FR2868652A1 - Audio or audiovisual content e.g. film, transmitting method for digital television receiver, involves selecting data group whose attribute associated to content relates to criteria of reproduction apparatus and reproducing group`s content - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves receiving a data block (3.1) having data groups (3.2), where each data group has an attribute (3.3) associated to an audio or audiovisual content (3.4). The data block is transmitted to several reproduction apparatuses. The data group whose associated attribute corresponds to criteria suitable for the apparatus is selected. The audio or audiovisual content of the selected group is reproduced at a defined moment. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a transmitter for transmitting an audio or audiovisual program to a reproduction apparatus (B) an audio or audiovisual reproduction apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to the broadcasting of audiovisual sequences

  transmitted by a transmitter to reproduction devices and more particularly when these emissions are selectable according to a given criterion.

  It is known the broadcast of advertising spots provided by an advertiser to a broadcaster responsible for transmitting them to a set of television receivers. The broadcaster reserves a portion of the time range for advertising pages, with advertisers generally purchasing a portion of these ranges. The rest of the time range is for audiovisual programs: film, documentary, variety, newspaper, video clip, etc. More and more the policy of broadcasters is to sell a certain time of broadcast to the advertiser, the latter is free to occupy that time and to put the audiovisual content that he wishes. Typically, the advertiser buys multiple ad slots spread throughout the day. Depending on the niche purchased, the content to be broadcast will not be the same because users in front of their receivers will not be the same throughout the day.

  For example, a brand owner often has multiple advertising screens to target different users. Currently, the advertiser chooses its target based on the time of broadcast, the channel, the event that precedes or follows the advertisement. For example, a major company in the sale of records will request the broadcast of an advertisement for a compact disc (CD) of music for young people before a series for teenagers, for a CD of old song in the early post- noon (when housewives under 50 are in front of their television receiver), for a CD of classical music after a cultural program at the end of the evening. The present invention makes it possible, among other advantages, to have a new, more efficient and more efficient means for satisfying users' expectations.

  It is important to optimize the dissemination of advertising sequences in order to reach the maximum number of people likely to be interested in the advertising message.

  The previous application FR 2810834 published December 28, 2001 and filed by the applicant describes a method of receiving and viewing advertising spots broadcast by a network. The advertising spots are grouped according to specific criteria, their themes for example. Each group is then broadcast on a different broadcast channel, a channel being associated with at least one attribute which identifies a criterion common to all the spots broadcast by this channel. The receiver has information related to the user, the user profile for example. The receiver correlates this information with the attributes of each channel and thus determines the one that best suits the user. When the broadcaster programs an ad slot, the receiver selects the user's preferred channel and displays a suitable ad slot for the duration programmed by the broadcaster. At the end of the range, the receiver returns to the program initially chosen by the user. This system makes it possible to adapt the advertising sequences to the wishes of the users but it consumes a lot of bandwidth because it needs as many channels as attributes. In addition, the channels constantly broadcast commercials even if no advertising range is scheduled at this time, so this broadcast is a waste.

  The broadcaster sells very expensive advertising time. It is more profitable for him to sell long advertising periods to advertisers who are free then to use them to broadcast their content. To make the purchase of an advertising page more profitable, partners proposing similar products can associate and thus develop together a range of advertising presenting contents having a link for example: the same theme. In this way, users see advertisements that match the tastes of the average population of users watching the programs at that time of the day. This way of doing things actually satisfies a certain percentage of users, but does not guarantee to satisfy a large part, or almost all of them.

  The present invention aims at satisfying a large number of users by viewing programs adapted to their criteria, while consuming only a minimum of bandwidth on the transmission channel of audiovisual sequences. io

  One of the objects of the present invention is a method of transmitting audio or audiovisual content transmitted by a broadcaster to a plurality of reproduction apparatus having means for selecting one of several contents, characterized in that comprises: a step of reception by the broadcaster of a block comprising a plurality of groups of data, each group comprising at least one attribute associated with audio or audiovisual content, each content of the block having the same reproduction duration; step of transmitting said block by the broadcaster to the plurality of receivers, at a reproduction apparatus: a step of selecting a group whose associated attribute best corresponds to criteria specific to the receiver, a step at a time defined by the broadcaster of the contents of the selected group.

