MXPA99008552A - Method of and apparatus for transmitting data for interactive tv applications - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of transmitting data to a receiver/decoder comprises:transmitting first type visual and/or audio data to the receiver/decoder;and transmitting second type reference data associated with the first type visual and/or audio data to the receiver/decoder to enable the receiver/decoder to generate further visual and/or audio data in dependence on the reference data;wherein the first type data and the second type data have a predetermined timing relationship.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DATA FOR INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATIONS This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for transmitting data and more particularly to a method and apparatus for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder and a transmission and reception system. The advent of digital transmission systems that were primarily intended to transmit television signals, particularly but not exclusively satellite TV systems, has opened up the possibility of using these systems for other purposes, such as providing interactivity with the end user or provide the end user with additional information. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder, comprising: transmitting visual and / or audio data of first type to the receiver / decoder; and transmitting second type reference data associated with the visual and / or audio data of the first type to the receiver / decoder, to generate additional visual and / or audio data in dependence on the reference data; wherein the first type data and the second type data have a previously determined timing relationship. The term "receiver / decoder" as used herein, implies a receiver for receiving signals whether encoded or uncoded, for example, television and / or radio signals. The embodiments of these receivers / decoders may include an integral decoder with the receiver for decoding the signals that were received, for example, in a "top box" or a decoder operating in combination with a physically separate receiver. The above method can enable the "imaginary" purchase by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the reference data is inserted into the data stream that includes the visual and / or audio data of, for example, a television sales program. The reference data may include, inter alia, a product reference, the description and the price of the product that is being displayed visually at that time in the television program, a representation of the product and the telephone number of a sales system for order the product. To purchase the product, the user presses an appropriate button on a remote controller to activate the system or place the receiver / decoder of the data stream in a "purchase mode". The reference data are extracted from the data stream by the receiver / decoder, which generates additional data in dependence on the reference data and visually displays the additional data on the television screen, in the form of an overlay for the program of TV. The overlay typically provides an option for the user to purchase the product; by pressing one or more additional buttons on the remote controller, the user can buy the product that is visually displayed at that moment in the television program. If the visual and / or audio data and the reference data are out of timing, it is possible, when the receiver / decoder enters the purchase mode, that the reference data that was extracted from the data stream • relate to the next product that will be displayed visually in the television program. In accordance with the above, the visual and / or audio data and the reference data have a prescribed timing relation, so that they do not encounter the previous problem. Preferably, the first type of data is the visual and audio data that can be visually displayed on a television set in the form of a television program. However, the data of the first type can be audio data only for transmission by a radio. Visual and audio data may be associated with any aspect of a television program. Preferably, this data represents an advertisement for the product (this term in the present including a service) and the second type data are associated with the product being advertised. Other examples include: • a question that is asked in a questionnaire program; • a product that is advertised in a propaganda; Y • any fact or product that is related to the subject matter of a television program, such as a book that an author wrote or a video of a popular music group. Additional visual and / or audio data can be configured to provide the user with an option that can be selected, such as an option to purchase a product that was advertised in a product advertisement. The respective start times for the transmission of the first and second type data may have the previously determined timing relationship. This can make the timing relationship easy to implement; by adjusting at least one of the hours (i) transmitting the visual and / or audio data, and (ii) transmitting the reference data, the reference data can be synchronized with the visual and / or audio data, as required. There is no need to set any internal clock in the transmission system.

Preferably, the first and second hours are the same. The reference data can be synchronized with at least part of a television program so that they are generated only while that part of the television program is being broadcast, for example, during a question in a questionnaire program or during the announcement of a particular product in a shopping program. Alternatively, the transmission provider may wish to have a fixed delay, for example, of several seconds, between the provision of the video and audio signals and the beginning of the generation of the data associated with the television program, so that the data associated with a television program can remain available to the user after the end of that part of the program. Preferably, the method is additionally a method for receiving the data, which additionally comprises the reception of the first and second type data in the receiver / decoder, and the generation of the additional visual and / or audio data in dependence with the Reference Data. Additional data can be generated depending on the reference data, using a search table stored in the receiver / decoder. You can download the search table at any time before the transmission of the television program. For example, a search table associated with the listing of one day of television programs the previous day, or during a cut in the transmission of the program can be transmitted. Two clock signals may be provided, the data of the first and second types being transmitted at certain times by the respective ones of the clock signals, the two clock signals being compared, and at least one of the hours being adjusted in accordance with the result of the comparison. By comparing the two clock signals, which determines the actual hours when the first and second hours occur, and by adjusting (delay or advance) of at least one of the first and second hours, as necessary, they can be Easily synchronize first and second type data. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for transmitting data, comprising: providing two clock signals; transmitting data of the first and second types at times determined by the respective ones of the clock signals; compare the two clock signals; and adjust at least one of the hours in accordance with the result of the comparison. At least one of the clock signals may be part of their respective type data. The first type data can be transmitted in a plurality of hours, and you can generate a list of operations of the hours in which they will transmit the data. The list of operations can be generated periodically. In a preferred embodiment, the second type of data is transmitted in dependence on the hours of the list of operations and the hours of the list of operations are adjusted in accordance with the result of the comparison. The reference data can be supplemented by the data that is read from a look-up table, using the reference data to enable the receiver / decoder to generate the additional visual and / or audio data. This data can be read from a lookup table in the receiver / decoder to allow the receiver / decoder to generate the additional visual and / or audio data. The reference data can be extracted from the blanking interval in the visual and / or audio data of the first type, before reading the data in the search table. By including the reference data in the data stream including the visual and / or audio data, the data of the first and second types can be synchronized automatically.

