Classifications

• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
  • H04N21/8146—Monomedia components thereof involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N19/00—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
  • H04N19/20—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video object coding
  • H04N19/25—Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using video object coding with scene description coding, e.g. binary format for scenes [BIFS] compression
• • 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]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
  • H04N21/234—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
  • H04N21/23412—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• • 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]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N21/25808—Management of client data
  • H04N21/25825—Management of client data involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone
• • 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]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
  • H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
  • H04N21/25808—Management of client data
  • H04N21/25833—Management of client data involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities
• • 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
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/44—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
  • H04N21/44012—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
  • H04N21/8146—Monomedia components thereof involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
  • H04N21/8153—Monomedia components thereof involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
  • H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
  • H04N21/854—Content authoring
• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
  • H04N21/854—Content authoring
  • H04N21/8543—Content authoring using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML]
• • 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]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
  • H04N21/854—Content authoring
  • H04N21/8545—Content authoring for generating interactive applications
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
  • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a digital television network, in particular to private television, for producing, broadcasting and controlling interactive television programs.
• solutions are available which make it possible to produce digital television programs which are broadcast on broadcast networks such as cables, or radio-relay systems, to receiver stations for digital television programs.
• several types of digital data can be exchanged. These are mainly image data, image sequences, sounds, sound sequences, texts, graphics, commands and control messages.
• the production of such a program therefore requires the manipulation in the context of a command language of a large number of different types of data.
• it is necessary to make it possible to carry out complete applications comprising several programs, broadcast to different users, to modify existing programs and other characteristics.
• the present invention makes it possible to produce a digital television network, of the type comprising at least one broadcasting computer comprising data storage means and means for transmitting digital television applications, and at least one device for executing at least one broadcasting application.
• Digital TV It is characterized in particular by the fact that the network includes:
• control center installed on at least the broadcasting computer to create, modify and / or broadcast a television application
• transcoder or generator for transcoding digital television applications from the control center; - consoles for applications from the transcoder and broadcast by at least one broadcast channel.
• control center comprises: - a control room manager comprising a means of activating one of at least one of the control rooms;
• - media management comprising means for editing, in particular recovery means, centralization means, and archiving means, and means for organizing the elements intended to compose at least one digital television application,
• a program management comprising means for composing a digital television application according to a predefined tree structure and navigation, means for updating an application and means for determining broadcasting rules cooperating with means for producing lists of execution of programs (Playlists) and with means of filing and archiving of programs and / or lists of execution;
• a management of the sites comprising means of distribution and means of dissemination of the programs created or updated in the management of the programs.
• each management comprises:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the properties area of each control room includes:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the content viewing area for each agency includes control means for selecting a mode display in the form of a Table, a Zoom, a Thumbnail and in single or multiple Selection mode.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the management manager also includes an access rights manager which limits access to the control center to resources and target profiles according to the position where he is installed.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the media management comprises means for performing at least one of the following functions: ASSOCIATE: for filling an element of another management with the content of the media ;
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the media management also includes means for performing at least one of the following functions: View, New, New / Folder, New / Media, Rename / Modify , Delete, Copy, Duplicate, Move, Export, Import, Add, Add / Video, Add / Image, Add / Audio, Add / Text, Add / File, Replace.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the media management comprises means for processing at least one of the following objects: File, Video, Image, Sound, Text, Internet file, database file data.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the program management comprises means for executing at least one of the following functions: GENERATE to start the generation of the source code and send it to the generator; VIEW to display the scene as on a TV screen;
• MEDIA MANAGEMENT to open the media management by automatically pointing to the media associated with the current element;
• CHANGE MEDIA to select another media from the media management and associate it with the current element;
• EDIT THE CONTENT to create or modify the content of the associated media and therefore of the current element;
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the program management also includes means for performing at least one of the following functions: View, New, New / Folder, New / Element, New / Program , Rename / Edit, Delete, Delete Links, Copy, Paste, Duplicate, Move, Export, Import, Media, Content, and more.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the program management comprises means for processing at least one of the following objects: File, PLAYLIST execution list, PLAYLIST TI MEE synchronized execution list , "CITYLINE" interactive directory, Catalog, Program list execution module (JUKE-BOX), Ad insertion module (ADS-I NSERTER), Training, Stock market management module (I NFO-STOCK ), Weather Services, electronic commerce (e-commerce), electronic banking (e-bank), electronic magazine (e-zine), and many more.
