GB2459534A

GB2459534A - Television-enabled messaging system

Info

Publication number: GB2459534A
Application number: GB0807887A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Austin
Original assignee: INVIEW INTERACTIVE Ltd
Current assignee: INVIEW INTERACTIVE Ltd
Priority date: 2008-04-30
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2009-11-04
Also published as: GB0807887D0

Abstract

A network messaging system includes a mobile phone network 12, a message processing system 14 and a television broadcast network 16. The network systems allows messages to be created (eg from mobile phones 30) which are processed and grouped before being broadcast over a dedicated television broadcast network (see figure 1). Notably, messaging system terminal includes a digital television receiver 44 comprising a processor 50 and memory 52. The receiver is connected to a television 68. Messages received by receiver 44 are decoded 56 and handled by a central processing unit 58 and conveyed for display to television 68. The systems allows the user of a conventional television to access messaging systems, such as social networking environments, without the requirement for an internet-connected computer.

Description

A message processor and method The present invention relates to a message processor and method of processing messages and particularly to a processor and method for processing electronic data messages for distributing on networks, such as, for example, social networks.

Social networks are internet-based interactive networks in which users interact using, for example, e-mail, messaging, video, chat, file sharing and blogging. Such networks may be formed into discussion groups in which users having similar interests can discuss relevant topics or socialise and become acquainted with other users. Social networks may also be formed into categories such as, for example, former school friends and provides means to contact other users.

However, known social networks are limited to use on computers and specifically to computers with internet access. It is therefore desireable for there to be a means and method for providing such networks without the use of a computer.

According to the present invention there is provided a message processing system comprising receiving means operable to receive a plurality of messages transmitted from one or more communication devices, processing means operable to process the received messages, and transmitting means operable to broadcast a plurality of the processed messages for display on one or more television receivers wherein the * ** number of messages broadcast for display on one or more television receivers at any S...

* one time is less than the number of messages received. *S.

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The receiving means may be operable to receive the plurality of messages transmitted from mobile communication devices, such as, for example mobile phones.

The receiving means is preferably operable to receive messages which include an image.

The message processing system may further comprise access control means operable to adapt one or more of the messages prior to broadcast such that access thereto is restricted. The access control means preferably comprises encryption means.

The message processing means may further comprise sorting means operable to organise the received messages into groups of related messages. One or more of the groups of related messages may be stored on a database. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the groups of related messages may be broadcast without being stored.

The message processing system may further comprise selection means operable to select one or more received messages to form a broadcast set of messages for broadcasting.

The message processing system may further comprise a memory operable to store selected messages prior to the messages being played out for broadcasting. S...

The rate at which the messages are played out from the memory is advantageously determined by the amount of traffic and the available bandwidth over the transmission S..

* 25 network. The memory may be controlled by the processing means.

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Also according to the present invention there is provided a network system comprising a message processing system as described in the preceding seven paragraphs..

The network system may further comprise a wireless communication network, for transmitting the plurality of messages from one or more mobile communication devices to the receiving means of the message processing system and a television broadcast network for broadcasting the messages processed by the message processing system for display on the one or more television receivers.

Also according to the present invention there is provided use of a television digital receiver for receiving a message broadcast by a message processing system or network system as described in the preceding eight paragraphs.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a method of processing messages comprising: receiving a plurality of messages from one or more communication devices; processing the plurality of received messages; broadcasting a plurality of the processed messages for display on one or more television receivers; wherein the number of messages broadcast for display on one or more television receivers at any one time is less than the number of messages received. * .S * * * * ** * S..

A significant amount of the plurality of messages may be received from mobile * *.

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One or more of the received messages may include an image.

The method may further comprise adapting one or more of the received message to restrict access thereto. The one or more messages may be adapted by encrypting them.

The method may further comprise organising a plurality of the received messages into groups of related messages. One or more of the groups of related messages may be stored on a database. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the groups of related messages are broadcast without being stored.

The method may further comprise selecting one or more received messages to form a broadcast set of messages for broadcasting. The selected messages may be loaded into a memory prior to the messages being played out for broadcasting. The loaded messages may be played out for broadcast at a rate determined by the amount of message traffic and the available bandwidth over the transmission network. The memory may be controlled using the processing means.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a network system according to the present * ** * I I *n nf.n * ** , II., * * **.I Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a message processing system according to the I. present invention; * 11*11I * *

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Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a digital television receiver according to the prior art; Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of a homepage broadcast according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of a message page broadcast according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 a network system 10 comprises a mobile phone network 12, a message processing system 14, and a television broadcast network 16.

