FR2860673A1 - Information sequence transfer process for e.g. football match, involves obtaining sequence previously distributed by information distribution system, and transferring sequence to processing device and/or storing device linked to user - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves detecting a command generated by a user to obtain an information sequence one part of which has been previously reproduced by an information reproduction device. An information sequence that has previously been distributed by an information distribution system is obtained. Each obtained sequence is transferred to the destination of a processing device (125) and/or a storing device (108) associated to the user. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) a device for transfer of a sequence of information of a set of information transmitted by an information distribution system and reproduced in real time by a information reproduction device of a user; (b) a computer program stored on an information medium and including instructions to transfer a sequence of information.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a transfer device

  at least one information sequence.

  More specifically, the invention lies in the field of the distribution of information reproduced in real time by devices for reproducing information to users.

  The information distributed and reproduced in real time by devices for reproducing information to users are, for example and without limitation, audiovisual information broadcast by television channels, audio information or textual information.

  The dissemination and reproduction of real-time information to users enables an information provider to deliver information to a large number of users but does not allow information providers to customize and modify this information based on different users.

  In the context of broadcasting audiovisual programs created by information providers, some of this information may be of great interest to users, while other information is of interest to those same users.

  For example, when broadcasting sports programs such as for example a football match, the information providers determine in real time the information sequences which are of great interest to the users and subsequently disseminate the sequences of information which are of great interest to the users. users. These are, for example, information sequences in which a goal has been scored by a football player. These techniques then allow the users to be able to review sequences of information that have already been broadcast. In the context of the broadcasting of sports programs, it is easy to determine the sequences of information that are of great interest to users, but in the context of broadcasting other programs, this is much more difficult to achieve. In fact, information providers can only perform this type of service on an ad hoc basis and can not take into account the respective tastes and wishes of all users. For example, in the context of television news broadcasts, a small number of users may be very interested in a section of the newscast that is of no interest to other users. The information provider, in this case, can rebroadcast this section and thus satisfy the wishes of this small number of users without disturbing other users.

  This type of rebroadcasting does not however allow users interested in these replayed information sequences to memorize these and thus to compose a video library of often very brief information sequences that they can consult at their leisure in the future. or even share with other people. Indeed, when the information provider decides to rebroadcast a sequence of information deemed very interesting, users are not notified when the sequence of information will be rebroadcast. They can not then trigger a one-time recording with their VCR of this single sequence of information.

  One solution for each user is to systematically memorize the broadcast programs and then sort, among all the stored programs, the information sequences that the users consider relevant to finally keep only these.

  This solution is complex and tedious for users and requires the possession of suitable audiovisual equipment.

  The object of the invention is to solve the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a method and a device for determining whether an information sequence, among the set of information transmitted by an information distribution system, is considered important for at least one user and to allow the user considering a sequence of information as important, to be able to obtain this sequence of information having been previously reproduced by his reproduction device in order to reproduce it a new time or in order to memorize it.

  To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method of transferring at least one information sequence of a set of information transmitted by an information distribution system and reproduced in real time by a device. for reproducing information of a user, characterized in that the method comprises steps of detecting at least one command generated by the user for obtaining at least one information sequence of which at least a part has been previously reproduced by the information reproducing device, for obtaining at least one information sequence previously distributed by the information distribution and transfer system of the or each information sequence obtained. to a processing device and / or a storage device associated with said user.

  Correlatively, the invention relates to a device for transferring at least one information sequence of a set of information transmitted by an information distribution system and reproduced in real time by an information reproduction device. a user, characterized in that the device comprises means for detecting at least one command generated by the user for obtaining at least one information sequence of which at least a part has been previously reproduced by the device for reproducing information, means for obtaining at least one information sequence previously distributed by the information distribution system and means for transferring the or each information sequence obtained to a processing device and / or a storage device associated with said user.

  Thus, it is possible for a user to obtain a sequence of information that has already been transmitted by an information dissemination system. In addition, it is possible to transfer to only users who desire a sequence of information included in a set of information that has previously been transmitted.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the information distribution system comprises at least one information provider broadcasting a set of information on a first telecommunication network, a server capable of receiving the or each set of information broadcast. by the or each information provider by the first telecommunication network and the user information reproducing device receives the or each set of information broadcast by the or each information provider by the first telecommunication network and reproduces a set of information disseminated by an information provider.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the server stores at least a part of the or each set of information received, determines, among the information providers, the information provider whose information set is reproduced by the user's information reproduction device determines, among the part of the set of information stored and reproduced by the user's information reproduction device, at least one information sequence and transfers the or each determined information sequence to the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user via a second telecommunication network.

  Thus, the transfer of information sequences to one or more users does not require modification of the existing information set broadcasting infrastructures. By using a server receiving the or each set of information disseminated by the information provider, it is not necessary to modify the operating mode of the information provider.

  In addition, the server, by memorizing part of the information sets, creates a delay that allows the transfer of information sequences even if they have already been broadcast.

  Advantageously, it is not necessary to modify the information reproduction devices of the users so that they can benefit from the service as proposed in the present invention.

  Finally, the server, using a second telecommunication network, does not interfere with the dissemination of information by the information provider or providers on the first telecommunication network.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the or each transferred information sequence is transferred in the form of an electronic mail to the processing device associated with the user or in the form of a multimedia service message to the user device. treatment associated with the user.

