W0 00/51128
`
`PCT/KR00/00144
`
`4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step (a), when the audio
`
`data is played,
`
`the database is constructed by using a background processing for
`
`reading the supplemental data stored in each audio data’s location within the recording
`
`medium using the remaining period of time besides the period of time needed for
`
`transmitting a required data, and
`
`wherein the step (b) is that searches the database stored in the memory of the
`
`play system and responds to the user’s demand for playing by sort.
`
`5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the field for organizing
`
`the file name or the directory name into the database for indicating and playing by sort
`
`is introduced and recorded, each field is sorted with specific symbol usable to the file
`
`name .
`
`6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step (b), when the user
`
`selects all or some files and creates a play list using the database constructed by the
`
`method used in one of claims 2 through 5,
`
`random play or continuous play is
`
`performed according to the play list.
`
`7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the user creates the play
`
`list, the play system partially plays files in order, and when the user performs a specific
`
`input work during hearing while part of a specific file is played,
`
`the play list
`
`is
`
`constructed by a way to add the corresponding file into the play list.
`
`IO
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5729
`
`

`
`W0 00/51128
`
`PCT/KR00/00144
`
`Fig.
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`Micro
`controller
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5730
`
`

`
`W0 00/51128
`
`PCT/KR00/00144 '
`
`Fig, 2
`
` Title
`
`Location
`
`_
`
`-
`-'
`Sinoer Genre nusrfiger Pubé'§t:t'°n Album
`
`of
`music
`
`Music 1
`Music 2
`Music 3
`
`A
`A
`B
`
`23
`23
`10
`
`1
`2
`1
`
`1999
`1999
`1996
`
`Album 1
`Album 1
`Album 2
`
`/Jazz/A/A|bum1/Musici .mp3
`/Jazz/A/AIbum1/Music2.mp3
`/Pop/B/Album2/Music3.mp3
`
`94
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5731
`
`

`
`wo 00/51128
`
`'
`
`PCT/KR00/00144
`
`Fig. 3
`
`/
`
`Jazz/—E Music 1_A_A|bum 1__23__1_1999.mp3
`
`Music 2J\J\|bum 1_23__2_1999.mp3
`
`Pop/ T Music 3_BJ\lbum 2_10_1_1995.mp3
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5732
`
`

`
`wo oo/51128
`
`PCTIKROO/00144
`
`Fig. 4
`
`II
`
`II
`
`II
`
`II
`
`‘
`\— _______N
`
`H
`Data transmmng
`
`....__
`
`Searching time
`f
`i 2
`
`Searching time
`0 n .
`I
`
`0
`°
`
`\
`
`Reading
`music 1 and
`buffering
`
`Reading
`music 1 and
`
`-
`
`_. Reading
`music 1_ and
`buffering
`
`buffering
`
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5733
`
`

