ES2352397A1 - Device, method and system for generating additional audiovisual events - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, to a device and to a system for generating audiovisual events related with a radio broadcast for offering additional services to the users. The method comprises the operations of receiving a radio broadcast signal, including at least one broadcast with a first audiovisual content and data associated with said audiovisual content, comparing in real time and iteratively at least part of the data associated with predefined data, stored in storage means, and generating an output signal suitable for being transmitted to a first peripheral device comprising the first extracted audiovisual content modified with the addition of a second audiovisual content, and which is subsequently transmitted to the first peripheral device.

Description

Device, procedure and system for generate audiovisual events.

Technical sector of the invention

The invention relates to a device, procedure and system that allow generating events Additional audiovisuals related to a broadcast and offer Additional services to users.

Background of the invention

Broadcasting signal emission is known. to transmit television broadcasts that incorporate data referring to the type of broadcast, so that the devices recipients can show the user information regarding the broadcasting This information regarding programming issued includes the title of the program and even details of the broadcast program and is defined in emission standards of digital television like Digital Video Broadcasting-Service Information (DVB-SI).

To add additional content to a broadcast audiovisual signal, communication standards are known, as "Multimedia Home Platform" (MHP) that allows incorporating a digital data broadcast to be interpreted by the receiving device as additional content to the issuance of television. However, these additional contents have to be added to the broadcasting signal emitted by stations television stations along with the audiovisual signal to which only The operator of the television station has access. In addition the Additional content may not be directly related to the programming that is emitted, since these are emitted continuously by the station operator.

A solution to add additional content that you don't need to enter application data Interactive to the broadcasting signal described in the device and procedure of patent document US6240555, based on the modification of the program guide service electronics (EPG). The EPG service allows you to locate a broadcast depending on a time interval and a specific channel. He US6240555 patent document suggests that said EPG be modified so that the broadcast featured in a time interval and channel specifically, also include information on whether said issue is related to additional content. However, said device has the drawback that requires the EPG to be periodically updated with information on the contents additional successive programs, missing information on additional content if the EPG could not be updated and not also allowing reuse EPG entries. Other drawback is that if there were a sudden change of television programming and could not be updated on time the EPG, that device would not display the information correctly on additional content based on an EPG whose sequence of contents would not correspond to the broadcast program.

It is therefore necessary a procedure that allow incorporating additional content that adds value to television broadcasts, without having to modify the broadcast signal by the broadcasting station and that does not require periodic updating and constantly decoding devices to suit the New programming It is also convenient that said procedure be robust against sudden programming changes, being able to continue to display additional content even if a broadcast of television does not match what was previously scheduled

Explanation of the invention.

The process according to the invention is one of the that are used to generate audiovisual events and that includes the operations of receiving a signal, such as a signal from broadcasting, which comprises at least one broadcast that includes a first audiovisual content and data associated with that content audiovisual; tune in and extract from that broadcast the first audiovisual content and the data associated with it.

In essence it is characterized because in addition includes the operations of comparing in real time and iteratively at least part of the associated data that are continuously extracted from the broadcast with predefined data stored in storage media; generate a signal from suitable output to be transmitted to a first device peripheral comprising the first audiovisual content extracted that, if the result of the comparison meets some requirements preset, is modified with the addition of a second audiovisual content; transmit the output signal to the first peripheral device to be shown.

In a variant of the invention, the data associates received in an iteration are temporarily stored for be compared with the associated data received in the following iteration, and if these are the same do not make the comparison.

In a variant of interest, it also includes the operations of receiving an acceptance order generated by a user through a second peripheral device in response to the sample of the second audiovisual content; get content additional, linked to the data associated with the first content audiovisual; and automatically generate an audiovisual event to from such additional content data.

According to another variant of the invention, the data of additional contents are obtained after the execution of a local application

According to another feature of the invention, obtaining additional content data includes access to remote data sources through some media.

According to another feature, data collection Additional content is done through a point-to-point connection Point with a service provider.

In another variant of interest, it also includes the establishment of two-way communication with a server Additional content data.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the Predefined data stored on storage media is remotely upgradeable.

