GB2516327A

GB2516327A - Channel guide for broadcasting services

Info

Publication number: GB2516327A
Application number: GB1403584.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Alder; Thomas Bernard; Yann Muller; Steve Baker; Jan-David St Phane Outters
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-19
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-28
Also published as: GB201403584D0; GB2516327B; KR20150035369A; KR102169057B1

Abstract

Controlling a digital broadcasting receiver using event discovery information defining a plurality of static events that includes event type information identifying the type of static event to which the discovery information relates, and displaying a channel guide 100 including linear services 111a,111b,111c and a non-linear service including the static events 112a,112b,112c wherein, in response to user selection of a static event in the non-linear service, a predetermined action corresponding to the static event is performed. Content group static events may be used. SD&S service discovery information relating to the non-linear service may be received including location and loop information. The DVB receiver EPG may display identification information for both linear and non-linear services. The actions related to the static events may include connecting to a video on-demand (VOD) server, launching a web browser for internet use, launching an app, displaying advertisements, setting programme reminders, switching TV input sources, or displaying a sub-guide. The present invention allows static events to be inserted in static channels in the channel list 110 amongst the broadcast channels so that disparate content sources can be drawn together in a single list of content for ease of use and navigation.

Description

Channel Guide for Broadcasting Services

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a channel guide for broadcasting services. More particularly, the present invention relates to a channel guide which includes a non-linear service in addition to a plurality oflinear services.

Background of the Invention

A broadcast receiver can be used to receive and display content, for example TV and/or io radio broadcast programmes, on a plurality of channels received through a broadcast stream. To enable a user to review the available programmes and select one of the programmes for viewing, a channel guide is displayed which lists the broadcast channels and shows information about programmes that are due to be broadcast within a certain time window. The channel guide can also be referred to as an Electronic i Programme Guide (EPG).

A conventional EPG is generated using metadata supplied by the broadcaster. Various functions can be performed through the channel guide. For example, the channel guide can be used to select content for immediate viewing, for current or future recording, or can be used to set a reminder for a programme to be broadcast in the future. In addition, modern broadcast receivers often provide additional functionality, such as the ability to access video on demand (VOD) content, or to browse the Internet. However, as more functions are added, the user interface becomes more cumbersome as the user must navigate through various menu screens to locate and select the desired function.

The invention is made in this context.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver arranged to receive a plurality of linear services each including a plurality of linear events broadcast at predetermined times, the method comprising: receiving event discovery information defining a plurality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identifying the type of static event to which the discovery information relates; displaying a channel guide including 3s the plurality of linear services and a non-linear service, the non-linear service including the plurality of static events; and in response to user input selecting one of the static events in the non-linear service from the channel guide, performing one of a plurality of predetermined actions corresponding to the type of static event selected.

The method can further comprise, in response to user input selecting one of the linear services, tuning to the broadcast stream to receive the selected linear service.

In some embodiments, the plurality of static events includes a content group static event for selecting a group of content items, and the method further comprises: searching one or more content sources to identify a plurality of available content items jo from said group of content items, available from the one or more content sources; in response to the user input selecting the content group static event, displaying a content selection menu for selecting one of the available content items; and in response to second user input selecting one of the available content items from the content selection menu, obtaining and reproducing the selected content item.

Tn some embodiments, the event discovery information defining the content group static event includes one or more source identifiers for identifying the one or more content sources to be searched.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving service discovery information identifying content relating to the non-linear service; and in response to user input navigating to the non-linear service in the channel guide, reproducing the identified content in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the service discovery information includes content location information defining a location from which the content can be obtained, and the method further comprises: obtaining the content from the location identified by the content location information.

Tn some embodiments, the service discovery information includes loop information indicating whether the content relating to the non-linear service is to be looped, wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is to be looped, the identified content is reproduced again from the beginning after reproduction of the identified content has completed, and wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is not to be looped, the identified content is reproduced only once in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, displaying the channel guide including the linear services and the non-linear service comprises: displaying identification information for each one of the linear services; and displaying identification information for the non-linear service differently to the identification information for each one of the linear services.

In some embodiments, the identification information for the non-linear service comprises an identifier of the service, and/or a textual description of the service, and/or an image corresponding to the service, and/or a webpage at a location identified Jo by a Uniform Resource Locator URL induded in the discovery information.

In some embodiments, the identification information for the non-linear service is displayed according to one or more display settings including: a navigation style setting defining a navigation method to be applied when a user navigates the channel guide; and/or a colour setting defining a colour in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or a dimension setting defining the size of a region in which the identification information is to be disp'ayed in the channel guide; and/or an animation setting defining an animation to be applied when displaying the identification information in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the service discovery information and/or the event discovery information includes display information defining the one or more display settings.

In some embodiments, the event discovery information further includes scripting information identiring a predefined condition and a predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide, wherein while displaying the channel guide, the method further comprises: determining whether the predefined condition has been met; and in response to the predefined condition being met, performing the predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide.

Tn some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving service discovery information for each one of a plurality of non-finear services, the service discovery information for each non-linear service including a Logical Channel Number LCN for that non-linear service, wherein different ones of the plurality of non-linear services share the same LCN.

