CA2444301C - An operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system - Google Patents

An operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2444301C
CA2444301C CA002444301A CA2444301A CA2444301C CA 2444301 C CA2444301 C CA 2444301C CA 002444301 A CA002444301 A CA 002444301A CA 2444301 A CA2444301 A CA 2444301A CA 2444301 C CA2444301 C CA 2444301C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
programs
bandwidth
allocating
categories
priority level
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA002444301A
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French (fr)
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CA2444301A1 (en
Inventor
John S. Hendricks
Richard E. Wunderlich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Comcast IP Holdings I LLC
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Sedna Patent Services LLC
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Publication of CA2444301A1 publication Critical patent/CA2444301A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2444301C publication Critical patent/CA2444301C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
    • H04N21/4755—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/42—Arrangements for resource management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/02—Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
    • H04H60/04—Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
    • H—ELECTRICITY
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    • H04H60/06—Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
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    • H04N21/218—Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays
    • H04N21/2181—Source of audio or video content, e.g. local disk arrays comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/445—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/445—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
    • H04N5/45—Picture in picture, e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

The present invention is an operations center that organizes and packages television programs for transmission in a television delivery system. The center is capable of receiving, storing, packaging and delivering countless programs in various signal formats. The center's primary components are a receiver, system controller, video storage, computer assisted packaging system, and output equipment. The components can receive, convert, store, select, retrieve, encode and otherwise process multiple program signals, gather program identities of analog and/or digital programs, generate menus, package programs efficiently based on subscriber needs and the available bandwidth, and output packaged program products to multiple remote sites. To perform these functions, the CAP creates program lineups, menus, instructions on the packaging of programs, and/or allocates available bandwidth. In the preferred embodiment, the packaged program products contain programs, control information, and menus.

Description

AN OPERATIONS CENTER WITH VIDEO STORAGE FOR A
TELEVISION PROGRAM PACKAGING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM
This application is a divisional of Canadian application serial number 2, 177,152 which is the Canadian National Phase of International patent application PCT/US94/13809 filed 2 December 1994 (02.12.94), published on 8 June 1995 under publication number WO 95/15657.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to application PCT/iJS93/11617 entitled AN OPERATIONS CENTER FOR A TELEVISION PROGRAM
PACKAGING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO 94114281 and corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
5,659,350. The following other applications and patent are also related to the above-referenced patent application:
PCT/US93/11708 entitled REPROGRAMMABLE TERMINAL
FOR SUGGESTING PROGRAMS OFFERED ON A TELEVISION
PROGRAM DELIVERY SYSTEM published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO 94/14284 and corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
5,798,785;
PCTIUS93/11616 entitled NETWORK CONTROLLER FOR
CABLE TELEVISION DELIVERY SYSTEMS published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO 94/14280 and corresponding to U.S.
Patent No. 5,600,362;
PCT/US93/11618 entitled SET-TOP TERMINAL FOR CABLE
TELEVISION DELIVERY SYSTEMS published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO 94/14282 and corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
5,734,853;
PCT/US93/11606 entitled ADVANCED SET-TOP TERMINAL
FOR CABLE TELEVISION DELIVERY SYSTEMS published 9 June 1994 under publication number WO 94/13107 and corresponding to U.S.
Patent No. 5,990,927;
PCT/US93/11615 entitled DIGITAL CABLE HEADEND FOR
CABLE TELEVISION DELIVERY SYSTEM published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO 94/13279 and corresponding to U.S.
Patent No. 5,682,195;
PCTlUS93/11706 entitled TELEVISION PROGRAM DELIVERY
SYSTEM published 23 June 1994 under publication number WO
94/14283 and corresponding to U.S. Patent No. 5,559,549; and U.S. Patent 5,986,690 entitled ELECTRONIC BOOK
SELECTION AND DELIVERY SYSTEM.
la PC 1"ItIS94113509 The invention relates to television entertainment delivery systems that provide television programming to consumer homes. llriore particularly. the invention relates to an operations center that organizes and pacha.ges cable television progr g for delivery to ronsuaner homes.
are not packaged. delivered and presented in a useable fashion to consumers. The problem is that T~ progr g is not being managed.
'~V~ ~St~6S7 PCTlOS94113~09 packaged, delivered. and presented to consumers in a user friendly manner.
offered to vitwers.
~iVhat is needed is a television program delivery system that can be 30 operated in a distributive fashion and controlled from one or more national centersa vVhat is needed is an operations center for a system which can gather television program~°mang in a variety of formats. package the programs, deliver the pro s, and present tht programs through a WO lSI156S7 PCTIgJS9~~1I3809 user friendly interface which allows the consua~tr tn easily select from among the many program choices.
What is needed 1s an operations center that is capable of handling hundreds of programs in ertnt formats.
What is needed is an operations center that is expandable for future types of programming.
that is needed is needed is an operations center that can control ceatatn features and so of a television delivery system.
What is needed is an operations canter that operates 3n the digital audiolvideo envfronmento What is needed is an operations center that formulates program menus for ux.
'What is needed is a computer assfsted pro packaging system.
What is needed is an operatians centrr that includes a method for billing consumers.
What Ls needed is an operations center that analyzes data on programs ~ratchesi by viewers 'Ihe present invention is addressed to ent of these needs.
T~~' $ ~Y'~'ON
The operations center's p~rimaty components are a receiver, system controller. video storage, computer assisted packaging e~yystem and output WO 95t15~.i7 ~CTN~941I3809 tqtaipment. The operations censer receives multiple video signals and outputs packaged program products to multiple remote sites. In the preferred embodiment, the packaged program products contain paro~rams, control information, and subscriber menus.
I3 program identities.

