Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
  • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
  • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
  • H04L65/60—Network streaming of media packets
  • H04L65/61—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
  • H04L65/613—Network streaming of media packets for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio for the control of the source by the destination
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
  • H04N21/4227—Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
  • H04N21/6156—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
  • H04N21/6181—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via a mobile phone network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
  • H04N21/633—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client
  • H04N21/6332—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client
  • H04N21/6334—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key
  • H04N21/63345—Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client directed to client for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key by transmitting keys
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
  • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
  • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
  • H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Definitions

• the invention pertains to using cellular telephony to select multimedia service provided through terminals, typicalh TV
• the selection of programming is performed using a wireless messaging device including a cellular or equivalent telecommunication device DEFINITIONS
• SMSC Short Message Service Center STB Set Top Box sw Software
• the set top box is hard-wired to a telephone line usually through a modem to communicate the viewers program selection
• older systems allowed the viewer to call a telephone number and order programming over a conventional telephone line. They both have a physical limitation of dual connection to a telephone hardwired line and an antenna outlet.
• An object of the invention is to provide cellular access to order programming for TV viewing.
• Another object of the invention is to provide cellular access to programming for TV viewing thereby eliminating the need for a modem in a Set Top Box (STB) to access a service provider to order programming.
• STB Set Top Box
• Yet another object is to create a system and method to easily verify a customer ordering a programming service.
• Another objective is to make a simpler and less expensive STB by using cellular access to order programming thereby eliminating the need for a modem in a STB to access a service provider over hardwired telephone lines.
• Still yet another object of the invention is to avoid the need for hardwired telephone lines as a means of access to a service provider to order programming.
• Another object of the invention is to eliminate the need for modems at servers to receive customer orders for programming service.
• Another object is to provide mobile access to order programming service from a service provider by using a cellular system to allow delivery of programming to mobile monitors such as TVs.
• the invention is a method and system to order programming over a Set Top Bob (STB) used in conjunction with a TV by a mobile telephone over a mobile communications network including a cellular network.
• the signal used to order service may be a Short Message (SM) or a data pack created by a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
• SMSC Short message service center
• a short message service center (SMSC) may carry the received message to a service provider.
• the customer is identified referencing the cellular customer database. This data can also be used for billing and to authenticate the customer. Billing is handled via the Service Provider responsible for billing of the TV services.
• a service provider is contacted over a mobile communications network to order programming and to communicate billing information and to authenticate the customer by a cellular calling device communicating with LPRF link associated with a STB.
• the service is used with a remote controller (RC) connected to a STB.
• RC remote controller
• FIG. 1 illustrates a system for ordering TV-Services with a cellular telephone.
• FIG. 1-A illustrates a multimedia terminal without a telephone modem.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a multimedia terminal
• FIG. 3 illustrates a system for ordering TV-Services with a cellular telephone using a cellular telephone to access a mobile telephone network to order programming.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a system for ordering TV-Services in which a cellular telephone unit operates directly with a STB in response to signals from a RC to connect to a service provider to select programming.
• FIG. 5 illustrates in a table the linking together of TV based services and cellular based customers.
• FIG. 1 interactive television now allows a viewer to select programming from a menu provided on a TV 2 screen.
• Existing systems routes the programming signal through a STB 4 and thence to the TV 2 for display on its monitor.
• the STB 4 is connected electronically through a modem over a hardwire telephone line to a programming provider as described in Figure 1.
• the STB 4 is a multimedia terminal known in the art and further described in Figure 1.
• Programming selections are made using Remote Control (RC) 6.
• the STB 4 is connected to a programming provider through a hardwired telephonic connection via either a cable modem 8 or a telephone modem 10 residing in the STB. This connectivity is used to communicate orders for programming in response to a menu provided to the viewer through the TV.
• a programming signal is provided to the STB 4 via a satellite feed 12, a terrestrial feed 14, cable feed 8 (cable modem 8) or a telephonic signal through the telephone modem 10.
