FR2973633A1 - Method for management of restoration i.e. time-shifting, of televisual data by e.g. TV set in home, involves processing recorded data obtaining request based on reception of data obtaining request by transmitting reading command to memory - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves processing a delay request of restoration of data (20) based on the reception of the request by transmitting (21) a data recording command to a memory by associating an identifier to the data. Response to the request is provided (23) by transmitting the identifier. A recorded data obtaining request is processed based on the reception of the data obtaining request by transmitting a reading command to the memory containing the data to which the identifier is associated. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a broadcasting equipment (2) a computer program comprising a set of instructions for implementing a method for management of restoration of data (3) a control equipment.

Description

RESTITUTION WITH DELAYED DATA

The present invention relates to the field of restitution of a data stream, for example television data or audio radio data, received live, by a playback equipment for a continuous playback.

This restitution of a data stream can be carried out by a rendering equipment (of type called "DMR" hereinafter for "Digital Media Renderer"), such as a TV set, a mobile terminal or radio equipment. . This term DMR is derived from the DLNA standard which will be referred to below.

One or more DMR type equipment can each receive for example a TV stream from a TV stream broadcast equipment. The broadcast mode is adapted for restitution of the data as they are broadcast. This broadcasting mode may be a so-called "streaming" mode, for example using the http communication protocol. Such equipment may for example consist, for the broadcast of National Terrestrial Television (or "TNT"), a type of equipment "base TNT". Such equipment may include a plurality of tuners (or "tuners") to deliver different streams to respective playback equipment. Such equipment is used in a local network (typically a home network).

More specifically, more and more equipment now allows access to television channels. It is now possible to access TNT channels by adding a simple module to connect to your computer, such as a USB-TNT key. In addition, electronic equipment such as boxes that are connected, on one side to a TNT antenna via a coaxial cable, and, on the other side, to its home network via an Ethernet cable or via a wireless link (WiFi) with a home gateway, allow access to the channels of the DVB, and this from all computers in the house (which can use for this purpose software such as Windows Media Center® 7 or more specific software included with such boxes above). This is the example of the television TNT, but of course the broadcast equipment can also broadcast a stream from satellite or IPTV (IP-TV).

In such a context, a solution to make it easier and more standardized to broadcast TV streams in the home network is to use UPnP / DLNA technology. The purpose of the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) protocol is to enable devices to connect easily over a local area network and to simplify the implementation of networks at home (file sharing, communications, entertainment). The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) defines an interoperability standard that allows multimedia devices to be read, shared and controlled regardless of their brands or natures. This DLNA standard is based on several standards such as WiFi, Ethernet, UPnP ("Device Architecture") for discovery and control, and in particular UPnP ("AV") for media management.

In an advantageous architecture, a UPnP / DLNA server media is responsible for presenting and broadcasting TV channel streams to DLNA-compatible equipment (eg a connected television set that does not have coaxial cable nearby, a PC computer, a multimedia tablet, a smartphone type telephone terminal, or others).

More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanism of recording and rendering delayed (called "time shirting") especially in the context of broadcast streaming.

Nevertheless, there is currently no satisfactory solution, in this type of architecture in particular, to offer live control services (or "time shirting") when broadcasting a TV program according to the UPnP / DLNA protocol. , allowing a user to pause the broadcast of a television channel, then resume playback from a pause of the aforementioned broadcast. Indeed, typically in a protocol such as UPnP / DLNA, the data transmission generally relates to file data rather than data from a broadcast stream.

Specifically, according to the UPnP protocol, only the rendering devices (or "DMR" for "Digital Media Renderer") handle the pause and are provided with a buffer which, often, is not adapted to live TV streams . Indeed, these live streams require a large buffer, especially for high definition TV streams (HDTV).

The present invention improves the situation.

To this end, it proposes a method of managing a delayed rendering of data, for example audio and / or video, in which: a broadcasting equipment communicates data intended for at least one rendering equipment according to a mode broadcasting system adapted for a restitution of the data as they are broadcast, and - on request of timing of the restitution, a memory stores data for a later restitution of the recorded data. In particular, the broadcast equipment is connected to said memory to drive at least: - a recording in the data memory, and - a reading of data stored in the memory for a restitution of the recorded data, and the broadcast equipment includes a server module for implementing at least the steps: a) upon receipt of a request for delay of the restitution of the data, processing the delay request by transmitting a recording command in the memory of a set of data associating an identifier with said set, b) responding to said delay request by transmitting said identifier, and c) upon receipt of a request for obtaining recorded data comprising said identifier, processing the request for obtaining by transmitting a command of reading all the data stored in the memory, with which the identifier is associated.

