EP2005735A1

EP2005735A1 - Device and method for the recording and time-deferred playback of programs

Info

Publication number: EP2005735A1
Application number: EP07727593A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Jenzowsky; Norbert LÖBIG; Rudolf Stelzl
Original assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-04-03
Filing date: 2007-03-30
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: CN101438582A; WO2007113264A1; US8233771B2; DE102006015328B4; CN101438582B; US20090297129A1; DE102006015328A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and an associated method in which a recorded television or radio program can be played back from a recording of said program without additional programs, such as commercial breaks randomly occurring during said interval. A current program is resumed once the recording has been played back. Processed program segments can be retrieved while repeated segments can be tuned out during playback. The current program can be resumed more quickly if processed program segments are retrieved during playback.

Description

description

Apparatus and method for recording and delayed playback of broadcasts

Radio and television programs reach their viewers and listeners through a variety of communication channels. In addition to terrestrial and satellite reception as well as access via cable networks, the use of communication data networks, such as landline, mobile radio network or Internet for the distribution of program offerings, is becoming increasingly important. The viewer or listener can thus reach almost anywhere and on any access to radio and television programs.

During a television or radio broadcast, experience has shown that the likelihood of interrupting the dwell time in front of the receiving or multimedia device increases if, for example, a locally occurring event such as telephone call, visit or interruption of the television program occurs by displaying an ad block, news article or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device and an associated method for a time-shifted reproduction of broadcasts.

The object is achieved by the independent claims 1 or 8

The invention has the advantage that the cached portions of broadcasts broadcasts are reproduced without additional contributions as required and thereafter a return to a current broadcast mode takes place.

The invention has the advantage that it is at a local as well as a centrally caused interruption, eg Advertising, a broadcast comes to no loss of broadcasting sections broadcast.

The invention has the advantage that an accelerated return in the real-time broadcast mode by using cached summaries of the transmitted transmission sections is feasible.

The invention has the advantage that only a minimum of storage space is required for recorded programs.

The invention has the additional advantage of enabling a return to the real-time broadcast mode within the shortest possible time interval after the end of the interruption.

The invention has the advantage of easy operation with it.

The invention also has the advantage that categories of program contributions in transmitted programs or program parts from a current broadcast program can be selected during a playback.

Another advantage is that the return in the real-time broadcast mode can be accelerated by outputting temporally shortened program portions as needed by present summaries.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. Show it:

1 shows a recording and reproducing arrangement, FIG. 2 shows a net recording with transmitting sections, FIG. 3 shows another recording and reproducing arrangement,

FIG. 4 shows a list of operating functions, FIG. 5 shows a verified recording and reproducing arrangement,

FIG. 6 shows a detail view and

Figure 7 shows a recording and reproducing device for accelerated return in the real-time broadcast mode.

In the following, a circuit arrangement and an associated method are indicated, in which or from a partial recording of a television or radio program, a reproduction of the recorded program without additional contributions, such as advertising blocks transmitted during this period, is made possible. After the end of the possibly cleared recording, an automatic return to the preset currently transmitted television program takes place. To record this, for example, an operating function Bl, BIl, B2,... Is initiated for a net recording of programs on a remote control or on the multimedia device prior to the beginning of an absence or interruption of the tracking of the current television program.

The description of the device and the associated method is based on a scenario in which a spectator or listener interrupts his watching or listening and, after an indeterminate, otherwise spent dwell, returns to the program available through television or radio. With the resumption of the pursuit of television or radio program, the viewer or listener, for example, before the alternatives, either delayed track the net recording of the missed program or immediately jump back to the original broadcast mode. At a later time, then in the latter case, the cached net record can be accessed. In addition, the viewer or listener may have their own time for viewing or listening determine the listening for the eliminated cached additional contributions or additional programs Wl, W2, W3,.

A device with local recording capability is shown in FIG. A TV program or programs Bx, By are broadcast Broadcast Bsw. transmitted terrestrially, via satellite or via cable to the multimedia subscriber. The transmitted program Bx, By can then be forwarded via a receiving unit E or a set-top box directly to the TV-TV or radio. In addition, in the specified unit E, an analysis unit A and an electronic module PVR are provided. With the module PVR a recording of programs is possible. The electronic module PVR can also be designed as a personal video recorder PVR. In parallel with the recording of the program Bx, By on the personal video recorder, this is subjected to an analysis with respect to less desirable additional broadcasts Wl, W2, W3,. In this analysis, the program can be evaluated according to a sender identification, such as the logo of a sender station, since in the case of commercials the transmission of the logo i. a. omitted. Also, an increased scene change frequency can serve as a criterion for recognizing a commercial block. Another method could be based on the evaluation of a relative level of activity at the beginning of an addendum, which is high in the case of advertisements. Another method could be to evaluate signature patterns or to assess the length of the post.

