Claims
- 1. An architecture for providing content data to a user, the architecture comprising:
a. a server unit for storing a plurality of user codes and for generating program schedule for each user code; and b. a content source unit coupled the server for providing dynamic program schedule data to the server unit, wherein the server unit is configured to compile the dynamic program schedule data for each of the user codes to generate the program schedules.
- 2. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the user operates the server unit to select content data from at least one of the program schedules through the server.
- 3. The architecture of claim 2, wherein the content source unit is coupled to a network comprising a plurality of network ports, wherein selected content data is transmitted to the user through at least one of the plurality of network ports.
- 4. The architecture of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the plurality of network ports is identified by providing the server unit with a logical address.
- 5. The architecture of claim 4, wherein the user accesses the at least one program schedule by providing the server with a unique user identification number through the network.
- 6. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the content source unit broadcasts the content data to a user location.
- 7. The architecture of claim 6, wherein the user identifies the user location by providing the server unit with a logical address.
- 8. The architecture of claim 7, wherein the logical address corresponds to a receiving device at the user location.
- 9. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the content source unit and the server unit are coupled through a content network, the content network comprising a plurality of network ports for transmitting content data, wherein the user is capable of selecting at least one of the plurality of network ports for receiving the content data selected from the at least on of the program schedules.
- 10. The architecture of claim 9, wherein the content network is a private pay-for-use network.
- 11. The architecture of claims 10, wherein the server unit is further coupled to the internet and wherein the content data is selected from the at least one of the program schedules through the internet.
- 12. The architecture of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the program schedules is accessed by providing the server unit with a unique user identification number.
- 13. The architecture of claim 9, wherein the user selects the at least one of the network ports by providing a logical address corresponding to a receiving device.
- 14. The architecture of claim 9, wherein the content network comprises the internet.
- 15. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the user codes comprise user preferences.
- 16. The architecture of claim 15, wherein the content source unit comprises a plurality of content providers and wherein the preferences comprise selected providers from the plurality of content providers.
- 17. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the program schedules are automatically updated.
- 18. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the user codes are automatically updated based on selected content data.
- 19. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the content source unit is configured to transmit digital video content data selected by the user from the at least one of the program schedules.
- 20. The architecture of claim 1, wherein the content source unit is configured to transmit broadcast content data selected by the user from the at least one of the program schedules.
- 21. A system for providing a customized program schedule to a remote user location, the system comprising a networked server configured for surveying available programs from content providers and further for automatically generating the customized program schedule based on user criteria, wherein the system is configured to allow the user to select program transmissions from the customized program schedule.
- 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the program transmissions are initiated by a log on procedure, wherein the remote user provides the server with a unique user identification number.
- 23. The system 22, wherein the program transmissions are initiated by further providing a logical address at the remote user location.
- 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the user criteria comprises the user's availability at the remote user location and content data previous program transmissions to the remote user location.
- 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the customized program schedule is periodically updated.
- 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the customized program schedule is periodically updated based on the programs transmissions.
- 27. The system of claim 21, wherein the server surveys available programs from the content providers via the internet.
- 28. The system of claim 21, wherein the program transmissions comprise digital video content data to the user location.
- 29. The system of claim 21, wherein the program transmissions comprise broadcast content data to the remote user location.
- 30. A system for generating a program schedule comprising:
a. means for identifying a user criteria; b. means for generating a program schedule based on the user criteria; c. means for communicating the program schedule to a user location; and d. means for allowing the user to select programs from the program schedule at the user location.
- 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for generating the user criteria includes a survey of a user's preferences including subjects of interest in the categories of sports and entertainment.
- 32. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for generating the user criteria includes a history of programs previously received at the user location.
- 33. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for generating the program schedule based on the user criteria comprises a server, wherein the server stores the program schedule.
- 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for communicating the program schedule to the user location comprises a network.
- 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for selecting programs from the program schedule comprises a graphical user interface operated from the server.
- 36. A method of scheduling content data comprising:
a. storing client preferences for a client at a server location; b. cataloging available content data from selected content providers based on the client preferences; and c. transmitting the available content data to a remote client location.
- 37. The method of claim 36, wherein communicating the available content data to the remote client location comprising providing the server with a user identification and a logical address corresponding to the remote client location.
- 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the logical address corresponds to a receiving device at the remote location.
- 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the logical address corresponds to a network node at the remote location.
- 40. The method of claim 36, wherein communicating the available content data comprises transmitting digital video data over a network.
- 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the network comprises the internet.
- 42. The method of claim 36, wherein the available content data is transmitted to a personal computer at the remote location.
- 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the available content data is automatically transmitted to the personal computer.
- 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising storing the available content data on the personal computer.
- 45. A method of scheduling content data:
a. providing a list of preferences to a remote server, wherein the remote server maintains a catalogue of content data based on the list of preferences; b. identifying a user location; and c. transmitting cataloged content data to the user location.
- 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the cataloged content data is automatically transmitted to the identified user location.
- 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the cataloged content data comprises digital video data.
- 48. The method of claim 45, wherein the cataloged content data is transmitted to the remote user location via the internet.
- 49. The method of claim 45, wherein the remote server maintains the catalogue of content data by surveying available content data from a plurality of content providers.
- 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the available content data is transmitted to the identified user location from at least one of the plurality of content providers.
- 51. A system for providing content data comprising:
a. a network coupled to at least one content provider; b. a remote server coupled to the network and comprising;
i. a memory device for storing a plurality user identification codes wherein each user identification code corresponds to a list of user preferences; and ii. a program for generating content data schedules for each of the plurality of user identification codes based on each corresponding list of user preferences wherein a user can access one of the content data schedules by providing the at least one of the user identification code and wherein the user can selected programs corresponding to one of the content data schedules to be transmitted to a remote location; and c. a device for receiving the selected programs at a remote location.
- 52. The system of claim 51, wherein the device for receiving the selected programs comprises:
a. a computer comprising a video card; and b. a viewing device couple to the computer.
- 53. The system of claim 52, wherein the video card provides for television tuner logic and wherein the viewing device is a television.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/219,857, filed Jul. 20, 2000, and entitled “MECHANISM FOR DIGITAL VIDEO RENTAL DISTRIBUTION AND CATCHING”. The Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/219,857, filed Jul. 20, 2000, and entitled “MECHANISM FOR DIGITAL VIDEO RENTAL DISTRIBUTION AND CATCHING” is also hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60219857 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
|
60233581 |
Sep 2000 |
US |