The additional visual and / or video data can be generated by the receiver / decoder, directly using the second type data after having received a generation command from a user of the receiver / decoder. Therefore, the second type data that is preferably transmitted synchronously with the first type data, can enable the receiver / decoder directly to generate the additional visual and / or audio data, immediately after the request by the user of the receiver / decoder. Preferably, the second type data is multiplexed with the first type data for the -transmission with the first type data. Alternatively, the second type data can be transmitted in the blank interval of the first type data. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder comprising the transmission of visual and / or audio data of first type to the receiver / decoder and simultaneously transmitting with the visual data and / or audio of the first type, the second type data that is associated with the visual and / or audio data of the first type to the receiver / decoder to enable the receiver / decoder to generate additional visual and / or audio data, in dependence with the second type data.

The first type data may represent a product advertisement and the second type data may comprise a product identifier. In a related aspect, the present invention provides the apparatus for transmitting the data to a receiver / decoder, comprising: means for transmitting the visual and / or audio data of first type to the receiver / decoder and the reference data of the second type associated with the visual and / or audio data of the first type, depending on the reference data; wherein the transmission means are configured such that the data of the first and second types have a previously determined timing relationship. The transmission means can be configured so that the respective start times for the transmission of the first and second type data have the previously determined timing relationship. The respective start times can be the same. The first type data represents a product advertisement and the second type data may be associated with the product being advertised. The apparatus may further comprise: means for providing two clock signals, the transmission means being configured to transmit the data of the first and second types at the hours that determined the respective ones of the clock signals; means for comparing the two clock signals; and means for adjusting at least one of the hours in accordance with the result of the comparison. In a further related aspect, the present invention provides the apparatus for transmitting data, comprising: means for providing two clock signals; means for transmitting the data of the first and second types at the hours that determined the respective ones of the clock signals; means for comparing the two clock signals; and means for adjusting at least one of the hours in accordance with the result of the comparison. Preferably, at least one of the clock signals forms part of their respective type data. The transmission means can be configured so that the first type data is transmitted in a plurality of hours, and can additionally comprise means for generating a list of operations of the hours in which the first type data will be transmitted. You can configure the adjustment means to adjust the hours in the list of operations in accordance with - the result of the comparison. The apparatus may comprise means for extracting the reference data from the visual and / or audio data of the first type. If so, the transmission means may comprise means for transmitting that first type data and means for transmitting the second type data, and wherein the extraction means is located in the means for transmitting the second type data. The apparatus may further comprise a look-up table and means for extracting the data from the look-up table, using the reference data to supplement the reference data to enable the receiver / decoder to generate the additional visual and / or audio data. . In another related aspect, the present invention provides a transmission and reception system, comprising the apparatus for transmitting data as stated above and a receiver / decoder comprising means for receiving the first and second type data, and means for generating the data. additional visual and / or audio data, depending on the reference data. The generation means can be configured so as to generate the additional data in dependence on the reference data, using the search table stored in the receiver / decoder. The receiver / decoder may further comprise means for extracting the data from the look-up table, using the reference data that was received to supplement the reference data, to enable the generating means to generate the additional visual and / or audio data. . The receiver / decoder may additionally comprise means for extracting the reference data from the blank interval in the visual and / or audio data of first type to the data extraction means. The characteristics of the method that have been described herein can be applied to aspects of the apparatus of the invention, and vice versa. In the same way, the characteristics of an aspect of the invention can be applied to any aspect. The preferred features of the present invention will now be described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows the architecture generated from a digital television system; Figure 2 shows the architecture of an interactive system of the digital television system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the interfaces of a receiver / decoder that is part of the system of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a remote controller that is used in the digital television system; Figure 5 shows the configuration of the files within a module that was downloaded into the memory of an interactive receiver / decoder; Figure 6 shows the general architecture of a system mode when it is in the purchase mode; Figure 7 shows an example of different components of the MPEG-2 bit stream that is used in the purchase mode; Figure 8 shows the general architecture of a modality of the timing system; and Figure 9 shows the general architecture of another modality of the timing system; Figure 9A shows the general architecture of yet another modality of the timing system; Figure 10 is a first part of a flow chart illustrating an example of the operation of the system of Figure 6; Figure 11 illustrates an example of a screen of the television set of the system of Figure 6; and Figure 12 is a second part of the flow chart partially shown in Figure 10. An overview of a digital television system 1000 is shown in Figure 1. The system includes a mostly conventional digital television system 2000, which uses the known MPEG-2 compression system to transmit compressed digital signals. In more detail, the 2002 MPEG-2 compressor is a transmission center receiving a stream of digital signals (typically a stream of video signals). The compressor 2002 is connected to a multiplexer and demodulator 2004 via the link 2006. The multiplexer 2004 receives a plurality of additional input signals, assembles one or more transport streams and transmits compressed digital signals to a transmitter 2008 of the transmission center by middle of the 2010 link, which of course can take a wide variety of forms, including telecommunication links. The transmitter 2008 transmits electromagnetic signals by means of the 2012 uplink, to a 2014 satellite transmitter-receiver, where these are processed electronically and transmitted via the 2016 speculative downlink to the land receiver 2018, conventionally in the form of a own dish or rented by the end user. The signals received by the receiver 2018 are transmitted to a receiver / decoder 2020 integrated itself or rented by the end user, and connected to the television set 2022 of the end user. The receiver / decoder 2020 decodes the compressed MPEG-2 signal to a television signal for the television set 2022.