In some embodiments, the plurality of predetermined actions indude: connecting to a server to receive and reproduce onUne audio and/or video content; and/or connecting to a local source to receive and reproduce local audio and/or video content; and/or launching a web browser application to display a webpage identified by a Uniform Resource Locator URL included in the event discovery information; and/or launching an application at the receiver; and/or displaying a banner over the channel guide; and/or setting a reminder for one of the linear events due to be broadcast at a predetermined time in the future; and/or switching an input source of a disp'ay to o reproduce content from a different source; and/or selecting one or more Unear services and/or one or more non-linear services according to a predetermined criteria, and displaying the selected linear services and/or non-linear services in a second channel guide separate to the previously-displayed channel guide.

Tn some embodiments, the non-linear service further includes one or more linear events.

In some embodiments, the receiver is a Digital Video Broadcasting DVB receiver.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling a server, the method comprising: obtaining event discovery information for each one of a pura1ity of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identifying the type of static event to which the event discovery information relates; and transmitting the event discovery information to a digital broadcasting receiver.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: obtaining service discovery information identifying content relating to a non-linear service, the non-linear service including the plurality of static cvcnts; and transmitting the servicc discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver.

A computer-readable storage medium can be arranged to store a computer program which, when executed on a processor, performs any of the above-described methods.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a digita' broadcasting receiver comprising: a receiver arranged to receive a plurality of linear services each including a plurality of linear events broadcast at predetermined times; a discovery information receiver arranged to receive event discovery information defining a plurality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identifying the type of static event to which the discovery information relates; a processor arranged to control a display unit to display a channel guide including the plurality of linear services and a non-linear service, the non-linear service including the plurality of static events; and a user input receiver arranged to receive user input, wherein in response to the user input selecting one of the static events in the non-linear service from the channel guide, the processor is arranged to perform one of o a plurality of predetermined actions corresponding to the type of static event selected by the user input.

In some embodiments, the plurality of static events includes a content group static event for selecting a group of content items, and the digital broadcasting receiver further comprises: a content searching unit arranged to search one or more content sources to identify a plurality of available content items from said group of content items, available from the one or more content sources, wherein in response to the user input selecting the content group static event, the predetermined action comprises displaying a content selection menu for selecting one of the available content items, and in response to second user input selecting one of the available content items from the content selection menu, obtaining and reproducing the selected content item.

In some embodiments, the discovery information receiver is further arranged to receive service discovery information identifying content relating to the non-linear service, and in response to the user input navigating to the non-linear service in the channel guide, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the service discovery information includes content location information dcfining a location from which thc contcnt can bc obtained, and the digital broadcasting receiver is arranged to obtain the content from the location identified by the content location information.

In some embodiments, the service discovery information includes loop information indicating whether the content relating to the non-linear service is to be looped, wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is to be looped, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content again from the beginning after reproduction of the identified content has completed, and wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is not to be looped, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content only once in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the processor is arranged to display identification information for each one of the linear services in the channel gnide, and is further arranged to display identification information for the non-linear service differently to the identification information for each one of the linear services.

jo Tn some embodiments, the processor is arranged to display the identification information for the non-linear service according to one or more disp'ay settings including: a navigation style setting defining a navigation method to be applied when a user navigates the channel guide; and/or a colour setting defining a colour in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or a dimension setting defining the size of a region in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or an animation setting defining an animation to be appUed when disp'aying the identification information in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the event discovery information further includes scripting information identifying a predefined condition and a predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide, wherein while displaying the channel guide, the processor is arranged to determine whether the predefined condition has been met, and in response to the predefined condition being met, perform the predefrned action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide.

In some embodiments, the discovery information receiver is further arranged to receive service discovery information for each one of a plurality of non-linear services, the scrvicc discovcry information for cach non-lincar scrvicc including a Logical Channcl Number LCN for that non-Unear service, and different ones of the plurality of non-linear services share the same LCN.

The digital broadcasting receiver can be a Digita' Video Broadcasting DVB receiver.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a user interface displaying a channel guide including linear services and non-linear services, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of accessing recorded content through a channel list, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of reproducing content relating to a jo non-linear service in a channel guide, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of using scripting information to change the appearance of a non-linear service in a channel guide, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of providing discovery information to a receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 schematicafly shows a system including a digital broadcasting receiver and a server for providing discovery information to the receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 schematically shows a user interface displaying a channel guide including linear services and non-linear services, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Similar to a conventional channel guide, the channel guide of the present embodiment allows a user to review and select broadcast content from a plurality of channels.

Thc channcl guidc 100 of thc prcscnt cmbodimcnt compriscs a channcl list 110. Thc chan nd list nO includes a plurality of linear services ordered according to their Logical Channel Numbers (LCNs), which can be assigned by a broadcaster. The linear services are commonly referred to as channels, and each one comprises a plurality of linear events. Each linear event represents a separate broadcast programme. Here, finear' means that the events within a service are broadcast in a linear fashion. That is to say, the events within a linear service are broadcast sequentially, in a specific order and at specific times. The linear services can, for example, be Radio Frequency (RF) broadcasting services, satellite broadcasting services, or internet Protocol (IF) broadcasting services.

Tn the example shown in Fig. 1, the channel list displays six linear services (Channel A to Channel F), which are assigned the LCNs 101, 102, 104, 113, 114, 128. It will be understood that these specific channel names and LCNs are merely exemplary. In other embodiments a different number of channels could be displayed in the channel list, and any names and LCNs can be assigned to the channels.

jo Within the channel list no, channel identifiers, for instance "Channel A", "Channel B", and so on, for the disp'ayed channels are ordered according to the channel LCNs in a first direction. The linear events broadcast within a certain time window are arranged along a second direction, representing time, adjacent to the channel identifiers. The width of each linear event in the channel list 110 relates to the duration of that event, i.e. the time between the broadcast start and end times for that event, in the present examp'e the first and second directions are the vertical and horizontal directions respectively, although in other embodiments different layouts coffid be used in the channel list 110.