  In this manner, the broadcaster transmits content to a plurality of receivers, which selects to determine the content that is best suited to the benefit of the user of the reproduction apparatus.

  According to a first improvement, the data block contains a channel reference for searching the audio or audiovisual contents. The channel may be analog (for radio programs) or digital in nature (for digital television programs).

  The reproduction apparatus adjusts its reception means (tuner, demultiplexer) to receive the correct channel broadcasting the contents. According to one variant, the audio or audiovisual contents are in the transmitted data block. According to a third variant, the data block contains an address for providing the audio or audiovisual contents to the reproduction apparatus via a bidirectional communication network. The device connects to the specified address and loads the contents for playback.

  According to another improvement, the audio or audiovisual content to be reproduced is recorded beforehand at the receiver. In this way, the broadcaster does not need to provide additional bandwidth to transmit the block at the time of reproduction. The broadcaster can transmit it at the time that suits him best, the device records this content and reproduces it at the time specified by the broadcaster.

  According to an improvement, the reproduction apparatus selects the content to be recorded and keeps only the latter in memory, which avoids using memory space unnecessarily. According to one improvement, the reproduction of a recorded content is triggered by information sent by the broadcaster.

  The subject of the invention is also a transmitter for broadcasting audio or audiovisual programs intended for reproduction devices, said programs being interspersed with advertising spots; characterized in that it comprises: a means for receiving a block comprising at least one group of data associating attributes with audio or audiovisual contents of identical reproduction duration; a step of transmission of said block by the diffuser to the reproduction apparatus.

  The subject of the invention is also an audio or audiovisual reproduction apparatus comprising a means for selecting one of several contents; characterized in that it comprises: means for receiving a block comprising at least one group of data associating attributes with audio or audiovisual contents of identical reproduction duration, means for selecting a content of which the associated attribute best corresponds to criteria specific to the device, and means for triggering reproduction of the content thus selected at a time defined by information received from outside the device.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the following exemplary embodiments, taken by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 represents all the actors implementing the process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows an example of the communications exchanged between the different actors, Figure 3 represents a data block defined by the advertiser and corresponding to a range of advertising, Figure 4 illustrates an example of data that has been broadcast and ultimately selected across multiple devices in the same home.

  FIG. 1 shows the different actors implementing the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Advertisers 1 enter into communication with a broadcaster 2 of audiovisual or audio only programs. The communication is effected by means of a link 3. The broadcaster 2 transmits, to a set of reproduction apparatuses 5, programs interspersed with advertising sequences provided by the advertisers. The invention applies more particularly to digital television receivers, which receive the programs through a broadcast network 5, for example using a satellite. Each device has an alternative advertising management application. i0

  Figure 2 shows the various communications exchanged between the advertisers 1, the broadcaster 2 and the reproduction devices 4 installed with the users. As a first step, the advertiser proposes that the broadcaster reserve a certain time slot in order to broadcast advertising spots (step 2.1). This proposal may be subject to payment. The broadcaster receives and analyzes the offer. Unless the financial conditions are not interesting or if the broadcaster has more beach to offer, the latter responds to the advertiser by an agreement 2. 2 including the characteristics of the time slots reserved for this advertiser. These features include at least the start time and duration of each time slot. Other information can be given such as: the service (s) or broadcast channel (s), the quality of the broadcast (which can be expressed in terms of bandwidth and compression ratio), the type of audio channel (mono , stereo, surround, home theater 5.1, or the video format.After this communication, the advertiser knows exactly what broadcast time it has and when the spots will be broadcast.It then defines a broadcast set.