• a descrambler unit 16 in STB 4 desirables signals and grants programming access based upon the user ID contained on the smart card (SM) 18 that allows access to the programming.
• the descrambled signal is then routed to MPEG-2 15 for further decoding into a video and sound component and sent to TV 2 for viewing and listening.
• a CPU 20 is resident in STB 4. It controls the functions of the STB 4 and supports the graphics decoded by MPG-2 15. CPU 20 also controls the input and output functions (I/O) of STB 4 including program signal reception and program ordering. It is supported by a conventional memory 22. CPU 20 also controls the descrambler 16. It first receives authorization to commence the service after first interrogating identification card 24 accessed through a conventional card reader 34.
• Figure 1-A shows a multimedia terminal without a telephone modem. It may be used in the cellular service ordering service described herein.
• the elimination of the telephone modem reduces the cost of the multimedia terminal 2 when orders for services are entered over a cellular network.
• the main menu for interactive service may be displayed on the TV 2 screen using a STB 4 as a source of programming signals.
• a startup menu is provided by a service provider 26 and is displayed on the TV 2 monitor. It can be a teletext page or an application running on the STB 4. Typically the startup menu gives the viewer alternatives from which to choose, for instance a selection of movies.
• programs can be selected by sending a special character code to the Service Provider 26 via the Short Message Service Center (SMSC) in a telephone network 28 by a cellular telephone 8.
• SMSC Short Message Service Center
• Each service may have a specific telephone number. Or several services may be addressed with in the same phone number when a few characters of the SM is reserved for addressing the service.
• this message may be supported and transmitted based on a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) running on the cellular telephone circuitry 28.
• WAP Wireless Application Protocol
• a specific WAP 30 can establish a unique selection of programming that can be made available such as movies.
• the user accesses the program service provider 26 via mobile telephone network 28 by a cellular telephone 8. After, verifying the user the program service provider 26 sends programming selections to the STB 4 for display 35 on the Monitor 2. The user inputs his program selection into cellular telephone 8 in response to prompts and the order for a program is sent over the mobile telephone network 28 to the program service provider 26 who in turn downloads the program to STB 4 for display on Monitor 2.
• customer identification and data needed to order services are sent to the service provider 26 via SM or WAP 30 server managed by a cellular operator 33.
• the service provider 26 in turn sends the programming, or key to open a specific programming service to the customer's STB 4 via A Digital TV network 32 in the same message stream as the programming.
• every STB 4 has a specific address that is identified by a SC 18 read by a SC reader 16 in the STB 4.
• Descrambler 16 may be part of a controller circuitry 36 that has a CPU 20 with input and output functions associated with it and a memory unit. Programming residing in the memory of the STB controller 36 authorizes the programming performance.
• SC 24 is used for specific personal services, such as access through a bankcard.
• SC 18 is used for broadcast control purposes including descrambling. It is also connected to and enables the descrambler chip.
• the service provider 26 In order for a cellular phone user to order services it is necessary that the service provider 26 maintain a database to verify that the user is authorized access to the service ordered.
• the service provider 26 keeps track of those who have a descrambler SC 18 authorizing use of the multimedia terminal 4 as well as those who have signed up with a cellular operator to order services.
• a customer wants to join the interactive TV/Cellular service he contacts the Service Provider 26.
• the Customer gives his identification parameter like name and cellular number and the name of the SCI 8 holder to the Service Provider 26.
• the SC 18 holder signs a contract that authorizes the specified cellular phone holder to use the services.
• a PIN code may be given to the customer for parental control or for general safety.
• the Service Provider 26 may then ask for the PIN before allowing the customer to order the service.
• the Service Provider 26 adds this customer related data to his database in a table that links the SC 18 and a cellular phone together as shown in FIG. 5 by correlating the cellular telephone number to a smart card ID.
• the Service Provider 26 When an order for services comes to the Service Provider 26 via the cellular operator's cellular network the user is identified and a database searched to correlate the user's ID with the personal identification SC 18 address or other user identification. Both the SC 18 and cellular phone number or data in a cellular phone SC must correlate with the database to authorize use of the service. Referring to Figures 1 and 1-A, the SC 24 identification will be used to charge the user.