  Thus, by using conventional means of information transfer, the server transfers to the user the information sequences that he has ordered. It is then possible to perform such a service without the need for a user to equip himself with particular devices. The cost of performing such a service is then reduced significantly.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the or each sequence of information transferred is transferred to an information storage means associated with the user. Descriptors are associated with the set of information in which each sequence of information has been determined and the descriptors are transferred to the information storage means associated with the user.

  Thus, the sequence of information that the user has ordered is stored automatically without it having to perform complex operations. Moreover, by also transferring the descriptors associated with the set of information in which the or each sequence of information has been determined, the user then benefits from information enriched with these descriptors and can thus index these information sequences. .

  According to another aspect of the invention, the command generated by the user to obtain at least one sequence of information is generated via a telephone handset and is transmitted via a telephone network to the server.

  Thus, it is not necessary for the user to have additional equipment to benefit from the service as proposed by the present invention. The cost of realizing the infrastructure necessary for the realization of such a service is reduced.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the information distribution system comprises at least one information provider delivering at least one set of information to a server. The server transfers to the processing device associated with the user a set of information via a telecommunications network and the processing device transfers the set of information to the user's information reproduction device. .

  Thus, the service as proposed by the present invention is compatible with information set transmission systems such as video-on-demand systems.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the server transfers sets of information to a plurality of processing devices and the server stores at least a portion of one or each set of information delivered, determines, among the sets of transferred information, the set of information reproduced by the information reproducing device of the user having generated the command, determines among the part of the set of information stored and reproduced by the information reproducing device of the user having generated the command of at least one sequence of information and transfers the or each determined sequence of information to the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user having generated the command.

  Thus, the server is able to transmit at any time and to each user the sequence of information he wants to review and / or he wishes to memorize. In addition, the processing devices associated with each user do not need to have additional memory to store portions of sets of information. This reduces the cost of such treatment devices.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the command generated by the user for obtaining at least one sequence of information is generated via the processing device associated with the user following the reception of the a predetermined signal of a remote control associated with the processing device.

  Thus, the tasks performed by the user to generate a command for obtaining at least one information sequence are simplified. In addition, the time taken by a user between the display by the user of an information sequence and the generation of a command to obtain the sequence of information he has just seen is reduced. This reduced time allows the server according to the invention to determine precisely which sequence of information the user wishes to obtain. This also allows the server to store short information sequences. In addition, since the information sequence is identifiable in a very precise manner, only this sequence of information is transmitted or stored. The transfer time of the information sequence and / or the memory space necessary for the storage of this information sequence are thus reduced.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the descriptors are representative of at least part of the path to the or each information sequence stored in the information storage means associated with the user.

  Thus, the information sequences are memorized and classified automatically. The creation of an album of information sequences and the classification of information sequences in this album are greatly simplified for the user. It will be easier for a user to retrieve the information sequences from which he ordered the storage, these being ordered according to the descriptors in the album of information sequences.

  According to another aspect of the invention, at least one information sequence subsequent to the information sequence obtained is transferred to the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user.

  Thus, it is possible to obtain information sequences even when some of this information has already been transmitted.

  Correlatively, the invention proposes a wireless control device of a processing device associated with a user, the processing device transferring a set of information to an information reproducing device, characterized in that the control device wireless comprises means for generating a signal for the processing device for controlling the obtaining of at least one information sequence of which at least a part has been previously reproduced by the information reproducing device.

  The advantages of the devices being identical to those mentioned for the processes, these will not be recalled.

  The invention also relates to the computer program stored on an information carrier, said program comprising instructions for implementing the transfer method described above, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system.

  The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the attached drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 represents a system for transferring at least one information sequence according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 represents a system for transferring at least one information sequence according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 represents the server architecture of the transfer system of at least one sequence according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 represents the server architecture of the transfer system of at least one information sequence according to the second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 represents the algorithm for transferring at least one information sequence implemented by the server according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 represents the algorithm for transferring at least one information sequence implemented by the server according to the second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7a represents examples of information sequences determined as corresponding to the information sequences that the user wishes to obtain according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7b represents examples of information sequences determined as corresponding to the information sequences that the user wishes to obtain according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  Fig. 1 represents a system for transferring at least one information sequence according to a first embodiment of the invention.

  According to the first embodiment of the invention, a user of the system for transferring at least one sequence of information, by making a telephone call to the server according to the present invention, controls the transfer and / or storage of the least a sequence of information previously disseminated by an information provider or of which at least a portion has been previously disseminated by the information provider 110.

  The system for transferring at least one information sequence comprises a server 100 capable, according to the first embodiment of the invention, of transferring at least one information sequence among a set of information broadcast by at least one provider of information. information 110 to a set of users via a broadcast network 112.

  The information provider 110 is for example a TV channel transmitting audiovisual programs or a radio station transmitting audio information or a provider of textual information such as teletext.

  The information sequence can thus be an audiovisual sequence, an audio sequence or a text sequence.

  For example, the information provider 110 broadcasts these audiovisual programs via a broadcasting network 112 such as an analogue terrestrial television broadcasting network or a digital terrestrial television broadcasting network or a network of terrestrial television networks. cable television broadcast or a satellite television broadcast network or through any other broadcast channel.

  These audiovisual programs are received and reproduced by the information reproduction device such as, for example, a television set 115 of a user 150.

  The server 100 similarly receives the audiovisual programs or the audio information or the textual information broadcast by the information provider 110.

  A control device 105 located at the home of the user 150 is able to communicate with the server 100 via a communication network 102.

  Through the control device 105, the user 150 generates a command for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the information reproduction device 115.