In another variant of interest, the data Predefined stored in storage media comprise keywords related to the title of the audiovisual content and locators to obtain additional content.

According to another aspect of the invention, it is given to know a device for the implementation of the procedure also object of the invention comprising means of reception to receive a signal, such as a signal from broadcasting; means of tuning and extraction that allow to extract from said signal an emission with a first content audiovisual and some data associated with said audiovisual content; storage media with predefined data to obtain the additional contents; processing means adapted to compare at least part of the data associated with the first content audiovisual extracted with the predefined data stored in the storage media and generate an appropriate output signal to be transmitted to a peripheral device comprising the first audiovisual content extracted and, if the result of the comparison meets pre-established requirements, modified with the addition of a second audiovisual content.

According to another feature, the device It also includes transducer means, adapted to receive an acceptance signal generated by a second device peripheral and that trigger the obtaining and presentation of additional content, linked to the data associated with the first audiovisual content

According to another feature of the invention, the device comprises communication means bidirectional to communicate with a service provider.

In another variant of interest, the means of Device communication are wireless.

In a variant, the media of the Device comprise a telephone modem.

Advantageously, the device allows therefore incorporate additional content to a broadcast of television without these having to be incorporated into the signal of broadcasting at source, or prior to reception by the device.

According to another aspect of the invention, a system comprising at least one device according to the invention and further comprises a station station that emits at least one signal, such as a signal from broadcasting, which incorporates a first audiovisual content and data associated with said audiovisual content; and a provider of services that the device connects to.

In another variant of the system, this one also comprises at least one additional content server connected to the service provider through a communication network, so that the service provider acts as a gateway between the device And the servers.

Brief description of the drawings

The attached drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, the device, the procedure and the system according to the invention. Specific;

Fig. 1, is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 2, is an example of the content of the database hosted on the storage media of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the procedure according to invention to alert the user of the existence of content additional;

Fig. 4 shows the screen of a television which includes a first audiovisual content and a second content audiovisual in the form of an icon, pending an acceptance order by the user;

Fig. 5 shows the screen of a television which includes another first audiovisual content and a second content audiovisual with additional information;

Fig. 6 shows the procedure according to invention of acceptance and location of additional content;

Fig. 7 shows the system topology according to the invention;

Fig. 8 shows the additional content related to the emission of Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 9 shows another variant of the content additional that allows to establish a conversation by Exchange of text messages with a user.

Detailed description of the drawings

The following description refers to the drawings presented above, which allow us to appreciate in detail the operation of the present invention.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the device 1 has processing means 2, means of processing tuning 3 and a means of communication 4. These means of tuning 3 and media 4 are made up of modules that have two processors dedicated to execute the specific tasks for which they are intended. To obtain information exchange, these processors are linked to the processing means 2 via data buses 5 and control lines 6. Thus, the processing load is distributed among the different components of device 1 and the processing means 2 can be dedicated exclusively to executing processes that offer added value to device 1.

Tuning means 3 allow select in a known way from among the plurality of signals of broadcasting 24 received by the receiving means 25 of the device 1, a signal corresponding, for example, to an emission 11 of television (see Fig. 2) Naturally, in other variants of the invention the television broadcast 11 can be received through other means known in the state of the art, such as cable coaxial or fiber optic, and emissions of multicast television, with a single transmitter and multiple receivers, or unicast, with a sender and a single receiver, such as for example in television services on demand.

Of the selected television broadcast 11, the tuning means 3 are adapted to extract a first audiovisual content 7, which contains the image and sound of said broadcast, and the associated data 8 to said audiovisual content in DVB-SI format, which includes, among others, the title 9 of the audiovisual content, as can be seen in Fig. 2. This information is sent to the processing means 2 via the bus of data 5 located between the tuning means 3 and the means of processing 2.

The media 4 comprises a modem 4a of telephony that allows to establish a communication with a service provider 12, as will be explained later, enabling device 1 to communicate bidirectionally and access the information offered by said service provider 12. In turn, the service provider 12 can act as a gateway to interconnect device 1 with other servers 13 acting from remote data sources 19, as will describe later.