Referring also to Figure 2, the message processing system 14 has receiving means in the form of a message collectorl 7, a message processor 18 and a transmitter 19.

The message processor 18 has a processor 20, a database 22, memory in the form of a carousel memory 24, an encryption means 26, a data encoder 28 and a transmitter 30.

In use, the message collector 17 collects messages such as text messages sent from a * ** plurality of mobile phones 30 over the mobile network 12. The text messages may **** * have associated image files which are also collected by the message collector 17. * ** * * * ** * * *

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The message collector 17 transmits the messages and images to the processor 20, in the message processor 18,. The processor 20 sorts the messages into groups of related messages and indexes and stores the sorted messages accordingly on the database 22.

Such groups may be, for example, specific topics or threads of discussion, forums, regions or friends. The messages may be grouped further into sub-groups.

Alternatively, grouped messages and index information may be sent from the processor 20 for broadcasting.

From the database 22 or the processor 20, the messages and the index information are loaded into the carousel memory 24, which acts as transient memory prior to the messages being played out for broadcasting over the television broadcasting network 19. If a message is to be kept secret between users or groups it can be encrypted by the encryption means 26 before being sent to the data encoder 28 before being broadcast over the television broadcast network 16 by the transmitter 19.

The processor 20 selects messages to form a broadcast set of messages 32. The broadcast set of messages 32 may comprise old message data packets 34 or new messages data packets 36, which may comprise one or more images 38. It may also comprise an association of message data packets 40 and index information data packets 42 relating to each message. Each broadcast set of messages 32 is loaded in the carousel memory 24, which acts like a conveyor. As one broadcast set of * .* messages 32 is retrieved from the carousel memory 24 the processor loads another * .* S one on. The rate at which the broadcast sets of messages 32 are loaded on and retrieved from the carousel memory 24 is determined by the amount of message traffic and the available bandwidth. The processor 20 controls the rate accordingly.

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The broadcast set of messages 32 is broadcast over the television broadcast network 16 through the transmitter 19.

Referring also to Figure 3, a digital television receiver 44 is positioned adjacent a television in a household 46. The digital receiver 44 is connected to a receiving antenna 48 and has a processor 50 and memory 52.

The digital receiver processor 50 has a tuner 54, a decoder 56, processing means 58, a video system 60, decryption means 62, a clock 64 and an infra-red receiver 66. The digital receiver 44 is connected to a television display screen 68.

The digital receiver memory 52 has message memory 70 and flash memory 72.

Upon selection of a predetermined frequency or channel through the tuner 54 the antenna 48 receives the broadcast sets of messages 32. The received broadcast sets of messages are decoded by the decoder 56. The decoder 56 is an ADC or QPSK decoder. The decoded sets of messages are then transmitted to the processing means 58. The processing means 58 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and communicates with the message memory 70 which provides cache memory for the decoded messages (including images) and flash memory 72, which provides memory for user *:.: identification and decryption keys. The processing means 58 also communicates with *..S * the decrypting means for decrypting messages encrypted prior to being broadcast, the clock 64, for synchronising the received broadcast set of messages and the infra-red receiver 66 for receiving instructions from a user via an infra-red remote control

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handset. The processing means 58 is also connected to the video system 60 for outputting the received messages onto the television display screen 68.

Referring also to Figure 4, a broadcast home page 74 is displayed on the television display screen 68. The broadcast home page 74 has an index window 76 having a selection of the index information packets 42, broadcast from the message processing system 14. The index information packets 42 are continually scrolled as the index information packets 42 are loaded and retrieved on the carousel memory 24 in the message processing system 14 before been broadcast as previously described with reference to Figure 2. A user may open up an index by navigating a cursor, or highlighted region of the screen, onto the desired index through the infra-red remote control handset, in communication with the infra-red receiver 66, and selecting that index link. The amount of old indexes being broadcast relative to new indexes is dependent on the number of new indexes being received by the message processing system 14.

The broadcast home page 74 also has a menu region 78 which provides a list of associated topics relating to the association of message data packets 40 broadcast from the message processing system 14. A user navigates a cursor in the same manner as described in the previous paragraph to select a topic from the menu region 78.

Upon selecting a topic the digital receiver 44 will display the broadcast of messages and images being broadcast for that particular topic on the television display screen. * I S...