  The control device 105 is, in the first embodiment, a telephone handset 105 that the user 150 uses to call the server 100 via a telephone network 102. The telephone handset 105 is a fixed telephone handset capable of to establish telephone communications via a switched telephone network 102. In a variant, the telephone handset 105 is a mobile telephone, for example of the GSM type, and the telephone network 102 is in this case a GSM network. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication.

  At the server 100 are associated databases 107 and 108. The database 107 includes information associated with the users 150 of the service according to the present invention. This information is for example the address of the mailbox of each user 150, information representative of an address of a site hosting an album of information associated with the user 150, or information representative of the time set by each user 150 between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the command to store this information by the user 150. This information representative of the time taken by each user 150 between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the television. generation by the user 150 of a command for obtaining at least one sequence of information will be explained in more detail later.

  It should be noted here that the database 107 includes in an alternative embodiment of the present invention further electronic box addresses of other persons with whom the user wishes to share the transferred information sequences according to the present invention.

  The database 108 is a database comprising the information albums that constitute the various users 150 of the system according to the present invention.

  It should be noted here that, alternatively, the database 108 may be included in the server 100 or in the processing device 125 of each user 150.

  The server 100 is also connected to a processing device 125 of the user 150 via a telecommunication network 122. This network is preferably an Internet telecommunication network allowing broadband communications using the technologies known under the name xDSL. xDSL is the acronym for x Digital Subscriber Line.

  The server 100 transfers to the processing device 125 via the telecommunication network 122 the sequence of information whose transfer has been ordered by the user 150 in the form of an electronic mail to which the commanded information sequence is attached.

  The processing device 125 is for example a conventional personal computer.

  It should be noted here that in a variant, the processing device 125 may also be a cellular mobile telephone capable of receiving messages of the MMS type.

  Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages are short messages that may include video clip sequences or music.

  In this variant, the server 100 transfers to the mobile phone via the cellular telecommunications network the sequence of information whose transfer has been ordered by the user 150 as an MMS message.

  Fig. 2 represents a system for transferring at least one information sequence according to a second embodiment of the invention.

  According to the second embodiment of the invention, a user 250 of the transfer system of at least one information sequence, by carrying out a command via a remote control 225 of a processing device 225, commands the transfer and / or storage of at least one sequence of information previously transmitted by the server 200 or of which at least a part has been previously transmitted by the server 200.

  The system for transferring at least one information sequence comprises a server 200 adapted, according to the second embodiment of the invention, to transfer at least one information sequence from a set of information delivered by at least one information provider 210 to a set of users 250 via the server 200 and a telecommunication network 222.

  The information provider 210 is for example a TV channel delivering audio-visual programs or a radio station transmitting audio information or a provider of textual information such as teletext.

  The information provider 210 delivers programs to the server 200 which proposes these programs to users 250 via the telecommunication network 222. The telecommunication network 222 is for example an information distribution network using the cable as a medium. or is a telecommunications network using xDSL technologies over an existing switched telephone network.

  The server 200 generates and makes available to the users 250 a set of programs that the user 250 selects via the processing device 205 and / or the control device 225.

  The server 200 offers for example services known as VOD, acronym for Video On Demand or video on demand.

  When the user 250 selects an audiovisual program from the set of audiovisual programs offered by the server 200, the server 200 transfers the selected audiovisual program to the processing device 225 of the user 250 via the telecommunication network 222.

  The processing device 225 then transfers the received audio-visual program to the user information reproduction device 215 of the user 250 in an appropriate format.

  The information reproduction device 215 of the user 250 is for example a television.

  The server 200 receives and proposes in the same way the audio information or the textual information delivered by other information providers not shown in FIG. 2.

  The processing device 225 is associated with a control device 205. This control device is more particularly an infrared or radio remote control for controlling the processing device 225 and selecting a program from among all the programs offered by the server 200. that the user wishes to visualize.

  This same remote control having a predetermined key enables, according to the invention, the user to generate a command for obtaining at least one sequence of information that has been previously transmitted, at least in part, by the server 200 and reproduced by the information reproducing device 215.

  At the server 200, is associated a database 208. The database 208 is identical to the database 108, it will not be further described.

  A database 207 is also associated with the server 200. This database comprises the list of service users according to the invention and possibly the address or addresses to which the information sequences that the user wishes to store must be transferred.

  Fig. 3 represents the server architecture of the transfer system of at least one information sequence according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  The server 100 comprises a processor 300 connected to the memory 301. The memory 301 consists of a random access memory and a read-only memory, not shown in FIG. 3. The ROM comprises the instructions of the algorithm which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5. These instructions are loaded into the RAM when powering the server 100. The RAM also includes variables and temporary information necessary for the operation of the server 100 according to the invention.

  The processor 300 controls a demodulation and decoding module 311, a low-speed coder 312, a database interface 307 for communicating with the databases 107 and 108, a telephone network interface 322 for receiving telephone calls from users 150 and a communication interface 302 for transferring information sequences to users 150.

  The demodulation and decoding module 311 receives the information broadcast by information providers.

  The demodulation and decoding module 311 receives, for example, audiovisual programs broadcast by one or more television channels.

  For the sake of clarity, a single information provider 110 is shown in FIG.

  If these programs are broadcast according to an analogue broadcasting method in the form of high frequency signals, the demodulation and decoding module 311 demodulates these signals and then decodes these signals to SECAM or PAL or NTSC standards to put them in the form of a signal Red Green Blue chrominance or a component signal.

  If these programs are broadcast according to a digital broadcasting method in the form of high frequency signals, the demodulation and decoding module 311 demodulates these signals and then decodes these signals conforming to the MPEG2 standard to put them in the form of an output signal. in accordance with CCIR601-4: 2: 2.

