H - Electricity – 04 – N
Patent
H - Electricity
04
N
H04N 7/173 (2006.01) H04N 5/765 (2006.01) H04N 7/10 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2155889
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.
Ottesen Hal Hjalmar
Smith Gordon James
Vanleeuwen George Willard
Barrett B.p.
International Business Machines Corporation
LandOfFree
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