INTELLIGENT MULTIMEDIA SET-TOP CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

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.