  MPEG2 is an acronym for Motion Picture Expect Group 2. CCIR stands for International Radiocommunication Advisory Committee. L3

  The demodulation and decoding module 311 also receives descriptors associated with the information broadcast by the television channels. These descriptors are, for example, in accordance with the descriptors as used in DVB digital video broadcasting.

  The signals delivered by the demodulation and decoding module 311 are then coded by a low-rate coder 312, for example in a format conforming to the AVI format. AVI stands for Audio Video Interleaved.

  Low-rate coding is indeed necessary when the programs are then transferred to a telecommunication medium such as the switched telephone network 102 to ensure a reasonable transfer time of this information.

  The coded information is then stored in the sequence memory 313.

  The sequence memory 313 consists, for example, of one or more ring memories in which the coded information is stored for a predetermined time and replaced by new information coded at the end of this predetermined time.

  It should be noted that each television channel is allocated a ring memory.

  The size of the sequence memory 313 is adapted to compensate for the time taken by the users 150 to dial one of the telephone numbers of the server 100 to command the obtaining of a sequence of information that has previously been reproduced by the television 115.

  The server 100 also comprises an administrator interface 330 which makes it possible to control the operation of the server 100, to modify, for example, the parameters of the low-speed coder, or even to modify the size of the memory allocated to the sequence memory 313. The administrator interface 330 It also allows to introduce the coordinates of new users of the service as proposed by the system.

  Through the interface 307, the processor 300 obtains information associated with the service users of the present invention and / or updates the database 107 when new users subscribe to the service provided by the present invention.

  The processor 300 obtains from the database 107 the address of the electronic mailbox of the user having made a telephone call to the server 100.

  This address of the user's electronic mailbox is obtained from the telephone number of the user who made the call.

  The processor 300 similarly obtains the address of the site hosting an album of information associated with the user who made the call if it exists.

  The processor 300, in a variant of the present invention, obtains and / or updates information representative of the reaction time of the user having made the call.

  Indeed, it is possible to evaluate the response time of a user 150 to the view of audiovisual sequences reproduced on the television 115 and thus to determine more precisely the sequence of information among the sequences stored in the memory sequences 313 whose user 150 has ordered the transfer. The information enabling this determination is obtained for example when the user 150 registers with the server 100.

  For example, the user communicates during its registration, in response to voice messages generated by the telephone network interface 322, his telephone number, the address of his mailbox, the address of the site hosting his album. information or even the characteristics of its telephone handset 105. The characteristics of the telephone handset 105 are, for example, a mobile phone or a landline telephone. More precisely, other information can also be communicated, this information being for example the fact that the fixed telephone 105 is placed near or not the TV 115, or if the telephone number or numbers of the server 100 are registered or not in Indeed, according to these characteristics, the time taken by a user 150 between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the generation by the user 150 of an order for obtaining the less a sequence of information that has been previously reproduced by the television 115 is variable.

  The database 108 is a database comprising the information albums that constitute the various users of the system according to the present invention.

  The telephone network interface 322 is an interface allowing the server 100 to receive telephone calls from users. The telephone network interface 322 enables a user 150 to generate, via his telephone handset 105, a command for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the television 115.

  It should be noted that in a particular mode, several telephone numbers are allocated to the telephone network interface 322. More specifically, a telephone number is allocated for each television channel broadcast. It is also the same for the audio information broadcast on different channels and for the different textual information broadcast on different channels.

  According to this particular mode, the processor 300 determines the television channel having broadcast the sequence of information that the user 150 wishes to obtain from the telephone number dialed by the user 150.

  It should also be noted that in another variant, the user 150 generates via his telephone handset 105 a command in the form of a short service message (SMS) for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the television 115.

  This telephone network interface 322 also enables the users 150 to register with the service as proposed by the invention and to communicate the information stored in the database 107.

  The telephone network interface 322 enables the server 100 to transfer, as messages of the MMS type, the sequence of information that the user 150 has ordered to obtain.

  The telecommunication interface 302 allows the server 100 to transfer in electronic form the sequence of information which the user 150 has ordered to obtain.

  The information sequence is then transferred to the user's processing device 125 via the telecommunication network 102.

  Fig. 4 shows the server architecture of the transfer system of at least one information sequence according to the second embodiment of the invention.

  The server 200 comprises a processor 400 connected to the memory 401. The memory 401 consists of a random access memory and a read-only memory, not shown in FIG. 4. The ROM comprises the instructions of the algorithm which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. These instructions are loaded into the RAM when powering up the server 200. The RAM also includes variables and temporary information necessary for the operation of the server 200 according to the invention.

  The processor 400 controls a content storage module 411, a database interface 407 making it possible to communicate with the databases 207 and 208 and a communication interface 402 enabling the transfer of information sequences to the users 250 and the reception of data. control messages generated by the user 250 for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the information reproduction device 215 of the user 250.

  The content storage module 411 receives the information delivered by the information provider 210 of FIG. 2.

  The content storage module 411 receives, for example, audiovisual programs delivered by one or more television channels.

  This information is then stored in the sequence memory 413.

  For example, the sequence memory 413 consists of at least one ring memory in which the coded information is stored for a predetermined time and replaced by new information coded at the end of this predetermined time.

  The size of the sequence memory 413 is adapted to compensate for the time taken by the users 250 to generate a command through the controller 205, the processor 225 and the network 222 to control the obtaining of at least a sequence of information previously reproduced by the television 215.

