Patent ID: 7337460

Claim:
A combining process for use in sending a trick-mode video stream from a video server which comprises—a) a digital computer that is coupled to a semiconductor memory which stores a video, and b) a network interface circuit which couples said computer to a viewer network; said process being performed by said network interface circuit and including the steps of: sending, to said computer, a request for directions on how to generate a respective portion of said trick-mode video stream; receiving from said computer, in response to said request, said directions in a form which identifies—a) a continuous segment of said video in said memory which includes—1) a picture, and 2) selected items that are spaced-apart within said continuous segment which need to be modified before being sent in said trick-mode video stream, and b) modified items, stored in a part of said memory separated from said continuous segment of said video, that correspond to said selected items with their modifications; interleaving, within said network interface circuit in response to said directions, said modified items with all portions of said continuous segment of said video in said memory that are not said selected items; and, sending the result of said interleaving step to said viewer network as said respective portion of said trick-mode video stream.