`
`[N]-ERNA-HONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`International application No.
`PCT/KRO0/00144
`
`CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER .
`
`IPC7 CUB 27/02
`
`According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC
`B.
`FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`Minimun documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
`[PC7 Gl1B 27/02 GIIB 20/12 GllB 7/00 GllB 19/02 G06F 15/40 G06F 15/62
`
`Documentation searched other than minimun documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fileds searched
`
`Korean Patents and applications for inventions since 1975
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the inlcrlnalional search (name ot‘data base and, where practicable. search trerms used)
`WPI. PAJ "DATABASE" "AUDIO" 'R.EPRODUCING" "SORTING"
`
`C.
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`Citation ofdocument. with indication. where appropriate. ofthe relevant passages
`JP 1] ~ l20675 A(ORASI-HON) 30 APRIL 1999.
`see the whole document
`
`Relevant to claim No.
`
`KR 98 - 79403 A(SAMSUNG CORP.) 25 NOVEMBER I998.
`Claim 1, I0. 14
`
`US 5119353 A(SEIKO EPSON CORP.) 2 JUNE 1992.
`Claim 1 - 5
`
`EP 479535 A2(CANON') 8 APRIL i992.
`Claim 1 -9
`
`'
`"A'
`
`"5"
`
`"L"
`
`Q Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C.
`SP‘-Vial C-'“¢3°|'|'€5 “C5154 40¢‘-lm¢m55
`doc!-"H511 dfirlnifls ‘ht Small S1-31¢ Oflhfl an Whifih is fl0| Wnsidtftd
`to be of partiatlar relevenee
`°3-Ill" 3PPIi¢31i°" 0' P315“ W‘ P“b“5h=d 0“ 0’ 10¢’ "19 ifllflmlimfll
`filing dam
`document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or which is
`cited to establish the publication date of citation or other
`‘P5531 $350110! 5P¢‘71T'°d)
`i
`d°¢Umm1 Yfirflfins 10 in Oral ¢15S€l05Ufl. U56.
`mwls
`document published prior to the iritemational filing date but
`than the priority date claimed
`
`.
`
`"T"
`
`E] 3'56 P310111 Family anfl¢X-
`later document published afler the international filing date or priority
`date and not
`in cot-Jlict with the application but cited to understand
`the principle or theory underlying the invention
`doutment of particular relevence: the claimed invention cannot be
`considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
`glgp when me dgqgman is mkcn along
`documm; ¢{ pmimm rflcvgncg; the claimcd invmuon cannot be
`comidued to involve an inventive step when the document
`is
`combined with one or more other such documents.such combination
`being obvious to a person skilled in the an
`"&" docummi mcmbq onhc same patent family
`'
`
`txhibiliofl Of 0'-hfl’
`
`later
`
`Date ofthe actual completion ofthe international search
`
`Date of mailing ofihe international search repon
`
`10 MAY 3000 (10.05.2000)
`
`[8 MAY 2000 l_l8.05.2000)
`
`Name and mailing address ofthe ISA/KR
`_
`Korean Industrial Property Office
`Government Complex-Taejon. Dunsan-dong. So-ku. Taejon
`Metropolitan City 302-70! . Republic ofKorea
`Facsimile No. 82.43.472.714o
`Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) (July I998)
`
`A“'h°'i7-‘d °m°°'
`
`](IM_ In Han
`
`Telephone No.
`
`82-42481-S692
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5734
`
`

`
`5,616,876
`[11] Patent Number:
`United States Patent
`Cluts
`'
`[45 Date of -Patent:
`A r. 1 1997
`P
`9
`
`
`[19]
`
`UDUUDOIODIOI-\
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SELECTING
`THE BASIS OF SUBJECTIVE
`
`Jonathan C. Cluts. Redmond. Wash.
`Inventor.
`[75]
`_[73] Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`wash‘
`
`V
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`The Big Picture, "Introducing Digital Music Express", Geor-
`gia Cable TV & Communications, Apr. 1995.
`]L":r.e
`hiifigggel More of what Your,” Looking Forn’
`)us— BX]
`,
`.
`P"-may Exam,-,,e,__5[an1ey J_ witkowsld
`Attorney, Agent, or Fir-m—Jones & Askew
`
`121} App]. No.: 424,731
`
`[571
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[22] Filed;
`
`AP“ 19, 1995
`
`6
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`........................... G09B 15/06; G098 15/04;
`GIOH 7/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. ....................... 84/609; 84/477 R; 434/307 A
`[58] Field of Search .............................. 84/609-614, 601,
`84/602, 634-638, 477 R, 478; 358/33 5;
`273/433; 379/93, 96. 97, 100; 434/307 A
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`5,250,745
`5,454,723
`
`US‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`10/1993 Tsumura .;.............................. 34/609 x
`10/1995 Horii
`........
`
`An inte'rac,t‘.ive network provides music to subscribers. A
`more like function allows a subscriber to use a seed song
`to identify other songs that are sinular to the seed song, and
`to add the new songs to the current playlist. The similarity
`between songs 15 based on the subjective content of the
`songs. as reflected in style tables prepared by editors. The
`subscriber may control the closeness of the match by adjust-
`ing a style slider provided by the user interface. A style
`equalizer employs eight faders that indicate the predominant
`styles of the songs in the play1ist.A subscriber may use the
`style equalizer to see what types of songs are included in the
`playlist, and to adjust the mix of songs that are played from
`the Playlish
`
`5,486,645
`
`1/1996 Suh et al. .................................. 84/610
`
`45 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
` 16
`
`
`
`
`ADMINIS]-RAT“/E
`swl¢‘g£lNG
`DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
`SYSTEM F """"""""'
`SERVER
`
`
`
`REVERSE
`consumers
`SYSTEM
`CHANNEL
`
`.
`
`7------
`RECEIVERS
`
`
`II
`
`1 E 3
`
`J3E’_"3§£‘P.§§BVE“5
`-5-—————————— -‘
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`:
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`INPUT
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`
`INPUT
`DEVICE
`
`CL 000296
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5735
`
`