  A broadcast set consists of one or more data blocks 3.1 shown in Figure 3. Each data block 3.1 contains one or more contents whose reproduction time corresponds to the duration of the time range determined by the broadcaster. These blocks are said to be alternative because the contents will be the subject of a choice at the receiver. The alternative block comprises a descriptor 3.2 and couples (Attribute, Audiovisual or audio - compressed or not content), or AC couples. The descriptor in block 3.2 contains data such as: time slot characteristics, number of AC pairs, advertiser identifier, service (s) or broadcast channel (s), etc. Each pair AC comprises one or more attributes 3.3 characterizing the associated audio or audiovisual content 3.4. io

  For example, the advertiser may decide that the characterization of the content is done according to the intended user. Here is an example of a list of 8 attributes according to this characterization: - Young child - Teenager / Boy - Teenager l Girl - Single - Married couple with children Housewife under 50 - Grandparents - Neutral Another way to characterize the content consists in associating it with a precise place where it must be reproduced. Here is another example of a list of 6 attributes according to this characterization: - Living Room - Kitchen - Child Room - Teen Room - Parent Room - Unknown We can notice that in both lists, we find an attribute (neutral or unknown) allowing a default characterization when none of the other attributes are suitable. s

  Other characterizations are possible, geographical location, financial income, themes, etc. You can associate with a content several attributes taken from the lists above.

  The advertiser constructs the data block 3.1 with audio or audiovisual content whose reproduction time is the same. The broadcast set is sent to the broadcaster (communication 2.3 of Figure 2). The broadcaster checks the received data and incorporates each block 3.1 into a broadcast channel at a convenient time. One block corresponds to an advertising range interspersed with a non-advertising program.

  The diffusion of the blocks 3.1 to the apparatuses 4 is carried out during a fourth step 2.4. The broadcaster issues information to the control specifying the reproduction of an alternative advertising range. This information signals reproduction devices to search for audio or audiovisual content according to their own criteria. The broadcast technique uses a preferred example broadband TV (broadband TV in English), using the ADSL technique. With this type of network, the device has a continuous access to content on demand (unicast streaming technique over IP network, by connecting to a multicast address (or multicast in English) .In such a network, the advertiser is limited to specifying an IP address where the audiovisual or audio content to be searched is located.

  One can also use a conventional broadcast network (radio, radio, satellite, ...), the broadcaster sends in the appropriate broadcast format block 3.1 defined by the advertiser. Such a network broadcasts events, as well as data for referencing them. This data is, for example, defined in the DVB-Sl (Digital Video Broadcast specification for Service Information) specification or the 'Service Digital Data Distribution Service' publication EN 300 468 V1. 3.1 (edited by ETSI). They are in the form of tables and descriptors that describe the objects transmitted on the broadcast network. The EIT table indicates a list of events for each service, including events being broadcast. This table provides text information to identify event selection criteria. Using these tables, the device can associate service information with audio or audiovisual content broadcast by the network. As a result, the broadcaster can use these tables to identify the different contents programmed by the advertiser. At the end of step 2.4, the device knows that an advertising range is announced, its first job is to determine the content to be reproduced, it then launches its alternative advertising management application.

  During a fifth step 2.5, the application correlates the different attributes of the block received with its own criteria, and selects an AC pair. An example of selection and search of a commercial according to a criterion specific to the reproduction apparatus is described in the previous application FR 2810834 published on December 28, 2001, this application describes a receiver which searches on another channel the contents of the advertising range and at the end of it returns to the initial channel. Another way to do this is to cut the bandwidth of the selected service or channel into as many secondary channels concomitantly broadcasting the audio or audiovisual content of each AC pair. The receiver selects the secondary channel according to the attribute of the AC couple and reproduces its contents. This solution has the advantage of consuming an equal value of bandwidth, but the quality of each content is less good because the bandwidth is reduced.

  An improvement of the present exemplary embodiment consists in providing the terminal with a memory capable of memorizing at least a few minutes of audio or audiovisual content. The user selects an audio or audiovisual channel, the broadcaster transmitting on the selected channel an alternative block 3.1 containing audio or audiovisual content and a date and time of reproduction of one of the contents of the block. The reproduction apparatus detects the presence of an alternative block, stores it and at the desired time by the broadcaster, selects the content according to the associated attribute and reproduces the selected content. In this way, the broadcaster can use a time slot that is not busy in terms of bandwidth in order to transmit one or more blocks 3.1 in advance. At the time of reproduction of the advertising range, this improvement avoids broadcasting a very large amount of audio or audio-visual data which overload at one stroke the bandwidth. After copying, the block is erased automatically.