The broadcast home page 76 also has a message display and link window 80. This scrolls in a similar manner to the index window 76, as described above. The message * ** I..*

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display window 80 scrolls through messages 34/36 as the messages are being broadcast from the message processing system 14.

The broadcast homepage 74 also has a message image window 82 which scrolls through broadcast images 38 associated with each message in the message display window as it is being broadcast. The message image window 82 has scroll means 84, which allows a user to scroll through the broadcast images, and associated messages using the infra-red remote control handset as mentioned above.

In order to select a message or image a user uses the handset as previously described.

Selection of a message or image loads the message page 86, as shown in Figure 5.

This allows the user to view broadcast messages and images and associations stored in the memory 70 of the digital television receiver 44.

The message page 86 has a message image window 88 having a message image 90 and message 92, and an associated message window 94 having an associated message image 96 and an associated message 98. These can be scrolled using the scroll means 100.

From the message page 86, the user can also link to similar content 102 and search for particular messages or threads using a search function 104. This page also has a menu region as described above in relation to the home page 74. * S *S.I

If a user wishes to broadcast a message in response to a broadcast message he can do so by selecting the add comment function 106 using the infra-red remote control *****.

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handset as described above. Selecting the add comment function provides the user with a specific code which can be entered in a mobile phone and sent to the message processing system 14 with the message response for broadcasting as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

The present invention therefore provides an interactive real-time social network experience in which users messages and images are broadcast on television. * ** * * * * ** **. * S .* * * S *** S

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Claims

OCLAIMS1. A message processing system comprising receiving means operable to receive a plurality of messages transmitted from one or more communication devices, processing means operable to process the received messages, and transmitting means operable to broadcast a plurality of the processed messages for display on one or more television receivers wherein the number of messages broadcast for display on one or more television receivers at any one time is less than the number of messages received.
2. A message processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving means is operable to receive the plurality of messages transmitted from mobile communication devices.
3. A message processing system as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the receiving means is operable to receive messages which include an image.
4. A message processing system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising access control means operable to adapt one or more of the messages prior to : : broadcast such that access thereto is restricted.

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5. A message processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the access control means comprises encryption means. *aSS
6. A message processing system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising sorting means operable to organise the received messages into groups of related messages.
7. A message processing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more of the groups of related messages are stored on a database.
8. A message processing system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein one or more of the groups of related messages are broadcast.
9. A message processing system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising selection means operable to select one or more received messages to form a broadcast set of messages for broadcasting.
10. A message processing system as claimed in claim 9, comprising a memory operable to store selected messages prior to the messages being played out for broadcasting.
11. A message processing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rate at which the messages are played out from the memory is determined by the amount of traffic and the available bandwidth over the transmission network. *. * a ** . S.
12. A message processing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the memory is S..controlled by the processing means. *..sSI S..SS
13. A network system comprising a message processing system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
14. A network system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a wireless communication network, for transmitting the plurality of messages from one or more mobile communication devices to the receiving means of the message processing system and a television broadcast network for broadcasting the messages processed by the message processing system for display on the one or more television receivers.
15. Use of a television digital receiver for receiving a message broadcast by a message processing system or network system according to any of the preceding claims.
16. A method of processing messages comprising: receiving a plurality of messages from one or more communication devices; processing the plurality of received messages; broadcasting a plurality of the processed messages for display on one or more television receivers; wherein the number of messages broadcast for display on one or more television receivers at any one time is * less than the number of messages received. S... * S S...L: :
17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of messages are received from mobile communication devices. * 25

S..... * S S.,
18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein one or more of the received messages includes an image.
19. A method as claimed in claim 16 or 18, further comprising adapting one or more of the received message to restrict access thereto.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the one or more messages are adapted by encrypting them.
21. A method as claimed in claim 16 to 20, further comprising organising the received messages into groups of related messages.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein one or more of the groups of related messages are stored on a database.
23. A method as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein one or more of the groups of related messages are broadcast.
24. A method as claimed in claim 16 to 23, comprising selecting one or more received messages to form a broadcast set of messages for broadcasting. * ** * S **.:.
25. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising storing selected messages on a S....: : :* memory prior to the messages being played out for broadcasting. S..SS

S..... S..
26. A method as claimed in claim 25, comprising playing the messages out for broadcast at a rate determined by the amount of message traffic and the available bandwidth over the transmission network.
27. A method as claimed in claim 26 comprising controlling the memory using the processing means.
28. A message processor as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A network system as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of processing messages as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * ** * * * * ** S... * S S... * .. * S * S.. SS S.. S *S S..S