l information (such as cost for viewing certain program) and menu information.
The operations center of the present invention provides a method for remote management and control of video on demand, near video on demand, Local cable and CATV
programs available, and on-screen menu displays shown to subscribers. The operations center's computer software programs and hardware provide both "real-time" and advance control over cable and CATV systems. By transmitting appropriate control information the operations center has the ability to change allocation of programs across physical channels, change video on demand programs available, update menu information (from the operations center location), reprogram menu formats and menu flow, and change or augment a packaged program signal sent or programs made available to a particular region of the country. The operations center is able to control remotely certain features and soil:ware of the cable headend and set top terminals and if necessary reprogram menu display software stored at the cable headend or set top terminals.
In order to properly manage program lineups, the operations center acquires viewer information on programs watched. Such viewer information includes information about the buy rates of specifzc shows, viewer preferences for programming, and the like, gathered by recording viewer transactions. A compilation of viewer information data is needed in order to make decisions on future individualized program lineup and progxarn packaging.
In addition, allocation of menu space and construction of menus is aided by the use of viewer information data.
This information is usually received from the cable headends and processed using market research techniques.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in an operation center for a video-audio program delivery system, wherein the operations center receives a plurality of programs from external sources, stores one or more of the received programs, generates a program schedule, and causes program identities and at least one of the stored programs to be sent to one or more remote sites, comprising: means for receiving a plurality of programs provided from a plurality of external sources wherein one or more of the provided programs is Individually identified; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing at least one of the received and identified programs for subsequent retrieval; control means, connected to the receiving means and stocage means, for providing communication and control; computer assisted means, connected to the control means, for generating a program schedule comprising program identities and associated time for sending one or more of the stored programs to a remote site9 and output means, connected to the control means and storing means, for sending program identities and programs to one or more remote sites, wherein the program identities are included in the program schedule and wherein the output means obtains one or more of the stored programs identified in the program schedule from the storing means to send to the remote sites.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for packaging programs for delivery from an operations center to one or more cable headends, wherein programs are received from external sources and stored in a storage media at the operations center for subsequent transmission to each cable headend, comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of programs at the operations center which are provided from one or more extemai sources;
identifying a first set of programs, the first set of programs comprised of one or more of the received programs; storing the first set of programs in a storage media for subsequent retrieval;
generating a program List comprising the identities of one or more of the stored programs;
determining a second set of programs, the second set of programs comprised of one or more of the stored programs that are included on the program list; retrieving the second set of programs from the storage media; encoding the program list and retrieved programs for transmission;
and transmitting the encoded program list and programs from the operations center to one or more cable headends.
In a sti31 further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of selecting specific programs received from television programming sources; allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specfftcalfy selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with additional selected programs unfit at least one of the following conditions occurs: atf of said programs are allocated, a!I of said bandwidth is allocated.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each, of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
dividing said bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of said bandwidth; allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category; and continuing said allocating step with progressively tower priority Levels programs until at least one of the 6a followin~, conditions occurs: all of said programs are allocated, a!I of said bandwidth is allocated.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of transmitting a plurality of programs to a cable headend, each of said plurality of programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a'high priority level and progressively lower priority Ievels; forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level; appending a header to each of said signals, wherein said header identifies said priority level for a corresponding signal, thereby enabling recognition by said cable headend; dividing bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of said bandwidth;
allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs in each category; continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at Least one of the following conditions occurs:
ail of the signals 1 S are allocated; and all of said bandwidth is allocated: and transmitting each of said headers and said corresponding signals to said cable headend.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of transmitting a plurality of programs in a first amount of bandwidth for reception by a first cable headend, and in a second amount of bandwidth for a second cable headend. said method comprising the steps of prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels; allocating said first amount of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category; continuing said first amount of bandwidth allocation step with said progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the fotlowing conditions occurs:
all of the programs are allocated; all of said first amount of bandwidth is allocated; allocating said second amount of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category; continuing said second amount of bandwidth allocation step with said progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs: all of the programs are allocated;
all of said second amount of bandwidth is allocated; transmitting the programs in said first amount of bandwidth to said first cable headend; and transmitting the programs in said second amount of bandwidth to said second cable headend.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of the programs corresponding 6b to one of a plurality of categories, comprising: a central processing unit for selecting programs received from television programming sources: a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to said selected programs and continuing to allocate segments of bandwidth until either all the programs are allocated bandwidth or all the bandwidth is allocated.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of IO a plurality of categories, comprising: an operations center comprising a computer assisted packaging system; said computer assisted packaging system comprising:
a central processing unit for assigning priority levels to the programs by assigning to each of the programs a priority level from a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels includes a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels I S and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each program category receives s segment of the bandwidth; a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the programs in each of the categories with highest of said priority levels and continuing to allocate said segments 20 of bandwidth to progressively lower priority level programs in each of the categories.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in an operations center for a video-audio program delivery system, wherein the operations center receives a plurality of programs from external sources, stores one or more of the received programs, generates a program schedule, and causes program identities 25 and at least one of the stored programs to be sent to one or more remote sites, comprising: means for receiving a plurality of programs provided from a plurality of external sources comprising a holder means, connected to storing means, for holding the received plurality of program signals before malting the program signals available to the storing means, wherein one or more of the provided programs is 30 individually identified; means, connected to the receiving means, for storing at least ane of the received and identified programs for subsequent retrieval; control means, 6c connected to the receiving means and storing means, for providing communication and control; computer assisted means, connected to the control means, for generating a program schedule comprising program identities and associated time for sending one or more of the stored S programs to a remote site; output means, connected to the control means and storing means, for sending program identities and programs to one or more remote site, wherein the program identities are included in the program schedule and wherein the output means obtains one or more of the stored programs identified in the program schedule from the storing means to send to the remote sites.
in a still further aspect, the present invention provides an operations center which receives video programs, stores the video programs in a file server, generates a schedule, and outputs the schedule as well as scheduled programs to remote sites, the operations center comprising: a video program receiver, comprising at least one of an encoder, converter and input buffer; a first file server, operably connected to the video program receiver, having a storage capacity sufficient to store two or more received video programs and having an output connected to one or more distribution ports; a system controller containing a processor, connected to the first file server; a computer assisted packaging device, in communication with the system controller, running program packaging software and comprising a scheduler; and output equipment, operably connected to the one or more distribution ports and system controller, comprising at least one of an output buffer and decoder, and wherein the program packages and schedule determined by the computer assisted packaging device are passed to the remote sites.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer assisted packaging system for generating program control information, packaging programs and for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs comprising: a multiple:~er for receiving at least one program signal and at least one program control signal and for allocating a portion 6d of said segments of bandwidth to said selected programs; a delivery control processor unit connected to said multiplexer, whereby said program signals and said program information signals are multiplexed by said multiplexer; and a central processing unit connected to said delivery control processor unit, whereby said delivery control processor unit receives commands from said central processing unit.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of the programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising: a central processing unit for selecting the programs and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each of the program categories receives a segment of the bandwidth; a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs in at least one of the categories.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising: an operations center comprising a computer assisted packaging system; said computer assisted packaging system comprising: a central processing unit for selecting programs received from television programming sources; a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit;
and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: selecting specific programs received from television programming sources; allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specifically selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with 6e additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs: all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated, wherein the step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time, and wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes varying a compression ratio of at least one of the selected programs.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: selecting specific programs received from television programming sources; allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specifically selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs: all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated, wherein the step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time, and wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes allocating bandwidth to at least one of the selected programs based on an amount of changes within one of the selected programs over time.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: selecting programs received from television programming sources; and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed on demand.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: selecting programs received from television programming 6f services; and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed based on consumer demand.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of: selecting programs received from television programming sources; and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed in real-time.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, said method comprising the steps of: prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels; forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level; allocating a portion of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs;
dynamically changing bandwidth allocation for at least one of said signals; continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs: all of the signals are allocated; all of said bandwidth is allocated; and transmitting said plurality of signals to said plurality of transponders so that none of said transponders receives more than one of said signals.
The present invention is not only able to operate in the digital environment but introduces many new features to television program delivery.
6g It is an object of this invention to provide a system for efficiently organizing television programs to be offered to viewers.
It is an object of this invention to provide an operations center for a television program delivery system.
6h WA fS115~57 PCTIUS94lI3SQ9 ~~ure l is a of the primary components of the television delivery system.