  According to an improvement, when receiving the alternative block, the device selects the content that best corresponds to its own criteria and stores it. The broadcaster specifies in the block the moment of reproduction. After playback, the stored content is automatically deleted.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the diffuser first transmits the block and then an identifier of this block associated with a time indication specifying the moment of reproduction. According to this variant, the apparatus stores in memory the contents associated with a block identifier, the broadcaster then remotely triggers the reproduction of one or the other of the contents by broadcasting information for launching the reproduction of a content. of a block. The reproduction start information contains the time of reproduction and the identifier of the block that contains the content to be reproduced. The device manages a table of contents in memory. The elements of this table are groups of data comprising a block identifier and audio or audiovisual content. This variant is particularly advantageous in terms of the amount of bandwidth occupied, because the broadcaster no longer needs to transmit the content as many times as it is reproduced.

  Reproducts that do not have the management application do not change the visualization of the current program. On the other hand, the other devices extract the content from their memory and reproduce it for the user. When the duration of the range defined by the broadcaster has elapsed, the application returns to the original channel. Another way of doing things, which has been discussed previously, is that the terminal connects to the address specified in the AC couple to download the audiovisual or audio content. The reproduction apparatus then displays the recorded content at the time specified by the broadcaster.

  Figures 4 describe an example of the different contents broadcast and visualized. Figure 4.1 shows an audiovisual program consisting of a weather diary, followed by an alternative advertising range and non-alternative advertising on the sport, all broadcast on the TS1 channel. At the end of the weather log, the broadcaster sends a block of data describing the alternative advertising page, this block consists of four AC couples. The first couple is intended for a standard reproduction device, the content that presents the evening film is broadcast on the same channel TS1 as the newspaper and advertising on the sport. The second AC couple targets young children, the content that concerns a cartoon, is transmitted on the TS2 channel. The third AC couple targets teenagers, the content that has the best sales of audio CDs, is transmitted on the TS3 channel. The fourth AC couple targets an adult audience, the content that describes the conditions of DVD rentals in a specialty store, is transmitted on the TS4 channel. The management application compares the attribute values of each AC pair with its own criteria stored in the receiver, selects content, and switches to the channel broadcasting that content. At the end of the reproduction of the content, the device returns to the initial channel.

  As all contents have the same duration, the return on the initial channel is done at the same time.

  Figure 4.2 shows what is actually visualized at the level of four reproduction devices in a domestic installation. We see that the reproduction device installed in the young children's room visualizes the content transmitted on TS2, that the device installed in the teenagers 'room displays the content transmitted on TS3 and that the device installed in the parents' room displays the content transmitted on TS4.

  Figure 4.3 shows a variant of diffusion of the alternative block. Here the bandwidth is divided into as many parts as there are couples. For example, the TS1 channel has 5 Mbits / second, according to the instructions of the advertiser, the broadcaster grants 2 Mb / s to the first content (the presentation of the evening film), and 1 Mb / s for each of the other three content. The TS channel divided into four subchannels can be seen together using the same bandwidth as the initial channel. At the time indicated by the broadcaster, the reproducing apparatus makes its selection and sends to the display the contents of the selected subchannel.

  According to a preferred embodiment, each reproduction apparatus contains a list of criteria. To make a selection, at least one criterion must be compatible (if not equal) with at least one attribute of an AC pair. If the advertiser and the device distributor have previously agreed, the attributes and criteria are defined in a single list. If this is not the case, we can correlate using the synonyms. If more than one attribute is specified in an AC pair and the device contains more than one criterion, a coincidence value must be calculated for each pair by summing the correlation values between each criterion and attribute. The AC couple selected is the one with the greatest coincidence value.