`
`1.623000 13
`
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`
`/
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`mo
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`
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`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5736
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`862000 10
`
`
`
`._.Oomono>m_.m&
`
`38%:
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`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5737
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`'0 ‘US. Patent
`
`Apr. 1,1997‘
`
`. Sheet3of8
`
`5,616,876
`
`CL 000299
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5738
`
`

`
`'
`
`Patent
`
`Apr. 1, 1997
`
`. Sheet 4 of 8
`
`5,616,876
`
`W400
`
`415'
`
`FIG. 4
`
` .59£
`
`550
`
`530
`
` 540
`
`545
`
`
`
`605
`
`G - TIST
`
`
`
`SON
`V0
`
`
`
`CL 000300
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5739
`
`

`
`‘ ‘US. Patent '
`
`AApr.1,1997
`
`Sheet5 of8
`
`5,616,876
`
`(‘mo
`
`CL 000301
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5740
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 1, 1997
`
`I Sheet 6 of 3
`
`,
`
`5,616,876
`
`900
`
`K4
`
`.
`
`SELECT
`
`'SEED' SONG
`
`ACTIVATE THE
`‘MORE’ BUTTON
`
`SET STYLE
`SLIDEFI
`
`
`
`ACTIVATE THE
`‘MORE STYLE‘
`BUTTON
`
`90
`
`5
`
`910 '
`
`9”
`
`920
`
`REVIEW LIST OF
`PROPOSED SONGS
`
`925
`
`930
`
` 935
`
`REJECT
`
`CHANGE
`PROPOSED
`cRn;EaIA
`SONGS
`
`
`ADD SONGS
`7° P‘-"Y'-‘ST
`
`FIG. 9 @
`
`CL 000302
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5741
`
`

`
`' U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 1,1997
`
`Sheet7 of8
`
`5,616,876
`
`X4
`
`ID/SORT STYLES
`
`7005
`
`ASSOCIATED WITH
`SEED SONG
`
`DETERMINE
`POSITION OF
`STYLE SLIDER
`
`1010 _
`
`
`
` SONGS
`ACCEOPTED
`
`1035
`
`ADD SONGS
`TO PLAYLIST
`
`
`SLIDER
`CHANGED
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`CL 000303
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5742
`
`so SONGS WITH
`SIMILAR STYLE
`AND WEIGHT
`
`RANDOM soar
`LIST OF SONGS
`
`PRESENT 4
`TOP 10 SONGS
`TO LISTENER
`
`1015
`
`W20
`
`1025
`
`

`
`“ U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 1, 1997
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`5,616,876
`
`1205
`
`1305
`
`1210 nsvnsw FADEFI
`
`1275
`
`IDENTIFY
`PFIEDOMINANT
`STYLES
`
`1370
`
`
`
`1315
`
`
`
`
`SET FADERS TO
`HEFLECT % OF
`SONGS WI STYLE
`
`7320
`
`
`
`. ADJUST MIX OF
`PLAYED SONGS TO
`
`IN ORDER
`REFLECT FADEHS
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`CATEGORIES 8:
`SETTINGS
`
`
`ADJUST FADER
`SEI'T|NG(S)
`
`
`HIDE STYLE ECI
`
` 1230
`PANEL
`
`FIG. 12
`
`CL 000304
`
`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5743
`
`