• the program management comprises means for processing at least one of the following objects: File, PLAYLIST execution list, PLAYLIST TI MEE synchronized execution list , "CITYLINE" interactive directory, Catalog, Program list execution module (JUKE-BOX), Ad insertion module (ADS-I NSERTER), Training, Stock market management module (I NFO-STOCK ), Weather Services, electronic commerce (e-commerce), electronic banking (e-bank), electronic magazine (e-zine), and many more.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the program management comprises means for processing at least one of the following elements: Structure, Video, Sound, Image, Text, Drawing, Page, List, Slideshow, Scene, Turnout, Instruction, Button, and more.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the control center and the generator are installed on at least two distinct stations or stations connected by a communications network.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the central control room 4 is distributed between at least one main control room (61) and one or more secondary control rooms (61 -1 to 61 -n) on at least an implementation system.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the code generator cooperates in a production system with a general control for the generation of the applications and with a module for managing data and flows in real time.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the production system is connected by a bidirectional link with a Distribution system comprising in particular a flow server itself connected to at least one network for broadcasting to customer stations.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the code generator comprises means for processing each digital television application, which itself comprises:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the data processing means of the application comprise:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a list of TV scenes also include means for processing at least one simple scene which comprise: • means for processing a Name designating the scene;
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a list of TV scenes also include means for processing at least one multi-page scene which comprise:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a list of TV scenes also include means for processing at least one multi-page scene which comprise:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a List of TV pages composing the scene comprise means for processing at least one TV page which comprise:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a List of TV menu-lists composing the scene comprise means for processing at least one TV menu-list which comprise:
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing a List of TV headings also include: • means for processing a Heading name from the associated TV menu-list;
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the means for processing Object-TV or lists of Objects-TV handle one of the types of Objects-TV taken from: objects- text, drawing objects, image objects, referral objects, instruction objects.
• the invention relates to a network, characterized in that the generator or transcoder comprises means for sharing in unit blocks compatible with the constraints of the target systems the programs coming from the production and / or production management, each block unit corresponding to a scene, and in that it comprises means for producing as a function of each unit block a plurality of program lines in low-level language, each line of television program comprising at least one of the following elements:
• FIG. 1 a general diagram of a digital television network according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 a block diagram of a management manager in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 a diagram of part of a management system in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• FIG. 4 a diagram of another part of a management system in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• FIG. 5 a diagram of another part of a management system in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• FIG. 6 a flow diagram of a television network in the configuration of the embodiment of Figure
• FIG. 7 a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention.
• a computer means which performs a set of tasks in response to orders from a remote control, a keyboard, or more generally from an input system, - "Program”, an audiovisual, interactive sequence, such as a game or a film, to carry out known tasks and / or broadcast a continuous audiovisual sequence,
• Example list an ordered list of programs intended to be broadcast on an audiovisual medium: television program, CD-type optical disc, etc.
• the digital television network of the embodiment comprises a broadcasting computer 1 equipped with known office resources.
• the broadcaster 1 runs an application which makes it possible to produce, edit and broadcast digital television programs to the consoles constituting the Stations of the clients 2 of the network.
• Each client station is connected to the network by any suitable communication channel 3.
• the broadcaster 1 may include one or more computers working in relation, in particular in a local network, a global network such as the Internet in external version (web or ftp) or internal (Intranet).
• On the broadcaster 1 is executed an application designated by the expression "control center” 4 which mobilizes computer resources 5 to build projects 6 according to target profiles 7.
• the control center 4 produces television applications by an output 9 to a static data memory 8 intended for a broadcast generator 1 1 which produces, in a language adapted to the transmission channel 3 and to the stations of clients 2, the broadcast applications.
• control center 4 produces, under the control of a programmer user, at least one digital television application.