Thus, according to one of the advantages afforded by the present invention, the recording of the data for a delayed playback is no longer the responsibility of the reproduction equipment, but it is managed by the broadcasting equipment which centralizes storage and subsequent reading of the data for the different rendering equipment. In particular, in the case where the broadcast equipment stops recording in memory, the next incoming stream data is lost, in the absence of a recording function in the buffer zone.

To record different programs for different playback equipment, the broadcast equipment can be equipped with a plurality of tuners, as already provided in the current broadcast equipment.

In one embodiment, the requests and the response of the server module are in the form of requests according to a protocol of IP type (for "Internet Protocol"). More particularly, the requests and the response of the server module are formulated according to a UPnP / DLNA type communication protocol. Thus, advantageously, the aforementioned equipment can communicate with each other according to this communication protocol, as long as they are UPnP / DLNA compatible.

In one embodiment, the response of the server module comprises, in addition to the identifier, a link to a timeout signal recovery address, said timing signaling data being intended to be played by the playback equipment. This signaling data may for example correspond to image data which is displayed on a screen of the rendering equipment to signify that a delay request has been initiated.

In one embodiment, the server module determines the identifier as a function of the contents of the memory. Advantageously, a record manager in the memory can for example identify a free buffer area of the memory, determine a memory address of this buffer zone and generate an identifier corresponding to this address.

In one embodiment, the at least one timing request comes from a device acting as a control point available to a user. In an exemplary embodiment, this control point equipment may be a mobile terminal, or a multimedia tablet comprising a means of communication with the playback equipment and broadcast equipment. Thus, advantageously, a user can send a restitution command directly from his terminal if the terminal offers this application. Such an application (timing control and possibly restitution control) is then proprietary.

As such, the present invention also provides an equipment comprising communication means for acting as control point for the implementation of the method according to this embodiment, and comprises in particular a module for formulating at least the aforementioned request delay of data restitution.

In one embodiment, the above-mentioned control point equipment, on receiving the response from the server module, stores at least the identifier contained in the response.

Thus, after interpretation of a user command to restore the recorded data, the control point equipment can communicate the aforementioned identifier to the playback equipment and the playback equipment can then transmit, in a particular embodiment, the request for obtaining recorded data comprising the aforementioned identifier from the broadcast equipment.

To exploit the advantageous properties of the UPnP / DLNA protocol, all of these broadcast, playback and control point equipment are connected by a local network and communicate with each other according to a UPnP / DLNA type protocol.

The broadcasting equipment can be connected to a data reception terminal, for example a television terminal (digital terrestrial television data (such as a terminal known as "TNT base"), or from satellite or IPTV sources) , to receive the data and transmit them, according to said aforementioned broadcasting mode, to the restitution equipment.

The diffusion equipment is advantageous as such for the implementation of the invention presented above. As such, the present invention also relates to a broadcast equipment, which comprises communication means (reference CO1 of Figure 1 described in detail below) of data to at least one playback equipment, according to a mode suitable for rendering data as it is disseminated. In particular, the broadcasting equipment comprises: a connection (reference CO2) to a memory (reference MEM) for recording the data with a view to a delayed reproduction of the recorded data, and - a server module (DMS) comprising record management (WR) in the memory (MEM) and reading (RE) of the memory contents for: o on receiving a data retrieval delay request, processing the delay request by transmitting a command recording in the memory (MEM) of a set of data by associating an identifier with said set, o responding to said delay request by transmitting said identifier, and o upon receipt of a request for obtaining recorded data comprising said identifying, processing the obtaining request by transmitting a read command in the memory of the set of data with which the identifier is associated.

The present invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the above method, when this program is executed by a processor. For example, the server of the broadcast equipment may include a circuit thus programmed to perform in particular steps a) to c) of the method.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on examining the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of an architecture of a system in the sense of FIG. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a sequence diagram in a method in the sense of the invention.

In what follows, with reference to FIG. 1, a "DMR" playback equipment 2 (for 20 "Digital Media Renderer") is connected to a broadcasting equipment 1, a media server (or "DMS" for "Digital Media Server "). They can be connected for example to a local network animated by a gateway GW, allowing for example the equipment 1, 2 and 3 of Figure 1 to communicate with each other, as well as the connection of the local network to an external network, such as the 'Internet. The DMS media server equipment is provided with a memory MEM, internal or external storage, especially for the recording and the restitution of delayed data. The broadcast equipment 1 may include a terminal (for example a "digital base station") for receiving an audio and / or video data stream, for example a TV stream of a bouquet such as that broadcast for example. by Digital Terrestrial Television (or TNT), integrating a TNT tuner or a gateway (equipment "Livebox" of the Applicant for example). The equipment 1 (DMS) has the role of receiving the live TV stream and retransmit it to the playback equipment 2, streaming mode said "streaming". This data broadcast mode is adapted for streaming data as it is broadcast.

