FI113133B - User interaction supporting method for digital television broadcasting, involves receiving sent code to preset operation where certain piece of broadcast is needed and fetching piece from data storage by using code as search key - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transmitting a digital television broadcast with non-visible codes and each code is mapped to a piece of broadcast. A sent code is received at a server when the code is related to a predefined operation in which the certain piece of the broadcast is needed. The piece is fetched from data storage by using the code as a search key. The predefined operation is performed. An Independent claim is also included for a system for supporting user interaction in digital television broadcasting.

Description

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A policy and system to support user interaction in TV broadcasting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to video and / or audio broadcasts and to user interaction with television programs and other interactive content services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Digital TV broadcasts have been launched in many countries and in the long term will replace the current analogue TV broadcasts. Digital broadcasting includes digital TV, cable TV, video streaming, radio, multimedia programs, Internet, etc. The digital TV device can receive all of the above services. DAB and DVB are terms commonly used in connection with digital broadcasting.

Interactive TV or bidirectional TV is a term that generally refers to a situation in which a viewer can communicate with an interactive TV program. Viewers can send information to the broadcaster or service provider to place orders, respond to quizzes, participate in opinion polls, etc.

. A return channel is a channel designed to convey information from the viewer, such as the viewer's identity or preferences, • · *. contractor or third party. The reverse channel can be implemented using a public telephone network or a mobile communication network. The viewer can send information to the broadcaster via the return channel, for example, using a mobile phone. There are several ways of implementing the Return Channel ::.

In this patent application, we use the term “Interactive!”. · Content Service ”means the service the content of which is sent to the users principally; '30 via a video and / or audio transmission network with at least one return channel attached. For example, TV shows and commercials can be alternated; as powerful content services. TV program viewers receive the content of the services mainly through their TV sets and, if they so wish, can use the return channel to communicate with those services.

35 2 113133 GB 2360171 describes one example of using a return channel. The telecommunication system is used for the interaction between the viewer and the TV program service. The viewer has a teddy bear with a control module. The viewer can operate using the control module and, in response to 5 user actions, the TV program service may, for example, move the teddy bear's feet.

State-of-the-art TV commercials may include a telephone number, a teletext page number, or an Internet address through which additional information about the advertised product can be found. The ad's phone number or 10 teletext page is associated with the advertised product. When a user dials a listed number or reads a teletext page, he or she will receive information about that number. product. If the TV ad contains an Internet address, this address may be dedicated to the advertised product, or it may contain a link or a series of links that lead to the user's Internet page containing information about the 15 advertised products.

Prior art means for the viewer to interact with TV commercials or other types of 7V programs include: telephone numbers, teletext pages, and Internet addresses. Thus, telephone numbers, teletext pages and Internet addresses can be referred to as "function codes". When the viewer 20 sees something interesting on the TV, he or she can operate using the function code,, ... which comes from the subject. in connection with the broadcast: The TV viewer is one example of a user and the radio listener is another \, 't example, so the term "user" refers to both. Sometimes, a broadcaster who works with a broadcaster may also ♦? I I · 25 see as user.

The first drawback of the prior art is that the operation »1 | the usability of the codes is poor. Ads are often short, leaving the user some time to write down the reported phone number. In any case, f · ': making a call or using the Internet may cost too much interest; "': 30 behind users.

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Another drawback of the prior art is that the possibilities for interaction are very limited because the service provider is in strict control of the interaction. The service provider reserves a set of activity codes, T: assigns them to one or more TV programs and displays them with TV programs 35.

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A third drawback of the prior art is the lack of methods by which the user is able to assign any part of the transmission while the user interacts with the transmission-related service. Methods of this type would be very useful in some prior art content services and in new types of content services.

When implementing an interactive content service, one basic question has to be resolved: how can a user show a specific part of a broadcast while interacting with the broadcast? 10

Summary of the Invention

For new types of services, the basic question is: How can a user show any part of a broadcast while interacting with the broadcast? It is an object of the invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an opportunity to indicate any part of a transmission. This addressing feature enables new types of services as well as a new way of implementing prior art services.

In addition to the telephone number, teletext page and internet address, there are 20 new methods. Most broadcasts include a time code. Thus, we can consider that the broadcast is divided into pieces such that; v. Each piece has a unique time code.

One aspect of the invention is the ability of the user to capture the current broadcast time code using, for example, remote control. The user then sends the captured time code as a short message message to a predetermined telephone number. The system that receives the '' ... · * message reads the time code from the message. This same system has access to the repository on which the broadcast is stored. The system reads; · Repository to find the point in the broadcast to which the 30 time codes in the message are linked. The system deduces the user's action based on the part found in the context broadcast. For example, context may ;;; 'Be such that the user desires to receive the product • presented in the shipment; · * For additional information.