• control center 4 mobilizes IT resources 5 according to target profiles 7 to compile projects 6.
• the IT resources include hardware elements such as disk files or network files, multimedia broadcasting devices, etc. , and software elements such as lists, screen pages, audiovisual scenes, etc.
• the target profiles constitute precompiled programming frameworks that the user can then reprogram as he pleases in at least one project, as is well known in object programming techniques. These various elements will be better described later.
• the digital television application produced by the central unit 4 is written in a task description language such as XML or another high-level computer language and it is supplied to a description generator 30 whose output is connected to the generator 1 1 of low level language applications intended for any user station connected to the network, directly or not.
• the codes from the code generator 12 are transmitted to the application generator 13 which optionally receives the data from the data generator 14, and which produces as output a list which constitutes an image of the debugging and commissioning tests of the service on the broadcasting network.
• the generator 11 of low-level language applications returns a test code to an error management module 31 which is connected to the control center 4 to allow a suitable adjustment under the control of the programmer or a automatic debugger.
• control center 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is divided over several workstations, for example connected by a local network.
• Each station has partial access rights to the resources of the control center 4, so that a given station produces part of a digital television program which is transmitted to another station with higher access rights which can then transcode it to prepare its distribution.
• the broadcast generator 1 1 mainly comprises a code generator 12, connected to an application generator 13, which receives data from a data generator 14.
• the output 15 of the generator 1 1 can be stored in a dynamic data memory 16 which can also be read by a link 17, particularly when one or more client stations return data to the broadcaster 1 as is the case in an interactive television application.
• the dynamic data memory 16 is connected by a bidirectional link 20 to a communications manager 19, the output of which is connected to the communications channel 3.
• the communications channel 3 mainly comprises a link 21 with the communications manager 19, which is connected to a communications generator 22 which, depending on the application installed on the client stations 2, generates and controls the flows between the broadcaster 1 and the various customer stations 2 thanks to a distribution network 23 connected to a private network 24 (for example, the cabling of a building and a link 25 from network 24 to station 2) or directly on a distribution network 23, 25 such as the switched telephone network, a radio beam, etc.
• a private network 24 for example, the cabling of a building and a link 25 from network 24 to station 2
• a distribution network 23, 25 such as the switched telephone network, a radio beam, etc.
• the client station 2 mainly comprises a digital television program player 26 connected to a console 27 for reading and, optionally in an interactive television application, for entering commands or interventions by the user of the client station 2 ; and a local memory 28 storing the programs and the data of the running television application.
• the client station 2 is managed by a station management software called client digital television platform 29 which depends on the client station 2, for example of the access provider to the digital television network.
• the communications manager 19 is provided with software applications which allow communications of one or other of the following types:
• the assembly constituted by the dynamic data memory 16 and the communications manager 19 is, in a preferred embodiment, associated in an electronic commerce software application 30.
• an electronic commerce software application 30 In such an application, particularly in an interactive television network, the exchanges of data and interactive television applications are controlled in particular to establish a payment by each user or client connected to the network.
• Such electronic commerce applications can also be exploited within the framework of the network of the invention.
• the control center allows you to create, modify and broadcast any television application, interactive or not.
• the power plant 2 takes care of the complete production process from the recovery of files on memories 8 and 16 of the network until the recording of an optimized flow on the broadcasting server through the layout and the preview before sending of the network TV application.
• Media management 41 is a way to edit and organize content. It allows the recovery, centralization, archiving and organization of all the media intended to compose the chain or the interactive application.
• Program management 42 provides a means for editing and updating programs. It allows you to compose an interactive application according to a tree structure and a definable navigation during the composition of the program or the game of interactive television programs (CityLine®, Juke-Box TV®, OpenShop®, Finance-Line®, ...) or any other specific interactive application, in particular when this requires content updates. Program management also makes it possible to produce so-called “PlayList” playlists by defining the media broadcasting rules.
• Updates are then dynamic and can be carried out as often as desired.
• the management of sites 43 constitutes a means of broadcasting the programs. It makes it possible to broadcast the programs drawn up with the program manager 42.
