GB2525283A

GB2525283A - Improvements in or relating to data delivery

Info

Publication number: GB2525283A
Application number: GB1502616.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Gruber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-19
Filing date: 2015-02-17
Publication date: 2015-10-21
Also published as: GB201402899D0; GB201502616D0

Abstract

Data delivery apparatus 10 for use with a video channel 12 over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user (represented by a receiver 14 and screen or other viewing device 16). The apparatus 10 comprises an input 18 operable to receive a user command representing a command to access alternative meta content, and an output 20 operable to retrieve alternative meta content in response to a command received by the input 18, e.g. pause or stop, and to send the retrieved alternative meta content to the user 14, 16. The alternative meta content may, for example, include further information about the scene which is currently being viewed. This includes advertising or purchasing means for items visible within the scene such as clothing, equipment, furniture, or other items.

Description

Improvements in or relating to data delivery The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to data delivery and in particular, relates to methods and apparatus for data delivery for use with a video channel over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user.

It has previously been proposed to deliver meta content to a user along with video content, the video content and the meta content being delivered to the user over a video channel. In one example, the video content may be television content sent by a broadcaster over an appropriate channel, such as by wireless transmission (by radio broadcast or via a satellite), cable, the Internet or another channel. The associated meta content may relate to programme listings or other content listings relating to the content available from the broadcaster. The programme listings received as meta content allow the user to make a selection from the available content. The meta content may be displayed for the user, on demand, by populating an electronic program guide, sometimes called a "carousel" by reference to the ability for the user to endlessly scroll around the information until making a selection.

If the user makes an alternative selection from the carousel, the receiver device accesses the alternative content for display to the user.

Broadcasters, advertisers and others constantly seek opportunities to promote sales of products and services to users, particularly by simplifying the process for making a purchase so that it is convenient and therefore more likely to result in impulse purchases. Examples of the present invention seek to address issues arising from these considerations.

Examples of the present invention provide data delivery apparatus for use with a video channel over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user, the apparatus comprising: an input operable to receive a user command representing a command to access alternative meta content, and an output operable to retrieve alternative meta content in response to a command received by the input, and to send the retrieved alternative meta content to the user, wherein the input is operable to identify an instruction sent from the user to pause or stop the delivery of the video content, and in response to a pause or stop instruction the input enters a state in which it is receptive to an alternative meta content command.

The input may be operable to receive the user command over the video channel.

The output may be operable to send the alternative meta content over the video channel. The output may be operable to select alternative meta content which is related to video content or meta content which is being delivered to the user. The relationship between alternative meta content and video content or meta content may be identified by analysing the user command. The user command may be analysed to extract information which identifies the video content currently being delivered. A timestamp may be extracted from the user command, representing that point in the video content which is currently being viewed by the user.

The apparatus may further comprise a receiver operable to receive video content, meta content and alternative meta content, and operable to display meta content to a user, and operable to display alternative meta content in place of meta content, when alternative meta content is received. The receiver may be operable to populate an electronic programme guide with meta content and to repopulate the electronic programme guide with alternative meta content when received.

The alternative meta content may relate to items visible in the scene currently being viewed by the user.

The input may be operable to monitor the channel to identify an instruction sent from the user to resume or start the delivery of the video content, and in response to a resume or start instruction the input enters a state in which it is not receptive to an alternative meta content command.

The apparatus may further comprise a database of alternative meta content.

The apparatus may further comprise an order fulfilment module operable to receive a user command responsive to the alternative meta content and to execute an order fulfilment process.

Examples of the present invention also provide a method of data delivery for use with a video channel over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user, in which: a user command is received representing a command to access alternative meta content, alternative meta content is received in response to the command, and the retrieved alternative meta content is sent to the user; in which, in response to an instruction sent from the user to pause or stop the delivery of the video content, and in response to a pause or stop instruction, a state is entered in which an alternative meta content command can be received.

The user command may be received over the video channel. The alternative meta content may be sent over the video channel. The alternative meta content may be related to video content or meta content which is being delivered to the user. The relationship between alternative meta content and video content or meta content may be identified by analysing the user command. The user command may be analysed to extract information which identifies the video content currently being delivered. A timestamp may be extracted from the user command, representing that point in the video content which is currently being viewed by the user.