A conditional access system 3000 is connected to the multiplexer 2004 and the receiver / decoder 2020, and is located partially in the transmission center, and partially in the decoder. This allows the end user to access the digital television transmissions from one or more transmission providers. A smart card can be inserted, capable of deciphering messages related to commercial offers (that is, one or many television programs sold by the transmission provider), within the receiver / decoder 2020. Using the decoder 2020 and the smart card, the end user can buy commercial offers in either a subscription mode or a pay-per-event mode. An interactive system 4000, also connected to the multiplexer 2004 and the receiver / decoder 2020, and again partially located in the transmission center and partially in the decoder, allows the end user to interact with different applications by means of a modulated return channel 4002. -desmodulated. Figure 2 shows the general architecture of the interactive television system 4000 of the digital television system 1000 of the present invention. For example, the interactive system 4000 allows an end user to buy catalog items on the screen, check local news and weather maps on demand, and play games through his television set. The interactive system 4000 comprises in general four main elements: - • an originating tool 4004 in the transmission center or some other place, to allow a transmission provider to create, develop, debug and test applications; • an application and data server 4006, in the transmission center, connected to the originating tool 4004, to allow a transmission provider to prepare, authenticate, and format applications and data for sending to the multiplexer and encoder 2004 for insertion into the MPEG-2 transport stream (typically the private section thereof) to be transmitted to the end user; • a virtual machine that includes a runtime machine (RTE) 4008, which is an executable code installed in the own receiver / decoder 2020 or rented by the end user, to allow the end user to receive, authenticate, decompress, and load applications within the working memory 2024 of the receiver / decoder 2020 for execution. Machine 4008 also runs resident, general-purpose applications. The machine 4008 is independent of the hardware and operating system; and • a modulated-demodulated back channel 4002 between the receiver / decoder 2020 and the application and data server 4006, to enable signals that tell the server 4006 to insert data and applications into the MPEG-2 transport stream on the request of the end user. The interactive television system operates using "applications" that control the functions of the receiver / decoder and different devices contained in it. The applications are represented on the machine 4008 as "resource files". A "module" is a set of files and resource data. A "memory volume" of the receiver / decoder is a storage space for the modules. The modules within the receiver / decoder 2020 can be downloaded from the MPEG-2 transport stream. The physical interfaces of the receiver / decoder 2020 are used to download data. With reference to Figure 3, the decoder 2020 contains, for example, six discharge devices; 4028 MPEG stream tuner, 4030 serial interface, 4032 parallel interface, 4034 modem and two 4036 card readers. The modem 4034 of the receiver / decoder 2020, or alternatively an external modem, such as a V34 modem capable of transferring data up to 28.8 kbytes per second, connected to the serial interface, is connected by means of a telephone line to the server 4006 of application and data, or alternatively to a separate sales system, the telephone number from which it was downloaded to the receiver / decoder 2020. For the purposes of this specification, an application is a piece of computer code for controlling high-level functions of a computer. preference of the receiver / decoder 2020. For example, when the end user places the focus of a remote controller 2026 (as shown in more detail in Figure 4) on a button object that is seen on the screen of the television apparatus 2022 , and press the validation key, the sequence of instructions associated with the button is executed. An interactive application proposes menus and executes commands on the end user's request, and provides data related to the purpose of the application. The applications can be either resident applications, that is, stored in the ROM (or FLASH or other non-volatile memory) of the receiver / decoder 2020, or transmitted and downloaded into the RAM (or FLASH) of the receiver / decoder 2020, by means to extract the code from the application from the digital data stream. The applications are stored in the memory locations in the receiver / decoder 2020 and are represented as files and resource data. The resource files comprise the graphic object description unit files, variable block unit files, instruction sequence files, and application files. With reference to Figure 5, a module 4010, such as a purchase module, is a set of files and resource data comprising the following: a single application file 4012; an indeterminate number of files 4014 of the graphic object description unit; an indeterminate number of variable block unit files 4016; an indeterminate number of 4018 instruction sequence files; and where appropriate, 4020 data files such as icon library files, image files, character font files, color table files and ASCII text files. The graphic object description unit files describe the screens, the man-machine interface of the application. The variable block drive files describe the data structures that the application handles. The instruction sequence files describe the processing operations of the applications. The application files provide the entry points for the applications. Applications made in this way can use data files, such as icon library files, image files, character font files, color table files, and ASCII text files. An interactive application can also obtain data online by making entries and / or outputs. The 4008 machine only loads in its memory those resource files that it needs at a given moment. These resource files are read from the graphic object description unit files, instruction sequence files, and application files; the variable block unit files are stored in the memory after a procedure call to load the modules and remain closed there until a specific call is made to a procedure to download the modules. Now an operation mode of the interactive system will be described. A purchase application enables the "imaginary" purchase by the end user. The offers of goods (or services or other products) are visually displayed on the television set 2022 by means of the visual and / or audio data downloaded by the receiver / decoder 2020. The goods can be purchased by means of a ticket entry. purchase order to the receiver / decoder 2020 by the end user. In operation, first assume that the receiver / decoder 2020 is operating in a "television mode", that is, extracting the