GB2586693A

GB2586693A - Method and apparatus for the utilization of content associated with supplementary information

Info

Publication number: GB2586693A
Application number: GB2007521.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ubertini Gabriele; Mazzeo Gaetano
Original assignee: Sky Italia Srl
Current assignee: Sky Italia Srl
Priority date: 2019-05-20
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2021-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-20
Also published as: GB202007521D0; IT201900007039A1; GB2586693B; DE202020102893U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing a client apparatus, via a communication network in an Over- The-Top (OTT) environment, with audio and/or video content including at least two events and supplementary information relating these events. The method comprises: determining a current event and determining S1 supplementary information about the current event, determining S2 a next event and supplementary information about the next event, wherein the next event is determined based on a schedule. A plurality of content segments are transmitted S3 to the client, each content segment including data for reproducing a content portion of the current event, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments includes data for reproducing a final content portion of the current event and an initial content portion of the next event. A supplementary information element is transmitted S4 to the client, the element including supplementary information about the current event, which is set as relevant supplementary information, supplementary information about the next event, and time information indicating when the supplementary information about the following event replaces the information on the current event as the relevant supplementary information.

Description

"Method and apparatus for the fruition of contents associated with supplementary information"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for delivering contents, in particular for delivering audio and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to the audio and/or video contents by means of streaming techniques in an OTT (over-the-top) environment.

CD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to conventional techniques, the distribution of CD television programs is traditionally achieved using 15 radiofrequency (RF) "over the air" (OTA) broadcasting or a Cn cable distribution network. In recent years, however, many service providers have been offering more and more video contents to non-traditional devices (e.g. PCs, tablets, smartphones, etc.) using wireless networks or data networks like the Internet. This technique of distributing television contents is also known as OTT (over-the-top). For the distribution of contents over data networks, streaming techniques in combination with protocols such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), commonly used on the Internet, are well known. In particular, some known techniques for OTT content distribution are, for example, Apple's HLS (HTTP Live Streaming), MSS (Microsoft Smooth Streaming), and MPEG-DASH (Motion Picture Experts Group Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP).

According to the ABR (Adaptive Bit Rate) streaming 5 technique, content is generally divided into content segments (also known as "chunks"), each of which relates, for example, to several seconds of the audiovisual content. From a server (also server apparatus) delivering the service, the client (hereinafter also called "client apparatus") receives a list 10 (also known as a "manifest" or "playlist" in the technical field of reference) which identifies each of these content C\I segments.

N** A manifest normally refers to a portion of a television program, containing, for example, the URLs that can be used to r15 download the content segments relating to a part of a program; Cn once the client has processed the portion of content identified by a manifest, the client generally requests from the server delivering the service a new manifest, which identifies the subsequent segments of the program to be reproduced at the client. Alternatively, there are also known solutions in which the server delivering the service can send a new manifest without the client having to request it directly. As yet another alternative, the first manifest could contain a reference to all of the necessary chunks and thus the client might not to have to request a new manifest from the server delivering the service. According to a further alternative the manifest could provide a first naming convention based, for example, on a sequential numbering. The client could then derive the URLs of the subsequent chunks by inferring them on its own, without it being necessary to request an additional manifest.

In the prior art solutions relating to the OTT platform, however, there do not exist any known standard formats for providing supplementary information (for example metadata) tied to the events (for example, to enrich the description or features of the events) to clients by means of standard

CD

C\I streaming protocols (HLS/MSS/DASH).

In accordance with the prior art solutions, in fact, it is not possible to associate accessory (or supplementary) 15 information with given events in a simple and efficient manner.

In particular, one problem inherent in the prior art is the difficulty of temporally aligning the supplementary information with the audio and/or video events to which they 20 refer in an efficient manner.

The nonalignment can cause confusion in users who, when they want to enjoy, for example, certain primary audiovisual content (for example some instants of a film), are faced with supplementary information that is not updated, i.e. does not relate to the event they are currently enjoying.

In the particular case in which the supplementary information additionally represents parental control information (also known as parental rating or PR), there is also the risk that users of an age below a pre-established limit will be exposed to a type of content that is not appropriate for their age, due to a parental control exercised on the basis of obsolete parental rating information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to remedy the problems tied to the known techniques and thus to improve the

O

C\I same.