It may be advantageous to use equipment connected to the local network, such as a mobile phone 3 for example, to control the playback in the manner of a remote control. For example, to trigger a "time shirting" operation, a "pause" command can then be issued by such a device playing a role of control point (or "DMC" for "Digital Media Controller", or named here -after "Control Point").

Thus, the broadcast equipment 1 (for example a specific box for reception of streams broadcast by the DVB-T network thanks to a tuner included in this equipment, such as a "basic TNT" type terminal) ensures the broadcasting of the streams via a media server UPnP / DLNA protocol to one or more reproduction equipment 2, DLNA compatible and able to read these streams, such as television sets, computers, smartphone terminals or others.

In practice, it is possible to access one of the TV streams from such a device 2 ("player" or DMR for "Digital Media Renderer", DLNA compatible) by selecting a TV channel presented by the broadcast equipment 1 (in his role of TV server). A CDS module of the equipment 1 (for "Content Directory Service") exposes a list of TV channels, in which a media object ("media item") corresponds to a given TV channel.

It is also possible to select a TV channel from the TV server that the equipment 1 comprises via a device 3, DMC type (playing the role of control point or "control point" and compatible with the protocol DLNA), and start playback on DLNA-compatible DMR 2 equipment. This equipment 3 may for example be a mobile telephone terminal of the smartphone type. The equipment 3 is advantageously enriched with a function of live control (called "time shirting").

These devices can be interconnected by a local network animated by a gateway GW, and exchange for example messages by requests according to the IP protocol (typically http requests).

The user therefore has the possibility to select a TV stream and start playback, that is to say the return of the stream, on a DLNA-compatible DMR equipment and to put the restitution of the TV stream in pause. For this purpose, the stream is recorded on the equipment 1 hosting the media server. This equipment 1 is then connected to a memory buffer MEM having a storage capacity compatible with the intended application. This memory can be internal or external to the equipment 1.

The equipment 3 (DMC for "Digital Media Controller") thus transmits, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an order to the server of the equipment 1 so that the content is stored in the memory MEM. In advance, the server DMS broadcast equipment 1 reports that the media content corresponds to a content to broadcast in streaming mode for example and, as such, the equipment 3 (Control Point) can apply this step.

In one embodiment, during the pausing action from the equipment 3 (as "control point"), the last image of the stream is captured by the media server of the equipment 1 and transmitted to the computer. equipment 2 ("renderer") via the equipment 3 ("control point"), which assumes that the equipment 1 hosting the TV server has a function of on-the-fly demultiplexing of the TV stream.

In a simpler variant of implementation, a generic image is sent and contains for example a logo of the chain, a pause icon, and other possible elements.

In one embodiment, when the user then stops pausing from a human / machine interface of the equipment 3 (Control Point), the latter invokes with the equipment 2 (Media Renderer) a UPnP action. of type "SetAVTransportURl" to access the data stored in the contents of the memory buffer MEM managed by the TV server of the equipment 1. In this command, "URI" (for "Uniform Resource Identifier") points to the content of the buffer storing the data that has been recorded in correspondence of an identifier ID. In this respect, the URI includes the identifier ID, thus denoting the "multimedia object" that has been stored in the memory MEM.

Thus, following the triggering of a pause action on a live TV stream, the following functions are advantageously available from the equipment 3 ("control point"): - fast forward and rewind in the TV program ("FWD / REW ") - Play (" Play ") - Live Return (" Stop ").

Referring again to Figure 1 to describe in more detail the server of the equipment 1, capable of distributing live TV streams. In addition to CDS (for "Content Directory Service") and CM (for "Connection Manager") modules for delivering the standard services of a DMS server, the server includes: - an MEM memory buffer zone (for example of the Flash type) , internal or external hard disk, or other), - a memory write module WR in charge of capturing the live streams and writing them in the buffer memory, - a read memory module RE in charge of reading the buffer zone, and - a management module TSM (for "Time Shifting Manager") responsible in particular for controlling the WR and RE modules.

Of course, for its part, the equipment 3 (Control Point, "advanced" in that it is enriched by the functionality of Time Shirting) allows to detect via the local network time shifting functionality offered by the server DMS media.

