GB2324631A - Communication of data in media signals - Google Patents
Communication of data in media signals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2324631A GB2324631A GB9708339A GB9708339A GB2324631A GB 2324631 A GB2324631 A GB 2324631A GB 9708339 A GB9708339 A GB 9708339A GB 9708339 A GB9708339 A GB 9708339A GB 2324631 A GB2324631 A GB 2324631A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- media
- signal
- composite signal
- receiver
- remote
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/235—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/435—Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/08—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
- Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
- Communication Control (AREA)
- Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
- Television Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A communication system comprises a media source for supplying a media signal and a code source for supplying one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices located at a remote site. Insertion means combines the media signal with the control code(s) to produce a composite signal which is transmitted to a remote site where a receiver has means 120 for extracting the control code(s) and the media signal, for supplying the media signal to a media output device 150, and for transmitting the control code(s) to the remote device(s) 160.
Description
COMMUNICATION OF DATA IN MEDIA SIGNALS
The present invention relates to communication of data in media signals such as television signals.
Television and radio stations broadcast data within their normal transmission services. For example, some television stations broadcast stocks and shares information via teletext for detection by remote television receivers and personal computers. Also, some radio stations broadcast station recognition signals and Radio Data System (RDS) retuning signals for traffic reports. The use of such transmissions by a number of devices (such as personal computers) requires television or radio receivers having appropriate decoder electronics (eg. teletext or
RDS) to be incorporated into the devices concerned.
In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided a communication system comprising: a media source for supplying a media signal for reception at a remote site by a media output device; a code source for supplying one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices located at the remote site; insertion means coupled to the media source and the code source for combining the media signal with the or each control code to produce a composite signal; and, sending means coupled to the insertion means for sending the composite signal to the remote site.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the media signal comprises a digital video signal. The sending means preferably comprises a cable access television channel.
Viewing the present invention from another aspect there is now provided a receiver comprising: reception means for receiving a composite signal, the composite signal comprising a media signal for controlling a media output device and one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices; first extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the or each control code from the received composite signal, second extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the media signal from the received composite signal; supply means connected to the second extraction means for supplying the media signal to the media output device; and transmission means connected to the first extraction means for transmitting the or each control code to the or each remote device.
The transmission means may comprise a wireless transmitter for transmitting the or each control code to the each or each remote device via wireless communication. The wireless transmitter may comprise an infra red emitter. Alternatively, The wireless transmitter may comprise a radio frequency emitter.
The reception means preferably comprises means for receiving the composite signal via a cable access television channel. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the supply means comprises a connector for connection to a television set.
It will be appreciated that the present invention extends to a communication system comprising: a media source for supplying a media signal for reception at a remote site by a media output device; a code source for supplying one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices located at the remote site; insertion means coupled to the media source and the code source for combining the media signal with the or each control code to produce a composite signal; and, sending means coupled to the insertion means for sending the composite signal to the remote site; and a receiver for location at the remote site, the receiver comprising reception means for receiving the composite signal, first extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the or each control code from the received composite signal, second extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the media signal from the received composite signal, supply means connected to the second extraction means for supplying the media signal to the media output device, and transmission means connected to the first extraction means for transmitting the or each control code to the or each remote device.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the aforementioned need for multiple receiver facilities is reduced or eliminated by equipping media receivers such as television and radio receivers to relay data embedded in received media signals to remote devices. The data may be relayed by wired or wireless communication.
However, in particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the data is relayed by wireless communication in the interests of convenience. Preferably, the wireless communication is accomplished by infra-red (IR) signal transmission. The IR transmission may be provided via a dedicated IR transmitter included in the receiver or, where the receiver is a cathode ray tube (CRT) television set, via an IR-emitting phosphor on the CRT screen. The embedded data may conveniently be based on the IrDA communication standard normally associated with wireless connection of computers to computer peripheral devices. The data embedded in the received signals may include control codes for controlling one or more remote devices In preferred embodiments of the present invention,
TV and radio receivers are equipped with means for relaying such control codes to recipient remote devices. Thus equipped, TVs and radios can relay data and control signals for a range of purposes in a common manner, without necessitating inclusion of complex application-specific electronic circuitry in the remote devices. Examples of possible applications include: supply of programme information for automatically setting video recorders; supply of data and programs for personal computers, personal digital assistants and the like; remote control of domestic lighting to produce lighting effects in conjunction with radio and/or television transmission of music and/or drama productions; remote time and date synchronisation for clocks, watches and the like; control of audience survey devices (eg. for recording what is being watched or listened to); supply of subtitle information to separate subtitle presentation devices; supply of order forms or other information associated with items presented on a home-shopping channel or commercial advertisement to home printer devices possibly provided for that purpose; catalogue updates; supply of background news items to home printers for producing personalised newspapers; and supply of simple graphics associated with radio programmes.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a system for supplying a cable-access television (CATV) signal in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of an example of a system for receiving and processing a CATV signal in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an example of a wireless communication link for the system of Figure 2; and,
Figure 4 is a block diagram of an example of a remote device for the system of Figure 2.