As seen in Fig. 1, device 1 it also has storage means 14, which contain a database 15 with information regarding the first audiovisual content 7 that have additional content 16 associated.

The database 15, represented in Fig. 2, It contains keywords 18a that are used to relate the title 9, which is obtained from part of the associated data 8 to issue 11 which are received together with the first audiovisual content 7, with the mentioned additional contents 16. In the example of Fig. 2, said additional contents 16 are referenced by some locators 18b contained in database 15 and related to their corresponding keywords 18a. Of this mode, database 15 includes predefined data pairs 17 formed by keywords 18a and locators 18b that will be used to resolve whether a first audiovisual content 7 received has additional content 16. These locators 18b also designate the action that the means of processed 2 to generate or obtain additional content 16. The Fig. 2 shows an example of the content of database 15 that contains predefined pairs of data 17 that relate words key 18a with locators 18b. Such locators 18b can involve access to local or remote resources that allow development or interpretation of additional content 16. These they can be, for example, local application commands to run, memory addresses, tag marking files type HTML or XML, interpreted or compiled language files or even information contained in storage media, such as CD or DVD tracks. In Fig. 2 a locator 18b is observed in URL form indicating that additional content 16 is described in an HTML file that is located on the "prodl.tv" server. Obviously, if the URL describes the name of the server and not its IP address, it must be previously obtained through a DNS server that must be provided for this purpose in the provider of services 12, on one of the accessible servers 13, as is shown in Fig. 7, or even on device 1 itself.

In the example of Fig. 2, it is obtained from of the data associated with issue 11, title 9 of the first audiovisual content 7 that is being broadcast, "producer, and this one It compares with keywords 18a. In this case you would find a match with the keyword "producer, with what would obtain the related locator 18b, allowing access to the additional contents 16 associated with said locator 18b.

In case you have to modify the additional contents 16, if its corresponding locator 18b is a URL, then to update the additional contents 16 so it will only be necessary to update the additional 16 designated content on server 13 by the URL, without having to modify the affected locators 18b of database 15, that is, without have to remotely access device 1.

However, if a locator 18b cannot be reused to drive up to new additional content 16, the affected locators 18b of the database 15 must be updated Naturally, if the use of resources is required premises, stored in storage media 14, these must Be equally upgradeable.

Database 15 has the advantage that even if it is not updated, if a first audiovisual content 7 has previously related to additional content 16, subsequent audiovisual content whose associated data 8 to the issue 11 contain the same title 9 will be equally related with the same additional content 16, being therefore in this needless to update database 15, with the consequent processing savings by avoiding having to update each and every one of the devices 1.

Additionally, although audiovisual content be received outside of the initially planned schedule or By default, this will be unequivocally related to additional content 16 related to the first content audiovisual 7.

Naturally, storage media 14 of device 1 also allow temporary storage of remote data used to generate additional content 16, allowing not to have to download those remote data again that have not changed and that have been previously downloaded. Do not However, it will be necessary to ensure that they have not changed generate future additional content 16.

The storage means 14 also serve to store the operating system of device 1 and the libraries and applications that will be used by the means of processed 2.

The operating system of device 1 is a Specialized and optimized GNU / Linux for embedded devices, although naturally any other operating system properly adapted would be usable.

The applications included in the system operational are similar to those found in other GNU / Linux distributions, being the only limitations for the common application execution on embedded devices, ie main processor power, available memory and peripherals

As an example, installed applications on device 1 are web browser, mail application electronic, instant messaging application, etc. These applications can be accessed through second devices peripherals 20, as shown in Fig. 1 wherein said second peripheral devices 20 is a remote control 20 'with 20a dedicated buttons, or through selection menus. It is also it is possible to directly access them transparently for user if an application relates to a channel number default, directly accessing the application when selecting said predetermined channel through the remote distance 20 '. In addition, as the device 1 is advantageously provided with the media 4, the applications that require network access can access it through said media. These can also be used to receive updates of the information contained in the storage media 14, such as for example updates of the operating system of the device 1 and updates of predefined data pairs 17.