In particular, the present invention has the aim of CD further developing the delivery of audio and/or video contents to clients in an OTT environment by improving the association between audio and/or video contents and accessory (or supplementary) information.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for providing a client apparatus, via a communication network in an OTT environment, with audio and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to at least two events, wherein each of the at least two events forms part of the audio and/or video contents and the at least two events are transmitted via a linear OTT channel in accordance with a program schedule of the linear OTT channel. The method comprises the step of determining a current event transmitted via the linear OTT channel and determining supplementary information about the current event, determining a next event that is to be transmitted via the linear OTT channel and 5 determining supplementary information about the next event. The next event is automatically determined on the basis of the program schedule of the linear OTT channel when the current event is determined. The method further comprises a step of transmitting to the client a plurality of content segments, 10 wherein each content segment includes data for the reproduction, via the client apparatus, of a content portion

CD

C)J of the current event, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments includes data for the reproduction of a CD final content portion of the current event and data for the 1-15 reproduction, via the client, of an initial content portion of the next event. The method additionally comprises a step of transmitting to the client apparatus a supplementary information element relating both to the current event and to the next event. The supplementary information element 20 includes: supplementary information about the current event, which is set as relevant supplementary information, supplementary information about the next event, and time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant 25 supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.

By virtue of the fact that the supplementary information relating to the next event is sent jointly with the 5 supplementary information relating to the current event and with the time information, it is possible to substantially improve the alignment between the primary content, for example audiovisual content, and supplementary information also when there is a change of event (for example a change of television 10 program with an associated change of parental control information) within a same content segment.

C\I According to a preferred embodiment, the method includes N*** transmitting to the client apparatus a list including a plurality of first information retrieval items, each first r15 information retrieval item containing information usable by the client apparatus to request the transmission of one of the plurality of the content segments from a server.

Advantageously, in accordance with this preferred embodiment, it is possible to implement ABA methods and the 20 data transmission can be easily adapted based on user needs and bandwidth availability.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the step of transmitting the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information 25 elements, wherein said list includes a plurality of second information retrieval items, each second information retrieval item containing information usable by the client apparatus to request the transmission of one of the plurality of supplementary information elements from the server.

Advantageously, in accordance with this preferred embodiment, it is possible to decouple the primary content from the transmission of metadata containing the supplementary information. In particular, with respect to the primary stream, it becomes possible to transmit a separate dedicated 10 stream of metadata. The primary stream (corresponding to the content segments) can be transmitted via HSS (HTTP Smooth CD Streaming), whilst the supplementary information can be transmitted, for example, via a separate Timed Text Markup O Language (TTML) stream. Other types of formats for The primary 1-15 stream and for the supplementary information are obviously likewise possible.

According to a further preferred embodiment, an alternative to the previous one, the step of transmitting the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information elements, wherein each first information retrieval item contains information usable by the client to request the transmission of one of the plurality of supplementary information elements from the server. The primary stream (corresponding to the content segments) can be transmitted via HLS streaming and the supplementary information can be included in the primary stream using, for example, the known id3 format. Other types of formats for the primary stream and for the supplementary information are likewise possible.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the step of transmitting the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information elements, wherein each supplementary information element corresponds to one of the plurality of content segments.

Thanks to the transmission of a same number of supplementary information elements and a plurality of content

CD

C\I segments it is possible to optimize the temporal alignment of the supplementary information and the events, enabling the reproduction of updated supplementary information, even when a change of event occurs within a same chunk. Furthermore, Cn thanks to the repetition of the supplementary information, it is possible to increase system reliability by reducing the risk that the supplementary information will not be correctly received by the client apparatus.

According to a further preferred embodiment, each content segment and its corresponding supplementary information element are transmitted to the client simultaneously or within a time window such that, when the content segment is reproduced by the client, the corresponding supplementary information is already available at the client.

Thanks to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to avoid situations in which the primary content is reproduced in the absence of supplementary information.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the current 5 event and the next event are consecutive broadcast television programs.

This aspect of the invention enables an effective and immediate determination of the next event.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the time 10 information is indicative of the time at which the current event ends and/or is indicative of the time at which the next C\I event starts.