Referring first to Figure 1, an example of a system for supplying a
CATV signal in accordance with the present invention comprises a media feed 10 for supplying a digital video (DV) signal. The media feed 10 may comprise, for example, a digital video libraries, a laser disc jukebox, a real-time digital video encoder, or any combination or multiplicity thereof. The media feed 10 is connected to a high speed local area network (LAN) 40. Also connected to the LAN 40 is a control code feed 20 for supplying control codes, a system manager 30, and a media server computer 50. The system manager may comprise one or more server computers each connected to LAN 20. The media server 5 is connected o a cable headend 70 via a modulator 60.
In operation, the system manager 30 controls supply of control codes from the control code feed 20 and the DV signal from the media feed 10 to the media server 50 via the LAN 20. In turn, the media server 50 integrates the control codes and the DV signal to produce a composite signal 70. The composite signal is modulated onto a carrier signal by modulator 60. The modulated carrier signal is then supplied to a cable head-end 70.
Referring now to Figure 2, an example of a system for receiving a
CATV signal in accordance with the present invention comprises a set top box 100 having an input connected to a cable access point 110 for receiving the composite signal 70. In the set top box 100, extraction logic 120 recovers the control codes from the composite signal and supplies them to a control code transmitter 140. The extraction logic 120 also recovers the DV signal 60 from the composite signal and supplies the
DV signal 60 to a DV output port 100 of the set top box 100. In operation, the DV output port generates signals for driving a connected
DV output device 150 such as a domestic television set in accordance with the DV signal. The control code transmitter 140 transmits the control codes to a remote device 160. The remote device 160 comprises a control code receiver 170 for receiving the control codes and an output mechanism 180 connected to the control code receiver for producing output effects in response to the received control codes.
In some embodiments of the present invention, communications between the control code transmitter 140 in the set top box 100 and the control code receiver 170 in the remote device 160 may be effected via a wired communication link. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, such communications may be effected by a wireless communication link. For example, referring now to Figure 3, in a preferred example of the present invention, the control code transmitter 140 comprises an Infra Red (IR) emitter 145 for generating an IR emission 147 which is modulated by the control codes and the control code receiver 170 comprises an IR receiver 175 for receiving the modulated IR emission at the remote device 160. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments of the present invention, communication between the set top box 100 and the remote device 160 may be effected other forms of wireless communication link such as a radio frequency communication link, for example.
Referring now to Figure 4, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention provides remote control of a household lighting system in accordance with cable television programming. Specifically, in this particular application of the present invention, the output mechanism 180 of the remote device 160 comprises a dimmer for controlling, in response to control codes received from the set top box 100, the brightness of a light 182 illuminating a room containing the set top box 100 and the television set 150.
In operation, referring back to Figure 1, the media server 50 inserts into the composite signal control codes representative of lighting levels selected to enhance the scene or imagery to which the DV signal corresponds. For example, if the Dv signal corresponds to a night scene or similarly dark scene in a motion picture, then the media server 50 inserts control codes corresponding to relatively low light levels into the composite signal. It will be appreciated then, that the composite signal may contain control codes interspersed with DV information throughout an entire motion picture.
Referring again to Figure 2, at the users home, the composite signal is received by the set top box 120. The control codes are extracted from the received composite signal by the extraction logic 120.
Referring again to Figure 4, the control code transmitter 140 transmits the control codes to the dimmer in the output mechanism 180 via the control code receiver 170 of the remote device 170. The brightness of the lamp 182 is adjusted accordingly. Simultaneously, in the set top box 100, the DV signal is sent from the extraction logic 120 to the Dv output mechanism 130 for conversion to drive signals which are, in turn, supplied to the connected television set 150.
Thus, when, for example, a dark scene in a cable access motion picture is presented to the user, the lighting in the room containing the television is automatically lowered. As the motion picture progresses to brighter scene, the lighting, under instruction from further control codes delivered to the set top box via the composite signal, is correspondingly raised.
It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments of the present invention, such lighting control may be provided through a wired communication link between the set top box 100 and the remote device 160.
Such a wired communication link may, for example, be provided via modulation of the mains power supply to the lighting system.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been hereinbefore described with reference to a single remote device. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the set top box 100 may communicate communication codes received from a cable access channel to a plurality of different remote devices.
Furthermore, although examples of the present invention have been hereinbefore described with reference to a remote device comprising a lighting dimmer mechanism, it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the present invention may include one or more different forms of remote device such as children's electronic toys for example.
Still furthermore, in the preferred embodiments of the present invention hereinbefore described, the composite signal is supplied to the user via a cable access channel. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the composite signal may be supplied to the user via other media. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the composite signal may be supplied to the user on a video tape cartridge, video disc, or other portable data storage medium, with the set top box 100 including an appropriate reader for accessing the composite signal from the medium for supply to the extraction logic 120.