As shown in Fig. 1, the linear events broadcast on the linear services within a certain time window are displayed. Here, by displaying' a linear event in the channel list 110, it is meant that an area through which a linear event can be selected is displayed. The area through which a linear event is selected may be referred to as a selection area'.

Within each selection area, an event identifier for that linear event is displayed, for example a name of the broadcast programme. The channel identifiers and event identifiers can be defined by metadata, which could for example be received through the broadcast stream or over IP. Such metadata can also define, for instance, the LCNs for the linear services, the broadcast times for the linear events, and textual dcscriptions of thc lincar cvcnts.

Tn the example shown in Fig. 1, the channel list 110 is shown as displaying linear events that are broadcast within the time window 17:oo-19:oo. On channel B, for instance, three linear events ma, nib, nic are broadcast between 17:oo-19:oo. The first linear event nia is broadcast until 17:30, the second linear event nib is broadcast between 17:30-18:30, and the third linear event inc is broadcast from 18:30.

To view a programme currently being broadcast on a particular channel, a user navigates through the channel list to the desired event. Any type of interface can be used to navigate the channel guide 100, for examp'e. a conventional remote controfle.r or a motion recognition interface. Tn the present example, the currently selected linear event is denoted by highlighting the current selection area. in the present example, the second linear event nib on Channel B is selected.

in the present example, the channel guide 100 also comprises a preview window 120 and an event information display area 130. When a linear event currently being jo broadcast is selected by first user input, visual content for the linear event can be displayed in the preview window 120, and information about the linear event, for example a textual description of the programme, can be displayed in the event information display area 130. When the same linear event is selected by second user input, video content currently being broadcast for that linear event can be displayed in full-screen mode. It will be understood that the preview window 120 might not be used if no visual content is availab'e, for example when the linear event is a radio programme. In some embodiments, the preview window 120 and event information display area 130 can be omitted entirely.

in addition, as shown in Fig. 1 the channel list 110 further includes two static channels, labelled as Static Channel #1 and Static Channel #2. Although two static channels are shown in the present example, in general an embodiment of the invention can include any number of one or more static channels, i.e. non-linear services, in a channel list.

Here, a static' channel is a channel which includes a plurality of events that that are accessible at anytime. Such events are hereinafter referred to as static events', in contrast to a conventional linear event which can only be accessed at the predefined broadcast time. That is, whereas a linear event disappears from the channel list after it has been broadcast, a static event remains in place since it is not associated with a spccific broadcast timc. Each static channcl can bc rcfcrrcd to as a non-lincar scrvicc', by analogy with conventional broadcast channels which are linear services.

As described above, the width of each linear event in the channel list no is determined according to time duration of the linear event. However, as the static events are not associated with particular broadcast times, the receiver must determine the width of each static event in other ways. In the present embodiment, event discovery information is received for each static event. The event discovery information includes -10-a width attribute which defines the static event width as a fraction or percentage of the total width of the available screen area in the channel list. Preferably, the width of all static events in a given non-Unear service should add up to ioo%, alihough this is not essential. For example, if the widths add up to less than ioo%, the receiver could pad out the space between the static events, or could increase the width of each static event accordingly. Furthermore, in some embodiments the receiver can determine the widths automatically, for example by setting all static events for a non-linear service to equal widths, instead of the width being defined by event discovery information.

jo Tn response to user input selecting a linear event currently being broadcast from the channel list no, the receiver is arranged to access the selected linear event by tuning to the selected channel in the broadcast stream and reproducing the received audio and/or video content. On the other hand, if the user input selects a linear event that is not currently accessible, for example by selecting a future event that is not currently being broadcast, the receiver can perform another action such as selling a reminder or scheduling the selected event for recording. However, as described above, a static event is not associated with a specific broadcast time. Therefore in response to user input selecting one of the static events from the channel list 110, the receiver can access the static event immediately regardless of the time at which the static event is selected.

Unlike a linear event, static events in the channel guide 100 are not limited to multimedia content. A static event can be used to select various receiver functions, in addition to accessing and reproducing audio/video content. in the present example, various types of static event are illustrated. As shown in Fig. 1, the second static channel 112 includes three static events iia, 112b, 112c. In response to user input selecting the first static event na on the second static channel 112, that is, the static event labelled DVD', the receiver is arranged to switch the input source for a display from the broadcast stream to a connected DVD player. In response to the user input sclccting thc sccond static event 112b on thc sccond static channcl 112, that is, the static event labelled Browse Internet', the receiver is arranged to launch a web browser application in order to access the Tnternet over a suitable network connection. Tn response to user input selecting the third static event nc on the second static channel 112, that is, the static event labefled VOD', the receiver is arranged to dispthy a video-on-demand (VOD) selection menu for a user to review and select available VOD content.

-11 -Also shown in Fig. 1 are other static events on the first static channel, labelled My videos' and My music'. These static events can be nsed to browse content grouped according to type. In response to user input select one of these static events, the receiver is arranged to display information about stored video files or music files, respectively, for a current user profile. For example, the video files or music files may be stored locally in a hard disk drive or other storage unit, and/or may be stored remotely, for example in cloud-based storage.