visual and / or audio data from the data stream and supplying the data that was extracted to the 2022 device. television for the visual display to the end user. By pressing a button on the remote controller 2026, the end user can activate the purchase application, place the receiver / decoder 2020 in a "purchase mode". When the receiver / decoder 2020 has been placed in the purchase mode, the application allows the reference data included in the data stream to be extracted therefrom by the receiver / decoder 2020 for the visual display of the additional data, in the form of purchase data on the screen of the television set 2022. The offers of goods for sale are displayed visually in the television set 2022 by means of the visual and / or audio data that is being transmitted by a transmission provider (for example, a television program broadcast in a "broadcast channel"). "purchase" from a transmission provider) and that is downloading the receiver / decoder 2020. For example, the purchase data may comprise a series of commands that cause simultaneous visual display on the TV screen of the television program and an overlay, typically comprising one or more button objects in the form of icons, representing the goods that are being displayed at that time in the television program and the purchase price. As described later, the reference data that is included in the MPEG bitstream is synchronized with the visual and / or audio data contained therein so that, as the goods displayed in the program vary. of television, the purchase data that are displayed visually vary on the screen so that the overlay is updated to represent these goods that are currently being shown in the television program. If the visual and / or audio data and the reference data are out of timing, it is possible, when the receiver / decoder enters the purchase mode, for the reference data that was extracted from the data stream to relate to the next product that will be displayed visually in the television program. The end user can, by pressing the appropriate buttons on the remote controller 2026, focus on any desired button object of the overlay of routines in memory and can select the object for the purpose of purchasing one of the displayed goods. visually in the television program. This purchase order is received by the receiver / decoder 2020, which executes a program stored in the receiver / decoder 2020 to mark and the server 4006 of application and data or the system of separate sales using the modem 4034. While it is by establishing the communication between the receiver / decoder 2020 and, for example, the server 4006, the overlap of routines in the memory is changed so that a message is displayed visually, typically in the form of an icon or an animated caricature, in the set 2022 of television. Additionally, in response to the purchase order for the particular goods, the application may cause the representative icon of these goods to change. Once the communication has been established, the receiver / decoder 2020 outputs this purchase order to the server 4006 via the modem. The server 4006 receives and processes this order, for example, with an order to charge the account for a credit card that has been inserted into one of the card readers 4036 of the receiver / decoder 2020. With reference to Figure 6 , the receiver / decoder 2020 can be connected by means of a public switched telephone network 12 ("PSTN") to the communication server 3022. The communication server 3022 can be connected to the subscriber management system 3004 ("SMS") and to a product management system 98 and a server 100 of the credit company. The SMS 3004 can be connected to a product sales system 4050S, which in turn can be connected to the product management system 98, the application and data server 4006, the multiplexer and demodulator 2004, a product provider 102 and a bank server 104. The product management system 98 can also be connected to the application and data server. The connection of the 4050S product sales system to the 2004 multiplexer and demodulator allows visual and / or audio data, such as a television purchase program, to be supplied through the product sales system and integrated into the current of transmission data. The connection of the product sales system 4050S to the application and data server 4006 allows a list of operations to be supplied from the 4050S system to the server 4006. For example, with respect to the products to be announced in a number of programs of sales by television, the list of operations includes a list of product references for the products to be announced and the respective start times in which the programs are to start. The list of operations also includes date information. The list of operations can be related to any number of products that are going to be advertised over a period of time, and product references can be in an appropriate form. For example, the list of operations may include a list of products to be announced during the 15-minute period, starting at 10.00 am, as follows: 10.00 3854 10.03 0159 10.08 5987 10.12 2258 The list of operations is updated in a continues, and is transmitted from the 4050S system in advance at the first start time referred to in it, typically with 24 hours or so in advance. The connection of the 4050S system of product sales to the product management system 98, allows the catalog data to be supplied. The catalog data typically includes, for each product, the product data including the product reference, a product title, a product description, the product price and an ID for an illustration of the product. The catalog data is stored in the look-up table form of the product management system 98, and can be updated on a regular basis, for example, on a daily basis. The application of application and data server 4006 to the multiplexer and the demodulator 2004 allows: (1) to be transmitted. the purchase application to the receiver / decoder 2020; (2) the catalog data is transmitted, in the form of a look-up table, to the receiver / decoder; and (3) that the product data is transmitted to the receiver / decoder 2020 in dependence on a product reference that is transmitted from the 4050S system. Referring now to Figure 7, the above may be included, independently or in any other appropriate combination, in a private section of an MPEG-2 bit stream, which may also include the telephone number of the communication server 3022, and represents the IDs of the product illustration. Now, a first embodiment of a system for synchronizing the reference data included in a data stream with the visual and / or audio data contained therein will be described, with reference to Figure 8. The 4050S system for selling Products includes a driver, typically in the form of a personal computer. The controller 5000 is connected to the application and data server 4006 via link 5002 and controls the transmission of the list of operations from the product sales system 4050S to the application and data server 4006.

