System and method for facilitating fast-forwarding of first-run programs

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recoding device comprising:
 a means for receiving multicast first-run program content at a scheduled publication time, the first-run program content including a first-run program segment, wherein the first-run program segment is a portion of a first-run program, and wherein the first-run program segment has an associated segment publication time that occurs after the scheduled publication time and corresponds to a time at which a corresponding first-run program content segment is broadcast by a broadcast system;   a means for receiving unicast first-run program content, including at least one first-run program segment before the associated segment publication time; and   a play component for allowing the at least one first-run program segment to playback before the associated segment publication time.   
     
     
         2 . The recording device of  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving multicast first-run program content, the means for receiving unicast first-run program content, and the play component are included in a set top box. 
     
     
         3 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first-run program segment is received at a rate greater than a normal viewing rate. 
     
     
         4 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first-run program segment is received at a rate equal to a requested fast-forwarding rate. 
     
     
         5 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein an allowed number of first-run program segments is received at a rate greater than a normal viewing rate. 
     
     
         6 . The recording device of  claim 5 , wherein the allowed number of first-run program segments corresponds to a release code. 
     
     
         7 . The recording device of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for receiving a release code to permit the receiving of the unicast first-run program content. 
     
     
         8 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein a release code is embedded in the first-run program content prior to multicasting the first-run program content. 
     
     
         9 . The recording device of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for receiving a request to view the unicast first-run program content on a display. 
     
     
         10 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the multicast first-run program content is received at a normal viewing rate. 
     
     
         11 . The recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the first-run program content comprises a pre-produced television program initially broadcast by a television station owned or affiliated with a television network. 
     
     
         12 . A method of receiving first-run programming content, comprising:
 receiving multicasted first-run programming content at a scheduled publication time, the first-run programming content including a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment has an associated segment publication time, and wherein at least one associated segment publication time occurs after the scheduled publication time;   forwarding a request to view a segment of the first-run programming content after the scheduled publication time, wherein a segment publication time of the segment is beyond a current broadcast point;   transferring from a multicasting reception to a unicast reception; and   receiving the at least one segment of the first-run programming content in a unicast session before the segment publication time.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one segment of the first-run programming content is received at a rate equal to a requested fast-forwarding rate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an allowed number of segments, including the at least one segment of the first-run programming content, is received at a rate greater than a normal viewing rate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the allowed number of segments corresponds to a release code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a release code to permit the receiving the at least one segment of the first-run programming content in the unicast session. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the release code is embedded in the first-run programming content prior to multicasting the first-run programming content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a request to view the first-run programming content on a display. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the multicasted first-run programming content is received at a normal viewing rate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first-run programming content comprises a pre-produced television program initially broadcast by a television station owned or affiliated with a television network.