Static events are not limited to the above-described actions. Other actions that can be o performed in response to a particular static event being selected include, but are not limited to: connecting to a server to receive and reproduce online audio and/or video content (for example when the static event relates to a specific VOD content item); connecting to a local source to receive and reproduce local audio and/or video content (for example when the static event relates to a specific item of locally recorded content); launching a web browser application to display a specific webpage identified by a Uniform Resource Locator URL included in event discovery information for the selected static event; launching an application at the receiver; displaying a banner over the channel guide (for example, an advert for a forthcoming programme on a particular broadcast channel); and setting a reminder for a linear event due to be broadcast at a predetermined time in the future.

Yet another example of a function that can be selected as a static event is launching a separate channel guide, which can be referred to as a sub-guide'. Here, one or more linear services and/or one or more non-linear services can be selected and displayed according to predetermined criteria. For example, a news' sub-guide could select and display only news channels, a sports' sub-guide could select and display only sports channels, and so on.

Thc usc of static cvcnts providcs thc advantagc that disparatc contcnt sourccs can be drawn together into a single list of content. For example, VOD content and locally recorded content can be added to the channel list in addition to conventional broadcast content. In contrast, in a conventional broadcast receiver a channel list can only display broadcast content, meaning that a user must navigate away from the channel list to access other types of content (e.g. video-on-demand content). The need to go through additional menu screens to access non-broadcast content means that the conventional receiver interface is slower to navigate and consumes more resources, as -12 -additional processing time and power is used when generating and displaying the other menu screens.

Figure 2 shows a flow diagram exphining a method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step 5201, the receiver receives event discovery information defining a plurality of static events. Event discovery is a well-understood process for identifying the services available to a receiver, and a detailed description will not be provided here.

o For example, a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) receiver performs a Service Discovery and Selection (SD&S) process on startup. The SD&S process requests service discovery information from one or more entry point servers, the add resses of which can be pre-programmed into the receiver or can be signalled through the broadcast stream. Each entry point server provides Service Provider (SP) discovery information which specifies the linear services available from each SP. The receiver obtains service discovery information for each Unear service, and event discovery information for the events within each Unear service.

In a DVB system, the different types of discovery information are provided as Extensible Markup Language (XML) records, and the type of discovery information is signalled by a payload identifier (ID). In DVB embodiments of the present invention, a new payload type is defined for static events, to signal that the discovery information relates to a static event as opposed to a linear event. The payload ID values for a DVB embodiment are shown in Table 1.

PAYLOAD TD VALUE RECORD TYPE

oxol Service Provider Discovery Information 0x02 Broadcast Discovery Information 0X05 Package Discovery Inlormation oxo6 BCG Discovery tnformation oxFo Static Event Discovery Tnformation

Table 1

Although the payload TD value oxFo is used in the present example to signi static event discovery information, the invention is not fimited to this specific value. In other -13 -embodiments, any unused payload ID value could be defined for the static event discovery information.

The event discovery information obtained in step S2o1 includes event type information identifying the type of static event to which the discovery information relates. The event type determines the receiver behavionr when the static event is selected by nser input. The format of the event discovery information can be defined in a broadcasting standard, which can also define the different types of static event. In general, any number of different static event types can be defined. Examples of static event types o include a VOD static event, a webpage static event, a recorded content static event, a sub-guide static event, and so on. The receiver can be programmed to perform different predetermined actions for different types of static event, as described above with reference to Fig. 1.

After receiving the event discovery information for static events in a non-linear service, then in step 8202 the receiver proceeds to generate a channel guide such as the guide shown in Fig. 1, based on the obtained discovery information for the linear services and the non-linear service, and displays the channel guide. Depending on the embodiment, the channel guide could be displayed on a display integral to the receiver, or on a physically separate display. For example, the receiver could be integrated into a television, or could be a set-top-box (STB) connected to a television.

After displaying the channel gnide, the receiver proceeds to step S2o3 and waits for user input selecting an event from the channel guide. Here, if user input selecting a linear event is received, the receiver can begin reproducing content from the selected linear event, or can set a reminder or schedule recording if the selected linear event is not currently being broadcast, in a conventional manner. However, if user input selecting a static event is received in step 8203, then in step 8204 the receiver proceeds to sclcct and pcrform onc of a plurality of prcdctcrmincd actions corrcsponding to thc type of static event selected. Types of static event and corresponding receiver actions have been described above with reference to Fig. 1, and will not be repeated here.

By using event discovery information for static events to build a channel fist at a receiver, a service provider can control which static events are inserted into the channel list, by modi'ing the event discovery information accordingly.

Figure 3 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of accessing recorded content through a channel list, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A method as shown in Fig. 3 can be used by a broadcasting receiver which displays a channel list including a static event relating to recorded content, for example the My videos' or My music' static events shown in Fig. 1. In particular, the method can be used when the channel guide includes a static event relating to a specific group of content items. Such a static event may be referred to as a content group static event'.

jo Content items can be grouped according to metadata associated with each content item.

For example, content items can be grouped according to content type (e.g. news', sports', movies', documentaries' etc.), file type (e.g. audio, video, text, HTML etc.), content owner (e.g. My music', Jon's videos', Andrea's movies', etc.), and so on. The group can be defined by event discovery information for the content group static event, for example by defining one or more selection criteria for selecting content to be included in the group.

First, in step S3o1, the receiver searches amongst one or more content sources for content items in a group defined by the event discovery information. The event discovery information can include one or more source identifiers for identifying the one or more sources to be searched. For example, the event discovery information may indicate that the receiver should search in one or more of: cloud-based storage associated with a user profile currently signed in to the receiver; a local storage unit within the receiver; and a home media server on a local network.

