FR3122301A1 - Method for managing access to multimedia content - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for managing access to digital content The invention relates to a method for managing the selection of content to be rendered on a screen, the content being selected from among several contents (C11-C51) including a set of contents ( C21, C41), so-called secure content, require the supply of secret data authorizing reading of the content, the selection of a content being carried out by pressing a button on a remote control (TCD) triggering successive jumps between contents up to the content to be selected, characterized in that it comprises a step of creating a list of selectable contents comprising a subset of secure contents; and a step of selecting a content to be restored by making jumps in the list created. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Method for managing access to multimedia content

The field of the invention is that of digital multimedia content, namely digital audio and/or video content, also called audiovisual content. The invention relates most particularly to a method for managing the selection, on a playback terminal, of multimedia content from a list of multimedia content, in particular with a view to rendering the content on a rendering terminal.

Multimedia content is particularly aimed at lists of content, some of which require the provision of secret data such as a code before restitution.

The content list covers all interfaces allowing a selection of content by means of a so-called zapping function. A digital content is for example a television channel.

A reading terminal is intended for any terminal offering access to multimedia content, such as for example a digital television decoder.

A rendering terminal is a terminal capable of rendering content.

State of the art

Today there are many audiovisual content playback terminals allowing access to multimedia content such as television channels (also called “live” content by those skilled in the art), or video on demand content.

The reading terminals are suitable for receiving digital content in the form of multimedia data and ensuring a restitution of the content received on a restitution terminal, for example a television screen, connected to the reading terminal. In particular, when the content received is coded, the playback terminal takes care of decoding the content before it is played back on the playback terminal.

Secret data is sometimes necessary to access multimedia content. For example, access to certain television content can be controlled by means of a parental control module installed in the reading terminal. A user can indeed, on a reading terminal, configure the parental control module in such a way as to control access to content according to a user profile configured in the parental control module. A user profile generally targets an age group. If the age group specified in the parental control module does not correspond to the recommended age group for viewing the content, access to the content requires the provision of secret data, most often a code or a word. outmoded. If a user enters the required secret data, then the content can be rendered.

This type of control by secret data is well suited when the user selects a particular television channel by indicating a channel number (for example channel 21). In this case, if a code is needed, the user enters the code and if it is correct, the content is rendered.

On the other hand, when the user zaps using a remote control to access content, for example by using the P+ / P- navigation keys present on a remote control, the selection of unauthorized content due to the control by the parental control module, is followed by an invitation to enter a code; and this invitation is notified as many times as unauthorized content (or secure content) is selected during zapping. The number of invitations to enter secret data is very annoying; this will be all the more annoying if the age group indicated in the parental control module is low, for example the age group of less than twelve years. In this case, an invitation to enter a code will be notified for all content, for example television channels, for which the required age is at least twelve years old. A child under the age of twelve will see, following each selection of content, an invitation to enter a code.

In addition, an invitation to enter a code may be tempting for a child to access content from a higher age group, for example adult content.

The invention offers a solution improving the state of the art.

The invention

To this end, according to a functional aspect, the subject of the invention is a method for managing the selection of content to be rendered on a screen, the content being selected from among several contents including a set of contents, called secure contents, requiring a supply of secret data authorizing reading of the content, the selection of a content being carried out by pressing a button on a remote control triggering successive jumps between contents until the content to be selected, characterized in that He understands

has. A step of creating a list of selectable content comprising a subset of secure content;

b. A step of selecting content to render by making jumps in the list created.

According to the invention, at least some of the secure content requiring secret data before accessing the content is excluded from the list of selectable content. In this way, when the user zaps using his remote control and navigates through the list by skipping content, all the excluded content cannot be selected. This exclusion results in a number of invitations to enter a code that is greatly reduced compared to the state of the art, or even zero as we will see below.

Thanks to the invention, a selection of content by successive jumps, that is to say in zapping mode, is no longer disturbed by untimely invitations to enter secret data.

According to a first particular mode of implementation of the invention, the creation step is preceded by a labeling of some of the secure content and the list created during the creation step also includes secure content labeled . Such labeling allows a user to label secure content in order to see this content in the list of selectable content and to be able to access it after entering secret data such as a password. This first mode is interesting when a parental control module manages access to content at the level of the reading terminal; the same reading terminal can be shared between several people having different user profiles, for example a child profile and an adult profile. When a child profile is defined in the parental control module, all content recommended for adults requires the entry of secret data. Removing all safe content from the list of accessible content would prevent an adult from accessing adult content. The labeling of secure content makes it possible to see some secure content appear in the list of content and selectable for restitution.

