System And Method For Delivering Audio Visual Content

Abstract

A method of communicating audiovisual content to a viewer includes determining viewing preferences associated with a viewer, communicating the preference to a content controller, identifying an audiovisual content file corresponding to the preference, broadcasting the identified audiovisual content file over-the-air (OTA) to a set-top-box and storing the audiovisual content file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of communicating audiovisual (AV) content to a viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining viewing preferences associated with a viewer;   communicating the preferences to a content controller;   identifying an audiovisual content file corresponding to the preferences;   broadcasting the identified audiovisual content file over-the-air (OTA) to a set-top-box associated with a viewer; and   storing the audiovisual content file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input from the viewer, the input representing the viewer preferences.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating the preferences via a network connection.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the viewer preference based on a viewer profile.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the viewer profile is based on predictive modeling. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of audiovisual content files corresponding to the preferences; and   broadcasting the identified plurality of audiovisual content files in a carouseling manner that is repeated in a loop.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that at least a portion of a content file has been broadcast; and   requesting the already broadcast portion be submitted via a unicast connection.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of identified content files has been broadcast;   waiting for a next loop to broadcast the at least one identified file;   receiving the at least one identified file; and   storing the received file.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 broadcasting a catalog to at least one of a plurality of viewers, wherein the catalog identifies a plurality of audiovisual content files designated for transmission to the at least one viewer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 broadcasting the audiovisual content files during a non-peak time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 broadcasting the audiovisual content files via sub-channels.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing files from memory upon an occurrence of a pre-determined event.   
     
     
         13 . A system for providing audiovisual content to a viewer, comprising:
 a controller configured
 to receive a viewer preference for an audiovisual content file; and 
 to broadcast the audiovisual content file over the air; and 
   a set-top-box associated with a viewer, the box configured
 to communicate the viewer preference to the controller; and 
 to store the received broadcast audiovisual content file. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a network connection for providing a communication link from the set-top-box to the controller.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of set-top-boxes communicating preferences for a plurality of viewers to the controller; and   the controller is further configured to broadcast the audiovisual content files utilizing a carouseling technique.   
     
     
         16 . A set-top-box comprising:
 a communication interface configured to:
 receive broadcast audiovisual signals via an antenna; and 
 receive and transmit data via a network connection, the transmitted data including viewing preferences of a viewer; 
   a processor configured to:
 convert the received audiovisual signals into a display format; and 
   a memory for storing the converted audiovisual signals.