text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Aug 17, 2010
|Priority date
|Apr 23, 2001
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|John J. Sie, John C. Beyler
|Original Assignee
|Starz Entertainment, Llc
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (37), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (7), Classifications (69), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/285,817 filed on Apr. 23, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/368,646 filed on Mar. 29, 2002, which are both incorporated herein by reference. Further, this application claims foreign priority to Chinese Application No. 02106593.4 filed on Feb. 28, 2002. This application is filed on the same day as the following related applications with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/128,654 filed on Apr. 22, 2002 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/128,653 filed on Apr. 22, 2002, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates in general to program guides and, more specifically, to conditional access systems that provide access to content supplied by content providers.
Content is delivered by satellite, microwave, UHF, VDSL, optical fiber, VHF, or cable to conditional access set top boxes of users in a number of different ways. Most content is available according to a linear schedule published in programming guides. Certain additional services are available with some of these delivery systems, for example, pay per view (PPV), video on demand (VOD) and near video on demand (NVOD). PPV allows a user to purchase the right to view a program according to a linear schedule. VOD provides the ability to view a program at any time with control of the playback by the user. NVOD is a hybrid approach where a program is available on a number of channels in a linear program with staggered start times, but the user cannot control playback.
PPV, VOD and NVOD store the content remote from the user for delivery on a dedicated or shared channel. PPV and NVOD are broadcast according to a linear schedule and multiple users share that single channel to view the program simultaneously. Because the single channel is shared, no user can control the playback of the content. In contrast, conventional VOD is singlecasted on a dedicated channel available to a single user, which allows control of the playback. The VOD content resides on a server at the headend and is streamed over the dedicated channel under the control of the user. For example, a user can start, stop, rewind, fast forward, or pause a VOD program.
Personal video recorders (PVR) or digital video recorders (DVR) store video content on a hard drive instead of removable tapes that are used by video cassette recorders (VCR). The DVR functionality may be in a separate unit in the user location or could be integrated into the set top box. Recently, capacities of around 60 hours of video content have been achieved. This capacity allows storage of many programs on the DVR. Program guides typically list these stored programs in alphabetical order or by category in alphabetical order. Linearly-scheduled programs are often displayed in a program grid.
The present invention is described in conjunction with the appended figures:
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferred exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system. In one step, it is detected when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider. Alternative programs associated with the content provider are determined without considering content from other providers. Those alternative programs are presented to the user.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system. In one step, it is detected when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider. A plurality program categories associated with the content provider are determined. The plurality program categories are presented to the user.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system. In one step, it is detected when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider. Alternative programs associated with the content provider are determined according to preferences for the user. Those alternative programs are presented to the user.
Referring first to
The subscriber management system 124 contains account information for all users such as customer names, addresses, set top box addresses, credit history, billing information, subscription status, SVOD club status, and VOD status. This information is used to provide conditional access to programs for the set top box(es) 120 of each user. Interactive screens or guides for selecting services are formulated by the subscriber management system 124. The screens allow the user to select additional products or services. From the satellite dish 116, WAN 110, broadcast TV antenna 112, and/or additional content provider 140, the subscriber management system 124 receives program information relating to any downloaded programs or real-time programs that are made available by the program delivery system 100.
The subscriber server 128 stores content that is provided to the transmission system 108 for distribution to the set top boxes 120. Programs are stored in compressed digital form. Preferably, MPEG-2 compression is used, although, other embodiments could use different algorithms such as MPEG-4. The programs are downloaded from the satellite dish 116, additional content provider 140 and/or WAN 110 for later broadcast or are provided from content providers on removable storage media such as tapes, disks, etc. Additionally, real-time content is provided to the subscriber server 128 for immediate broadcast from sources such as the satellite dish 116, broadcast television antennas 112 or wide area networks 110.
The cable television provider interacts with the systems of additional content providers 140 in order to supply additional programs to users. This additional content could include commercial supported channels, commercial-free channels, home shopping, interactive services, pay-per-view (PPV) services, VOD services, subscription video on demand (SVOD), or NVOD services.
SVOD is a hybrid between VOD and the linear schedule of programs where a content provider offers some or all of their linearly scheduled programs as VOD programs to members of a club that may or may not require additional consideration to join. A notification symbol informs users that a linearly scheduled program is available with full or partial control of playback to club members. The SVOD selections may change periodically as the linear schedule commonly does. In some embodiments, any user may be able to become a club member by interacting with the set top box 120 or by calling into customer service. In some embodiments, all or part of each of the SVOD programs is stored local to the user location in anticipation of the user later requesting the SVOD program. In other embodiments, the SVOD programs are stored in the transmission system or at the headend.
In this embodiment, a program request database 136 and program server 132 respectively provide additional information to the cable television provider for billing, for example, and content to the cable television provider for broadcast to specific set top boxes 120. A standard interface or custom software allows interaction between the systems of the additional content provider 140 and the cable television provider. Interaction between the cable television provider and additional content providers 140 allows communicating program, billing and other information. Some embodiments may perform all the billing functions with the cable television provider while only periodically interacting with the additional content providers 140.
The subscriber management system 124 interacts with the program request database 136 in order to provide program entitlement to users. In this embodiment, the program request database 136 stores user specific information, club specific information and programming information. The user specific information includes such things as name, address, set top box address, membership privileges, membership history, and available credit. The club specific information includes such things as program listings and descriptions; promotional information for the programs; coming attractions, premieres and specials; a membership history summary; and program usage by class of program. For real-time broadcasts, the programming information includes such things as program schedules, program descriptions, promotional clips of the programs, and upcoming specials.
The user specific information, club specific information and programming information are available to the subscriber management system 124 for accounting purposes and for formulating the guide menu screens presented to the user. For example, the user may want to know their account balance or the number of times certain classes of programs were viewed.
Some embodiments can limit the amount of times a user can replay a program during a defined period or number of uses in a period. This usage information is stored in the program request database 136 and used by the subscriber management system 124 before entitling a set top box 120 to watch a program. Some embodiments could enforce usage requirements in other locations by referencing the information in the subscriber management system 124 in various ways.
The program server 132 stores programs associated with an additional content provider 140. The subscriber management system 124 checks with the program request database 136 to determine if a program is available. The program server 132 can load the programs onto the subscriber server 128 or directly couple the program to the transmission system 108. Accordingly, the subscriber management system 124 uses the information from program request database 136 in order to entitle the program for the users. This embodiment shows the program server 132 directly coupled to the subscriber server 128, but other embodiments could communicate with a wireless link, a satellite link, a network link, packet-switched link, a circuit switched link, etc.
The transmission system 108 takes the various programs and multiplexes them onto a conduit coupled to the set top boxes 120. Typically, frequency division multiplexing techniques are used in order to transmit the various program streams onto a single coaxial cable. Optical fiber may also be used as part of a hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network. The transmission system 108 may include analog to digital converters, digital compression hardware, multiplexers and other items in order to make the best use of the available bandwidth. The subscriber management system 124 controls the transmission system 108 to route the appropriate program streams to the desired set top box 120 of the user. Although not shown in the figure, a node can be interposed between the transmission system 108 and the set top box 120 as is well known in the art. Some embodiments could use a VDSL delivery mechanism, fiber to the curb, satellite broadcast, wireless networking, packet switched delivery, etc. in the transmission system.
Although the program request database 136 is separate from the subscriber management system 124 in this embodiment, some embodiments could combine these functions. Program information could be provided to the subscriber management system 124 for management from there with appropriate software and hardware. Billing functions could also be managed in the combined function.
With reference to
This embodiment provides local program servers 204 at various points in the transmission system 108. These local program servers 204 could be coupled to the nodes in the transmission system 108 or otherwise distributed throughout. Each set top box 120 has access to one or more local program servers 204 that can source programs to the users. The user typically has the ability to manipulate the playback of these programs. The programs come from the program server 132 and/or the subscriber server 128. By moving programs closer to the user, a dedicated channel is only required between the local program server 204 and the set top box 120 to provide playback manipulation while the program is singlecasted through that dedicated channel.
Referring next to
Control information passes between the subscriber management system 124 and the set top boxes 120 by way of a wide area network (WAN), a control data channel to each set top box 120 or a bi-directional satellite link. In this embodiment, control data is sent to the set top box 120 by way of a unidirectional control data channel, and data is received by way of the WAN 316. The WAN 316 could be accessed via a DOCSIS modem, a telephone modem or other network connection. Rather than reporting usage in near real-time, the set top box 120 could operate in a "store and forward" mode where the set top box 120 reports usage according to a predetermined schedule such as the middle of every night. Alternatively, the subscriber management system 124 could periodically query the set top boxes 120 through the WAN 316.
With reference to
A telephone modem transceiver in each set top box 120 communicates over a plain old telephone system (POTS) network 416 to the subscriber management system 124 in order to provide entitlement and other information. This embodiment uses the POTS network for bi-directional communication in near real-time. Once a program that requires special authorization is requested, the subscriber management system 124 is queried for entitlement. In contrast, other embodiments could use packet switched networks for this communication such as the Internet.
