FR2943876A1 - Method for viewing emission of audio-visual contents broadcasted in TV channel on TV set, involves downloading files containing marked TV emission from located addresses, and displaying downloaded TV emission on TV set screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves creating a mark associated with a TV emission to be viewed on a TV set (10) based on needs of a user. A file address or group of files containing marked TV emission is located in a data base (20) in which files or groups of files containing the emissions of TV is stored. The files are downloaded from the located addresses. The downloaded TV emission is displayed on a screen of the TV set. An independent claim is also included for a device for viewing emission on a TV set comprising a mark creating unit.

Description

METHOD FOR VIEWING, ON A TELEVISION, TELEVISION TRANSMISSION SUBSEQUENTLY TO ITS BROADCAST. Description Technical Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method for viewing, on a television, a television program subsequently to its broadcast. It also relates to a device for implementing this method. The invention relates to the technical field of digital television services and more particularly to those making it possible to make the television broadcasts available to the user subsequently to their broadcasting. State of the art VHS or digital video recorders, or DVD recorders, are known for making available to the user, at any given moment, previously recorded television programs. The recording of a television program requires the user: - to be present at the start of the broadcast and to trigger the recording manually in real time, 10 20 - 2

- An anticipation of the programming of the recording in relation to its diffusion. In the latter case, the anticipation of the programming of the recording consists, initially, in inquiring about the broadcast schedules of the program to be recorded. This information may be obtained from an electronic or hard copy program guide, from someone who is on the program, from advertisements promoting the said program, etc. In a second step, the user programs on his video recorder, using previously acquired information, the date, the channel and the time at which the recording of the broadcast must be made.

Video-on-demand and catch-up television services are also known, making it possible for the user to make television broadcasts available later on. These television services are in the form of an Internet portal on which various programs are available for free or paid download. However, this type of service requires the user: - either to know in advance the name of the program he missed during its broadcast and he now wants to download, and in some cases to also know the channel on which the program was broadcast, - or search through the programs available on the portal to determine which shows the user wants to download.

In view of this state of affairs, the main objective of the invention is to provide a method enabling a user to easily and rapidly view a television program later than its broadcast, by removing any prior step: - of programming of the recording , - seeking information about the program on a guide to the paper or electronic programs, - 3

- search for the program among many others on a video-on-demand or catch-up television portal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple process to implement, intuitive and inexpensive. Disclosure of the invention.

The solution proposed by the invention is a method of viewing, on a television, a television program subsequently to its broadcast in which: - a brand associated with a television program being viewed on the fly is created on the fly; television, - in a database in which files or groups of files containing television programs are stored, the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the marked television program are stored, - one downloads, from the localized address or addresses, the file or group of files containing the marked television program, - the downloaded television program is displayed on the television screen. The various stages of this method allow the user, during a zapping session for example, to quickly and real-time, during their broadcast, one or more television programs that seem to interest him and watch them at any time after they are broadcast, without having to: - be present at the start of programs, - schedule a recording, - consult a program guide or print programs; - nor to know the name of the said television program to be searched in video-on-demand or catch-up television portals. - 4

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, in order to create the brand associated with a television program: - the television is momentarily regulated on a television channel; - on the fly, the order is given to create a brand associated with a television program; television program being broadcast on said television channel, - the mark associated with the television program is recorded in a memory, said mark containing: o the date and time of its creation, o the identification of the television channel on which the television program is broadcast. These steps allow the user to simply and quickly create a brand; for example, when the user zap successively on several channels, it can simply by pressing a dedicated key on the remote control, mark the broadcast temporarily viewed between two zap. Zap is understood to mean the user switching channels using the remote control.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, for locating the address or addresses of the files or groups of files containing the marked television program: - the marked television program is identified, - the database is searched, among the set of files stored and listed by identifier, the file or the group of files containing the same identifier as that of the television program identified.

Using an identifier for file localization simplifies, automates and speeds up the search of database files.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention, in order to identify the marked television program, an identifier of the television program broadcast at the 2943876 -5 is searched in an electronic program guide.

same date, at the same time and on the same chain as the date, time and chain contained in the mark. The use of a program guide allows the rapid identification of the television program from the data contained in the brand. According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention, the database stores television programs in files or groups of files. Each of the files or groups of files, which contains a television program, also contains the number of the channel on which and the date and time at which said television program was recorded. To locate the address (es) of the files or groups of files containing the marked television program, one searches among the files or groups of files stored in the database, the one which contains a television program recorded on the same channel at the same date and time as the channel, the date and time contained in the mark. This step makes it possible, in particular, to carry out searches directly in a database in which recordings of programs made by means of digital recorders are stored, said recordings generally containing the date and time at which and 20 channel on which the program was recorded, but not the identifier of the recorded television program.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention making it possible to display an excerpt from the marked television program: - a vignette associated with the marked television program containing an extract of several seconds of said television program is created; the thumbnail created on the TV screen is displayed.

