GB2365681A - Communication of information synchronized to a broadcast programme - Google Patents

Communication of information synchronized to a broadcast programme Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2365681A
GB2365681A GB0008295A GB0008295A GB2365681A GB 2365681 A GB2365681 A GB 2365681A GB 0008295 A GB0008295 A GB 0008295A GB 0008295 A GB0008295 A GB 0008295A GB 2365681 A GB2365681 A GB 2365681A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
broadcast
programming
user
information
network
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0008295A
Other versions
GB0008295D0 (en
Inventor
John Laurence
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motorola Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Motorola Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc filed Critical Motorola Inc
Priority to GB0008295A priority Critical patent/GB2365681A/en
Publication of GB0008295D0 publication Critical patent/GB0008295D0/en
Publication of GB2365681A publication Critical patent/GB2365681A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/29—Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
    • H04H60/33—Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/76—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet
    • H04H60/81—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet characterised by the transmission system itself
    • H04H60/90—Wireless transmission systems
    • H04H60/91—Mobile communication networks
    • 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
    • H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
    • H04N21/4363—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
    • H04N21/43637—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11]
    • 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
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • 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 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6181—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via a mobile phone network
    • 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]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/37—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to enabling direct response by a user to information broadcast on a network. The user can express an interest in the programming broadcast on a broadcast network and this expression of interest is conveyed to a location having information relating to the programming, where the expression of interest is associated with the relevant information. Preferably a communication system is used to convey the expression of interest to the location having information relating to the programming.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention relates to enabling direct response by a user via a communication system to information broadcast on a broadcast network. Background to the invention.
Historically, broadcast networks, for example radio, television and cable networks, have broadcast advertisements in the broadcast programming. Some advertisements contain audio or visual information such as an address or a telephone number or increasingly an Internet URL or email address which the consumer can contact for further information about the advertised product or to make a purchase of the product.
However, currently there is no direct response mechanism to allow consumers to respond easily and directly without time delay to advertisements broadcast on the broadcast network. Requiring consumer response by telephone or letter is indirect and time delayed and requires that the appropriate contact details are memorised or otherwise noted. The effectiveness of a broadcast advertisement in attracting new business is thus reduced.
Increasingly, communication systems such as cable systems, wireline telephone systems and wireless telephone systems, are being used by consumers to contact institutions such as banks, retailers, information providers and other such organisations. One example of this is the use of mobile telephones to access bank balances and most recent transactions on a user's bank account, or to obtain authorisation to increase the credit limit of a bank card and to confirm payment. This is commonly done using a menu-driven user interface in a mobile telephone.
The invention of the present application seeks to facilitate direct user response to programming items broadcast on a broadcast network.
Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of associating a user with programming broadcast on a broadcast network, the method comprising at a common processing location the steps of: receiving information
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relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast; receiving from the user an expression of interest in the programming broadcast on the broadcast network; and forming an association between the user and a broadcast programming item in response to the received expression of interest based on the received information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of enabling direct response by a user via a communications device of a communications system to programming items broadcast on a broadcast network, the method comprising the steps of providing said communications device of the communications system with information identifying a service location; receiving, at the service location, information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast; receiving, at the service location, from a user of the communications device an expression of interest in the programming broadcast on the broadcast network; and forming an association between the user, or the communications device, and a broadcast programming item in response to the received expression of interest based on the received information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network.
Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the invention may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement of a broadcast network, communications system and service system in accordance with an aspect of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a method in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement of a broadcast network, communications system and service system in accordance with a further aspect of the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates a method in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
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Description of Embodiments of the Invention The invention will be described with reference to direct response to the broadcast of advertisements on the broadcast network. However, it will be clear that the invention also enables a direct response to be made to other types of broadcast programming items.
The direct response may relate to the purchase of goods or services, for example in response to a book being reviewed or a piece of music being played on the broadcast network as well as in response to advertisements.
The direct response may alternatively or additionally relate more generally to the information relating to currently broadcast programming item. For example, information relating to the price or availability of goods or services or to the manufacturer/retailer of goods or provider of services may be obtained. In addition, more general information including information on the subject matter of a programming item such as information on countries or specific holidays featured in a holiday program, for example, or background information relating to a programming item such as a series or soap opera, may be obtained using the invention.
