Patent ID: 7716709
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for providing streaming content to multiple users, the system comprising: a central broadcast station to broadcast streaming content upon receiving a request from a user to view the streaming content; wherein the streaming content is a program; at least two user locations to receive the streaming content, each of the said at least two user locations comprising receiving equipment capable of tuning into more than one content channel simultaneously and capable of capturing said streaming content from at least one content channel and into a buffer as it presents content from a channel other than the at least one channel from which it is configured to capture content; and a locking mechanism associated with each channel, said locking mechanism configured to record the number of users currently capturing content on said each channel and said locking mechanism configured to release said each channel when all user locations are finished receiving content from said each channel, whereby said central broadcast station ceases broadcast of streaming content when no request is received and all channels are released; wherein each user location further comprises an auxiliary tuner and said buffer is a first in first out (FIFO) buffer for capturing content from the first channel; wherein said at least two user locations comprises a first user location and a second user location, the first user location capable of receiving the program on a first channel, and the second user location capable of receiving a first portion of the program on a second channel while a second portion of the program is downloaded to the FIFO buffer of the second user location from a first channel; and wherein the FIFO buffer is capable of transmitting the second portion of the program after the first portion of the program is completed, such that the second channel is freed for use after the transmitting begins; the system further comprising a third user station capable of receiving a third portion of the program on a third channel while a fourth portion of the program is downloaded to a first FIFO buffer of the third user station from said second channel, and while a sixth portion of the program is downloaded to a second FIFO buffer of the third user station from said first channel; wherein said third portion at least partially overlaps in content with said first portion; wherein the first FIFO buffer is capable of transmitting the fourth portion of the program from the first FIFO buffer after the third portion of the program is completed, such that the third channel is freed for use after the transmitting begins; wherein after said transmitting of said fourth portion is completed, said third user station receives a fifth portion of the program on said third channel, thus occupying the third channel again; wherein the second FIFO buffer is capable of transmitting the sixth portion of the program from the second FIFO buffer after the fifth portion of the program is completed, such that the third channel is freed again for use after the transmitting of the sixth portion begins; and wherein the entire program is received and transmitted to the third user station, and the entire program consists of said third, fourth, fifth, and sixth portions.