`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SELECTING
`MUSIC ON THE BASIS OF SUBJECTIVE
`CONTENT
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD _
`
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`selecting and playing audio selections, and more particularly
`relates to methods for selecting and playing audio selections
`on the basis of their subjective content.
`‘
`'
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The expansion and improvement of cable television sys-
`tems (sometimes referred to as community antenna televi-
`sion or CATV systems) have made it possible for cable
`companies to provide a variety of programming services to
`subscribers. These services typically include a multitude of
`television channels that are viewed on the subscn'ber’s
`television. Some cable companies also provide ‘music chan-
`nels that are connected to a subscriber’s stereo system
`through a subscriber terminal.
`Although CATV systems were originally designed to
`distribute television signals in the “downstream’' direction
`only (i.e., from a central “headend" location to multiple
`subscriber locations, which is also known as the “forward"
`path), the advent of pay-per-view services and of other
`interactive television applications has fueled the develop-
`ment of bidirectional or “two-way" cable systems. These
`two-way cable systems also provide for the transmission of
`signals from the subscriber locations back to the headend via
`an “upstream” direction or a "reverse" path.
`By upgrading conventional CATV systems to increase
`their bandwidth, cable service providers can use the addi-
`tional channels gained by this wider bandwidth network to
`provide many new subscriber services. The ever-expanding
`deployment of fiber optic technology supports the imple-
`mentation of an “interactive network” that allows a sub- '
`scriber to obtain desirable services or programming at a time
`and date specified by the subscriber. Indeed, it is feasible that
`this interactive network will have snflicient bandwidth to
`supply hundreds of charmels of programming infonnation.
`thereby leading to an explosion of program options available
`to subscribers. Potential subscriber services supported by
`this interactive network include Movies on Demand (MOD)
`or Video on Demand (VOD), interactive music channels,
`interactive computing, shopping, entertairtrnent, and other
`related services.
`
`An interactive network makes it possible for subscribers
`to have immediate access to vast selections of music. For
`example, record companies may provide catalogs of their
`music for subscribers to listen to via an interactive network.
`Similarly, various publishers may compile playlists of vari-
`ous styles of music (e.g., Jazz, Classical, Top 40, etc.) that
`will be available to subscribers via an interactive network.
`
`When music catalogs are available via an interactive
`network, a subscriber must have a way to select the music
`he or she would like to listen to. The computers that form a
`part of an interactive network facilitate selection by song
`title, artist, or album name. As in a record store, music may
`also be classified and searched by style (e.g., Jazz, Classical,
`Top 40, etc.). Thus, in an interactive network, it will be very
`simple for a subscriber to select a specific song.
`However, unless a subscriber is familiar with a particular
`artist or song title, there is no simple way to identify other
`music that the subscriber may enjoy. Because of the sub-
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`S5
`
`65
`
`5,616,876
`
`2
`
`jective nature of such a decision, there is no simple way for
`a subscriber to identify additional music that is similar to a
`song he or ‘she likes. This is a significant disadvantage in an
`environment where a large assortment of music is readily
`available.
`
`When a listener browses published playlists, the playlists
`are typically described by a short title, such as Jazz, Clas-
`sical, Top 40, Progressive Rock, etc. When a subscriber
`listens to such a playlist, there is no simple way for the
`subscriber to get a clearer idea of the specific types of music
`that are included in the playlist. Similarly, there is no simple
`way for a subscriber to alter the mix of the songs that are
`played back from the playlist.
`In summary, there is no simple, efiective way for a
`subscriber to identify and select music he or she is likely to
`enjoy on the basis of the music's subjective content and its
`similarity to a song the subscriber is familiar with. Further-
`more, there is no way for a user to quickly assess the mix of
`music included in a playlist and to alter the mix of music
`played from the playlist.
`Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system that
`allows a subscriber to pick a song he or she likes and to then
`identify additional songs that
`include similar subjective
`content. Likewise, there is a need in the art for a system that
`allows a user to perceive the content of a playlist and alter
`the mix of songs played from the playlist.
`SUMMARY OF Tl-[E INVENTION
`
`The present invention satisfies thelabove described needs
`by providing systems and methods for selecting and playing
`music based on its subjective content
`Generally described,
`the present invention provides a
`method for selecting programming information items in an
`interactive media distribution system that includes a server,
`a distribution network, an output device and an input device.
`The method includes storing on the server a plurality of
`programming information items and editorial data associ-
`ated with the prograrnrning information items. An initial
`progranuning information items is played in response to a
`first input signal. In response to a second input signal, a list
`of proposed new programming information items is created
`on the basis of the editorial data associated with the initial
`progranurting information item and the plurality of program-
`ming infonnation items. The list of proposed new program-
`ming infonnation items is presented on theoutput device.
`The proposed new programming information items are then
`added to a playlist in response to a third input signal.
`The present invention also provides a method for classi-
`fying and selecting programming information items having
`subjective content A plurality of programming information
`items and editorial data associated with the programming
`information items are stored. The editorial data includes a
`plurality of categories and weightings associating each pro-
`gramming information item with the categories. An irtitial
`programming information item is selected in response to a
`flrst
`input signal. The setting of a matching closeness
`indicator is determined in response to a second input signal.
`The method determines matching categories for the initial
`programming entry. The matching categories include the
`categories whose weightings correspond to the position of
`the matching closeness indicator. The method determines
`matching programming information items based on the
`initial programming infonnation item. The matching items
`include the matching categories with weightings corre-
`sponding to the setting of the matching closeness indicator.
`The matching items are presented to the user.
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`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5744
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`