Still furthermore, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the present invention, the composite video signal may be broadcast or supplied via satellite communications.
Claims (10)
1. A communication system comprising: a media source for supplying a media signal for reception at a remote site by a media output device; a code source for supplying one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices located at the remote site; insertion means coupled to the media source and the code source for combining the media signal with the or each control code to produce a composite signal; and, sending means coupled to the insertion means for sending the composite signal to the remote site.
2. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the media signal comprises a digital video signal.
3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sending means comprises a cable access television channel.
4. A receiver comprising: reception means for receiving a composite signal, the composite signal comprising a media signal for controlling a media output device and one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices; first extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the or each control code from the received composite signal, second extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the media signal from the received composite signal; supply means connected to the second extraction means for supplying the media signal to the media output device; and transmission means connected to the first extraction means for transmitting the or each control code to the or each remote device.
5. A receiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transmission means comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting the or each control code to the each or each remote device via wireless communication.
6. A receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an infra red emitter.
7. A receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a radio frequency emitter.
8. A receiver as claimed in any claims 4 to 7, wherein the reception means comprises means for receiving the composite signal via a cable access television channel.
9. A receiver as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the supply means comprises a connector for connection to a television set.
10. A communication system comprising: a media source for supplying a media signal for reception at a remote site by a media output device; a code source for supplying one or more control codes for controlling one or more remote devices located at the remote site; insertion means coupled to the media source and the code source for combining the media signal with the or each control code to produce a composite signal; and, sending means coupled to the insertion means for sending the composite signal to the remote site; and a receiver for location at the remote site, the receiver comprising reception means for receiving the composite signal, first extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the or each control code from the received composite signal, second extraction means connected to the reception means for extracting the media signal from the received composite signal, supply means connected to the second extraction means for supplying the media signal to the media output device, and transmission means connected to the first extraction means for transmitting the or each control code to the or each remote device.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9708339A GB2324631B (en) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-04-25 | Communication of data in television signals |
| KR1019980003908A KR100294804B1 (en) | 1997-04-25 | 1998-02-10 | Communication of data in media signals |
| JP10092891A JPH10341421A (en) | 1997-04-25 | 1998-04-06 | Communication system and receiver |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9708339A GB2324631B (en) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-04-25 | Communication of data in television signals |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9708339D0 GB9708339D0 (en) | 1997-06-18 |
| GB2324631A true GB2324631A (en) | 1998-10-28 |
| GB2324631B GB2324631B (en) | 2001-05-23 |
Family
ID=10811309
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9708339A Expired - Fee Related GB2324631B (en) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-04-25 | Communication of data in television signals |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH10341421A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100294804B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2324631B (en) |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1523753A (en) * | 1974-09-16 | 1978-09-06 | Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana | Two-way data transmission system for cable television network |
| GB2061581A (en) * | 1979-10-23 | 1981-05-13 | Altan Electronics Inc | Communication system for distribution automation and remote metering |
| GB2118750A (en) * | 1982-04-15 | 1983-11-02 | Telecable Videotron Ltd | Data transmission system |
| EP0103438A1 (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1984-03-21 | Thorn Emi Plc | Television and distribution network |
| WO1987006416A1 (en) * | 1986-04-18 | 1987-10-22 | British Broadcasting Corporation | Device for the remote control of a videorecorder or a videoreceiver |
| GB2286277A (en) * | 1994-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | Videotron Groupe Ltee | Programming of control apparatus |
| GB2288044A (en) * | 1994-03-30 | 1995-10-04 | Sony Corp | Downloading software to terminal apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-04-25 GB GB9708339A patent/GB2324631B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-02-10 KR KR1019980003908A patent/KR100294804B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-04-06 JP JP10092891A patent/JPH10341421A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1523753A (en) * | 1974-09-16 | 1978-09-06 | Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana | Two-way data transmission system for cable television network |
| GB2061581A (en) * | 1979-10-23 | 1981-05-13 | Altan Electronics Inc | Communication system for distribution automation and remote metering |
| GB2118750A (en) * | 1982-04-15 | 1983-11-02 | Telecable Videotron Ltd | Data transmission system |
| EP0103438A1 (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1984-03-21 | Thorn Emi Plc | Television and distribution network |
| WO1987006416A1 (en) * | 1986-04-18 | 1987-10-22 | British Broadcasting Corporation | Device for the remote control of a videorecorder or a videoreceiver |
| GB2286277A (en) * | 1994-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | Videotron Groupe Ltee | Programming of control apparatus |
| GB2288044A (en) * | 1994-03-30 | 1995-10-04 | Sony Corp | Downloading software to terminal apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2324631B (en) | 2001-05-23 |
| KR100294804B1 (en) | 2001-08-07 |
| KR19980079705A (en) | 1998-11-25 |
| GB9708339D0 (en) | 1997-06-18 |
| JPH10341421A (en) | 1998-12-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20020425 |