Thanks to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to establish an immediate correspondence between time information 15 and the current and next events, allowing the supplementary Cn information to be effectively synchronized with the associated event.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the supplementary information for each of the at least two events 20 is at least one of the following: parental control rating information; available audio language information; available subtitle language information.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the steps of 25 the method are performed by a single server or by a number of servers connected to the client apparatus via a communication network.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system including: one or more server apparatuses in 5 an OTT environment configured to provide, via a communication network, audio and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to at least two events to at least one client in the OTT environment, wherein the system is configured to perform the steps of the method defined 10 previously.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it CD is possible to provide a client apparatus (or terminal). The client apparatus can be operable in an OTT environment and can CD be configured to receive audio and/or video contents and 1-15 supplementary information relating to at least two events, wherein each of the at least two events forms part of the audio and/or video contents. The client apparatus is configured to receive the at least two events via a linear channel in accordance with a program schedule of the linear channel. The client apparatus can comprise receiving means configured to receive a plurality of content segments, wherein each content segment includes data enabling the client apparatus to reproduce a content portion of a current event, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments includes data enabling the client apparatus to reproduce a final content portion of the current event and an initial content portion of a next event. The apparatus can further be such that the receiving means are configured to receive a supplementary information element relating both to the current 5 event and to the next event. The supplementary information element can include supplementary information about the current event which is set as relevant supplementary information, supplementary information about the next event, and time information indicative of a time at which the 10 supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and the supplementary

CD

C)J information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.

CD Finally, the client apparatus can further comprise output 1-15 means configured to output, on the basis of the plurality of content segments and the supplementary information element, an audio and/or video signal usable by an audio and/or video reproduction apparatus to reproduce the contents.

LIST OF FIGURES

-Figure 1 shows a terminal and a content delivering entity according to one aspect of the invention.

-Figure 2(A) shows a functional block diagram of a terminal according to one embodiment of the invention. 25 -Figure 2(B) shows a sequence of content segments or chunks.

-Figures 3(A)-3(D) show examples of lists including network resources transmitted by the delivering entity to the terminal, and examples of content of the network resources.

-Figure 4 shows a table illustrating the relationship between 5 the audio/video stream corresponding to the content segments and the stream of supplementary information corresponding to the supplementary information elements.

-Figure 5 shows a block diagram relating to a method for implementing an aspect of the invention.

-Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a computer device capable of implementing an aspect of the present invention. (:) 0.1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

O Figure 1 shows a system 1 for the fruition of audio and/or 1-15 video content, such as, for example, a television program. The system 1 comprises a terminal 10 (hereinafter also "client" or "client apparatus") and an entity delivering audio and/or video content 30 (hereinafter also indicated simply as "server"), connected to each other via a communication network 20 20. The system 1 forms an OTT audio and/or video content distribution system.

Embodiments in which the system 1 constitutes an OTT system for distributing audio and/or video contents via a linear OTT channel will be discussed below. Preferably, the 25 delivering unit 30 is therefore a unit capable of distributing audio and/or video contents via a linear OTT channel by broadcasting to a plurality of terminals 10 (though only one terminal 10 is shown in figure _).

"Linear OTT channel" here means a channel that provides 5 for the transmission of content (for example, television programs or events) according to a pre-established sequence (also known as a program schedule) via the IP network, in a manner that is similar to that of the traditional radio-frequency broadcasting of television programs. The program 10 sequence is established by the service provider that operates the delivering unit 30. In other words, the program sequence C\I is defined in advance, i.e. prior to transmission of the content and therefore prior to the reproduction thereof via CD the terminal 10. In still other words, the contents (or r15 television programs or events) are defined as a programming Cn subdivision based on the program schedule of the linear channel: for each event, the program schedule establishes a time at which the given event starts (i.e. at which it starts to be reproduced or, alternatively, at which it starts to be transmitted), and a time at which a given event ends (i.e. is no longer reproduced).

The terminal 10 is advantageously produced, for example, in the form of an IPTV set-top box (STB) or an IP box, to be installed, for example, in the homes of end users who use the 25 audio-video contents. Alternatively, the terminal 10 could also be produced in the form of a tablet, a smart TV or a smartphone. These examples of application are not exhaustive and other embodiments of the terminal 10 are likewise possible in accordance with the present invention.

Advantageously, the terminal 10 is configured to decode content received in encrypted form. Furthermore, the terminal 10 is configured to decompress the contents received in compressed form, for example in accordance with the MPEG/AVC standard. Naturally, other compression/decompression standards and various encrypting/decoding standards are possible in accordance with the present invention. According to a

CD

C)J preferred embodiment, the terminal 10 can be connected to a display or television set (for example by means of an HDMI CD cable, or in the BluetoothR mode), to which it sends the 1-15 signals for viewing after decoding and decompression.

The communication network 20 can comprise one or more networks, which can include, for example, Internet networks and/or wireless networks, for data transmission.

The delivering entity 30 can be made up of, or comprise, a 20 single server or a number of servers, for example distributed servers, although it is represented in the figures as a single block for the sake of simplicity.

