Methods and systems for a current channel buffer for network based personal video recording

摘要

A “pause live television” service is implemented, where in one embodiment, a continuously streaming video from a broadcast programming source is copied into a circular buffer. A set top box (“STB”) requests a trick function, such as “pause,” by sending a message to the system, which in one embodiment suspends the display of the present broadcast video in the STB. The system determines an pointer and when the user requests resumption of the broadcast video (e.g., “play”), the system uses the pointer for that particular STB to determine the appropriate resumption point in the particular buffer to resume streaming of the video for that STB. In various embodiments, the network may begin streaming of the video at the resumption point on another channel and direct the STB to then tune to that channel. Thus, the program appears to have been seamless suspended and resumed using a network based capability.

主权项

1. A method for providing a program distribution service to a user and for providing a pause-live television (PLTV) service to the user, the method comprising:
performing, by a video program distribution system, the program distribution service by providing a plurality of channels to a converter device associated with the user, wherein the user uses the converter device to select a specific channel; providing, by the video program distribution system, a plurality of buffers where each one of the buffers is dedicated for storage of broadcast assets associated with each one of the plurality of channels distributed to the converter device, wherein the plurality of buffers are dedicated only to the PLTV service and are not required for the program distribution service, and wherein the broadcast assets stored within any one of the plurality of buffers are only used if the user after selecting the specific channel uses the converter device to invoke a trick function; receiving, by the video program distribution system, a first message sent from the converter device, wherein said first message does not comprise an asset identifier but does comprise a converter device identifier, a channel identifier, and a first trick function identifier indicating a pause function; determining, by the video program distribution system, a current time upon receiving the pause function; identifying, by the video program distribution system, a channel asset identification table associated with the channel identifier at the current time; creating, by the video program distribution system, an entry in a memory for the converter device indicating that the pause function has been invoked; determining, by the video program distribution system, a pointer associated with said converter device based on the current time, wherein said pointer indicates a location within one of the buffers associated with the channel identifier and the channel asset identification table; storing, the video program distribution system, said winter in a memory associated with said converter device identifier; receiving, by the video program distribution system, a second message sent from said converter device after said first message, wherein said second message comprises said converter device identifier, said channel identifier, and a second trick function identifier indicating a play function; retrieving, by the video program distribution system, said pointer from said memory; and, using, by the video program distribution system, said pointer to cause a portion of the broadcast asset in said one buffer to be transmitted to said converter device beginning at said location identified by said pointer.