The controller 5000 includes an internal clock 5004. The 4050S product sales system is connected to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004 through the link 5006, which enables the visual and / or audio data and typically also the illustrations of the products to be supplied through the product sales system. and that they will be integrated into the transmission data stream. For each of the visual and / or audio data associated with a product reference that is listed in the list of operations, the 4050S product sales system begins transmitting the visual and / or audio data at the indicated time in the list of operations and as determined from the internal clock 5004. The application and data server 4006 includes a controller 5008 for controlling the generation of typically an MPEG section containing the product data, about the product that is currently the subject of the visual and / or audio data that the 4050S system supplies. sale of products to the multiplexer 2004, through the link 5010. The product data is read from the search table in the product management system 98, in response to the product reference contained in the list of operations. The MPEG section typically includes, as the product data, the title, description and price of that product, along with an illustration ID for the illustration that shows the product. The controller 5008 includes an internal clock 5012, and repeatedly transmits the MPEG section, typically with a period between 200 ms and 5 seconds, to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004 of the time indicated in the list of operations received and as determined the internal clock 5012. The multiplexer and demodulator 2004 receives the MPEG section and multiplexes the MPEG data stream comprising the MPEG video and / or audio sections that are received from the 4050S system with an MPEG section and transmits the multiplexed data stream to the 2008 transmitter. transmitter 2008 transmits electromagnetic signals to the transceiver 2014, which are subsequently received by the receiver 2018 and transmitted to the receiver / decoder 2020. The receiver / decoder 2020 decodes the MPEG video and / or audio sections from the data stream that was received, within a television signal for the television set 2022. By pressing a button on the remote controller 2026, the end user can download (if necessary) and activate the purchase application, placing the receiver / decoder 2020 in a "purchase mode". When the receiver / decoder has been placed in the purchase mode, the purchasing application allows the product data, included in the private section of the MPEG data stream, to be extracted from it by the receiver / decoder 2020 for the visual display of the purchase data on the screen of the television set 2022, in the form of an overlay, typically comprising one or more button objects in the form of icons representing the goods that are currently being displayed in the program of television and the purchase price. If the internal clock 5012 of the controller 5008 is synchronized with the internal clock 5004 of the controller, the product data that was extracted from the data stream at any time during the transmission of the visual and / or audio data will be related to those data. However, if the internal clock 5012 of the controller 5008 is not synchronized with the internal clock 5004 of the controller 5000, then the product data that was extracted from the data stream at any time during the transmission of the visual data and / or Audio, such as a television shopping program or a question in a questionnaire program, can be related to those data that are still to be transmitted. With the aim of compensating for any time difference between watches 5004 and 5012, the controller 5000 of the product sales system 504OS is connected to the controller 5008 of the application and data server 4006 via the link 5014. The controller 5008 of the application and data server 4006 receives, via the link 5014, a signal output of the clock from the 5004 internal clock of the 4050S system of product sales. Alternatively, the clock signal may be included in the output blanking section of the data stream from the product sales system 405OS and output therefrom by the controller 5008. This signal may be output clockwise or at intervals prescribed by the product sales system 4050S, or may be output in response to a request received from controller 5008 via link 5014. Controller 5008 compares the clock signal that is received with a clock signal that generated its own internal 5012 clock. If there is a time difference between the two signals, the controller adds or subtracts, depending on the case, the time difference to the start times in the list of operations that was received, so that the product data is transmitted in a manner synchronous with the visual and / or audio data. As an example, a list of operations includes the reference "3854" of the product for a video of the movie "Casablanca" that will be announced between 10.00 and 10.03 in a television shopping channel. If the clock signal received from the 4050S product sales system indicates that the time is 9.57.00, and the clock signal generated by its own internal clock 5012 indicates that the time is 10.00.00, the controller 5008 sum 3 minutes at the start times listed in the list of operations. This effectively advances the transmission of the product data through the application and data server 4006 to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004 for 3 minutes, with the aim of synchronizing the product data for the "Casablanca" video with the visual data and / or audio of the ad. In a second embodiment (not illustrated), the controller 5000 of the product sales system 4050S receives, via link 5014, a clock signal output from the internal clock 5012 of the controller 5008. This output can be output. clock signal continuously or at prescribed intervals by controller 5008, or it may be output in response to a request received from controller 5000 via link 5014. Controller 5000 compares the clock signal that was received, with a clock signal generated by its own internal clock 5014. If there is a time difference between the two signals, the controller adds or subtracts, depending on the case, the time difference to the hours at which the visual and / or audio data should be transmitted. In other words, the controller 5000 can delay or advance the transmission of the visual and / or audio data to the multiplexer 2004. In the previous example, if the clock signal that was received from the internal clock 5012 indicates that the time is 10.00 .00, and the clock signal generated by its own internal clock 5004 indicates that the time is 9.57.00, the controller 5000 subtracts 3 minutes from the time at which the visual and / or audio data will be transmitted for the video ad for "Casablanca". This synchronizes the product data for the "Casablanca" video with the visual and / or audio data of the advertisement. Figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the system for synchronizing the data included in a data stream with the visual and / or video data