Abstract:
A method, system and computer program provide a mechanism for playing damaged digital video media and optionally notifying a service agency of the damage. When a defect is located on media, the DVD player reads the media to determine damaged portions of the video program. Once the damaged portion is identified, the DVD player downloads content from a remote content provider, such as the content producer, a rental agency, or a third party provider. The content may be downloaded during or prior to video playback. Rental agencies or other providers may be notified of damaged media by network message. When a defect is located during playback and content is downloaded, the DVD player transmits user and disc identification data encoded in the DVD player and on the media across the network to the agency. The agency may use the information to flag the media for removal from circulation upon return.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to consumer digital versatile disc (DVD) players and optical media. More particularly, the present invention is related to a method and system that overcomes errors due to uncorrectable defects in optical media by downloading portions of a video program corresponding to damaged portions of the media. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Digital versatile disc (DVD) players, which may be connected to a television set, contained with a portable device having an LCD screen, or included in a computer system having a video display, are in widespread use in households and other locations. 
         [0005]    DVD and other optical media tend to become damaged after long periods of use or after exposure to extreme handling or environments. Damage to the physical media compromises the integrity of the information encoded therein. Traditionally, once media is damaged, the DVD player corrects the error using error-correcting encoding. If an uncorrectable error is present, the DVD player notifies the user through the use of an error screen, or by skipping to a section of the media that is undamaged. While these above-described techniques still allow the remaining media to be played, the entire disc content cannot be enjoyed. Damaged media is an inconvenience to the user, especially for members/customers of mail-based DVD rental services. When a disc is scratched, a user will typically request a replacement, and must wait a number of days for it to arrive. 
         [0006]    Users of mail-based rental agencies sometimes send back damaged media without complaint. Failure to draw attention to damaged media means that later renters that receive damaged media in circulation will have the same playback issues and suffer the same inconveniences. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and system that can play a video program contained on damaged media, even when portions of the video program are unreadable from the media due to uncorrectable errors, such as those caused by physical damage to the media. It would further be desirable to provide a method and system to remove damaged media from rental circulation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is embodied in a method, system and a computer program product. The computer program product includes program instructions for execution by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or by a dedicated digital versatile disc (DVD) player. The DVD player may be a personal video player, set-top box, personal computer, or any other device that provides playback of digital video content. 
         [0009]    A DVD containing digital media having uncorrectable errors is played by a DVD player. By reading the data channels of the digital media, the DVD player determines the unreadable content, which may be determined by predicting the extent of the damage to the DVD. The unreadable content is downloaded from a remote content provider, which may be the rental service itself or a third party provider, with the missing content “repairing” the gap caused by the defect. The content may be downloaded as the disc is playing or may be downloaded prior to playback and stored in general memory of the DVD player for one or more playback sessions. The downloaded video content may be encoded differently than the video content present on the DVD. The downloaded repair content may be matched using timestamp information, but other techniques may be employed, such as frame counts. Download of the repair content may require authentication, which may require specific input from the user that verifies the user&#39;s identity. 
         [0010]    In a separate embodiment of the invention, the DVD player collects user identification data which may be stored in the memory of the player itself and DVD identification data which may be encoded on the DVD. The identification data is sent to a remote service (e.g., a rental agency or a content source). For rental DVDs, the identification information serves as a notification to remove the damaged DVD from circulation upon return of the DVD by the user. 
         [0011]    The media scanning and defect detection is generally performed by a system and computer program present in the DVD player. Identification information received from the digital media and the digital video player are transmitted to a remote server which may be a server associated with the rental service, with the content source, or with a third party service. The server may validate the credentials of the user and the DVD, and transmit the necessary content for complete playback of the damaged media. 