A receiver may receive video content, meta content and alternative meta content, and display meta content to a user when requested, and display alternative meta content in place of meta content, when alternative meta content is available. The receiver may populate an electronic programme guide with meta content and repopulate the electronic programme guide with alternative meta content when received.

The channel may be monitored to identify an instruction sent from the user to resume or start the delivery of the video content, and in response to a resume or start instruction, a state is entered in which an alternative meta content command is not received.

Alternative meta content may be retrieved from a database.

A user command responsive to the alternative meta content may be used to execute an order fulfilment process.

Examples of the present invention also provide a computer program product comprising a data carrier carrying software which, when executed by means of software controlled apparatus, will implement the method set out above.

Examples of the invention also provide software which, when executed by means of a software controlled apparatus, will implement the method as set out above.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first example of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of a procedure for using the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example command sent within the procedure of Fig. 2.

Overview Turning in particular to Fig 1, the drawings illustrate data delivery apparatus 10 for use with a video channel 12 over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user (represented by a receiver 14 and screen or other viewing device 16). The apparatus 10 comprises an input 18 operable to receive a user command representing a command to access alternative meta content, and an output 20 operable to retrieve alternative meta content in response to a command received by the input 18 and to send the retrieved alternative meta content to the user 14, 16.

Video channel In more detail, the receiver 14 is connected via the video channel 12 to a video service 22. The video channel 12 may be implemented by wireless transmission (by radio broadcast or via a satellite), cable, the Internet or in another manner. The video service 22 may be provided by a broadcaster or other form of video content provider.

The receiver 14 has an associated user control 24 illustrated here as a wireless control device such as a handset, but which could alternatively be implemented as another form of user interface, such as a graphic user interface on the screen 16 or on another display device. The user control 24 allows the user to select video content for viewing. During use, the selected content is received by the receiver 14 over the video channel 12 from the video service 22, decoded as necessary and displayed on the screen 16, for viewing.

The video service 22 also provides meta content for delivery to the user. This meta content contains details of all of the video content which is available to the user from the video service 22. If the user wishes to change the selection of video content being viewed, an appropriate instruction can be issued through the user control 24.

In one example, the user may instruct the receiver 14 to display the electronic programme guide (EPG), in the form of a carousel of available video content populated by meta content sent from the video service 22 on a continuous basis, or with periodic updating. This allows the user to view and navigate through the carousel until a desired video content is found. An appropriate instruction from the user control 24 then instructs the receiver 14 to select the desired video content, which is obtained from the video channel 12 and displayed for viewing by the user.

Alternative meta content In addition to providing meta content representing available video content, the apparatus of Fig 1 also has the facility to provide the user with alternative meta content. The alternative meta content is available from an alternative meta source 26. The input 18 and output 20 form a switching device 28 which has access to the alternative meta source 26 over a connection 29 and is also connected at 30 to the receiver 14. The connection 30 allows the input 18 to receive a user command from the receiver 14, representing a command to access alternative meta content. In response to this situation, the output 20 is able to retrieve alternative meta content from the alternative meta source 26 over the connection 29 and to send the alternative meta content to the receiver 14. over the connection 30.

The functions provided by the switch device 28 in conjunction with the receiver 14 can best be described by referring to an example of the procedure which is implemented when the various apparatus is in use, as will be now be described.

Procedure The procedure for viewing video content and for changing the selection by use of the EPG or carousel have been described above. Fig 2 illustrates the procedure for making use of alternative meta content from the alternative meta source 26. The procedure begins at 32. In this example, the first step 32 is performed by the user instructing the receiver 14 to pause or stop the current video content. This instruction is given by using the user control 24. The instruction is received at 34. After a pause or stop instruction has been given, the system enters a state in which it is receptive to a command to access alternative meta content. The user confirms that alternative meta content is required, by making an appropriate command at 36, using the user interface 24. This confirmation is interpreted at 38 as a request for alternative meta content.