According to a second mode, the list does not include any secure content. In this second mode, no invitation to enter secret data is returned. This mode is useful when the reading terminal is used by people with the same profile, for example children. No invitation message alters a zapping phase. In addition, not receiving any invitation to enter secret data, this mode avoids attempts to enter secret data to access secure content, for example by children.

According to a material aspect, the invention relates to an entity for managing the selection of content to be rendered on a screen, the content being selected from among several contents including a set of contents, called secure contents, requiring a supply of a secret piece of data authorizing reading of the content, the selection of a content being carried out by pressing a button on a remote control successive jumps between content up to the content to be selected, characterized in that it comprises

has. A creation module capable of creating a list of selectable content comprising a subset of secure content;

b. A selection module capable of selecting a content to be restored by making jumps in the list created.

According to another material aspect, the invention relates to a decoder comprising a management entity as defined above.

According to another material aspect, the invention relates to a computer program able to be implemented on an entity as defined above, the program comprising code instructions which, when it is executed by a processor , carries out the steps of the selection method defined above.

Finally, according to another material aspect, the invention relates to a data medium on which has been stored at least one series of program code instructions for the execution of a management method as defined above. .

Such recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a USB key or a hard disk.

On the other hand, such a recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the program computer it contains is executable remotely. The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded onto a network, for example the Internet network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned display control method.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

represents a computer system on which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

is a schematic view of a television program schedule.

illustrates a sequence of steps illustrating an embodiment of the method of the invention.

illustrates a possible variant of creating a list of selectable content that does not include any secure content.

illustrates another possible variant of creating a list of selectable content that does not include any secure content.

illustrates another possible variant of creating a list of selectable contents in which certain selectable contents are secure contents.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

We now present, in relation to the , a general block diagram of all the equipment implemented according to one embodiment of the invention. In this example, it is assumed that a multimedia content playback terminal is connected to an STB content playback terminal, for example a telephone decoder.

digital review. It will be noted that the technique of the invention is of course not limited to an STB decoder, which is described here as a simple illustrative example, but that it can be applied to all audiovisual playback equipment, such as an HDMI key or a connected TV for example. These devices will subsequently be designated under the generic designation of STB reading terminals. The playback terminal is for example a television set equipped with an ECR display screen.

In our example, the reading terminal STB allows, for example, the user to access multimedia content such as television content also called live content by those skilled in the art.

The STB decoder is conventionally connected to the restitution terminal, for example on an HDMI port of the restitution terminal.

The decoder STB can also communicate, for example via a home gateway (not shown), with a content server (not shown) on which accessible content is stored. The reading terminal STB can enter into communication with this content server to receive one or more digital contents, the restitution of which it then controls on the ECR screen of the rendering terminal.

The STB reader terminal is also configured to be able to communicate with a TCD remote control device, illustrated by means of a remote control. The communication link between the STB decoder and the TCD remote control is arbitrary; this communication link is for example a Bluetooth® communication link.

The embodiment example is based on wireless communication between the TCD remote control and the STB decoder; however, the invention can also be implemented with wired communication.

The TCD remote control is either a physical or software remote control. Software remote controls require installation of a software application on a mobile device. Once the application is installed, the execution of the application results in the display of a remote control on the screen of the mobile device.

A software remote control can also be implemented using a voice assistant; in this case, the user transmits commands vocally to the assistant who is responsible for relaying them to the reading terminal. This type of assistant is for example the voice assistant named Djingo (Trademark Registered by the plaintiff).

The remote control TCD is equipped with communication means so as to transmit to the reading terminal STB in particular content selection commands in zapping mode. Remember that the zappinng mode allows, from the remote control, by pressing a button on the remote control several times, to issue successive commands resulting in content selection jumps in a graphical interface rendered on a screen. In other words, each press of the P+ or P- key results in a new selection of content on the graphical interface. The keys most often used for zapping are the P-/P+ keys on the remote control. A selected content can be restored when zapping stops or on explicit request by pressing another validation button on the TCD remote control.

The contents chosen to illustrate a first embodiment will be television channels, also called “live” contents.

Access to certain accessible content requires entering secret data. For this type of content, a message inviting you to enter a code is displayed on the screen.