According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention enabling, mnemotechnically, to display the excerpt of the television program which the user has viewed at the moment when he has created the mark, the extract - 6

of the television program contained in the vignette corresponds to a part of said television program having been broadcast on the same date, the same time and on the same channel as the date, the time and the string contained in the mark. According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention making it possible to take into account in audience measurements, the viewing of television programs after their broadcast, audience measurements are made on the marked and downloaded television programs. According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention for recommending a tagged television program to another user, a first user sends to a second user the one or more download addresses of the file or group of files associated with the broadcast. of television marked so as to submit to said second user the viewing of said television program.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a device for viewing, on a television, a television program subsequently to its broadcast characterized in that it comprises: a means for creating on the fly a mark associated with a television program being viewed on the television, - a means for locating, in a database in which files or groups of files containing television programs broadcast on television are stored, the address or addresses of the file or a group of files containing the marked television program, - means for downloading, from the localized address or addresses, the file or group of files containing the marked television program, - means for displaying, on the television , the 30 TV show downloaded. 2943876 -7

This device allows the user, during a zapping session for example, to quickly mark in real time a television program that seems to interest him and view it at any time after its broadcast, without it. it is necessary for him neither to program a recording nor to know the name of said television program to be searched in video portals.

According to yet another advantageous feature of the invention making it possible to rapidly make available an important catalog of television programs, the database includes catch-up television servers and / or video-on-demand servers in which are stored TV shows.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention making it possible to store the broadcast television programs, the database comprises one or more personal digital video recorders connected to a telecommunication network enabling the real-time recording of television programs. According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention making it possible to distribute the data downloading traffic throughout the database, the latter being composed of a multitude of stations or servers interconnected by a telecommunication network, television programs stored in the database are shared on a network using the peer-to-peer download protocol.

Description of the figures.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, made by way of indicative and non-limiting examples and in which: 8

- Figure 1) schematically shows the device of the invention - Figure 2) schematically shows the various steps of the method of the invention - Figure 3) schematically shows the display on the TV screen of selectable links associated with marked broadcasts, - figures 4a) to 4.ac) schematically represent the normal recording schedules En of three record servers Sel, Se2 and Se3, and the programming of forced recordings Ef of the server d Sel records.

Embodiments of the invention

The method that is the subject of the invention makes it possible to view, on a television (10), a television program later than its broadcast. A television program, hereinafter referred to as a program, means all or part of an audiovisual content broadcast on a television channel, for example a film, television news, weather reports, a game show, etc. In general, these emissions are contained in signals broadcast over the air, satellite, internet, cable or other. A digital receiver (11), which can be integrated with the digital television (10), is configured to process the broadcast digital signal. This processing is generally of the demodulation, decoding, decryption or other type. Once the digital signal has been processed, it is sent to a digital signal reproduction means generally integrated with the television (10). This means of reproduction is of the LCD screen type, plasma for the video components, and the type of amplifier and speakers for the audio components.

Referring to Figure 2), the method of the invention comprises the following steps:

step (1): a mark associated with a broadcast being viewed on the television (10) is created on the fly; step (2) is located in a database (20) in which storing files or groups of files containing programs, the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the broadcast marked, - step (3): downloading, from the localized address or addresses, the file or the group of files containing the marked program, - step (4): the downloaded program is displayed on the television (10). These different steps, which can be manual or fully automated, will now be described in more detail.

1. Step (1): creating, on the fly, a brand associated with a program being viewed on the television (10). 1.1. General: When a user is watching a program, it is usual that during a commercial break, it changes the channel momentarily so that it can see which programs are being broadcast on the other channels at the same time. It is then common that the user realizes that certain programs interest him. At this point, the user can create a brand associated with these programs so that they can be viewed later. The step (1) is implemented by means for creating on the fly a mark associated with a program being viewed on the television (10). This means can be integrated with the television (10) or with a digital receiver (11), be integrated in a PCMCIA type expansion card intended to be inserted in a common interface port present on said television or on said digital receiver or be integrated with a remote electronic box (30) shown in Figure 1, etc. In practice, a processor configured to execute one or more computer programs is used. The computer program (s) are stored in a memory of the type memory register, mass memory, read-only memory, etc. This memory can be 2943876 - 10-

integrated in the television (10) or the digital receiver (11), the expansion card, the housing (30). The computer program is in the form of short sequences of instructions which, when executed in a precise order by the processor, enable the extraction of certain data constituting the mark from the digital signal containing the transmission. These data will be described in more detail in the following description.

1.2. Example of creating a brand: In practice, to create the brand, the user temporarily adjusts the TV (10) on a television channel. In general, to perform this adjustment, the user dials, by means of a remote control (12), a digit corresponding to the number of the channel he wishes to view. It also has the ability to scroll through the different channels by means of a specific key. This type of setting, commonly made by the users of 15 televisions, is usually referred to as anglicism zapping.

The user then gives, on the fly, the order to create a brand associated with the show being broadcast on the television channel. The order can be given mechanically by pressing one or more dedicated keys located on the remote control (12), on another specific remote control, on the television (10), on the digital receiver (11), on a mobile telephone , or on any other electronic equipment suitable to those skilled in the art. The order could also be given orally by pronouncing key words recognized as an order by a voice recognition means integrated into the television (10), or to the digital receiver (11), or to the card. extension, to the case (30), etc. The order could still be given by gestures, by performing gestures recognized as an order by a gesture recognition means integrated into the television (10), or the digital receiver (11), or to the extension card , to the case 30 (30), to the remote control (12), to the telephone, etc. 2943876 -11-

The brand associated with the program is then recorded in a mass memory. The mark is preferentially in the form of a file containing the following data: - date corresponding to the date of its creation 5 - hour corresponding to the time of its creation - chain corresponding to the identifier of the television channel on which broadcast is broadcast.