• control room 43 For broadcasts for the general public (satellite, cable, etc.), control room 43 includes a means of referencing application generators and broadcast servers in place, so that generators like the generator 1 1 (figure 1) can directly deposit their flows on the desired servers.
• the management of the sites 43 includes a means for personalizing the broadcasting as a function of site typology, groups of sites, single sites, or even television screen, hours and days of the week .
• this information can be read directly by navigation applications (internet browsers called “web browsers” or others) or adapted systems (television managers tv-manager, etc.), or even be automatically retrieved by application and data generators, which then produce the desired applications.
• the three control rooms 41 to 43 all operate on the same principle.
• Each control room has a window, and all the windows have the same presentation and work in the same way that it is easy to learn quickly, especially since the user interface is chosen according to the standard interfaces of the computer science.
• Boards 41 to 43 handle fugitive icons and menus
• control center 4 does not impose any specific language to learn
• control center 4 makes it possible to produce applications for any type of interactive audiovisual platform.
• control center 4 according to the invention translates all of the information into a language which takes account of the main platforms. This translation is then retrieved by the application generator 1 1 which compiles it and automatically performs all the tasks necessary for the final production of the television application.
• the application generator 1 1 which compiles it and automatically performs all the tasks necessary for the final production of the television application.
• generators there are as many generators as there are target systems and in particular three generators are used to produce applications for the systems: StreamCast®, OpenTV®, MediaHighway®.
• the central couple of the control rooms 4 / generator 1 1 authorizes a relocation of the work stations.
• the software communicates via the internet network layer (using applications called “sockets") and can work remotely as if they were installed on the same computer.
• control center 4 includes a means for authorizing several levels of use, thus making it possible to install an update version at the end customer, so that he can carry out himself his modifications of content.
• Several usage levels are provided for defining access rights, from simple consultation to the complete creation of programs, including the modification of a visual or the addition of a section on a screen.
• the diffuser 1 also includes a generator of descriptions 30 of the applications being produced from a master station and an error manager 31 producing reports on possible errors.
• the programs are created in program management 42 by actions on the elements of simple programs, similar to those carried out in office automation tools: selection, fleeting menu, called "pop-up", keyboard input, copy / paste, etc.
• Each screen making up the program can be viewed on the production station before broadcasting.
• Any program produced in program management 42 can be exported to be re-used by another management.
• This export format can also be used to make backups of these programs.
• FIG. 3 there is shown the common architecture of the three control rooms 41 to 43 making up the control center 4 (FIG. 1) according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Each management unit 41 to 43 can be called up by a management manager 40 which will be described later.
• Each control unit comprises software which runs in a window on one or more computers or the like.
• the management windows are all organized in the same way and each management window has four main areas described in FIG. 3: a menu bar 45, a hierarchical list area 46, a content viewing area 47 and a content area. properties 48.
• the menu bar 45 groups all the functions applicable in the current control room. These functions are similar to conventional office software. The function always applies to the element, or group of elements, currently selected in the control room. Selections are made in two ways, with the hierarchical list or in the Visualization table.
• the drop-down menu also appears by right-clicking on an item in the hierarchical list or in the viewing table. This system makes it possible to specify directly the element concerned by the function which will be chosen in the menu.
• the hierarchical list 46 makes it possible to organize and select the elements. According to the current management, it allows to arbitrarily arrange the elements handled by the management (media, programs and broadcasting sites).
• the hierarchical list 46 is synchronized with the other areas of the management window 44.
• the areas for viewing the content 48 and the properties 47 are set. automatically updated to display information about the selected item.
• the content viewing area 48 offers the possibility of consulting the content relating to the element selected in the hierarchical list in several ways. We go from one mode to another by clicking on the corresponding tab. We also refer to Figure 5.
• Table mode 55 allows you to consult the list of elements making up the element selected in the hierarchical list 46. This mode is only available for elements that may contain others: folders, programs, scenes, pages , etc.
• the table usually has several columns. By default, the table is always sorted in alphabetical order in the “Name” column, but it is possible to modify the sorting order by clicking on the title of the column of your choice. With each click, the table is sorted alternately in alphabetical order and in reverse alphabetical order.
