eSynch Gets Two Video-On-Demand Patents

Coming from virtually nowhere, tiny start-up eSynch Corp (http://www.esynch.com) announced that it acquired two Internet video on-demand patents. This may heat up the argument about the viability of Internet patents.

The first patent (United States No. 5,530,754) is for a video-on-demand in which catalog data is periodically transferred to the user sites, where it is stored. This is ideal, says the company, for driving displays of video products for e-commerce.

The second patent, (United States No. 5,400,402) is "System for limiting of downloaded video-on-demand data". This includes a control system that blocks access to a downloaded stored program after it has been viewed a predetermined number of times.

The technology will be a key feature of the company's ChoiceCaster All-In-One Broadband Media Player and ChoiceCinema.com site.

"The strength of our company is its ability to securely deliver superior video quality playback, advanced streaming technologies and integrated media/browser guides to specific users," stated Don Watters, president of eSynch.