In order to obtain alternative meta content, the receiver 14 requires communication with the switch device 28. In the example illustrated in Fig 1, a permanent connection exists between the receiver 14 and the switch device 28. In alternative examples, the connection 30 to the switch device 28 may be soft, such as the ability to obtain a connection over the Internet or other network arrangement. In the example of an Internet connection, the receiver 14 responds to the instruction at 38 by seeking a URL for the switch device 28, either from data stored permanently in the receiver 14 (step 40), or from data contained within operating software of the receiver 14 (step 42) or from data entered by the user (step 43). In a further alternative, the switch device 28 may monitor traffic on the video channel 12, to wait for a command to pause or stop sent from the receiver 14 to the video service 22.

In one of these ways, or in an alternative manner, the receiver 14 establishes a connection with the switch device 28 and forwards the user command to the switch device 28. The user command is augmented by the receiver by the addition of some meta data relating to the video content which is currently being delivered to the user.

This represents step 44. The meta data relating to the video content which is currently being delivered to the user is sufficient to identify the programme, film or other video content being delivered at the time the procedure began (step 32), noting that the delivery has been paused or stopped by this step 32. In addition to identifying the video content, the meta data relating to the video content which is currently being delivered to the user also includes a timestamp or other data sufficient to identify the scene or frame being viewed at the time the user paused or stopped the delivery of the video content.

Consequently, the input 18 of the switch device 28 receives a command 46 which is illustrated highly schematically in Fig 3 as containing three principal data fields. In Fig 3, the command 46 to the input 18 has a first field 48 which identifies the command as arising from a user command to access alternative meta content. A second field 50 contains program meta data sufficient to identify the video content being delivered. This may be an identifier which is unique to the video content. A third field 52 represents the timestamp or other data sufficient to identify the scene or frame being viewed. It is to be noted that the command 46 is issued by the receiver 14 in response to the user initiating the procedure and therefore represents a user command to access alternative meta content, but that the receiver 14 has added the additional fields 50, 52 to provide additional information relating to the user command.

The input 18 extracts the fields 50, 52 from the command 46. This allows the output to interrogate the alternative meta source 26 (step 54) to retrieve alternative meta content in response to the command 46.

Examples of alternative meta content are discussed in more detail below. Once the output 20 has retrieved the alternative meta content, the alternative meta content is sent to the user by delivery to the receiver 14 over the connection 30 (step 56).

Alternatively, the alternative meta content may be sent to the receiver 14 over the video channel 12. In one example to be described in more detail below, the alternative meta content represents alternative content for use in populating the EPG carousel or other user interface, in place of conventional programme listings based on meta data from the video service 22. This is done by the receiver at step 58. This allows the user to navigate the alternative meta content using the functionality and commands of the carousel.

Example of alternative meta content The command 46 to the switch device 28 identifies the video content and also the current timestamp or equivalent, thereby identifying the scene or frame which is currently being viewed by the user. Accordingly, it is envisaged that the alternative meta content retrieved from the alternative meta source 26 will relate to the contents of the scene or frame which is currently being viewed. For example, the alternative meta content may provide information about the location of the scene, or items visible within the scene, such as items of clothing, equipment, furniture or other items.

When the alternative meta content is used to populate the carousel, the alternative meta content may be grouped in various ways. For example, information relating to all items of clothing visible in the view may be grouped together, with information relating to items of furniture being grouped separately. The carousel functionality allows a user to navigate to an item of alternative meta content of interest. For example, the user may navigate to the alternative meta content relating to items of furniture and then to the alternative meta content relating to a sofa visible in the scene. In a simple example, this may allow the user to retrieve further information about the sofa (embodied within the alternative meta content relating to the sofa), such as details of the manufacturer, sources of availability, cost or other information.

In another example, the alternative meta content may be sufficient to allow the receiver to obtain further information about the sofa (in this example). For example, the alternative meta content may be a URL or other address at which further information about the sofa may be found. In a further example the alternative meta content can be used as part of an e-commerce system, as set out below.

It is envisaged that when alternative meta content is retrieved, all of the alternative meta content relating to the current scene and available from the alternative meta source 26 will be delivered on each occasion, and made available to the user. This maximises the benefit available to the user. Other possibilities exist, such as providing the user with a choice of categories of alternative meta content to be retrieved.