::: The TV set according to the invention receives a user broadcast: ··· 35 this signal and in response to the received signal retrieves a broadcast time code or similar code that identifies a particular broadcast 4 11313? section. The TV then displays the code to the user and / or transmits the code to another device.

The system of the invention is for one or more interactive content services. The frozen image is one pre-5 sign of a new type of service. When a user captures a time code from a digital TV broadcast and forwards it to a service provider, he may, for example, receive a picture of his favorite actor as part of a message that also contains multimedia such as an e-mail or MMS message.

10 Pattern list

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of time-based coding, Figure 2 shows an example of sequence-based coding, Figure 3 shows a third example of coding,

Figure 4 shows a TV for interactive programs,

Figure 5 illustrates a menu and an interaction logo designed to assist the viewer in interacting with a TV program; Figure 6 illustrates a method for supporting user interaction,

Figure 7 shows an example of a system that supports user interaction. FINANCING.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises both a method and a system for supporting user interaction, as well as a terminal device with a general, ,,, · interactive program accompanying a broadcast. are shown.

In many countries, numerous TV and radio channels broadcast their own programs simultaneously. Some TV channels show programs 24 hours a day, "·. 30 times, and some have a night outage. Let's say a specific TV or radio channel broadcasts for a maximum of 24 hours. If each part of the broadcast lasts a second, the broadcast is limited to 86400 the part where each such part is associated with a particular code, which can be called a POB (Piece Of Broadcast) code.

·; · F 35 The POB code can be used for the same purpose as a telephone number, 5 113133 teletext pages or an Internet address. There are several ways to encode POB codes and append POB codes to parts of the broadcast.

Figure 1 shows an example of time-based coding. Broadcast 101 is divided into 86400 parts such that the first part 102 of the broadcast 5 is connected to the POB code 00.00: 00, the second part 103 to the POB code 00.00: 01, etc.

In the previous example, each part of the broadcast is one second long. The sections may also be shorter or longer. The TV broadcast may be divided into sections that are still images. In such 10 cases, the POB codes that are associated with the parts of the TV broadcast preferably contain hundreds of seconds. Thus, the user can indicate any desired still image using the POB code associated with that image. In this way, the user can obtain, for example, an image of his favorite actor, a video clip or an animation.

Figure 2 shows an example of sequence-based coding. Broadcast 201 is divided into 86400 sections such that the first broadcast section 202 is associated with POB code 1, the second section 203 with POB code 2, the third section 204 with POB code 3, and so on.

During a radio broadcast, the radio listener can receive information about the music portion by transmitting the POB code to the radio station. In such a case, the music part in question is the part of the broadcast to which the POB code is attached. For example, a piece of music can take up to two minutes *, so the same part of a broadcast takes two minutes.

* «· POB codes can be coded using numbers and / or letters or '' 25 other characters. The parts of the broadcast are either a) equal in time or b) equal in bytes. Not all components need to be associated with the POB code because some programs presented on the channel are not interactive. Alternatively, we can assume that a non-null POB code is transmitted in each non-interactive portion of the transmission.

Figure 3 shows an example of coding where transmission parts are of different lengths and POB codes are missing in some parts of the transmission. Broadcast 103 is subdivided into a first transmission; 'POB code' AA 'is attached to section 302 and ν' to another longer section 303 is POB code 'AB'. The POB code is omitted from the third section 304.

; i 35 Using alphabets A to Z yields 676 two-letter POB codes.

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It is also possible that two or more parts of the same transmission have the same POB code. For example, an ad that appears several times a day may have the same POB code.

We may define a POB code as follows: code that is transmitted in a video and / or audio transmission to a terminal and a) made visible and / or b) transmitted to another device in response to a user initiated signal in which the POB code is associated with a particular portion of the transmission. However, the POB code may not be transmitted in the broadcast when the POB code is obtained by using an inference based on the frame size or some other size in bytes or time code, pulse or other data transmitted in the broadcast.

The time displayed on the TV is not a POB code as it is constantly changing, second by second. Also, the TV page is not a POB code because it is not available in the broadcast as a time code. It is very important that the user can make the POB code visible and / or send it to another device while watching and / or listening to the broadcast. Prior art teletext pages do not work this way.

The terminal of the invention is adapted to 1) receive a signal initiated by the user, 2) retrieve a POB code broadcast where the POB code identifies a portion of the broadcast, and 3a) display the POB code to the user and / or 3b) send the POB code to another. device.

