Audio and video transmission and receiving system

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission system for providing information to be transmitted to remote locations, the transmission system comprising:

library means for storing items containing information; identification encoding means for retrieving the information in the items from the library means and for assigning a unique identification code to the retrieved information;

conversion means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for placing the retrieved information into a predetermined format as formatted data;

ordering means, coupled to the conversion means, for placing the formatted data into a sequence of addressable data blocks;

compression means, coupled to the ordering means, for compressing the formatted and sequenced data blocks;

compressed data storing means, coupled to the data compression means, for storing as files the compressed, sequenced data blocks received from the data compression means with the unique identification code assigned by the identification encoding means; and

transmitter means, coupled to the compressed data storing means, for sending at least a portion of one of the files to one of the remote locations.

2. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter means includes:

transmission format means for placing the compressed, sequenced data blocks onto a communication path.

3. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information in the items includes analog signals, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

converting means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for A/D converting the analog signals of the information into a series of digital bytes; and

formatting means, coupled to the converting means, for converting the series of digital data bytes into formatted data with a predetermined format.

4. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information in the items includes digital signals, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

digital input receiver means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for converting the digital signals of the information into predetermined voltage levels; and

formatting means, coupled to the digital input receiver means, for converting the predetermined voltage levels into formatted data witha predetermined format.

5. A transmission system as recited in claim 3, wherein the information in the items includes digital signals, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

digital input receiver means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for converting the digital signals of the information into predetermined voltage levels; and

voltage levels adjusting means, coupled to the digital input receiver means, for converting the predetermined voltage levels into formatted data with the predetermined format.

6. A transmission system as recited in claim 2, wherein the compressed data storing means further comprises:

compressed data library means for separately storing a plurality of files, each including at least one compressed, sequenced data block.

7. A transmission system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

system control interface means, coupled to the transmission format means, for generating a listing of available items; and p1 library access interface means, coupled to the transmission format means, for receiving transmission requests to transmit items, and for retrieving formatted data blocks stored in the compressed data library means corresponding to the requests from subscribers.

8. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

precompression data processing means, coupled to the ordering means, for storing the formatted data blocks.

9. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information in the items includes analog audio information, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

audio converting means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for converting the analog audio signals into streams of digital audio data.

10. A transmission system as recited in one of claims 1 or 9, wherein the information in the items includes analog video information, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

video converting means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for converting the analog video signals into streams of digital video data.

11. A transmission system as recited in one of claims 1 or 9, wherein the information in the items includes partially encoded information, and wherein the conversion means further comprises:

digital input means, coupled to the identification encoding means, for receiving partial encoded information in the items.

12. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the data compression means comprises:

means for performing a multi-channel analysis of the formatted data for inclusion in a predetermined algorithm; and

compression processors for running the predetermined algorithm and for compressing the formatted data.

13. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the compression means comprises:

means for identifying patterns in the formatted data for inclusion in a predetermined algorithm; and

compression processors for running the predetermined algorithm and for compressing the formatted data.

14. A transmission system as recited in claim 12, wherein the multi-dimensional analysis means includes means for performing the multi-dimensional analysis in the horizontal dimension.

15. A transmission system as recited in claim 12, wherein the multi-dimensional analysis means includes means for performing the multi-dimensional analysis in the vertical dimension.

16. A transmission system as recited in claim 12, wherein the multi-dimensional analysis means includes means for performing the multi-dimensional analysis in the time dimension.

17. A transmission system as recited in claim 12, wherein the multi-dimensional analysis means includes means for performing the multi-dimensional analysis in the zig-zag dimension.

18. A transmission system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information in the items includes digital signals, and wherein the conversion means further comprises formatting means for converting the digital signals of the information into formatted data with a predetermined format.

19. A distribution method responsive to requests from a user identifying items in a transmission system containing information to be sent from the transmission system to receiving systems at remote locations, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in the transmission system, information from items in a compressed data form, the information including an identification code and being placed into ordered data blocks;

sending a request, by the user to the transmission system, for at least a part of the stored information to be transmitted to the one of the receiving systems at one of the remote location selected by the user;

sending at least a portion of the stored information from the transmission system to the receiving system at the selected remote location;

receiving the sent information by the receiving system at the selected remote location;

storing a complete copy of the received information in the receiving system at the selected remote location; and

playing back the stored copy of the information using the receiving system at the selected remote location at a time requested by the user.

20. The distribution method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information in the items includes analog and digital signals, and wherein the step of storing the information comprises the steps, performed by the transmission system, of:

converting the analog signals of the information to digital components;

formatting the digital signals of the information;

ordering the converted analog signals and the formatted digital signals into a sequence of addressable data blocks and;

compressing the ordered information.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of storing the items includes the substep of

storing the items in a plurality of compressed audio and video libraries in the transmission system.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps, performed by the transmission system, of:

storing a list of items available to the user from at least one compressed data library; and

providing the user with the list so that the user may remotely select a particular item for transmission.

23. The distribution method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of storing includes the step of storing the received information at the head end of a cable television reception system.

24. The distribution method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of storing includes the step of storing the received information in an intermediate storage device.

25. A receiving system responsive to a user input identifying a choice of an item stored in a source material library at a transmission system to be played back to a user at a location remote from the source material library, the item containing information to be sent from the transmission system to the receiving system, the receiving system comprising:

requesting means for transmitting to the source material library in the transmission system the identity of the item;

transceiver means, coupled to the requesting means, for receiving the item from the transmission system as at least one compressed, formatted data block;

receiver format conversion means, coupled to the transceiver means, for converting the at least one compressed, formatted data block into a format suitable for storage processing, and for playback at the receiver system;

storage means, coupled to the receiver format conversion means, for storing a complete copy of the formatted data;

decompressing means, coupled to the storage means, for decompressing the copy of the formatted data; and

output data conversion means, coupled to the decompressing means, for playing back the decompressed copy of the data at a time specified by the user.

26. A receiving system as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

user interface means for translating the input into a request for sending the requested information from the transmitter to the receiving system.

27. A receiving system as recited in claim 25, wherein the output data conversion means includes recording means which controls the playback of the copy.

28. A receiving system as recited in claim 25, wherein the storage means stores the formatted information until playback is requested by an operator.

29. A receiving system as recited in claim 25, wherein the formatted data includes video information, and wherein the decompressing means further comprises:

video signal decompressing means for decompressing the video information contained in the formatted data.

30. A receiving system as recited in claim 29, wherein the output data conversion means further comprises:

digital video output means, connected to the video signal decompressing means, for outputting a digital video signal; and

analog video output means, connected to the video signal decompressing means, for outputting an analog video signal.

31. A receiving system as recited in claim 30, wherein the video output means further comprises:

copy protection means for preventing copying by the user of protected information.

32. A receiving system as recited in claim 25, wherein the formatted data includes audio information, and wherein the decompressing means further comprises:

audio signal decompressing means for decompressing the audio information contained in the formatted data.

33. A receiving system as recited in claim 32, wherein the output data conversion means further comprises:

digital audio output means, connected to the audio signal decompressing means, for outputting a digital audio signal; and

analog audio output means, connected to the audio