  It should be noted that each set of information simultaneously transmitted to users by the server 200, is allocated a ring memory.

  The server 200 also comprises an administrator interface 430 which makes it possible to control the operation of the server 200, or even to modify the size of the memory allocated to the sequence memory 413.

  The administrator interface 430 also makes it possible to update a database when new users subscribe to the service according to the invention.

  The database interface 408 allows the transfer of the information sequences to be stored to the database 208. It also allows the exchange of information with the database 207.

  The database 208 is a database comprising the information albums that constitute the different users 250 of the system according to the present invention.

  The database 207 includes the list of users 250 to the service according to the invention and possibly the address or addresses to which are to be transferred the information sequences that the user wishes to obtain.

  The communication interface 402 is an interface enabling the server 200 to receive messages from the processing device 225 of the user 250. These messages are messages generated by the processing device 205 following an action on the control device 205 , in this case the remote control 205 of the processing device 225.

  These messages are, inter alia, control messages generated by the user 250 for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the information reproduction device 215 of the user 250.

  The communication interface 402 allows the server 200 to transfer to the processing device 225 the information sequence whose storage has been controlled.

  Fig. 5 represents the algorithm for transferring at least one information sequence implemented by the server according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  Upon launching the application, the processor 300 of the server 100 reads from the memory 301 the program instructions corresponding to the steps E500 to E516 of FIG. 5 and the RAM load not shown to execute them.

  This algorithm is performed each time a call from a user is received by the server 100.

  In step E500, a telephone call is detected by the telephone network interface 322, which transfers information representative of this call to the processor 300.

  The processor 300, upon receipt of the information representative of this call goes to the next step E501.

  At this step, the processor 300 identifies the user 150 who made the phone call. The identification is made from the telephone number of the user 150 provided by the telecommunications operator of the network 102. This telephone number is for example obtained conventionally with the service of presenting the telephone number of the caller.

  Thus, from the telephone number of the user 150, the processor 300 accesses via the database interface 307 to the information associated with the user 150.

  The processor 300 thus obtains a confirmation of the subscription of the user to the service as presented according to the present invention.

  Once this is done, the processor 300 then proceeds to the next step E502 and determines the time taken by the user between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the generation by the user of a command for obtaining at least one sequence of information.

  The time taken by the user 150 between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the command to obtain these information sequences by the user 150 is for example determined according to statistical analyzes performed on a set of data. users in the service as proposed by the present invention.

  The time taken by the user between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the command to obtain these information sequences by the user 150 is alternatively determined from the characteristics of the control device 105 communicated by the user. when registering for the service.

  If the control device 105 is a mobile or fixed telephone, placed near or not the TV 115 or if the telephone number (s) of the server 100 are registered or not in the telephone handset 105, the time taken by the user between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 115 and the command to obtain these information sequences by the user 150 is different.

  This time can thus be of the order of a few tens of seconds to a few minutes.

  Once this is done, the processor 300 proceeds to step E503 and determines the channel, more precisely the television channel that broadcast the information sequence that the user wishes to store. The processor 300 determines this string by determining which telephone number has been dialed by the user 150. Indeed, the telephone network interface 322 has several telephone numbers each corresponding to a television channel. By determining which of these phone numbers has been dialed, the processor 300 determines the television channel that broadcast the sequence of information that the user wishes to obtain.

  As a variant, a single telephone number is associated with the telephone network interface 322 and the telephone network interface 322 generates a voice announcement intended for the user inviting him to indicate the number of the channel by pressing on least one touch of his telephone handset 105.

  In the next step E504, the processor 300 identifies the information sequence among the information sequences stored in the sequence memory 313 corresponding to that obtained by the user 150.

  To do this, the processor 300 determines the ring memory associated with the chain determined in step E503 to finally select the information sequence stored in the ring memory corresponding to that obtained by the user 150.

  According to a first variant embodiment, there is associated with each stored information sequence a time marker representative of the time of the start of the broadcast by the information provider 110 of the information sequence. The processor 300, by subtracting between the current time of its internal clock and the time determined in the step E502, determines the sequence of information whose time marker is closest and inferior to the result of the subtraction and selects it.

  According to a second variant embodiment, the processor 300 also selects the information sequences neighboring the information sequence determined in the first variant embodiment.

  According to a third variant embodiment, the processor 300 selects all the information sequences stored in the determined ring memory.

  According to a fourth variant embodiment, the processor 300 determines the information sequence whose time marker is closest to and less than the result of the subtraction and selects it as well as the information sequences whose time marker is greater than the result of the subtraction.

  When this is done, the processor 300 reads at step E505 in the sequence memory 313 the selected information sequence or the selected information sequences.

  In the next step E506, the processor 300 obtains from the demodulation and decoding module 311 the descriptors associated with the audiovisual program to which the information sequence or sequences read in step E505 belong.

  In the next step E507, the processor 300 interrogates the database 107 via the interface 307. The processor 300 thus obtains the address of the electronic mailbox of the user 150 having called, or even the addresses of electronic boxes of other persons with whom the user 150 wishes to share the sequences of information which he has ordered to obtain. The processor 300 also obtains from the database 107 information representative of an address of a site hosting an album of information associated with the user 150 if this information exists.

  In the next step E508, the processor 300 checks whether the address of the electronic mailbox of the called user 150 is included in the database 107.