It is also envisaged that the alternative meta source 26 will maintain the alternative meta content on a permanent basis, as content indexed by reference to timestamps.

In this connection, it is to be noted that the alternative meta source can be separate from the video service 22 and may therefore be commercially independent, thus allowing alternative meta content to remain available, independently of changes in the video service 22.

In each of these examples, the alternative meta content represents further information about the contents of a scene or frame, rather than being meta data identifying the whole of the video content, such as its title. The alternative meta content therefore represents information about something within the scene or frame, such as background information or e-commerce information. The alternative meta content will therefore appear to the user to be information embedded within the scenes of the video content, rather than as information about the video content as a whole.

[-commerce system Returning to Fig 1, a fulfilment service 54 is illustrated, connected at 56 to the receiver 14. The receiver 14 makes use of the fulfilment service 54 in the following manner. If a user uses the alternative meta content to navigate to an item of the alternative meta content representing details of an item available for purchase, the user is then provided with an opportunity to use the user control 24 to issue a request to buy that item. The receiver 14 responds to this request by forwarding to the fulfilment service 54 the details of the item available for purchase, including the source of availability (such as the supplier). These details are retrieved from the alternative meta content.

The fulfilment service 54 is then able to perform a purchasing process by making contact with the supplier or other source of availability, ordering the purchase of the item and resolving payment and delivery issues in a conventional manner for e-commerce. For example, payment details (such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers or the like) for use by the fulfilment service 54 may be permanently saved within the receiver 14, or the fulfilment service 54 may seek these from the user at the time of purchase, by appropriate operation of the user interface 24.

Expected uses of the arranciements described It has been noted above that Broadcasters, advertisers and others constantly seek opportunities to promote sales of products and services to users, particularly by simplifying the process for making a purchase, so that it is convenient and therefore more likely to result in impulse purchases. The examples described above, and other examples of the invention being described, are expected to assist in this respect, in various ways.

For example, alternative meta content may be created for video content, containing information about some or all products visible in scenes contained in the video content, and available for purchase. The user is then able to pause or stop the video content at a scene containing a product which the user wishes to purchase. The procedure described above is then available to the user to retrieve alternative meta content, from which the user can obtain additional information relating to the item of interest, or from which the user can initiate the process of purchasing the item, as described above. In either alternative, the user has a simplified process for identifying the item of interest and/or the source of availability and/or purchasing the item.

In the event that the alternative meta content relates to the location of a scene, the user may be provided with an opportunity to access further information about the location as a destination, or to purchase a holiday at the location, for example.

Other examples may use alternative meta content to provide the user with additional background information, such as details of a work of art visible in the video content.

Alternative arranQements In the example described above (Fig 1), the switch device 28 has been described in association with the receiver 14. That is, the switch device 28 may be local to the receiver 14 or may be incorporated within the receiver 14. In Fig 1, the switch device 28 is illustrated as communicating with the alternative meta source 26 over a connection 30 which is different to the video Channel 12. This alternative allows the use of an alternative meta source 26 which is independent of the video service 22.

Alternatively, the alternative meta source 26 may be provided as part of the video service 22, in which case, the switch device 28 may communicate with the alternative meta source 26 over the video Channel 12. That is, the connection 30 and the video Channel 12 may be the same. This allows the input l8to monitor the video channel 12 to identify an instruction sent from the user to pause or stop the delivery of video content and to enter a state in which it is receptive to an alternative meta content command. The input 18 will stay in this state until an alternative meta content command is received, or an instruction is sent from the user to resume or start the delivery of video content.

In further alternatives, the switch device 28 may be remote from the receiver 14. For example, the switch device 28 may be provided as part of the video service 22 and arranged to listen for a pause or stop signal sent to the video service 22 over the video Channel 12 from the receiver 14, in order to begin the procedure for recovery of alternative meta data, as described above.

The user command to retrieve alternative meta content, or the alternative meta content sent by the output 20, may travel over different media to the video content.

For example, the user command may be sent over the internet or by a mobile telephone, tablet or other portable wireless device, once data relating to the video content has been obtained for augmenting the user command. This may be achieved by obtaining programme and timestamp or other information from the receiver 14 or from the screen 16. Similarly, the alternative meta content may be delivered to the user in various different ways, such as by the video channel 12, an alternative connection 30, or by communication with a separate user device such as a mobile telephone, tablet or other portable wireless device.