Referring next to
The program receiver 500 selects the desired digital channel from the frequency division multiplexed signal received from the HFC network 540 of the transmission system 108. A control signal corresponding to a particular carrier channel to be downconverted, is sent from the controller 504 to the tuner 508. The tuner 508 downconverts a selected carrier to an intermediate frequency (IF) carrier. The signal modulating the IF carrier is converted into a digital baseband signal by the digital demodulator 512 whose output is an encrypted MPEG signal. The decryption engine 520 performs decryption of the digital baseband signal to produce a plaintext signal. A key is provided from the controller 504 to enable this decryption. A number of digital channels are interleaved in the plaintext signal. Under the direction of the controller 504, the desired digital channel is removed from the plaintext signal by the digital channel select circuit 516. To allow demuxing the desired digital channel, the program identifiers (PIDs) unique to each digital channel are monitored. At this point, the digital channel is compressed in an MPEG-2 format for this embodiment.
The final step, before the program is in a format suitable for display on a television, involves decompressing the digital channel in the display interface 524. An MPEG-2 decoder in the display interface 524 decompresses the digital channel to an NTSC or PAL format modulated at a frequency that typically corresponds to channel three or four. The television is tuned to channel three or four to receive the program contained in the digital channel. As is well known in the art, the television can also select a composite video or S-video from a composite video, S-video input port, HDTV format, etc. in order to receive the program from the set top box 120.
The controller 504 oversees the operations of the set top box 120. The controller 504 performs all processing input from a remote control, selecting the carrier channel and digital channel and processing control information. The controller 504 includes a look-up table that maps the digital channels and their corresponding carrier channels to display channels. The user can select a display channel in order to view the corresponding content of the digital channel on their television. By using the look-up table, the controller 504 causes the set top box 120 to tune and decode the digital channel selected by the user with the remote control.
When the user requests a program, the subscriber management system 124 finds an available transmission pathway and provides the display channel to the user. When ready to begin viewing, the user requests the display channel with the remote control. The set top box appropriately tunes and decodes the digital channel that corresponds to the selected display channel. In other embodiments, the controller 504 can remap a digital channel to any display channel such as a dedicated club channel.
Control information is sent and received by the control transceiver 528 through the POTS network 416. For example, the set top box 120 may request a program with a control data channel of the transceiver 528 and the subscriber management system 124 may respond with a display channel for that program. This control transceiver 528 includes a modem that modulates data onto the phone line and demodulates data from the phone line. The controller 504 processes all data sent to and received from the control transceiver 528 on the control data channel. Other embodiments could bi-directionally communicate control data information through a packet switched network, cellular data network, wired control channel, microwave link or other known methods.
During playback of a club SVOD program or VOD program, the user can pause, rewind or fast-forward the program with their remote control. The club program is sent to the set top box 120 of the user over a dedicated digital channel. The playback commands are sent through the control data channel to the subscriber management system 124 which controls the subscriber server 128 or program server 132 in order to regulate playback. In this way, a club program can be played back much like a video or audio tape that is locally playing in the VCR or cassette player of the user.
Guide information for linear programs, SVOD, VOD, and stored programs can be either formulated remote to the set top box 120 or by the controller 504. This embodiment receives a digital channel that has all the guide information for a particular user. This guide information could have the selections from the linear program schedule or selections available with control of their playback. The selections that can have playback controlled could be club selections, VOD selections or programs the user has requested be recorded from the linear schedule or elsewhere.
In other embodiments, the controller 504 receives information from the control data channel, processes that information, and formulates the guides with the information. Local storage is used to store the information to formulate the guides. This information could include: program titles, program description, content provider channel and/or call sign, actors, release date, length of program, a promotional information, position of the program in the linear schedule, etc.
The remote control receiver 532 allows the user to input information into the program delivery system 100. Using the remote control, the user sends selections according to menu prompts on the television screen. The controller 504 processes these selections and formulates appropriate prompts after receiving information from the subscriber management system 124. The prompts can be produced by the controller 504 and/or the subscriber management system 124. These prompts allow the user to select a club program for playback or to otherwise access their account. Some embodiments do minimal processing of the information from the remote control receiver and just relays the selections away from the set top box 120 when interacting club programs, VOD programs, and recorded programs spooled from a point away from the set top box 120.
The channel display 536 provides the user with the desired display channel and/or call sign of the content provider. This display 536 could be a LED display, a LCD display, an overlay displayed on the television screen, etc. The user uses the feedback from the channel display 536 to confirm which display channel is currently selected. In other embodiments, the channel display could indicate which user the set top box 120 has determined is currently interacting with the set top box 120.
Referring next to
The controller 612 manages the operation of the set top box 120. Digital channels are selected by the controller 612 and downloaded to the local program server 204 for later viewing or sent directly to the display interface 524 for real-time viewing. The controller 612 also retrieves user specific information, club specific information and programming information from the local program request database 604 in order to entitle the club programs stored on the local program server 204. Promotional information and program information are stored in the local program request database 604.
The controller 612 determines the user currently viewing the program. By monitoring how the user uses the remote control and by monitoring viewing habits, the controller attempts to guess which user is viewing the current program. The time period between pressing keys on the remote, the way channels are changed, the programs being viewed can indicate who is currently viewing the television.
During configuration of the set top box 120, the different users can be entered. For the different users, different profiles are developed over time. The controller 612 proposes the identity of the current user who might currently be using the television. This proposal can be corrected by the current user so as to further train the set top box 120. The guides and other functions of the set top box 120 can be customized for each user. During the configuration process, the users can customize the functionality according to their tastes. With an automatic mode, the controller 612 will attempt to customize the functionality based upon how each user interacts with the set top box 120. For example, the programs can be sorted for a first user who likes only westerns such that those programs are displayed in the guide first.
The local program request database 604 stores information relating to the programs stored in the set top box 120. The information in the local program request database 604 is largely a duplicate of the information on the various program request databases 136 for the content providers 140, but limits the information to the programs stored on the local program server 204. The controller interacts with the local program request database 604 in order to provide program entitlement to users. Some embodiments could use the local program request database 604 and/or the remote program request database 136 to provide entitlement.
In this embodiment, the local program request database 604 stores user specific information, club specific information and programming information. The user specific information includes such things as name, address, set top box address, membership privileges, membership history, user preferences, viewing histories, program sorting information, and available credit. A number of users can have user specific information stored or a combined set of information can be used for all the viewers associated with that user location. The club specific information includes such things as program listings and descriptions; category and/or genre of the programs; promotional clips, audio and/or still images for the programs; coming attractions, digital rights management information, premieres and specials; a membership history summary; and program usage by class of program. Some embodiments could store the promotional clips, audio and/or still images for the programs on the local program server 204 instead of the local program request database 604. For real-time broadcasts, the programming information includes such things as program schedules, digital rights management information, program descriptions, program lengths, release dates, promotional clips of the programs, and upcoming specials.
With the information stored in the local program request database 604, guides of linear programs and guides of stored programs can be formulated by the controller 612 and presented to the user. These guides could include promotional clips of the programs as is explained further below. Some embodiments could also store advertisements on the local program request database. These advertisements could be tailored for the users, such that different set top boxes 120 receive and store different commercials. Commercials for the users of the set top box 120 could be a mix of live commercials and stored commercials. Different users of the set top box 120 could have different stored commercials presented.
A mass storage device, such as a magnetic disk, tape drive, video recorder, optical disk or the like, in the local program server 204 stores the downloaded programs. This embodiment with the local storage allows pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding the programs stored in the local program server 204. Inexpensive magnetic disks today have over one hundred gigabytes of data storage which allows roughly the same amount of hours of video programming storage or thousands of hours of audio programming in the set top box 120. It is to be understood, that the storage device in some embodiments may hold information other than club related programs, such as VOD programs and programs recorded from the linear schedule. The local program request database 604 could be stored on the local program server 204.
Control information is sent and received by the control transceiver 608. This transceiver 608 demodulates the incoming control data channel having a carrier signal that is typically in the range of 100 MHz and modulates an outgoing control data channel having a carrier signal that is typically in the range of 5-50 MHz. The controller 612 processes all data sent to and received from the control transceiver 608 on the control data channel.
The control data channel is broadcast to all set top boxes 120 associated with the delivery system 100. In order to avoid other boxes 120 acting upon control information meant for the desired set top box 120, control information is addressed with an identifier unique to the desired set top box 120. Additionally, cryptology could be used upon the control information to provide further security from unintended boxes 120 decoding the control information.
Referring next to
In other embodiments, the PIDs could be ignored and all the digital channels corresponding to a carrier channel are stored. If the user is watching a program, a single decryption engine 520 in the set top box 120 is needed to decrypt a multiplexed and encrypted MPEG signal modulated on the carrier channel. Accordingly, the decryption engine 520 is not available to decrypt another carrier channel containing a digital channel meant for storage on the local program server 204. To avoid this resource conflict, a carrier channel, which contains the multiplexed and encrypted MPEG signal along with the digital channel meant for storage, is written to the local program server 204 without processing. When later playback is desired, the multiplexed and encrypted MPEG signal is read from the local program server 204, decrypted in the decryption engine 520, the desired digital channel is demultiplexed and the digital channel is decompressed. Finally, the decompressed digital signal is then formatted for display on the television.