The date, the time and the identifier of the channel (name and / or number) are generally conveyed in real time, and homogeneously over the entire broadcast network, by the broadcast digital signal which contains the transmission and which is received by the digital receiver (11). The processor, for implementing step (1), is then configured to decode the digital signal received by the digital receiver (11) and extract the date, time and string data.

The mass memory in which the data of the mark is recorded can be of the flash, magnetic, optical or other type and for example be in the form of a hard disk, a USB key, a memory card, 20 etc. The mass memory can be integrated in the television (10), the digital receiver (11), the expansion card, the housing (30), in equipment available on a telecommunication network, etc. The term telecommunication network is understood to mean a network of the intranet network, Internet network, telephone network or other type. As such, the processor, for implementing step (1), is connected to a network card (Ethernet, Wifi, Wimax, 3G or other), a modem or any other means of connection to the telecommunications network . 2943876 -12-

2. Step (2): locating, in a database (20) in which files or groups of files containing programs are stored, the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the broadcast marked. 2. 1. General: 5 A database (20) stores files or groups of files containing all or part of the programs broadcast on television. When the program is packaged in a group of files, it is previously divided into several pieces, the latter being each packaged in a file of said group. The database (20) may comprise: - catch-up television servers (21), - video on demand servers (22), - professional recording servers (23) for simultaneously recording programs broadcast on several television channels, each professional recording server (23) being able, for example, to be configured to record a different group of channels so as to record a maximum of different programs, - personal record servers (24) consisting of personal digital video recorders, computers, or others equipping the individuals and allowing the real-time recording of broadcasts, said personal record servers may also be configured to implement, in turn and by order of their respective users, the method that is the subject of the invention, - one or more storage spaces distributed over all the erveurs 25 professional records (23) or personal (24), intended to store forced records (cf 2.3.1), the latter being performed autonomously by said record server or on the order of a master server ( 25) or a network user, or any other means for storing programs suitable for those skilled in the art. 2943876 -13-

Each file or group of files contains a program and various additional data, for example, information on the duration of the program, the type of encoding used, chapters, etc. The servers generally include a processor of the same type as previously described and one or more mass memories of the type described above. One or more computer programs executed by the processor can analyze the requests received and respond to them.

Step (2) is implemented by means for locating, in the database (20), the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the marked transmission. This means can be realized by the same processor as that used for the implementation of step (1), or by an independent processor. The processor may be integrated or connected directly to a local electronic equipment (television (10), digital receiver (11), expansion card, box (30), or other) or be integrated with a remote electronic equipment (server catch-up television (21), video on-demand server (22), professional (23) or personal (24), independent server, or other recording server) available on a telecommunications network.

2.2. File or group of files containing the original recording of a program. 2.2.1. General: 25 Original recording of a program, the recording version of the raw program before broadcast, or the version as it may be marketed on DVD, BLUE-RAY, or the version of a program recorded that has been documented and / or cleaned from advertising pages, pests or other. The original record is therefore packaged into a file or group of files which also contains additional data such as those previously mentioned. Of these data, 2943876 - 14 -

number, among other things, the original identifier of the program. This file or group of files is then stored on the database (20) with other files or groups of files containing other original program recordings. This is in principle this type of file which is stored on the catch-up television (21) or video-on-demand (22) servers, but which can also be stored on professional recording servers (23) or personal (24). Each file or group of files then contains a program and an identifier.

2.2.2. Sub-step (2a): identification of the marked emission. 2.2.2.1. General: Once the mark created in step (1), the emission corresponding to said mark is identified. Sub-step (2a) is implemented by the means for implementing step (2). The computer program (s) executed by this processor make it possible to identify the marked program by searching, in an electronic program guide, the identifier of the program broadcast on the same date, at the same time and on the same chain as the date, time and string contained in the mark.

The program guide is in the form of a file listing, for all broadcast programs, the identifier data associated with one or more data channel data groups, broadcast date and broadcast schedule. This data is, for example, in the form of a string of alphanumeric characters. In principle: the identifier data item contains the name and / or the title of the program; the broadcast channel data contains the name or the number of the channel on which the program is, has been or will be broadcast; the date of broadcast date contains the date on which the program is, has been or will be broadcast, 2943876 -15-

- The broadcast time data contains the start time and the end time of broadcast of the broadcast.

The program guide may be stored locally in equipment having a memory area. This equipment can be the TV (10), the digital receiver (11), an external hard disk, a memory card, etc. The program guide can also be stored in the equipment of a telecommunication network equipped with a memory zone. This equipment may, for example, be in the form of a server 10 equipped with a hard disk. The program guide can still be contained in a digital signal broadcast over the air, satellite, cable, internet, etc.

