FR2892882A1 - Service e.g. video on demand service, and/or TV channel program content communication method for e.g. set top box, involves receiving request from user terminal and transmitting content indicated in request based on identity of terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transmitting from a user terminal to a digital set top box (2), a content transmission request indicating an identity of the terminal and content. The set top box receives the request and transmits the content indicated in the request to the terminal, based on the identity. The terminal receives the content and processes the content for permitting the visualization of the received content on a visualization interface. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a digital set top box (2) a computer program comprising instructions for implementing steps implemented by the set top box.

Description

WIRELESS BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A TERMINAL AND A DECODER,

  IN PARTICULAR DIGITAL TELEVISION. The present invention relates to the field of video decoders of broadcast digital content. The decoders concerned are in particular the set-top-box set-top boxes providing the interface between an arrival of digital signals broadcast in real time by satellite, cable or digital terrestrial broadcasting and an analog television on the other. The set-top box is a stand-alone device, but the invention also applies to decoders integrated into a digital television set.The television sets include a screen for viewing the images processed by the decoder.This decoder receives one or more programs. in the form of a stream of compressed digital data, i.e. whose video frames (ie pictures) and audio frames are coded so as to reduce the volume of the data broadcast, for example, this coding respects the specifications of the MPEG-2 (ISAO / IEC 13818-2) standard which defines a data compression technique for the coding of moving pictures and sound. eur is adapted to decompress the stream of compressed digital data in order to extract the content corresponding to services offered for example by the broadcast operator and to programs of television channels. Usual services include, for example, video-on-demand services, meteorological information services, road traffic services, interactive games or an Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

  An EPG service provides information about current or future broadcast programs. Some EPG services only provide information about programs being broadcast and their respective programs immediately following. Other EPG services provide information on the 30 planned programs over the next seven days, for example.

  EPG services typically allow you to select information based on a variety of criteria including channels, themes, days and times, TV, radio, services, and more. The display of a program or service performed on the television display screen is generally controlled using the selection buttons of an infrared remote control for controlling the decoder W. For example, following the pressing the key 1 of the remote control by a user, the decoder receives a message by infrared link indicating the key 1 of the remote control. Depending on the message received and the decoder settings previously made by the user, by the manufacturer or by an automatic adjustment module of the decoder itself, the decoder determines the channel designated by the key 1, for example the string Chi. The decoder then decompresses the images corresponding to the program of the channel 1 present in the digital stream received and processes them before providing them to the display screen. The program of the Chi channel is then displayed on the display screen. With the aid of another selection button or a sequence of pressing the selection buttons, the user then selects for example the display of a broadcast service, which causes the display of information related to this service on the TV viewing screen. Some decoders are further equipped with a hard disk to record programs on request of the user or to automatically record data broadcast sporadically in the stream, corresponding for example to a game.

  A disadvantage presented by the prior art is that the display on the TV display screen corresponds to the last program choice validated from the remote control by the last user of this remote control. When several users are near the TV, the last program chosen is displayed.

  There is a need to allow each of these users to view the information available from the decoder which is of particular interest to them, independently of the viewing wishes of the other users.

  Furthermore, it is known user terminals with a display screen and a command entry module by a user, able to communicate on a wireless LAN, for example type WiFi or Bluetooth standardized by the IEEE organization. Among such user terminals, mention may be made of user terminals of mobile networks for example GSM screen type and further provided with interfaces for communicating via a wireless local area network. The invention aims to propose a solution implementing a decoder and such a user terminal, to meet the need of the prior art described above. For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method of communication between a user terminal comprising a display interface and a digital television decoder adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and to extract visible contents. The user terminal and the decoder are connected by a bidirectional wireless communication link. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: transmission by the user terminal to the decoder of a content transmission request, indicating at least one identification of the user terminal and a content; reception by the decoder of said request and as a function of at least said identification, transmission to the user terminal of said content indicated in the request; - Reception of said content and processing by the user terminal to allow viewing of the content received on the viewing interface. Such a method thus enables the decoder to provide the user with the content he wants, independently of the content displayed on the television screen connected to the decoder, and independently of the content provided according to the invention to a other user terminal.

  The invention therefore makes it possible to provide individualized contents to the user of a user terminal. In one embodiment of the invention, the content transmitted by the decoder to the user terminal is at least part of the information in the program guide. The provision of all or part of the program guide to the user terminal allows the user to navigate within the guide, regardless of the content displayed on the TV screen and regardless of content downloaded to other user terminals.