As indicated in the section devoted to the state of the art, accessible content includes authorized content and unauthorized content, also known as secure content. Consequently, when a user zaps with his TCD remote control and the selected content requires a parental code, an invitation to enter a code is displayed. This happens whenever the selected TV program requires a code.

To avoid receiving this type of message inviting to enter a code, or at least reduce its number, the invention comprises

has. A step of creating a list of selectable content comprising a subset of secure content;

b. A step of selecting content to render by making jumps in the list created.

Secure access to content often results from the implementation of parental control in the STB decoder reading terminal. In such a context of parental control, access to a content is authorized or not according to the user profile chosen at the level of the decoder. Unauthorized content is referred to as secure content in this text.

Concretely, the content from the content server is associated with age groups. For example, in France, a CSA organization (abbreviation for “Conseil superieur de l’audiovisuel”) assigns age groups to each television broadcast; The age groups defined by this organization are generally as follows: all public, under 10 (-10), under twelve (-12), under sixteen (-16) and under eighteen (-18). For example, the age range "-12" means that it is recommended that the person viewing the television program be thirteen years or older.

A user profile is also defined in conjunction with the STB decoder reading terminal. The profile is chosen from several available profiles offered by a parental control module stored in the STB decoder. The profiles correspond to age categories.

The parental control module then compares the profile level defined in the decoder and the CSA profile associated with the accessible content, and authorizes access or not depending on the result of the comparison. The parental control module will only authorize access to content if the age group associated with the content corresponds to the age group defined in the STB decoder reading terminal. Other content will require the provision of secret data to be read; such other content is referred to as secure content in this text. For example, if a television program is not recommended for people under the age of twelve, and the user profile defined at the level of the STB reading terminal is the 0-10 age group, the parental control module does not authorize access to the content; this content then becomes secure content and its access will require the provision of secret data such as a password to access it.

The illustrates an example of a GRL television program schedule including content offered by several television channels.

In our example, the GRL schedule includes five TV channels CH1-CH5. The schedule includes programs over a PH time slot. The current instant “t” is represented in the figure. At this instant "t", several contents are broadcast by the television channels.

In the GRL grid:

• the first television channel CH1 offers three contents C11-C13;
• the second television channel CH2 offers two content C21 and C22;
• the third television channel CH3 offers to broadcast their content C21 and C22;
• the fourth television channel CH4 offers to broadcast their C21 and C22 content;
• the fifth television channel CH5 offers to broadcast their C21 and C22 content;

At time "t", the contents C11, C21, C31, C41, and C51 are broadcast by the channels CH1-CH5, respectively.

The contents correspond to respective recommended profiles. These profiles are defined to provide information on the type of audience for which a content is addressed.

The management entity MNG carries out a control of the parental control type to determine among the accessible contents those which will be accessible without entering a password and those which will only be accessible after entering a password, namely the secure contents .

On the , unauthorized and therefore secure content is associated with a padlock signifying that access to this content requires entering a password.

In our example, three profiles P1-P3 are possible.

The GRL program schedule described and the number of profiles used to illustrate the invention have been deliberately reduced to simplify the description of the invention.

We consider that P1 targets all ages without restriction, P2 targets the age group under eighteen, and P3 the age group under 12.

In our example, a P2 profile is defined in the parental control module present in the STB decoder.

The comprises a sequence of steps ET1-ET3 illustrating an embodiment.

In our example, the parental control module is included in the MNG management entity.

During a first step ET1, the management entity MNG located in the decoder STB retrieves the contents accessible in the grid GRL, or only a part thereof, and the respective profiles. The television program schedule can for example be retrieved by the management entity MNG from television content providers or transmitted spontaneously by a content provider to the decoder STB.

During a second step ET2, the management entity MNG compares the profiles P1-P3 of the different contents with the profile P2 recorded in the decoder STB.

During a third step ET3, the management entity MNG

• identifies the content known as secure content which will require entry of a code, namely the content whose profiles do not correspond with the current profile P2 recorded in the STB decoder
• creates a list of selectable content excluding secure content.

On the , secure content is associated with a CDNi padlock. In our example, the contents C12, C21, C32, C41 are associated with padlocks CND1–CND4, respectively.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate ways to represent the interface of content accessible for selection.

A first mode illustrated on the consists for the management entity MNG in removing the secure content from the interface presented on the screen. The resulting interface is for example the one represented on the not limited to this.