WO 95t1:~5? ~CTI~S94113E09 Figure 2 is a block diagram of the primary components of the operations center.
Figure 3a is a schematic of the components of a reeeiver with a aW gIe connection to the holder.
Figure 3b is a schematic of a receiver with aaultiple conntct3ons to the holder. ' Figure 4 is a schematic of the system controller.
Figure 5 is a scheaJatic of the output equiponent.
Figure fi is a of the computer assisted pac3cag~ng system.
IO Figure ? is a schematic of one esabodfment of the operations center.
Figure 8 is a schematic of an alternative tmbodiment of the operations center, which includes encryption and scrambling of signals.
is possible with this new delivery ia.
Subscribers are able to access an expanded television program package and (with the appropriate set top termunal and remote) view selected progra~ans through a menu-driven access scheme that allows 'W~ !SlZS657 PCTlUS94I13809 210. Although concatsnate~ cable systems ~ 10 are the oaost prevalent transmission acecha to the ho=ne, telephone lines, eellular nctworks.
8berop~cs. Personal ~mmuntca~ion Networks satellite co~nunication.

wo gsnsss~ ~'C?N59~6IB3809 and similar technology far transmitting to tk~e home can be used interchangeably with this pro delivery system ~t~.
The delivery system 2~0 generally has a reception regton 207 with decompression capability. This capability is performed by a decompressor hauled within a set tap terminal 2:C0 or at the cable headend Z~8. The deeompressor remains transparent from the options that are displayed on the television screen. In addition. a user may bypass seve~ai menu screens and immediately choose a program by selecting the apprcapriate alpha-character, numeric or iconic combinations on the subscriber in ce.
Ia CVO 95r'856~? /US94l13809 operations enter coordinates ~~rious functions ~non~ the slsve oper~uons centers such ss tion of ultar~eous missions s-,.
WO 95J15657 TCI°ltlS9~1I3809 1 and distributes the operations workload efficiently. Alternatively, a operations center 202 znay operate independently.
4. abl H ,a,~;~,~d or Remote St~~, After the operations center 2~2 has packaged and transmitted the receive programs from other sources, pos;~ibly from other aperations centers.
1~

B. Detailed Description of Operations Center Figure ? is a high-level block diagram of the operations ce;nter 202. The operations center 202 has five primary components: a receiver 300. a storage device 308, a system controller 312, computer-assisted packaging system (CAP) 316. and output equipment 320. The receiver 300 receives multiple videoiaudio programs and advertisements 212 from external sources (not shown). The programs and advertisements may be in various. signal formats and video formats (e.g., HDTV). The receiver 300 is under the control of the system controller 312.
Preferably, there is a two-way communication link between the system controller 312 and the receiver 300. The storage device 308 receives programs and advertisements 212 either directly from the receiver 300 or through the optional holder 304. The storage device 308 stores some or all of the received programs and advertisements 212.
Although not required for the functioning of the system, it is preferred that the storage device also be capable of spooling the programs and advertisements 212 stored.
The storage device 308 spools the programs and advertisements 212 preferably directly to the output equipment 320. As with the receiver 300, the storage device 308 is preferably under the control of the system controller 312. A video file server 215 with a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is the primary and preferred hardware component for the storage and spooling device 308. A simple example of a video file server is described in U.S.
Patent 5,262,875 entitled AUDIO/VIDEO FILE SERVER INCLUDING DECOMPRESSION! PLA'YBACI:
MEANS, issued on November 16, 1993.
The video file server hardware and software acts as a bulk storage and control center capable of spooling video. The 1~i1e server stores hundreds of hours cf programming and is able to control or interface with many distribution ports or distributions servers.
Output capacities of thousands of configurable ports are possible. The file servers may be built modularly for upgrading. Configurable storage space, local inventory and local configuration control is preferred. Other large scale storage ~5~/1~L~~
devices capable of storing video and audio may be used with the present invention.
communicates with the system controller 312 and determines how the final product of the operations center 2~2 (the pro and other information) will be packaged. In order to de a how the programs should be paekaged, the 31fi can use a varitty of different I5 ~mponeats.
In Figure 2, the ~P 3I fi uses three components: a schedulcr 324.
a market research component 3~3 and an ad insertion component 332.
gn addition, to performs its functions, the SAP 3Ifi utilises da s 336.
as cable headends. are received by the ~rP 31 f> in operations cranter 202.
The CAP 31 fi is equipped with a port to reeeive signals from cable r--v i v PCTl~S941I3809 fara~atted video si~ls~ the receiver 0~ has the mppropriate hardware to convert the received signals to MPG video format. a holder 3~4 ~O 95115b57 lCTItJS94l1 easy als~ receive and store t~, sigr~ats, which is provided for by this receiver 300. More pa~cularly. the receiver 3 an encoder 3f>4 which encodes C video fo tied si s into G fo tied video si s. 'The receiver 3 receives a and b them.
if necessary, using a b er 3~~ as shown. For ai s received in ~.TM
ai format. the receiver 3 y either eonvert the ~rTM ai to a simple G video data fo t si using app to G converter 372 or it may simply u~'er the ai using buffer 37fi prior to delivering the signal to a holder ~

wo ~snsss~ ~°russvi ,~
a past3cular progra~~, such as Cheers, will be needed and tb~tt it is 30 prefierred if the prod Cheers is av ~.~ab~e in the storage device 308 in tyro formats. ara A'IM format and a simple &I~~ format. Ia this manner the CAP interaction module 420 can inform the various other components of the systeza control 312 and ensure in advance that the progi~am Cheers is availablt on the storage device 308 in Moth needed ~O?s115657 PtTliTS91i13809 Generally. the A'I~I signal 54~ has an MPEG encoded program within the signal. This ATM signal 544 is them output either too an A'TM
system 548 or a Satellite upiin~ 552.