In addition, the analysis may also include methods that provide secure recognition of commercials without real-time demand. With these, the verification of the advertising block boundaries can be checked in the already made record, so that in a later playback, the unwanted output of a part of a non-clean real-time advertising block can be safely excluded. A recording of the program without additional broadcasts takes place, as illustrated in the following figures, in real time and can be triggered by a first initiation Il a first operating function Bl. With a second initiation of the first operating function Bl, the transmission sections a, b, c, d, ... can be forwarded to the output device TV. The additional broadcasts or broadcasts eliminated from the program can be buffered and retrieved separately.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the course of a transmission Bx with additional contributions W1, W2, W3,..., A recording of a transmission Bx, which has been cleared of additional contributions W1, W2, W3,..., With the transmission sections a, b, c, d and an indication of a return to real-time broadcast mode again. In this schematic representation, (II) the viewer initiates the first operating function Bl (II) recording without additional insertion of advertising blocks. In the schematic illustration, a broadcast live broadcast Bx (a, b, c,...) Interrupted, for example, by advertisement Wl, W2, W3,... Is plotted below a broadcast time slot. For example, the multimedia user returns to his receiving unit E after a nine-minute absence. By actuating a second initiation (12) of the first operating function Bl (12), the recorded part of the program is output by additional transmission items W1, W2, W3,... With return, a control key or a coding or a second initiation 12 of another operating function B12 can be entered so that only the additional transmissions are reproduced and then a stepless transition to the current program takes place. If a new additional transmission contribution, for example W3, is issued during the output of a net recording, or if such is still transmitted at the time of a return to the live program Bx, then it will be completely or partially eliminated during the reproduction of the transmission sections a, b, c. In the event of a jump back during an additional transmission contribution W4 and an already completed complete reproduction a, b, c, d of the cleaned-up recording, the transmission contribution W4 just sent out could be forwarded to the output unit TV. Here too, a neutral person who was a member of the multimedia set store Wx. After the end of the transmission W4, a return to the currently transmitted transmission Bx or By takes place. A return to the broadcast program then takes place at the time t = 19 minutes after the start of the absence or 9 minutes after the return of the viewer or listening.

FIG. 3 shows a device corresponding to FIG. 1. This device additionally has an access Z to a further transmission medium UEM. By way of example, information about the start and end time of additional contributions W1, W2, W3,... Could be fed into the analysis unit A via the transfer medium. An ad liberation is preferably done here by an exact external indication of the beginning and end of the ad block. This information is provided by polling or event-based. The recording of the relevant program parts on the memory unit PVR is done without the detected advertising block. Own means for ad block detection are not required in this case in the Personal Video Recorder PVR. Instead of having its own self-sufficient advertising block recognition, the device described in FIG. 1 can likewise be designed for an external advertising block indication. Preferably, this variant according to FIG. 3 is available for a network-based personal video recorder nPVR. This then economically covers a plurality of TV channels for a large number of viewers. The recording of a program is centrally, as well as the exact labeling of the advertising block. Here, a second operating function B2 opens into a request management of the network-based personal video recorder nPVR, the subsequent attention of the viewer to the program in the individual streaming of the cleaned-up recording starting with the interruption time. Return to Broadcast Mode is accompanied by the withdrawal of the participant from the requirements management and by connecting his STB on the TV broadcast program. There is a unicast connection between the memory unit M or the set top for the duration of watching the non-commercial broadcast recorded in the meantime Box STB of the output unit TV. When the end of the recording is reached, an automatic jump back to the broadcast mode by the TV program is forwarded directly to the set top box or to the TV output device.

At the output of the analysis unit A, the start and end times, which are determined internally in real time, of additional contributions or additional consignments, as indicated schematically in FIG. The television viewers will have the variants of the recording and playback function by means of an operating functions Bl (Il), BIl (Il)

Operating menu offered, see Fig.4. Modules of the operating menu are, for example - recording without additional broadcasts / additional contributions, which receives a television program from the time of activation of the operating menu under evaluation of the additional contribution indication such as start and end times of the additional broadcasts Wx. In this mode, all information blocks outside the core program will not be output on one output. Also, the promo bell can not be collected and retrieved by the viewer at a different time since it does not need to be saved in this mode. An option of inclusion with additional contributions allows the latter, however. In addition to the activation and deactivation of the previously described variant of the recording function and the other operating functions customary for recording devices, such as monitor output, trick play, etc., e.g. the television viewer as indicated above at least a first, second and further operating functions Bl, B2, BIl, B12, ... as Play Record and Resume Real Time Broadcast offered that the output of the recorded content and the transition to the broadcast mode for the recorded Program causes.

