative of a two-hour multimedia program arranged as a
`60x120 matrix of 7,200 discrete one-second source program
`Segments,
`0024 FIG. 8 is an illustration of 7,200 discrete one
`Second Source program Segments representative of a two
`hour multimedia program arranged in a 20x360 customized
`matrix comprising two 10x360 sub-matrices or blocks, with
`each block containing 3,600 asynchronously ordered dis
`crete one-Second Source program Segments,
`0025 FIG. 9 is an illustration of 3,600 discrete two
`Second Source program Segments representative of a two
`hour multimedia program arranged in a 20x180 customized
`matrix comprising four 5x180 sub-matrices or blocks, with
`each of the four blocks containing 900 asynchronously
`ordered discrete two-Second compressed Source program
`Segments,
`0026 FIG. 10 is a depiction of the asynchronously
`ordered Source Video Segments contained in the first twelve
`Segment packets transmitted by a novel multimedia Server
`during Successive transmission windows;
`0027 FIG. 11 is a generalized block diagram of a novel
`intelligent Set-top control System adapted to communicate
`with a remote multimedia Server to facilitate asynchronous
`formatting of Source program Segments on a multimedia
`DASD received from the multimedia server preferably on an
`on-demand, pay-per-view basis,
`0028 FIG. 12 is a depiction of a novel presentation
`control window effectuated using a novel intelligent Set-top
`control System for controlling a portion of a multimedia
`program presentation in a plurality of presentation modes,
`including forward, reverse, and pause modes,
`0029 FIG. 13 is an illustration of a novel multimedia
`direct access Storage device of a Set-top control System
`adapted for buffering a predetermined number of discrete
`Source program Segments representative of at least a portion
`
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`
`

`

`US 2001/004 1062 A1
`
`Nov. 15, 2001
`
`of a multimedia program to provide full local VCR-type
`control of the buffered portion of the selected multimedia
`program,
`0030 FIG. 14 is an exaggerated side plan view of a novel
`multimedia direct acceSS Storage device of a Set-top control
`System including a plurality of data Storage disks adapted for
`buffering discrete Source program Segments representative
`of at least a portion of a multimedia program;
`0.031
`FIG. 15 is an illustration of a novel data storage
`architecture for buffering Synchronously and asynchro
`nously ordered discrete Source program Segments on an
`outwardly spiralling data track disposed on an upper Surface
`of a data Storage disk,
`0.032
`FIG. 16 is an illustration of a novel data storage
`architecture for buffering Synchronously and asynchro
`nously ordered discrete Source program Segments on an
`inwardly Spiralling data track disposed on a lower Surface of
`a data Storage disk,
`0033 FIG. 17 is an illustration of the first twenty asyn
`chronously ordered Source program Segments defining a
`twenty second presentation control window buffer to be
`distributed on a lower and an upper Surface of a data Storage
`disk, with each discrete Source program Segment being
`representative of a one-Second time portion of a multimedia
`program,
`0034 FIG. 18 is a depiction of twenty data storage
`locations defining a twenty Second presentation control
`window disposed on a lower and an upper Surface of a data
`Storage disk, and a novel method for writing and reading
`discrete Source program Segments to and from the ten
`Storage locations disposed on each of the lower and upper
`disk Surfaces,
`0035 FIG. 19 is a composite illustration of a lower
`Surface of a data Storage disk Superimposed along Side of an
`upper Surface of the data Storage disk, with ten data Storage
`locations disposed on each of the lower and upper disk
`Surfaces for buffering at any one time twenty discrete Source
`program Segments comprising a twenty Second presentation
`control window buffer in accordance with a novel formatting
`methodology;
`0.036
`FIG. 20 is a depiction of forty data storage loca
`tions disposed on a lower and an upper Surface of a data
`Storage disk defining a forty Second presentation control
`window, and a novel method for writing and reading discrete
`Source program Segments to and from the ten Storage
`locations organized into two Segment blockS disposed on
`each of the lower and upper disk Surfaces,
`0037 FIGS. 21-22 are flow charts depicting general
`processing Steps performed by a novel multimedia Server
`when communicating with a Subscriber's Set-top control
`System to provide on-demand transmission of Source pro
`gram Segments representative of a multimedia program in
`accordance with configuration parameters associated with
`the configuration of a presentation control window buffer
`provided on a novel multimedia direct access Storage device
`of the Subscriber's Set-top control System;
`0.038
`FIG. 23 is a flow chart depicting general process
`ing Steps performed by a novel intelligent Set-top control
`System when communicating with a remote multimedia
`Server to receive on-demand transmission of Source program
`
`Segments representative of a Selected multimedia program in
`accordance with configuration parameters associated with
`the configuration of a presentation control window buffer
`provided on a novel multimedia direct access Storage device
`of the Set-top control System;
`0039 FIGS. 24-25 are flow charts depicting general
`processing Steps performed by a novel intelligent Set-top
`control System when writing a custom ordered Series of
`discrete Source program Segments representative of a portion
`of a Selected multimedia program to a presentation control
`window buffer provided on a novel multimedia direct access
`Storage device, and when reading the discrete Source pro
`gram Segments as a Sequentially ordered Series of discrete
`local program Segments from the direct acceSS Storage
`device in accordance with a novel update-in-place format
`ting methodology; and
`0040 FIG. 26 is a flow chart depicting general process
`ing StepS associated with effectuating a spiral-and-hold
`operation of a novel multimedia direct access Storage device.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`0041. The present invention, as previously indicated,
`relates to a multimedia direct access Storage device for
`providing local Storage and VCR-type control of the pre
`Sentation of Selected multimedia programs received in a
`customized format from a remote multimedia Server, pref
`erably on an on-demand, pay-per-view basis. The present
`application describes the entire multimedia communication
`System and process for providing multimedia program dis
`tribution from a remote multimedia server to a plurality of
`local Set-top control Systems which preferably include mul
`timedia direct acceSS Storage devices. AS Such, there are
`described in the present application various features and
`functions of the multimedia communication System which
`are not the Subject of the presently claimed Subject matter,
`but are the Subject of inventions claimed in co-pending
`applications filed concurrently with this application. The
`description of these features and functions are included in
`the present application for purposes of completeness, and to
`permit a full appreciation of the advantages and features of
`an multimedia Set-top control System as disclosed herein.
`0042 Multimedia Communication System
`0043 Referring now to the drawings, and more particu
`larly to FIG. 2, there is shown a system block diagram of a
`multimedia communication System employing a novel mul
`timedia Server 30 configured to communicate multimedia
`programs to a plurality of Set-top control Systems 62 con
`currently over a communication channel 44. In one embodi
`ment, the multimedia Server 30 transmits a video program or
`other visual or audio presentation as a customized Series of
`compressed digital Source program Segments to a Subscrib
`ing customer's Set-top control System 62 on an on-demand,
`pay-per-view basis. The program Segments may be repre
`Sentative of Video, animation, photographic, audio, textual,
`graphical, and other types information. A direct access
`storage device (DASD) is preferably coupled to the local
`set-top control system 62 for buffering a portion or all of the
`multimedia program received from the multimedia Server
`30.
`0044) A novel DASD formatting methodology is
`employed to buffer the customized Series of compressed
`
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`
`