  Advantageously, this part of information is extracted from the program guide information by the decoder according to criteria associated with the identifier indicated in the request. This provision makes it possible not to transmit information that will not be exploited by the user and to take into account criteria of interest signified by the user. It therefore reduces bandwidth consumption on the link and reduces the time required by the user to access the information that interests him. In one embodiment, the decoder being connected to a display screen of a television set, the method comprises the steps of: transmission by the user terminal to the decoder of a content display request indicating at least the identification the user terminal and content; reception by the decoder of said request; and - according to at least said identification, supplying the television display screen, for display, with the content indicated in the request. Each user equipped with such a terminal thus has a means of setting the display on the display screen of the television, which allows it to no longer be dependent on a single remote control to be shared between the different users, when you want to change the program displayed on the TV screen. Advantageously, the method comprises a prior download phase comprising the steps of: -transmission by the decoder to the user terminal of a software application; - reception and registration by the user terminal of this application, for the subsequent execution of the application. The application includes instructions for presenting, when it is executed, functionalities relating to contents extracted by the decoder and for, when one of said functionalities has been selected, sending a request to the decoder indicating at least one content and the identification of the user terminal. According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a digital television decoder adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and to extract viewable contents, and comprising means for being connected by a bidirectional wireless communication link to at least one user terminal. . The decoder is adapted to implement the steps that are incumbent on said decoder of a method according to the first aspect of the invention. According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a computer program to be installed in a digital television decoder adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and to extract visualizable contents, and comprising means for being connected by a bidirectional communication link. wirelessly to at least one user terminal having a viewing interface. The computer program includes instructions for carrying out the steps which are incumbent on said decoder, a method according to the first aspect of the invention, during execution of the program by processing means of said decoder.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows a system embodying an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a digital television decoder in one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1 is shown a system 1 comprising a digital television decoder 2, a television set 3, a TC remote control and two user terminals TA and TB. The television 3 in the embodiment described is an analog television, for example SECAM type. It comprises a display screen E. It is adapted to receive via a P3 socket, for example a Scart socket, signals compliant with the known SECAM standard and to display the images corresponding to these signals on the screen. E. The decoder 2 comprises a socket P1 through which it receives a signal representative of a digital stream broadcast, for example, on a wired network (not shown) connected to the decoder 2 via a link electric f2. The decoder 2 is adapted to identify the signals representative of the various programs and services provided in the received digital stream, to decompress them and to provide at the output P2 of the decoder 2, signals that the television 3 is able to process and display. An electrical connection f1 connects the socket P3 of the television 3 to the P2 socket of the decoder 2. Furthermore, the decoder 2 is adapted to be controlled by a remote control TC infrared keys. Thus, when the television set 3 and the decoder are in operation, the pressing by a user of a key or of several successive keys of the remote control TC causes the decoder 2 to supply a particular program or service, determined according to this pressing the key or keystroke sequence on TV 3, and therefore displaying that particular program or service. In the embodiment considered, the decoder 2 is adapted to decode in parallel several programs and / or services. In other embodiments, the decoder may be adapted to decode a single program or service at a time.

  According to the invention, the decoder 2 further comprises a transmission / reception module 4 adapted to transmit and receive signals in order to communicate over a short distance, for example in accordance with the standard Bluethooth standard IEEE. The decoder 2 further comprises a processing module 6 and a memory 7.

  Each user terminal TA, TB is a terminal with an EA, EB display screen, a command entry interface and means for storing and executing software applications.

  Each user terminal TA, TB comprises a transmission / reception interface 10, 11 for communicating locally. In this case, the interface 110 is for example compliant with the Bluetooth standard. In the embodiment described, the terminals TA and TB are telephone terminals conforming to the GSM standard. Each of these terminals is therefore a personal object used almost exclusively by a dedicated user. In one embodiment, a Bluetooth transmission / reception interface takes the form of a module that can be connected to a USB port of the terminal TA, TB.

  According to the invention, during a prior identification phase, the processing module 6 of the decoder 2 determines an identification of the terminal TA and stores it in the memory 7. It extracts from the memory 7 a copy of a software application L, informs the value of an identification parameter used in this application with the identification of the terminal TA. It provides the application L to the transmission / reception module 4 for the transmission of the application L to the terminal TA via the Bluethooth link. The terminal TA receives via the interface 10 the software application L and stores it. An alert message appearing on the TA screen of the TA terminal warns its user of the arrival of an application.

  Once the user of the terminal TA has read the content of the alert message displayed on the screen EA of the terminal TA, it starts the execution of the software application L. This software application L includes instructions to present when running, a TV applications menu. This menu presents features offered to a user relating to displayable content (programs and services) broadcast. These features include, for example, the supply of the complete program guide, the supply of a part of the program guide based on criteria chosen by the user, the supply of supply of traffic information, the provision of an interactive game, etc. The user of the terminal TA selects one of the functionalities presented, which results in the supply to the application L of a command relating to the selected content.