When the program guide is contained in a broadcast digital signal, it is extracted by demodulation, decoding, or other processing. The program guide is then stored temporarily in a local memory while the processor, to identify the program, performs the search. This local memory can be of the RAM (magnetic, electronic, or other) type or a storage memory (magnetic flash, optical, or other). It can be integrated or connected to the TV (10), digital receiver (11), housing (30), or others.

When the program guide is stored in the equipment of a telecommunication network, for example on the telerama, tele-day, telez, or other server, available via the Internet, said program guide can be downloaded from a local memory integrated or connected to the television (10), the digital receiver (11), the housing (30), or others.

The program guide may be updated in real time, for example, at the request of the user by means of the remote control (12), or automatically, for example, in a planned manner. In practice, the computer program or programs executed by the processor make it possible to find, in the program guide, the identifier data associated with the group of data broadcast dates, broadcasting schedules and broadcasting chain respectively corresponding to the group. date, time and string contained in the mark created in step (1).

This or these computer programs are advantageously based on an algorithm of the search algorithm type in a list that is not sequentially sorted or auto-adaptive, search algorithm in a list sorted sequentially, dichotomously or by interpolation, algorithm using trees. search binaries, algorithm using hash methods, etc. 2.2.2.2. Examples of identification of a marked emission: A first exemplary embodiment concerns a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to send an identification request of 20 l sending, to a server containing the program guide, said request for identification of the transmission in the form of a file containing the date, time and string data previously extracted from the mark created at the step (1), a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated into the server and allowing: analysis of the request received by the server. o to perform a search, in the program guide, for finding the identifier data associated with the data group dates broadcast, broadcast schedule and broadcast channel 30 respectively corresponding to the data group date, time and string extracted from the request received. Correspondent means the fact 2943876 -17-

that the date data is the same as the data date, that the data channel is the same as the string data and that the data time is between the start time and the end time contained in the time data of diffusion . 5 o return to the box (30) the identifying data.

A second embodiment relates to a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to extract from the digital signal, transmitted by the digital receiver (11), the program guide in the form of a data list, - a second piece of computer program also executed by the processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to find, in the program guide, the identifier data associated with the data group date 15 of broadcast, broadcast schedule and broadcast channel respectively corresponding to the data group date, time and channel contained in the mark created in step (1). Correspondent means the fact that the data broadcast date is identical to the datum date, that the data broadcast string is identical to the string data and that the data hour is between the start time and the time of end delimiting the hourly broadcast data.

2.2.3. Sub-step (2b): searches, in the database (20), for the file or group of files containing the same identifier as that of the identified program. 2.2.3. 1. General: To locate the address (es) of a file or group of files containing the marked program, and once the program identified in sub-step (2a), search the database (20), among the set of files or groups of files stored and listed by the identifier data, the file or group of files containing the same identifier data as that associated with the transmission identified in the substep (2a). ). The substep (2b) is implemented by the means for implementing step (2). The computer program (s) executed by the processor make it possible to find, in the database (20), the file or group of files that contains the original identifier data corresponding to the identifier data associated with the program identified in step (2). In practice, the computer program (s) are based on a Rabin-Karp, Knuth-Morris-Pratt, Boyer-Moore, etc. type substring algorithm. 2.2.3.2. Example of localization in a database (20) containing original recordings of transmissions: A first embodiment relates to a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor 15 integrated into the box (30) and enabling send a request to locate the program, to the database (20). In the latter are stored files or groups of files containing original recordings of broadcasts. The location request of the transmission contains the identifier data previously identified in step (2). A second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the database (20) and making it possible: o to analyze the request received, o to perform a search, in the set of files or groups of files containing original recordings of broadcasts, in order to find the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the original identifier data identical to the identifier data received in the request, o to return to the box (30) the identifying data . A second exemplary embodiment relates to a device comprising: 2943876 -19-

a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to send a request for listing the program to the database (20). In the latter are stored files or groups of files containing original recordings of programs. a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the database (20) and allowing: to analyze the received request; to list all the files or groups of files containing data; original program recordings, including for each file or group of files the original identifier data associated with their address. o to return to the box (30) the list of files or groups of files containing original recordings of programs, 15 - a third piece of computer program executed by the processor integrated into the box (30) and making it possible to search, in lists all the files or groups of files containing original program recordings, the address or addresses of the file or file group associated with an original identifier identical to the identifier data previously identified in step (2) .

2.3. File or group of files containing the recording made on the fly during the broadcast of a program. 2.3.1. General: 25 The recording on the fly of a program is a recording made by professional (23) or personal (24) recording servers. These record in files or groups of files programs. In order to ensure that a maximum number of transmissions are available in the database (20), the record servers (23, 24) may be forced to record programs during their inactivity phase. that is, the phases during which no record is 2943876 - 20 -