• the Zoom mode 56 is reserved for the media and basic elements (images, texts, etc.), the viewing area 48 directly displays the content, ie the associated physical file.
• Thumbnail mode 57 is an intermediate mode between the modes
• Some accelerators allow you to switch directly to Zoom mode: in Table mode: double-click on an element; in Thumbnail mode: click on a selected item, or double-click on an unselected item.
• the display table includes a means for selecting several elements by successively clicking on the elements while pressing the "CTRL” or "SH IFT” keys.
• the "CTRL” key selects the elements one by one while the SHIFT key selects all the elements between the previous click and the click associated with the "SHIFT” key.
• the properties are re-synchronized with the element selected in the hierarchical list.
• the properties area 47 is reproduced in FIG. 4 and displays all the information relating to the selected element:
• type of the selected element 51 in a type zone for example by tabs or by icons;
• Some display values are automatically reflected in the viewing area when the Zoom mode is activated.
• the control room manager (40 in FIG. 2) is the main window for calling the aforementioned control rooms. It is essentially carried out by a toolbar always available allowing to call the desired control room.
• the toolbar therefore contains three buttons, each reserved for one of the three control rooms (41 - 43).
• the control room manager is connected to an access rights manager which limits the access of the control center to the target resources and profiles depending on the station where it is installed.
• the media agency is a agency specialized in the organization and management of the media, ie the physical files - the content - of the programs.
• Program management 42 is a means of creating and updating audiovisual programs, interactive or not. It organizes the programs which can be previewed on the control room 42 as they will be displayed on a client station 2. All creation, modification functions are available: create, change, duplicate, delete screens modify, add, delete content position, configure content on screens view all or part of a screen as on a television. The programs thus produced are in turn available to generate a complete television application, to generate an update of the program, or to serve as the basis for a new application.
• Media management specializes in content management, ie the physical files of images, texts, videos and sounds.
• Media management includes "a means of displaying elements from media in program screens:
• image-type media provides a photo of a product while the image element indicates the position of the image (the product photo), for example in the product file screen;
• text-based media provides the catchphrase “The deal of the month! » While the text element indicates the position of this text on the screen, the font to be used, the color, etc.
• the same media can be used in several different screens, its modification resulting in the automatic update of all screens at the same time.
• the price of a product is displayed in three screens: the product list, the product sheet and the order form.
• the principle of dissociation allows you to update the price on all screens at once.
• Media management therefore acts like a catalog or a customizable multimedia database:
• the classifications and names are free.
• the media management adopts the color code, for example, blue, which makes it easily recognizable among the three control rooms of the central unit, incorporates all the characteristics of a general management window, and adds the objects and functions necessary for management specific media which are: • the ASSOCIATED function: to fill an element of another management with the content of the media;
• the menu bar contains the commands which implement the means to perform and execute the following functions:
• the hierarchical list remains similar to the hierarchical lists of other agencies.
• the Visualization area carries the various aforementioned modes.
• Table mode the list of media contained in the folder selected in the hierarchical list is displayed.
• the five columns of the table displayed in Table mode correspond to the following information:
• Zoom mode displays the content of the physical file referenced by the media selected in the hierarchical list. This mode provides access to two specific functions specific to this control:
• the list of media contained in the folder selected in the hierarchical list is presented in the form of a mosaic.
• the media management includes means for producing seven types of media which are: 1. 2. video file
• Each type of media is defined by properties selected by the programmer on the media management which are: for the 1 type "dossier":
• Hierarchy Node element which can contain any media in the media management including the files.
• Program management specializes in creating and updating programs. These programs are typical applications, made up of elements that you can arrange in your own way, provided that you respect the expected behaviors: ordered "playlist” lists, catalogs, training, etc.
• a program generally consists of the following elements:
• an image element specifies the position of an image media on the screen
• a text element specifies the position of a text medium on the screen, thus the font and color to be used, etc.
• the referral element is used to indicate navigation to another screen, possibly under certain conditions, etc.
• the instruction element allows you to insert automatic function modules, such as logging in to send an order, or entering a bank card, etc.