Fig. 4 shows operating functions again. As operating functions can be provided for example: Bl (II) recording on local personal video recorder,

BIl (Il) recording on local personal video recorder with

Delete a presettable category of additional contributions, Bl (12) Output of transmissions with automatic return,

B12 (I2) Output of additional contributions with or without return, B2 (II) recording on central personal video recorder, B2 (12) Output of the central personal video recorder cached broadcasts with automatic return, B21 (I2) output of centralized personnel video Recorder cached pre-settable additional contributions and

B22 (I2) Output of transmissions in compressed form with automatic return.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic sequence of a running procedure for ad block recognition. This method may access an external advertising block indication and optionally be supplemented by elimination of repeating sections after ad blocking. In many cases, a segment of the already widespread contribution is repeated after its interruption of a feature film by an advertising block before its actual continuation. Mere ad liberation would lead here to ia unwanted two-time issue of this segment. FIG. 5 shows the conditions by way of example. The segments B, B ', B "are the parts repeated in each case after the advertising blocks W1, W2, W3. The determination of the repeated sections B, B ', B''takes some time and is therefore available for past sections. Therefore, there is a functionally pointer that points to the beginning of C when the end of B is reached. The same applies to the pointer at the end of B 'which points to the beginning of D. For the current ad block W4 there is only one pointer at the end of B '' which points to the current write pointer of the Boradcast program. If this is achieved, then the switch to broadcast takes place, the following section B "belongs to the real-time output and can not be suppressed. The pointers shown in FIG. 5 are to be implemented via suitable conversion tables with entries which each point to one of the blocks. They are for illustrative purposes only. FIG. 6 shows, based on FIG. 5, the conditions in detail. Shown is in particular the achievement of the end of the segment B '' before the ad block W 'at times when its beginning and end has not yet been recognized.

The operating functions Bl, B2 - e.g. Recording without additional contributions- can also be reactivated before switching back to broadcast mode. A multiple activation in a row before reaching the switch-back time in the broadcast mode is possible. Manually controlled fast-forward to accelerate return to broadcast mode Bx can be provided as an option on the remote control FB or multimedia device.

If necessary, the commercials or other information recorded during the recording phase can also be recorded and output, if necessary, at a later point in time by operating another operating function B12 (I2).

In particular, in the case of an activation of a recording by a network-based personal video recorder nPVR caused by advertising block start, a network operator / service provider does not need to make a recording user-individually, but can create a recording for an entire user group. That is, under certain circumstances, only a single message-based program that could then be terminated user-individually by a return of a last user in the broadcast mode is executed.

Applicability to other program contributions other than commercials may also be performed with the stated arrangement or method. For better delimitation, the program contributions are subdivided into categories. A multimedia subscriber may select one or more categories to verify his or her shipments to be cleared. An elimination of user-individually undesired pro- This could be achieved as long as the non-desired shares are identifiable or identifiable in real time. Examples could include interviews during breaks in concerts or between acts, scenes from opera performances, during half-time breaks at football matches, current events

Music reviews or word contributions in the program of music stations, etc.

FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which the multimedia subscriber, for example, by activating a second initiation 12 of a further operating function B22, accesses temporarily stored, revised or concentrated transmission sections. These revised transmission sections, which are concentrated in particular according to their information and / or event content, are buffered in further or central memory units. If the viewer returns to the recorded program at some point after the start of advertising block, current programs can also be used in the form currently being edited. A viewer who has missed real x minutes of the desired program content without an ad block, does not get from his service provider the full-time edition, such. B. x = 10 minutes, but alternatively also a or 3 minutes long summary of the last y (> x) minutes offered for viewing. This summary is available for output regardless of the requirement profile in buffers. The selection of the edited short version then allows the television viewer an even faster return to the real-time broadcast mode. For this output mode which limits itself to the highlights, the summaries are generated manually on the fly. Since this takes some time, the output of the created summary sections is done first. If the output reaches a section for which the summary has not yet been created, the unassigned stored program information is changed for the purpose of continuous output. In this mode, the return to the broadcast mode is then achieved as described above. The operator is provided with the output of the broadcasts disseminated in his or her absence, pre-selected categories or pre-selected categories from a local or centralized personal video recorder PVR, and a broadcast version of the program, which has been adjusted for advertising purposes and reduced to the main events, from a central PVR. In both modes, the fastest possible return to the broadcast mode. In addition, combinations of both modes are possible. Thus, the viewer after returning to the TV set or renewed attention to the pursuit of the interrupted program initially pursue the commercial block-cleaned original version. If this lasts too long, he may at any time trigger the continuation by means of the shortened version. As a result, the PVR will perform further ad-paid output from the local or centralized / network-based Personal Video Recorder until it reaches the next start of a truncated section provided via the central PVR. The following shortened sections are then automatically output according to availability. At any point in time, it is also possible to return to the edition of the original section if the summary sections should not be accepted. That is, any change between the above output modes is possible based on the transition of the mode at times when a combined portion starts. For current broadcasts such as live transfers, the section-by-section summaries can be created and retrieved in separate storage areas between cached transmission sections. When transmitting feature films and recordings, the summaries may be created a priori and also cached. In particular, summaries of different degrees of compression are conceivable here, which can then be provided via the central PVR function and on the part of the subscriber for the purpose of different speeds

