Secure hierarchial video delivery system and method

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved system for the delivery of entertainment and educational programming from a plurality of electronic libraries to a plurality of users. Users actuate a hand operated control device to: review a listing of available programming; enable the delivery of a program from a library; or control the delivery of forwarding and rewinding through the programming, and authorizing the purchase of advertised consumer goods by entering in personal identification numbers. The network of libraries and the paths for delivering the programming stored therein is arranged for optimum transmission efficiency and maximum access capacity. The key idea in optimizing transmission efficiency and access capacity is to recognize that programming can be grouped into different classes, and that not all classes of programs should be stored in all libraries. High demand entertainment programming should be stored and delivered from a central source whereas low demand educational or cultural programming should be stored and delivered from a local neighborhood library where there is a special interest in such programming. The system is intrinsically secure and encryption is not required. Programs are not delivered to any physical address other than that of the ordering user. Apparatus is employed to discourage the unauthorized copying of delivered programming. The system also permits the delivery of conventional cable television signals on a competitive basis. Apparatus is employed that maximizes access capacity and minimizes investment cost.

We claim: 
     
       1. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising: at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers, each community library providing at least one video distribution bus for attachment of a plurality television channel tuners, one tuner for each subscriber, to tune a selected television channel on said video distribution bus for delivery of the tuned television signal over dedicated television signal delivery lines to the subscriber, each said library having: a plurality of television program record and playback units for recording television programming and playing back previously stored television programming, each television program record and playback unit provided with a channel tuner for tuning a television channel to be recorded and further provided with a tuneable television signal modulator for modulating the playback television signal to a selectable channel, each modulator terminated on said video distribution bus;   a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in response to user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over the dedicated television signal delivery line serving the user;   a central library serving said local libraries having at least one wide bandwidth television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery of television programming to said local libraries for storage on said program record and playback units, further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library whereby user selections of video programs to be recorded at said local library may be effected co-operatively by the central and local library.   
     
     
       2. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said user control signal path is selected from one of: (a) a touch tone telephone connected to the public switched telephone network;   (b) a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises.   
     
     
       3. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wireless receiver produces signalling on said user control signal path in response to received infra red signalling. 
     
     
       4. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wireless receiver produces signalling on said user control signal path in response to received radio frequency signalling. 
     
     
       5. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subscriber channel tuner includes means for encoding user identification information in the tuned television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal. 
     
     
       6. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from: (i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;   (ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program a predetermined time intervals;   (iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming.   
     
     
       7. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising: at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers, each community library providing at least one input video distribution bus for attachment of a plurality of television program record and playback units for recording television programing and playing back previously stored television programming, each television program record and playback unit provided with a channel tuner for tuning a television channel to be recorded on said input video distribution bus and further provided with at least one output video distribution bus, each said television program record and playback unit further provided with a tuneable television signal modulator for modulating the playback television signal to a selectable channel, each modulator terminated on said output video distribution bus;   a bus selector switch for connecting a television channel tuner to either said input video distribution bus or said output video distribution bus, one tuner for each subscriber, to tune a selected television channel on a selected video distribution bus for delivery of the tuned television signal over dedicated television signal delivery lines to the subscriber,   a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in response to user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over the dedicated television signal delivery line serving the user;   a central library serving said local libraries having at least one wide bandwidth television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery of television programming to the input video distribution bus of said local libraries further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library;   whereby user selections of video programs may be made to: (i) be recorded by the record and play back units at said local library by co-operative data communications between the central and local library over said control data communications path;   (ii) be delivered from a user selected play back unit via said bus selector switch and tuner at said local library over said dedicated television signal delivery line under play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, stop control of the user as communicated to the local library over said user control signal path;   (iii) be delivered by a user selected channel on said input video distribution bus from said central library via said bus selector switch and tuner at said local library over said dedicated television signal delivery line.     
     
     
       8. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said user control signal path is selected from one of: (a) a touch tone telephone connected to the public switched telephone network;   (b) a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises.   
     
     
       9. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wireless receiver produces signalling on said user control signal path in response to received infra red signalling. 
     
     
       10. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wireless receiver produces signalling on said user control signal path in response to received radio frequency signalling. 
     
     
       11. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said subscriber channel tuner includes means for encoding user identification information in the tuned television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal. 
     
     
       12. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from: (i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;   (ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program a predetermined time intervals;   (iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming. .Iadd.   
     
     
       13.  A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network comprising: at least one local community library serving a plurality of geographically proximate subscribers using television signal delivery lines extending between said community library and said proximate subscribers, each said community library having: television program record and playback means connected to said delivery lines for recording television programming and playing back previously stored television programming;   a user control signal path for carrying user selection and control data from the subscriber premises to the local community library whereby the user programming choices and control may be acted on by the local library in response to user input to select or control the television signal to be delivered or being delivered to the user over one of said delivery lines serving the user;   a central library serving said local libraries having at least one television signal delivery link extending therebetween for delivery of television programming to said local libraries for storage on said program record and playback means, further including a control data communications path extending between said central library and each said local library whereby user selections of video programs to be recorded at said local library may be effected co-operatively by the central and local library..Iaddend..Iadd.14. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein   
     
     
        said delivery lines include fiber optic cables..Iaddend..Iadd.15.  A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said delivery lines include paired copper conductors..Iaddend..Iadd.16. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said record and playback means comprises a plurality of units each generating one video signal..Iaddend..Iadd.17. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control signal path is provided by a subscriber means connected to a public switched telephone network..Iaddend..Iadd.18. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control signal path is provided by a wireless receiver connected to a dedicated copper path extending between the local library and the user premises..Iaddend..Iadd.19. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein user identification information is encoded in the television signal delivered to said subscriber to deter the copying of said television signal..Iaddend..Iadd.20. A secure, hierarchial, video-on-demand television signal distribution network as claimed in claim 13, wherein said central library includes means for producing television programming with at least one source selected from: (i) an equal access point apparatus adapted to receive television program signalling from creators of television programming to permit distribution of such programming over the network;   (ii) program playback units containing multiple copies of a video program arranged to repeatedly playback said video program a predetermined time intervals;   (iii) video image production means for producing a directory of available video programming..Iaddend.