(12) United States Patent
`Vallone et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
`Jan. 25, 2005
`
`US006847778B1
`
`EP
`EP
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`0 sos 279 A2
`0 889 649 A3
`93/08664
`94/14282
`95/ssoos
`98/12872
`
`2/1999
`8/1999
`4/1993
`6/1994
`11/1995
`3/1998
`
`......... .. G11B/27/10
`H04N/5/775
`
`.. H04N/5/78
`.......... .. I'I04N/7/16
`.......... .. H04N/7/S2
`.......... .. I-l04N/5/44
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert Chevalier
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Fir-m—Kirk D. Wong; Hickman
`Palermo Truong & Becker LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A multimedia visual progress indication system that pro-
`vides a trick play bar that is overlaid onto the program
`material or displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar
`inside of the trick play bar indicates the length of a recording
`session or the length of stored program material and expands
`to the right when material is being recorded. Every half hour
`(or selected increment), the cache bar slides to the left. Time
`marks are displayed inside the trick play bar giving the user
`a visual reference point from which to judge the current time
`and visual time reference points. The time marks are in any
`increment of time needed. The total length of the stored
`program material or next time or counter increment in the
`recording cycle is displayed on the right hand end of the
`trick play bar. A position indicator moves within the trick
`play bar and tells the user visually where his current position
`is within the program material. A slider moves along the
`trick play bar and on top of the cache bar and is linked to the
`position indicator and can he moved anywhere within the
`cache bar by the user. The slider displays the numeric time
`or counter mark of the current position. A mode indicator is
`positioned below the slider and follows the s1ider’s move-
`ment and displays whether the user is in play, record, pause,
`slow play, fast play, fast forward (lx, 2x, and 3x), slow
`reverse play, slow reverse, and fast reverse (lx, 2x, and 3x)
`modes. The 1x, 2x, and 3x speeds are adjustable by the
`system to be any variable desired (e.g., 2x, 16x, and 32x).
`The trick play bar and its associated components are dis-
`played for a predetermined time period when overlaid onto
`the program material.
`
`39 Claims, 34 Drawing Sheets
`
`(54) MULTIMEDIA VISUAL PROGRESS
`INDICATION SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Robert Vallone, Palo Alto, CA (US);
`Howard Look, Mountain View, CA
`(US); Ain McKendrick, Menlo Park,
`CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Tivo, Inc., Alviso, CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(1)) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/539,433
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 30, 2000
`
`(60)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/127,178, filed on Mar. 30,
`1999.
`
`
`
`H04N 5/91
`Int. Cl.7
`(51)
`386/68; 386/46
`............... ..
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`386/68, 69, 52,
`(58) Field of Search
`386/55, 46, 1, 4, 6, 70, 82, 125, 126, 124,
`45, 40, 83; 360/32; H04N 5/91
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`........... 364/200
`369/32
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`348/565
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`EP
`EP
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`0 435 370 A2
`0 691 651 Al
`0 764 951 A1
`0 889 649 A2
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`7/1991
`l/1996
`3/1997
`l/1999
`
`........... .. H03]/9/06
`......... .. G11B/27/34
`....... .. Gl1B/27/034
`........ .. H04N/5/775
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`
`
`2602
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`2606
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`2603
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`2604
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`2607
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 1 of 34
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 2 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`207
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 3 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`III
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`308
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 4 of 34
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

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`U. S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 5 of 34
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`Us 6,847,778 B1
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`° ‘° W’ °
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`TV” ‘ ‘'“‘’‘”E
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 6 of 34
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`Us 6,847,778 B1
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`hard disk
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 7 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`807
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`FIG. 8
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U-S- Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 3 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Tmk Core
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U-S- Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 9 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`1002—\
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 11 of34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`_ NTSC Field Sequence
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`-
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

`
`U. S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 12 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Input
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`streams
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`st rearns_
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 14 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`1501
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 15 of 34
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 19 of 34
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U-S- Patent
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`Jan. 25, 2005
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`Sheet 20 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 25 of 34
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`U-S- Patent
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`Jan. 25,2005
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`Sheet 26 of 34
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`US 6,847,778 31
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`U.S. Patent
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25,2005
`
`Sheet 31 of34
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`U-S- Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
`
`Sheet 32 of 34
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
`
`
`
`Sheet 33 of 34
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 25, 2005
`
`Sheet 34 of 34
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
`
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
`
`
`
`
`1
`MULTIMEDIA VISUAL PROGRESS
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`
`INDICATION SYSTEM
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
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`APPLICATIONS
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`This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Appli-
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`cation No. 60/127,178 filed Mar. 30, 1999.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Technical Field
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`The invention relates to the interactive display of viewer
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`information in a computer environment. More particularly,
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`the invention relates to interactive mode and progress indi-
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`cators in a computer environment.