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`3
`The present invention also provides a system for classi-
`fying and selecting programming information having sub-
`jective content. The system includes a data storage device
`containing a plurality of programming information items
`and editorial data associated with the programming infor-
`mation items, an output device for providing infonnation to
`a user, an input device for receiving input from the user, and
`a computer associated with the data storage device. The
`computer is configured to play an initial programming
`infonnation item in response to a first input signal. The
`computer creates a list of proposed new programming
`information items on the basis of the editorial data associ-
`ated with the programming information items in response to
`a second input signal. The list of proposed new program-
`ming information items is presented on the output device.
`Finally, the proposed new programming information items
`are added to a playlist in response to a third input signal.
`In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
`for indicating the mix of programming information included
`in a playlist and adjusting the mix of programming infor-
`mation played from the playlist. The method includes load-
`ing a playlist including a plurality of programming infor-
`mation items and loading editorial data associated with the
`programming infonnation items. A predetenriined number
`of indicators are displayed on the output device. Each of the
`indicators is associated with a category from the editorial
`data. The indicators are positioned to indicate the portion of
`the plurality of programming information items correspond-
`ing to each of the categories. At least one of the indicators
`is adjusted in response to an input signal from an input
`device.
`In response to the - adjustment of one or more
`indicators,
`the method selects programming infonnation
`items from the playlist such that the portions of the selected
`programming information items associated with each of the
`categories corresponds to the adjusted positions of the
`indicators.
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`a system for classifying and selecting information having
`subjective content.
`'
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`method for the context based selection of subjective mate-
`rial.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`method for adding items having subjective content to a
`group of items having similar subjective content.
`It is another object of the present invention to predict,
`based on a listcner‘s current choice of music, the choices
`from an audio content database that are most like the current
`choice.
`
`It is a.nother object of the present invention to identify
`other music that is similar to the music a listener is listening
`to.
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`It is another object of the present invention to identify
`more music that is like a current musical selection.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to identify
`other movies that are similar to a movie a viewer is watch-
`ing.
`It is another object of the present invention to display the
`types of music are in a playlist.
`It is another object of the present invention to allow a user
`to alter the mix of music that is selected and played from a
`playlisL
`It
`is another object of the present invention to select
`various types of programming on the basis of its subjective
`CODICDL
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`5,616,876
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`4
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive network system.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a set top terminal, which forms a part of
`the interactive network system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred rcmote control unit for use
`with thesct top terminal of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is illustrates the features of the initial screen
`display in the preferred audio on demand system.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the features of the playlist screen display
`in the preferred audio on demand system.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a list of songs provided in response to
`the find ‘button on the playlist screen display of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 7 illustrates the “more like" panel provided in
`response to the "more" button on the playlist screen display
`of FIG. 5.
`
`FIG. 8 illustrates a list of songs provided by the “more
`like” function.
`
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken by a
`subscriber when using the “more like” function.
`FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the “more like”
`function as implemented in a program module running on
`the preferred interactive network.
`FIG. 11 illustrates the features of the “style equalizer"
`screen display.
`I
`FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken by
`a subscriber when using the “style equalizer“ function.
`FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illusuating the “style equalizer”
`function as implemented in a program module running on
`the preferred interactive network.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The preferred embodiment of the present invention is
`directed to systems and methods for selecting music on the
`basis of its subjective content, and is implemented in an
`interactive network system that can deliver a variety of
`services, including entertainment. inforrnation, and transac-
`tion services,
`to consumers via an interactive broadband
`network. The preferred system, which is referred to as the
`audio on demand system, allows a subscriber to listen to
`songs provided by the system. The subscriber may select
`songs on the basis of title, artist and album. The subscriber
`may also select playlists, which are predetermined collec-
`tions of songs The audio on demand system provides a
`“more like" function that identifies more music that is like
`the subscriber's current selection. In addition, the system
`includes a "style equalizer” that allows a subscriber to see
`the predominant styles of music included in a playlist, and
`to adjust the mix of music played from the playlist.
`Although the preferred embodiment will be generally
`described in the context of an interactive television system
`for delivering broadcast television programs, music, and
`related information, those skilled in the an will recognize
`that the present invention also can be used to support the
`delivery of other fonns of programming infonnation, includ-
`ing radio, broadcast print, audio, games, computer software,
`including program modules such as application programs
`and operating systems. and other combinations of audio,
`video and/or computer software. Accordingly,
`it will be
`understood that the terms “prograrruning information” and
`"programming infonnation items" generally include infor-
`mation transmitted electronically to entertain, instruct, edu-
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`CL 000306
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`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5745
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`