The invention may alternatively or additionally simply enable a direct response to be made to the owner of a broadcast programming items. In this context, the owner of a broadcast programming item means the person to whom or organisation to which a direct response regarding the broadcast programming item should be directed. For example, the owner of an advertisement may be the retailer or manufacturer of the advertised product. The owner of a chat show/game show requesting voting by viewers/listeners may be the broadcast network itself or an organisation providing vote-counting services to the broadcast network.
As shown in Figure 1, product or advertisement information 100 from retailer 1 is passed to broadcast networks 2a..2n for incorporation into the broadcasting programming to be broadcast over the respective networks. Generally play list information 200 is generated by each broadcast network and relates to the timing of all programming items to be broadcast on that broadcast network. Thus the play list information 200 correlates time and broadcast programming items for each network.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
The play list information 200 in its most general form can thus be considered as an array of network/time/programming items and is preferably correlated by the service system 7. Thus it is possible to identify the programming item broadcast on the broadcast network from the time of broadcast using the play list information. In the present application the term "play list information" may also refer to a subset of broadcast programming items, for example to advertisements for a single retailer or manufacturer. In addition, clearly it is possible for the play list information 200 for only a single network to be stored in the service system 7.
As indicated above, individual programming items, including advertisements, are included in the network programming of broadcast network 2a, for example a radio broadcast network 2a, in accordance with the play list information 200 generated by the broadcast network 2a. The network programming of broadcast network 2a is broadcast as broadcast network signals 300 and is received by a broadcast network receiver 3 tuned to the broadcast network 2a. In the described exemplary embodiment of the invention the broadcast network 2a is a radio broadcast network. However, the invention is clearly applicable to other broadcast networks such as terrestrial, satellite or cable television networks as will be apparent to a skilled person, and the invention is not restricted to a radio broadcast network.
The user 4 listening to the radio receiver 3 also has a communication device 5 for use with a communications system 6. The communication device 5 has communication interface 5a, for communicating with the communications system 6, and a user interface (Man-Machine Interface) 5b through which the user 4 communicates with the communication device 5.
In the described exemplary embodiment of the invention, the communication device 5 is a mobile telephone used in a cellular communication system 6 and the communication interface 5a comprises a radio transceiver, an antenna and associated circuitry. However, the invention is clearly applicable to other communication systems 6 and associated communications devices 5, including wireless or wireline browser devices, cable television controllers, set top boxes, cordless phones, or wireless personal digital assistants, as will be apparent to a
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
skilled person, and the invention is not restricted to the use of mobile telephones in a cellular communication system. The communications system 6 may be any communications system within which a voice or data communication path may be set up by the communication device 5. The communications system 6 is a separate system from the broadcast network 2a.
A service system 7 is provided, having a communications interface 7b for interfacing with communications system 6. Play list information 200 for broadcast networks 2a..2n is provided to the service system 7. Play list information 200 may be provided to the service system 7 in real time, substantially synchronised with the programming items being broadcast on the broadcast networks 2a ... 2n. Advantageously, however, play list information 200 is provided to service system 7 in advance, and play list information 200 is stored in, for example, a database.
The operation of a first embodiment of invention will be now described with reference to Figure 2.
As previously described, advertisement information 100 is provided to the broadcast network 2a by retailer 1 (step A). Play list information 200 relating to the programming items broadcast or to be broadcast by the broadcast network 2a, including the advertisement information, is generated by the broadcast network 2a and supplied to the service system 7 (step B).
As shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the service system 7 may transmit to the communications device 5 location information enabling the communications device 5 to establish a communication path to the service system 7(step C). This location information identifies the logic location of the service system 7 within the communications system, and thus enables the communication device 5 to establish a communication path to the service system 7 through the communication system 6. The logic location information may relate to an address within the communications system, such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL) or a telephone number, for example.