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`2. Description of the Prior Art
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`Multimedia devices such as VCRs, DVD players, MP3
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`players, cassette players, CD players, video tape editors, and
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`the new class of Personal Video Recorders (PVR) are
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`extremely popular with consumers. Almost every household
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`in the United States has at least one of these devices.
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`The most common complaint (and joke) is that VCRs, in
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`particular, are difficult to use and understand. This complaint
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`is typical of the majority of multimedia devices.
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`One of the major areas that ease of use is lacking is in the
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`program material progression indication. VCRs and DVD
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`players commonly display the terms “FWD” for
`fast
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`forward, “REV” for reverse, “PLAY” for play on the screen,
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`telling the user that what mode he has selected. Other
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`systems display their own set of terms or phrases to the user
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`for each mode.
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`Additionally, the display of numeric counters are used by
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`many manufacturers to tell the user the progression and
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`position of the tape, CD, DVD, or MP3. For example, a four
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`digit counter is displayed on the TV screen or dedicated
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`display. The user can surmise what direction the media is
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`progressing in by observing whether the counter is incre-
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`menting or decrementing.
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`The problem with these approaches are that multimedia
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`equipment manufacturers do not use a consistent user inter-
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`face. Terms, phrases, and counters are cryptic at best.
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`Further, terms, phrases, and counters are not intuitive to the
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`majority of the general public.
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`It would be advantageous to provide a multimedia visual
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`progress indication system that is visually intuitive to the
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`user and communicates the operation and progression of the
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`program material.
`It would further be advantageous to
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`provide a system that is easily standardized and used for any
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`media.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The invention provides a multimedia visual progress
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`indication system. The system communicates information to
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`the user in a simple, visually intuitive fashion. In addition,
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`the invention provides a system that the user can easily
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`interact with and is not dependent on the media type.
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`Apreferred embodiment of the invention provides a trick
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`play bar that
`is overlaid onto the program material or
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`displayed on a dedicated display. A cache bar inside of the
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`trick play bar indicates the length of a recording session or
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`the length of stored program material.
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`The cache bar expands to the right when material is being
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`recorded. Every half hour (or selected increment), the cache
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`bar slides to the left.
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`Time marks are displayed inside the trick play bar giving
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`the user a visual reference point from which to judge the
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`10
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`2
`time reference points. The time
`current time and visual
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`marks are in any increment of time needed.
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`The total length of the stored program material or next
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`time or counter increment in the recording cycle is displayed
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`on the right hand end of the trick play bar.
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`A position indicator moves within the trick play bar and
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`tells the user visually where his current position is within the
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`program material. A slider moves along the trick play bar
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`and on top of the cache bar. The slider along with the
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`position indicator are linked together and can be moved
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`anywhere within the cache bar by the user. The slider
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`displays the numeric time or counter mark of the current
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`position.
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`A mode indicator is positioned below the slider and
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`follows the slider’s movement. The mode indicator displays
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`whether the user is in play, record, pause, slow play, fast
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`play, fast forward (1><, 2x, and 3x), slow reverse play, slow
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`reverse, and fast reverse (1><, 2x, and 3x) modes. The 1x, 2x,
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`and 3x speeds are adjustable by the system to be any
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`variable desired (e.g., 2><, 16><, and 32x).