In this way, content creators additional 16 have the option to deposit these on a server 13 remote and accessible by device 1 through the service provider 12 and update database 15 of the device 1 so that it incorporates a pair of predefined data 17 whose keywords 18a are related to title 9 of the first audiovisual content 7 of interest and whose locator 18b include the URL of the additional contents 16 deposited in the server 13.

The processing means 2 allow modifying the first audiovisual content 7, allowing to warn the user of the existence of additional content 16 related to the first audiovisual content 7 tuned in and viewing through the TV 10 '.

To verify that the first content audiovisual 7 has additional content 16, the means of processed 2 perform, iteratively, the procedure described in Fig. 3. In a first step 101, title 9 of the first audiovisual content 7 received from the media of tuning 3 from the data associated with the broadcast 11. In a second stage 102 is checked if it has changed with respect to the previous title, obtained in the previous iteration, jumping to the next iteration in case these are equal. However, yes these are different or there is no previous title as it is the first iteration, proceed to the comparison stage 103, in the that title 9 is compared to the list of keywords 18a contained in database 15. If the title 9 matches the keyword 18a of a pair of predefined data 17 of the database data 15, it is assumed that there is a locator 18b related to the First audiovisual content 7 received. If one is found coincidence, the result of comparison stage 103 is will be considered positive and will proceed, according to a variant of the invention, upon activation 105 of a second audiovisual content 21, which can be for example an alert icon 21a, to warn to the user that the first audiovisual content 7 has 16 additional contents associated, generating an output signal 23 which also includes the first audiovisual content 7 the second audiovisual content 21 in the form of alert 21a, so that it can be displayed on the first peripheral device 10, which in this case is a 10 'television, the image of Fig. 4.

In other variants of the invention, the second audiovisual content 21 can also incorporate content additional 16 such as the one shown in Fig. 5, in which the second audiovisual content 21 is a frame 21b with information Useful for the user.

Although in the variants represented the second audiovisual content 21 is eminently visual and intended to be included together with the first audiovisual content 7 in the output signal 23 to be transmitted and displayed through a television 10 ', other second audiovisual contents 21 which allow to capture the attention of the user would also be susceptible to being used, such as sound notices, light components or even local warnings in
peripheral devices, such as vibrations.

In case the comparison stage 103 had a negative result, deactivation 106 would proceed of the second audiovisual content 21, containing the signal of output 23 therefore only the first audiovisual content 7. This last case would happen when the issuance of a first audiovisual content 7 with additional content 16 and the following audiovisual content no longer had additional content 16 associated.

In case of joining the first content audiovisual 7 the second audiovisual content 21, the latter will be displayed for a predetermined time or while the broadcast of the first audiovisual content 7, as applicable preselected in device 1.

Between iterations of the procedure described in Fig. 3, proceeds to a waiting stage 107, whose time of wait should be enough not to overload the means of processed 2 with too many comparisons and a user tolerable delay between showing a new first audiovisual content 7 and the second is activated and deactivated audiovisual content 21 if it presents additional content 16.

In another variant of the procedure described in Fig. 3, the waiting stage 107 is controlled by interruptions, maintaining said stage until the arrival of a interruption generated by the arrival of new content audiovisual 7.

Fig. 6 shows the procedure from reception 104 of the acceptance signal 20c for access to the Additional content 16 by the user.

The user issues an acceptance signal 20c via a dedicated button 20a of the remote control 20 ', which emits an infrared acceptance signal 20c, captured by the media transducers 20b and that transfer said signal to the means of processed 2.

Consequently, the processing means 2 proceed to check 109 that the second content is activated audiovisual 21, ignoring the acceptance signal 20c in case this is not activated, since in this case the first content audiovisual 7 would not have additional content 16, interpreting that the acceptance signal 20c has been an error by part of the user and ignoring it. In case icon 21a is activated, and consequently the first audiovisual content 7 have additional content 16, previously checked in the comparison stage 103, proceed to recovery stage 110 of locators 18b to access additional content 16. To optimize the speed of recovery, it is desirable that during the previous comparison stage 103 has already been recovered from the base of data 15 locator 18b and stored in memory or that have information for quick locator removal 18b, such as the relative index of the data pair predefined 17 of the database where the locator 18b or a pointer to locator 18b.