The terminal may be either a TV or radio receiver or another terminal equipped with a TV or radio receiver. Some well-known mobile phones already include a radio receiver. Such mobile phones are well suited to interactive radio programs because the radio receiver · 'and the return channel are integrated in one device. In addition, these:: Mobile phones may include a relatively large screen and JAVA support.

Figure 4 is a television receiver showing an interactive | , »* Programs. The TV receiver 401 receives a signal 402 initiated by the viewer 30 403 and, in response to the signal, obtains a POB code broadcast 404. The TV receiver 401 displays the POB code 405 to the viewer and sends it 406 to the mobile phone 407, e.g. technician - '; · * kaa. The viewer can then send the POB code 407 from his mobile phone to the system managing the interactive program.

; 35 Bluetooth wireless technology is the specification for the radio connection that can be integrated with mobile devices. Bluetooth eliminates the need to use 7,113,133 cables to communicate with computers, cell phones, laptops, and other types of electronic devices. There are other ways to send the POB code from the TV to another device. For example, the TV receiver 401 shown in Figure 4 could be connected to the Internet-5. In this case, the TV receiver can send the POB code to another device over the Internet. Before starting the broadcast, the TV may ask the user for confirmation.

Each TV channel needs only one phone number because the POB code is associated with a specific part of the broadcast. The context of the user activity 10 can be deduced from the part of the transmission in question.

Figure 5 shows a menu as well as an interaction logo designed to assist the user in interaction with the TV program. When the TV program contains some interactive content, the interactive logo 501 is displayed on the TV receiver 502. The user can then operate by pressing 15 buttons on the remote control. For example, the viewer can operate when they see their favorite actor 503 on the TV. After pressing the button, the TV screen displays menu 504. This menu 504 contains the POB code “AFFE”.

The POB codes may be automatically combined with the parts of the broadcast 20, for example, using a time code. However, it is possible for the broadcasting entity or content provider to combine the POB codes with some parts of the broadcast either before or simultaneously with the broadcast.

: The POB code can be attached to any part of the broadcast that is »· • · [visible or audible. Thus, the broadcaster's employee '' or the content provider or a particular person or program may combine the POB code * with a particular part of the broadcast. For example, a TV narrator may select one or

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* ,,. · Multiple football-related still images and associate these still images with POB codes, after which viewers can view and order ': those still images.

., · 30 The possibilities of utilizing the invention are greater in digital. , *. in thalassic broadcasts than what they are in analogue broadcasts.

, · ·. The digital broadcast may include JAVA byte code or similar elements designed to display additional content on the terminal:.:: Such as menus. Application Programming Interface (API) is an interface that enables applications to be executed efficiently. The JAVA byte code can be considered as an application and can be distributed to receivers such as TV 8 11313? receivers included with the broadcast. The Multimedia Home Platform API (MHP-API) is for multimedia applications. JAVA objects created from the JAVA byte code inside the terminal can use the MHP API or any other API that supports JAVA. However, JAVA is just one possible programming language that can be used when executing applications.

Figure 6 illustrates the process steps of the invention. As mentioned above, the user can be a TV viewer or a radio listener. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a user signal 601 at a terminal representing the broadcast, and in response to the user signal, retrieving a POB code 10 from broadcast 602 and displaying the POB code to the user and / or transmitting the POB code 604 to the other device. The other device may be, for example, a server that has access to the stored broadcast. POB code 604 may be transmitted to another device directly or via a device with a reverse channel.

In addition to the method steps shown in Figure 6, the method may include the following steps: 1) receiving a POB code on another device, and 2) finding a broadcast portion stored in a data warehouse and associated with a particular POB code. The method may further include the step of performing a specific function in relation to the portion found in the broadcast. This function may result in a portion of the broadcast being transmitted to the user of the broadcast as such or in another form, for example, in MMS format.

The method may display the POB code for a predetermined time, for example one minute. Alternatively, the method may wait for another user-initiated signal to remove the POB code from the terminal-25 device display. The idea is that the POB code is displayed to the user so that! .. * the user has enough time to use it.

"* A user may send different types of user information with a POB code to a user interaction device. User information: · The information may include, for example, a user's phone number. Or, the user information may include one or more user selections. For example... Si , the user can specify how long the video clip they want to receive. When the · · · · user information is +10, it could mean that the user wants to receive a video clip that starts at the POB code specified time and ends • · * v: ten seconds later. There are several ways to encode such 35 user information.

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A video clip, a music clip, a still image, etc. are examples of user-specific content that the user may obtain in response to the POB code and any user-submitted user information.

The system of the invention is adapted to 1) receive a code 5 received from a broadcast in response to a user-initiated signal that identifies a particular portion of the broadcast associated with the code, and 2) find that portion of the broadcast stored in the repository.