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`The trick play bar and its associated components are
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`displayed for a predetermined time period when overlaid
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`onto the program material.
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`Other aspects and advantages of the invention will
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`become apparent from the following detailed description in
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`combination with the accompanying drawings, illustrating,
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`by way of example, the principles of the invention.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a high level view
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`of a preferred embodiment of the invention according to the
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`invention;
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`FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a preferred
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`embodiment of the invention using multiple input and output
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`modules according to the invention;
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`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an Moving Pictures
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`Experts Group (MPEG) data stream and its video and audio
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`components according to the invention;
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`FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram of a parser and four
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`direct memory access (DMA) input engines contained in the
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`Media Switch according to the invention;
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`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the components of a
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`packetized elementary stream (PES) buffer according to the
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`invention;
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`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the construction of a PES
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`buffer from the parsed components in the Media Switch
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`output circular buffers;
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`FIG. 7 is a block schematic diagram of the Media Switch
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`and the various components that
`it communicates with
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 8 is a block schematic diagram of a high level view
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`of the program logic according to the invention;
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`FIG. 9 is a block schematic diagram of a class hierarchy
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`of the program logic according to the invention;
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`FIG. 10 is a block schematic diagram of a preferred
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`embodiment of the clip cache component of the invention
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 11 is a block schematic diagram of a preferred
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`embodiment of the invention that emulates a broadcast
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`studio video mixer according to the invention;
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`FIG. 12 is a block schematic diagram of a closed caption
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`parser according to the invention;
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`FIG. 13 is a block schematic diagram of a high level view
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`of a preferred embodiment of the invention utilizing a VCR
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`as an integral component of the invention according to the
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`invention;
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
`
`

`
`
`
`US 6,847,778 B1
`
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`3
`FIG. 14 is a diagram of a remote control according to the
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`invention;
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`FIG. 15 is a block schematic diagram of a high level view
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`of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the
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`viewer interface module interaction according to the inven-
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`tion;
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`FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a central menu screen
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a program list screen
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a detailed program
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`information screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a detailed program
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`information screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 20a is a schematic diagram of a small banner
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`displayed over program content according to the invention;
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`FIG. 20b is a schematic diagram of a medium banner
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`displayed over program content according to the invention;
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`FIG. 20c is a schematic diagram of a detailed banner
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`displayed over program content according to the invention;
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`FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a suggested program
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`list screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a network listing screen
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a program theme list
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`screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of a todo list screen
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`according to the invention;
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`FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a conflict warning
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`screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a trick play bar overlaid
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`on program material according to the invention;
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`FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of a the trick bar and its
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`associated components according to the invention;
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`FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of a two column multi-
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`media schedule screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of a two column theme-
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`based schedule screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of a two column theme-
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`based schedule screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of a two column theme-
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`based schedule screen according to the invention;
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`FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram of a two column program
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`schedule screen according to the invention; and
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`FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram of a two column program
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`schedule screen showing a program duration indicator
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`according to the invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`INVENTION
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`The invention is embodied in a multimedia visual
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`progress indication system in a computer environment. A
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`system according to the invention communicates informa-
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`tion to the user in a simple, visually intuitive fashion. In
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`addition, the invention provides a system that the user can
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`easily interact with and is independent of the media type.
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`Apreferred embodiment of the invention provides a trick
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`play bar and associated components that visually commu-
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`nicate the operation and progression through media content.
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`The trick play bar and its associated components are dis-
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`played using a dedicated display (e.g., LCD, LED, Plasma)
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`or by being overlaid over the program material being
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`displayed on a TV or monitor.
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`4
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`Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the
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`invention has an Input Section 101, Media Switch 102, and
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`an Qutput Section 103. The Input Section 101 takes televi-
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`sion (TV)
`input streams in a multitude of forms,
`for
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`example, National Television Standards Committee (NTSC)
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`or PAL broadcast, and digital forms such as Digital Satellite
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`System (DSS), Digital Broadcast Services (DBS), or
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`Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC). DBS,
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`DSS and ATSC are based on standards called Moving
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`Pictures Experts Group 2 (MPEG2) and MPEG2 Transport.
