Near video-on-demand signal receiver

Abstract

A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method of providing content video data comprising:
 providing first content data to a user location,   wherein the first content data is provided through a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying the first content data and each transmission of the first content data on the plurality of video channels being offset by a predetermined time interval;   selecting one of said video channels for a user;   displaying the first content data;   pausing the first content data at a selected time;   recording the first content following the pausing; and   resuming display of the content data at a subsequent time following the selected time.   
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing second content data to the user location; and   displaying the second content data during a time interval between the selected time and the subsequent time.   
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 identifying a series of time codes indicating an elapsed time of the first content data;   storing a particular time code at a time the first content data is paused;   identifying a time code closest to and prior to the stored time code;   monitoring a video channel associated with the identified time code; and   displaying the first content data of the monitored video channel when the identified time code equals the stored time code.   
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 calculating a time period between the pausing step and the resuming step;   identifying a video channel that carries a segment of the first content data during the time period between the pausing step and the resuming step;   determining a period of time before transmission of the segment will occur; and   displaying the segment from the identified video channel at the time the segment occurs.   
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 identifying a refresh segment of first content data,   the refresh segment being a portion of the first content data displayed prior to the pause step;   storing the refresh content; and   displaying the refresh segment during the resuming step.   
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for providing content video data comprising:
 means for providing first content data to a user location,   wherein the first content data is provided through a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying the first content data and each transmission of the first content data on the plurality of video channels being offset by a predetermined time interval;   means for selecting one of said video channels for a user;   means for pausing the first content data at a selected time;   means for recording the first content data following the pausing; and   means for resuming display of the content data at a subsequent time following the selected time.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for providing second content data to the user location; and   means for displaying the second content data during a time interval between the selected time and the subsequent time.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a series of time codes indicating an elapsed time of the first content data;   means for storing a particular time code at a time the first content data is paused;   means for identifying a time code closest to and prior to the stored time code;   means for monitoring a video channel associated with the identified time code; and   means for displaying the first content data of the monitored video channel when the identified time code equals the stored time code.   
   
   
       30 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for calculating a time period between the selected time and the subsequent time;   means for identifying a video channel that carries a segment of the first content data during the time period between the selected time and the subsequent time;   means for determining a period of time before transmission of the segment will occur; and   means for displaying the segment from the identified video channel at the time the segment occurs.   
   
   
       31 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a refresh segment of first content data,   the refresh segment being a portion of the first content data displayed prior to the selected time;   means for storing the refresh content; and   means for displaying the refresh segment at the subsequent time.   
   
   
       32 . A method of providing content video data comprising:
 providing first content data to a user location,   wherein the first content data is provided through a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying the first content data and each transmission of the first content data on the plurality of the channels being offset by a predetermined time interval;   selecting one of said video channels for a user;   pre-storing a first segment of the first content data;   reproducing the stored first segment;   identifying a pause position code of the first segment disposed at a terminal portion of the first segment at a selected pause time;   identifying a resume position code of the first segment at a resume time, the resume time being subsequent to the pause time;   identifying a channel carrying remaining segments of the first content data, based on the identified resume position code; and   displaying the first content from the identified channel based on the resume position code.   
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 providing second content data to the user location; and   displaying the second content data during a time interval between the pause time and the resume time.   
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 identifying a series of position codes indicating an elapsed portion of the first content data;   storing a particular position code when the first content data is paused;   identifying a position code closest to and prior to the stored position code;   monitoring a video channel associated with the identified position code; and   displaying the first content data of the monitored video channel when the identified position code equals the stored position code.   
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 identifying a refresh segment position code of a refresh segment of the first content data,   the refresh segment being a portion of the first content data displayed prior to the pause time;   storing the refresh segment; and   displaying the refresh segment based on the resume position code.   
   
   
       36 . An apparatus for providing content video data comprising:
 means for providing first content data to a user location,   wherein the first content data is provided through a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying the first content data and each transmission of the first content data on the plurality of the channels being offset by a predetermined time interval;   means for selecting one of said video channels for a user;   means for pre-storing a first segment of the first content data;   means for reproducing the stored first segment;   means for identifying a pause position code of the first segment disposed at a terminal portion of the first segment at a selected pause time;   means for identifying a resume position code of the first segment at a resume time, the resume time being subsequent to the pause time;   means for identifying a channel carrying remaining segments of the first content data, based on the identified resume position code; and   means for displaying the first content from the identified channel based on the resume position code.   
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising:
 means for providing second content data to the user location; and   means for displaying the second content data during a time interval between the pause time and the resume time.   
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a series of position codes indicating an elapsed portion of the first content data;   means for storing a particular position code when the first content data is paused;   means for identifying a position code closest to and prior to the stored position code;   means for monitoring a video channel associated with the identified position code; and   means for displaying the first content data of the monitored video channel when the identified position code equals the stored position code.   
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a refresh segment position code of a refresh segment of the first content data,   the refresh segment being a portion of the first content data displayed prior to the pause time;   means for storing the refresh segment; and   means for displaying the refresh segment based on the resume position code.