GB2423659A - Creating interactive television programmes using frameworks - Google Patents

Creating interactive television programmes using frameworks Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2423659A
GB2423659A GB0503832A GB0503832A GB2423659A GB 2423659 A GB2423659 A GB 2423659A GB 0503832 A GB0503832 A GB 0503832A GB 0503832 A GB0503832 A GB 0503832A GB 2423659 A GB2423659 A GB 2423659A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
framework
interactive television
markers
television program
frameworks
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Withdrawn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
GB0503832A
Other versions
GB0503832D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Janes
Stuart Turner
Stuart Whaite
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.)
I-ZONE TV Ltd
Original Assignee
I-ZONE TV Ltd
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 I-ZONE TV Ltd filed Critical I-ZONE TV Ltd
Priority to GB0503832A priority Critical patent/GB2423659A/en
Publication of GB0503832D0 publication Critical patent/GB0503832D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2006/000647 priority patent/WO2006090159A1/en
Publication of GB2423659A publication Critical patent/GB2423659A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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]
    • H04N21/40—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
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • 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
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H04N21/4314—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
    • 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
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • 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
    • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
    • H04N21/4758—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for providing answers, e.g. voting
    • 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 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/654—Transmission by server directed to the client
    • H04N21/6547—Transmission by server directed to the client comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
    • 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
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8545—Content authoring for generating interactive applications
    • 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
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854—Content authoring
    • H04N21/8547—Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing 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]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central

Abstract

A method of creating an interactive television programme comprises assessing markers in content 20, e.g. image data forming a TV broadcast, to be used in the programme, and selecting a framework 21 from a set of pre specified frameworks. The selected framework is then associated 22 with the markers, such that a framework is transmitted when the associated marker is transmitted. Each framework or programme template specifies the appearance of the interactive TV programme on a viewer's display, for example a voting (see Figure 3) or email application, or quiz. Markers controlling when the framework or template is transmitted may be timestamps, triggers or event markers. The interactive programme may be created live, during a broadcast. Use of a preset framework, which may be web based, simplifies the process of generating interactive television, removing the need for bespoke equipment.

