JP2007102782A - Method and system for sharing broadcast service information in communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a method and system for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network (106). <P>SOLUTION: The communication network includes a plurality of electronic devices. The method includes retrieving metadata (304) corresponding to a broadcast service. The metadata contains broadcast service information pertaining to the broadcast service. The method also includes formatting the metadata (306). Moreover, the method includes sharing (308) the service description file with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to communication networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to sharing broadcast service information in a communication network.

  The communication network includes a plurality of electronic devices that can communicate with each other. Examples of communication networks include code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, global systems for mobile communications (GSM) networks, the Internet, local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN). Examples of electronic devices include mobile phones, set top boxes, computers, laptop computers, satellite phones and the like. The electronic device may be a broadcastable device having a broadcast function. The broadcastable electronic device can access the broadcast service by using service information regarding the broadcast service. The service information includes a description of the broadcast service. However, it is not possible to send a service description, ie a reference to a broadcast service, by a message to these other broadcastable electronic devices so that other broadcastable electronic devices can access the broadcast service. Is possible. Furthermore, it is impossible to share service information with non-broadcastable electronic devices. It is impossible for non-broadcastable electronic devices to access broadcast services. Furthermore, it is impossible to share service descriptions, ie references to broadcast services, among multiple electronic devices via SMS, MMS or other services provided by telecommunications networks. .

Patent Document 1 discloses a transportable identifier including metadata for identifying a temporary broadcast of target data. There are various ways that allow specific actions to be performed when a message is received. One such method is to launch a software application on the electronic device when the electronic device receives a short message service (SMS). Another way is to perform certain actions by using an electronic device when receiving a multimedia messaging service (MMS). In another method, a midlet (MIDlet), which is a program or code written in Java (registered trademark), can be activated based on a notification from the communication network.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0002536

  However, these methods have one or more of the following limitations. First, these methods share descriptions, ie references to broadcast services, among multiple electronic devices, via SMS, MMS, or using other services provided by a telecommunications network. Is impossible. Second, it is impossible to share service descriptions with non-broadcastable electronic devices. Third, it is impossible to activate a broadcast service using data contained in SMS or MMS.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a method for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network including a plurality of electronic devices, and includes broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service. A metadata reading step for reading metadata, a formatting step for formatting the metadata into a service description file, and a service description file sharing for sharing the service description file with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices of the communication network The summary of the process is as follows.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the method according to claim 1, the service description file sharing step includes a step of protecting the format and contents of the service description file.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method according to the first aspect, the service description file sharing step is performed according to a mode selected from MMS, HTTP Get, WAP Push, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared, and WiFi. The gist is to include a step of transmitting.

  The invention of claim 4 is the method of claim 1, wherein one or more fields are extracted in metadata derived from a broadcast service title, logo, preview, channel information, action to be performed and service identifier. It is a summary to include the process to do.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the method according to claim 1, the method includes the step of displaying a title of the broadcast service to a user of one or more of the plurality of electronic devices.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the method according to the first aspect, wherein the service description file sharing step includes a step of transmitting the service description file to one or more of the plurality of electronic devices. And

The invention according to claim 7 is the method according to claim 1, wherein the service description file sharing step includes a step of transmitting a message including the service description file.
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that in the method according to claim 1, the method includes instructing one or more of the plurality of electronic devices to perform an action.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a method for using broadcast service information transmitted by a second electronic device on a first electronic device in a communication network including a plurality of electronic devices, the broadcast service The gist consists of a service description file detection step for detecting a service description file including information, and an action execution step for executing an action on the broadcast service information based on the user preferences and the performance of the first electronic device. .

  The gist of the invention described in claim 10 is the method according to claim 9, wherein the action execution step includes a step of accessing the broadcast service by using the broadcast service information.

The invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that, in the method according to claim 9, the action execution step includes a step of scheduling access to the broadcast service.
The gist of the invention described in claim 12 is that the method according to claim 9 includes a step of investigating device performance prior to the action execution step.

  The invention according to claim 13 is a system for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network including a plurality of devices, and a reading module for reading metadata including broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service; A format module for formatting metadata into a service description file having a specific multipurpose Internet mail extension type, a processor for processing the service description file, and transferring the service description file to one or more of a plurality of devices The gist of the present invention is that it comprises a sharing module.