BYO 95115637 $~CTlt7S94113809 mesas and number of menus that will be needed at a cable headend site.
This type of data is then stored in the database 336 as cable franchise information. Although much of this data can be preprocessed. in eertain instances the menu generation routine 624, pro schedule routine .
,5 636 and program control information routine may need to interact with the cable franchise routine 616 in order to dttermfnc e~cactly what advertisement insertion routine fi2~ ass this type of data and stores part of the data ~ databases 33fi. As a pro schedule is being generated by routine 636, the advertisement inscrt~on rout#ne 620 may 20 be used to determine the identity of ads to insert at locations in the schedule or data stream. if the advertisement insertion data has been su~eiently processed. the pro schedule generation routine 636 away be able to obtain all needed inf ion from databases 336. In addition.
the advertisement insertion rout#ne fi2~ may accept asements or format. as graphical data. as A3CIl data. tent data or other suitable format.
Menus and menu templates may be stored ira database 336 for use by the C'AF' 316. The routine 624 must both create aesthetically pleasing templates for anenus. as yell as customizing the menus arith the Z~

wo ms6s, ~'iY1JS94113809 appropriate program names, descriptions. abstracts, and. if nectssary, start times. When menus are transmitted and when menus gill first be 312 through the main pro interface . '8'he controller 3 T ~
then inforaas the receiver 3t3t7 which can adapt itself to store programs fn one or asore formats. In an alternative embodiment. the acsambling and encryption determiner 8'Z8 determines ttie scrambling or encryption wo nnsss~r pc-~r~s9~ei3ao9 reference to ~'lgure 8 below.
routfae 532.
franchisc information, advertisement insertion information and entries from the packager data entry interface GAS. Freferably, the prograia lineup 3s manually checked by the packager and ed as necessary to suit the needs of a p cular remote site. dance the lineup is prepared.

w0 9511 ' ~ p'C1"IUS94113$09 Cd~IC llCadeIld 1S S~1Cd11ICd.
2~ receive the program and whettzer tk~ere are ~u~cf~nt f~uads or credit for that subscriber or eab~e beaded 208.
3~

W~ 951156i' 1'C.TNS94113809 i 5 the prestored first ftw minutes of video expires, the sable headend 208 seamlessly switches to the recently reeei~ed and st~red video twlthout leader sequencel. This entire transaction is transparent t~ the subscriber. As far as the subscriber lmocvs. the entire movie w~,s av~aflable tt the cable headend.

pro;ram control information can be stored in the databases 336 and sent through the system controller 31? to the output equipment 330, bypassing the storage (and spooling) device 308. In yet another embodiment, the program control information can be created in reef time as it is needed to be sent out by the output equipment 320. Various data formats and signal formats may be used for the program control information signal. For a detailed frame format that may be used, please refer to the parent patent application, PCTlUS93/11617 entitled OPERATIONS
CENTER FOR A TELEVISION PROGRAi~ PACKAGING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM.
The billing routine 648 tracks the charges incurred by cable headends and by specific subscribers to cable headends. The billing routine 648 monitors video on demand requests made through video on demand request routine b40 and monitors the program control infornnation signal created by the CAP (routine 644) to determine the charges incurred by remote sites 208, cable headends and subscribers. The billing routine 648 tabulates this information and stares it in the databases 336. In the preferred embodiment, the invoices are generated at an external collection system site (not shown) and the billing routine 648 periodically transmits the necessary tabulations to the collection system site. This may be performed by a modem utilizing telephone system or through ATM or terrestrial Links between the billing routine 648 and the collection system site (not shown).
The billing routine 648 may also flag subscribers or cable headends which are delinquent and not entitled to receive any more packaged programs or services from the operations center 202. This flag of warning information may be provided to the other routines within the CAP 316. A PC with a modem may be used to perform the billing functions.
For a more detailed description of the CAP software and the information stored in the databases 336. see PCT/US93/11617 entitled OPERAT10NS CENTER FOR A TELEVISION
PROGRAM PACKAGING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Using the described components, sofrware, and databases the operations center 202 is able to perform the following tasks: receive and fulfill VOD requests (using CAP 316 andlor system controller 312), receive multiple program signals (using receiver 300), select a subset of the received programs on the program signals (using instructions from the system controller 312 or CAP 316), store the subset of the received programs (using the storage device 308), generate a list of programs (using the CAP 316), determine whether a remote site needs programs (or portions of programs for operations center VOD) on the program List (using the CAP 316), schedule the programs on the program list to be made available to subscribers and schedule a time for a transmission to a remote site (using the CAP 316), allocate bandwidth or transponder space (using the CAP 316), retrieve the programs needed by a remote site from the storage device {using the storage device 308, output equipment 320 or system controller 312), prepare (or package) one or more signals containing programs, a program list, a schedule, menus, and/or program control information for transmission (using the output equipment 320), transmit the signal {using output equipment 320 and/or an uplink site 204), and perform quality and flow checks (using quality and flow control 340). In addition, before transmission, the operations center may scramble, encrypt, or convert program signals using the receiver 300, holder 304, storage device 308, or output equipment 320 as described in reference to Figure 8.
Also, the operations center 202 may create schedule, rnenus, andlor control signets to I O send to remote sites (using the CAP 316 and associated databases 336) and if necessary, store the schedule, menu and/or control signals in the storage device 308 before transmission. The control signals can include information on programs, schedules, advertisement insertion, menus, video on demand, and requests for buy data on programs watched. For purposes of many of these functions, advertisements, menus expressed in video data format, and I S video-audio programs are treated in the same manner and can be described as ~~ 95l15di7 p~ i'liJS4dI13809 tches. Figt~r~ '? sh~s the r~zeiver 3 p ink tie pro si t~ the holder 304. which in es it ~n to s s d d spooling) device 303'.