At step S3o2, the receiver creates a record of available content items found in the searched content sources. The record includes, for each available content item, a content identifier for identifying the content item and a location identifier for idcntifying thc location of thc contcnt itcm on thc corrcsponding contcnt sourcc. Tn some embodiments, this record could be updated periodically, to detect changes in available content. For example, content may have been recorded, moved, or deleted since the record was last created/modified, or a content source may have been connected or disconnected.

At step S3o3, the receiver waits for a user to select the content group static event, in response to user input selecting the content group static event, then in step S3o4 the -15 -receiver displays a content selection menu for selecting one of the available content items, for example by displaying a scrollable list of all available content items within the content group. The content selection menu could be displayed as a window overlying part of the channel guide, or could be displayed instead of (i.e. repthcing) the channel guide.

Next, at step S3o5 the receiver waits for a user to se'ect one of the content items from the displayed content selection menu. At step S3o6, in response to user input selecting one of the available content items from the content selection menu, the receiver Jo identifies the location of the selected content item from the location identifier stored in the record of available content items, obtains the selected content item from the relevant location, and reproduces the selected content item.

As shown in Fig. 3, in the present embodiment the receiver identifies available content items within the content item group before the static event is selected from the channel list. Preferab'y, the receiver searches for the available content items as soon as event discovery information has been received, even before displaying the channel guide.

However, in certain embodiments, steps S3o1 and S3o2 could be performed only in response to user input selecting the corresponding static event. This may result in a delay whilst the receiver searches for available content, but would avoid wasting time and resources searching unnecessarily, when a user is not interested in the static event.

Figure 4 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of reproducing content relating to a non-linear service in a channel guide, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, during service discovery the receiver can obtain service discovery information for a non-linear service, in addition to event discovery information for the static events included in the non-linear service. The servicc discovery information can define the static events included in the non-Unear service, and can also include metadata to control how the non-linear service is displayed in the channel guide. In the present embodiment, the service discovery information includes a related content identifier which identifies content relating to the non-linear service. For example, the service location information can include content location information speciring a location of the content, in the form of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) linking direcfly to the content, or in any other suitable form. Alternatively, instead of specifying the exact location, the content location information could specify a general location from which the content can be obtained (e.g. an IF address of a server), and the service location information can fufther inchide a unique identifier (e.g. a content reference identifier CRID) that can be used to request the content from the location.

At step 8401, the receiver obtains the service discovery information identifying the content relating to the non-linear service. Examples of types of content that can be signalled by the service discovery information include video, audio, text, and hyper-text markup language (HTML) or extensible markup language (XML) content.

At step 8402, the receiver waits for user input selecting a service from the channel guide. Here, the user input could select one of the linear services, or could select the non-linear service.

Tn response to user input selecting a linear service at step 5402, instead of the non-linear service, the receiver can behave in a similar manner to a conventional receiver.

Specifically, the receiver can begin receiving and reproducing content for a linear event currently being broadcast on the selected linear service. Depending on the embodiment, the content can be immediately reproduced in a full-screen mode, or can be reproduced in a preview window such as the one shown in Fig. 1. Even though the linear service comprises a plurality of linear events, only one of these is being broadcast at any one time, and therefore it is straightforward for the receiver to begin reproducing the currently accessible linear event, which is the programme currently being broadcast.

On the other hand, in response to user input selecting the non-linear service at step 5402, the receiver proceeds to step 8403. At step 5403, the receiver obtains the content from the location identified by the content location information. In some cmbodimcnts, thc rcccivcr obtains thc content as soon as thc scrvicc discovery information is received, and stores the content locally. The local copy of the content is then retrieved when needed in step S4o3. In other embodiments, the content maybe dow&oaded as and when required in step 5403, without being stored beforehand.

Then, at step S4o4 the receiver reproduces the identified content in the channel guide.

For example, when the identified content is visual content, the identified content can be reprodnced in a preview window such as the one shown in Fig. 1. -17-

In some embodiments, the method can finish at step 8404. For example, when the content is static, such as a still image or webpage, the static content can be displayed in a preview window until a user selects one of the static events, or selects another service.

However, if the content has a finite duration, for example if the content is a video or audio clip, the service discovery information can further include ioop information indicating whether the content relating to the non-linear service is to be looped.

In such embodiments, at step 8405 the receiver checks whether the information jo indicates that the content is to be looped. Tn response to the loop information indicating that the content is to be looped, the identified content is reproduced again from the beginning after reproduction of the identified content has completed. The loop information can also indicate whether the content is to be looped indefinitely, or is to be looped a specific number of times.

On the other hand, in response to the loop information indicating that the content is not to be looped, the identified content is reproduced only once in the channel guide.

A receiver can use a method such as the one shown in Fig. 4 to display content related to a non-linear service, when the non-linear service is selected in the channel list. The behaviour of the receiver when the non-linear service is selected contrasts with the behaviour when a linear service is selected.

In contrast, when a user selects a non-linear service comprising a plurality of static events, all of the static events can be accessible at the same time. Therefore in the present embodiment, instead of beginning to reproduce content from a particular one of the static events, the receiver instead begins reproducing the content identified by the service discovery information, which could provide general information about the non-lincar scrvicc as a whole. This approach allows scrvicc providers to customisc thc receiver behaviour when the non-linear service is selected. Here, by selecting a non-linear service, it is meant that the user input selects the non-linear service without identifying a specific one of the static events for that service. For example, a user could enter the LCN of the non-finear service through a remote controller, which would identify the non-linear service without identifying a specific static event.