The invention described in claim 14 is the system described in claim 13, wherein the service description file includes broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, in the system according to the thirteenth aspect, the service description file is shared by a mode selected from MMS, HTTP Get, WAP Push, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared, and WiFi. The gist.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the thirteenth aspect, the reading module includes an extraction module for extracting one or more fields selected from a broadcast service title, logo, and preview in the metadata. Inclusion is included.

The gist of the invention described in claim 17 is that the system according to claim 13 includes a detection module for detecting a service description file.
The invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that, in the system according to claim 13, it includes a performance investigation module for investigating the performance of the device.

The gist of the invention described in claim 19 is that the system according to claim 13 includes a service consumption module for accessing the broadcast service.
The gist of the invention according to claim 20 is the system according to claim 13, wherein the service consumption module includes a display module for displaying a broadcast service.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 21 is that, in the system described in claim 13, includes a scheduling module for setting a predetermined time for accessing the broadcast service.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment illustrating communication between a plurality of electronic devices and a broadcast service provider 102 in accordance with the present invention. The plurality of electronic devices include electronic devices 104, 106, 108, 110. Examples of electronic devices include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, set top boxes, computers, laptop computers, and satellite phones.

  Broadcast service provider 102 relays one or more broadcast services. Examples of broadcast services include, but are not limited to, television programs and radio programs. The electronic device 106 reads metadata corresponding to a broadcast service broadcast by the broadcast service provider 102. The metadata includes information related to the content, quality, state, and location (location) of the corresponding broadcast service. The metadata is transferred via the communication network 112. Examples of communication network 112 include, but are not limited to, code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communication (GSM), the Internet, local area network (LAN), and wide area. There is a network (WAN). The communication network 112 enables data to be transferred between a plurality of electronic devices. Examples of data include, but are not limited to, audio data, character data, video data, and image data. In one embodiment of the invention, the broadcast service provider 102 relays multiple broadcast services via the communication network 112.

  FIG. 2 shows a representative block diagram illustrating components of electronic device 106 according to the present invention. The electronic device 106 includes a read module 202, a format module 204, a processor 206, a sharing module 208, an extraction module 210, a detection module 212, a performance investigation module 214, a service consumption module 216, a display module 218, and a scheduling module 220. The read module 202 reads metadata corresponding to the broadcast service from the broadcast service provider 102. When the metadata is read, the format module 204 formats the metadata into a service description file. The service description file includes broadcast service information corresponding to metadata in a predetermined format. A predefined format allows at least a portion of the broadcast service information to be viewed on a non-broadcast compatible electronic device. It is impossible for non-broadcast compatible electronic devices to access broadcast services. Examples of non-broadcast compatible electronic devices include, but are not limited to, non-digital video broadcasting (DVB) mobile phones and non-DVB set-top boxes. DVB is a set of standards for managing digital service broadcasts. Furthermore, it is also possible to access broadcast services derived from broadcast compatible electronic devices by a predetermined format. Broadcast compatible electronic devices can access broadcast services. Examples of broadcast compatible electronic devices include, but are not limited to, DVB mobile phones and DVB set top boxes.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the read module 202 reads metadata corresponding to a broadcast service from the broadcast service provider 102. The read module 202 includes an extraction module 210. The extraction module 210 extracts one or more fields from the metadata. The one or more fields include a description and information about the broadcast service. Examples of one or more fields include, but are not limited to, broadcast service title, preview, broadcast time, broadcast service provider 102 logo, name of artist performing, broadcast service channel information, There are actions to be performed and service identifiers. In another embodiment of the present invention, the field includes the address of the broadcast service provider 102 in the communication network 112 to allow the broadcast service provider 102 to be identified. For example, when the broadcast service is a music program, the extracted field includes the name of the singer or artist performing in the program.

  Further, the processor 206 allows the format module 204 to format the service description file into a default format. The processor 206 processes the service description file in a predetermined format. The sharing module 208 shares the service description file with one or more electronic devices. The fields extracted by the extraction module 210 are displayed to the user of one or more electronic devices. By displaying the field to the user, the user can make a decision regarding the broadcast service before accessing the broadcast service.