Usually, a single locator will correspond 18b due to a positive comparison result in database 15, no However, more than one locator 18b can be assigned to the same title 9, although it should be taken into account that the contents additional 16 designated by locators 18b will be simultaneously executed and displayed to the user with the consequent depletion of resources of device 1, thereby developers and additional content managers must keep in mind the burden that this will place on the processing media 2 and, therefore, limit the number of additional content 16 that can be displayed simultaneously to not affect performance expected from device 1.

At the end of recovery stage 110 of locator 18b, additional contents 16 must be accessed and generated from the action related to the type of locator 18b, that is, check if the locator designates a local action 111 and accordingly execute said local action or if locator 18b specifies a remote action, access a remote resource 112 via the media 4 to be able to generate 113 visual event 26 from said data of additional content 16.

Through the media 4 you establishes a bi-directional connection between device 1 and the service provider 12, which can serve the data of the additional content 16 or act as a gateway, connecting the device 1 with other servers 13 that can serve said additional content 16, acting from remote data sources 19, and that they are connected to the service provider through a network of 22 IP communication, such as the Internet. Naturally all interconnected servers can use known techniques of encapsulation and coding to achieve the level of privacy and adequate security

Consequently, the resulting network topology in the system it is the one shown in Fig. 7, where a plurality of devices 1 receiving radio frequency signals 24 of broadcasting stations 27 are interconnected with each other to through the service provider 12. This allows the additional content 16 may even be obtained from another device 1 or that these can use the exchange of information between devices 1 as part of interactivity offered by additional content 16, such as in instant messaging or exchange applications files.

With the information obtained, device 1 organizes the presentation of additional content 16, which can incorporate part or all of the first audiovisual content 7, as well as other supplementary audiovisual content and generate the output signal 23 that is sent to the television 10 'to be displayed to user.

The visual event 26 generated from the Additional content data 16. You can enter fields interactive that the user can activate by seconds peripheral devices 20, such as the remote control 20 ', a keyboard or mouse, the latter not represented.

Naturally, it is also possible to configure the device 1 so that the acceptance signal 20c is not necessary of the user to locate and display the visual event 26 generated at from the additional content data 16. In this case, when the presence of an associated additional content 16 is detected to a first audiovisual content 7 that is being broadcast, the Submission of additional content will be automatically generated following the steps described above and the output signal 23 sent to the TV 10 '. For this purpose, device 1 has of a configuration menu where the user can also configure the 16 additional content types you wish to subscribe to and, therefore, be notified as soon as they are available.

Fig. 4 shows the output signal 23 that the additional content that is generated by device 1 when it broadcasts a first audiovisual content 7 whose title 9 is "product1" and database 15 contains a pair of data predefined 17 whose keyword 18a is "product1". Market Stall that the predefined data pair 17 has previously been registered with keyword 18a "product1" associated with locator 18b "http://prod1.tv/tv.html", along with the first content Audiovisual 7 of the ad includes an icon 21a to warn the user who has additional content 16. Then, if the user, by means of the remote control 20 ', sends the signal of 20c acceptance to device 1, is shown on the screen of television 10 'visual event 26 generated from the data of additional contents 16 designated by locator 18b through the device web browser 1. That is, the content of the file "tv.html" of the network address "prodl.tv" obtained through the media 4 and through the service provider 12 is shown on the television 10 'as It is represented in Fig. 8. By a second device peripheral 20 such as a remote control 20 ', you can navigate, using for example the pointer 32 through links 28, 29 to present the website, interacting if necessary with the different network elements 1, 12, 13 interconnected, sending and receiving information in the known way in network applications. Naturally, other means of navigation known in the prior art, such as active areas that can be controlled by remote control 20 ', can be used to navigate through links 28, 29.

As seen in Fig. 8, the first audiovisual content 7 can still be shown in a portion from the TV screen 10 '.

To display only the first audiovisual content 7, ie the television program received through the radio frequency signal, the user sends, by the remote control 20 'a signal that is received by the media transducers 20b and transferred to the processing means 2, which close the applications that are being used to show the additional content 16 and that are no longer necessary. In this case, only the first content is sent back to the TV 10 ' audiovisual 7, which should be related to content additional 16, will incorporate the second content again audiovisual 21.