contained therein. In this mode, the product reference of the products to be announced is inserted in the visual and / or audio data, within the blank section of the video of the data generated by the 4050S system of product sales. . Within the period of time in which a particular product is to be announced, the product reference can be repeatedly inserted into the blanking section with a period typically from 200ms to 5 seconds. The visual and / or audio data is transmitted to the multiplexer 2004. The application and data server 4006 includes a data extractor 5016 to extract the product reference from the video sequence. In a manner similar to the first and second embodiments, the product data is read from the lookup table in the product management system 98, in response to the product reference contained in the blank section of the video and an MPEG section is generated, typically including the title, description and price of that product, along with an ID of the illustration for the illustration the product is showing. The MPEG section that was generated in this way is transmitted to the multiplexer and demodulator 2004 via the link 5010 for the synchronous reception with the visual and / or audio data. This third embodiment has the advantage over the first and second modalities described above, in that it does not require the controller 5000, the controller 5008 or the generation of a list of operations. In a fourth embodiment (not illustrated), the look-up table is transmitted in the product management system 98 to the application server 4006 and data for subsequent transmission by the transmitter 2008 to the receiver / decoder 2020. The table is stored of search that was transmitted in the receiver / decoder 2020. As the search table is updated in the product management system, the updated search table is transmitted to the server 4006 for transmission to the receiver / decoder 2020, where The search table that was previously received is replaced by the updated lookup table that was received. In a similar way to the third modality, the product reference is inserted about the product to be announced in the visual and / or audio data within the video blanking section of the data that was generated by the system 4050S of product sales. Within the period of time in which a particular product is to be announced, the product reference can be repeatedly inserted into the blanking section with a period typically from 200ms to 5 seconds. A data extractor, similar to the data extractor 3016, is included in the receiver / decoder 2020. When the receiver / decoder 2020 enters the "buy mode" in response to a signal that was received for the remote 2026 controller, it is extracted the product reference from the data stream that was received. From the product reference, the corresponding product data are read from the search table in the receiver / decoder 2020 and the purchase data in the form of an overlay representing the product data, are displayed visually on the screen of the television, as described above. Figure 9A illustrates a fifth embodiment of the system for synchronizing data included in a data stream with the visual and / or audio data contained therein. Similar to the third modality, the product reference is inserted for the product to be announced in the visual and / or audio data within the video blanking section of the data generated by the sales 4050S system of products. In this fifth embodiment, the blank section of the video also includes an indicator of the moment in which the MPEG section is generated by the application and data server 4006. This time indicator is extracted from, the blank section of the video, along with the product reference, through the extractor 3016. As shown in Figure 9A, the system includes, similarly to the first and second modalities, the controller 5000 with the internal clock 5004, the controller 5008 with the internal clock 5012, and the link 5014 between the two. The controller 5008 of the application and data server 4006 receives, via link 5014, a clock signal output from the internal clock 5004 of the product sales system 4050S. This clock signal may be output continuously or at intervals prescribed by the product sales system, or it may be output in response to a request received from the controller via link 5014. Controller 5008 compares the signal clock that was received with a clock signal that generated its own internal clock 5012. If there is a time difference between the two signals, the controller adds or subtracts, depending on the case, the time difference to the indicator of the time that was extracted - from the blank section of the video through the 5016 extractor, so that the MPEG section is generated by the application and data server and transmitted synchronously with the visual and / or audio data. The fifth modality has the advantage over the first and second modalities described above, that it does not require the generation of a list of operations. In all the above modalities, the purchase data is displayed visually on the television screen, as soon as the receiver / decoder enters the "purchase mode" in response to a signal received from the remote controller. This is because the data required to directly generate the purchase data (the data required being in the form of either an MPEG section multiplexed with the visual and / or audio data, or a product reference contained in the setup section). video target of the video and / or audio data), are transmitted synchronously with the video and / or audio data. The operation of the system in the purchase mode will now be described in all the above embodiments, with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the receiver / decoder 2020, while Figure 12 is a flow diagram which, on the left side, illustrates the operation of the receiver / decoder 2020 and, on the right side, illustrates the operation of the rest of the system. With reference to Figure 10, the purchase program is shown in the television set in step 106. When the purchase mode is selected in step 108, the receiver / decoder 2020 downloads (if necessary) and executes the application of purchasing and downloading reference data associated with the product advertised in the television program in step 120. As will be described below, this data may be the product reference only or the product data that was generated using the product reference. The remaining steps taken by the receiver / decoder.2020 in Figures 10 and 12 are caused to occur by the purchase application that was downloaded. When the user presses one or more appropriate buttons on the remote controller, in step 130 the receiver / decoder 2020 records the reference data of the product that is being advertised at that time in the television shopping program, based on the data that were received. After step 130, in step 132 the receiver / decoder 2020 causes the television 2022 to visually display a purchase type overlay, as shown in Figure 11. The upper right portion of the overlay typically visually displays an illustration 120 of the product. The upper left portion of the overlay typically visually displays