FR2787961A1 - Internet access/satellite/terrestrial TV/DVD input digital receiver having internal TV/DVD selection mechanism and internet interface with processor forming graphic mail box/response information display picture. - Google Patents

Abstract

The digital TV receiver system (1) has an information source selection mechanism (5) , with processing (2) display (3) and audio outputs (4). There is an interface (10) with a communication return (R) as well as server request/transmission mechanisms (15). The interface network controls the selection mechanism and prioritises the processing and display outputs, setting up mail message and data collection graphics, allowing an assembly of information sources to be selected.

Description

Television receiver equipment connected to a digital network

  communication, and method and system for managing access to associated information sources

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to television receiver equipment connected to a digital communication network. It also relates to a personalized access management method implemented in this receiving equipment, as well as an access management platform.

associated.

  We are currently witnessing the development and implementation of the concept of digital station developed around a digital television set, preferably in 16: 9 format, equipped with a decoder to receive audiovisual programs (radio, cable or satellite), an Internet connection box and optionally a

  DVD player (Digital Video Disc).

  With these equipments, designated in particular under the term of "Set Top Box", intended both for leisure or for communication, access to the Internet does not require the use of a microcomputer. The Internet access box or decoder is generally controlled by a specific infrared keyboard equipped with a

  integrated or separate type score.

  The user of these television reception equipment has both the function of receiving audiovisual programs in particular by means of television channel decoders, and the function of accessing and browsing the Internet by means of the Internet decoder. In addition, each function is

  associated with a specific remote control function.

  It should be noted that the Internet decoder can be external or external to the television receiving equipment. In addition, there are already remote control boxes combining the remote control function for selecting television channels and the function of

  Internet access and navigation control.

  The document WO9800975 discloses in particular a method for viewing video images in an interactive television system, including the possibility for a user to select on a screen page of a television set a video image which is then transmitted by

a media server.

  However, it should be noted that, in current television sets connected to the Internet, the Internet function is treated as a secondary function compared to the main function of reception of audiovisual programs. As a result, their users are far from optimally using the new resources provided by access to a multitude of services available via the Internet. In particular, current equipment does not allow integration between audiovisual information sources and digital information sources

  that could be associated with them.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing television receiver equipment which provides optimal use of the Internet connection for managing access to

audiovisual resources.

  The aforementioned objective is achieved with television receiver equipment comprising: - means for selecting an information source from a plurality of remote and / or local information sources, - means for processing information received from the selected source, in particular with a view to - 3- extracting video information and audio information therefrom, - means for viewing video information on a screen, and means for broadcasting audio information, means for interfacing with at least a communication network such as the Internet, these network interface means comprising: - means for communicating with a plurality of servers connected to the communication network, - means for transmitting requests and / or information entered on servers to servers local management means with remote control, - means for converting digital information received in response to requests into video information heads, - means for storing screen pages in digital form, and - means for managing said means of communication, transmission, conversion and

storage. -

  According to the invention, the network interface means control the selection means and cooperate with the processing means and the display means, to display in priority, in particular when the receiving equipment is switched on, a screen page home or portal graphically presenting a set of sources

  selectable information.

  Thus, in receiving equipment according to the invention, the priority scale is reversed compared to the equipment of the prior art since it is now the function of Internet access, and in

  particular to the information of the servers of a platform

  form of management, which takes precedence over the function of access to 4 - audiovisual resources. This then makes it possible to put accessible resources on the Internet at the service of

choice of audiovisual channels.

  The marketing of television receiver equipment according to the invention can also actively contribute to the development of the use of services.

on the Internet.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the network interface means cooperate with the remote control local management means to transmit, in response to a selection of a remote information source from the portal, to a management server connected to the communication network, a request to view a

  program associated with this remote source of information.

  Preferably, the network interface means cooperate with the selection means, the processing means and the display means, to display in real time a content of the source in a predetermined area of the screen of the receiver.

  selected information from the portal.

  The portal also includes direct access to the communication network and associated services,

including a courier service.

  The network interface means are further arranged to request an update of the portal from a management server connected to the communication network, each time the receiver equipment is activated and / or

  at programmable time intervals.

  It should be noted that with the present invention, it becomes possible to personalize the content of each portal, in particular from information collected from the television receiver equipment and transmitted to the management server for processing there. in order to generate in return - 5- personalized content from each portal adapted to their respective users. In a first embodiment, the receiving equipment according to the invention comprises, within a single box, the selection means, the processing means, the screen and audio means, and the network interface means. In a second embodiment of a receiver equipment, the network interface means are included within a box containing reader means of

DVD support.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for managing access to an information source from a plurality of information sources from a television receiver equipment according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises : - each time the receiving equipment is activated, a display of a home screen or portal showing graphically a set of information sources that can be selected, and - access to at least one server arranged to provide distant information about a source

  selected from the portal.