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`MPEG2 Transport is a standard for formatting the digital
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`data stream from the TV source transmitter so that a TV
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`receiver can disassemble the input stream to find programs
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`in the multiplexed signal. The Input Section 101 produces
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`MPEG streams. An MPEG2 transport multiplex supports
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`multiple programs in the same broadcast channel, with
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`multiple video and audio feeds and private data. The Input
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`Section 101 tunes the channel
`to a particular program,
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`extracts a specific MPEG program out of it, and feeds it to
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`the rest of the system. Analog TV signals are encoded into
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`a similar MPEG format using separate video and audio
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`encoders, such that the remainder of the system is unaware
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`of how the signal was obtained. Information may be modu-
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`lated into the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of the analog
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`TV signal in a number of standard ways; for example, the
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`North American Broadcast Teletext Standard.
`(NABTS)
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`may be used to modulate information onto lines 10 through
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`20 of an NTSC signal, while the FCC mandates the use of
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`line 21 for Closed Caption (CC) and Extended Data Services
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`(EDS). Such signals are decoded by the input section and
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`passed to the other sections as if they were delivered via an
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`MPEG2 private data channel.
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`The Media Switch 102 mediates between a microproces-
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`sor CPU 106, hard disk or storage device 105, and memory
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`104. Input streams are converted to an MPEG stream and
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`sent to the Media Switch 102. The Media Switch 102 buffers
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`the MPEG stream into memory. It then performs two opera-
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`tions if the user is watching real time TV: the stream is sent
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`to the Output Section 103 and it is written simultaneously to
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`the hard disk or storage device 105.
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`The Output Section 103 takes MPEG streams as input and
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`produces an analog TV signal according to the NTSC, PAL,
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`or other required TV standards. The Output Section 103
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`contains an MPEG decoder, On-Screen Display (OSD)
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`generator, analog TV encoder and audio logic. The OSD
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`generator allows the program logic to supply images which
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`will be overlaid on top of the resulting analog TV signal.
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`Additionally, the Output Section can modulate information
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`supplied by the program logic onto the VBI of the output
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`signal in a number of standard formats, including NABTS,
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`CC and EDS.
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`With respect to FIG. 2, the invention easily expands to
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`accommodate multiple Input Sections (tuners) 201, 202,
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`203, 204, each can be tuned to different types of input.
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`Multiple Output Modules (decoders) 206, 207, 208, 209 are
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`added as well. Special effects such as picture in a picture can
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`be implemented with multiple decoders. The Media Switch
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`205 records one program while the user is watching another.
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`This means that a stream can be extracted off the disk while
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`another stream is being stored onto the disk.
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`Referring to FIG. 3, the incoming MPEG stream 301 has
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`interleaved video 302, 305, 306 and audio 303, 304, 307
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`segments. These elements must be separated and recom-
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`bined to create separate video 308 and audio 309 streams or
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`buffers. This is necessary because separate decoders are used
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`to convert. MPEG elements back into audio or video analog
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`components. Such separate delivery requires that
`time
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`Netflix, Inc. Exhibit 1008
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`

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`US 6,847,778 B1
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`5
`sequence information be generated so that the decoders may
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`be properly synchronized for accurate playback of the
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`signal.
`The Media Switch enables the program logic to associate
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`proper time sequence information with each segment, pos-
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`sibly embedding it directly into the stream. The time
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`sequence information for each segment
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`stamp. These time stamps are monotonically increasing and
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`start at zero each time the system boots up. This allows the
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`invention to find any particular spot in any particular video
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`segment. For example, if the system needs to read five
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`seconds into an incoming contiguous video stream that is
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`being cached, the system simply has to start reading forward
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`into the stream and look for the appropriate time stamp.
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`Abinary search can be performed on a stored file to index
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`into a stream. Each stream is stored as a sequence of
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`fixed-size segments enabling fast binary searches because of
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`the uniform timestamping. If the user wants to start in the
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