the title, description and price of the product. The lower portion of the screen includes a button 144"D / D" to select a purchase with payment using a credit card account, and a button 146 to cancel the purchase operation. One of the buttons has an initial focus, which is displayed by an animated border around the button, and the focus can be changed by pressing the left arrow button or the right arrow button on the remote 2026 controller. Then, the button that is currently focused can be selected by pressing the "OK" button on the remote 2026 controller. In step 134, if the OK button was pressed with the return button in focus, then the process returns to step 108, in which the normal purchase screen of Figure 9 is displayed visually. If the OK button is pressed with the button 142 D / D in focus, then in step 136 the receiver / decoder reads the data from a bank card that was inserted in one of the card readers 4036 of the receiver / decoder 2020. On the other hand, if the OK button with the 144 C / C button in focus, then in step 138 the receiver / decoder 2020 reads the data from a credit card that was inserted in one of the card readers 4036 of the receiver / decoder 2020. These processes can be include additional steps, which are not shown in Figure 8, to invite the user to insert the appropriate type of card and to return the process to step 108 if an inappropriate type of card was inserted. In step 140, the receiver / decoder 2020 notifies the user who is using the television 2022 to insert the appropriate PIN code by means of the remote controller 2026 for the card that has been inserted into the card reader 4036. Then, in step 148, the receiver / decoder 2020 causes its modem to dial the telephone number contained in the data that was downloaded, and in step 150 a PSTN connection is made with the communication server 3022. In step 152, the receiver / decoder 2020 sends a product order in the form of a smart card number for the user's smart card that was inserted in the other card reader 4036, the reference data being sorted, the type of payment, this is credit card or direct charge and that includes an identification of the account of the credit card or bank account that is read from the credit card or the bank card in step 138 or 136, and the PIN code which the user introduced in step 140. In step 154, the receiver / decoder 2020 waits for a response from the communication server 3022, which may be an error message or an order acknowledgment that includes the reference data and the real cost. Whatever response is received, it is displayed visually on the television 2022 in step 156. Then, the receiver / decoder 2020 receives a disconnect signal from the communication server 3022 in step 158, and then causes the your modem hangs at step 160. Then, the process returns to step 108. Referring to the right side of Figure 12, the communication server 3022 waits in step 162 for a ring tone. When it receives it, it makes the 150 PSTN connection that was mentioned above. Then, the communication server 3022 receives the product command from the receiver / decoder 2020, as described above with reference to step 152. In step 166, the communication server 3022 verifies whether the smart card number that was supplied is valid, with reference to subscriber administration system 3004 ("SMS", for its acronym in English). If it is not valid, then in step 168, the communication server 3022 sends, via the PSTN 12, the error message that was described with reference to step 154, in step 170 it sends the disconnect signal of the PSTN which was described with reference to step 158, hangs up your modem in step 172, and then returns to step 162 waiting for another ring tone. If it is estimated that the smart card number is valid in step 166, then in step 174 the communications server determines, with reference to the product management system 98., if the reference data that was supplied is valid or not. If they are not, then the process proceeds to step 168 described above. However, if the reference data is deemed to be valid, then in step 176 the communication server 3022 determines whether the transaction is a C / C transaction or a D / D transaction. If it is a C / C transaction, then in step 176 the communication server 3022 tries to load the user's credit card account with the server 100 of the credit company. If, in step 180, it is determined that the credit card transaction was not successful, then the process proceeds to step 168 described above. However, if the transaction did succeed, then the process proceeds to step 182. Also, in step 176, if the transaction is determined to be a D / D transaction, then the process proceeds to step 182. In step 182 , the communication server 3022 determines the real cost of the transaction. This may take into account, for example, discount information for the particular user that provides the SMS 3004. Then, in step 184, the communication server 3022 sends the order acknowledgment that was described above with reference to step 154. ( In Figure 12, step 182 is shown as being done after step 180 or 176). Alternatively, or more preferably, step 182 may take place immediately before step 176, or immediately after step 178 and immediately after step 176). After step 184, in step 186 the communication server 3022 sends the PSTN disconnect signal that was described above with reference to step 158 and causes its modem to hang in step 188. Then, the communication server 3022 place the order through the SMS 3004 with the 4050S system of product sales, the SMS 3004 providing additional information to the 4050S system of product sales, such as the name, address and shipping instructions for the particular user, who has placed the order. The communication server determines, in step 192, whether the transaction is a C / C or D / D transaction. If it is a C / C transaction, then the process proceeds to step 162 to wait for the next ringtone. However, if it is a D / D transaction, before doing this, in step 194, the communication server 3022 sends the details to the bank account so that it is uploaded to the 4050S system of product sales through SMS 3004. Once the 4050S product sales system has received the order, then the order can be forwarded to an appropriate product provider 102, and in the case of a D / D transaction, this can cause the appropriate bank server 104 Load the appropriate account.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above merely by way of example, and that detailed modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Each feature that was disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings can be provided independently or in any appropriate combination. In the preferred embodiments mentioned above, certain features of the present invention have been implemented, using computer software. However, it will be clear to the skilled person, of course, that any of these features can be implemented using the hardware. Additionally, it will be readily understood that the functions performed by the hardware, computer software, and the like are performed in, or using, electrical signals and the like.