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`5,616,876
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`5
`cate, or inform the recipient, as well as program modules for
`supporting these services.
`’nrming first to the nomenclature of the specification, the V
`detailed description which follows is represented largely in
`terms of processes and symbolic representations of opera-
`tions by conventional computer components, including-a
`central processing unit (CPU), memory storage devices for
`the CPU, and connected pixel-oriented display devices.
`These operations include the manipulation of data bits by the
`CPU and the maintenance of these bits within data structures
`resident in one or more of the memory storage devices. Such
`data structures impose a physical organization upon the
`collection of_data bits stored within computer memory and
`represent specific electrical or magnetic elements. These
`symbolic representations are the means used by those skilled
`in the art of computer programming and computer construc-
`tion to most effectively convey teachings and discoveries to
`others skilled in the art.
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`
`For the purposes of this discussion, a process is generally
`conceived to be a sequence of computer-executed Steps
`leading to a desired result. These steps generally require
`physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually,
`though not necessarily, these quantities take the fonn of
`electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being
`stored,
`transferred. combined, compared, or otherwise
`manipulated. It is conventional for those skilled in the art to
`refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols,
`characters,
`terms, numbers, records,
`files or the like.
`It
`should be kept in mind, however,
`that these and similar
`terms should be associated with appropriate physical quan-
`tities for computer operations, and that
`these terms are
`merely conventional
`labels applied to physical quantities
`that exist within and during operation of the computer.
`It should also be understoodthat manipulations within the
`computer are often referred to in terms such as adding,
`comparing, moving, etc. which are often associated with
`manual operations performed by a human operator. It must
`be understood that no involvement of a human operator is
`necessary or even desirable in the present invention. The
`operations described herein are machine operations per-
`formed in conjunction with a human operator or user that
`interacts with the computer. The machines used for perform-
`ing the operation of the present invention include general
`purpose digital computers or other similar computing
`devices.
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`it should be understood that the programs,
`In addition,
`processes, methods, etc. described herein are not related or
`.limited to any particular computer or apparatus. Rather,
`various types of general purpose machines may be used with
`programs constructed in accordance with the teachings
`described herein. Similarly, it may prove advantageous to
`construct specialized apparatus to perform the method steps
`described herein by way of dedicated computer systems with
`hard-wired logic or programs stored in nonvolatile memory,
`such as read only memory.
`in which like numerals
`Referring now the drawings,
`represent like elements throughout the several figures, the
`present invention and the preferred operating environments
`will be described.
`
`THE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
`
`A typical CATV system for the delivery of television
`programming to subscribers comprises three main elements:
`a headend, a distribution system, and subscriber drops.
`The “hcadend" is a signal reception and processing center
`that collects, organizes and distributes signals. The headend
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`receives satellite-delivered video and audio programming,
`over-the-air broadcast television station signals, and net-
`work feeds delivered by terrestrial microwave and other
`communication systems. In addition, headends may inject
`local broadcast programming into the package of signals
`sent to subscribers, such as commercials and live programs
`created in a television studio.
`
`The “distribution system” carries the signals from the
`headend to a number of distribution points in a community
`and,
`in turn, distributes the these signals to individual
`neighborhoods for delivery to subscribers. A modern distri-