In order to achieve distribution of the audio and/or video contents via streaming, the delivering entity 30 and the 25 terminal 10 can implement any known streaming technique, such as, for example, http live streaming (HLS), Microsoft SS (MSS), Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) -Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Http (DASH), etc. The delivering entity 30 is capable of providing the 5 terminal 10 with a first list (or playlist) including a plurality of first information retrieval items (see for example the list in figure 3(A)). By using the first information retrieval items, the terminal 10 is able to request and obtain the content segments (or chunks) from the 10 delivering entity 30 (see for example the list in figure 3(C)). In a corresponding manner, the delivering entity 30 is

CD

C\I able to provide the terminal 10 with the content segments in response to the request made by the terminal 10 using the first information items. For example, each first information r15 retrieval item can consist of a URL by means of which a Cn content segment can be downloaded from the terminal 10. Each content segment relates to a content portion of a current event or, alternatively, relates to the final portion of a current event and to the initial portion of a next event. More specifically, each content segment contains data for reproducing a content portion of a current event via the terminal 10, or for reproducing a final portion of a current event and the initial portion of a next event via the terminal 10. Each event forms part of the audio and/or video content provided by the delivering entity, for example each event constitutes a television program of a linear OTT channel. According to known streaming techniques, the content segments correspond to adjacent and successive portions of 5 audio and/or visual content that can be reproduced sequentially by the client apparatus 10 so as to reproduce the content delivered.

Optionally, the delivering entity 30 is also able to provide the terminal 10 with a second list including a 10 plurality of second information retrieval items, intended for obtaining supplementary information relating to the audio

CD

C\I and/or video contents (see for example the list of figure 3(B)). Alternatively, the delivering entity 30 can be able to provide a single list including the plurality of first 15 information retrieval items and the plurality of second information retrieval items.

By using the second information retrieval items, the terminal 10 is able to request the delivering entity 30 for supplementary information elements relating to a given event, for example relating to the current and next events (see for example the list of figure 3(M). In a corresponding manner, the delivering entity 30 is able to provide the terminal 10 with the supplementary information elements in response to the request made by the terminal 10 using the second information items.

Alternatively, the first information retrieval items intended for obtaining the content segments can be used by the terminal 10 to request both the content segments and the supplementary information elements from the delivering entity 30.

In the present context, an event can be generically defined as a part of the audio and/or video contents to be provided to the client apparatus; an event is made up of a set of content portions, each of which corresponds to a content segment or to a part of a content segment, logically linked to one another. For example, the content portions can be

CD

C)J logically linked because they relate to a same movie, a same television program, or show, or the same advertising content.

CD Similar considerations can apply for audio events; in this Cn15 case the content portions can be logically linked to one another because they relate to a same audio track, a same song, a same dialogue, etc. In a preferred embodiment, an event corresponds to an audiovisual event and in particular ad a television program.

With reference to figure 2(A) the terminal 10 can be produced, in an example embodiment of the present invention, with an IPTV set-top box or an IP box. The terminal 10 includes request and acquisition means 24 configured to send a request for a first and a second list (or a single list) in response to an input command 28 input by the user (for example via a remote control). The request is transmitted to the delivering entity 30 via a transmission interface 27 of the terminal 10 which transmits and receives the data via the IP communication network 20. Furthermore, the request and 5 acquisition means 24 of the terminal 10 are configured to receive the first and the second list from the delivering entity 30. The request and acquisition means 24 are capable of receiving the first and the second list from the delivering entity 30 via the IP network 20 and the communication 10 interface 27, they can control the downloading, via the IP network 20, of the content segments and the supplementary C\I information elements using the information items (for example URLs) contained in the lists received. The content segments and the supplementary information elements are received by the r15 terminal 10 in an IP transmission format via the interface 27. Cn The terminal 10 includes receiving means 25 intended to receive the content segments and the supplementary information. Advantageously, the terminal 10 further includes a decoder 21 capable of decrypting the signals relating to the content segments received in encrypted form, and a decompressor 22 capable of decompressing the signals relating to the content segments.

The receiving means 25 are intended to receive the content segments and the supplementary information originating from 25 the IP network 20 via the interface 27. Advantageously, the receiving means 25 are configured to send the content segments 29a to the decoder 21.

The decrypted signals 29d are sent by the decoder 21 to the decompressor 22, which decompresses the signals relating to the content segments in order to relay then the decompressed signals 29e to output means 201 of the terminal 10 for outputting towards the television set 60. The decompressor 22 can operate according to known standards such as, for example, the MPEG/AVC standard.

Advantageously, the content segments obtained are saved in a buffer as soon as they are received by the terminal 10, in

CD

C)J order then to be decoded and decompressed at the appropriate time in the process of reproducing the content in real time.