Alternatively, the communications device 5 may receive this location information separately, or the communications device may already be programmed
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
with this location information. This might occur, for example, when the user 4 subscribes to the service offered by service system 7.
The communications device might be provided with separate location information for a number of different networks, or retailers, or service systems 7, for example, which may be selectable by a user through the user interface 5b. Alternatively, it is possible for the communication device 5 to be provided with location information for a single service system 7, for example, and for the user to connect to that single location prior to being offered, through the user interface 5b, the opportunity to select different networks, or retailers, or service systems 7. From the point of view of the user, these systems are functionally identical.
The broadcast network 2a broadcasts programming items in accordance with the play list 200, and the broadcast programming is received by the user (step D). When an item of interest to the user is heard on the radio broadcast network 2a, for example, the user activates the user interface 5b of the communications device 5 and an indication of interest in the broadcast programming is sent to the service system 7 (step E).
In this context is important to note that the communications device has the location information necessary to establish a communication path to the service system 7(step C) and requires only an instruction from the user 4 to send the expression of interest to the service system 7. In accordance with the invention it is not necessary for the user to input any location information into the user interface in order that the communication path to the service system 7 is established since the location information is either already stored in the communications device 5 or is provided direct to the communications device 5 through the communications system 7.
In this way a direct response by a user via a communications system to broadcast information is made possible.
On receipt of an indication of interest from user 4 (step E), the service system 7 sends a request to the user to identify the broadcast network being received (step F) and receives a response identifying the broadcast network (step G).
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
Of course, it would be possible for the identity of the broadcast network being received to be provided by the user at the same time as the initial indication of interest (step E). This could be achieved by providing the user interface with a simple menu selection from the broadcast networks supported by the service system 7. In this situation, steps F and G mentioned above would be unnecessary.
The service system 7 is able to associate the expression of interest from the user received in step E with the programming being broadcast on the broadcast network identified in step G by referring to the play list 200 for that broadcast network (received in step B). As indicated above, it is preferable for the play list 200 to be provided to and stored by the service system 7 in advance of the broadcasting of the associated programming, but it is also possible for the play list 200 to be provided to the service system 7 substantially simultaneously with the broadcasting of the associated programming.
In general, it may be assumed that the expression of interest received from the user 4 in step E relates to the programming item being broadcast at that time. However, if the programming being broadcast on the identified network is changing rapidly (such as when a series of advertisements are being broadcast) the expression of interest from the user (step E) may be received by the service system 7 after the end of the item of interest. Therefore, preferably, the service system 7 seeks confirmation from the user as to the item of interest by providing a list of, for example, the three programming items broadcast closest in time to the receipt of the expression of interest from the user 4 (step H). On receipt of confirmation from the user of the item of interest (step 1) the service system 7 forms an association between the user and the programming item of interest.
The service system 7 may provide the communications device 5 with information to enable a communications path to be set up to the owner of the programming item of interest (step J). In the case of an advertisement, the information provided may be, for example, location information identifying the location or address of a service system 7 of the retailer/manufacturer for the
<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
advertised product within the communication system, such as a URL or telephone number.
Alternatively or additionally, the service system 7 may provide the associated user/programming item information to the owner of the programming item of interest, for example retailer (step K). The owner of the programming item of interest is then able to contact the user with regard to the programming item identified as being of interest to the user. For example, the retailer may inform the user 4 that an advertised product is available (step Q.
In response to the receipt of the contact details for the retailer from the service system 7 (step J) or a direct communication from the retailer (step L), the communications device user interface 5b may provide the user with the option to find out further information or to purchase the advertised product, for example. If the user decides to purchase the advertised product the communications device sends an appropriate message to the retailer (step M).
Alternatively, the user interface may offer the user an option to bookmark or store the information received from the service system 7. Thus if, for example, it is not convenient for the user to proceed with obtaining the information or making a purchase at the current time, the bookmark option enables the desired information to be captured and used at a later time when convenient to the user.
In addition, further interaction between the service system 7 and the communications device may be controlled by the user through the user interface 5b of the communication device 5. For example, the user may be provided with an option to specify whether the service system 7 informs the user (step J) or the programming item owner (step K) in response to the user's expression of interest in the broadcast programming item.