Description

Interactive Television
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating an interactive television program.
Background
Interactive television is used today for example to enable home shopping, calling up video films or games and selecting one of several possible camera angles during a televised football match. Other examples include quizzes and voting where the viewer is able to send feedback to the broadcaster, program provider or other entity via a set top box, telephone line or other means.
It is also known to send information to mobile telephones or other devices during a television broadcast. For example, viewers can be invited to use the mobile phone to send back their answer to a television quiz question whilst that television quiz question is being broadcast but before the answer is on air.
For the avoidance of doubt the term "interactive television" is used herein to refer to all situations in which a television viewer is able to send information in response to and during a current television broadcast either via a set top box, mobile phone, PDA, laptop, telephone line or any other automatic means. The information is sent to a television program provider, broadcaster or other suitable entity.
Television means "the electronic transmission, reception and reproduction of transient visual images" and "a television" refers to any suitable apparatus for receiving and displaying television signals.
One problem with interactive television concerns the huge number of different platforms to which interactive television can be broadcast. For 101 9701-1 example, set top boxes, analogue television sets, digital television sets, mobile phones, laptop computers and in-store digital display devices.
Interactive television programs therefore tend to be created specifically for a particular platform such as a particular type of set top box. For example, there are over 30 different types of set top box used by Sky (trade mark) alone. Such an interactive television program then typically needs to be translated before it can successfully be broadcast to a different type of set top box for example.
In addition: * the interactive television broadcast environments and set top box browsers to be published to are evolving quickly and have diverse needs; * a wide range of installed set top box equipment often causes particular technical challenges to ensure that an interactive television application works well on every kind of equipment; * the relative immaturity of the platforms means that various programming "tricks" need to be employed to make an interactive television application work and look good. A level of "black art" is still required, which is fine in a completely bespoke programming environment but does not lend itself well to a standardized content management system which is platform agnostic.
Another problem concerns the inflexibility of interactive television programs once they have been formed. That is, once an interactive television program has been created and is being broadcast it is very difficult to change or modify during the broadcast. For example, if a television channel production company has created an interactive television program in which viewers vote for performers it is difficult for the displays requesting viewer votes to be changes in real time, for 1019701-1 2 example, if there is a change of policy, to correct an error, or to work around a fault. Previously this could only be done by an operator at the broadcast center manually inputting changes by typing in text or editing displays. Such a process is time intensive, error-prone and requires the presence of trained staff at the broadcast center.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for creating at least part of an interactive television program which overcomes or at least mitigates one or more of the problems noted above.
Summary of the Invention
As mentioned above one of the existing problems in the field of interactive television concerns the wide variety of different display devices and the need to tailor interactive television programs to those types of display device. The present invention addresses this problem by using frameworks. A given framework defines a particular interactive service such as a quiz, a voting system or an email service.
A user is able to select and manipulate pre-specified frameworks in a simple and user-friendly manner. He or she (or an automated entity) is then able to associate those frameworks with timestamps (or other markers) in a television program. Pre-specified platform specific code is then automatically selected on the basis of both the frameworks and the required publishing platform. Using this code it is possible to publish to a particular interactive television publishing platform. In a preferred embodiment the frameworks are graphics based and used to enable interactive television overlay graphics, images and dynamic data to be published in co-ordination with a television program to any digital television channel without the need for set top box or other platform specific equipment. In addition, because of the simple and 1019701-1 3 effective method of associating frameworks with timestamps (or other markers) it is more straightforward than previously possible to change the interactive television overlay graphics, images and dynamic data during a broadcast in real time. Also, in a preferred embodiment the pre-specified plafform specific code comprises tags such as embedded Java (trade mark) tags. These tags are run dynamically on the server to generate on the fly appropriate handling of the image and other content to provide the required presentation on the particular viewer platforms.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of creating at least part of an interactive television program comprising the steps of: accessing markers in content to be used for the interactive television program; selecting a framework from a plurality of pre-specified frameworks, each framework specifying at least part of the appearance on a viewer's display of the interactive television program; and associating the selected framework with one or more of the markers.
This provides the advantage that by using frameworks it is possible to create an interactive television program without the need for detailed, in-depth knowledge about requirements for publishing to specific plafforms. The frameworks are simple to manipulate and by associating frameworks and markers it is possible to co-ordinate interactive television overlay graphics, images, text and dynamic data with content such as an underlying television program (also referred to as video program play).
Preferably the method is carried out during broadcast of the interactive television program. This provides a huge advantage over previous 1019701-1 4 methods of creating interactive television programs in which it was not practically possible to change the interactive graphics during a broadcast. Because of the use of frameworks in the present invention and because of the simple association between these and the markers it is possible to adjust or change that association during a broadcast in order to alter the interactive television program "on air".
Preferably the markers are selected from any of timestamps, triggers and event markers. For example, if a character generating tool such as Avid (trade mark) is used to form the content then timestamps are inserted into the content to mark events in the sequence of images forming the television program.
