Field of programme delivery

Abstract

A receiver is disclosed, comprising means for receiving a programme stream, and means for replacing portions of the programme stream with a locally stored programme. Other aspects of the invention are also presented.

1 - 148 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         149 . An apparatus for delivering content based on a dynamic user profile, comprising: 
 a memory for storing the dynamic user profile;    a decoder for generating a plurality of programmes from a first programme stream;    a selector for selecting at least one programme from the plurality of programmes; and    a means for replacing a predetermined portion of a second programme stream with the at least one programme.    
     
     
         150 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the selector selects in accordance with at least one selected from the group consisting of the dynamic user profile, an internal request, an event, an external request, user preference data, geographic information, and subscription information.  
     
     
         151 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , further comprising a storage device for storing the plurality of programmes.  
     
     
         152 . The apparatus of  claim 151 , wherein the storage device is located at a user's location.  
     
     
         153 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the dynamic user profile is based on a user's historical programme selection data.  
     
     
         154 . The apparatus of  claim 153 , wherein the dynamic user profile is updated at predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         155 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the first programme stream comprises at least one communications channel.  
     
     
         156 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the first programme stream is received at predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         157 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , further comprising a schedule of programmes at least partly generated by an output of the selector.  
     
     
         158 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the plurality of programmes comprise advertisements.  
     
     
         159 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , further comprising a means for receiving a message regarding the first programme stream.  
     
     
         160 . The apparatus of  claim 159 , wherein the message comprises information regarding at least one selected from the group consisting of time of transmission, genre information, date of transmission, type of transmission, and selection criteria.  
     
     
         161 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the means for receiving the message regarding the first programme stream is configured to decode an MPEG private table comprising the message.  
     
     
         162 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the dynamic user profile is associated with one selected from the group consisting of a user of the apparatus, an owner of a content subscription, and information stored in a smartcard.  
     
     
         163 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , further comprising means for receiving control data associated with each of the plurality of programmes.  
     
     
         164 . The apparatus of  claim 163 , wherein the selector is configured to use the control data associated with each of the plurality of programmes.  
     
     
         165 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , further comprising a configuration application for adjusting the dynamic user profile.  
     
     
         166 . The apparatus of  claim 165 , wherein the configuration application is customizable by a user.  
     
     
         167 . A content delivery system, comprising: 
 at least one communications channel; and    at least one apparatus for delivering content based on a dynamic user profile, such apparatus comprising: 
 a memory for storing the dynamic user profile;  
 a decoder for generating a plurality of programmes from a first programme stream;  
 a selector for selecting at least one programme from the plurality of programmes; and  
 a means for replacing a predetermined portion of a second programme stream with the at least one programme.  
   
     
     
         168 . The content delivery system of  claim 167 , further comprising a storage for storing the plurality of programmes.  
     
     
         169 . A method of managing a programme stream, comprising: 
 receiving a first programme stream;    decoding the first programme stream to generate a plurality of programmes;    storing the plurality of programmes;    selecting at least one programme from the plurality of programmes, in accordance with a dynamic user profile; and    replacing portions of a second programme stream with the selected at least one programme.    
     
     
         170 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the first programme stream is received via a single communications channel.  
     
     
         171 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the first programme stream is received at predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         172 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the second programme stream is output at a predetermined time.  
     
     
         173 . The method of  claim 172 , wherein the predetermined time comprises a programme break.  
     
     
         174 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the second programme stream is output at a time generally concurrent with a time of receipt of the first programme stream.  
     
     
         175 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the first programme stream is received via a television broadcast system during low-bandwidth transmission periods.  
     
     
         176 . The method of  claim 169 , wherein the selecting occurs in response to a request to output a programme.  
     
     
         177 . The method of  claim 169 , further comprising purging at least one of the stored plurality of programmes in accordance with at least one predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         178 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one selected from the group consisting of a time limit, a desirability rating, an assessment of storage capacity; and arrival of new programming.  
     
     
         179 . A method of controlling a receiver/decoder, comprising: 
 maintaining a dynamic user profile; and    selecting a first programme in accordance with the dynamic user profile, upon receipt of a request to output the programme.    
     
     
         180 . The method of  claim 179 , further comprising: 
 outputting the first programme; and    selecting a second programme in accordance with the dynamic profile, during the outputting of the first programme.    
     
     
         181 . A computer system for receiving and decoding a programme stream, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory; and    a program instruction stored in memory executing on the processor to perform: decoding a first programme stream to generate a plurality of programmes; 
 storing the plurality of programmes;  
 selecting at least one programme from the plurality of programmes in accordance with a dynamic user profile; and  
 replacing at least one portion of the programme stream with the at least one programme.  
   
     
     
         182 . The computer system of  claim 181 , wherein the program instruction also performs receiving the plurality of programmes from a single communications channel.  
     
     
         183 . The computer system of  claim 181 , wherein the program instruction also performs receiving the plurality of programmes at predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         184 . The computer system of  claim 181 , wherein the program instruction for selecting operates in response to a request to output a programme.  
     
     
         185 . The computer system of  claim 181 , wherein the program instruction for selecting selects a second programme during outputting of a first programme.  
     
     
         186 . The computer system of  claim 181 , wherein the program instruction purges at least one of the stored plurality of programmes based on predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         187 . The computer system of  claim 186 , wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one selected from the group consisting of a time limit, a desirability rating, an assessment of storage capacity; and arrival of new programmes.  
     
     
         188 . An apparatus for delivering content based on a dynamic user profile, comprising: 
 a memory for storing the dynamic user profile;    a first decoder for generating a first plurality of programmes from a first programme stream;    a second decoder for generating a second plurality of programmes from a second programme stream;    a storage device for storing the first plurality of programmes and the second plurality of programmes;    a first selector for selecting a first at least one programme from the first plurality of programmes;    a second selector for selecting a second at least one programme from the second plurality of programmes; and    a means for replacing a predetermined portion of a third programme stream with the first at least one programme and the second at least one programme.    
     
     
         189 . The apparatus of  claim 188 , further comprising means for determining a compatibility rating for the first at least one programme, the compatibility rating adapted for use by the second selector in selecting a second at least one programme from the second plurality of programmes.  
     
     
         190 . The apparatus of  claim 188 , wherein the second selector is configured to select a second at least one programme based at least in part on a first set of programme sequence rules applied with respect to the first at least one programme.  
     
     
         191 . The apparatus of  claim 190 , further comprising a receiver for receiving the first set of programme sequence rules.  
     
     
         192 . The apparatus of  claim 191 , further comprising means for replacing the first set of programme sequence rules with a second set of programme sequence rules, after receipt of the second set of programme sequence rules.