A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 3. Parts which are the same as those shown in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals and will not be described further.
<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
In a second embodiment of the invention, information 400 relating the programming items being broadcast on the broadcast network 2a is provided to communications devices 5 by the communication system 6.
The information 400 may be obtained by the communication system 6 in a number of different ways. For example, information 400 could be derived from play list information 200 for each broadcast network 2a..2n supplied to the communication system 6. Alternatively broadcast network signals 300 may contain coded information relating to the programming items being broadcast and the communications system 6 could be arranged to receive and to re-transmit information derived therefrom.
In the context of a cellular communication system the information 400 relating the programming items being broadcast on the broadcast network 2a may be broadcast on a cell broadcast channel. Alternatively the information may be supplied by the communication system 6 to the communication device 5 if a request for this information is received from the communication device 5.
As the programming items being broadcast by the broadcast network 2a change, the information 400 relating the programming items made available, for example being broadcast on the broadcast network 2a, also changes. The information 400 may be location information i.e. logic or address information such as a URL or telephone number which enables the communication device receiving information 400 to set up a communications path to a service system 7 to be contacted in connection with the programming item of interest.
A plurality of service systems 7 (not shown) may be provided, each of the service systems 7 relating to a single retailer or manufacturer, for example, or the changing information 400 may relate to different locations or addresses within a single service system. Preferably this information 400 is coded information which is decoded by the communication device 5 to provide location information, as indicated above.
The operation of a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figure 4.
<Desc/Clms Page number 10>
As described above with reference to Figure 2, play list information 200 generated by the broadcast networks is supplied to the communications system 6 (step N) and to the service systems 7 (step 0). Two service systems 7 are shown containing information relating to products of manufacturers A and B.
As explained above, the radio broadcast network 2a broadcasts programming items, for example advertisements for products of manufacturers A and B during time periods Y and Z (step P). During time periods Y and Z the cellular communications system 6 broadcasts location information A and B, for example a URL or a telephone number, to enable a communications path to be set up to the respective service system 7 (step Q).
When a user 4 listening to the radio broadcast signal 300 from chosen broadcast network 2a hears an item of interest, for example an advertisement for a product the user is interested in buying, the user accesses the user interface 5b of the communication device 5 (step R).
The user interface 5b of the communication device 5 then determines which radio broadcast network 2a the user is listening to. In one arrangement the user interface 5b requests information from the user to identify the radio station listened to (step S). The user can input this information directly to the user interface 5b using key presses or menu selection (step T).
In an advantageous alternative embodiment of the invention network (not shown) information 600 may received directly from the broadcast network receiver 3 by the communication device 5, without requiring this information to be input or selected by the user. This direct input of broadcast network information to the communication device 5 may be achieved in a number of ways, for example, by way of an infrared or Bluetooth or wire-line coupling between the broadcast network receiver 3 and the communication device 5.
Once the information identifying the broadcast network 2a has been received (step T), the communications systems 5a of the communications device 5 obtains the location information B, for example URL B, from the communications network. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention the mobile telephone 5 logs onto the cell
<Desc/Clms Page number 11>
broadcast channel information for the identified radio broadcast network 2a to obtain the location information B, for example URL B.
Once the location information B has been obtained, the communications device may provide the user with the option to store or bookmark the location information B for later use. Alternatively, the communications device may use the location information to set up a communication path to the service system 7 through the cellular communication network 6 (step U).
On receipt of the indication that the user is interested in the advertised product (step U), the retailer B may respond by indicating that the advertised product is available (step V), and the user can purchase the product (step W).
Clearly, instead of purchasing the product, the user may be able to access product /price information or other information relating to the broadcast programming item by means of the user interface of the communications device 5.
The user interface 5b of the communications device is preferably menu driven and provides the user 4 with options to search for the product or other information desired by the user. For example, the user interface 5b may present the user with options to search or scroll to the last item, the previous items, to buy an identified item relating to details of the item, the price and payment options, providing billing confirmation or purchase confirmation or may provide further information such as form, address confirmation from the billing system or/and display. Credit card purchases are also possible using the user interface 5b, as will be known to a skilled person.