  Here is an example of a list of criteria associated with a reproduction apparatus: Teenager / Boy; Children's room; Paris Region According to an alternative embodiment, the device has a user profile developed by a specific application. The alternative advertising visualization application relies on profile data to select the AC pair that best matches the receiver.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described. In particular, it can be used both to reproduce audiovisual content, only audio, the reproduction device is in the latter case, a radio receiver.

Claims (17)

  A method for transmitting audio or audiovisual content transmitted by a broadcaster (2) to a plurality of reproducing apparatus (5) having means for selecting one of several contents, characterized in that it comprises a step of reception (2.3) by the broadcaster (2) of a block (3.1) comprising a plurality (3.2) of groups of data, each group comprising at least one attribute (3.3) associated with audio or audiovisual content; (3.4), each content of the block having the same reproduction duration, - a step of transmission (2.4) of said block by the diffuser to the plurality of receivers (5), at a reproduction device (5): a step of selecting a group (3.2) whose associated attribute (3.3) corresponds best to criteria specific to the receiver, - a reproduction step (2.5) at a time defined by the broadcaster of the content of the group (3.2 ) selected.   Content broadcasting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data group (3.2) contains a channel reference for searching audio or audiovisual content (3.4). 3. Content broadcasting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the audio or audiovisual contents (3.4) are in the data group (3.2) transmitted.   4. Content broadcasting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data group (3.2) contains an address for downloading the audio or audiovisual contents into the reproduction apparatus via a bidirectional communication network.   5. content broadcasting method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a prior step of recording the content (3.4) to be reproduced at the receiver, the content is extracted from the memory from the camera to the reproduction stage.   6. The content broadcasting method as claimed in claim 5, in which the contents are broadcast before the reproduction moment on the channel selected by the user, and after selecting a single content is recorded.   7. Content broadcasting method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the broadcaster transmits information containing a block identifier and a time indication, the step of reproducing the contents of the specified block is triggered at the indicated time.   8. Content broadcasting method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection is made according to a profile of the user registered in the receiver.   9. Transmitter (2) broadcasting audio or audiovisual programs to reproduction devices (5), said programs being interspersed with advertising areas; characterized in that it comprises: - means for receiving a block comprising at least one data group (3.3, 3.4) associating attributes with audio or audiovisual contents of identical reproduction duration, - a step of transmission of said block by the diffuser to the reproduction apparatus (5).   10. Program broadcasting transmitter (2) according to claim 9; characterized in that the transmitting means transmits data blocks having a channel reference for searching audio or audiovisual contents.   11. Program broadcasting transmitter (2) according to claim 10; characterized in that it comprises a second means of transmitting information controlling the reproduction of a content at the receivers, the content to be reproduced being in a block of data previously transmitted to the reproduction apparatus.   Audio or audiovisual reproduction apparatus (5) comprising a means for selecting one of several contents; characterized in that it comprises: means for receiving a block (3.1) comprising at least one group of data (3.2) associating attributes (3.3) with audio or audiovisual contents (3.4) of a reproduction duration identical, means for selecting a content (3.4) whose associated attribute (3.3) best corresponds to criteria specific to the device, and means for triggering the reproduction of the content thus selected at a time defined by information received from outside the device.   13. Reproduction apparatus (5) according to claim 12, characterized in that the data group (3.2) contains an identifier of a channel, the reception means being then programmed to receive from this channel at least one audio content or audiovisual (3.4).   The reproducing apparatus (5) according to claim 12, comprising download means connected to a bidirectional communication network; characterized in that the data group (3.2) contains an address enabling the downloading means to receive at least one audio or audiovisual content (3.4).   15. Reproduction apparatus (5) according to any one of claims 12 to 14 comprising means for storing at least one audio or audiovisual content (3.4); characterized in that the received block (3.1) has time information defining the moment of reproduction of a selected and stored content.   16. Reproduction apparatus (5) according to any one of claims 12 to 14 comprising means for storing at least one audio or audiovisual content; characterized in that it comprises a second means for receiving information triggering reproduction of at least one previously transmitted and stored content.   The reproducing apparatus (5) according to any one of claims 12 to 16; characterized in that the selection means uses a user profile recorded in the apparatus to select a content.