Martin F Sabraw

US Patent:

6983480, Jan 3, 2006

Filed:

Oct 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687140

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment Group LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 25, 725 29, 725 86

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for distributing programming. A first set of program segments is transmitted according to a schedule of programming. A second set of program segments is stored on a server, with at least one of the first set of program segments having a counterpart in the second set of program segments. User authorizations to program segments on the server are maintained. Such user authorizations may include a record of the number of times a user has previously been given program control over a particular program segment from the server and a limit on the number of times the user is authorized to have program control over the particular program segment from the server. A request from the user for program control over the particular program segment is detected and a determination is made whether to grant program control over that program segment in accordance with the user authorizations.

US Patent:

7024679, Apr 4, 2006

Filed:

Oct 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687138

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

SVOD LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725101, 725 87, 725 89, 725 92, 725 93, 725100

Abstract:

The invention relates to delivering a program to an individual business or residence. In one embodiment, a process for pre-storing a portion of a program distributed on a plurality of distribution conduits and in a linear schedule with staggered start times is described. A first start time of the program is determined for a first distribution conduit, and a second start time of the program is determined for a second distribution conduit. A stagger time between the first start time and the second start time is also determined. A segment of the program equal in length to the stagger time is stored.

US Patent:

7228559, Jun 5, 2007

Filed:

Oct 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687148

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US
Gregory R. Deprez - Highlands Ranch CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Encore Group LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/00
H04N 7/167
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 88, 725 61, 725102

Abstract:

A method is provided for distributing programming. A first set of programs is transmitted in real time according to a schedule of programming. A second set of programs is stored on a server, each of which is configured to be played for a user under the user's control. At least one of the first set of programs has a counterpart in the second set of programs. A notification signal is transmitted to distinguish at least one of the second set of programs on the server from programs not on the server.

US Patent:

7240359, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687149

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US
Gregory R. Deprez - Highlands Ranch CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment, LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/00
H04N 7/167
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 88, 725 61, 725102

Abstract:

A method is provided for distributing programming. A first set of programs is transmitted in real time according to a schedule of programming. A second set of programs is stored on a server, with at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs. A request from a user for program control over one of the programs in the first set of programs is detected. A determination whether the requested program has a counterpart program stored on the server is made. If so, the counterpart program form the server is played under the control of the user.

US Patent:

7747982, Jun 29, 2010

Filed:

Oct 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687157

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment, LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

G06F 9/44

US Classification:

717118, 717177, 725 87, 725 88

Abstract:

The invention relates to delivering a program to an individual business or residence. In one embodiment, a process for distributing a program sent by a content distributor to a user location is described. A command from the content distributor is received and processed that requests storage of the program at the user location. The user location receives the program and stores the program. The storing is performed in response to at least the processing of the command. A user action related to the program is detected after storage of the program.

US Patent:

7809849, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

Jun 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/877317

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
John C. Beyler - Chappaque NY, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Centennial CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment, LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709231, 709232, 725 61, 725 86, 725 87, 725 88, 725101, 725102

Abstract:

According to the invention, a method for receiving a program by a user location is disclosed. The program is sent from a content provider. In one step, at least a first segment of each of a first number of programs sent from the content provider before any user request for any of the first number of programs is recorded. The user request for one of the first number of programs is detected. At least a second segment of each of a second number of programs sent from the content provider is also recorded if the user request is not detected before a stagger period expires. The one of the first number of programs is recorded if the user request is detected before the stagger period expires.

US Patent:

7950040, May 24, 2011

Filed:

May 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/753296

Inventors:

John J. Sie - Englewood CO, US
Ganesh Basawapatna - Greenwood Village CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Englewood CO, US
Gregory DePrez - Highlands Ranch CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment, LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/00
H04N 7/167
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 88, 725 61, 725102

Abstract:

A method is provided for distributing programming. A first set of programs is transmitted in real time according to a schedule of programming. A second set of programs is stored on a server, with at least one of the first set of programs having a counterpart in the second set of programs. A request from a user for program control over one of the programs in the first set of programs is detected. A determination whether the requested program has a counterpart program stored on the server is made. If so, the counterpart program form the server is played under the control of the user.

US Patent:

7984463, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Mar 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/393724

Inventors:

Gregory R. DePrez - Highlands Ranch CO, US
Martin F. Sabraw - Centennial CO, US

Assignee:

Starz Entertainment, LLC - Englewood CO

International Classification:

H04N 7/16
H04N 7/173
G06Q 40/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

725 25, 725 88, 725114, 725237, 705 44

Abstract:

According to the invention, a method for providing a stored program to a user for playback is disclosed. In one step, a program selection is received from the user. The stored program corresponding to the program selection is requested. The stored program is provided to the user whereby viewing may occur. It is determined if the user is authorized to view the stored program after the stored program is provided to the user whereby the user may view the stored program before authorization is determined.