         [0012]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals indicate like components, and: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a digital video player in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a digital video player in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D are pictorial diagrams illustrating examples of common defects and predicted areas of damage as may be repaired by techniques of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are pictorial diagrams of user interface displays in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention relates to systems and devices that remedy playback when defective areas causing uncorrectable errors exist on digital video media played in digital video (DVD) players and, in some embodiments, to systems that notify a service agency upon defect detection. In one embodiment, upon detection of a defect on the digital video media, the media is scanned to determine a predicted area of damage. The predicted area is matched to the data encoded onto the surface of the media. The system combines the identification information for the user and the media and uses that information as validation to perform a download of missing content. Upon notification of the damage, a rental service or other agency can flag the particular media for removal from circulation. Following validation, the DVD player connects to a remote content provider and downloads the portion of the media&#39;s content that is defective. The downloaded portion can either be played simultaneous to the download, or can be saved in memory in the DVD player for multiple plays of the defective media. The defect detection and prediction techniques are generally implemented locally in the DVD player. All communication between the DVD player and the service agency, the remote content provider, or the third party service agency is generally performed over an internet connection or other network connection accessible to the DVD player. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a DVD player  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is shown. DVD player  10  is illustrated as connected to an external digital television (DTV) display  14 , but DVD player  10  may alternatively be a portable device having an integrated display. A remote control  12  is used to control operation of digital video player  10 . However, it is understood that other user input methodologies can be employed, such as buttons and other controls integral to DVD player  10 . DVD player  10  includes an infrared (IR) interface  13  for receiving commands from remote control  12 , a processor  16  for executing program instructions that implement the defect detection, content download, content playing, and communication techniques of the present invention, in accordance with methodologies described in further detail below, and also provides control and other functionality as generally associated with DVD player operations. A program and video memory  17  is coupled to processor  16  for storing data and program instructions, including program instructions in accordance with a computer program product embodiment of the present invention. A network interface  19  provides connection to public or private networks such as the Internet, for receiving content to be played during media play, and for communicating with service agencies. A DVD drive  15  is included for the playback of digital video media such as DVD disc DVD and a hard disk drive (HDD)  11  is also included in DVD player  10  for maintaining user identification data, service agency identification data, recording video programs and storing downloaded program content. Alternatively, or in combination, the “repair” content may be stored in program and video memory  17 . The repair content may be in a different media format than the digital video encoded on DVD disc DVD. Timestamp or frame count matching may be employed to determine suitable cut points for insertion of the repair content. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a DVD player in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in the form of a personal computer system  20 . The DVD player of  FIG. 2  is implemented by a personal computer  20 , which includes a processor  26  coupled to a memory  27  for storing program instructions including program instructions for implementing a digital video player. Memory  27  further includes program instructions for carrying out techniques in accordance with the present invention, which are integrated in such DVD player program to implement the defect detection, content download, and notification techniques of the present invention, in accordance with methodologies described in further detail below, and also provides control and other functionality as generally associated with DVD player operations. The program may be loaded into memory  27  or HDD  23  via a DVD drive  24  from a media forming a computer program product in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, such as DVD DVD. DVD DVD is also illustrative of a digital video media which may be previously damaged and “repaired” in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as described in further detail below. Personal computer  20  also includes a human interface device (HID) interface  22  for connection of HIDs, such as keyboards and pointing devices. Personal computer  20  is also illustrated as connected to an external display  25 . However, if personal computer  20  is a laptop, tablet or other integrated device, display  25  will generally be internal to personal computer  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a networked system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A DVD player  36 , sends and receives data over an internet connection  30 . DVD player  36  is coupled to a remote content provider  32  and service agency  34 , (e.g., a rental service) via internet connection  30 . DVD player  36  includes special programming and features, such as downloading processes for obtaining content from secure sites, damaged area detection processes, damage area prediction processes, and processes dedicated to gathering and combining identification/authentication information and transmitting that data through internet connection  30  to the service agency  34 . Content corresponding to the area of the damage is determined by DVD player  36 . DVD player  36  connects to remote content provider  32  or service agency  34  to download content corresponding to the damaged areas. DVD player  36  may play the downloaded content simultaneously with the downloading process, or may save the repair content in storage, such as HDD  11  of  FIG. 1  or HDD  23  of  FIG. 2  for repair of content to be played later. 