  The method according to the invention further comprises, in response to a selection of an information source, a display in a predetermined area of the screen of the

  content disseminated by this source of information.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, a system is proposed for managing access to television programs for a plurality of television receiver equipment according to the invention connected to a communication network such as the Internet, comprising a management server connected to the communication network, characterized - 6- in that this management server is arranged to supply on request to each receiving equipment an update of a home screen or portal page and of the programs

  relating to the selected sources of information.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear further in the description below. To the

  attached drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples: - Figure 1 is a block diagram of a television receiver equipment according to the invention; - Figures 2A to 2F illustrate a series of characteristic screen pages obtained on receiving equipment according to the invention; and - Figures 3 illustrates in a simplified way an example of internal structure of a receiving equipment

according to the invention.

  We will now describe, with reference to FIG. 1, the essential functionalities of an item of equipment

  television receiver according to the invention.

  The television receiver equipment 1 includes in a chamber 40 a system 3 for viewing on the screen, a speaker system 2, an electronic processing module 2, a module 5 for selecting information sources, a module 30 power supply connected to the mains, and a network interface module 10 connected to a digital communication network R such as the Internet. The receiver equipment 1 is also provided with a portable local management device with remote control 19, which can be produced either in the form of an infrared remote control unit 19A, or in the form of an infrared alphanumeric keyboard 19B equipped of a pointing device 190, for transmitting navigation instructions and data on the Internet, either in the form of a combination of these two embodiments

(unified remote control).

  The selection module 5 comprises an interface circuit 8 with a DVD player 18 connected to a first input port 51, a circuit 7 for selecting a channel from a group of channels picked up by a satellite reception system 17 connected to a second input port 52, and a circuit 6 for selecting a channel from a group of channels picked up by a radio reception system 16 via a third input port 53. The selection module 5 receives commands from the network interface module 10, and delivers in return information delivered by a selected information source. The network interface module 10 comprises an infrared receiver circuit 14, a circuit 15 for transmitting instructions and data received under form of infrared signals, a circuit 150 for connection to a digital communication network R such as the Internet, a circuit 13 for converting digital information coming from this network into suitable signals be processed and displayed on the screen 3, a storage unit 12 intended for storing screen pages for Internet access, a circuit 11 for managing all of the functionalities of the network interface module 10, and a reader 110 from card to

memory or smart card.

  The network interface module 10 can be connected to the digital communication network by any type of connection available, for example a PSTN line, an ISDN line or even a cable or satellite connection. The card reader 110 is provided for reading identification data and personalization data contained in a memory card -8 inserted into this reader by the user of the equipment.

receiver 1.

  The storage of personalization data stored in the memory of a card held by a user can be controlled locally at the network interface module or remotely during information transmissions from the management server. This personalization data allows in particular to

  determine a user profile.

  The memory card can also contain identification and authentication data necessary for carrying out electronic transactions on the Internet according to known transaction protocols, with a view to ordering goods or services, for example of the "pay per view" type. . One can also provide in the context of the present invention one or more channels dedicated to

  electronic commerce and accessible on the portal.

  We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2F, various characteristic screens displayed on a television receiver equipment according to the invention, at the same time as the method for managing access to information sources. It should be noted that these screens are given by way of nonlimiting examples and that, in the present invention, the integration of the data and the images is carried out whatever the dimensions and the place that the various elements take in. screen. When the television receiver equipment 1 is powered up, the network interface module 10 controls the display of a home screen page or portal Ea previously stored in the storage unit 12. This portal is set up-to-date in response to the transmission to an access management server S connected to the Internet, of an update request which can be transmitted either at each start-up of the receiving equipment, either on request, or at regular intervals programmable according to a cyclic refresh mode, or according to any other programmable refresh procedure at the level of the management circuit 11 of the interface module

network 10.

  The portal Ea can for example contain a welcome message BA for advertising purposes (personalized home page in the colors of a distributor or commercial partner), a grid GP of presentation of a set of audiovisual channels Ci accessible from this equipment, and, on a vertical side column of the screen, an IN icon for accessing the Internet or the Web, an ME icon for accessing a mailbox

  and an MI icon for accessing a Minitel service.

  Upon receipt of update information from the management server S, the content of the portal is refreshed, with for example a display of a message

  personalized or special promotion.

  If a user of the receiving equipment 1 selects by means of the pointer 190 an audiovisual channel Cs, the network interface module 10 then commands the selection of this channel by the selection module 5 and the viewing of the content in real time P ( CS) of said channel in a predetermined viewing area ZV of the screen, for example in the upper right corner of the

screen page Eb.

  If the user wishes to know the program of the selected channel Cs by pressing a predetermined key on the infrared keyboard 19B, the network interface module 10 then transmits a "program" request to the management server S via the Internet. The information "program of channel Cs" R (CS) received in return is displayed on a screen page Ec which 10- also contains the icons for accessing Internet resources, an icon IG for returning to the program grid

GP, and the viewing area ZV.

  If the user confirms the selection of the channel Cs, the network interface module 10 then controls the "full field" display of the content of this channel on the screen Ed. At any time, the user can access the set digital resources by pointing and selecting one of the icons that can be displayed discreetly

around the edges of the screen.