If a number of tuners were available in another embodiment, a number of multiplexed and encrypted MPEG signals could be recorded at one time from different carrier channels. For example, three carrier channels could be received and stored with three or more tuners. This embodiment avoids the need to decrypt several multiplexed signals at one time.
Referring next to
With reference to
With reference to
A number of program receivers 704 each tune to a different carrier channel in order to produce a number of digital channels which correspond to their respective carrier channel. The digital channels from each program receiver 704 are coupled to a select circuit 1012. The select circuit 1012 reduces the number of digital channels to an amount that can be stored by the local program server 204. Once screened down, the desired digital channels carrying their club programs or other programs being recorded are stored in the program server 204. After storage, the stored programs can be sent one at a time to the display interface 524 for playing on a television or stereo.
Some embodiments may have a network coupled to the local program server 204 such that other televisions or computers coupled to the network could view the stored programs. In these embodiments, a single set top box with multiple tuners could be the source for all televisions in a user location. The user could interact with the set top box through any television on the network to select programs, join clubs, or choose programs for recording.
Referring next to
Using keys on the remote, for example, the user can move the focus to any of the promotional information areas 1108. The promotional information could include a video clip, a video clip with audio accompaniment, an audio clip, a still image with audio accompaniment, an animation, an animation with audio accompaniment, a still image, a plurality of still images, and/or a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment. When a particular zone is in focus, any sound for that image is played while the sound for the other images is muted. Further, moving focus to a particular zone may highlight that promotional information 1108 and provide enhanced summary information 104 for that program. For example, a larger version of the image 1108 could be displayed when that zone is in focus. In some embodiments, the image 1108 may switch between two possibilities when that zone is in focus. For example, a static image could be shown until that zone is brought into focus where a moving image or animation is presented.
By pressing a button on the remote while focus is on a particular image 1108 or zone, the corresponding program can be played. A menu page or menu overlay may be activated by that button to allow playing a program, subscribing to a club or subscription service for that program, authorizing a one-time fee to view the program, playing or deleting a stored program, etc. In some embodiments, moving focus to a particular zone presents buttons on the guide screen corresponding to some of these options in lieu of a separate menu page or menu overlay.
The promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 may be made general to a number of programs. For example, a clip 1108 for a series of programs could be reused for each program in the series where the program descriptions 1104 could change for each episode. In some embodiments, there may be default promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 for a particular channel such that if no specific information were provided the default promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 could describe the particular channel.
The six zones of the guide 1100 each describe a particular program with summary information 1104, promotional information 1108, and content provider information 1112. The program could be an audio or video program. Summary information 1104 is provided for each program and includes: a title, a description, a program length, a start time for programs in the linear schedule, actors, a content advisory rating, a reviewers rating, and/or other information.
Each zone has promotional information 1108 which could be a static or dynamic image, such as a picture, advertisement, video clip, audio clip, slide show of images, animated image, etc. This promotional information 1108 is stored in the local program request database 604 for this embodiment, but could be stored remote to the user location in other embodiments. Where the program associated with the zone is a currently playing program, a live view of that program could be displayed. Where there are not enough tuning resources to dedicate a tuner for each currently playing program, the tuner resources could cycle through the images of the live programs such that each flashes a static image or small clip before the tuner resource is switched to the next zone.
Each zone also has content provider information 1112. In this embodiment, the content provider information includes a channel and call sign associated with the content provider, but could also include a logo, a language, a nationality, etc.
Some zones in the depicted embodiment of the guide 1100 further include a notification symbol 1116. A notification symbol 1116 indicates that the program associated with that zone is immediately available for playback with full or partial control of the playback. Those without the symbol are part of the linear schedule and can be watched while the program is broadcast, but are not currently stored so as to allow rewinding, etc. The notification symbol 1116 could have a number of variants to indicate the type of program (e.g., stored program, SVOD or club program, VOD program), limited availability of the program, a charge is associated with viewing the program, the content provider associated with the program, etc. The notification symbol can be a static icon or an animated icon.
With reference to
Referring next to
In the first zone, a SVOD program is showcased as indicated by the notification symbol 1116-1. The SVOD program appears in both the linear schedule and has a stored version that can be played anytime with full control of playback. The first promotional information 1108-1 could be of the program being played or could be of a promo associated with the program. The live program is played by activating the "watch" button 1332 when the live program is currently playing. A "listen" button 1324 allows activating audio for particular program information 1108, which automatically deactivates any audio being played for other zones. Where the live program is not currently playing, the "watch" and "promo" buttons 1332, 1336 disappear and the promo clip is played. If the user is not a club member, a "join club" button 1328 is displayed such that the user can request club membership to allow playing the program.
A live program from a premium content provider is shown in the second zone. Premium content providers typically require a subscription to view their programs. In this embodiment, a "subscribe" button 1340 is displayed for non-subscribing users to begin the process of becoming a subscriber. The "watch" button 1332 and "promo" button 1336 allow switching the second promotional information 1108-2 between live playback of the program and a promo clip of the program. For non-subscribers, the live playback may be crippled in some way by limiting the time the user can watch the live show to a small period, such as five seconds; showing a slide show of frames separated in the program by some interval, such as one second; showing a reduced resolution version of the live program; showing a black-and-white version of the show; showing the show without sound; etc.
A third zone of the guide 1300 relates to a VOD offering that is stored and can be played with full control of playback. The third promotional information 1108-3 shows a promotional clip of the program shown in a loop. In other embodiments, the third promotional information 1108-3 could be a static image until focus is changed to the third zone, whereby a promotional clip replaces the promotional information 1108-3. A "purchase" button 1344 begins a process whereby the user can buy a viewing of the program. After the purchase, the user may be given a window in which the program is available for viewing with control of playback, such as a one-day period, before another purchase would be required for further viewing. In some embodiments, the period could be a week, a month, a year, or an indefinite period.
With reference to
The linear schedule of programs in this embodiment is arranged in a grid of times along one axis and digital channels along the other axis. Although this embodiment receives programs on digital channels, any of embodiments in this application could receive programs on analog channels, packet switched channels, etc. This embodiment divides the time axis into half-hour increments 1408 for a total of six hours, however, other embodiments could use different increments 1408 and a different total. A day of the week 1412 is in the upper-left corner of the program grid 1404. Six channels 1416 are displayed in this embodiment, while other embodiments could have more or less channels displayed. Each channel 1416 in this embodiment has a channel number and call sign displayed, where each program in the grid 1404 displays a title for each program. The programs may be of different lengths, for example, channel F 1416-6 has a three hour program 1455-1, a hour show 1455-2 and a two hour shows playing between 4:00 and 10:00. A notification symbol 1116 for the selected program 1451-5 and another program 1453-2 indicates the program is also immediately available with playback manipulation.
Referring next to
With reference to
This embodiment allows selecting a whole column of programs for more detailed information, other embodiments could also allow selecting a row of programs for more detailed information such that a sequential number of programs for a given channel 1416 is displayed. For example, Channel A 1416-1 could be selected by focusing on the call sign. This would detail three programs in the top half of the guide. Since the top half of the guide screen could show one, two, four, six, eight programs easily, selecting a channel with a number of programs between that value could increase the number of detailed programs appropriately. For example, selecting Channel B 1416-2 could detail six programs in the top half of the guide 1600 by pulling the program that starts at 10:00 such that six programs could be detailed at once.
Referring next to
The remote allows the current user to correct the guessed user presented in the user confirmation footer 1712. The user can move focus to the footer 1712 and navigate the bolding to the user actually viewing the television currently. Some embodiments may put a toggle switch to move bolding right or left with the toggling or may put a wheel knob that also moves bolding right or left. By confirming the current viewing user, the viewing habits observed by the set top box 120 can be assigned to the proper profile. Where only one user will normally use the set top box 120, the user confirmation footer 1712 may be disabled.
By knowing the user currently viewing the television, the functions of the set top box and content available can be customized for that user according to a profile. The guide menus can be customized for the types of content that would appeal to the user. For example, the available SVOD, VOD, linear programs, and stored programs can be sorted according to those that would likely appeal to the user. For example, a sports fan would be presented with sporting events before children's shows. In some cases, the SVOD programs made available from content providers could be affected by the profile of the user. Further, each user could customize the menu colors, sounds, channels, parental control, etc. in their profile such that recognition of the user would activate these customizations. In some embodiments of the set top box 120 with local storage, the unused storage could be used to record programs that are likely to appeal to the user based upon their profile so long as all the tuners are not being used at the time.
With reference to
There may be other reasons to use the guest profile beyond when a guest is using the set top box 120. Anytime tracking is ill advised, the guest profile can be used. In this embodiment, using the guest profile prevents tracking of the guests viewing habits. Some embodiments could use the viewing habits associated with the guest to form a profile in the same way as creating a profile for User A 1816-1 and User B 1816-2. Alternatively, the guest profile could have default values that do not change with viewing habits.