A mode of operation of such a system is described below. After selection of content by a user from a human / machine interface of the equipment 3 of the DMC type, a link (of "URL" type) of this content being in this example "ITEM_URI", the conventional sequence for reading a live television content (live TV) by a device 2 DMR type can then be the following: - DMC equipment type 3 invokes the content with a command "SetAVTransportURl" which is associated with the parameter " ITEM_URI "on the" AVTransport "service of the DMR type 2 equipment, the UPnP / DLNA protocol, - the DMR type equipment 2 checks whether it can" play "the content specified by the identifier ITEM_URI (in function of its state, content format, or other) and responds with a return code, 15 20 - if the call "SetAVTransportURl" succeeded, then the equipment 3 type DMC invokes the action "Play ()" (read the content) on the "AVTransport" service of the DMR equipment 2 to start the lec content.

The following are the steps more specific to "time shifting" in the context for example of a playback pause control of the content.

The user has selected an "ITEM" content available from the DMS TV type equipment 1 and "ITEM_URI" refers to the "URI" link (to the UPnP / DLNA protocol) of this content. The initial task of starting live TV streaming (TV live) is identical to the "classic" sequence described in the UPnP AV protocol.

The pause command to the UPnP protocol results in the invocation of the Pause () action by the DMC type equipment 3, on the "AVTransport" service of the DMR type equipment 1.

A chosen criterion may enable the DMC-type equipment 3 to detect whether the ITEM content is a live TV stream and if the DMS-type equipment 1 providing the content noted ITEM can implement "Time Shirting" features of which including a break, for example.

The metadata accompanying the content may allow for example to determine the property "live TV stream" content. It is therefore an example of a possible criterion allowing the type equipment 3 to detect if the ITEM content is a live TV stream.

The "Time Shirting" function can be implemented by a specific UPnP service, or in an existing service offered by the DMS type 1 server. In addition, a particular property can be specified in the description of the equipment 1 of the DMS type.

After identification of the content transmitted to the equipment 2 as a live TV stream by the DMC type equipment 3 and verification that the DMS type equipment 1 is indeed equipped with the time shirting function, the steps implemented. when a user selects the "Pause" command from the equipment 3 (DMC) may be as described below, with reference to Figure 2.

In step 21, a "Pause" command (following a UPnP owner action or by implementing a web service) is sent by the equipment 3 (DMC) to the equipment 1 (DMS). This query has the ITEM_URI parameter.

This request is processed by the TSM module of the equipment 1 (DMS). This module TSM configures the WR module in the next step 21 to record in the memory MEM the stream coming from the source ITEM_URI.

In response, the module WR returns to the TSM module in step 22 an identifier ID for later retrieval of the content stored in the buffer memory MEM.

The module TSM responds to the request "Pause" of the equipment 3 (DMC) by providing the aforementioned identifier in step 23. The response may further advantageously comprise a URL link to an image that the equipment 2 (DMR ) can display to notify the user of the pause (channel logo, generic icon, and / or others, referred to as "timer signaling" above).

The equipment 3 (DMC) stores in step 24 the identifier ID of the content of the memory MEM that provides the TSM module.

Then, when the reading of the stored contents is solicited by the user via the equipment 3 (DMC), the latter invokes the action "Stop ()" on the equipment 2 (DMR), in step 25, for stop playing the live stream on this tuner channel.

The equipment 3 (DMC) then invokes the SetAVTransportURl action on the playback equipment 2 (DMR) with the URL of the pause image, which is then displayed on the playback equipment 2 at step 26.

The equipment 3 (DMC) then invokes the action "Play ()" on the equipment 2 (DMR), in the step 27, to display on the reproduction equipment 2 a screen page timing signaling .

In the following described below, playback of the recorded contents (in a "PLAY" sequence following the sequence "PAUSE") is started.

In step 28, the equipment 3 (DMC) invokes the SetAVTransportURl action on the equipment 2 (DMR) with now the identifier ID of the recorded content that the TSM module provided to read the contents of the memory MEM corresponding exactly to the identifier ID. Indeed, the invoked action "SetAVTransportURl" includes a parameter URI which is composed of the identifier ID.

In step 29, the equipment 2 (DMR) uses this URI comprising the identifier ID to connect to the RE module of the equipment 1 (DMS), to control the reading of the contents of the memory MEM corresponding to the ID identifier.

In step 30, this module RE reads the buffer zone (filled in parallel or previously by the module WR) and supplies the data of this memory zone corresponding to the identifier ID, to the equipment 2 (DMR) via a link of an http connection (or following the IP protocol according to a more generic formulation used above).