Preferably the content is a video program and said method further comprises transmitting the selected framework with the video program onto a digital television channel such that the selected framework is transmitted when its associated marker is transmitted. This provides the advantage that digital interactive television platforms are bypassed and the problem of forming material suitable for different types of set top box and similar equipment is avoided. Using this method it is possible to create interactive television programs and applications without the need to publish directly into particular interactive television platform technology. Instead previously non-interactive digital television transmission technologies are made use of.
Preferably the framework specifies the appearance of a viewer display for any of a voting application, an email application and a quiz.
In a preferred embodiment the steps of selecting a framework and associating a framework are carried out on the basis of user input received via a user interface. Preferably the user interface is a webbased user interface. This provides the advantage that staff at any location with communication network access to that web-based user 1019701-1 5 interface are able to operate the method. For example, staff at an advertiser's office, or television channel production company staff at a remote location.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for creating at least part of an interactive television program comprising: an input arranged to access markers in content to be used for the interactive television program; a selecting system arranged to select a framework from a plurality of pre-specified frameworks, each framework specifying at least part of the appearance on a viewer's display of the interactive television program; and a processor arranged to associate the selected framework with one or more of the markers.
Preferably the apparatus is arranged to operate during broadcast of the interactive television program.
Preferably the content is a video program and said apparatus further comprises an output arranged to transmit the selected framework with the video program onto a digital television channel such that the selected framework is transmitted when its associated marker is transmitted.
The apparatus advantageously comprises a user interface arranged to receive user input and wherein said selecting system and said processor are arranged to operate on the basis of said user input.
Preferably the user interface is a web-based user interface.
1019701-1 6
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an apparatus for creating or modifying an interactive television program; Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method of creating or modifying an interactive television program; Figure 3 is an example of a framework for an interactive television voting application; Figure 4 is an example of a framework for an interactive television text to ticker application; Figure 5 shows provision of the apparatus of Figure 1 at an internet application hosting centre; Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a method of using the hosted service illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a high level schematic diagram of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.
Description of an Embodiment
Figure 1 is a high level schematic diagram of an apparatus 10 for creating or modifying an interactive television program. The apparatus has an input 12 arranged to receive content such as image data forming an underlying television program for broadcast. That content comprises pre- specified timestamps or other markers (also referred to as triggers) which indicate events such as the beginning and end of advertising breaks, commencement or ending of scenes and any other suitable events. The content can also comprise dynamic data, text or images received from viewers during a broadcast or formed on the basis of return path information. The apparatus comprises a user interface 14 which in a preferred embodiment is web-based although 1019701-1 7 this is not essential. A database 16 is also provided within the apparatus 10 and is arranged to store framework definitions and also images. The apparatus 10 also comprises (or is able to access from an external source) pre-specified platform specific code associated with each framework definition. As illustrated the apparatus 10 has outputs 18 from which it is able to publish a created or modified interactive television program to one or more of many different platform types. For example, cable, satellite and Freeview (trade mark) set top boxes, digital signage in retail environments and analogue television.
An end user of the apparatus 10 (also referred to as a content manipulator) is typically an individual employed by a television channel production company, such as a program editor or producer. However, the apparatus 10 can be used by anyone for the purpose of creating or modifying interactive television programs. A particular advantage of the present invention is that the end user does not need to be an expert on legacy interactive television program production and does not need detailed knowledge about the specific platforms 18 to be published to.
Content manipulators typically use software tools referred to as "character generators" in order to design, develop, represent and execute graphics to overlay on an existing television program in order to provide interactivity. These graphics are herein referred to as "overlay graphics" and can include text, images, dynamic data, icons, banners, tickers, headers and other graphics.
Figure 2 is a high level flow diagram of a method of creating or modifying an interactive television program using the apparatus 10 of Figure 1. Timestamp information (or other marker information) is first accessed (box 20) in content to be used for the interactive television program. A framework is then selected from a plurality of pre-specified frameworks (box 21) and any customizable features of that framework 1019701-1 8 are modified if required (box 22). The selected framework is then associated with one or more of the timestamps (box 23) and the method repeated as required.
In this way an interactive television program is formed which can be published to any of many different platforms 18. The method of Figure 2 is independent of the particular platform to be published to and is simple to use. In order to publish the program to one or more particular platforms (box 24) the apparatus automatically selects the required pre- specified plafform specific code. That pre-specified code is tagged in advance using embedded Java (trade mark) tags or any other suitable tags. These tags are run dynamically at the server side to generate on the fly appropriate handling of the image and other content to provide the required presentation on the particular viewer platforms.
Frameworks As mentioned above a given framework defines a particular interactive service such as a quiz, a voting system or an email service. A framework defines how an interactive television application will appear to a viewer and defines content managed data requirements. A framework comprises enough information to allow the apparatus 10 to build representative thumbnail and preview images so that an editor can visualize what the application will look like instantly. Frameworks preferably comprise customizable features although this is not essential.
Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of example frameworks.
Figure 3 shows a framework for a Text to TV voting design. Five images are displayed, for example, representing each of five possible celebrities to vote for. Headings are displayed indicating telephone numbers to which text messages are to be sent in order to vote and 1019701-1 9 dynamic data is shown indicating the display area for running totals of the vote results to be presented. Thus this framework defines how the viewer's display screen will appear. The heading fields, image fields and dynamic data fields are all specified in such a way that particular content can be added to these during the process of combining the framework with selected, tagged, platform-specific code.
Figure 4 shows a framework for a text to TV ticker design. Here a viewer sends a text message to a pre-specified telephone number for example and his or her message is displayed using a ticker after being filtered for profanity and any other policy requirements. Again, the framework defines how a viewer's display screen will appear and specified fields into which content may be inserted.
Web-based hosted service In a preferred embodiment the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 comprises a web-based user interface such that content manipulators and other users are able to use the apparatus via the internet (or other suitable communications network). This provides an advantage to all content manipulators who wish to create interactive television services because these individuals are able to access the apparatus 10 as a web-based service. The only equipment required by the content manipulator is a laptop or other computer with internet access or other access to the apparatus 10 of Figure 1. This is a huge improvement over previous systems which have typically required content manipulators to be physically present at a broadcaster's premises and/ or to use complex equipment for creating, viewing and storing interactive television programs. Thus the present invention enables the costs and time taken to create interactive television services to be reduced.
1019701-1 10 Figure 5 is a high level schematic diagram showing how the apparatus of Figure 1 is provided at an internet application hosting centre 50 in a preferred embodiment. The functionality of apparatus 10 of Figure 1 is provided as software (referred to in Figure 5 as i-ZoneTV Synch) written in any suitable programming language. It is in communication with character generator tools 51 and a TV program library 52 at a broadcast transmission centre 53. That broadcast transmission centre is able to broadcast the interactive television over various networks 54 such as satellite, cable, terrestrial TV, phone and wireless networks to end user display equipment such as televisions 55, laptops 56 or mobile phones 57. Content manipulators and service administrators 58 are represented and are able to access the i-ZoneTV Synch system either directly or via any of the networks 54. Figure 5 also illustrates the wide variety of return paths via which the viewer is able to feedback information to the broadcast transmission centre 53 or other suitable entity. For example, the return path can be via the television itself 55, via a PC connected to the internet 56, or via a mobile phone 57.
Real Time As mentioned above the present invention also seeks to address the need to modify or create interactive television programs in real-time during a broadcast. Previously this has not been practically possible because it involves staff at the broadcaster's premises manually making changes to interactive television broadcasts that are on air.
The risk of errors occurring is high and the consequences of such mistakes significant, resulting in possible loss of transmission and consequent loss of revenues, customers and advertisers. However, the use of pre-specified frameworks in the present invention and the manner in which these are associated with timestamps significantly reduces the risks of such errors. The apparatus 10 is simple and fast 1019701-1 11 to use and can be accessed via the internet (with appropriate security controls) by content manipulators as mentioned above. For example, consider an advertiser who has arranged for text banners to be displayed in the event of particular timestamps in a televised football match. Should the advertiser find those banners to be ineffective or counterproductive as a result of viewer feedback during the broadcast the advertiser (given appropriate permissions) is able to select different frameworks either to remove the text banners or to replace them with an alternative. Because the frameworks are pre- specified and because the association between frameworks and timestamps (or other event markers) is simple and fast to achieve this process can be carried out during a broadcast.
Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a method of using the i-ZoneTV Synch software 50 (of Figure 5). It illustrates how any suitable user such as a registered user, remote user or technical administrator can use the iZoneTV Synch software 50 by installing accessing software on a home PC or laptop (see stage marked "install via CD") and then logging onto the webbased hosted service 50 (see stage marked "On Log"). The technical administrator is also able to register new accounts and perform set up and configuration actions (see Figure 6). The users are then able to select frameworks (referred to in Figure 6 as templates), customize these, create a sequence of frameworks and associate frameworks with time codes or other markers as illustrated in Figure 6.
It is possible to preview the created interactive television material and also to publish this as illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 7 is a high level schematic diagram of another embodiment of the invention. Video program play apparatus 70 is shown which sends video program output to a mixer 72 for example at a broadcast transmission center or other suitable location. The video program 1019701-1 12 comprises markers such as timestamps as mentioned above.
Character generator equipment 74 is also provided and arranged to send output to the mixer 72. This output comprises selected frameworks together with information about which markers those selected frameworks have been associated with according to the method of Figure 2. That is the character generator equipment 74 is arranged to either comprise the apparatus of the present invention or to receive output from that apparatus. The mixer 72 overlays the video program and the graphics based frameworks by transmitting the selected frameworks at the time the associated marker is transmitted in the video program (using transmitter 76). The transmission is received at reception equipment 78 such as any suitable digital television set without the need for a set top box or other plafform specific equipment particularly arranged for receiving interactive television. Transmission is made over any digital television channel therefore bypassing the digital interactive television platform. This enables interactive television applications to be created without the need to publish directly into interactive television platform technology.
1019701-1 13