  If so, processor 300 proceeds to step E509. At this stage, the processor 300 forms an electronic mail destined for the electronic mailbox of the user 150 having ordered the storage of the information sequence. It should be noted that if other mailbox addresses are associated with the user 150 in the database 107, these addresses are also taken as recipients of the email. The sequence of information is included in the email as a file attached to the email. In addition, the descriptors associated with the audiovisual program are also inserted in the electronic mail. The descriptors are inserted as text. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the descriptors are represented according to a directory tree structure of a computer.

  For example, if the television program is a football match and the descriptors are sport, football, team, match date, player, the descriptors are shown under the following wicket C: / my documents / sport / football / team / date of the match / player.

  Once this is done, the processor 300 proceeds to step E510 and transfers the formed electronic mail or messages to the processing device 125 of the user 150 via the telecommunication network 122.

  It should be noted here that if a plurality of mailbox addresses are associated with the user 150, the emails are transferred to each of the mailbox addresses.

  It should be noted that, alternatively, the electronic mail is transferred as an MMS message.

  Once this is done, the processor 300 proceeds to the next step E516.

  At this step, the processor 300 checks whether an address of a site hosting an information album associated with the user 150 is included in the database 107.

  If not, the algorithm of FIG. 5 ends. The processor 300 returns to step E500 waiting for a new call.

  If the test of step E508 is negative or if an address of a site hosting an information album associated with user 150 is included in database 107, processor 300 proceeds to step E511.

  In step E511, the processor 300 transfers to the database 108, via the database interface 307, the sequence or sequences of information read in step E505, an identifier of the subscriber 150, as well as the descriptors obtained in step E506.

  Upon receipt of the information sequence or information sequences, the subscriber identifier and the associated descriptors, the database 108 at step E512, analyzes the received descriptors and puts them into a form. conform to a directory tree structure of a computer if they are not in this form. The identifier of the user 150 and the descriptors are represented in the following form C: / user / my documents / sport / football / team / date of the match / player /.

  In the next step E513, the database 108 checks whether each element of the tree structure corresponds to an existing directory.

  If each element of the tree structure corresponds to an existing directory, the database 108 proceeds to step E515.

  If not, the database 108 creates in step E514 the one or more directories that do not exist and proceeds to step E515.

  In step E515, the database 108 stores the received information sequence or information sequences in accordance with the path defined with the descriptors in step E512.

  Fig. 6 represents the algorithm for transferring at least one information sequence implemented by the server according to the second embodiment of the invention.

  When the application is launched, the processor 400 of the server 200 reads from the memory 401 the program instructions corresponding to the steps E600 to E615 of FIG. 6 and the loads in RAM not shown to execute them.

  This algorithm is performed each time a command to obtain at least one information sequence generated by a user 250 is received via the communication interface 402.

  In step E600, a control message is detected by the communication interface 402, which transfers information representative of this control message to the processor 400.

  This control message has been transmitted by the processing device 225 of a user 250 following the reception of a signal generated by the control device 205.

  The user 250, at the sight of a set of information representative of an audiovisual program reproduced by the information reproduction device 215, decides to control the recording of the audiovisual sequence just reproduced by the device 215 which is, in this case, a television. The user 250 presses on a predetermined key of the control device 205, and the control device 205 generates in return a signal representative of the pressing on the predetermined key in the form of an infrared signal or a radio signal destined for the processing device 225. The processing device 225 then transmits on the telecommunication network 222 a message representative of the command for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously transmitted by the server 200 or at least a part of which has previously transmitted by the server 200.

  The processor 400, upon receipt of the command message representative of this command, proceeds to the next step E601.

  At this stage, the processor 601 identifies the processing device 225 having transmitted the message. The identification is performed by reading the identifier of the processing device 225 included in the message received in step E600.

  From this identifier, the processor 400 accesses via the database interface 407 to the information associated with the user stored in the database 207.

  The processor 400 thus obtains a confirmation of the subscription of the user 250 to the service as presented according to the present invention.

  Once this is done, the processor 400 then proceeds to the next step E602 and determines the time taken by the user 250 between the view of audiovisual sequences on the television 215 and the command to obtain this information by the user 250.

  The time taken by the user between the view of information sequences on the television 215 and the command for obtaining this information by the user 250 is, unlike the first embodiment described above, relatively short and varies little according to the users.

  Indeed, the control device 205 is a remote control that can select and control the viewing of various audiovisual programs offered and delivered by the server 200. Conventionally, the user 250 places the remote control 205 close to him when looking at a audiovisual program. Thus, when the user 250 decides to obtain a sequence of information that he has just seen, the time taken by the user between the view of this sequence of information on the television 215 and the generation of a command obtaining this sequence of information by the user 250 is relatively short and is for example of the order of a few tens of seconds.

  Once this is done, the processor 400 proceeds to step E603 and determines the program being viewed by the user 250. The processor 400 determines the program being viewed by the user 250 by consulting in the server's RAM. 200 which program is being transferred to the processing device 225 whose identifier has been determined previously in step E601.

  In the next step E604, the processor 600 identifies the sequence of information among the information sequences stored in the sequence memory 413 which corresponds to that obtained by the user 250.

  To do this, the processor 400 determines the ring memory associated with the program transferred to the user 250 determined in the step E603 and selects the sequence stored in the ring memory corresponding to the one whose recording was commanded by the user 250.

  According to a first variant embodiment, the information sequences stored in each ring memory of the sequence memory 413 are all of identical duration and are for example of the order of one minute. The processor 400 thus determines the information sequence or sequences that were broadcast for example less than a minute ago and identifies them as the information sequence or sequences whose user 250 has ordered the obtaining.