Thus, in the example embodiment above, the invention proposes a control realization of "time shirting", for example to trigger the "pause" operation, not with the equipment 2 (DMR) but with of the equipment server 1 (DMS). An identifier is assigned by the equipment 1 (DMS) to the stored data and this identifier is communicated to the equipment 3 (DMC) via which the user initiates this operation. When resuming the reading of the data, the equipment 3 (DMC) sends a read command to the equipment 2 (DMR) and the identifier assigned. The equipment 2 (DMR) connects to the equipment 1 (DMS) and uses the transmitted identifier to receive the stored data, for example in streaming mode from the equipment 1 (DMS).

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

For example, the invention is not specifically limited to use as part of the UPnP / DLNA protocol. It applies with any type of communication protocol, especially in a home network.

Furthermore, it has been described above the use of a third equipment, as DMC control point. Nevertheless, the rendering equipment itself can offer this functionality in a possible embodiment.

Moreover, the CDS, CM, TSM, RE, WR modules of the DMS server are described above by way of example. They can be grouped in the same DMS server entity managing the exchange of requests with the DMR and / or DMC equipment, on the one hand, and managing the recording / reading in MEM memory, on the other hand.

In the particular example which has just been described, the data to be rendered are television data. The invention could also be applied to the management of a restitution deferred from any other type of data broadcast in a so-called streaming mode, adapted for a restitution of the data as they are broadcast. For example, the data could be data from a webradio, ie a radio broadcasting over the Internet, with audio data and additional data (titles of the song, name of the artist, animator, or others).

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method of managing a delayed playback of data, in which: - a broadcast equipment (1) communicates data to at least one playback equipment (2) according to a broadcast mode adapted to a restitution of the data as they are broadcast, and - on data retrieval delay request (20), a memory (MEM) stores data for later retrieval of the recorded data (30), characterized in that broadcast equipment (1) is connected to said memory (MEM) for driving at least: - a recording (21) in the memory (MEM) of data, and - a reading (30) of data stored in the memory for a restitution recorded data, and in that the broadcast equipment (1) comprises a server module (DMS) for implementing at least the steps of: a) on receipt of a data retrieval delay request (20), process the request of delay by transmitting a command (21) for recording in the memory (MEM) of a data set by associating an identifier (ID) with said set, b) responding (23) to said timing request by transmitting said identifier ( ID), and c) upon receipt of a request for obtaining recorded data (29) comprising said identifier (ID), processing said obtaining request by transmitting a command (30) for reading in the memory (MEM) of the set of data with which the identifier (ID) is associated. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the requests and the response of the server module are established according to an IP type protocol. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the server module (DMS), at least, is able to operate according to a UPnP / DLNA type communication protocol. 14 5 4. Method according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the response (23) of the server module comprises, in addition to the identifier (ID), a link to a recovery time signaling data recovery address, said timing signaling data being intended to be played by the playback equipment (2). 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server module determines the identifier (ID) according to the content of the memory (21, 22). 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one timing request (20) comes from a device (3) acting as a control point (DMC) available to a user. . 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the control point equipment (3), on receipt of the response (23) of the server module, stores (24) at least the identifier (ID) 15 contained in said reply. 8. Method according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that, after interpretation of a user command for a return of the recorded data, the control point equipment (3) communicates (28) the identifier (ID) to the playback equipment (2) and the playback equipment (2) transmits (29) said request to obtain recorded data including the identifier. 9. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: - the broadcast equipment (1), 25 - the playback equipment (2), and - the control point equipment (3) , are connected by a local network and communicate with each other according to a UPnP / DLNA protocol. 30 10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the broadcast equipment (1) is connected to a data receiving terminal to receive said data and transmit the data, according to said broadcast mode adapted to a restitution data as they are disseminated to the rendering equipment. 11. Broadcasting equipment (1) comprising means for communicating data to at least one playback device (2) in a broadcast mode adapted to a reproduction of the data as they are broadcast, characterized in that it comprises: - a connection to a data storage memory (MEM) with a view to a delayed reproduction of the recorded data, and - a server module (DMS) comprising recording managers (WR) in the memory (MEM) and of restitution (RE) of the contents of the memory for: o on reception of a request of delay of the restitution of data (20), to treat the request of delay by transmitting a command (21) of recording in the memory (MEM) of a set of data by associating an identifier (ID) with said set, o responding (23) to said request for delay by transmitting said identifier (ID), and o on receipt of a request for getting data registered (29) having said identifier (ID), processing said obtaining request by transmitting a command (30) for reading in the memory (MEM) of the set of data with which the identifier (ID) is associated. 12. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, when the program is executed by a processor. 13. Equipment (3) comprising communication means for acting as a control point for implementing the method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises a module for formulating the least said data retrieval timer request (20).