Systems and method for providing video-on-demand services for broadcasting systems

Abstract

A method for sending data to a client to provide data-on-demand services comprises the steps of: receiving a data file, specifying a time interval, parsing the data file into a plurality of data blocks based on the time interval such that each data block is displayable during a time interval, determining a required number of time slots to send the data file, allocating to each time slot at least a first of the plurality of data blocks and optionally one or more additional data blocks, such that starting from any of the time slots, (i) the data file can be displayed by accessing the first of the plurality of data blocks; (ii) at a consecutive time slot, a next data block sequential to a prior displayed data block is available for displaying; and (iii) repeating step (ii) until all of the plurality of data blocks for the data file has been displayed, and sending the plurality of data blocks based on the allocating step.

1 . A data-on-demand system comprising: 
 a first set of channel servers;    a central controlling server for controlling said first set of channel servers;    a first set of up-converters coupled to said first set of channel servers; and    a combiner module coupled to said first set of up-converters; said combiner module adapting to transmit data via a transmission medium;    wherein said central controlling server is configured to divide a data file into data blocks and calculate a delivery matrix for sending said data blocks across said transmission medium in a scheduled manner such that said data file is accessible on demand.    
     
     
         2 . The data-on-demand system of  claim 1 , wherein said combiner module includes a combiner and an amplifier.  
     
     
         3 . The data-on-demand system of  claim 1 , wherein said channel server includes a controller, a modulator, and a network interface.  
     
     
         4 . The data on-demand system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a channel monitoring module for monitoring said system;    a switch matrix;    a second set of channel servers; and    a second set of up-converters;    wherein said channel monitoring module is configured to report system status to said central controlling server, said central controlling server, in response to a report from said channel monitoring module, instructing said switch matrix to replace a channel server in said first set of channel servers with a channel server in said second set of channel servers and replace an up-converter in said first set of up-converters with an up-converter in said second set of up-converters.    
     
     
         5 . A computer implemented method for controlling a set-top-box (STB), said method comprising the acts of: 
 receiving digital data including non client specific on-demand data having at least one data file; and    processing said non client specific on-demand data in order to make ready said at least one data file for a user of said STB.    
     
     
         6 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising the acts of: 
 receiving an electronic program guide (EPG) indicating the nature of said received digital data including said non client specific on-demand data having at least one data file;    providing said EPG data to said user of said STB; and    receiving a demand for said at least one data file from said user of said STB.    
     
     
         7 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said on-demand data includes game data.  
     
     
         8 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said on-demand data includes video data.  
     
     
         9 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 5  wherein said non client specific on-demand data includes a plurality of data files, and said act of processing said non client specific on-demand data includes processing said non client specific on-demand data in order to make at least two data files available to said user.  
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 9  wherein a first of said at least two data files is provided real-time to said user.  
     
     
         11 . A computer implemented method as recited in  claim 9  wherein a first of said at least two data files is stored to a persistent memory device.  
     
     
         12 . A computer implemented method for controlling a set-top-box (STB), said method comprising the acts of: 
 receiving digital data including non client specific on-demand data having at least one data file and an electronic program guide (EPG), said EPG indicating the nature of said received digital data and non client specific on-demand data having at least one data file;    providing said EPG data to a user of said STB;    receiving a demand for said at least one data file from said user of said STB; and    processing said non client specific on-demand data in order to make ready said at least one data file for said user.    
     
     
         13 . A set-up-box (STB) capable of receiving and handling a plurality of digital services such as VOD and digital broadcast, said universal STB comprising: 
 a databus;    a first communication device suitable for coupling to a digital broadcast communications medium, said first communication device operable to receive digital broadcast;    memory bi-directionally coupled to said databus;    a digital decoder bi-directionally coupled to said databus; and    a central processing unit (CPU) bi-directionally coupled to said databus; said CPU implementing a STB control process controlling said memory, said digital decoder, and said demodulator, said STB control process executing instructions for:    processing an electronic program guide (EPG) received via said first communication device, said EPG indicating a nature of data broadcast via a digital broadcast server coupled to said communication device;    providing a user of said STB an indication of said broadcast data;    receiving a request for desired data received by said STB, wherein said desired data is received in a non client specific data-on demand format as designated by said EPG.    processing said desired data received in a non client specific data-on demand format; and    providing said desired data to said user of said universal STB.    
     
     
         14 . A STB as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said STB control process is operable to simultaneously tune into two or more of a plurality of channels broadcast by said universal broadcast server, and to simultaneously process data from two or more of said plurality of channels.  
     
     
         15 . A STB as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said STB control process is operable to tune said STB to a first channel in order to select data requested by said user, determine the nature of aid selected data, decode said selected data, decompress said selected data, re-assemble said decoded data, store said selected data to said memory, and provide said selected data in a properly processed manner to an output device.