  In another embodiment of the invention, in the electronic device 106, the detection module 212 detects a service description file that includes metadata. The performance investigation module 214 investigates whether or not the electronic device 106 can access a corresponding broadcast service of metadata. A broadcast compatible electronic device is an electronic device capable of accessing a broadcast service. Certain hardware and software components are required for electronic devices to access broadcast services. This particular hardware and software component enables the reception of data from the broadcast service provider 102 and the transmission of data to the broadcast service provider 102. The specific hardware and software components also allow processing of data transmitted by the broadcast service provider 102. If the electronic device 106 is a broadcast compatible electronic device, the service consumption module 216 accesses the broadcast service, which is accessed by using metadata included in the service description file. The display module 218 of the service consumption module 216 displays the broadcast service to the user of the electronic device 106. The display module 218 can also display a preview of the broadcast service. In one embodiment of the invention, the scheduling module 220 sets a predetermined time. After this predetermined time, the broadcast service is accessed. After a specified time, the service consumption module 216 accesses the broadcast service. For example, the set top box receives the service description file at 5:00 am This service description file corresponds to a music concert relayed at 11:00 am. The scheduling module 220 may schedule the service consumption module 216 to access the 11:00 am music concert. In yet another embodiment of the invention, after receiving the service description file, the electronic device 106 notifies the sharing module 208 to share the service description file with one or more electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices. Further, the display module 218 of the service consumption module 216 displays the broadcast service to the user of the electronic device 106. The display module 218 also displays fields extracted from the metadata included in the service description file. Examples of display module 218 include, but are not limited to, a thin film transistor (TFT) screen, a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. In various embodiments of the present invention, the components of the electronic devices 104, 108, 110 are similar to the components of the electronic device 106.

  FIG. 3 shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network 112 according to the present invention. After the start of the process in step 302, metadata is read from the broadcast service provider 102 by the electronic device 106 in step 304. This metadata corresponds to a broadcast service relayed by the broadcast service provider 102. In one embodiment of the invention, the read module 202 reads metadata from the broadcast service provider 102. At step 306, the metadata is formatted into a service description file. In one embodiment of the invention, the format module 204 formats the metadata into a service description file having a specific multipurpose Internet mail extension (MIME) type. The MIME type defines the content and format of the file. Examples of MIME types include text / html, image / gif, audio / mp3, and video / dat. The application recognizes and processes the file based on the specific MIME type of the file. In one embodiment of the present invention, the service description file is a specific MIME type expressed as Text / Html and Broadcast Service / Xml. Text / Html indicates that the content type of the service description file is character and is in the hypertext markup language (HTML) format. Broadcast Service / Xml indicates that the content of the service description file is broadcast service content and is in XML format. Broadcast service content includes the name of the broadcast service provider, broadcast times, actions to be performed upon reception of the service description file, broadcast time, and program duration. The XML content is executed when the broadcast compatible electronic device receives the service description file. This allows access to broadcast services originating from broadcast compatible electronic devices. When the non-broadcast compatible electronic device receives the service description file, the HTML content is executed and information about the broadcast service is displayed to the user of the non-broadcast compatible electronic device. Table 1 shows typical MIME types according to the present invention.

  When a broadcast compatible electronic device receives the above-mentioned MIME type, it can access the broadcast service by executing the XML content. When the non-broadcast compatible electronic device receives a specific MIME type, the HTML content is executed. Information displayed to the user includes “Program Info”, “Space Adventure”, “Season Premier”, and “Introduction of Casting of the New Series by Mr. Smith ( Introduces the cast for this new series besed on work of Mr. Smith). A specific MIME type allows an existing application that executes MMS on a mobile phone to recognize and process the service description file.

  At step 308, the service description file is shared with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the sharing module 208 shares the service description file with one or more electronic devices. During sharing of the service description file, the format and contents of the service description file are protected. Thereby, the service description file can be shared among a plurality of electronic devices. For example, when the communication network 112 is a cellular network, the service description file is transmitted by MMS, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Get, or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push. The service description file is transmitted as an MMS attachment file, and includes a broadcast service title, a writer name, and a character description, which are displayed in the MMS character component. In another embodiment, the service description file is transmitted to one or more electronic devices via a wireless medium. Examples of wireless media include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared, WiFi, and radio waves. In yet another embodiment, the service description file is transmitted to one or more electronic devices via a data cable. Thereafter, the process ends at step 310.