connected to the ad insertion component 332 performing ad insertion functions.
In this particular embodiment, the ad insertion component 332 is shown directly connected to the f le server 308' to provide ad insertion data directly to the file server software.
An output multiplexes 320' is shown as part of the output equipment in Figure 7. The output multiplexes 320' sends signals in OC3 or DS3 signal format to ATMs and also sends analog or digital signals to an uplinlc site 204 with a satellite dish. The uplirlk site 204 is shown servicing a DBS or "PR.IMESTAR°'rM remote site 208, as well as a headend 208 with an integrated receiver demodulator 716. In this schematic, the output equipment 320' is servicing many different types of remote sites: a DBS or Prirnestar site 208, headend with satellite feed 208, a file server type headend system (verified by ATM 208), and video dialtone based systems, such as "BELL ATLANTIC'°rM 208, "BELL SOU'l.'H"~ 208 and "PACTEL°'rM 208.
This schematic highlights the multiple inputs, processing, and multiple outputs possible with the operations center 202. Using this operations center 202, hundreds of headends and remote sites may be serviced in a program delivery system 200.
For additional information on the delivery system shown in Figure 7, see U.S.
Patent 5,986,690 entitted ELECTRONIC BOOK SELECTION AND DELIVERY SYSTEM by inventor John Hendriclcs.
Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the receiver 300, which enables the operations center 202 to handle analog scrambling arid digital encryption of sagnals.
Specifically, the receiver 300' is capable of performing any conversions necessary so that the storage device 308 may store any types of program signals which may be needed by remote sites 208. More specifically, the embodiment shown handles analog scrambled programs in MPEG digital format 800, MPEG encrypted programs 804, MPEG stored programs that are not scrambled or encrypted 808, ATM stored programs that are analog scrambled 812, and ATM
programs in digital encrypted format 816.
3d /~
'~Q 951155? ~'I'lUSgil13809 that the receiver 300 perform the scraxablirag. encsyption and conversion prior to storage. In smelter operations centers for purposes of saving

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting specific programs received from television programming sources;
allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specifically selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated;
wherein the step of selecting uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on each program's bandwidth requirement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on marketing information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on buy rates of the programs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on each program's length.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on each program's watched information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting further uses an algorithm to select specific programs based on marketing information.

7. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:

prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
dividing said bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of said bandwidth;
allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category; and continuing said allocating step with progressively lower priority levels programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of prioritizing uses an algorithm to weigh each program's watched information when determining a program's priority.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of prioritizing uses an algorithm to weigh marketing information when determining a program's priority.

10. A method of transmitting a plurality of programs to a cable headend, each of said plurality of programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:

prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;

forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
appending a header to each of said signals, wherein said header identifies said priority level for a corresponding signal, thereby enabling recognition by said cable headend;
dividing bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of said bandwidth;
allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs in each category;
continuing said allocating step with signals. comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
all of the signals are allocated; and all of said bandwidth is allocated; and transmitting each of said headers and said corresponding signals to said cable headend.

11. The method of claim 1, 7 or 10 wherein the step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time.

12. The method of claim 7 or 10, wherein the high priority level corresponds to programs included in a cable television service and a lower priority level corresponds to programs included in a different cable television service.

13. The method of claim 7 or 10, wherein each priority level includes a different set of programs from a variety of categories, and wherein the first priority level includes a first finite number of programs from each of the plurality of categories and the second priority level includes a second finite number of remaining programs from each of the plurality of categories.