-i8 -In other embodiments the receiver may take no action when the non-linear service is selected, but may wait for a user to select a specific static event from the non-linear service. Tn such embodiments, the receiver does not have to perform any of the method steps shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 5 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of using scripting information to change the appearance of a non-linear service in a channel guide, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

jo Tn the present embodiment, the event discovery information and/or service discovery information includes scripting information to apply some form of animation to the non-linear service. The scripting information can be used to dynamically alter the appearance of a non-linear service in the channel guide, for example to draw attention to the non-linear service and/or to enable a user to distinguish non-linear services from linear services.

At step S5o1, event discovery information is received which includes scripting information. The scripting information identifies a predefined condition and a predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide. In the present example, the predefined condition is a fixed time period (e.g. 10 seconds), and the predefined action is to reorder the static events within the non-linear service.

At step S502, the receiver waits until the predetermined condition has been met. In the present example, the receiver waits until a io-second time period has elapsed since a staffing point, which could be the time at which the receiver began displaying the channel guide, or the time at which the predefined action was previously applied to the non-linear service.

Then at step S5o3, in response to the predefined condition being met, the receiver performs the predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide. Tn the present example, the receiver changes the order in which the static events are displayed for the non-linear service, in the channel guide. For example, if the service comprises three static events, EV1, EV2 and EV3, the initial order can be EV1, EV2, EV3, after the first 10-second period the order can become EV2, EV3, EVi, after the second 10-second period the order can become EV3, EVi, EV2, and so on.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram explaining a method of providing discovery information to a receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A service discovery server can use the method of Fig. 6 to provide service discovery information and event discovery information for a non-linear service to a digital broadcasting receiver.

At step Sóoi, the server obtains event discovery information for each one of a plurality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identiI'ing the type of static event to which the event discovery information relates. In the present example, the server also obtains service discovery information identifying content relating to the non-linear service, such as the service discovery information described above with reference to Fig. 4.

Then, a step S6o2, the server transmits the event discovery information and service discovery information to a digital broadcasting receiver.

The methods shown in any of Figs. 2 to 6 can be implemented in the form of computer program instructions, stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which when executed on a processor performs the method.

Figure 7 schematically shows a system including a digital broadcasting receiver and a server for providing discovery information to the receiver, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 7, thc systcm comprises a digital broadcasting rcccivcr 700, a discovery information server 710, a broadcaster 7oia, a display 7o3a, a remote controller 7o4a, and a content source 7o5a. The digital broadcasting receiver 700 can implement a method such as the one described above with reference to Fig. 2, to display a channd guide including a plurality of linear services and a non-linear service.

The digital broadcasting receiver 700 comprises a receiver 701, a discovery information receiver 702, a processor 703, a user input receiver 704, and a content searching unit 705. The receiver 701 is arranged to receive a plurality of linear services from the broadcaster 7oia, for example through a terrestrial or satellite RF stream, or over IF.

The discovery information receiver 702 is arranged to receive event discovery information from the discovery information server 710.

In the present embodiment, the digital broadcasting receiver 700 is embodied as a STB, and the display unit 703 is a television connected to the STB. That is, the digital broadcasting receiver 700 and display unit 703 are physically separate. As such, the processor 703 is arranged to control the display unit 7O3 to display a channel guide, o such as the one shown in Fig. 1, including the plurality of linear services and the non-linear service. Tn other embodiments however, the digita' broadcasting receiver 700 and display unit 703 can be physically embodied as a single device. In response to user input selecting one of the static events in the non-linear service from the channel guide, the processor 703 is arranged to perform one of a plurality of predetermined actions corresponding to the type of static event s&ected by the user input.

Also, in the present embodiment the user input receiver 704 is arranged to receive the user input from a remote controller 704a, for example over an infrared (IR) link.

However, the present invention is not limited to receiving user input in this way. In other embodiments, the user input could be received differently. For example, the user input receiver 704a could be a motion tracking, eye tracking or voice recognition interface arranged to detect user input directly, or a key-based user interface included in the digital broadcasting receiver 700.

The content searching unit 705 can search one or more content sources 7O5 over a suitable connection, allowing the receiver 700 to implement a method such as the one shown in Fig. 3. In the present embodiment a content source 7O5 is illustrated which is separate to the digital broadcasting receiver 700. For example, the content source 705a could bc a homc mcdia scrvcr. Tn othcr cmbodimcnts, thc contcnt sourcc 705a can be included in the digital broadcasting receiver 700, for example as an internal hard disk drive.

The discovery information server 710 comprises a discovery information generator 711, and a transmitter 712 arranged to communicate with the discovery information receiver 702. The discovery information generator 711 can generate event and service discovery information, as described above in step S6o1 of Fig. 6, which can then be transmitted to the digital broadcasting receiver 700 via the transmitter 712. In the present embodiment, the event and service discovery information is transmitted over iF, and the transmitter 712 and discovery information receiver 702 can be any suitable network interfaces. The link between the transmitter 712 and discovery information receiver 702 can be bidirectional, enabling the digital broadcasting receiver 700 to request the event discovery information and service discovery information from the discovery information server 710.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in which a non-linear jo service includes a plurality of static events, that is, events which are accessible at any time rather than only at specific predeflned times. In some embodiments, a non-linear service can also include one or more linear events in addition to the static events. In such embodiments, since the linear event is associated with a particular broadcast time, the linear event can be displayed adjacent to the non-linear service identifier, together with the static events, when the channel guide is displaying a time window in which the linear event is to be broadcast. When the channel guide is displaying another time window, outside of the broadcast time of the linear event, the channel guide may only display the static events.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in which linear services and a non-linear service are included in a channel list. As shown in Fig. 1, the non-linear service can be assigned its own LCN, which can be any unused LCN, that is, any LCN not already occupied by another service. The LCN could be assigned by the receiver, or could be defined by LCN information included in the service discovery information. In some embodiments, the non-linear service may not be assigned an LCN, but may be inserted between two linear services in the channel list. In this case, the service discovery information could identify where in the channel list the non-linear service is to be inserted. In yet other embodiments, a plurality of non-linear services can share thc same LCN, which may bc dcflncd by thc scrvicc discovery information.