In this configuration, the MNG management entity receives commands from the remote control. As secure content has been removed from the selectable content, these are no longer selectable in the graphical interface presented on the screen. During zapping, the channel jumps in this case only concern authorized channels.

In this case, there is no untimely message inviting the entry of secret data.

A second mode illustrated on the consists for the MNG management module in managing commands from the remote control on the fly. It is considered here that all content, whether secure or not, appears in the graphical interface presented to the user on the screen. In this second mode, the padlocks are displayed in association with the secure content. In this configuration, when the management entity MNG receives successive commands from the remote control TCD, the management entity MNG skips channels in such a way as not to select secure content.

We assume here that the television channels are ordered.

According to this second embodiment, upon receipt of a command for access to secure content, the management entity MNG replaces the requested secure content with the next selectable television content according to the established order.

Concretely, in the example illustrated, the content being rendered is the C11 content. The user zaps with his remote control by pressing the P+ button on the remote control twice:

• The management entity MNG receives a first command, identifies the content following the content C11 which is selectable, namely the content C31, the content C21 not being selectable;
• The management entity MNG then receives a second command, identifies the content following the content C31 which is selectable, namely the content C51 and restores it.

According to a variant of the two modes described above, during the third step described above, the management entity MNG labels certain secure content to make it selectable. Indeed, an administrator of the STB decoder can decide to display, in the interface presented on the screen, certain secure contents and to receive invitations to enter passwords for these labeled secure contents. Certain secure content then becomes selectable. This variant is interesting when the STB decoder is shared between several people with different profiles, for example between adults and children.

According to this variant, the administrator selects some secure content which will then be part of the selectable content during zapping.

The illustrates this variant based on the same interface as that described with reference to the .

On this , the content C21 is secure content that a user will label; this tagged content is for example a type of television content highly appreciated by this user, for example content relating to information. On the , such tagged secure content is associated with a disabled padlock (a cross covers the padlock).

Note that labeling can be done automatically using a labeling module capable of labeling all secure content of a given type, for example all content related to information.

Suppose now that the content being rendered is the C11 content. The user zaps with his remote control by pressing the P+ button on the remote control four times:

• The management entity MNG receives a first command, identifies the content following the content C11 which is selectable, namely the preferred secure content C21; at this point, an invitation to enter a code is displayed on the screen. It is assumed here that the user does not enter a password and continues zapping.
• The management entity MNG then receives a second command, identifies the selectable content following the content C21, namely the content C31.
• The management entity MNG receives a third command, identifies the selectable content following the content C31, namely the content C51, the content C41 being non-selectable secure content.

Finally, let us specify here that the term module or the term entity can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more programs or sub-programs computer or more generally to any element of a program able to implement a function or a set of functions as described for the modules concerned. In the same way, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware (or hardware) assembly capable of implementing a function or a set of functions for the module concerned (integrated circuit, smart card, memory card, etc. .).

Claims (7)

Method for managing the selection of content to be rendered on a screen, the content being selected from among several contents (C11-C51) including a set of contents (C21, C41), called secure contents, requiring a supply of data secret allowing reading of the content, the selection of a content being carried out by pressing a button on a remote control (TCD) triggering successive jumps between contents until the content to be selected, characterized in that it comprises

1. A step of creating a list of selectable content comprising a subset of secure content;
2. A step of selecting content to restore by making jumps in the created list.

Management method according to claim 1, characterized in that the creation step is preceded by a labeling of part of the secure content, in that the subset created during the creation step includes secure content labeled. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the subset does not include any secure content. Management entity (MNG) for the selection of content to be rendered on a screen, the content being selected from several contents (C11-C51) including a set of contents (C21, C41), called secure contents, requiring a supply of 'a secret piece of data authorizing reading of the content, the selection of a content being carried out by pressing a button on a remote control (TCD) triggering successive jumps between contents until the content to be selected, characterized in that He understands

1. A creation module capable of creating a list of selectable content comprising a subset of secure content;
2. A selection module capable of selecting a content to be restored by making jumps in the list created.

Decoder comprising a management entity as defined in claim 4. Computer program adapted to be implemented on a management entity (MNG) as defined in claim 4, the program comprising code instructions which, when executed by a processor, carry out the steps of the method defined in claim 1. Data carrier on which has been stored at least one series of program code instructions for the execution of a method according to claim 1.