         [0025]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, service agency  34  maintains user accounts accessible using user identification information stored by DVD player  10  and transmitted to service agency  34  as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . Service agency  34  also has access to a queue of rented media in each particular user&#39;s account within database  33 . By using the media identification data which may be encoded on DVD DVD described above and also transmitted to service agency  34 , service agency  34  can match the identification of the titles in user&#39;s rented queue stored in database  33  to the media identification data. Service agency  34  determines whether DVD DVD is an authorized rental copy and sends authorization to remote content provider  32  to transfer content corresponding to the defective area(s) of DVD DVD. 
         [0026]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, service agency  34  receives data identifying the user and identifying the media as described above. From the identification information, service agency  34  may flag DVD DVD for removal from circulation by updating records in database  33  to reflect that DVD DVD is damaged. As an alternative to requiring user identification, DVD DVD may bear a globally unique identifier (GUID) and both repair content access and damage notification may be performed in response to receipt of a valid GUID. 
         [0027]    It is understood that other techniques and system configurations may be applied in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention and the particular system configuration of  FIG. 3  should not be construed as limiting the possible network configurations and end-user appliances that implement techniques in accordance with the present invention as described in further detail below. For example, remote content provider  32  may be implemented by service agency  34  or another third party. DVD player  36  may be implemented by a personal computer system similar to that shown in  FIG. 2 , but will still generally include the special features described above. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4D , an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated that includes a digital media scan component that performs defect detection, and uses area prediction to determine the extent of content that will likely require replacement. According to the most commonly occurring patterns of damage, particular data acquisition sequences may be followed upon finding particular damage patterns.  FIG. 4A  illustrates a damaged media that may be repaired by a method and system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media of  FIG. 4A  has a radial pattern defect  40 . Radial pattern defect  40  describes a defect pattern in which the damage runs along a radius of the media. In the defect detection phase, the media is checked for damage at physical locations adjacent to the detected defect, in both directions along a radial extension. If no further damage is detected immediately adjacent to the defect, the adjacent areas along a circumferential arc will be checked. The defect checking will continue until a predetermined threshold of distance is exceeded. If further damage is detected in the checking process, area prediction will be invoked from the location of the initial defect and in a direction of the additional defects. Predicted radial area  41  shows the area of the disc where data may require replacement through download of repair data as described above, and the directions in which data will be filled. The first data to be downloaded is content associated with a region extending along a radius from the initial defect area to the edge of the media. After the data along the initial line is acquired, the data adjacent to the initial line in alternating directions along circumferential arcs is acquired. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4B , another damaged media is illustrated that may be repaired by a method and system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media of  FIG. 4B  has a circular-blotch defect pattern  42 . Circular-blotch defect pattern  42  is a defect pattern in which the damaged area is constrained to a circular or semi-circular area. In the defect detection stage, the media is checked for additional damage at locations in multiple directions and distances, radiating outward from the initial defect point. The radiating scan is continued until a predetermined threshold of distance from the initial defect is exceeded. If further damage is detected within the defect detection stage, area prediction will be invoked from the location of the initial defect in the direction of the additional defects. Predicted circular area  43  shows the area of the disc where data will need to be replaced through download as described above. The predicted area is a circular region that radiates outward from an initial defect point. The initial defect may be at the edge, center, or anywhere within the circular region. The first content acquired is the content located at the initial defect, and content acquisition continues in a circular pattern radiating outward from the initial defect location until the extent of the damage area is reached. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4C , another damaged media is illustrated that may be repaired by a method and system in accordance with the present invention. The media of  FIG. 4C  has a rotational defect pattern  44 . Rotational defect pattern  44  is a defect pattern in which the damaged area runs in a circumferential arc constant with the arc of the data track. In the defect detection stage, the media is checked for damage at the physical location immediately along the arc. If further damage is not detected immediately along the arc, adjacent arcs are checked for defects. The detection process continues further from the area of the initial defect until a predetermined threshold of distance from the initial defect is exceeded. If further damage is detected within the defect detection stage, the area prediction will be invoked with the location of the initial defect and the direction of additional defects. Predicted rotational area  45  shows an area where data will likely require replacement through repair download as described above. The predicted area is an arc that runs along a circumferential direction along the media from an initial defect until the end of the defect for the rotational region is detected. The arc may deviate from a true circumferential arc. The first content acquired is content associated with an arc starting from the initial defect, and content acquisition continues until the edge of the defect is detected or a predetermined distance. After the initial content of the arc is acquired, data is acquired adjacent to the initial arc, alternating directions until data associated with a wider arc-shaped region is acquired. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 4D , another damaged media is illustrated that may be repaired by a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media of  FIG. 4D  has a spot pattern  46 . Spot pattern  46  describes a pattern defect where the damaged area occupies a relatively small area of the media. If none of the patterns as shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, or  4 C are detected, the defect is treated as a spot defect and only content associated with a region immediately surrounding the physical location of the defect will be acquired. 
         [0032]    The defect detection process described above is not a requirement of the present invention. Alternatively, repair data requirements can be determined by scanning the media for data channel errors according to the logical organization of data rather than determining physical regions to repair. The repair data requirements can also be determined as needed, rather than predicting potential areas that require replacement data. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, showing a screen that may be presented to a user of DVD player  10  of  FIG. 1 , personal computer  20  of  FIG. 2 , or DVD player  36  of  FIG. 3 . Using remote control  12  of  FIG. 1 , or HID  22  of  FIG. 2 , a user may graphically indicate an area of damage on the media using a cursor  52 A to select an area on disc graphic  50 . The user is instructed by a prompt  51  to select an area on disc graphic  50 . The area selected by the user is translated by DVD player  10  of  FIG. 1 , personal computer  20  of  FIG. 2 , or DVD player  36  of  FIG. 3  into the damaged area of DVD DVD. The content in the area specified by the user will be acquired using procedures such as those described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 5B , a user interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, showing a screen that may be presented to a user of DVD player  10  of  FIG. 1 , personal computer  20  of  FIG. 2 , or DVD player  36  of  FIG. 3 . Using remote control  12  of  FIG. 1 , or HID  22  of  FIG. 2 , a user may manually select a portion of the disc that is damaged by specifying a location within the content. The user is instructed by a prompt  53  to either select a chapter using a dropdown menu  54  with cursor  52 B or enter a start time  56  and end time  58 . The portion of the content specified by the user will be acquired using the repair procedures described above. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a flowchart. The depicted method corresponds to a local program for performing the defect detection, content downloading and playback, and service agency notification techniques as described above. A user plays a digital video media in a DVD player (step  60 ). If a defect is detected during playback of the media (decision  61 ), then the DVD player optionally determines the area of the defect (step  62 ) and predicts corresponding video to acquire from the remote content source after connection (step  63 ). The DVD player downloads content which replaces unplayable content corresponding to the predicted defect area on the media (step  64 ). The DVD player plays the downloaded content in the place of the unplayable content (step  65 ) when playback reaches a “repaired” portion of the content. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a method according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a flowchart. The depicted method corresponds to a local program for performing the defect detection, and service agency notification techniques as described above. A user plays a digital video media in a DVD player (step  70 ). If a defect is detected during playback of the media (decision  71 ) and if the media is rented (decision  73 ), then the DVD player reads the user identification information stored in the memory of the DVD player (step  74 ) and reads media identification data encoded in the digital media (step  75 ). The user identification data and the media identification data are transmitted to the service agency (step  76 ), and the service agency flags the copy of the media for removal from circulation upon return by the user (step  77 ). When the media is received by the service agency, the service agency removes it from circulation (step  78 ). 
         [0037]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.