Claims (38)

1. Apparatus for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder; the apparatus comprising: first transmission means for transmitting visual and / or audio data of first type to a receiver / decoder; and second transmission means for transmitting second type data, such second particular type data being associated with the particular visual and / or audio data of the first type, to allow the receiver / decoder to generate additional visual and / or audio data. in dependence with the second type data; wherein the first transmission means are configured to transmit to the reference data of the second transmission means, the particular reference data associated with the data of the second particular type, the second transmission means being configured to transmit the second data. particular type in response to the particular associated reference data, so that the particular visual and / or audio data of the first type and the data of the second particular unit have a previously determined timing relationship.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission means is configured to transmit the reference data to the second transmission means in the blank range of the visual and / or audio data of the first kind.

3. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 2, wherein the second transmission means comprises means for extracting the reference data from the blank range of the visual and / or audio data of the first type.

4. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first transmission means are configured to transmit with the reference data, a time at which the transmission of the associated associated second type data must begin.

The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first transmission means are configured to transmit to the second transmission means a list of operations comprising the reference data and a time at which the transmission will begin. transmission of second type data.

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the list of operations comprises a set of reference data and hours in which the transmission of the associated second associated type data will begin.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first transmission means are continuously configured to update the list of operations.

The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it additionally comprises a store connected to the second transmission means for storing the second type data.

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first transmission means is configured to transmit the second type data to the warehouse.

The apparatus according to any of claims 9, characterized in that it additionally comprises: means for providing two clock signals, transmission means that are configured to transmit visual and / or audio data of first type and data of second type in the hours that determined the respective ones of the clock signals; means for comparing the two clock signals; and means for adjusting at least one of the hours in accordance with the result of the comparison.

The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the clock signals forms part of its respective type data.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first transmission means are configured so as to transmit the particular first type data in a plurality of hours, and characterized in that it additionally comprises means for generating a list of operations of the hours in which the particular first type data will be transmitted.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the adjustment means are configured to adjust the hours in the list of operations, in accordance with the result of the comparison.

The apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the adjustment means are configured to adjust, in the second transmission means, a time at which the transmission of the second type data will begin, so that the visual and / or audio data of the first type and the second type data are transmitted with the previously determined timing relation.

15. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the respective start times for the transmission of the first and second type data have the previously determined timing relationship.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the respective start times are the same.

17. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first type data is an advertisement of the product, and the second type data is associated with the product being advertised.

18. A transmission and reception system, comprising the apparatus for transmitting data according to any of claims 1 to 17, and a receiver / decoder comprising means for receiving the data of the first and second types, and means for generating the data. additional visual and / or audio data in • dependence on the second data.

19. A method for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder; the method comprising, in the first transmission means, the steps of: transmitting the visual and / or audio data of the first type to the receiver / decoder; and transmitting the reference data to the second transmission means; and, in the second transmission means, the steps of: transmitting in response to the particular associated reference data the second type data, the second particular type data being associated with the visual and / or audio data of the first type, to allow the receiver / decoder to generate the additional visual and / or audio data in dependence with the second type data, so that said visual and / or audio data of the first type and the particular second type data have a relation of previously determined timing.

20. A method in accordance with the claim 19, wherein the reference data is transmitted to the second transmission means in the blanking interval of the visual and / or audio data of the first type.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the second transmission means extracts the reference data from the blank interval of the visual and / or audio data of the first type.

22. A method according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein a time is transmitted at which the transmission of the second particular type data associated with the reference data must begin, to the second transmission means.

23. A method according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the reference data and a time at which the transmission of the second type data will begin, are transmitted to the second transmission means in a list of operations. .

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the list of operations comprises a set of reference data and the hours at which the transmission of the associated second associated type data will begin.

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the list of operations is updated continuously.

26. A method according to any of claims 19 to 25, wherein the second type data is stored in a store connected to the second transmission means.

27. A method of compliance with the claim 26, wherein the second type data is transmitted to the warehouse by means of the first transmission means.

28. A method according to any of claims 19 to 27, wherein: two clock signals are provided; the visual and / or audio data of the first type and the second type data are transmitted at the times determined by the respective ones of the clock signals; the two clock signals are compared; and It is adjusted at least one of the hours in accordance with the result of the comparison.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the clock signals forms part of its respective type data.

30. A method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the particular first type data is transmitted in a plurality of hours, and the first transmission means generate a list of operations of the hours in which they are to be transmitted. the first particular type data.

31. A method according to claim 30, where the hours are adjusted in the list of operations in accordance with the result of the comparison.

32. A method according to any of claims 28 to 31, wherein the time at which data of the second type is to be transmitted is adjusted in the second transmission means, so that the visual data and / or or audio of the first type and the second type data have the previously determined timing relationship.

33. A method according to any of claims 19 to 32, wherein the respective start times for the transmission of the first and second type data have the previously determined timing relationship.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the respective start times are the same.

35. A method according to any of claims 19 to 34, wherein the first type data represents an advertisement of the product and the second type data is associated with the product being advertised.

36. A method according to any of claims 19 to 35, further being a method for receiving data, characterized in that it additionally comprises the reception of the visual and / or audio data of the first type and the second type data in the receiver. / decoder 2020, and the generation of additional visual and / or audio data, depending on the second type of data.

37. Apparatus for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder as substantially described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

38. A method for transmitting data to a receiver / decoder. as substantially described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.