• Program management therefore acts as a cross-platform application editor:
• the program management adopts the color code, for example yellow, which makes it easily recognizable among the three control rooms of the central unit, incorporates all the characteristics of a general management window, and adds the objects and functions necessary for specific management programs :
• the MEDIA MANAGEMENT function to open the media management by automatically pointing to the media associated with the current element
• the CHANGE MEDIA function to select another media from the media management and associate it with the current element
• View Displays the selected item as on a TV screen.
• the hierarchical list of program management has the same characteristics as those common to management.
• Table mode displays the list of programs or program elements contained in the folder, the program or the element selected in the hierarchical list.
• Reminder it is the media which provides the content to the element, the element only manages the formatting parameters.
• the Zoom mode displays the content of the media associated with the item selected in the hierarchical list.
• Zoom mode is only available for elements that can be associated with content and provides access to four specific functions specific to this control:
• Thumbnail mode presents the list of elements contained in the folder, program or current element selected in the hierarchical list in the form of a mosaic.
• the thumbnail displays the content or a message if it is a terminal element, or the icon of its type if it is a node element. In this case, selecting the icon amounts to "going down" in the hierarchy and is equivalent to selecting the item in the hierarchical list.
• Thumbnail mode then displays the elements contained in the selected node element. Selecting an "Up" icon located to the right of the viewing area allows you to return to the hierarchy.
• control center 4 only manages one type of program. Only a special mode opened by access to a higher access right makes it possible to handle several types of program.
• the various types of programs managed by the control center are taken from the following set: ⁇ folder, execution list, synchronized execution list, interactive directory, catalog, module execution of program lists, Advertising insertion module, Training module, Stock market program management module ⁇ the elements of which are defined below. "Dossier":
• Channel number Num Channel number in channel 1 to 255.
• StreamCast® Priority Num Priority value for regu1 to 255. Automatic broadcasting of StreamCast channels
• Width Num. MaxWidth. on screen 0 at maximum width. screen (720 TV pixels on MediaHighway®).
• Element types are specialized objects in program management used to describe programs. These descriptive elements of the programs are taken from the following set: ⁇ structure, video, sound, image, text, drawing, page, list, slideshow, scene, referral, instruction ⁇ , the defining elements of which are given opposite. "STRUCTURE"
• the sites management is specialized in the distribution of programs created or updated with the programs management. It adopts a green color code, which makes it easily recognizable among the three control rooms of the power plant, and incorporates all the characteristics of a control room window as explained above. We have only inserted the objects and functions necessary for the specific management of the sites.
• the control center 4 cooperates with a generator or transcoder 1 1 in a generator of digital television applications which makes it possible to produce generic or non-generic applications.
• Generic applications are interactive programs whose behaviors are predictable, and whose interface and content remain configurable and customizable.
• the technology is based on three complementary software tools: • The control center or control room 4, “front office” which allows you to describe and configure its applications;
• the generator 1 1, “back-office” which allows to transcode the applications coming from the control room; • The reader 26, “runtime” which makes it possible to play the code of the application produced by the generator 11 on the station 2 of the client.
• these three elements can be located on stations or even different sites. This is obviously the case of the reader which must be installed on each of the machines which must broadcast the television application. Depending on the installation modalities, these elements communicate either by local LAN network, FTP or satellite internet file transfer.
• the low-level language generator 11 is implemented on a separate station, while at least one other station runs the control center 4.
• the two stations are connected by means known, and the carrier station of the generator also contains a part of the control center 4 which allows it to execute the development of the programs using the description generator 30, and the error manager 31 for the setting point.
• control center is divided into several groups of stations which will be described later and which execute the development or the updating of one or more interactive television applications according to a cycle of determined life.
• control room can be a centralized or remote station, or even multiplied, in client-server mode.
• control room also allows you to view the desired result before launching the generation of the application.
• main station In the case of an operation in client-server mode, only the main station has the possibility of viewing all the applications produced by several remote users.
• the applications are generated with the generator 1 1, at the request of the connected control rooms or according to a configurable schedule.