  According to a second embodiment of the invention, the processor 400 selects the last information sequence stored in the sequence memory 413 and identifies it as the sequence of information which the user 250 has ordered the obtaining.

  According to a third variant, the ring memory is of limited size and comprises only information representative of a minute of display. The processor 400 thus selects all the information stored in the sequence memory 413 and identifies it as the sequence of information which the user 250 has ordered the obtaining.

  When this is done, the processor 400 reads at step E605 in the memory 413 the sequence or sequences of information identified previously.

  In the next step E606, the processor 400 obtains from the content storage module 411 the descriptors associated with the set of information representative of the audiovisual program to which the sequence or sequences of information read in step E605 belong.

  In the next step E607, the processor 400 interrogates the database 207 via the interface 407. The processor 400 obtains from the database 207 the address of the processing device 225 from the user 250 if she exists.

  If the address of the processing device 225 of the user 250 exists, the processor 400 proceeds to the step E608.

  At this stage, the processor 400 forms a message intended for the processing device 225 of the user 250 having ordered the obtaining of at least one information sequence. This message includes the information sequence (s) read in step E605 as well as the descriptors associated with the audiovisual program.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the descriptors are represented according to a directory tree structure of a computer.

  Once this is done, the processor 400 proceeds to step E609 and transfers via the telecommunication network 222 the message formed to the processing device 225 of the user 250 having ordered the obtaining of at least one sequence of information. It should be noted here that if a plurality of processing device addresses 225 are associated with the user 250, the message is transferred to each address of the processing devices associated with the user 250.

  It should be noted that, alternatively, the electronic message or emails are transferred as MMS messages.

  Once this is done, the processor 400 proceeds to the next step E615.

  At this step, the processor 400 checks whether an address of a site hosting an information album associated with the user 250 is included in the database 207.

  If not, the algorithm of FIG. 6 ends. The processor 400 returns to step E600 waiting for a new command.

  If the test of step E607 is negative or if an address of a site hosting an information album associated with user 250 is included in database 207, processor 400 proceeds to step E610.

  In step E610, the processor 400 transfers to the database 208, via the database interface 407, the sequence or sequences of information read in step E605, an identifier of the subscriber 250, as well as the associated descriptors obtained in step E606.

  Upon receipt of the information sequence, the subscriber identifier and associated descriptors, the database 208 at step E611, analyzes the received descriptors and puts them in a form conforming to a tree structure of directory of a computer if they are not in this form. The user identifier 250 and the descriptors are represented in the following form C: / user / my documents / sport / football / team / match date / player /.

  In the next step E612, the database 208 checks whether each element of the tree structure corresponds to an existing directory.

  If each element of the tree structure corresponds to an existing directory, the database 208 proceeds to step E614.

  If not, the database 208 creates in step E613 the directory or directories that do not exist and proceeds to step E614.

  In step E614, the database 208 stores the received information sequence or sequences according to the path defined with the descriptors in step E611. It should be noted here that in an alternative embodiment, the processing device 225 of the user 250 has a sequence memory similar to the sequence memory 413 of the server 200 and when the user 250 controls the storage of at least one sequence of information, the processing device 205 does not transfer a message to the server. server 200.

  According to this variant, the processing device 225 reads the last information sequence stored in its sequence memory and transfers it to the television 215.

  Fig. 7a shows examples of information sequences determined as corresponding to the information sequences that the user wishes to obtain according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  A ring 700 of a sequence memory 313 associated with a broadcast channel of an information set comprises a plurality of information sequences denoted S-8 to S0.

  The audiovisual program broadcast by the broadcast channel of a set of information is subdivided into information sequences of substantially identical duration or of substantially identical size with respect to each other. For example, each information sequence represents a viewing time of the order of one minute.

  Thus, every minute, a new sequence of information is stored in the sequence memory 313 to replace the oldest stored information sequence.

  The size of the ring 700 is, for example, defined in order to satisfy user commands 150 desiring to obtain information sequences that have been broadcast less than ten minutes before the call from the user 150.

  The sequence denoted SO corresponds here to the most recent information sequence stored in the ring of the sequence memory 313 associated with an audiovisual program. The sequence noted S-8 here corresponds to the oldest information sequence stored in the ring of the sequence memory 313 associated with the same audiovisual program. Sequences S-1 to S-7 are sequences of information between sequences SO and S-8 placed chronologically in the ring of the sequence memory 313 associated with the audiovisual program.

  The arrow denoted 730 corresponds to the reception by the server 100 of a command generated by the user 150 to obtain at least one sequence of information previously reproduced by the information reproduction device 115.

  At this time, the sequence SO is being broadcast by the information provider 110.

  The set of information sequences 710 corresponds for example to information sequences identified by the server 100 as corresponding to the command generated by the user 150 to obtain at least one sequence of information.

  According to this example, the time determined by the processor 300 of the server 100 in the step E502 is considered relatively inaccurate. This is for example the case when the handset 105 of the user 150 is not located near the television 115. The processor 300 of the server 100 identifies the sequence controlled by the user as being an information sequence included in information sequences broadcast between two and six minutes previously.

  The processor 300 of the server 100 then transfers in this case the information sequences noted S-6 to S-2 to the processing device 125 and / or to the album of the user 150 included in the database 108.

  In a second example, the set of information sequences 720 corresponds for example to a sequence of information identified by the server 100 as corresponding to the information storage command.

  In this example, the time determined by the processor 300 of the server 100 in step E502 is considered relatively accurate. This is the case when the user 150 has a telephone handset 105 located near the television 115. The processor 300 of the server 100 identifies the sequence controlled by the user 150 as being a sequence broadcast two minutes preceding the telephone call. of it.