  The application L furthermore comprises instructions for, on receipt of such a command, sending a request to the decoder 2 via the transmission / reception interface Bluethooth 10. This request includes the identification the terminal TA corresponding to the value of the identification parameter used in the application L, and an indication of the controlled content. The transmission / reception module 4 of the decoder 2 receives this request and transmits it to the processing module 6. The processing module 6 verifies that the identification of the terminal TA supplied in the request is indeed stored in the memory 7, and in the positive case, it extracts the required content and supplies it to the transmission / reception module 4, which transmits to the TA terminal. The terminal TA receives the content sent by the decoder 2 and informs the user by displaying an alert message on the screen EA. The user then proceeds, via the screen EA of the terminal TA, to the viewing of the transmitted content. In one embodiment, the functionality of the software application L selected by the user of the terminal TA when viewing the television applications menu is that of the provision of the program guide.

  On receipt by the processing module 6 of the request indicating the program guide, the module 6 extracts the information from the program guide. It is this content that is then provided by the processing module 6 to the transmission / reception processing module 4, which transmits it to the terminal TA.

  The user of the terminal TA can thus navigate from his own terminal in the program guide received. And each time this user wishes to receive new content corresponding to another feature or the same functionality but with updated content, it uses the TV applications menu of the software application L. Similarly during a phase of prior identification, the processing module 6 of the decoder 2 determines an identification of the terminal TB and stores it in the memory 7. It extracts from the memory 7 a copy of the software application L, informs the value of the identification parameter used in the application with the determined identification of the terminal TB. It supplies the application L to the transmission / reception module 4 for the transmission of the application L to the terminal TB.

  The terminal TB receives via the interface 11 the software application L and stores it. An alert message displayed on the EB screen of the terminal TA warns its user of the arrival of the application. Advantageously, still in the preliminary phase, the user of the terminal TB chooses, via the remote control TC, a service named configuration of the download of the program guide, which then appears on the screen E of the television 3. Through this service, by indicating choices via the TC, the user provides the decoder 2 preference criteria relating to the program guide, which are then stored in memory 7.

  In the embodiment considered, the user of the terminal TB indicates using the remote control TC preference criteria C indicating the themes films and news, the evening period of the current day, which are stored by the decoder 2 in memory 7 in association with the identification of the terminal TB.

  Furthermore, once the user of the terminal TB has read the content of the alert message displayed on the EB screen of the terminal TB, it starts the execution of the software application L. The user of the terminal TB selects one of the features presented by the television applications menu, which results in the supply to the application L of a command relating to the selected content. Following receipt of this command, the application L sends a request to the decoder 2, which includes the identification of the terminal TB and an indication of the controlled content.

  In one embodiment, the functionality of the software application L selected by the user of the terminal TB during the consultation of the television applications menu is that of the provision of part of the program guide.

  The transmission / reception module 4 of the decoder 2 receives this request and transmits it to the processing module 6, which verifies that the identification of the terminal TB supplied in the request is well stored in the memory 7. In the positive case, it furthermore extracts from the memory 7 the preference criteria C stored in memory 7 in association with the identification of the terminal TB indicated in the request. Then he selects program guide information based on these criteria. It is this content that is then provided by the processing module 6 to the transmission / reception module 4, which transmits it to the terminal TB.

  The user of the terminal TB can thus navigate from his own terminal in the part of the program guide received corresponding to his criteria. Thus the invention allows several users to consult from their respective terminal respective contents they have chosen, the contents being previously broadcast to the decoder 2. So while the user of the terminal TA consults the program guide available on his terminal TA, the user TB consults the part of said guide corresponding to his criteria. Meanwhile, another user, having downloaded according to the invention a game broadcast in the digital stream to the decoder 2 on its terminal TC, can play, while one or more users watch a program, for example a movie, on the TV screen E 3, whose display was controlled using the TC remote control. In an advantageous embodiment, the software application L downloaded on the terminals further includes an option associated with the available features for controlling the display of the television 2. When the user of a terminal selects a feature and the option associated, the request sent to the decoder 2 by the terminal indicates, in addition to the information described above, the selected option.