Return to the broadcast mode are selectively retrievable from the cache. Also in this case, the change of the output mode at any time before jumping back into the Real-time broadcast operation possible on the basis of the beginning of a present in various shortening program section.

Claims

claims

1. Device with a receiving unit (E) and an output unit (TV) for viewing broadcasts (Bx), in particular

Broadcastsendungen (B), characterized in that a receiving unit (E) for scanning a program (B) is designed such that after an initiation of an operating function (Bl, B2, ...) this according to the respective start and end times of additional broadcasts (W1, W2, W3,...) shown during a transmission, an intermediate storage of transmission sections (a, b, c, d, ..) to be taken from the transmission stream (B) triggers that after a further initiation the Operating function (Bl, B2, ...) the cached transmission sections (a, b, c, d, ..) are forwarded for output to the output device (TV) and then the current or a subsequent transmission (Bx, By) to the Output unit (TV) is switched through.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving unit (E) a memory unit (M) for temporarily storing the transmitting sections (a, b, c, ...) in a first memory section and a second memory section for temporarily storing the additional broadcasts (Wl , W2, W3, ..).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving unit (E) has an analysis unit (A) for detecting start and end times of additional broadcasts (Wl, W2, W3, ...).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the analysis unit (A) is designed such that externally determined start and end times of additional transmissions (W1, W2, W3,...) for separating and storing transmission sections (a, b, c.) of at least one transmission (Bx) are usable.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the receiving unit (E) is designed such that during the playback of the cached transmission sections (a, b, c, ...) emitted transmission sections (..., d, e, ...) if necessary cached.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further intermediate memory (M2 ') is provided, wherein in this further intermediate memory, the transmission sections (a, b, c, ....) according to their information or event content to be summarized and can be accessed arbitrarily on this revised stored in the buffer memory sections.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a unit (WER) for detecting repetition sections (B ', ...,) in the transmitting sections (a, b, c, ...) is provided and these repetition sections by initiating a further operating function from the program (Bx) in addition to the additional broadcasts (Wl, W2, W3, ....) can be faded out.

8. A method for viewing broadcasts (Bx), in particular broadcasts (B), characterized in that after an initiation of an operating function (Bl, B2, ..) this according to the respective start and end times of during a program (Bx) blended Additional transmissions (Wl, W2, W3, ..) are buffered from the transmission ström (B) to be removed transmission sections (a, b, c, d, ..) abuts that after a further initiation of the operating function (Bl, B2, ..) the cached transmission sections (a, b, c, d, .. ) are forwarded to the output device (TV) for output and then the current or a subsequent program (Bx, By) is switched through to the output device (TV).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that an intermediate storage of the transmission sections (a, b, c, ...) in a first and additional transmissions (Wl, W2, W3, ..) is performed in a second memory section.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the start and end times of additional broadcasts (Wl, W2, W3, ...) are determined.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that externally determined start and end times of additional broadcasts (Wl, W2, W3, ...) for the separation and storage of transmission sections (a, b, c.) A transmission (Bx) used become.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that during the playback of the cached transmission sections (a, b, c, ...) emitted transmission sections (..., d, e, ...) are also cached.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission sections (a, b, c, ....) on their information or event content are summarized and this revised stored in the buffer transmitter sections can be accessed arbitrarily ,

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that repetition sections (B ') by initiating a further operating function from the program (Bx) in addition to the additional broadcasts (Wl, W2, W3, ....) can be faded out.