14. The method of claim 7 or 10, wherein the high priority level corresponds to cable television programs and a lower priority level corresponds to pay-per-view programs.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein an even lower priority level corresponds to high definition television programs.

16. The method of claim 7 or 10, wherein the high priority level corresponds to sports-related television programs and a lower priority level corresponds to news-related television programs.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an even lower priority level corresponds to documentaries.

18. The method of claim 7 or 10, wherein the high priority level corresponds to television programs available during a specified period of time and a lower priority level corresponds to television programs available during a different period of time.

19. A method of transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, said method comprising tire steps of:

prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
allocating a portion of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs;
continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of the signals are allocated; and all of said bandwidth is allocated; and transmitting said plurality of signals to said plurality of transponders so that none of said transponders receives more than one of said signals.

20. The method of claim 10 or 19, further comprising the steps of:
digitizing each of said headers and said corresponding signals into digitized signals;
compressing the digitized signals into compressed signals; and combining the compressed signals with a program information signal.

21. The method of claim 19 or 20, further comprising the step of dynamically changing bandwidth allocation for at least one of said signals.

22. The method of claim 10, 20 or 21, further comprising the step of appending a header to each of said signals, wherein said header identifies said priority level for a corresponding signal, thereby enabling recognition by said transponder.

23. A method of transmitting a plurality of programs in a first amount of bandwidth for reception by a first cable headend, and in a second amount of bandwidth for a second cable headend, said method comprising the steps of:

prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
allocating said first amount of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category;

continuing said first amount of bandwidth allocation step with said progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of the programs are allocated;
all of said first amount of bandwidth is allocated;
allocating said second amount of bandwidth to high priority level programs in each category;
continuing said second amount of bandwidth allocation step with said progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of the programs are allocated;
all of said second amount of bandwidth is allocated;
transmitting the programs in said first amount of bandwidth to said first cable headend; and transmitting the programs in said second amount of bandwidth to said second cable headend.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation includes varying a compression ratio of at least one of the selected programs.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation includes allocating bandwidth to at least one of the selected programs based on an amount of changes within at least one of the selected programs over time.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said changes occur frame to frame.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said changes are changes in visual detail.

28. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes varying the compression ratio of at least one of the selected programs.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said changes occur frame to frame.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said changes are changes in visual detail.

32. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:
selecting programs received from television programming sources;
allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of allocating bandwidth to the categories further comprises the steps of:

allocating bandwidth to the selected programs within the categories; and continuing allocating bandwidth to additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:

all of the programs are allocated bandwidth, all of the bandwidth is allocated.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming.
35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation includes varying a number of the selected programs within at least one of the categories.
36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes varying a compression ratio of at least one of the selected programs within at least one of the categories of programming.
37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes allocating bandwidth to at least one of the selected programs based on an amount of changes within at least one of the selected programs over time.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said changes occur frame to frame.
39. The method according to claim 37, wherein said changes are changes in visual detail.
40. A computer assisted packaging system for generating program control information, packaging programs and for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs comprising:
a multiplexer for receiving at least one program signal and at least one program control signal and for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to said selected programs;

a delivery control processor unit connected to said multiplexer, whereby said program signals and said program information signals are multiplexed by said multiplexer; and a central processing unit connected to said delivery control processor unit, whereby said delivery control processor unit receives commands from said central processing unit.
41. The system according to claim 40, further comprising at least one workstation connected to said central processing unit for allowing a packager or programmer to interface with said computer assisted packaging system.
42. The system according to claim 40 or 41, further comprising at least one database connected to said central processing unit, whereby said central processing unit processes information within each of said databases.
43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said at least one database further comprises an operations center database.
44. The system according to claim 42, wherein said at least one database further comprises a cable franchise information database.
45. The system according to claim 42, wherein said at least one database further comprises a local video storage database.
46. A computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of the programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:
a central processing unit for selecting programs received from television programming sources;

a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to said selected programs and continuing to allocate segments of bandwidth until either all the programs are allocated bandwidth or all the bandwidth is allocated.
47. A computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of the programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:
a central processing unit for selecting the programs and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each of the program categories receives a segment of the bandwidth;
a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs in at least one of the categories.
48. The computer assisted packaging system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs according to claim 47, wherein said central processing unit further assigns priority levels to the programs by assigning to each of said programs a priority level from a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels includes a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of the bandwidth; and said multiplexer further allocates a portion of said segments of bandwidth to selected programs in each of the categories with highest of said priority levels and continues to allocate segments of bandwidth to progressively lower priority level programs in each of the categories.