Furthermore, in some embodiments the identification information for the linear services and the non-Unear service can be displayed differently in the channel guide, by using different display settings for linear and non-linear services. This can enable a user to easily distinguish between linear and non-linear services. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the channel identifier for each non-linear service is displayed in bold text, whereas the channel identifier for each linear service is displayed in plain text. Other -22-examples of identification information indude a textual description of the service, an image corresponding to the service, and a webpage (e.g. at a location identified by a Uniform Resource Locator URL included in the service discovery information). The display settings for the non-linear service can be pre-programmed into the receiver, can be set according to user preference, or can be defined by discovery information.

Examp'es of display settings include: a navigation style selling defining a navigation method to be applied when a user navigates the channel guide (e.g. event stays in position when scrolling the channel list, or focus stays in position while events are moved); a colour setting defining a colour in which the identification information is to Jo be displayed in the channel guide; a dimension setting defining the size ofa region in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and an animation selling defining an animation to be applied when displaying the identification information in the channel guide.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in relation to digital broadcasting receivers. The receiver can be Digital Video Broadcasting DVB receiver, although the invention is not limited to DVB systems. For example, other embodiments of the invention could be applied to an Open IPTV Forum (OTPF) system, Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) system, Advance Televisions Systems Committee (ATSC) system or Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (15DB) system, instead of DYB.

Whilst certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that many variations and modifications will be possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

-23 -Claims 1. A method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver arranged to receive a plurality of linear services each including a plurality of linear events broadcast at predetermined times, the method comprising: receiving event discovery information defining a plurality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identifying the type of static event to which the discovery information relates; displaying a channel guide including the plurality of linear services and a non-jo linear service, the non-linear service including the plurafity of static events; and in response to user input selecting one of the static events in the non-linear service from the channel guide, performing one of a plurality of predetermined actions corresponding to the type of static event selected.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of static events includes a content group static event for selecting a group of content items, the method further comprising: searching one or more content sources to identify a plurality of available content items from said group of content items, available from the one or more content sources; in response to the user input selecting the content group static event, displaying a content selection menu for selecting one of the available content items; and in response to second user input selecting one of the available content items from the content selection menu, obtaining and reproducing the selected content item.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event discovery information defining the content group static event includes one or more source identifiers for identifying the one or more content sources to be searched.
4. Thc method of claim 1, 2 or 3, furthcr comprising: receiving service discovery information identifying content relating to the non-linear service; and in response to user input navigating to the non-Unear service in the channel guide, reproducing the identified content in the channel guide.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the service discovery information includes content ocation information defining a location from which the content can be obtained, and the method further comprises: obtaining the content from the location identified by the content location information.
6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the service discovery information includes loop information indicating whether the content relating to the non-linear service is to be looped, wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is to be looped, the identified content is reproduced again from the beginning after reproduction of the identified content has completed, and wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is not to be looped, the identified content is reproduced only once in the channel guide.
7. The method of daim 4, 5 or 6, wherein displaying the channel guide including the linear services and the non-Unear service comprises: displaying identification information for each one of the linear services; and displaying identification information for the non-linear service differently to the identification information for each one of the linear services.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification information for the non-linear service comprises an identifier of the service, and/or a textual description of the service, and/or an image corresponding to the service, and/or a webpage at a location identified by a Uniform Resource Locator URL included in the discovery information.
9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the identification information for the non-linear service is displayed according to one or more display settings including: a navigation style sctting defining a navigation method to bc applied when a user navigates the channel guide; and/or a colour setting defining a colour in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or a dimension setting defining the size of a region in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or an animation setting defining an animation to be applied when disp'aying the identification information in the channel guide.