in progress or programmed. The broadcasts they are forced to record are generally those that are not recorded by the active record servers (23, 24), or that are statistically unlikely to be recorded, and so on. Active record servers are the 5 servers that are recording one or more broadcasts. To achieve this registration forcing, it is for example possible to allocate a portion of the storage space of the record servers (23, 24) to the storage of forced recordings. During their idle phases, each record server (23, 24) can: - poll the active record servers (23, 24) to find out which shows are being recorded and compare them to the all the programs that it receives so as to record which program (s) is (are) little or not registered, and thus determine the emission or the emissions that it must register in a forced manner, 15 - statistically determine, by means of hearings or other measures, the program with the least chance of being recorded and which must therefore be recorded in a forced manner, the management of forced recordings is then carried out by means of algorithms of statistical load distribution and / or relative audience, 20 - ask a master server (25), the transmission it must record, said master server being specifically configured to determine, by poll or statistically, the transmissions s that are little or not registered. Once the program to be forcibly recorded is determined, the record server (23, 24) records it until one of the scheduled recordings begins and replaces it. If no recording is programmed before the end of the broadcast, the record server (23, 24) records it until the end. After the transmission is complete, the record server (23, 24) replicates the forced registration protocol as many times as necessary or its available storage space permits. 2943876 - 21 -

Referring to Figures 4a) to 4.c), the database (20) may for example comprise three record servers Sel, Se2 and Se3, each being able to record one of the three strings and, c2 and c3. When the normal recording In of a channel is programmed, it is noted followed by the number of the recorded channel, for example En1 if the key chain is recorded. As shown in Figure 4.a), the record server Sel has no normal record En programmed between times t1 and t2. It then probes the other two record servers Se2 and Se3 to determine which strings and, c2 or c3 are not registered between t1 and t2. As shown schematically in Figure 4.b), the record server Se2 records the string and between t1 and t2. Referring to Figure 4.c), the record server Se3 records the string c3 between t1 and t2. Only the chain c2 is not recorded between 15 tl and t2. The record server Sel then programs a forced record Ef of the string c2, the latter being noted ef2 in FIG. 4.a).

In order to package the recorded program into a group of 20 files, it can be divided into several pieces in a coherent and unified way over the entire database (20). By coherent is meant that the division of a transmission is always performed according to the same protocol, regardless of the record server (23, 24) that performs this task. The cutting can, for example, be performed every 25 minutes of the recording, the increment of the minutes being synchronized to the time data broadcast in the digital signal. Thus, if there exists in the database (20) several recordings of the same show, each made by a different record server (23, 24), the cutting of the show will be identical for all of said recordings. It is then possible to reconstitute the emission by assembling complementary pieces of the emission, each of said pieces coming from each other.

indifferently from one of the recordings of the program. It is also possible during the creation of the mark, to perform a basic recording of the broadcast, for example of a duration equal to one second, which will be packaged in the file constituting the mark. This elementary recording will then constitute a piece of the program that can be used to reconstitute the program.

Each file or group of files then contains the recorded program as well as the following data: 10 - date of recording corresponding to the date on which said program was recorded, - recording time corresponding to the start time and the end time at which said transmission was recorded, - recording string corresponding to the number of the television channel on which said program was recorded.

Thus, in order to locate the address or addresses of the files or groups of files containing the marked program, one searches among the files or groups of files which contains the data recording date, recording time and recording string. corresponding respectively to date, time and string data contained in the mark. In practice, the computer program (s) executed by the processor make it possible to find, in the database (20), the file or group of files containing the marked program by performing a search based on the data group date, time and chain. The computer program (s) are based on a Rabin-Karp, Knuth-Morris-Pratt, Boyer-Moore, etc. type substring algorithm.

In some cases, for example when the program identifier is conveyed in the broadcast digital signal, it is possible for the record servers (23, 24) to package in the file or group of files 2943876 - 23 -

containing the recorded program, the identifying data of said program. In such a case, the location of the address or addresses of the file or group of files can be implemented in accordance with substeps (2a) and (2b) described above. 2.3.2. Example of location in a database (20) containing on-the-fly recordings of emissions: A first embodiment relates to a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30); to send a query location of the program, to the database (20). In the latter are stored files or groups of files containing recordings on the fly of broadcasts. The location query of the broadcast contains the date, time and string data group extracted from the mark created in step (3). a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the database (20) and allowing: o to analyze the received request, o to perform a search, in the set of files or groups of 20 files containing on-the-air recordings of broadcasts, in order to find the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the data group recording date, recording time and recording string respectively corresponding to the data group date, time and string retrieved from the received request. Correspondent means that the date of record data is the same as the date data, that the data record string is identical to the string data and that the time data is between the start time and the date data. end time delimiting the hourly record data. O Return to the box (30) the address or addresses of the file or group of files. A second exemplary embodiment relates to a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to send a request for listing the transmission, destined for the database (20). In the latter are stored files or groups of files containing original recordings of broadcasts. a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the database (20) and making it possible: to analyze the received request, to list all the files or groups of files containing on-the-air recordings of broadcasts, including for each file or group of files the data group recording date, recording time and recording string associated with their address. o to send back to the box (30) the list of files or groups of files containing on-the-fly recordings of programs, - a third piece of computer program executed by a microprocessor integrated into the box (30) and making it possible to search, in the list all files or groups of files containing on-the-fly recordings, the address (es) of the file or filegroup associated with the data group recording date, recording time and channel corresponding to the data group date, time and string extracted from the mark created in step (1). Correspondent means that the data record date is identical to the date data, the data record string is identical to the string data and the time data is between the start time and the time end delimiting the hourly recording data. 30 2943876 - 25 -