Concluding comments The description set out above has made reference to many functional features of the various apparatus described. It is to be understood that these functions can be provided by dedicated hardware or by general purpose hardware operating under the control of appropriate software or firmware. The invention is further envisaged as a computer program product comprising a data carrier carrying software which, when executed by means of software controlled apparatus, will implement one or more of the methods and procedures set forth above.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus and procedures described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, appropriate alternative meta content can be associated with many different types of video content and can provide the user with many different additional services. For example, video content representing a documentary programme could have additional background information provided by the alternative meta content, in the manner of footnotes in a textbook.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Data delivery apparatus for use with a video channel over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user, the apparatus comprising: an input operable to receive a user command representing a command to access alternative meta content, and an output operable to retrieve alternative meta content in response to a command received by the input, and to send the retrieved alternative meta content to the user; wherein the input is operable to identify an instruction sent from the user to pause or stop the delivery of the video content, and in response to a pause or stop instruction the input enters a state in which it is receptive to an alternative meta content command.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input is operable to receive the user command over the video channel.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output is operable to send the alternative meta content over the video channel.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the output is operable to select alternative meta content which is related to video content or meta content which is being delivered to the user.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the relationship between alternative meta content and video content or meta content is identified by analysing the user command.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the user command is analysed to extract information which identifies the video content currently being delivered.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a timestamp is extracted from the user command] representing that point in the video content which is currently being viewed by the user.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a receiver operable to receive video content, meta content and alternative meta content, and operable to display meta content to a user, and operable to display alternative meta content in place of meta content, when alternative meta content is received.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the receiver is operable to populate an electronic programme guide with meta content and to repopulate the electronic programme guide with alternative meta content when received.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the alternative meta content relates to items visible in the scene currently being viewed by the user.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the input is operable to monitor the channel to identify an instruction sent from the user to resume or start the delivery of the video content, and in response to a resume or start instruction the input enters a state in which it is not receptive to an alternative meta content command.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a database of alternative meta content.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising an order fulfilment module operable to receive a user command responsive to the alternative meta content and to execute an order fulfilment process.
14. A method of data delivery for use with a video channel over which video content and meta content are delivered to the user, in which: a user command is received, representing a command to access alternative meta content, alternative meta content is retrieved in response to the command, and the retrieved alternative meta content is sent to the user; in which, in response to an instruction sent from the user to pause or stop the delivery of the video content, a state is entered in which an alternative meta content command can be received.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the user command is received over the video channel.
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the alternative meta content is sent over the video channel.
17. A method according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the alternative meta content is related to video content or meta content which is being delivered to the user.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the relationship between alternative meta content and video content or meta content is identified by analysing the user command.
19. A method according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the user command is analysed to extract information which identifies the video content currently being delivered.
20. A method according to any of claims 14 to 19, wherein a timestamp is extracted from the user command, representing that point in the video content which is currently being viewed by the user.
21. A method according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein a receiver receives video content, meta content and alternative meta content, and the receiver displays meta content to a user when requested, and displays alternative meta content in place of meta content, when alternative meta content is available.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the receiver populates an electronic programme guide with meta content and repopulates the electronic programme guide with alternative meta content when received.
23. A method according to any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the alternative meta content relates to items visible in the scene currently being viewed by the user.
24. A method according to any of claims 14 to 23, wherein the channel is monitored to identify an instruction sent from the user to resume or start the delivery of the video content, and in response to a resume or start instruction, a state is entered in which an alternative meta content command is not received.
25. A method according to any of claims 14 to 24, in which alternative meta content is retrieved from a database.
26. A method according to any of claims 14 to 25, in which a user command responsive to the alternative meta content is used to execute an order fulfilment process.
27. A computer program product comprising a data carrier carrying software which, when executed by means of software controlled apparatus, will implement the method of any of claims 14 to 26.
28. Software which, when executed by means of a software controlled apparatus, will implement the method of any of claims 14 to 26.
29. Data delivery apparatus substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of data delivery, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
31. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.