-25 -
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the service discovery information and/or the event discovery information includes display information defining the one or more display settings.
11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the event discovery information further includes scripting information identifying a predefined condition and a predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide, and wherein while displaying the channel guide, the method further comprises: determining whether the predefined condition has been met; and in response to the predefined condition being met, performing the predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide.
12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: receiving service discovery information for each one of a plurality of non-linear services, the service discovery information for each non-linear service including a Logical Channel Number LCN for that non-linear service, wherein different ones of the plurality of non-linear services share the same LCN.
13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of predetermined actions include: connecting to a server to receive and reproduce online audio and/or video content; and/or connecting to a local source to receive and reproduce local audio and/or video content; and/or launching a web browser application to display a webpage identified by a Uniform Resourcc Locator URL included in the cvcnt discovcry information; and/or launching an application at the receiver; and/or displaying a banner over the channel guide; and/or setting a reminder for one of the Unear events due to be broadcast at a predetermined time in the future; and/or switching an input source of a display to reproduce content from a different source; and/or -26 -selecting one or more linear services and/or one or more non-linear services according to a predetermined criteria, and disp'aying the sekcted linear services and/or non-linear services in a second channel guide separate to the previously-displayed channel guide.
14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-linear service further includes one or more linear events.
15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is a Digital o Video Broadcasting DVB receiver.
i6. A method of controlling a server, the method comprising: obtaining event discovery information for each one of a plurality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identifying the type of static event to which the event discovery information relates; and transmitting the event discovery information to a digital broadcasting receiver.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: obtaining service discovery information identi4ng content relating to a non-linear service, the non-linear service including the plurality of static events; and transmitting the service discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver.
18. A computer-readable storage medium arranged to store a computer program which, when executed on a processor, performs a method according to any one of the preceding claims.
19. A digital broadcasting receiver comprising: a rcccivcr arrangcd to rcccivc a plurality of lincar scrviccs cach including a plurality of linear events broadcast at predetermined times; a discovery information receiver arranged to receive event discovery information defining a phirality of static events, the event discovery information including event type information identi1iing the type of static event to which the discovery information relates; -27-a processor arranged to control a display unit to display a channel guide including the plurality of linear services and a non-linear service, the non-linear service including the plurality of static events; and a user input receiver arranged to receive user input, wherein in response to the user input selecting one of the static events in the non-linear service from the channel guide, the processor is arranged to perform one of a plurality of predetermined actions corresponding to the type of static event selected by the user input.o
20. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 19, wherein the plurality of static events includes a content group static event for selecting a group of content items, and the digital broadcasting receiver further comprises: a content searching unit arranged to search one or more content sources to identi' a plurality of available content items from said group of content items, available from the one or more content sources, wherein in response to the user input selecting the content group static event, the predetermined action comprises displaying a content selection menu for selecting one of the available content items, and in response to second user input selecting one of the available content items from the content selection menu, obtaining and reproducing the selected content item.
21. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 20, wherein the event discovery information defining the content group static event includes one or more source identifiers for identiiing the one or more content sources to be searched.
22. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the discovery information receiver is further arranged to receive service discovery information identi'ing content relating to the non-linear service, and whcrcin in rcsponsc to thc uscr input navigating to thc non-linear scrvicc in the chan nd guide, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content in the channel guide.
23. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 22, wherein the service discovery information includes content location information defining a location from which the content can be obtained, and the digital broadcasting receiver is arranged to obtain the content from the location identified by the content location information.-28 -
24. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 22 or 23, wherein the service discovery information inéludes loop information indicating whether the content r&ating to the non-linear service is to be looped, wherein in response to the ioop information indicating that the content is to be looped, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content again from the beginning after reproduction of the identified content has completed, and wherein in response to the loop information indicating that the content is not to be looped, the processor is arranged to reproduce the identified content only once in jo the channel guide.
25. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the processor is arranged to display identification information for each one of the linear services in the channel guide, and is further arranged to display identification information for the non-linear service differently to the identification information for each one of the linear services.
26. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 25, wherein the identification information for the non-linear service comprises an identifier of the service, and/or a textual description of the service, and/or an image corresponding to the service, and/or a webpage at a location identified by a Uniform Resource Locator URL included in the discovery information.
27. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 25 or 26, wherein the processor is arranged to display the identification information for the non-linear service according to one or more display settings including: a navigation style setting defining a navigation method to be applied when a user navigates the channel guide; and/or a colour sctting dcfining a colour in which thc idcntification information is to bc displayed in the channel guide; and/or a dimension setting defining the size of a region in which the identification information is to be displayed in the channel guide; and/or an animation setting defining an animation to be applied when displaying the identification information in the channel guide.-29 -
28. The digital broadcasting receiver of claim 27, wherein the service discovery information and/or the event discovery information includes display information defining the one or more display settings.
29. The digital broadcasting receiver of any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the event discovery information further includes scripting information identifying a predefined condition and a predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide, and wherein while displaying the channel guide, the processor is arranged to jo determine whether the predefi ned condition has been met, and in response to the predeflned condition being met, perform the predefined action to change the appearance of the non-linear service in the channel guide.
30. The digital broadcasting receiver of any one of claims 19 to 29, wherein the discovery information receiver is further arranged to receive service discovery information for each one of a plurality of non-Unear services, the service discovery information for each non-linear service including a Logica' Channel Number LCN for that non-linear service, and wherein different ones of the plurality of non-linear services share the same LCN.
31. The digital broadcasting receiver of any one of claims 19 to 30, wherein the plurality of predetermined actions include: connecting to a server to receive and reproduce online audio and/or video content; and/or connecting to a local source to receive and reproduce local audio and/or video content; and/or launching a web browser application to display a webpage identified by a Uniform Rcsourcc Locator URL included in thc cvcnt discovcry information; and/or launching an application at the receiver; and/or displaying a banner over the channel guide; and/or setting a reminder for one of the Unear events due to be broadcast at a predetermined time in the future; and/or switching an input source of a display to reproduce content from a different source; and/or selecting one or more linear services and/or one or more non-linear services according to a predetermined criteria, and disp'aying the sekcted linear services and/or non-linear services in a second channel guide separate to the previously-displayed channel guide.
32. The digita' broadcasting receiver of any one of daims 19 to 31, wherein the non-linear service further includes one or more linear events.
33. The digita' broadcasting receiver of any one of daims 19 to 32, wherein the o digita' broadcasting receiver is a Digital Video Broadcasting DVB receiver.