• the generator produces a compressed transcription of the application in a format playable by the client station reader, then transmits it to the stream server which distributes it over the designated network. At each generation, the generator draws up a report which it sends back to the calling authority, to warn it that everything has gone smoothly or that errors have been detected, with their possible corrections.
• FIG. 7 the network of the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been taken up, in a variant adapted to several producers and several groups of customers.
• Each of the phases of the flowchart is shown in the figure with regard to the network means which are mainly used there.
• Each Realization group like group 60-0 has a main control room 61 to which secondary control rooms 61 -1, 61 -2, ..., 61 -n are connected.
• Each of the secondary sales offices is characterized by the possession of access rights to the resources and to the projects available at the level of the realization group 60-0 to which they belong which are different and reduced.
• the programs and links of the application being created or updated are exchanged locally under the control of the main control room 61.
• Each main or secondary control room includes an implementation of the control center already described using the figures 1 and following, the manager of the control rooms of each of the main control 61 or secondary 61 -i being provided with a controller of access rights specific to each of the control production, main or secondary. This distribution is particularly favorable to cooperative work in which production operators work hard pieces of television programs, for example by audiovisual specialty.
• the main control rooms 61, 62 of realization groups 60-0 to 60-N are connected by a bidirectional link to a General control room 64 located in a production station 63, and they exchange interactive television applications with it during the process of production.
• the latter is essentially executed on a production station 63, unique in the television network of the invention.
• the generator of interactive digital television applications, in low-level language and multi-platform, is implemented in a module 65, installed on the production station 63 and global to all digital television users according to the invention.
• Régie i 64 - administrative - is associated with it to manage generation parameters, in particular automatic generation planning.
• the administrative control room 64 assembles the various programs and applications received from the various main control rooms 61, 62 and produces a single application which it transfers to the generator 65.
• the generator 65 as explained with the generator 1 1 and the description generator 30 and the error manager 31 returns error messages to the administrative control unit 64 which can then either resolve the problem generating each error or return a correction request message to the main production manager 60 or 62 concerned.
• the generator 65 can receive several generation orders simultaneously. A queue is automatically created and the applications are processed one after the other. In the event of a load increase, it is possible to install several generators such as module 65 in parallel.
• the generator 65 transmits its code and its data to a module 66 for managing data and flows which is executed in real time.
• the data and flow management module 66 is connected by a suitable channel such as a local network or the like to a distribution system 67.
• the applications are distributed via the flow server 68, on which the hardware and installation depend dissemination media.
• the digital television operator like CanalSat® itself distributes the streams containing the applications generated.
• General management 64 on the production system 63 references the entire distribution system to give the generator 65 the means to send the transcoded applications to the stream server 68.
• the latter is connected to a bidirectional broadcast channel on at least a broadcast network like broadcast networks 69-0 to 69-P.
• Each broadcasting network can be under the control of its own operator or have the same operator and includes an unspecified number of client stations such as stations 70-0 to 70-p of the broadcasting network 69-0.
• the applications are executed by the reader (similar to the reader 26 of the client station in FIG. 1) of the client station installed in the decoders.
• the reader itself is distributed by the stream, so that it can be downloaded by the decoders.
• An identification system can be used to determine the network of decoders of each digital television application according to the invention. Thus, the decoders will have access only to the bouquet concerning them. This identification system can be managed by General Management 64.
• the entire network made up of digital television users according to the invention is modeled, managed and administered from General Management 64.
• Each new digital television application according to the invention is registered with its production stations and its distribution network with the Régie i 64. This organization makes it possible, among other things, to ensure all monitoring and maintenance operations.
• the entire production system 63 - generator - and distribution 67 - flow server - is therefore modeled, managed and administered from General Control 64.
• the configuration of the generators is recorded in each production station 61, 62 before any installation deported.
• a digital television application according to the invention consists of several types of information which are exploited according to the levels by processing means arranged on workstations or client stations, the types of information being:
• Application data ie the actual content of the application: image, text, etc. .
• the parameters for specifying the application or interactive television program elements are manipulated by processing means constituted using one or more of the following means: data and address in memory , calculation resource on a client station, production system, production system, distribution system.