Referring next to
The exit menu is presented whenever it is determined the user is exiting from a particular program. An exit could be indicated by a stopping the program, watching the program to its end, choosing to exit playback of a program, skipping ahead in the program to a point equal to the end of the program, etc. Other embodiments may have menu options to suggest guide menus with VOD choices or stored linear program choices associated with a particular content provider. This embodiment of the guide screen 1708 allows the content provider to attempt to keep the user within their content environment.
Referring next to
With reference to
Referring next to
Some embodiments could merge all programs available for immediate playback into a common guide 2200. These programs could be recorded in a DVR fashion or could be SVOD or VOD programs. Preference in the listing could be given to a particular category such as those recorded in a DVR fashion. Other preferences are also possible for sorting this listing, such as the most recently watched, most popular for this user, most recently recorded, favorite genres for this user, etc.
With reference to
In step 2368, the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 are broadcast to the users. This information may be sent anytime or according to a schedule, such as daily. The set top box 120 receives the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 and stores it in the local program request database 604. In other embodiments, the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 may be stored away from the user location, but in a place available to the function formulating the guide screens for the user. For example, a network node in the transmission system 108 may have the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 available for formulation of any guide that a set top box 120 coupled to the node may request.
In step 2374, the guides can be presented to a user. To formulate detailed information for any linear program in the guide that is selected, the local program request database 604 is queried for the promotional information 1108 and program description 1104 for the selected program(s). Content provider information 1112 is also available in the local program request database 604 for use in formulating the guides. In some cases, the content provider information 1112, the promotional information 1108 and/or the program description 1104 may be missing for a particular program. The missing information could be left blank or filled in with placeholders. For example, a stock image for the genre could be used where the promotional information 1108 is missing for a program, such as a picture of a cowboy hat for a program of the western genre.
Obsolete content provider information 1112, promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are removed from the local program request database 604. In this embodiment, step 2378 waits for a maintenance interval, such as once a day. Once the maintenance interval is expired, processing continues to step 2382 where obsolete content provider information 1112, promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are removed from the local program request database 604. In some cases, promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 were provided for a first program that just so happens to have another showing later in the linear schedule or was recorded by the user. Where that program still exists, the promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are maintained, but could be overwritten with updated information if it were received at some later point.
Although this embodiment performs periodic maintenance, other embodiments could obsolete old information in different ways. In one example, the promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are received with expiration dates. Once the expiration has passed, the storage area is available for new information, but could still be used if new information does not overwrite that storage area. Another example may delete the information for a program soon after it plays in the linear schedule.
With reference to
In step 2458, the club programs are stored in one of a headend, a neighborhood node and/or the user location. The user can browse various guide screens that are populated with the metadata and select programs for viewing. As the programs are deleted in step 2416, the encapsulated metadata is also deleted. In some cases, the SVOD program can be stored by the user past the date that the SVOD program would normally be removed. The metadata in the stored program is available for later use in the guides.
Referring next to
In step 2464, the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 are formulated for the SVOD and VOD programs. In some cases, the promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 for a particular SVOD selection was already distributed to support the playing of the SVOD program in the linear schedule such that promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are redundant for those programs. The promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 for SVOD and VOD programs, that have not already been sent or have information unique from what may have already been sent, are broadcast to the appropriate users in step 2468.
In step 2472, the promotional information 1108 and program descriptions 1104 are stored in the local program request database 604. As it is requested by the user, the guide(s) is presented to the user in step 2474 with the content provider information 1112, promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104. From the guide, or otherwise, the user can select a club SVOD program for playback. Promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 for the VOD and SVOD programs that are no longer available and were not stored by the user, are removed from the local program request database 604. In some embodiments, storage of VOD and SVOD programs may be blocked such that the information can be deleted once the programs are no longer available.
With reference to
In step 2516, the content provider information 1112, promotional information 1108 and/or program descriptions 1104 are presented for a program in focus for the linear-program grid. This information for the selected program can be retrieved from the local program request database 604 if not already loaded into memory. If the focus or selection changes to a different program in the linear grid, processing loops from step 2520 back to step 2508. Where a user is interested in a program either being detailed or just appearing in the linear program grid, that program can be selected for playback in step 2524 or the user can otherwise exit the guide screen 1708.
Referring next to
Where the user wishes to have the viewing habits adapt the users profile, processing continues to step 2632 where the users of the set top box 120 are specified. Names can be entered for each user. In step 2608, the user may choose to apply a prepackaged profile or not. The prepackaged profile can be specified even if tracking of the viewing habits is performed. In step 2612, one or more classifications and/or categories can be specified to characterize the user. Some of these classifications and/or categories include various genres, top rated content, content based upon age or other demographic information, content found generally popular by other users, content found popular by other similar users, etc. The top rated content could be according to some category or genre or could be selected by a specified critic or organization, for example, only top rated movies or top rated western shows or only movies approved by the motion pictures rating association to have a "G" rating. Once classifications and/or categories are selected, the are retrieved from the local program request database 604 in step 2616 and added to the user's preferences.
In step 2620, the user can choose to enter more specific profile information. This information can supplement the default profile information or be the only information to initially characterize the user. The specific profile information can augment the profile changes resulting from observing of the viewing habits of the user. The manually entered information can be search terms, favorite shows, channels, and/or a time period to record programs on a specified channel. Also, the manually entered information can include negative terms such as excluding programs containing a search term, actor, genre, channel, and/or time period for a specified channel. For example, the user can specify recording everything on channel ten between eight and ten at night or could prevent recording of any program with John Doe as an actor.
This embodiment allows defining preference information for each user in a serial fashion, although other embodiments could allow specification of the preference information for each user at each of the above steps. Where there is another user, in step 2622, processing loops back to step 2608 to allow entry of preference information for another user. Any number of users can have their viewing habits influence their profile, apply a default profile, and enter manual profile information.
Once all users are configured, the guides are customized in step 2640 according to preferences that are either entered by the user or derived from the user's viewing habits.
Customization can be based upon an aggregate profile for all users (i.e., where only one user is specified) or can be a user-specific profile for that user. Automatically determining the user with confirmation assists in this customization. If the determined user is wrong, the actual user can override the automatic determination. In step 2644, the viewing habits for the current user are determined and the profile is updated for that user. After viewing any program, the user can be queried to determine if the program was liked in step 2648. This query could be along a sliding scale such as one to five for a program. The user can also indicate which actors were liked, if the genre was liked, if the director or musical score was liked, etc. The answers to these questions influence the profile of the user. In step 2652, older viewing habits, preference data and/or survey questions can be aged for deletion after a period of time. For example, information more than a quarter-year old could be deleted or older information could be deleted after the viewing habit data reaches a certain size.
With reference to
In step 2712, the set top box 120 determines if the current user has changed. Where the user is believed by the set top box 120 to be a different user, a user confirmation footer 1712 is displayed in step 2720. The current user can correct the determined current user in the confirmation footer 1712. A correction will adjust the profile for the current user in step 2728 to allow more accurately recognizing that user in the future. In step 2732, the older viewing habits are removed from a user's profile to update a running sample of viewing habits. Some embodiments could also age preference information entered by the user and remove the older preference information along with the older viewing habits.
Where the set top box 120 does not believe user has not changed back in step 2712, and a user has not been confirmed recently as determined in step 2716, processing loops back to step 2720 for display of a user confirmation footer 1712. Where the user has confirmed their identity recently, processing continues to step 2728. For example, the user confirmation footer 1712 could be displayed if the user has not confirmed their identity this week. Other embodiments could use other time periods. The time period could be measured with a calendar or could be measured in hours of interaction by the user with the set top box 120.
With reference to
The depicted portion of the process begins in step 2804 where the user is watching a program in the linear schedule of programs. In step 2808, the user attempts temporal manipulation of the program, for example, pause, stop, fast-forward, rewind, or skip forward/reverse a predetermined period. A determination in step 2812 is made as to whether the portion of the program being viewed has a corresponding portion stored at the headend, user location, network node or elsewhere. If there is no stored version available, nothing further is done and the user continues watching the linearly scheduled program. Some embodiments may display a message indicating that temporal manipulation is not possible.
Where a stored version is available of the linearly scheduled program, processing continues to step 2816, where the point of the linear program being viewed is determined for the stored version. The equivalent point in the stored version can be determined by analyzing time stamps, for example. In step 2820, the portion of the linear program being viewed is switched for the stored version seamlessly or with a minimum of distortion. The temporal manipulation requested is also performed in this step. For example, the stored version would be displayed in paused fashion if the user requested the program be paused. If the temporal manipulation were a pause, the linearly scheduled program could provide the paused frame while the stored version is prepared for switchover and further temporal manipulation.