  FIG. 4 shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating another method for sharing broadcast service information in communication network 112 according to the present invention. After the start of the process in step 402, metadata corresponding to the broadcast service is read from the broadcast service provider 102 in step 404. In one embodiment of the invention, the read module 202 reads metadata from the broadcast service provider 102. At step 406, one or more fields are extracted from the metadata. In one embodiment of the invention, the extraction module 210 extracts one or more fields. At step 408, the metadata is formatted into a service description file. In one embodiment of the invention, formatting module 204 formats the metadata into a service description file. In one embodiment of the present invention, the service description file includes one or more action fields. The action field includes an action to be executed by the electronic device 106. An empty action field indicates that no particular action needs to be performed.

  At step 410, the service description file is shared with one or more electronic devices in the network. In one embodiment of the present invention, the sharing module 208 enables sharing of service description files. At step 412, one or more fields extracted from the metadata are displayed to a user of one or more electronic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, in one or more electronic devices, display module 218 displays one or more fields to the user. By displaying the field, the user can access information corresponding to the broadcast service before accessing the broadcast service. At step 414, the one or more electronic devices are instructed by the user of the electronic device 106 to perform one or more actions. One or more electronic devices can be instructed by a user of electronic device 106 to perform actions such as access to broadcasts, scheduling of broadcasts, and recording of broadcast services. Actions are based on user preferences and the performance of one or more electronic devices. The performance of the one or more electronic devices includes whether or not the electronic device is a broadcast compatible electronic device. For example, if the broadcasting service is an educational program being relayed, even if the parent is away from the child, he / she wants to show the program to the child and accesses and records the educational program. Direct your home DVB compatible set-top box. The service consumption module 216 of the DVB compatible set-top box accesses the educational program and displays the educational program by using the display module 218. In one embodiment of the present invention, this educational program can be recorded. If relayed at a specific time, the parent instructs the DVB compatible set-top box at home to schedule access to the educational program at that specific time. The DVB compatible set top box scheduling module 220 instructs the service consumption module 216 to access the educational program at that particular time. The parent instructs the home DVB compatible personal video recorder (PVR) to record the program in memory for future reference. In one embodiment of the present invention, for example, one or more devices to perform one or more actions included in a service description file for one or more electronic devices if the service description file does not include control information. Send control information to. In this case, no action is performed. In another example, a user of electronic device 106 instructs one or more electronic devices to record a broadcast service and access the broadcast service at the same time. Thereafter, the process ends at step 416.

  FIG. 5 shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing broadcast service information at a first electronic device in a communication network 112 in accordance with the present invention. The first electronic device receives a service description file from the second electronic device. After the start of the process in step 502, a service description file is detected in the first electronic device in step 504. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first electronic device detection module 212 detects the service description file. For example, when the first electronic device receives an MMS, the detection module 212 checks whether the attached file is a service description file. In one embodiment of the present invention, each time the first electronic device receives a file, the detection module 212 checks whether the file is a service description file. If the file is a service description file, the user of the first electronic device is notified. Further, at step 506, the first electronic device performs an action on the broadcast service information. An action is performed based on one or more action fields included in the service description file. This action is based on the user preferences of the second electronic device and the performance of the first electronic device. The performance of the first electronic device includes the performance of the first electronic device accessing the broadcast service. Thereafter, the process ends at step 508.