CD The supplementary information elements received by the 1-15 receiving means 25 via the interface of network 27 can be processed in the same manner as the content segments 29a or they can be processed in a different manner depending on the type of coding applied. By way of example, in figure 2(A) the receiving means 25 are configured to send the supplementary 20 information elements 29b to the decoder 21; once decrypted, in the example in figure 2(A), the supplementary information elements 29c are sent to the output means 201, having been transmitted by the IP network 20 without being previously compressed. However, it will be apparent to the person skilled 25 in the art that the method of processing the supplementary elements is not limited to the examples given. For example, if the supplementary information elements have been subjected to compression during the sending thereof by the delivering entity, at the output of the decoder 21 the associated signal can be relayed to the decompressor 22 before being sent to the output means 201.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the temporal alignment between the content items and the supplementary information need not necessarily be performed at the time of compression on the side of the delivering entity 30, but it can be conveniently performed later by the C\I receiving means 25. According to this embodiment it is possible to use a separate dedicated stream to send metadata (i.e. the supplementary information elements), and it is r15 possible to manage the distribution of the contents using the Cn Internet Protocol (IP) rather than via DTH (Direct To Home). This embodiment is distinguished, for example, by techniques for sending the parental rating of each program to DTH user devices and in which no information about timing is sent but the temporal alignment between the video content and the parental rating is obtained at the time of compression of the video streams by adding the metadata in the headers of the video packetized elementary stream (PES).

The output means 201 receive the decoded supplementary 25 information elements 29c as input and establish supplementary information to be reproduced, to be sent to an audio and/or video reproduction apparatus (for example a television set). The supplementary information to be reproduced can be reproduced together with the primary content (i.e. the content relating to the content segments). The output means 201 can determine the supplementary information to be reproduced, for example, on the basis of a comparison between the decoded supplementary information elements 29c and a policy.

The television set (60) is also represented in Figure 10 2(A), connected to the output means 201 of the terminal 10, for example by means of a cable and an HDMI connection. The

CD

C\I terminal 10, following decoding and decompression, sends the audio and/or video signal to the television set 60 for the display thereof to the user of the terminal.

r15 It is to be noted here that the representation in figure Cn 2(A) is a functional diagram of the terminal 10 for illustrative purposes, and that the various means 21, 22, 24, 25 and 201 can be produced with distinct or combined hardware components and/or with different software modules.

The receiving means 25, are configured to receive a plurality of content segments. Each content segment of the content segments may include data that enable the terminal 10 to reproduce events and/or portions of events, for example it may include data enabling the reproduction of a current event and/or of a next event. According to a particular example, the data contained in each of a plurality of content segments (see for example Chunk#0 and Chunk#1 in figure 2(B)) enables the reproduction of a content portion of a current event, while a content segment (see for example Chunk#2 in figure 2(B)) of 5 the plurality of content segments may include data chat enable the terminal 10 to reproduce a final content portion of the current event and an initial content portion of a next event. Figure 2(B) shows a sequence of chunks (or content segments) relating to two successive events, Event A (current event) and 10 Event B (next event), which the terminal 10 is configured to receive via the receiving means 25. In the example in the

CD

C\I figure, the plurality of chunks -Chunk#0, Chunk#1 and Chunk#2 -forms content segments for the reproduction of the current event, Event A, i.e. they include data that enable the r15 terminal 10 to reproduce Event A; furthermore, Chunk#2 Cn includes data that enable the terminal 10 to reproduce a final content portion of the current event, Event A, and an initial content portion of a next event, Event B. Finally, in the example in figure, the plurality of chunks -Chunk#2, Chunk#3 and Chunk#4 -forms content segments for the reproduction of the next event, Event B, i.e. they include data that enable the terminal 10 to reproduce Event B. Said receiving means 25 are further configured to receive at least one supplementary information element relating both 25 to the current event and to the next event.

The supplementary information element includes: supplementary information about the current event which is set as relevant supplementary information, supplementary information about the next event, and time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.

The output means 201 are configured to output, on the basis of the plurality of content segments and of the C\I supplementary information element, an audio and/or video signal usable by an audio and/or video reproduction apparatus (in the example in figure 2(A), the television set 60) to Cnr 15 reproduce the contents. According to a preferred embodiment, the output means 201 output a content signal reproducible by the reproduction apparatus 60 based on the supplementary information about the current event before the time indicated by the time information included in the supplementary 20 information element, whilst the output means 201 output a content signal reproducible by the reproduction apparatus 60 based on the supplementary information about the next event starting from the time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the 25 relevant supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.