In step 2822, a query is performed to determine if the user is a member of the club. In this embodiment, the query is made to a billing system that is located away from the user location, although some embodiments could query the local program request database 604 where a store and forward methodology is used. Other embodiments could perform the request of step 2822 at any time after step 2808. The playback will switch to the stored version as soon as possible and without waiting for verifying club membership. If club membership is not verified in step 2824, the user is switched back to watching the program from the linear schedule by looping back to step 2804. If the club membership is confirmed in step 2828, the user can continue to temporally manipulate the stored version of the program. In this embodiment, the delay in verification does not extend the interruption associated with switching from the program in the linear schedule to the stored version of that program.
Referring next to
Where the user selects the option to play the program from the beginning in step 2832, a request is made to determine the membership status of the user in step 2822. Without waiting for an answer, the program begins to play in step 2836. After that point the membership is verified in step 2824 to allow continued playback from the beginning in step 2828. Other embodiments could exchange steps 2822 and 2836 such that playback is performed before requesting the membership status for the user. In addition to starting playback from the beginning, other temporal manipulation is possible such as pause, fast-forward, rewind, stop, skip to the beginning, skip to the closing credits, skip to the previous chapter, skip to the next chapter, go to a program menu, skip forward a first predetermined number of seconds, skip back a second predetermined number of seconds, etc. Further, all the other embodiments could present the notification symbol of step 2810 when temporal manipulation is possible such that the user knows when it is possible to attempt manipulation.
With reference to
This embodiment is largely the same as the embodiment of
In step 2844, the alternatives are presented to the user with a menu. The alternatives can be navigated to and selected in step 2846. After selection, the alternative program begins to play from the beginning in step 2836. In step 2822, the membership status is requested for the user. After this point, the processing is the same as in the previous figure. Some embodiments could cull the list of alternatives to those that are authorized such that processing could go strait to step 2828 without requiring a check of membership.
Referring next to
With reference to
In step 2824, the club membership is verified. Where the billing system has not provided an answer yet, processing goes to step 2860. A determination of whether the timer has expired is made in step 2860. Where the timer has not expired, processing continues back to step 2824 for further waiting to verify club membership status. Where the timer has expired as determined in step 2860, processing loops back to step 2804 where the user returns to the program playing in the linear schedule. This embodiment would prevent a user from disabling the membership request in an effort to extend the view time before club membership is verified.
The embodiments of
With reference to
In step 2916, authorization is requested for continued viewing of the program. Other embodiments could perform step 2916 at any point after step 2904, but playback is not conditioned upon an answer to the authorization request. In step 2920, the authorization could be verified by querying a database away from the user location in the headend, a node or elsewhere. In some embodiments, the authorization could be stored in a database local to the user location. Where authorization is verified, continued viewing is allowed in step 2924. Some embodiments may have a timer that allows viewing for up to ten seconds before preventing further viewing where the authorization request is not responded to in that period.
Where authorization cannot be verified in this embodiment, processing continues to step 2928 where the user is asked to authorize a charge for the program or asked to join a membership club that would allow viewing of one or more programs. Where the user approves the continued viewing, processing continues to step 2924 where that viewing is allowed to occur. If the charge or club membership is not approved, further viewing of the program is prevented in this embodiment. The status of the authorization may be retained in the set top box to prevent any further viewing of the program. Although the above embodiment uses video programs, other embodiments could use audio programs delivered through satellite, VDSL or a cable TV plant. Other embodiments could deliver video games to the set top box 120 in this manner also.
Referring next to
With reference to
Although this embodiment suggests alternatives or other advertisements when authorization is denied, other embodiments could trigger this advertisement at other times. For example, advertisement could appear when the program is stopped or paused, when there is any delay in performing a function, when the input signal is unavailable, etc. These advertisements could attempt to up-sale the user to other products offered by the content provider or could provide advertisements that are not associated with the content provider.
Referring next to
With reference to
A number of variations and modifications of the invention can also be used. In different embodiments, the programs sent to the users could be video or audio programs. The various embodiments described above use satellite and cable links to receive programs, however packet switched networks such as the Internet could also be used. Additionally, the control data channel could also use the Internet to communicate between the set top box and subscriber management system.
Some of the above embodiments discuss the present invention in terms of additional or premium content providers. In other embodiments the present invention could be applied to true video-on-demand services, near video on demand services, pay-per-view services, home shopping channels, commercial supported channels, or other television programming options. The user could simply pause, rewind or fast-forward any program on television to switch to a prerecorded version which the user could control playback. Alternatively, the user could go to a menu and get access to prerecorded programs for any channel.
The above embodiments store content either remotely or locally. Local storage is provided within a set top box. However, other embodiments could store locally in a number of ways. The storage device could be a video cassette recorder, a digital tape recorder, a hard drive, solid state storage, an optical drive, or other known storage mechanisms. The storage media could be removable or non-removable. The storage device could be external to the set top box and coupled thereto with a dedicated cable, wireless transceiver, and/or packet switched network.
Some of the above embodiments are discussed in the context of cable television systems, but other content providing techniques could be used. As discussed above, digital satellite broadcast could be used. Additionally, wireless, telephone or power line content distribution using digital or analog signals could also be used in addition to other broadband distribution techniques.
Although some of the embodiments discuss a set top box separate from a television display, it is to be understood other embodiments could include the set top box functionality as part of another component. For example, the set top box could be integrated into the television set.
Also, although some of the embodiments discuss the use of a remote control for activating certain functions, it is to be understood that other embodiments may include alternative methods for activating those functions. For example, voice activation, keyboards and mice may be used for such activation.
In still other embodiments, the user may be given an option to purchase a copy of a club program permanently. When such a purchase arrangement is permitted by the copyright holder, upon agreement to pay a purchase fee, the subscriber management system 124 authorizes the user to retain a permanent copy and disables the copy protection. Accordingly, the user may copy a club version of the club program onto another device, such as a PVR, VCR, or removable media, or may copy it by transmitting electronically such as by email, or otherwise. Alternatively, in embodiments where the club program is already stored at the user's set-top box 120, the subscriber management system 124 may direct the user's set-top box 120 to retain the copy of the purchased club program permanently.
In some embodiments, the promotional information 1108 could be delivered in either digital or analog form. For digital delivery, a file could be spooled with the program or separately. A DOCSIS modem or other WAN could be used, for example, to send this information. A digital channel could be dedicated to sending these digital files. With analog delivery, the clips could be sent on an analog or digital channel that is recorded. Control information would instruct the set top box 120 to start recording and stop recording and would indicate the program the promotion information 1108 is associated with. Still images, audio and/or video clips could be sent in this manner. This information could be sent during off-hours and repeatedly such that the set top box 120 could gather the promotional information 1108 for its linearly scheduled programs and VOD programs.
While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the invention.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Apr 24, 1995
|Mar 11, 1997
|Abecassis; Max
|Method and system for automatically tracking a zoomed video image
|Sep 14, 1994
|Apr 8, 1997
|Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
|Telecasting service for providing video programs on demand with an interactive interface for facilitating viewer selection of video programs
|Sep 8, 1994
|Nov 4, 1997
|Abecassis; Max
|System for integrating video and communications
|Dec 14, 1995
|Sep 8, 1998
|Time Warner Entertainment Co. L.P.
|Integrated broadcast application with broadcast portion having option display for access to on demand portion
|Feb 19, 1997
|Dec 15, 1998
|Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P.
|Inter-active program guide with default selection control
|May 30, 1997
|Aug 31, 1999
|Intel Corporation
|Method and apparatus for automatically determining and dynamically updating user preferences in an entertainment system
|Jan 5, 1998
|Nov 2, 1999
|Intel Corporation
|Method and apparatus for automatically configuring a system based on a user's monitored system interaction and preferred system access times
|Dec 14, 1995
|Nov 30, 1999
|Time Warner Cable
|Method and apparatus for enticing a passive television viewer by automatically playing promotional presentations of selectable options in response to the viewer's inactivity
|Dec 14, 1994
|Dec 21, 1999
|The 3Do Company
|Interactive information delivery system
|Sep 3, 1996
|Apr 11, 2000
|Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
|System and method for providing an event database in a telecasting system
|Oct 25, 1996
|Dec 19, 2000
|Diva Systems Corporation
|Method and apparatus for managing personal identification numbers in interactive information distribution system
|Oct 3, 1997
|Dec 19, 2000
|Texas Instruments Incorporated
|Electronic programming system and method
|May 28, 1999
|Dec 26, 2000
|Diva Systems Corporation
|System for interactively distributing information services
|Jul 21, 1998
|Jan 23, 2001
|Index Systems, Inc.
|Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information
|May 28, 1999
|Nov 6, 2001
|Diva Systems Corporation
|Method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand services, dependent services and contingent services for an interactive information distribution system
|May 29, 1998
|Nov 6, 2001
|Diva Systems Corporation
|Method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand services for an interactive information distribution system
|Mar 4, 1997
|Nov 6, 2001
|Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
|Telecasting service for providing video programs on demand with an interactive interface for facilitating viewer selection of video programs
|Aug 7, 1998
|Nov 27, 2001
|Replaytv, Inc.