• the processing can consist of an edition, a creation, an update, a configuration, a backup, a link or other processing of a particular class or IT framework.
• Palette Determines the list of 16 colors available for TV Objects displayed on the screen
• a scene consists of a set of objects whose appearance and behavior depend on each other on the screen. There are three types of scenes: • Simple scenes; » Multi-page scenes; "The scenes with menu-list.
• a simple scene is a scene in which all the elements that compose it are present as soon as it is displayed on the screen. There is no system for scrolling through pages or choosing from a list of items.
• a simple scene is specified as follows:
• the elements - Objects-TV- that make up this scene are basic and allow image, text and drawing management on the screen.
• a multi-page scene includes a page scrolling system. This type of scene allows you to create consultation screens: Magazine pages, Ad pages, Product details, Help pages, Legal information and.
• a multi-page scene is specified as follows:
• a menu-list scene is a simple scene including a system allowing to choose from a list of elements. This type of scene allows you to make selection screens: Selection of a page, Selection of a functionality, Selection of a product, of a region, of a category, Multiple choice questionnaire, Summary menu , etc.
• a menu-list scene is specified as follows:
• a TV page is an object that allows you to manage several pages on a single screen.
• the paging functions are automatically taken care of by the reader of each client station of a digital television application according to the invention.
• the objects in this list are specific to the page and will be deleted on the next page (the objects common to the scene remain displayed).
• a TV list menu is an object that allows you to manage several choices on a single screen. The selection functions are automatically taken over by the reader of each client station.
• a menu-list item is specified by:
• TV Objects are content items, specially designed for television viewing. There are three:
• Each TV-Object contains generic information (position on the screen, duration of display, etc.) and specific information (color of text, size of drawing, etc.). Definition of a text object
• the instruction modules are predefined and operational, only the parameters can be modified by the user. Examples of modules are: Connection, Message, Payment, Zapping, etc. VIII. LOW-LEVEL LANGUAGE AND MARKERS
• the multi-platform generator or transcoder of the invention operates in a low-level language, distinguishing the operation of the code generator (generator 12 - Figure 1) which produces the user interfaces, and the operation of the generator. data (generator 14 - Figure 1) which produces the content.
• Each digital television application is therefore transcoded into code lines by a generator or transcoder configured according to the target digital television platform.
• the digital television program is therefore divided into unit blocks compatible with the constraints of the target systems
• Each unit block corresponds to a scene as already described above and has a plurality program lines in low level language produced by the generator or transcoder.
• Each television program line has at least one of the following: identification; type; content; properties; connections.
• the type element is a combination of the following information:
• the identification element makes it possible to locate the object typed in the interactive television program. It is unique for each typed object.
• the content element reproduces the contents of the typed object.
• the properties element reproduces the properties of the object programmed in the unitary interactive television program block.
• the link element reproduces the list of references linked to the typed object programmed in the unit block of interactive television program.
• Each link corresponds to a dependent object or to the content of the object to which it is attached, such as the elements of a scene or a page, the focus of a "focusable" element, an action to be carried out from the client, etc.
• the unitary objects of interactive television programs correspond to similar objects of the same name already described in control room and generator level. These are the videos, the Sounds, the images (mpeg or osd), the texts, the drawings, the TV channels.
• the multiple unitary objects of interactive television programs correspond to analogous objects of the same name already described at the level of the control rooms and the generator. These are slideshows, TV pages, TV lists, tables, trees.
• scene management are scene objects, single scenes, multi-page scenes, menu-list scenes.
• Other objects are reserved for the management of functions. These are the referral and instruction objects. In this way all the objects contained in the programs are transcoded into a low level language directly exploitable on the client stations whatever the type of platform implemented.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computer Graphics (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-06-27 FR FR0008218A patent/FR2810832B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-06-25 EP EP01947606A patent/EP1308040A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-06-25 AU AU2001269255A patent/AU2001269255A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-06-25 WO PCT/FR2001/001998 patent/WO2002001872A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-06-26 US US09/888,566 patent/US20030088874A1/en not_active Abandoned

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