Patent ID: 6564003
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
A method of using a composite data stream, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a data storage medium having a portion of a composite data stream stored thereon, said composite data stream comprising a plurality of programs, said programs supporting services selected from the group consisting of audio, video and data information and providing different categories of information, said programs being divided into a plurality of program channels that are multiplexed at least in part with other said program channels to intersperse said categories of information within said composite data stream, said data storage medium allowing playback of any of said program channels for a selected period of time, said programs being selected by a provider prior to a user request and communicated to a user; and operating a playback device for said composite data stream, said composite data stream comprising control data for demultiplexing said composite data stream to allow extraction of a selected one of said categories therefrom, said playback device being programmable to receive a user input, and to process said control data in response to said user input by locally accessing said composite data stream on said local data storage medium to demultiplex and playback the selected one of said categories requested via said user input using said control data.