3. Step (3): Download, from the localized address (es), the file or group of files containing the marked program. 3.1. General: Once the file or group of files are located, they are downloaded from the address (es) obtained in step (2). In practice, after marking the transmission, the processor sends a link that is in the form of an image, a word, a sentence, a code to the rendering means integrated into the television (10). ). As a reminder, the restitution means is of the LCD screen type, plasma for the video components, and the type of amplifier and speakers 10 for the audio components. Sending can be done via a wired connection (HDMI cable, Scart cable, Ethernet cable, or other), a wireless link (Wifi, Bluetooth, or other), the common interface, or others. The TV screen (10) can then display the link in a specific menu. This link may be displayed alone or as part of a list of links associated with other marked programs. The display may, for example, be organized as one or more columns. The link is then selectable, as shown in Figure 3), using the remote control, voice commands, or others. Once the link is selected, the user can choose between several actions. It can for example, and as shown in FIG. 3), view the vignette of the show associated with this link which can be stored locally or not (see 5 below), view the entire program associated with it. to the link, delete the link, return to a previous menu, etc.

Step (3) is generally performed by means for downloading, from the address or addresses located in step (2), the file or group of files containing the marked transmission. This means can be realized by the same processor as that used to implement step (1) and / or (2) or by another independent processor. This processor may be connected to a network card (Ethernet, wifi, wimax, or other), a modem or any other means of connection to the telecommunications network. In practice, the processor executes one or more computer programs so as to download into the database (20), the file or group of files residing at the address or addresses received in step (2). The computer program (s) are based on a download algorithm that can use individually or in combination the file transfer protocol (FTP), peer-to-peer or peer-to-peer download protocol (P2P) via centralized, semi-centralized or decentralized, or any other means of download suitable to those skilled in the art. The peer-to-peer protocol makes it possible, among other things, to easily share programs recorded or made available on a telecommunication network. This protocol is particularly suitable when the database (20) comprises a multitude of stations storing the data, said stations being generally of the type digital video recorders installed in private homes and connected to the telecommunication network.

3.2. Examples of downloading the file or the group of files: A first exemplary embodiment concerns a device comprising: a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the box (30) and making it possible to send a request for downloading the file; transmission to a video-on-demand server (22). In the latter is stored the file containing the emission. The download request contains the address of the file to download. a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated in the video-on-demand server (22) and making it possible: o to analyze the received request, o to send, to the box (30), the resident file to the address received in the request. A second exemplary embodiment relates to a device comprising: 2943876 - 27 -

a first piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated into the box (30) and making it possible to send transmission download requests to a plurality of personal record servers (24). In each of these servers are stored files of the group of 5 files containing the emission. The download requests for the program contain the address of the file or files to download. a second piece of computer program executed by a processor integrated into each of the personal record servers (24) and making it possible: 10 o to analyze the received request, o to send, to the box (30), the or the files resident at or at the addresses received in the request (s).

4. Step (4): Display on the TV screen (10) of the downloaded program. Once the download is done, it displays on the TV screen (10), said program downloaded in step (3). To implement this step, a means is generally used to display, on the television 20 (10), the downloaded program. This means can be realized by the same processor as that used to implement step (1) and / or (2) and / or (3) or by an independent processor.

In practice, the processor executes one or more computer programs so that, like a DVD player or DVR: - process (decode, decrypt, or otherwise) the file or group of files downloaded in step (3), - Send the file or the group of processed file to the rendering means 30 integrated to the TV (10) via a wired connection (HDMI cable, scart cable, cable 2943876 - 28 -

Ethernet, or others), via a wireless link (Wifi, Bluetooth, or others), via the common interface, or others.

5 5. Additional steps (5, 6) to create thumbnails: 5. 1. General: Cleverly, and so that you can quickly locate, remember, and view the contents of the program that you have previously marked : 10 - step (5): one creates a thumbnail associated with the marked program containing an extract several seconds of said emission, - step (6): one displays the thumbnail created on the TV screen (10).

The excerpt is in the form of a file or group of files 15 that may contain the advertisement promoting the broadcast, the opening credits of the show, a passage of the program chosen arbitrarily or randomly, or any other content. suitable for those skilled in the art. This file or group of files may be stored locally or not on a mass memory of the flash, magnetic, optical other type and, for example, be in the form of a hard disk, a USB key, a memory card or any other mass memory suitable for those skilled in the art. This mass memory can be integrated into the television (10), the digital receiver (11), the expansion card, the housing (30), a catch-up television server (21), a video server to the request (22) to a professional (23) or personal (24) record server, an independent server, etc.

Preferably, and in order to remind the user of the passage of the program he was watching when he decided to create the brand, the excerpt of the program contained in the vignette corresponds to a part of said program 30 having been broadcast on the same date, the same time and in the same chain as the date, the time and the chain contained in the mark. This excerpt can, by 2943876 - 29 -

for example, to be recorded in real time, locally, during the viewing of the show during the zapping session, or be created a posteriori from the file or the file group containing the show, etc.

The means for implementing step (5) can be realized by the same processor as that used to implement step (1) and / or (2) and / or (3) and / or (4) or by an independent processor running one or more computer programs for creating the thumbnail.