|Video data recorder with integrated channel guides
|Apr 7, 1999
|Nov 26, 2002
|Joseph L. Stern
|System and method for accessing, manipulating and viewing internet and non-internet related information and for controlling networked devices
|Oct 26, 1998
|May 27, 2003
|Microsoft Corporation
|Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences
|Jun 30, 1998
|Oct 21, 2003
|Nds Limited
|Intelligent electronic program guide
|Jun 15, 1998
|Feb 24, 2004
|Webtv Networks, Inc.
|Techniques for intelligent video ad insertion
|Aug 31, 2000
|Apr 20, 2004
|At&T Corp.
|Method and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a network
|Mar 24, 2000
|Nov 2, 2004
|The Directv Group, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for sharing viewing preferences
|Mar 30, 2000
|Mar 21, 2006
|Sedna Patent Services, Llc
|System enabling user access to secondary content associated with a primary content stream
|Jun 29, 2001
|Feb 28, 2002
|Sergio Fernandez
|Method and system to produce customizable information guides based on individual customer preferences
|Dec 14, 2000
|Jun 20, 2002
|Gordon Donald F.
|Method and apparatus for collecting and reporting consumer trend data in an information distribution system
|Feb 23, 2001
|Aug 29, 2002
|Gordon Donald F.
|Method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements
|Mar 28, 2001
|Nov 28, 2002
|Philips Electronics North America Corp.
|Method and apparatus for automatically selecting an alternate item based on user behavior
|Aug 13, 1999
|Jan 30, 2003
|Michael D. Ellis
|Client-server electronic program guide
|Mar 27, 2001
|Mar 27, 2003
|Errico James H.
|Audiovisual management system
|Sep 24, 2001
|Apr 10, 2003
|Klarfeld Kenneth A.
|System and method for personalized TV
|Nov 4, 2002
|May 8, 2003
|Nds Limited
|Advanced television system
|Jan 9, 2002
|May 29, 2003
|Isaac Bentolila
|System, method, and software application for targeted advertising via behavioral model clustering, and preference programming based on behavioral model clusters
|Jun 6, 2003
|Jun 17, 2004
|United Video Properties, Inc.
|Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs
|Dec 14, 2004
|May 5, 2005
|Plotnick Michael A.
|Alternative advertising in prerecorded media
|Jun 22, 2000
|Dec 28, 2000
|United Video Properties, Inc.
|System for providing personalized program guide data and targeted advertising to a user of multiple program guides
|Broadband Week.com website printout entitled, "Join over 23,000 key decision-makers in the broadband market every business day . . . " Broadband Week, at http://www.broadbandweek.com/news/020603/print/020603-content-one.htm, Jun. 3, 2002; 3 pages.
|Broadband Week.com website printout entitled, "Join over 23,000 key decision-makers in the broadband market every business day . . . " Broadband Week, at http://www.broadbandweek.com/news/020603/print/020603—content—one.htm, Jun. 3, 2002; 3 pages.
|Leibowitz, Dennis H., "Interactive TV: Turning Couch Potatoes Into Mouse Potatoes," Cable TV and New Media: Law & Finance, Media Law Publishing Corp., vol. XVIII, No. 1, 6 pages (Apr. 2000).
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 1, 2003
|Aug 30, 2011
|Sony Corporation
|Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
|Oct 15, 2013
|Mar 10, 2015
|Sling Media, Inc.
|Methods and apparatus for managing interfaces in a placeshifting device
|Nov 30, 2012
|Dec 15, 2015
|The Nielson Company (Us), Llc
|Custom electronic program guides
|Aug 1, 2003
|Apr 15, 2004
|Sony Corporation
|Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
|Mar 15, 2005
|Oct 13, 2005
|Seth Haberman
|System and method for enhanced video selection
|Sep 28, 2011
|Mar 29, 2012
|Teliasonera Ab
|Social television service
|Oct 15, 2013
|May 22, 2014
|Sling Media Inc.
|Methods and apparatus for managing interfaces in a placeshifting device
|U.S. Classification
|725/34, 725/46, 725/32, 725/35
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Aug 2, 2002
Owner name: SVOD LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SIE, JOHN J.;BEYLER, JOHN C.;REEL/FRAME:013159/0493;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020528 TO 20020530
Owner name: SVOD LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SIE, JOHN J.;BEYLER, JOHN C.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020528TO 20020530;REEL/FRAME:013159/0493
|May 26, 2004
Owner name: STARZ ENCORE GROUP LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SVOD LLC;REEL/FRAME:014673/0072
Effective date: 20040413
Owner name: STARZ ENCORE GROUP LLC,COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SVOD LLC;REEL/FRAME:014673/0072
Effective date: 20040413
|Nov 2, 2009
Owner name: STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:STARZ ENCORE GROUP LLC;REEL/FRAME:023449/0906
Effective date: 20041018
Owner name: STARZ ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, COLORADO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC;REEL/FRAME:023449/0916
Effective date: 20060822
Owner name: STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC,COLORADO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:STARZ ENCORE GROUP LLC;REEL/FRAME:023449/0906
Effective date: 20041018
Owner name: STARZ ENTERTAINMENT, LLC,COLORADO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC;REEL/FRAME:023449/0916
Effective date: 20060822
|Jan 22, 2014
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4


text:
Latest Stories
Is Windows Phone Gaming Fun?0 Comments
November 8, 2010
The Revenants Puzzles Windows Phone 70 Comments
October 26, 2010
Help us solve the toughest (or most puzzling) game puzzles and challenges.
Our attempt to answer issues which most commonly occur on IGN's wikis.
About This Game
- Summary
- Specifications
- Game Editions
The Revenants is a top down, touch-based action puzzle game created by Chaotic Moon Studios. The game follows a newly formed spirit as it struggles to survive in the haunted catacombs of a dark afterlife. To survive, you must capture and feed on other ghosts before they destroy you! Your goal is to absorb their energy and transform your character from a weak, insignificant spirit to a powerful Revenant ghost-god. During gameplay, you use simple finger tracing to create whirling vortices that consume the dangerous creatures encountered while exploring the dark corridors. But be warned! The other ghosts have unique and terrifying powers. You must observe each opponent and experiment with different tactics in order to prevail. In the end, you will need to have mastered both movement and strategy, if you are to walk the path from lonely spirit to Revenant god, and escape the haunted prison where you awoke.
- Supported Functions
- Number Of Players: 1
The Revenants: Corridor of SoulsRelease Date: October 18, 2010
The Revenants: Corridor of SoulsPublisher: Chaotic MoonRelease Date: October 18, 2010MSRP: 2.99 USD

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hold Me Down (instrumental)
Credits & Info
- Uploaded
- Feb 19, 2011 | 8:26 PM EST
- File Info
- Song
- 3 min 32 sec
- Score
- 3.94 / 5.00
Licensing Terms
You may not use this work for commercial purposes without making specific arrangements with the artist UNLESS your work is a web-based game or animation, in which case you may use this freely.
- Score:
- Rated 3.94 / 5 stars
- Plays & Downloads:
- 618 Plays | 37 Downloads
- Share Links:
- Genres:
- Metal, Rock - General Rock
- None
Author Comments
Rated 4 / 5 stars
not bad
I liked it, reminds me of my classical violin past, one comment though, it could be a hair faster, i find most NG users prefer faster music, at least faster than this, I know the bpm for this song is what you were aiming for, or it might sound a bit off +/- 10% faster but just keep that in mind for your next song, also it's not danceable to. Keep it up, you have some talent, don't let anyone ever dis-barge you, and always take criticism with a grain of salt, no 2 people define perfection the same,
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
Fun listen.
Was enjoyable. Keep em coming.
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Really good
The Strings at the end was a nice finshing touch


text:
I am moving from one host to another with quite a few WordPress installs, one of them though hasn't come out just right and it looks like I have all the files in the new hosting account etc, but the themes do not work. Even when I download and try out a new theme. It comes out looking like this:
I have done the following:
- CHMOD everything I could think of.
- Uploaded a new copy of WordPress minus config and uploads.
- Edited my .htaccess file so it was down the to the bare minimum. (So permalinks work etc)
- Did a happy dance for the server gods.
Now I come to you guys...can anyone answer this? I have searched through these forums and I can't seem to find my exact problem. (darnit) Any help would be appreciated thanks!


text:
I have over 30 years experience in all phases of software development and delivery. I have administered a variety of midrange servers, and worked with systems from PCs to Mainframes.
- Gatineau, Canada
- systemajik.com
- Member for 5 years, 5 months
- 3 profile views
- Last seen Jul 3 '12 at 23:30
Communities (8)
Top Network Posts
- 112What is a vertical tab?
- 111What are CLOSE_WAIT and TIME_WAIT states?
- 65How do you use an identity file with rsync?
- 50REJECT vs DROP when using iptables
- 41If a person's name is Null then how would it break the database?
- 36How does a team of Systems Administrators share passwords securely?
- 35Why do most of us use 'i' as a loop counter variable?
- View more network posts →
Keeping a low profile.
This user hasn't posted... yet.