`bution system typically comprises a combination of coaxial
`cable and optical fibers with trunk amplifiers periodically
`spaced to compensate for attenuation of the signals along the
`line.
`
`‘.‘Subscribcr drops" are taps in the distribution system that
`feed individual
`lines into subscribers‘
`television sets or
`subscriber set-top terminals, often referred to as “subscriber
`premises equipment" or "customer premises equipment"
`(“CPE").
`'
`
`Refening to FIG. 1, an interactive network system 10
`includes a headend system 12 for delivering programming
`information to and receiving instructions from a consumer
`system 14 via a “two-way" distribution network 16. The
`headend system 12 is the control center for collecting,
`organizing. and distributing the signals for all
`interactive
`network operations and the source for all programming
`information. The distribution network 16 transpons signals
`carrying prograrmning information and insuuctions between
`the headend system 12 and the consumer system 14. The
`disuibution network 16 can include a world-wide public
`asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) compatible network
`with links to the Internet, third party service providers. and
`other wired and wireless communications networks. The
`consumer system 14 includes the equipment required for a
`consumer to receive programming information directly at
`his or her ofice or residence and to transmit requests and
`instructions to the headend system 12.
`The headend system 12 can include a set of headend
`servers 20, including a continuous media server (CMS)
`system 22 and one or more administrative servers 24, to
`support various network functions, and a control network 26
`linking these headend servers. The headend servers 20 can
`execute program modules, including service and application
`program software, to support the transmission of program-
`ming information and the reception of requests for such
`programming information.
`It will be appreciated that the headend servers 20 are not
`necessarily located in one physical
`location, but can be
`linked by wired and/or wireless communications paths sup-
`plied by the control network. The control network 26 can be
`a local area network, a wide area network, or a combination
`of both types of networks. For the preferred embodiment,
`the control network 26 is implemented as an ATM-based
`network for routing digital data between the headend servers
`20 and the distribution network 16.
`
`The CMS system 22 is a server-based file storage and
`delivery system that can manage on—demand access to stored
`digitized data. such as audio and video. On-demand access
`of digitized data is a particularly desirable characteristic of
`the CMS system 22 because it allows the interactive network
`to support
`the on-demand delivery of various types of
`programming, such as music, movies, etc. The preferred
`CMS system 22 can supply digital data streams at aconstant
`rate to numerous consumers of the consumer system 14.
`The CMS system 22 includes one or more storage sewers
`28, which operate to retrieve and to transmit the digitized
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`SONY Exhibit 1004 - Page 5746
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`

`
`i.e., the
`data as required by clients of the CMS system,
`equipment of the consumer system 14. The digitized data,
`which typically comprises prograrmrring information, is
`maintained on one or more memory storage devices 30
`connected to the storage servers 28. Each memory storage
`device 30 can be implemented as a SCSI hard disk drive, an
`optical storage system, or any other similar mass storage
`media. By spreading the data management operations across
`a group of storage sewers and memory storage devices, user
`load can be balanced with the limited disk, network, and
`input/output (1/0) resources of the headend system. This
`also supports fault tolerance by replicating digitized data
`within the CMS system 22 to survive the failure of a storage
`server or a memory storage device.
`To support the tasks of updating or revising pmgrarnming
`information stored on a memory storage device 30 of the
`CMS system 22, a computer workstation 32 and a remote
`.server 34 can be connected to the control network 26 via a
`communications link 36. This communications link allows a
`program distributor or supplier, which typically operates at
`a location remote from the CMS system 22, to transmit
`prograrmning information for storage by one or more o