The terminal 10 can be capable of performing given actions on the basis of the content of the supplementary information 5 about the event considered relevant for a given time. For example, depending on the content of the supplementary information, the terminal 10 could send, via the output means 201, an additional signal (audio and/or video signal) to the television set 60 so that additional content is reproduced for 10 the user. The additional content could for example include wording and/or an informative phrase or sentence. The phrase

CD

C\I and/or wording could for example notify of content suitable for a specific group of users (for example suitable for adults or people in a given age range), and/or unsuitable for a r15 specific group of users (for example unsuitable for minors). Cn

In this case the supplementary information about the current event could be indicative of a so-called parental rating or PR. Furthermore, the terminal 10 could be configured to prevent (for example by darkening) or hinder (for example by means of blurring effects) the fruition of a given event relating to audio and/or video content on the basis of the supplementary information about the event itself, so as to prevent the event associated with given supplementary information (for example a given PR) from being reproduced in a setting in which users belonging to a given category could be present, for example users under a given age.

The response of the terminal 10 to the supplementary information can be configurable by a user or configured 5 automatically via the server.

Figure 3(A) shows an example of a first list including a plurality of first information retrieval items. Similarly, figure 3(B) shows an example of a second list including a plurality of second information retrieval items.

In particular, each first information retrieval item contains, for example, information usable by the terminal 10

CD

C)J to request a server 30 to transmit a content segment forming part of a plurality of the content segments. An example of CD content segments that may be requested by means of the first 1-15 information retrieval items is shown in figure 3(C). Similarly, each second information retrieval item contains information usable by the terminal 10 to request the server to transmit a supplementary information element (for example metadata) forming part of a plurality of supplementary information elements.

As said, the first list and the second list can be provided to the terminal 10 in the form of a single list including both a first plurality of first information retrieval items and a second plurality of second information retrieval items. In this case, the first plurality and the second plurality can contain a different number of items. Alternatively, the first plurality and the second plurality can contain a same number of items. For the sake of illustrative simplicity, hereinafter reference will be made simply to the list; in either case it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the principles stated in reference to a single list are also applicable to the case in which two different lists are present.

As illustrated in figure 3(B), each second information 10 retrieval item can be the same item, i.e. the same resource identifier, throughout the duration of a same event. This C\I means that the second information retrieval items vary N** exclusively as a function of the event and do not vary as a function of the content segment. Alternatively, the second r15 information retrieval items can vary for a same event (i.e. Cn different second information retrieval items correspond to different content segments), but nonetheless allow the terminal 10 to request a same supplementary information element. For example, the second information retrieval items can represent different URLs that lead the terminal 10 to download the same supplementary information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the supplementary information about the event could alternatively be directly included in the data chunk, 25 that is, it could be incorporated in the first content segments. This could be advantageous, for example, in the case of HLS streaming, where the supplementary information about the event can be for example transmitted using the id3 format. According to this aspect of the invention, it is not necessary to send a list of second information retrieval items and the supplementary information elements are interpreted before being sent to the output means 201.

When the list becomes obsolete (for example when the terminal 10 has acquired all of the content segments described 10 in the current list and relating to the first plurality of first information retrieval items), the terminal 10 can send a C\I subsequent request for a new first list to the delivering entity 30 in order to obtain new items of information to be used to download new segments of the audio/video content.

r15 Advantageously, both the first information retrieval items Cn and the second information retrieval items can comprise network addresses and/or resource identifiers, such as, for example, URLs that can be used by the terminal 10 to download the audio or video content segments.

Figure 4 shows a table schematically illustrating the temporal relationship between the primary content (relating to the content segments) and the stream of supplementary information elements (i.e. the stream of metadata) in the case of transmission of a linear OTT channel wherein a current television program is Event A and the next television program is Event B. The supplementary information element includes at least three items of supplementary information, and in particular 5 supplementary information relating to the current event (set by default as relevant information), supplementary information relating to the next event, and time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and, 10 accordingly, the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.

CD

C\I In figure 4, with respect to the reproduction start time 8:00:50 (i.e. Chunk #1, wherein a "chunk" corresponds to a content segment that covers the period of time from 8:00:50 to 9:00:00), Event A represents the current event having Cn supplementary information PR-1 (i.e. parental rating-1) and Event B represents the next event having supplementary information PR=2. The time information 9:00:05 represents the time at which Event B starts (and Event A ends). Chunk #1 is a 20 content segment relating solely to the current event, Event A. Chunk #2 is a content segment relating to the final portion of Event A and the initial portion of Event B, as it covers the period of time from 9:00:00 to 9:00:10, wherein Event A ends at 9:00:05 and Event B starts. The supplementary 25 information associated with Chunk #2 is the same supplementary information as was already associated with Chunk #1, since at the time when the reproduction of Chunk #2 starts, the current event (Event A) and the next event (Event B) are the same as at the time when the reproduction of Chunk #1 started.