  For example, the first mobile phone transmits a service description file to the second mobile phone. The broadcast service corresponding to the service description file may be a television (TV) program broadcast as streaming video. The user of the first mobile phone instructs the second mobile phone to perform one or more actions on the streaming video. The performance investigation module 214 investigates whether the second mobile phone is DVB compatible to ensure that the second mobile phone can perform one or more actions. When the second mobile phone is not DVB compatible, the user of the first mobile phone is informed that the second mobile phone cannot perform one or more actions. The second mobile phone sends an SMS or MMS to inform the user of the first mobile phone that the second mobile phone cannot perform one or more actions. The user of the first mobile phone may be notified by using WAP Push or HTTP Get. When the second mobile phone is DVB compatible, one or more actions are performed on the second mobile phone.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, broadcast service provider 102 sends a message over WAP. This message may include one or more unified resource location specifiers (URLs). The URL defines the address of specific content on the World Wide Web (WWW). Each of the one or more URLs may represent a particular broadcast service location. The message may also include a description of each broadcast service. By examining one or more URLs, the corresponding service description file can be transferred to the electronic device.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the service description file is sent by the WAP to an electronic device that supports the WAP Push function.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the online program guide or advertising banner includes one or more references to a plurality of broadcast services. The online program guide or advertising banner may include the title and description of one or more broadcast services. When the user of the electronic device clicks on one or more references, the corresponding service description file can be transferred to the electronic device.

  The present invention provides a method and system for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network. The method and system of the present invention allows broadcast service information to be shared with one or more electronic devices in a communication network.

FIG. 4 is a representative environment diagram illustrating communication between a plurality of electronic devices and a broadcast service provider in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3 is a representative block diagram illustrating components of an electronic device according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another method for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing broadcast service information in a communication network according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Broadcast service provider, 104, 106, 108, 110 ... Electronic device, 112 ... Communication network, 202 ... Reading module, 204 ... Format module, 206 ... Processor, 208 ... Shared module, 210 ... Extraction module, 212 ... Detection module , 214 ... Performance investigation module, 216 ... Service consumption module, 218 ... Display module, 220 ... Scheduling module.

Claims (21)

A method for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network including a plurality of electronic devices, comprising:
A metadata reading step of reading metadata including broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service;
A formatting process for formatting the metadata into a service description file;
A service description file sharing step of sharing a service description file with one or more of the plurality of electronic devices of the communication network.   The method of claim 1, wherein the service description file sharing step includes protecting the format and content of the service description file.   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service description file sharing step includes a step of transmitting the service description file in a mode selected from MMS, HTTP Get, WAP Push, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared, and WiFi.   The method of claim 1, comprising extracting one or more fields in metadata derived from a broadcast service title, logo, preview, channel information, actions to be performed, and service identifiers.   The method of claim 1, comprising displaying a broadcast service title to a user of one or more of the plurality of electronic devices.   The method of claim 1, wherein the service description file sharing step includes the step of transmitting the service description file to one or more electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices.   The method of claim 1, wherein the service description file sharing step includes the step of sending a message including the service description file.   The method of claim 1, comprising instructing one or more of the plurality of electronic devices to perform an action. A method for utilizing broadcast service information transmitted by a second electronic device on a first electronic device in a communication network including a plurality of electronic devices, comprising:
A service description file detection step for detecting a service description file including broadcast service information;
An action execution step of executing an action on the broadcast service information based on the user preference and the performance of the first electronic device.   The method according to claim 9, wherein the action executing step includes the step of accessing the broadcast service by using the broadcast service information.   The method of claim 9, wherein the action performing step includes scheduling access to the broadcast service.   The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of investigating device performance prior to the action execution step. A system for sharing broadcast service information in a communication network including a plurality of devices,
A reading module for reading metadata including broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service;
A formatting module for formatting metadata into a service description file having a specific multipurpose Internet mail extension (MIME) type;
A processor for processing the service description file;
A shared module for transferring a service description file to one or more of a plurality of devices.   14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the service description file includes broadcast service information corresponding to the broadcast service.   14. The system of claim 13, wherein the service description file is shared by a mode selected from MMS, HTTP Get, WAP Push, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared, and WiFi.   14. The system of claim 13, wherein the reading module includes an extraction module for extracting one or more fields selected from a broadcast service title, logo and preview in the metadata.   The system of claim 13 including a detection module for detecting a service description file.   The system of claim 13, comprising a performance survey module for investigating device performance.   The system of claim 13 including a service consumption module for accessing a broadcast service.   The system of claim 13, wherein the service consumption module includes a display module for displaying a broadcast service.   14. The system of claim 13, including a scheduling module for setting a predetermined time for accessing the broadcast service.

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