  The processor 300 of the server 100 then transfers in this case the information sequence denoted S-2 to the processing device 125 and / or to the album of the user 150 included in the database 108.

  Fig. 7b represents examples of information sequences determined as corresponding to the information sequences that the user 250 wishes to obtain according to the second embodiment of the invention.

  The ring 740 of a sequence memory 413 associated with an audiovisual program transmitted by the server 200 to the processing device 225 comprises a plurality of information sequences denoted S-8 to S0. The ring 740 is similar to the ring 700 of FIG. 7a. However, it includes information sequences of shorter duration, for example of the order of thirty seconds.

  The arrow denoted 750 corresponds to the reception by the server 200 of a command generated by the user 250 to obtain a sequence of information that has been previously reproduced by the information reproduction device 215 of the user. 250.

  At this time, the sequence SO is being transmitted to the processing device 225 of the subscriber 250 according to the second embodiment by the server 200.

  The set of information sequences 780 corresponds, for example, to information sequences identified by the server 200 as corresponding to the command for obtaining information.

  According to this example, the user 250 commands the obtaining of a sequence of information that has already been transmitted.

  For example, the time determined by the processor 400 of the server 200 in the step E602 is considered relatively short. The sequence S-1 is identified as the sequence controlled by the user.

  The processor 400 of the server 200 then transfers in this case the information sequence denoted S-1 to the processing device 225 and / or the album of the user 250 included in the database 208.

  The user 250 may also alternatively order the storage of information sequences subsequent to this information sequence that has been transmitted.

  According to the variant, the processor 400 of the server 200 then transfers in this case the information sequence denoted S-1 as well as the sequences SO, S1 and S2 as represented by the set of sequences denoted 780 in FIG. 7b to the processing device 225 and / or the album of the user 250 included in the database 208.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but encompasses, on the contrary, any variant within the scope of those skilled in the art.

Claims (1)

29 CLAIMS   A method of transferring at least one information sequence of a set of information transmitted by an information distribution system and reproduced in real time by an information reproducing device (115, 215) of a user (150, 250), characterized in that the method comprises steps of: - detecting (E500, E600) at least one command generated by the user for obtaining at least one information sequence at least a part of which has previously been reproduced by the information reproducing device, - obtaining (E505, E605) at least one information sequence previously distributed by the information distribution system, - transfer ( E510, E511, E609, E610) of the or each information sequence obtained to a processing device (125, 225) and / or a storage device (108, 208) associated with said user.   2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information distribution system comprises at least one information provider (110) broadcasting a set of information on a first telecommunication network (112), a server (100). ) able to receive the or each set of information broadcast by the or each information provider by the first telecommunication network and in that the user's information reproduction device (115) receives the or each set of information information disseminated by the or each information provider by the first telecommunication network and reproduces a set of information disseminated by an information provider.   3) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the method comprises the steps performed by the server of: - storage of at least a part of the or each set of information received, determination among suppliers of information provider information whose set of information is reproduced by the user's information reproducing device, - determining among the part of the set of information stored and reproduced by the information reproducing device of the user. using at least one information sequence, - transferring the or each determined information sequence to the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user via a second telecommunication network.   4) Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the or each sequence of information transferred is transferred in the form of an electronic mail to the processing device associated with the user or in the form of a multimedia service message to the processing device associated with the user.   5) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the command generated by the user to obtain at least one sequence of information is generated via a telephone handset and is transmitted over a telephone network to the server.   6) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information distribution system comprises at least one information provider delivering at least one set of information to a server, the server transfers to the processing device associated with the using a set of information via a telecommunication network and the processing device transfers the set of information to the user's information reproducing device.   7) Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the server transfers information sets to a plurality of processing devices and in that the method comprises the steps performed by the server of: - storage of at least a part of or of each set of information delivered, - determining among the sets of infoiuiations transferred from the set of information reproduced by the information reproducing device of the user having generated the command, - determining in the part of the set of information stored and reproduced by the information reproducing device of the user having generated the command of at least one information sequence, - transfer of the or each determined information sequence to destination 5 of the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user having generated the command.   8) Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the command generated by the user for obtaining at least one sequence of information is generated via the processing device associated with the user. upon receipt of a predetermined signal from a remote control associated with the processing device.   9) A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the or each sequence of information transferred is transferred to an information storage means associated with the user, descriptors are associated with the set of information in wherein each sequence of information has been determined and in that the method further comprises a step of transferring the descriptors to the information storage means associated with the user.   10) Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the descriptors are representative of at least a portion of the path to the or each sequence of information stored in the information storage means associated with the user.   1l) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the method further comprises a transfer step to the processing device and / or the storage device associated with the user of at least one sequence of information subsequent to the information sequence obtained.   12) Device for transferring at least one information sequence of a set of information transmitted by an information distribution system and reproduced in real time by a user's information reproduction device, characterized in that what the device comprises: - means for detecting at least one command generated by the user to obtain at least one information sequence of which at least a portion has been previously reproduced by the reproduction device d information, means for obtaining at least one sequence of information previously distributed by the information distribution system, means for transferring the or each information sequence obtained to a processing device and / or a storage device associated with said user.   13) Wireless control device of a processing device associated with a user, the processing device transferring a set of information to an information reproducing device, characterized in that the wireless control device comprises means for generating a signal to the processing device for controlling the obtaining of at least one information sequence of which at least a portion has been previously reproduced by the information reproducing device.   14) computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions for implementing the transfer method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system .