The chunk corresponding to the reproduction start time 9:00:10 (i.e. Chunk #3) includes data for reproducing a portion of Event B; in this case the supplementary information regarding Event C, i.e. PR=3, in addition to the supplementary information regarding Event B PR=2, is already sent. Said Event C represents the new next event, as within Chunk #3 Event B becomes the new current event and Event A becomes

CD

C\I obsolete. In this manner, the supplementary information for the next event is always sent in advance, thus allowing the terminal 10 to be able to determine the appropriate actions on r15 the basis of the supplementary _nformation. Cn According to one particular embodiment, as in the case in figure 4, a supplementary information element is associated with each content segment. Preferably, in the case where a supplementary information element is associated with each content segment, the supplementary information element is identical for all of the content segments that start with the same event. In the example in figure 4, both Chunk#1 and Chunk#2 have the same supplementary information element, as Chunk#1 and Chunk#2 both start with Event A. In other words, the supplementary information element is defined considering, as the current event, the event that refers to the start of the time period covered by the associated content segment.

The current event can be generically defined as the event including the content portion including the current time, i.e. 5 the content portion currently being reproduced by the terminal 10 or by the television set connected to it.

Advantageously, the terminal 10 can be configured to set the supplementary information about the next event as the relevant supplementary information on the basis of the time information. In particular, the time information can be indicative of the time at which the current event ends and/or

CD

C\I indicative of the time at which the next event starts.

Based on the new relevant supplementary information thus defined it is possible to establish an accurate correspondence r15 in time between the start of the primary audio and/or video Cn content transmitted and the actions undertaken also when the change of event occurs within a same chunk, that is, within a content segment. Thanks to the accurate correspondence it is possible to avoid the possibility of a primary initial content portion (relating to the content segments) being displayed without the appropriate action having been undertaken.

With particular reference to the example of the parental rating, thanks to the present disclosure it is possible also to prevent in advance the initial instants of content that is unsuitable for certain categories of users from being displayed, thus improving the user experience.

The supplementary information can further relate to available audio language information and/or available subtitle language information. In this case, the terminal 10 could display a screen with additional information relating to the available languages for subtitles (or audio tracks), such as, for example a list of available languages.

According to other embodiments, as an alternative or in 10 addition to the above-described actions, it could be desirable for the terminal 10 to reproduce audio information instead of CD video information. For example, a message might indicate that a given event is unsuitable for minors, or it could list the CD languages available for the event.

1-15 As may be deduced from the foregoing description, according to some embodiments, by virtue of the repeated sending (i.e. for each chunk) of supplementary information about the current event it is possible to improve the alignment between the primary content (i.e. a given event) and 20 the related supplementary information irrespective of the specific chunks received by the terminal 10. This allows a user not to be faced with non-updated supplementary information, irrespective of the exact moment of fruition of the primary content.

By virtue of the repeated sending of supplementary information about the next event it is possible to simplify the structure of the chunk (i.e. of the corresponding metadata), so that the chunks having the same structure can always be sent. Furthermore, the alignment is improved, irrespective of the specifications of the chunk itself, such as, for example, its duration, which can also depend on the terminal 10.

Figure 5 illustrates a method in accordance with one 10 embodiment of the present invention. In particular, figure 5 describes a method for providing a client apparatus with audio CD and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to at least two events.

CD The audio and/or video contents is provided via a 1-15 communication network in an over-the-top, OTT, environment and each of the at least two events can form part of the audio and/or video contents. In accordance with this method, at least four steps are envisaged, advantageously implemented by one or more servers making up the delivering entity 30. 20 However, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art, further steps can be present and at least some of the steps described can be combined and/or performed simultaneously.

In a first step Sl, a current event and supplementary information about the current event are determined. In a second step S2, a next event and supplementary information about the next event are determined.