In the manner described above, the 18b locators can lead to show additional content 16 exclusive to users of device 1, where you can Enter promotions and participate in competitions.

Other additional content 16 may allow even communication between users of devices 1 through the establishment of a message exchange server, such and as shown in Fig. 9, in which the additional contents Overprinted to the first audiovisual content 7.

For this purpose a locator can be used 18b that contains both the local messaging application to run as the server 13 on which the server is located Messenger service. In this case, a communication can be established by exchanging text messages between different users, so that text messages 30 sent by others appear users and a field 31 is available to enter the message of text to send Naturally users can use identifiers 33, both graphically and by name of user as known in the state of the art.

Other variants of additional content 16 can show real-time statistics of events sports, send breaking news, show information Detailed or offers related to a product advertised in concrete.

Claims (15)

1. Procedure to generate events audiovisual, which includes the operations of:

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receive a signal, such as a signal from broadcasting (24), comprising at least one broadcast (11) that includes a first audiovisual content (7) and associated data (8) a said audiovisual content;

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tune in and extract from said broadcast the first audiovisual content and the data associated with it;

characterized in that it also includes the operations of:

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compare in real time and iteratively at least part of the associated data that are continuously extracted from the broadcast with predefined data (17) stored in storage means (14);

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generate an output signal (23) that includes the first audiovisual content extracted from the broadcast tuned modified with the addition of a second content audiovisual (21) if the result of the comparison meets some pre-established requirements; Y

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transmit the output signal to the first peripheral device (10) to be shown.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the associated data (8) received in one iteration is stored temporarily to be compared with the associated data received in the next iteration, and if these are the same, do not make the comparison. 3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises the operations of:

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receive an acceptance order generated by a user through a second peripheral device (20) in response to the sample of the second audiovisual content (twenty-one);

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obtain additional content (16), linked to the data associated (8) to the first audiovisual content (7); Y

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automatically generate an event audiovisual (26) based on said content data additional.

Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the additional content data (16) is obtained after the execution of a local application. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the obtaining of the data of additional contents (16) comprises the access to remote data sources (19) through communication means (4). Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the obtaining of additional content data (16) is carried out by means of a point-to-point connection with a service provider (12). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises the establishment of a two-way communication with an additional content data server (13) (16). Method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the predefined data (17) stored in the storage media (14) comprise keywords (18a) related to the title (9) of the audiovisual content (7) and locators (18b) to obtain additional contents (16). 9. Device (1) for implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising:

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some receiving means (25) for receiving a signal, such as a signal broadcasting (24)

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some tuning means (3) and extraction that allow to extract from said signal a broadcast (11) with a first audiovisual content (7) and some data associated (8) to said audiovisual content;

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some storage media (14) with predefined data (17) linked  to additional content (16); Y

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some processing means (2) that compare at least part of the data associated to the first audiovisual content previously extracted with predefined data stored on storage media (14) and generate an output signal (23) suitable to be transmitted to a first peripheral device (10) comprising the first audiovisual content extracted from the tuned broadcast modified with the addition of a second audiovisual content (21) if the result of the comparison meets some requirements Preset

10. Device (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that it further comprises transducer means (20b), adapted to receive an acceptance signal (20c) generated by a second peripheral device (20) and which trigger the obtaining and presentation of additional contents (16), linked to the associated data (8) to the first audiovisual content (7). 11. Device (1) according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises two-way communication means (4) for communicating with a service provider (12). 12. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the communication means (4) are wireless. 13. Device (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the communication means (4) comprise a telephone modem (4a). 14. System comprising at least one device (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that it further comprises:

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a transmitter station (27) that emits at least one signal, such as a broadcasting signal (24), which incorporates a first content audiovisual (7) and associated data (8) to said content audiovisual; Y

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a service provider (12) to which the device is connected (one).

15. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also comprises at least one server (13) of additional content (16) connected to the service provider (12) via a communication network (22), so that the service provider acts gateway between the device (1) and the servers.