10 Once the thumbnail is created, it is displayed on the TV screen (10). The means for implementing step (6) will have an architecture and operation similar to the means for implementing step (4).

5.2. Examples of thumbnail creation 15 To create the thumbnail, the computer program (s) run by the processor allow it: - to extract from the file or group of files containing the program, a part of the program, and to record this part in a thumbnail file; or, to record in real time for each broadcast displayed during a zapping session, delete the recordings relating to the programs which have not been marked, to record in a thumbnail file the recordings relating to the marked programs ; - Or, copy the original trailer of the show in a thumbnail file, store the thumbnail file in the database (20), locate 25 and download the thumbnail file in the same way that we locate and download a file containing a transmission in steps (2) and (3).

6. Additional Step (7) to Perform Hearing Measurements: 30 It is also possible to perform audience measurements on marked and downloaded programs. These audience measurements may come 2943876 - 30 -

complete real-time audience measurement by audience measurement companies. To perform the audience measurements, an audience server can count the download requests sent to step (3) and deduce the number of times that the show has been viewed later on its broadcast.

7. Additional step (8) allowing a first user to submit to a second user the viewing of a marked program: Cleverly, a first user can send to a second user, as a recommendation, the download address or addresses the file or group of files associated with the broadcast marked so as to submit to said second user the viewing of said broadcast. In practice, step (8) is implemented by means for sending the mark to another user. The means for implementing step (8) can be realized by the same processor as that used to implement step (1) and / or (2) and / or (3) and / or (4) and / or (5) and / or (6) or by an independent processor. The means for implementing step (8) may be integrated or connected directly to local electronic equipment (television (10), digital receiver (11), expansion card, box (30) or the like. ). In practice, the processor executes one or more computer programs for: recording the download address or addresses in a file; sending, to another user, the file containing the address or addresses. The computer program (s) are based on an algorithm for sending the file according to messaging protocols widely used in the computer field and of the email, SMS, etc. type.

8. Additional steps (9, 10, 11) allowing extended live control. 2943876 - 31 -

8. 1. Current means for simple basic live control: A means for basic live control of the type currently available can be integrated into the television (10), the digital receiver (11), the d-card extension, to the case (30), etc. The control of the direct 5 is to record systematically, for a specified duration, in a buffer memory, the program that is being viewed on the TV. Thus, when the user wants to go back in the course of the broadcast so as to replay a sequence, he can, at any time live, see the part of the broadcast that is temporarily recorded in the program. buffer. To do this, the user can give the order to go back through the remote control (12), another remote control, a mobile phone, a voice command, a command gestures, etc. For example: by pressing the key () of the remote control (12), the user gives the order to go back frame by frame, by pressing the key (I) of the remote control (12), the user gives the order to jump back five minutes, etc. Similarly, the user may momentarily pause the program, for example by pressing the key (II) on the remote control (12), and then resume viewing the program later, for example by pressing the key (>) of said remote control. The user can then return to the direct, for example by pressing the key (^) on the remote control (12), or continue to watch the delayed program.

The means for basic live control generally includes a processor configured to execute one or more computer programs. The latter executed by the processor allow the on-the-air recording of the broadcast broadcast on the channel set on the digital receiver (11), the storage of the broadcast in a local buffer of the mass memory type previously described, as well as navigation in said record. - 32 - 8.2. Limits of the current means allowing the basic control of the direct. Nevertheless, the current means of basic live control, as it currently exists, has certain limitations. Indeed, the user can not go back indefinitely, it is limited: - either by the maximum recordable duration of the direct (legal limit of 90 minutes or material limit corresponding to the maximum storage capacity of the mass memory used) - either by the moment at which the digital receiver (11) began recording the broadcast, i.e., the moment at which the user turned on the digital receiver (11) or the has tuned to the channel broadcasting the program.

However, it is common that the user: - falls, while he just turned on his TV (10) and his digital receiver (11), on a broadcast program which he would have liked to see the beginning, - realizes, during a zapping session, that he would have preferred to watch a program different from the one he started watching but that this show has already started for a while, - misses, after zapping on several channels during the advertising break, the resumption of the program he had initially started watching, etc.

In each of these cases, it is currently impossible for the user to go back so as to view the missing part of the program he wants to watch, the means allowing the basic control of the direct having been unable to to record a program while the digital receiver (11) was off or it was set to a channel other than that broadcasting said program. 2943876 - 33 -

