1 2
nications modem so that the unit can communicate to
VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM HAVING A the user and the main computer system.
REMOTELY CONTROLLED CENTRAL SOURCE A yet further object is to provide a video communica
OF VIDEO AND AUDIO DATA tions system that provides movie listing to the user
5 through a magazine-like publication. When a selection
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION is found, the user turns on his home video unit, and
. _ . . ^. , ^ „ ^ it_ _ ,, . selects the movie by number on the keypad. The video
The mstant invention relates generally to the field of ^ which js conn£.ted t0 the househo"id phone line or
audio/video data retrieval systems, and, more specifi- Qther suitaWe communications medium( makes a
cally to systems that permit the viewing of a wide range 1Q local call tQ the central uter tem. when the
of audio/video material by remote controlled access to central computer ^ proper handshaking
an archival database. placCj the data transfer proceSs may begin. The
Many homes have video cassette recorders and many number selected is given to the central computer, which also have access to cable television networks. These m fmds tjje data fiie md prepares it for downloadaids to home movie viewing have revolutionized the 15 mg- -r^e home viewer is prompted by the unit when the industry into its present form. However, both real time entire movie has been successfully downloaded and viewing via cable and broadcast networks, as well as then the telephone connection is broken, viewing of cassette recording have serious drawbacks. Another object is to provide a video communications First, for both broadcast and cable viewing, home view- system that allows the user to view the downloaded ers must watch the movies selected by the network, and 20 movie on his home unit with the ability to use fast formust view the program material at time of transmission, ward, rewind, slow motion, zoom and direct seeking or, perhaps time-shift viewing using a video cassette from both the unit itself and a remote control. The recorder. The viewer has the option of renting a cas- information held in the unit is on a rotational disk mesette from one of the many retail stores established for dium, magnetic or optical, and can be accessed in any this purpose, however, the store must be open and must 25 order. In addition, because the information is digitally stock the video tape. Further, even though the store stored, viewing in the slow motion mode, or fast mode, may stock the video tape, the tape itself may not be will not introduce any distortion into the picture. Beavailable since it may be rented to another individual. cause the disk retains its memory, until erased or reTravelling to the video store may also be expensive and placed, the movie will remain in the home unit until inconvenient, particularly in inclement weather. 30 another is selected, or the user chooses to erase the
Also, in the current VCR rental scenario, the movie memory contents. This means that if one family member
industry is losing millions of dollars. Typically, a video loads a movie the afternoon, and watches it in the
store will purchase a few copies of a movie for $30-$ 100 afternoon, the movie will still be in the memory of the
each, but rent those movies hundreds of times with the svstem when another family member comes home that
movie industry cheated of its right to collect royalties 35 m8ht' ^d h? P311 watch 11 aisa
for each viewer Another object is to provide a video communications
system that can provide movie companies with royal
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ties. Movie companies would give copies of their mov
T+ :„ tuTMf„,Q „ ■ „, . • . * t, ■ , t • ,,„„ ies to the business providing the video service and reIt is, therefore, a primary object ot the mstant inven- ,„ ,i. . . „D ^ „i. .A. . ., ., ... . . 40 ceive royalties in return. The amount of these royalties tion to provide a video communications system that ,, ,' . , x, , -. . ii »ift. _•• * * u i. I would be based on the number of times the movie is allows the home movie viewer to watch whatever mov- , Ijjtt- * * »i_ • • J ^
, u n * * i. i. I. * * .t. downloaded. Using this strategy, the movie industry
ies he would like to watch, when he wants to see them. *v. *i »
Ai, J. •_. -j profits will mcrease over the present tape rental system.
Another object is to provide a video communications sm Qbject fa tQ ^ a y£eo commyunica.
system that provides fast forward, rewind, and slow 4J tions system thatJallows «focking out» AU movies in
mo ion. the system will be grouped by classification such as "G"
A further object is to provide a video commumca- rate(Jj aJfQn ... etc A ^ has the ion tQ
tions system that utilizes digitalization to achieve this allow Qnl certain of moyies tQ ^ loaded mto
desired result. Audio and visual signals can be con- their unit> of have a code number t on their account
verted mto ones and zeros: a process known as digitiz- 5Q which must be entered int0 the ^ when making a
mg. Some common examples of this digitizing include selection.
compact disks for audio and laser disks for video. Mod- Another object is to provide a video communications
ern computer systems can read, transmit, store and system that supports community film files, archives and
retrieve digital information. A computer can be given a business files. The community film file is space allocated
block of information in binary form, and without know- 55 -m tjje central computer system for access by specific
ing what that information means, the computer can communities. Files in this portion of the system may
store that information, and display it when needed. A contain local events, film cuts from schools, etc. The
audio and video segments of a movie can, therefore, be archives of sport events, film series and old time classic
digitized. Various algorithms may be used to reduce the fiims is not part of the community film file. The archives
space that the data set takes on the computer storage 60 is a separate set of files available to all users in an area,
systems. The business files permit the selection of specialized
A still further object is to provide a video communi- business topics. Other specialized file possibilities in
cations system that, for each of the homes subscribing to elude "how to ... " self-help topics. Video processing
the system, provides a unit about the size of a video will allow for windowing of files and for overlays,
cassette recorder located next to the television that 65 A yet further object is to provide a video communica
houses: an LCD display, or any other practical display tions system whose configuration of modem clusters to
medium; a rotational disk storage system, either mag- control data communications between the CPU and
netic or optical; numerical entry keypad; and, a commu- external units may be of various forms, i.e. different