Figure 7 shows an example of a system that supports user interactivity. A plurality of viewers 701 and a system 702 exist. Several networks could be used for communication between the viewers and the system, but these implementation-dependent details are omitted from Figure 7. Assume that the system consists of a server 703 and a database 704, and that the interactive TV programs included in the broadcast are stored in the database 704. The system 702 receives the POB code 705 transmitted by the first viewer and the POB code 706 which broadcast by another viewer. Both POB codes 705 and 706 are “19.21”. In addition, the system receives user information from both viewers. The same user information includes the viewer's phone number and a yes / no answer. Suppose the 20 POB code “19.21” is associated with a part of the broadcast that contains a TV Info Visa question number 3. Thus, the system performs an operation on ·: that part. For example, the operation could be to run a service that processes viewer responses to a quiz. In addition to the POB code 705 and 706, the system receives the POB code 707 from a third viewer.

.. 25 POB Code 707 is “21.32: 45.02” associated with a football match broadcast on the evening between 9pm and 11pm. More specifically, POB code 707 is,! / linked to the first goal scored in a football match. The system '' would then execute a service that sends a still image 707 taken from the first goal to the third viewer.

»·; · * 30 The following is a summary of the features of the invention. Initially, the digital TV broadcast is transmitted to the terminals with invisible codes, each code being connected to at least one ..... · piece of digital TV broadcast. Receiving a user signal (601) at the broadcast display terminal and, in response to the user signal * * t 35, obtains (602) a specific code associated with a particular piece of the broadcast from the broadcast. The terminal then displays a service display to the user and renders (113) this code (603) visible through the service display. The code is transmitted to a server (604) where at least part of the transmission is stored. Finally, the server performs the following steps: receiving a code, retrieving a specific piece of broadcast using the code as a search key, and performing a predetermined operation associated with said broadcast piece.

The above examples are just a few examples of how the method and system can be utilized to support user interaction in broadcasts. There are several different modifications that can be made to the disclosed solutions without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

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Claims (15)

11 11313? A method for supporting user interaction in a digital TV broadcast, characterized by: transmitting a digital TV broadcast and a plurality of invisible codes, each code being associated with at least one of the broadcasts in question, receiving a user signal (601) on a broadcast receiving terminal and A) obtaining a specific code (602) associated with a particular broadcast piece, b) displaying the service display on the terminal to the user, and c) rendering said code visible (603) via the service display; Transmitting the code to a server (604) where at least part of the broadcast is stored; receiving a transmitted code on the server, retrieving a particular broadcast 20 piece stored on the server using the received code as a search key, and performing a predefined operation associated with that broadcast piece. The method of claim 1, characterized in that: In addition to displaying a service display to the user, the terminal displays a still image in response to the received user signal. t * A method according to claim 2, characterized in that in response to the transmitted code. 30 transmitting a still image from the server to user-defined devices! ' structure. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that: '; * ·! as well as sending the code. sending user-defined user information to the server. 12 113133 The method of claim 4, characterized in that, in a predetermined operation, user-specific content is transmitted from the server to the user in response to the received user information, the user-specific information being user defined. The method of claim 4, characterized in that, in a predetermined operation, a broadcast period is transmitted to the user in response to the received user information, said broadcast period being determined by the user information. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the user information is sent to the server in a message via a network capable of billing for the message. 8. A system for supporting user interaction in digital TV broadcast, the system including a server and terminals characterized in that the server (703) is adapted to store at least some pieces of digital TV broadcast (404) and invisible codes associated with said pieces, II transmitted to the terminals; : each of the terminals being adapted to: vV a) display the service display (504) on the terminal (401) "." i 25 to the user,: '·,: b) obtain a specific code (405) associated with a specific broadcast (401) 404) return, c) make the code (405) display the service display (504), ·. via (405) in response to a user-initiated! 30 user signal (402); The server: (703) is further adapted to: receive (707) the code (405) from the user, retrieve a specific broadcast piece stored in memory. using the received code as the search key and »» 35 to perform a predefined operation associated with that broadcast piece. 13 113133 A system according to claim 8, characterized in that the terminal is adapted to display a still image on the terminal in response to the user signal. The system of claim 9, characterized in that the server is adapted to: send a still image to a user-defined device. The system of claim 8, characterized in that the server is adapted to receive user information from the user. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that for performing a predetermined operation, the server is adapted to send user-specific information to the user, the user-specific content being user-defined. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that for performing a predetermined operation, the server is adapted to send a broadcast period to the user, said broadcast period being determined by the user information. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the code is sent to the server in a message via a network capable of billing for the message. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the terminal is adapted to display the code on the terminal until a second user signal is received. : 25 »»> »I · * · 14 113133