  In this case, the decoder 2 responds to this request in the same way as if the same content had been indicated to it by the infrared remote control TC, by controlling the display of the content selected on the screen EA of the television 3. This display is accompanied or not, depending on the embodiments, the transmission in parallel of the content selected by the decoder 2 to the terminal. This arrangement makes it possible to control the display on the television screen from the respective terminals of the users, and not from a single remote control. In one embodiment of the invention, the preference criteria are requested from the user of a terminal during the execution of a particular feature of the television applications menu and are then sent to the decoder 2, which then takes them in account when selecting the content to be transmitted to the terminal. In one embodiment, the memory 7 of the decoder 2 comprises a hard disk, on which are stored various data, for example photos. This data may have been stored on the hard disk during an interface of the decoder with a computer or further to the sending to the decoder of these photos by a user terminal, for example using a function of the computer. Advantageously, the software application L furthermore comprises a functionality relating to the supply of data (for example photos) stored on the hard disk of the decoder 2. For example, if the user of the terminal TA selects the photo delivery function, the application L resident in the terminal TA issues a request to the decoder 2, including the identification of the terminal TA and an indication of the selected photo service. The transmission / reception module 4 of the decoder receives this request and transmits it to the processing module 6. The latter determines a list of photos that can be transmitted to the user, depending on the identification of the terminal TA, the photos stored in the hard disk and possibly access criteria 30 also stored in association with these photos. This list is transmitted to the user terminal TA, which then chooses from the list, one or more of these photos. The choice thus made is communicated via the software application L to the decoder 2, which in response transmits to the user terminal, the chosen photos. In one embodiment, the software application L further comprises a functionality for controlling program and / or service recordings on the hard disk of the decoder 2. In this case, a request is issued by the application L of a user terminal to the decoder, including the identification of the terminal, the indication of the recording functionality selected by the user of the terminal, and that of the program or service to be recorded.

  The decoder 2 is adapted to, upon receipt of this request, schedule the recording on its hard disk, according to the information contained in the request. In one embodiment, the software application L is stored in the terminal permanently, until a voluntary deletion of the user. In another embodiment, it is stored in a volatile memory of the terminal and is therefore erased at each power off of the terminal. In one embodiment, the software application is developed using the well-known Java programming language.

  The identification of a terminal stored in the decoder memory makes it possible to respond to a request from a terminal by transmitting a suitable response. It also makes it possible to process a request from the terminal based on particular criteria provided by the user and / or by the person responsible for the decoder. The transmission of at least certain types of content to certain terminals (for example the terminals of the children of a family) may in some embodiments have been prohibited (by the parents). The transmission to terminals not included in a given list of identified terminals stored in the memory 7 of the decoder 2 may in some embodiments be prohibited. The decoder 2 in the embodiment described above is a stand-alone decoder connected to an analog television. In another embodiment, the television is a digital television and includes the decoder. In one embodiment, the steps of a method according to the invention carried out in the decoder can be implemented during an execution, by calculating means of the decoder, of the instructions of a program. The invention thus allows the display by one or more users of a user terminal of information available in the decoder, independently of other users. It also makes it possible to control the display on the television screen and / or the recording in the decoder memory of programs and services.

Claims (9)

  A method of communication between a user terminal (TA; TB) having a viewing interface (EA; EB) and a digital television decoder (2) adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and extracting visualizable contents thereof connected by a bidirectional wireless communication link, said method comprising the following steps: transmission by the user terminal to the decoder of a content transmission request, indicating at least one identification of the user terminal and a content; reception by the decoder of said request and as a function of at least said identification, transmission to the user terminal of said content indicated in the request; - Reception of said content and processing by the user terminal to allow viewing of the content received on the viewing interface.   2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the content transmitted by the decoder (2) to the user terminal (TA; TB) is at least part of the information of the program guide.   3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said part is extracted from the information of the program guide by the decoder (2) according to criteria associated with the identifier indicated in the request.   4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, said decoder (2) being connected to a display (E) of a television (3), said method comprising the following steps: transmission by the user terminal to the decoder a content display request indicating at least the identification of the user terminal and a content; reception by the decoder of said request and according to at least said identification, supplying the television display screen, for display, with the content indicated in the request.   5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: transmission by the user terminal (TA) to the decoder (2) of a content recording request indicating at least the identification of the user terminal and content; reception by the decoder of said request and as a function of at least said identification, programming by the decoder (2) of the recording of the indicated content.   6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: transmission by the user terminal (TA) to the decoder (2) of a data supply request indicating at least the identification of the user terminal and data stored in the decoder; reception by the decoder of said request and as a function of at least said identification, transmission of the decoder to the user terminal 25 of the indicated data.   7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, in a prior phase, the following steps: transmission by the decoder (2) to the user terminal (TA, TB) of a software application (L); and registration by the user terminal of said application for subsequent execution of the application; said application comprising instructions for presenting, during its execution, functionalities relating to at least contents extracted by the decoder and for, when one of said functionalities has been selected, sending a request to the decoder indicating at least one content and identification.   A digital television decoder (2) adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and to extract viewable contents therefrom and comprising means for being connected by a bidirectional wireless communication link to at least one user terminal (TA; TB). , said decoder being adapted to implement the steps which are incumbent on said decoder of a method according to one of the preceding claims.   A computer program for installation in a digital television decoder (2) adapted to receive a broadcast digital stream and to extract viewable contents therefrom and including means for being connected by a wireless two-way communication link to at least one a user terminal (TA; TB) having a display interface, said computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps which are incumbent on said decoder, a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when a program execution by processing means of said decoder.