`

`US 2001/004 1062 A1
`
`Nov. 15, 2001
`
`digital Source program Segments representative of a portion
`of the multimedia program to provide a Subscriber with local
`VCR-type control of the presentation of the multimedia
`program portion buffered on the DASD, including presen
`tation control functions Such as fast forward, reverse, and
`pause. The multimedia program may, for example, be trans
`mitted from the local set-top control system 62 to a sub
`Scriber's television 24, home Stereo, or computer System by
`use of a Standard household transmission line or pair of
`infrared transceivers. In one embodiment, the multimedia
`Server 30 customizes the order of the Source program
`Segments in response to formatting and configuration param
`eters associated with the configuration and control functions
`of a Subscriber's unique local Set-top control System 62.
`004.5 The novel formatting methodology provides for a
`Significant decrease in the complexity and cost of operating
`and maintaining a central multimedia Server System 30
`adapted for distributing media-on-demand programming to
`a plurality of Set-top control Systems 62. It is noted that a
`Set-top control System 62 may be located at a household, a
`business location, Such as a restaurant or bar, or other private
`or public location. VCR-type presentation control function
`ality, including rewind, fast forward, pause, and other pre
`Sentation modes, are locally coordinated directly by the
`Set-top control System 62. By providing local control over
`the presentation of a multimedia program, the central mul
`timedia server 30 need not be configured to effectuate
`VCR-type control functions typically desired by the Sub
`Scribing customer.
`0046 Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the
`Significant difficulty of Simultaneously Servicing VCR-type
`presentation control function requests at a central media
`distribution Site during the communication of user-Selected
`programs transmitted concurrently to a plurality of custom
`erS on an on-demand, real-time basis. Providing the Sub
`Scribing customer local control of a media presentation
`directly through the Set-top control System 62 provides for a
`Significant decrease in the bandwidth of the communication
`channe