Badges (6)
Gold —
Silver 5
Bronze 1


text: {माझा गाव}{अमित प्रल्हाद घाडगे} Village Lalgun Block Khatav District Satara State Maharashtra Country India Continent Asia Time Zone IST ( UTC + 05:30) Currency Indian Rupee ( INR ) Dialing Code +91 Date format dd/mm/yyyy Driving side left Internet cTLD in Language Marathi Time difference 32 minutes Latitude 17.769653 Longitude 74.282556 Lalgun is a village panchayat located in the Satara district of Maharashtra state,India. The latitude 17.769653 and longitude 74.282556 are the geocoordinate of the Lalgun. The official language of Lalgun The native language of Lalgun is Marathi and most of the village people speak Marathi. Lalgun people use Marathi language for communication. Lalgun Sun rise time Lalgun village is located in the UTC 5.30 time zone and it follows indian standard time(IST). Lalgun sun rise time varies 32 minutes from IST. The vehicle driving side in Lalgun is left, all vehicles should take left side during driving. Lalgun people are using its national currency which is Indian Rupee and its internationl currency code is INR. Lalgun phones and mobiles can be accesed by adding the indian country dialing code +91 from abroad. Lalgun people are following the dd/mm/yyyy date format in day-to-day life. Lalgun domain name extension( cTLD) is .in . Lalgun Population - Satara, Maharashtra Copyright Census Population 2015 Data Lalgun is a large village located in Khatav of Satara district, Maharashtra with total 619 families residing. The Lalgun village has population of 2673 of which 1349 are males while 1324 are females as per Population Census 2011. In Lalgun village population of children with age 0-6 is 246 which makes up 9.20 % of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Lalgun village is 981 which is higher than Maharashtra state average of 929. Child Sex Ratio for the Lalgun as per census is 878, lower than Maharashtra average of 894. Lalgun village has higher literacy rate compared to Maharashtra. In 2011, literacy rate of Lalgun village was 83.72 % compared to 82.34 % of Maharashtra. In Lalgun Male literacy stands at 91.71 % while female literacy rate was 75.68 %. As per constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Lalgun village is administrated by Sarpanch (Head of Village) who is elected representative of village.


text:
I'm working on implementing a balanced tree in c++, but the requirement of the assignment is that I have to use template classes. I thought of doing it with ints first and then converting to templates, but the test code we are given use templates by default.
When I compile my code with g++ class.h test.cxx -Wall -g -O0 everything seems to work fine until I get into gdb where it won't step into the template implementation. My template implementation file is included at the end of the header file, and gdb will allow me to set break points within it, but it never actually steps into the function. I've been using gdb through emacs, but it didn't work directly in gdb either. I would expect that step switches over to the template file when GDB gets to a function that is implimented there, but instead it tell's me that the line it thinks it should go to doesn't really exist. Here is a typical session:
(gdb) break set.template:7
Breakpoint 3 at 0x400c46: file set.template, line 7.
(gdb) run
The program being debugged has been started already.
Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
Starting program: /home/students/jeffris/csci2270/btree/debug
Breakpoint 1, main () at debug.cxx:9
(gdb) step
Breakpoint 3, set (this=0x7fffffffe550) at set.template:7
Line number 7 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
Line number 8 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
Line number 9 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
Line number 10 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
main () at debug.cxx:10
main_savitch_11::set<int>::empty (this=0x7fffffffe550) at set.template:70
Line number 70 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
Line number 71 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
Line number 72 out of range; set.template has 1 lines.
I've seen several posts around the web of other people having similar trouble but the threads all died off without resolution. I've tried a several ways of compiling the code including in individual pieces and then linking it all together, but no dice. Everyone else in my class has the same problem but has contented themselves using cout statements to debug which is very slow going way to debug with 10 functions calling each other. Has anyone else experienced this and found a resolution?


text:
Congers woman charged with DWI, leaving accident scene
A 31-year-old Congers woman has been accused of drunken driving after crashing into a parked car and driving off, Clarkstown police said Friday.
Michelle Zaret was arrested after a witness to the Thursday accident at 11:50 p.m. on Lake Road followed her car to North Congers Avenue, police said.
The officer interviewed Zaret before arresting her, police said.
She was taken to police headquarters and charged with a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated, police said. She also was charged with a traffic violation of leaving the scene of an accident.
Zaret was arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court and released without bail for an appearance on May 28.
Car show and safe driving awareness on Sunday
Classic and antique cars will be displayed Sunday as part of an event to promote safe driving.
The Car Show Event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m in the Clarkstown North High School Parking lot in New City.
The Rockland Traffic Safety Board is hosting the event in conjunction with the Clarkstown Education Foundation, the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the Clarkstown Police Department.
The Rockland STOP D.W.I. Office will have its mobile command center at the event, which will include classic, antique and racing cars, and specialty police vehicles, along with vendors and food,
General admission is $5.
Rockland Sheriff's Office helps clean up Rockland
The Rockland County Sheriff's deputies joined forces with Dominican College to clean up trash along Route 303 in West Nyack.
Sheriff Louis Falco became one of the cleaners as he joined deputies and college students. They filled numerous bags of trash, volunteering for Keep Rockland Beautiful as part of Keep America Beautiful campaign.
The students came from the Dominican College criminal justice program and got a chance to work side by side with officers in their field of study.
Harriman woman indicted on grand larceny charge
A Harriman woman accused of stealing from the Lord & Taylor at the Palisades Center mall has been charged with felony counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, officials said.
Juliana Bauman, 27, was indicted Wednesday. She is accused of stealing nearly $1,300 worth of merchandise from the department store on Nov. 12. She was arrested by Clarkstown police shortly after the alleged theft was reported.
Haverstraw man gets 5 years for drug possession
A 35-year-old Haverstraw man has been sentenced to five years is state prison after pleading guilty to a felony count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Jermaine Roberts, of 56 Benson St., admitted to possessing cocaine and numerous drug-related items while exiting the Nyack Motor Lodge in West Nyack on Sept. 9, according to the Rockland County District Attorney's Office. According to the district attorney, Roberts also was found with an unloaded revolver.
Roberts was sentenced Wednesday by state Supreme Court Justice William A. Kelly, who also ordered Roberts to serve three years probation.
Twitter: @LoHudLegal


text:
Sewage Trap Grease Conversion with an Acoustic Driven Reactor
Award Information
Small Business Information
Resodyn Corporation
130 N Main St., Butte, MT, 59701
Principal Investigator:
Fangxiao Yang
Senior Scientist & Chemical Engineer
() -
Senior Scientist & Chemical Engineer
() -
Business Contact:
Lawrence Farrar
(406) 723-2222
(406) 723-2222
Research Institution:
AbstractThere are more than 11 billion pounds of trap grease available annually which have the potential to create over 1 billion gallons of biodiesel that can be utilized to power the nation's public works and public transit systems. Removing this trap grease from our nation's wastwater treatment facilitis and infrasturcture will reduce maintenance on existing sanitary sewer collection mains and the loads on local landfills. The overall objective of the Phase I project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of non-catalytic biodiesle and lubricant production using trap grease as the startig material in an Acoustic Grease Conversion Reactor (AGCR). The study will initially be focused on fatty acid methly ester (FAME) - biodiesel production and, at a later stage will expand to lubricant and solvent production. An experimental AGCR with a capacity up to 20 liters will be designed, constructed and operated at the Resodyn facililties to achieve this objective. In addition, laboratory scale experimentaton will be conducted to optimize the reacton conditions such as temperature, pressure, methanol or other aldohol to grease ratio and resident time. The AGCR, a "fit for all" reactor, will be domonstrated to be an enabling, cost competitive production technology for the synthesis of biodiesel and lubricants from trap grease and other types of wast grease in one step. It will convert both free fatty acid (FFA) and triglycerides from trap grease into these value-added products. Moreover, the proposed process will elliminate the use of solvents and catalysts and the generation of waste by-products. Provided basic feasibility is demonstrated, the strategy is to extend research to lubricants, special solvent and polyester monomer production, and to develop, design and fabricate a pilot scale AGCR during a Phase II project.
* information listed above is at the time of submission.
An Official Website of the United States Government


text:
A northeast New Mexico resort donated $10,000 to the Ryan Palmer Foundation.
Denver-based Carma Developers, owner of 12 Shores at Ute Lake, presented to check to Palmer for the foundation at an event Thursday evening at the Amarillo Country Club.
The Amarillo-based Ryan Palmer Foundation was established by Palmer in 2004 and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable organizations.
Last year, Palmer donated $100,000 to the Children's Hospital at Northwest Texas Healthcare System.
The foundation's focus is to "promote community involvement and constant focus on the health and education of today's young people."
Palmer, a professional golfer, is an Amarillo native and Amarillo High School graduate. He has won three PGA Tour events, including the Sony Open this year. He played in the Masters Tournament last week at Augusta, Ga., but failed to make the cut.
The resort is a 900-acre, second-home community in northeast New Mexico, along Ute Lake.
- Globe-News staff
Amarillo Globe-News © 2016. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy / About Our Ads


text:
Boston Globe: As Rare as Its Books, Beinecke Turns 50 at Yale
The Boston Globe Travel section of the Sunday Magazine featured the Beinecke Library's 50th anniversary year, special events, architectural history, and exhibitions on the Library's building, people, appearances in popular culture, and myths.