Claims (17)

  1. P
    CLAIMS: 1. A method of creating at least part of an interactive television program comprising the steps of: accessing markers in content to be used for the interactive television program; selecting a framework from a plurality of pre-specified frameworks, each framework specifying at least part of the appearance on a viewer's display of the interactive television program; and associating the selected framework with one or more of the markers.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in claim I which is carried out during broadcast of the interactive television program.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim I or claim 2 which further comprises repeating the steps of selecting a framework and associating that framework with one or more of the markers.
  4. 4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said markers are selected from any of timestamps, triggers and event markers.
  5. 5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the content is a video program and said method further comprises transmitting the selected framework with the video program onto a digital television channel such that the selected framework is transmitted when its associated marker is transmitted.
  6. 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transmission onto the digital television channel provides in use an interactive television program for reception at viewer display equipment such that the viewer display equipment is not 1019701-1 14 required to comprise a bespoke digital interactive television platform.
  7. 7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said framework specifies the appearance of a viewer display for any of a voting application, an email application and a quiz.
  8. 8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said steps of selecting a framework and associating a framework are carried out on the basis of user input received via a user interface.
  9. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said user interface is a webbased user interface.
  10. 10. An apparatus for creating at least part of an interactive television program comprising: an input arranged to access markers in content to be used for the interactive television program; a selecting system arranged to select a framework from a plurality of pre-specified frameworks, each framework specifying at least part of the appearance on a viewer's display of the interactive television program; and a processor arranged to associate the selected framework with one or more of the markers.
  11. 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 which is arranged to operate during broadcast of the interactive television program.
  12. 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said selecting system and said processor are arranged to repeatedly selecting a framework and associating that framework with one or more of the markers.
    1019701-1 15 $ I
  13. 13. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 wherein said markers are selected from any of timestamps, triggers and event markers.
  14. 14. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 wherein the content is a video program and said apparatus further comprises an output arranged to transmit the selected framework with the video program onto a digital television channel such that the selected framework is transmitted when its associated marker is transmitted.
  15. 15. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14 wherein said framework specifies the appearance of a viewer display for any of a voting application, an email application and a quiz.
  16. 16. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15 comprising a user interface arranged to receive user input and wherein said selecting system and said processor are arranged to operate on the basis of said user input.
  17. 17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said user interface is a web-based user interface.
    1019701-1 16
GB0503832A 2005-02-24 2005-02-24 Creating interactive television programmes using frameworks Withdrawn GB2423659A (en)

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GB0503832A GB2423659A (en) 2005-02-24 2005-02-24 Creating interactive television programmes using frameworks
PCT/GB2006/000647 WO2006090159A1 (en) 2005-02-24 2006-02-24 Interactive television

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Cited By (12)

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EP1983753A1 (en) 2007-04-18 2008-10-22 Swisscom Fixnet AG Method and system for sending interactive advertising
EP2086231A1 (en) * 2008-02-04 2009-08-05 Omnivex Corporation Digital signage display
EP1975917A3 (en) * 2007-03-30 2010-03-31 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method and system to reproduce contents, and recording medium including program to reproduce contents
WO2010056339A1 (en) * 2008-11-12 2010-05-20 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for detecting inconsistent user actions and providing feedback
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