• customers is sent to a SM or a WAP server by a cellular operator 33 via the SM or
• WAP server 30 to the service provider 26.
• the service operator 26 in turn sends the
• Every STB 4 has a specific address that is identified by a SC 18 read by a SC holder 16 in the
• a descrambler logic circuit and descrambling program reside within the STB 4 to descramble the programming for viewing.
• DVB has specified a common interface system for this purpose. It performs descrambling by software that typically resides on a PCMCIA type card.
• the DVB standard describes the interface for the multimedia terminal and CA module (common interface).
• descrambling system may be also embedded to STB electronics and software. In that case a separate SC is used for customers identification and to store the descrambling specific keys.
• one configuration is to have a wireless connection like Bluetooth between cellular phone and STB 4.
• RC 6 can access the STB 4which in turn uses cellular phone 8 to dial up to the Service Provider 26 over a cellular network 28 to select programming and to transmit billing information to the service provider.
• the service provider responds with selected programming as before.
• Video on Demand (VoD) movie service is a source of programming.
• a service provider sends an information page that describes all the movies that are available via the service.
• An information page can be transmitted via a teletext channel that is carried over analogue or digital TV service or via a data channel when digital transmission is used.
• the DVB standard describes the several mechanisms to deliver data packets over the transport stream.
• a separate application SW module can be used to present the programming information on the TV screen.
• Applications can also run top of a standard Application Program Interface (API) such as Open TV, MediaHighway, Multimedia Home Platform, ATVEF or any similar interface developed for digital STBs 4.
• API Application Program Interface
• a list of services and related identification info can be presented on the TV screen via a teletext system or via a TV video signal as part of a video service.
• each movie has an identification code that may be a number, letter or even title of the movie. The user will access this system to select the menu page using a RC 6.
• the customer identification is based on the customer's telephone card that may be a
• Charges for the service are based on time or event.
• the service provider then transmits the ordered movie or service and authorization information via a scrambled broadcast channel to the customer. Scrambling and descrambling is based on standard procedures used by digital TV systems such as used in DVB.
• the customer uses the RC 6 to select the service that may be a broadcast channel or multiplex, from his TV 2 or STB 4.
• the descrambling of the programming signal is performed in the STB 4 and controlled by a SC 18 used to identify the customer and authorize the selected service based upon the authorized information received via the broadcast channel.
• NVoD Near Video on Demand
• NVoD Near Video on Demand
• This system movies are constantly running. The customer selects the desired movie and only the authorization to purchase the movie is sent over the broadcast channel. Part of the broadcast channel is reserved for data applications in digital broadcast systems. The receiving unit in the STB descrambles the selected movie. Billing is handled as with the VoD service.
• Another way to access the VoD and NVoD service using a cellular network is to use a specific cellular terminal capable to run an application to order service.
• This kind of cellular terminal could be a WAP type telephone.
• An application may be downloaded to the cellular terminal displaying the movie titles on the cellular phone screen. The customer may scroll through the movies and select one. Authorization of the movies can be done in the ways previously described. There is not need to display a menu on the TV monitor of the movies available for selection.
• Other services may be ordered using the above systems such as electronic shopping services, simple banking transactions, purchasing event tickets, ordering music such as MP3 format to be loaded onto the cellular terminal memory or a hard drive.
• any service may be ordered via the cellular/STB combination with a cellular telephone.
• a cellular telephone menu is presented from which service is selected and initialized. The cellular telephone first downloads the specific SW application to the STB and controls it with a Bluetooth connection. A separate RC 6 is not needed to select any elements of the service.
• GPRS General Packet Radio Service

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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• 2000
  • 2000-11-16 EP EP00973166A patent/EP1249129A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-11-16 AU AU11707/01A patent/AU1170701A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-16 WO PCT/IB2000/001694 patent/WO2001037567A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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