In 1963, "among Yale librarians, Gordon Bunshaft's avant-garde design was about as popular as loud noises and gum-chewing patrons. They decried it as a 'white elephant' and a 'floating folly.' …On its golden anniversary, the Beinecke is now a Yale icon."
Boston Globe full story:
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
121 Wall Street | New Haven, CT 06511
Campus Map
Tel: (203) 432-2977 Fax: (203) 432-4047
USPS: Mailing Address and Information
email: Ask a Librarian
The exhibition gallery is closed while the library's building is under renovation.
Temporary Reading Room Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am to 4:45 pm
The temporary reading room is located in Yale's Sterling Memorial Library, across Wall Street from the Beinecke.
Beginnig September 6, 2016 our hours will be
Monday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 5


text:
Ends today. Banana Republic is offering 15% off orders of $75 or more with coupon code BRSAVE15. Valid for one-time use. Standard shipping starts at $7; returns accepted in-store within 45 days of purchase.
Deal has expired
fruit or cloth? XD
$75 for 6 banana's?
They are $1.39 in the Sam's club, they will ship it too
Yeah #2, but Sam's Club kills all small businesses.


text:
Super excited just got my first beta back at 560, estrogen at 411, progesterone at 59.3 (am using vaginal suppositories). Anyhow I have heard it is best not to compare numbers as each person is different but these are mine and doc said they are good.
I am of course beyond nervous to get betas two days from now and two days after that. Last time they did not rise and I had a chemical pregnancy whcih was so devastating.
Anyhow this time Dr. told me some things I should NOT do to make sure pregnancy progresses and I thought I should share as they did not tell me these things the first time and I am annoyed they didnt. Curious if anyone else's Dr. listed these..
1. No intercourse for the next 2 weeks
2. No lifting of anything even remotely heavy
3. No exercise of any kind, no pilates, no cardio, only slow walking
4. Of coure no alcohol, sushi, meat only cooked medium well..I am assuming everyone knows these but just in case..
The first time around I had intercourse the day we found out we were pregnant and then the pregnancy did not progress. I have always wondered if we knocked something loose..I know sounds crazy but now that Dr. says no intercourse it has made me think.
Best wishes to everyone XOXO


text:
3.1, 3.8
The Edge Climbing Program
Thursdays • 5 - 7 p.m.
Free for CWU students & Rec. Center members • $10 per session for non-members
Looking for an opportunity to continue climbing this winter? Wishing you could use the CWU Climbing Wall even though you're not a Recreation Center member? The Edge Climbing program may be your answer. Space is limited for this program. Availability is on a first come, first served basis so sign up today for this eight-week offering.
Access to the rest of the facility is prohibited.
Maximum 15 participants per session
2.1 - 2.29 February
OPR's Vertical Challenge: How many feet can you climb in 28 days?
$40/team • Must register by Jan. 19
Teams of two have 28 days to see which team can climb the most vertical feet on the CWU Climbing Wall. Prizes will be given to the teams that compile distances comparable to Mt. Stuart (9,415 ft), Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft), Mt. McKinley (20,320 ft) and Mt. Everest (29,029 ft).
Must be top-rope belay certified.
Climbing Certification Exams
Climbing Certifications are required to belay other participants. These are annual certifications that provide you clearance for the CWU indoor climbing program only. Please check with climbing staff in order to arrange an exam time. Exams can be requested during any open hours and it is up to the staff's discretion/availability to offer the exam.
Top-rope Belay Certification Exam
During Open Climbing Hours • Climbing Wall • $5
All climbers must annually pass a belay certification exam in order to belay other participants on a top-rope belay system.
Lead Climbing Certification Exam
During Open Climbing Hours • Climbing Wall • $6
All climbers must annually pass a lead climbing exam in order to climb or belay other participants on a lead climbing belay system.


text:
A Disturbance in One Placeby Binnie Kirshenbaum
View All Available Formats & Editions
Brazen and given to transgressions, the narrator of this mordantly witty novel is an aloof, tough talking, married Manhattan woman who carries on three affairs simultaneously, blithely breaking seven of the Ten Commandments in her search for a safe place to land. Rootless, bouncing from bed to bed, she knows she is pure of heart. If only she could find where her
Brazen and given to transgressions, the narrator of this mordantly witty novel is an aloof, tough talking, married Manhattan woman who carries on three affairs simultaneously, blithely breaking seven of the Ten Commandments in her search for a safe place to land. Rootless, bouncing from bed to bed, she knows she is pure of heart. If only she could find where her heart got lost. Irreverent and achingly honest, she points to the small but infinitely deep cracks in our masks, drawing the reader into her world of misadventure -- erotic, comic, and deeply unsettling. Juggling four men -- her husband, "the hit man," "the multimedia artist," and "the love of her life" -- she can't decide whether she is out to prove or disprove the Talmudic wisdom: If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
- 9780061976889
- Publisher:
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date:
- 10/06/2009
- Sold by:
- Format:
- NOOK Book
- Pages:
- 224
- File size:
Read an Excerpt
A Disturbance in One PlaceThe Way Frankie Sings
I want to run, take up running for sport, maybe runmarathons. With this in mind, I buy an outfit: gym shorts,Lycra tank top. I also get a pair of Reeboks and one of thoseleather pouches to wear around my waist, to carry the essentials,like money and a lipstick.
Washington Square Park is where I choose to run. Notactually in, or through, the park but along its perimeter. I gothere at dusk when the purple sky, ushering in the cool of thenight, offers reprieve from the August heat.
He's leaning against the post of a street sign at the park'snortheast corner. He's dressed in black, but not like theswarms of young punks straining for decadent in rippedT-shirts and shredded denim. His clothes are snazzy, sharp.Lightweight gabardine trousers, a double-breasted linen sports jacket, like an old-time hood, a thug, a shadow cast. Abriefcase rests on the ground between his feet, and I assumeit's filled with packets of crisp money, or heroin, or a pistolwith a silencer the tool of a paid assassin. As I near him, Iwatch him watching me. His eyes follow me, and when I pass,I feel him checking out my behind.
On my second lap around the park, he is prepared. He's gota cigarette out, unlit, between his lips. His glance catchesmine, and he gestures the striking of a match. As a rule, runnersdon't smoke. Two steps away from him, a pair of teenageboys are smoking reefer. He could've asked them for a light.But it happens that along with money, a lipstick, and a pack ofPlayers, I've got a book of matches.
He looks on while I unzip my leather pouch as if it were mydress I were unzipping, as if I were doing somethingsexy. Ifork over the matchbook, and he looks at it, both sides.
I might as well take a cigarette break too, and he strikes amatch for me, cupping his hand around the flame. We stand there smoking, sizing each other up, but we don't speak. His steady gaze from beneath heavy eyelids leaves me somewhat unsure of myself, off balance. But I keep my chin raised, tilted a degree upward. I hold my eyes steady, firm like his, and I blow smoke rings because I don't want him suspecting I am a little bit afraid.
My cigarette is nearly done, and I drop it, snuff the emberwith my sneaker, and wait. I wait for him to say something,andhe lets me wait. Another minute of that, and I think the hell withhim. I'm about to take off, resume running, when he says, "Yourmatches." He holds them out for me to take. "Thanks for thelight. I appreciate it." His voice, his diction, the way he enunciates his syllables, punctuates his consonants is unmistakably Brooklyn, elegant. He speaks like Sinatra sings.
Running, I concluded, was not the sport for me. As something to do, I didn't care for it. The outfit is unattractive,and the experience of running around and around the park, with no destination, was all too reminiscent of a dog chasing its own tail.
Nonetheless, I return to the park at dusk. Not to run, butto prowl. I go looking for that man, that hit man, to find him ifI can.
That he should be exactly where I left him the night before,at the northeast corner of the park, is farfetched. Yet I am notat all surprised to find him there, leaning against the streetpost, hands behind his back. "Got a match?" I ask.
He brings his hands around, not to light my cigarette, butto produce a bouquet of flowers, the way a magician bringsdoves from a silk scarf or thin air. The flowers are red. "I neverdid anything like this before," he confesses.
The sun slips below the horizon. Night falls, and we walk. Itseems as if the city were deserted, as if he and I were the onlytwo people, alone together, out on the streets. Our footstepsecho.
We ask no questions.
"I've been waiting for you," he says. "My whole life I'vebeen waiting for you."
I hold the red flowers by the stems, and a wind rises uparound us, a warm wind, a summer wind.A Disturbance in One Place. Copyright © by Binnie Kirshenbaum. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
Meet the Author
Binnie Kirshenbaum is the author of An Almost Perfect Moment, On Mermaid Avenue, A Disturbance in One Place, Pure Poetry, Hester Among the Ruins, and History on a Personal Note. She is a professor at Columbia University's School of the Arts, where she is chair of the Graduate Writing Program.
Customer Reviews
Average Review:
and post it to your social network
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
See all customer reviews >