8.3. Extended control of the live. To remedy these restrictions, the invention proposes, in addition to the functions of viewing a program later than its broadcast previously explained, an extended direct control consisting of: - step (9): detecting a viewing request of an already broadcast part of the program being viewed, for example transmitted by the user by pressing the key () on the remote control (12), - step (10): detecting the absence, in the content of the local buffer memory, of the transmission part to be viewed, in the same way that the means 10 allowing the basic control of the direct look for the transmission parts that it has stored in said local buffer memory, - step (11 ): give the order to create a mark associated with the broadcast part being viewed, so as to: - create a mark associated with the broadcast part being viewed, in accordance with in step (1). This mark may comprise, in addition to the data described in step (1), data specifying that it is only necessary to locate the file or group of files containing the part to be viewed of the marked program. This piece may correspond to: o the whole of the broadcast which has been broadcast before the time contained in the mark, for example, if the user has made the request by having pressed the key (I ) of the remote control (12). o the whole of the program which was broadcast previously on the hour at which the means allowing the control of the direct began to record said emission, if the latter has already recorded a part of the emission and for example, if the user has made the request by having pressed the key (I) of the remote control (12). the part of the program broadcast previously at the time contained in the mark and after the time contained in the mark subtracts from 5 minutes, for example, if the user has made the request in 2943876 - 34 -

having briefly pressed the button (I) on the remote control (12). Thus, it is possible to reduce the mass of file to download, by downloading only the part of emission necessary, that is to say, when the user asks for a return of back of 5 minutes, to download only the 5 minutes missing and not the entire issue since its inception. o any other part of emission suitable to the person skilled in the art. to locate, in accordance with step (2), the file or group of files containing the portion to be viewed of the marked program, said program being recorded on the fly on a professional recording server (23, 24) . As before, in order to locate the file or group of files, the marked program can first be identified by means of the program guide (in accordance with substep (2a)) so as to search by identifier in the database (20) (according to substep (2b)). downloading, in accordance with step (3), the file or group of files containing the part to be viewed of the marked program (1). displaying, in accordance with step (4), the part to be viewed of the downloaded program.

Thus, the user has a real control of the extended direct, the latter allowing him, at will, to go back in the progress of the program, even if he just turned on his digital receiver (11) or just changed television channel.

The means allowing the control of the extended direct can be realized by the same processor as that making it possible to implement step (1) and / or (2) and / or (3) and / or (4) and / or (5) and / or (6) or by an independent processor. In practice, the processor executes one or more computer programs 30 for implementing steps (9), (10) and (11).

Claims (15)

Revendications1. A method of viewing, on a television (10), a television program subsequently broadcast, in which: - a brand associated with a television program being viewed on the television (10) is created on the fly; locating, in a database (20) in which files or groups of files containing television programs are stored, the address or addresses of the file or group of files containing the marked television program, - downloading, from the localized address or addresses, the file or group of files containing the marked television program, - the downloaded television program is displayed on the television screen (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, in which to create the mark associated with a television program: - the television (10) is temporarily regulated on a television channel, - on the fly, the order to create a mark is given associated with the television program being broadcast on said television channel, - the mark associated with the television program is recorded in a memory, said mark containing: o the date and time of its creation, o the identification of the television channel on which the television program is broadcast. 3. Method according to claim 2, wherein for locating the address or addresses of the files or groups of files containing the marked television program: - the marked television program is identified, 2943876 - 36 - - one seeks in the database (20), among the set of files stored and listed by identifier, the file or the group of files containing the same identifier as that of the television program identified. 5 4. The method of claim 3, wherein to identify the marked television program, it seeks, in an electronic program guide, the identifier of the television program broadcast on the same date, at the same time and on the same chain as the date, the time and the string contained in the mark. 5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the database (20) records in television files or groups of files, each of the files or groups of files, which contains a television program, also contains the number of the channel on which, and the date and time on which the television program was recorded, and in which to locate the address or addresses of the files or groups of files containing the television program marked, one searches among the files or groups of files stored in the database (20), the one which contains a television program recorded on the same channel, on the same date and at the same time as the channel, the date and time contained in the mark. 6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5 wherein: - a thumbnail associated with the marked television program containing an extract of several seconds of said television program is created, - the thumbnail created on the television is displayed; TV screen (10). 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the television program extract contained in the vignette corresponds to a part of said television program having been broadcast on the same date, the same date and on the same date. same string as the date, time and string contained in the mark. 8. A method according to one of the preceding claims in which audience measurements are made on the marked and downloaded television programs. 9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which a first user sends to a second user the download address or addresses of the file or group of files associated with the marked television program so as to submit to said second user the viewing. of said television show. 10. A device for viewing, on a television (10), a television program subsequently to its broadcast, characterized in that it comprises: a means for creating on the fly a mark associated with a television program in the course of a broadcast; be viewed on the television (10), - a means for locating, in a database (20) in which are stored files or group of files containing television programs broadcast on television, the address or addresses of the file or the group of files containing the marked television program, - means for downloading, from the localized address (es), the file or group of files containing the marked television program, - means for displaying, on the television (10), the television program 25 downloaded. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the database (20) comprises catch-up television servers and / or video-on-demand servers in which television programs are stored. 2943876 -38- 12. Device according to one of claims 10 or 11 characterized in that the database (20) comprises one or more personal digital video recorders (24) connected to a telecommunication network for real-time recording of broadcasts. television. 13. Device according to claim 10 to 12 characterized in that television broadcasts stored in the database (20) are shared on a network using the post-to-post download protocol. 10 14. Device according to one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that the database (20) comprises one or more storage spaces distributed on professional (23) or personal (24) record servers, said one or more storing spaces being intended to store forced recordings of broadcasts, the latter being made by said record servers during periods when no other record is in court or programmed. 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the management of forced recordings is carried out by means of statistical load distribution algorithms and / or relative audience. 5