公开(公告)号：CA2155889C

公开(公告)日：2001-05-29

申请号：CA2155889

申请日：1995-08-11

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： OTTESEN HAL HJALMAR ,  SMITH GORDON JAMES ,  VANLEEUWEN GEORGE WILLARD

IPC: H04N5/765 ,  H04N7/10 ,  H04N7/173

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effectuating the reception and local storage of source information signals representative of a media program transmitted from a source information network preferably over a cable television channel on a p ay-per- view basis is disclosed. A local intelligent set-top control unit communica tes with a remote information network and a local storage device to coordinate the tran smission of customer ordered media programs from the information network for storage on the local storage device. The local storage device is preferably a standard vi deo cassette recorder (VCR) providing full VCR control functionality when presen tinga stored media program on a television. A digital o r optical data storage disk drive system may alternatively be employed to store source information signals dow nloaded from the remote information network. The intelligent set-top control unit communicates a pay-per-view billing signal to the information network upon p laying of a downloaded media program, and provides protection against unauthorized copying. In an alternative configuration, a set-top control card is install ed into a host computer system to coordinate the reception and local storage of downlo adedmedia programs, and preferably provides a platform f or interfacing with other home communication and electronic systems.

公开(公告)号：BR9505660A

公开(公告)日：1997-11-04

申请号：BR9505660

申请日：1995-12-05

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： OTTESEN HAL HJALMAR ,  SMITH GORDON JAMES ,  VANLEEUWEN GEORGE WILLARD

IPC: H04N5/765 ,  H04N7/10 ,  H04N7/173 ,  H04N7/18

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effectuating the reception and local storage of source information signals representative of a media program transmitted from a source information network preferably over a cable television channel on a pay-per-view basis is disclosed. A local intelligent set-top control unit communicates with a remote information network and a local storage device to coordinate the transmission of customer ordered media programs from the information network for storage on the local storage device. The local storage device is preferably a standard video cassette recorder (VCR) providing full VCR control functionality when presenting a stored media program on a television. A digital or optical data storage disk drive system may alternatively be employed to store source information signals downloaded from the remote information network. The intelligent set-top control unit communicates a pay-per-view billing signal to the information network upon playing of a downloaded media program, and provides protection against unauthorized copying. In an alternative configuration, a set-top control card is installed into a host computer system to coordinate the reception and local storage of downloaded media programs, and preferably provides a platform for interfacing with other home communication and electronic systems.

公开(公告)号：CA2138301C

公开(公告)日：1998-12-15

申请号：CA2138301

申请日：1994-12-15

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： OTTESEN HAL HJALMAR ,  CUNNINGHAM EARL A ,  GREENBERG RICHARD ,  BROWN DANA HENRY ,  SMITH GORDON JAMES ,  VANLEEUWEN GEORGE WILLARD ,  BILLINGS RUSSELL ALLEN

IPC: G11B5/012 ,  G11B5/55 ,  G11B5/596 ,  G11B7/0037 ,  G11B19/20 ,  G11B19/247 ,  G11B20/12 ,  G11B21/00 ,  G11B21/02 ,  G11B21/04 ,  G11B27/00 ,  G11B27/10 ,  H04N7/173

Abstract: A disk drive stores multimedia data in long spiral data tracks. The tracks on opposite surfaces of the disk spiral in opposite directions, so that a track on one surface can be read as the actuator sweeps in, and a track on the opposite surfa ce can be read as the actuator sweeps out. Because the actuator only follows spiral tracks without performing long seek operations, the actuator motor can be reduce d in size and stresses on actuator bearings and other parts are reduced. Additiona lly, due to reduced disturbances associated with seeks, it is possible to follow trac ks more closely and therefore reduce the width of individual tracks. Further cost reductions are accomplished by spinning the disks at a slower speed and reducing the size of the spin motor accordingly. Finally, data density can be increased s imply because multimedia data does not require the same low error rate as conventional data. Preferably, a group of disk drives optimized for multimedia data is used t o form a video-on-demand system. Compressed, interleaved portions of a video presentation, such as a motion picture, are stored in blocks on the spiral track s. The drives read the blocks on one spiral track at a time from beginning to end, placing the data from these blocks in a set of buffers corresponding to differen t short time intervals. Video signals are output from the buffers. Any short time interval of the presentation can be accessed on demand by switching to the appropriate buffer.

公开(公告)号：CA2155889A1

公开(公告)日：1996-06-30

申请号：CA2155889

申请日：1995-08-11

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： OTTESEN HAL HJALMAR ,  SMITH GORDON JAMES ,  VANLEEUWEN GEORGE WILLARD

IPC: H04N5/765 ,  H04N7/10 ,  H04N7/173

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effectuating the reception and local storage of source information signals representative of a media program transmitted from a source information network preferably over a cable television channel on a pay-per-view basis is disclosed. A local intelligent set-top control unit communicates with a remote information network and a local storage device to coordinate the transmission of customer ordered media programs from the information network for storage on the local storage device. The local storage device is preferably a standard video cassette recorder (VCR) providing full VCR control functionality when presentinga stored media program on a television. A digital or optical data storage disk drive system may alternatively be employed to store source information signals downloaded from the remote information network. The intelligent set-top control unit communicates a pay-per-view billing signal to the information network upon playing of a downloaded media program, and provides protection against unauthorized copying. In an alternative configuration, a set-top control card is installed into a host computer system to coordinate the reception and local storage of downloadedmedia programs, and preferably provides a platform for interfacing with other home communication and electronic systems.

公开(公告)号：BR9503412A

公开(公告)日：1996-05-21

申请号：BR9503412

申请日：1995-07-24

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： OTTESEN HAL HJALMAR ,  CUNNINGHAM EARL ALBERT ,  GREENBERG RICHARD ,  BROWN DANA HENRY ,  SMITH GORDON JAMES ,  VANLEEUWEN GEORGE WILLARD

IPC: G06F3/06 ,  G11B5/012 ,  G11B5/09 ,  G11B5/39 ,  G11B5/55 ,  G11B5/596 ,  G11B7/0037 ,  G11B7/24 ,  G11B19/20 ,  G11B19/247 ,  G11B20/10 ,  G11B20/12 ,  G11B21/00 ,  G11B21/02 ,  G11B21/04 ,  G11B21/10 ,  G11B27/00 ,  G11B27/10 ,  H04N5/781 ,  H04N7/173

Abstract: A disk drive (102) stores multimedia data in long spiral data tracks. The tracks on opposite surfaces of the disk (201) spiral in opposite directions, so that a track on one surface can be read as the actuator (205) sweeps in, and a track on the opposite surface can be read as the actuator sweeps out. Because the actuator only follows spiral tracks without performing long seek operations, the actuator motor (207) can be reduced in size and stresses on actuator bearings and other parts are reduced. Additionally, due to reduced disturbances associated with seeks, it is possible to follow tracks more closely and therefore reduce the width of individual tracks. Further cost reductions are accomplished by spinning the disks at a slower speed and reducing the size of the spin motor (203) accordingly. Finally, data density can be increased simply because multimedia data does not require the same low error rate as conventional data. Preferably, a group of disk drives optimized for multimedia data is used to form a video-on-demand system. Compressed, interleaved portions of a video presentation, such as a motion picture, are stored in blocks on the spiral tracks. The drives read the blocks on one spiral track at a time from beginning to end, placing the data from these blocks in a set of buffers corresponding to different short time intervals. Video signals are output from the buffers. Any short time interval of the presentation can be accessed on demand by switching to the appropriate buffer.