  In the event that the user wishes to access a website, either because he has just been prompted to do so by the content of a program being viewed, or on his own initiative, pointing and selecting the Internet IN icon causes display on the screen

  1 page television receiver equipment-

  screen Ee containing for example an advertising banner AD, a window AW for selecting an "http" address, and a page PW in "HTML" format. As for the other screen pages, icons for access to digital resources (IN, ME, MI), to the program grid (IG)

  and the current program (PS), are displayed.

  The website selected may for example be the site of the supplier of the audiovisual channel Cs in progress, with display on the screen page Ef of pages W (Cs) transmitted.

through this site.

  A television receiver equipment 1 according to the invention can be designed in modular form using digital and analog cards of standard format in a chassis 40, as illustrated by way of illustration.

  nonlimiting example in FIG. 3.

  An electrical power supply card 30 has on its rear face a mains connector 32 and provides the electrical voltage levels necessary for all of the receiver cards and for the electronic circuit of

  control 31 of the cathode ray tube fitted to the screen 3.

  A network interface card 10 comprises on its rear face a communication connector 160, for example of the RJ45 type or of any other type adapted to the nature of the connection, and on its front face a receiver

  infrared and a memory card reader 110.

  The network interface card 10 groups together all of the components ensuring the functions of Internet access and control for viewing screen pages and

audio-visual channels.

  A channel selection card 5 has on its rear face a connector 51 to a DVD disc player, a connector 52 to a decoder for television channels such as satellite channels, and a connector 53 to

  a reception system for radio channels.

  An electronic processing card 2 connected to the selection and network interface cards delivers the video and audio signals from the selected audiovisual channel to the control circuit 31 of the cathode ray tube and to

audio equipment 4. -

  It is also possible in the context of the present invention to provide other material combinations. For example, the network interface card 10 can be arranged within a DVD player itself connected to a digital television receiver equipment. You can also make a television receiver equipment

incorporating a DVD player.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, other embodiments of the electronic modules implemented in

  television receiver equipment according to the invention.

  - 12- Furthermore, for updating the portals and providing digital data associated with the channels, known transmission techniques of the "push" or "smart-pull" type can be used, in addition to or in substitution request modes which have just been described, without departing from the scope of the present invention. - 13-

Claims (10)

  1. Television receiver equipment (1) comprising: - means (5) for selecting an information source from a plurality of remote and / or local information sources, - means (2) for processing information received in from the selected source, with a view in particular to extracting video information and audio information therefrom, - means (3) for viewing video information on a screen, and audio means (4) for broadcasting audio information, - interface means (10) with at least one digital communication network (R) such as the Internet, these network interface means (10) comprising: - means (150) for connection to the communication network (R) , - means (15) for transmitting requests and / or information entered on remote control local management means (19) to servers, - means (13) for converting digital information received in response to to video information requests, - from s means (12) for storing screen pages in digital form, and - means (11) for managing said means of communication, transmission, conversion and storage, characterized in that the network interface means (10 ) control the selection means (5) and cooperate with the processing means (2) and the display means (3), in order to view in priority, in particular when the said receiving equipment (1) is switched on, - 14 -   a home screen or portal (Ea) presenting   graphically a set (GP) of information sources that can be selected.   2. Receiver equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the network interface means (10) cooperate with the remote control local management means (19) for transmitting, in response to a selection of a source d remote information from the portal (Ea), to a server (S) connected to the communication network (R), a request to display a program associated with this source of remote information 3. Receiver equipment (1) according to one of   claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means   network interface (10) cooperate with the selection means (5), the processing means (2) and the display means (3), to display in a predetermined area (ZV) of the screen (3) of said receiver (1), the real-time content of the information source   selected from the portal (Ea).   4. Receiver equipment (1) according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   portal (Ea) further comprises direct access (IN) to the communication network (R) and to associated services,   including a messaging service (ME).   5. Receiver equipment (1) according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that the   network interface means (10) are further arranged to request an update of the portal from a server (S) connected to the communication network (R), during each activation of said receiving equipment (1) and / or to   programmable time intervals.   6. Receiver equipment (1) according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that   includes within a single housing (40) the selection means (5), the processing means (2), the display (3) and audio (4) means, and the means network interface (10).   7. Receiver equipment according to one of claims 1   to 5, further comprising means for reading DVD media, characterized in that the network interface means are included within a housing   containing said DVD media player means.   8. Method for managing access to an information source (Cs) from a plurality of information sources (Ci) from a television receiver equipment (1) according to   any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises: - each time that said receiving equipment is activated (1), a display of a home page or screen (Ea) graphically presenting a set of information sources that can be selected, and - access to at least one server (S) arranged to provide remote information relating to a source   selected (Cs) from the portal (Ea).   9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises, in response to a selection of an information source (Cs), a display, in a predetermined area (ZV) of the screen (3 ), content   disseminated by this source of information.   - 16- 10. System for managing access to information sources on television channels for a plurality of television reception equipment (1)   according to any one of claims 1 to 7 connected   to a digital communication network (R) such as the Internet, comprising a management server (S) connected to said communication network, characterized in that this management server (S) is arranged to supply on request to each receiving equipment ( 1) an update of a home screen or portal (Ea) and information on the programs of the information sources selected (Cs).