As will be clear to a skilled person from the above description the service system 7 is able to determine the information required by the user from the time of receipt of the request since the service system 7 is aware of the programming items broadcast at all times.
The user interface 5b of the communications device 5 described above may be implemented in a number of ways, is known by a skilled person. For example, the user interface 5b may be WAP based. Alternatively, or additionally, a voice
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recognition scheme such as Motorola's VOX ML system may be used, or a dial tone recognition system may be used.
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Claims (12)

  1. CLAIMS 1 - A method of associating a user with programming broadcast on a broadcast network, the method comprising at a common processing location the steps of: receiving information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast; receiving from the user an expression of interest in the programming broadcast on the broadcast network; and forming an association between the user and a broadcast programming item in response to the received expression of interest based on the received information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network.
  2. 2. A method of enabling direct response by a user via a communications device of a communications system to programming items broadcast on a broadcast network, the method comprising the steps of providing said communications device of the communications system with information identifying a service location; receiving, at the service location, information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast; receiving, at the service location, from a user of the communications device an expression of interest in the programming broadcast on the broadcast network; and forming an association between the user, or the communications device, and a broadcast programming item in response to the received expression of interest based on the received information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of communicating information relating to the associated broadcast programming item to the communication device.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 14>
  4. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising the step of communicating information relating to the user or the communications device and the broadcast programming item associated therewith to a third party.
  5. 5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein information relating to the time of broadcast of the programming item is obtained from the time of receipt of information relating to programming items broadcast on the broadcast network.
  6. 6. A method of operation of a user interface of a communications device having a communications interface for transmitting information to and for receiving information from a communications system, comprising the steps of: receiving identity information relating to the identity of a broadcast network; controlling the communications interface in accordance with the identity information to receive location information from the communications system; controlling the communications interface to establish a communications connection using the location information.
  7. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the location information received from the communications system depends on the programming item being broadcast on the broadcast network.
  8. 8. A device having a communications interface for transmitting information to and for receiving information from a communications system, arranged to operate in accordance with the method of any preceding claim.
  9. 9. Apparatus for associating a user with programming broadcast on a broadcast network, the apparatus comprising means for providing information relating programming broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast;
    <Desc/Clms Page number 15>
    communication interface means for receiving from the user an expression of interest in the programming broadcast on the broadcast network; and means for forming an association between the user and the programming based on the supplied information relating programming broadcast on the broadcast network and the time of broadcast and on the received expression of interest.
  10. 10. A system comprising a broadcast network for broadcasting programming; a communication network, adapted to provide information related to said broadcast programming to associated communication devices; and a communications device adapted to establish communication connections via the communications network; wherein the communication device establishes an association between the user or the communications device and the broadcast programming item in response to an expression of interest in the broadcast programming by a user.
  11. 11. A method of system operation comprising the steps: broadcasting of programming by a broadcast network; receiving, in a communications device of a communications system, information relating to the programming broadcast by the broadcast network; establishing an association between the user or the communications device and the broadcast programming item in response to an expression of interest in the broadcast programming by a user.
  12. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the steps of obtaining location information related to the identified broadcast network from the communications network; and establishing a connection through the communications system to the identified location.
GB0008295A 2000-04-05 2000-04-05 Communication of information synchronized to a broadcast programme Withdrawn GB2365681A (en)

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GB2365681A true GB2365681A (en) 2002-02-20

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2312591A (en) * 1996-04-22 1997-10-29 James Franklin Carruthers Automatically connecting TV viewers to information services
WO2000044168A1 (en) * 1999-01-19 2000-07-27 Koplar Interactive Systems International Telephone handset for use in interactive tv systems

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2312591A (en) * 1996-04-22 1997-10-29 James Franklin Carruthers Automatically connecting TV viewers to information services
WO2000044168A1 (en) * 1999-01-19 2000-07-27 Koplar Interactive Systems International Telephone handset for use in interactive tv systems

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