49. A system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:
an operations center comprising a computer assisted packaging system;
said computer assisted packaging system comprising:
a central processing unit for selecting programs received from television programming sources;
a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the selected programs.
50. The system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs according to claim 49, wherein said central processing unit also divides the bandwidth so that each of the program categories receives a segment of the bandwidth.
51. The system according to any of claims 47 to 50, wherein said central processing unit dynamically changes bandwidth by varying a number of selected programs within at least one of the selected categories.
52. A system for allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, comprising:
an operations center comprising a computer assisted packaging system;
said computer assisted packaging system comprising:
a central processing unit for assigning priority levels to the programs by assigning to each of the programs a priority level from a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels includes a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels and also for dividing the bandwidth so that each program category receives a segment of the bandwidth;
a delivery control processor unit connected to said central processing unit; and a multiplexer connected to said delivery control processor unit for allocating a portion of said segments of bandwidth to the programs in each of the categories with highest of said priority levels and continuing to allocate said segments of bandwidth to progressively lower priority level programs in each of the categories.
53. The system according to any of claims 40 to 52, further comprising a video/audio equipment connected to said central processing unit for dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time.
54, The system according to any of claims 40 to 52, wherein said video/audio equipment dynamically changes bandwidth allocation by changing a compression ratio of each of the programs, whereby programs with higher compression ratios require lower bit rates and less bandwidth, and programs with lower compression ratios require higher bit rates and more bandwidth.
55. The system according to any of claims 40 to 52, wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes allocating bandwidth to at feast one of the selected programs based on an amount of changes within at least one of the selected programs over time.
56. The system according to claim 55, wherein said changes occur frame to frame.

57. The system according to claim 55, wherein said changes are changes in visual detail.
58. The system according to any of claims 46 to 49, wherein said central processing unit further comprises an algorithm for assigning said priority levels.
59. The system according to any of claims 52 to 58, wherein said central processing unit appends a header to all the selected programs with the same priority level, wherein said appended header identifies said priority level for the program.
60. The system according to claim 59, further comprising at least one cable headend, wherein each of said cable headends receives said programs from said operations center according to said assigned headers.
61. The system according to any of claims 52 to 60, further comprising at least one transponder for receiving programs for one of said assigned priority levels from said operations center.
62. The system according to claim 61, further comprising at least one cable headend, wherein each of said cable headends receives said programs from at least one of said transponders according to said assigned priority levels.
63. The system according to claim 61, further comprising at least one cable headend and at least one transponder, wherein each of said cable headends receives said programs from said transponders according to customized priority.

64. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of prioritizing uses an algorithm to weigh consumer demand when determining a program's priority.
65 The method of claim 7, 10, 19, 23 or 32, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation on demand.
66. The method of claim 7, 10, 19, 23 or 32, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation based on consumer demand.
67. The method of claim 7, 10, 19, 23 or 32, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation in real-time.
68. The system of any of claims 40 to 52, further comprising video/audio equipment connected to said central processing unit for dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation on demand.
69. The system of any of claims 40 to 52, further comprising video/audio equipment connected to said central processing unit for dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation based on consumer demand.
70. The system of any of claims 40 to 52, further comprising video/audio equipment connected to said central processing unit for dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation in real-time.
71. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting specific programs received from television programming sources;
allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specifically selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated, wherein the step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time, and wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes varying a compression ratio of at least one of the selected programs.
72. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:
selecting specific programs received from television programming sources;
allocating a segment of the bandwidth to the specifically selected programs; and continuing said allocating step with additional selected programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
all of said programs are allocated, all of said bandwidth is allocated, wherein the step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time, and wherein the step of dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time includes allocating bandwidth to at least one of the selected programs based on an amount of changes within one of the selected programs over time.

73. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:
selecting programs received from television programming sources;
and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed on demand.
74. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:
selecting programs received from television programming services;
and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed based on consumer demand.
75. A method of allocating bandwidth to a plurality of programs, each of said programs corresponding to one of a plurality of categories, said method comprising the steps of:
selecting programs received from television programming sources;
and allocating bandwidth to the categories from whence the selected programs correspond, wherein said step of allocating includes dynamically changing the bandwidth allocation over time for at least one of the categories of programming, and wherein said bandwidth allocation is dynamically changed in real-time.
76. A method of transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, said method comprising the steps of:
prioritizing each of said programs by assigning to each of said programs one of a plurality of priority levels, said plurality of priority levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority levels;
forming a plurality of signals, each of said signals comprising programs corresponding to a single priority level;
allocating a portion of bandwidth to signals comprising high priority level programs;
dynamically changing bandwidth allocation for at least one of said signals;
continuing said allocating step with signals comprising progressively lower priority level programs until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
all of the signals are allocated;
all of said bandwidth is allocated; and transmitting said plurality of signals to said plurality of transponders so that none of said transponders receives more than one of said signals.
CA002444301A 1993-12-02 1994-12-02 An operations center with video storage for a television program packaging and delivery system Expired - Lifetime CA2444301C (en)

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