According to a preferred embodiment wherein the delivery of contents takes place via a linear OTT channel, in steps Si 5 and S2, the current and next events are advantageously determined by the delivering entity 30 on the basis of the predefined program schedule of the linear channel programming. In steps S1 and S2, moreover, the supplementary information corresponding to an event (current or next) is 10 determined by the delivering entity 30 on the basis of the determined current and next events, by using a database (not

CD

C\I shown in the figure) in which the supplementary information is stored in association with the events deliverable by the delivering unit 30.

r15 In a third step S3, a plurality of content segments is Cn transmitted to the client apparatus. Each content segment includes data for reproducing a content portion of The current event via the client apparatus, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments may include data for reproducing 20 a final content portion of the current event and an initial content portion of the next event via the client apparatus. Finally, in a fourth step S4, a supplementary information element relating both to the current event and the next event is transmitted to the client apparatus. The supplementary 25 information element can include by way of example: supplementary information about the current event which is set as relevant supplementary information; ii) supplementary information about the next event; and iii) time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary CD information.

O According to an embodiment, there is further provided a 1-15 computer program configured to perform, when the program is run on a computer, any one or a combination of the functions of the terminal 10 described with reference to the embodiments. Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram exemplifying a computer 600 capable of executing the aforesaid program. In 20 particular, the computer 600 comprises a memory 630 for storing the program instructions and/or data necessary for the execution thereof, a processor 620 for executing the instructions themselves and an input/output interface 610.

According to a further embodiment, there is also provided 25 a computer program configured to perform, when the program is run on a computer, any one or a combination of the functions of the delivering entity 30 described with reference to the embodiments. The computer 600 in figure 6 can be used to execute the program which, when executed, implements the functions of the delivering entity 30 described above. In other words, the computer 30 can be used to create both the terminal 10 and the delivering entity 30 according to the program installed and run on the computer 600.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for providing a client apparatus, via a communication network in an over-the-top, OTT, environment, with audio and/or video contents and with supplementary information relating to at least two events, wherein each of the at least two events forms part of the audio and/or video contents, wherein the at least two events are transmitted via a linear OTT channel in accordance with a program schedule of the linear OTT channel;Othe method comprising the steps of: determining (S1) a current event transmitted via the linear OTT channel and determining supplementary information about the current event, determining (S2) a next event that is to be transmitted via the linear OTT channel and determining supplementary information about the next event, wherein the next event is automatically determined on the basis of the program schedule of the linear OTT channel when the current event is determined, transmitting (S3) to the client apparatus a plurality of content segments, wherein each content segment includes data for the reproduction, via the client apparatus, of a content portion of the current event, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments includes data for the reproduction, via the client apparatus, of a final content portion of the current event and of a initial content portion of the next event, transmitting (S4) to the client apparatus a supplementary information element relating both to the current event and to the next event, the supplementary information element including: CD -supplementary information about the current event which is set as relevant supplementary information; N* CD 1--15 -supplementary information about the next event; and CY) -time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information.;2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes transmitting to the client apparatus a list including a plurality of first information retrieval items, each first information retrieval item containing information usable by the client apparatus to request the transmission of one of the plurality of the content segments from a server.;3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information elements, wherein said list includes a plurality of second information retrieval items, each second information retrieval item containing information usable by the client apparatus to request the transmission of CD one of the plurality of supplementary information C)J elements from a server. r,-;T15 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting Cn the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information elements, wherein each first information retrieval item contains information usable by the client apparatus to request the transmission of one of the plurality of supplementary information elements from a server.;5. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of transmitting the supplementary information element comprises transmitting a plurality of supplementary information elements, wherein a supplementary information element corresponds to each of the plurality of content segments.;6. The method of claim 5, wherein each content segment and its corresponding supplementary information element are transmitted to the client apparatus simultaneously or within a time window such that, when the content segment is reproduced by the client apparatus, the corresponding supplementary information is already available at the client apparatus.;CD 7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the current event and the next event are consecutive O(:) broadcast television programs. 1--15;CY) 8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time information is indicative of the time at which the current event ends and/or is indicative of the time at which the next event starts.;9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supplementary information for each of the at least two events is at least one of the following: parental control rating information; available audio language information; available subtitle language information.;10. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of the method are performed by a single server (30) or by a number of servers.;11. A system including: one or more server apparatuses (30) in an OTT environment configured to provide audio and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to at least two events to at least one client apparatus (10) in CD the OTT environment via a communication network (20), wherein the system is configured to perform the method of Oany one of the preceding claims. 1--15Cn 12. A client apparatus, operable in an OTT environment, configured to receive audio and/or video contents and supplementary information relating to at least two events via a communication network, wherein each of the at least two events forms part of the audio and/or video contents, said client apparatus being configured to receive the at least two events via a linear OTT channel in accordance with a program schedule of the linear OTT channel; the client apparatus comprising: receiving means (25, 25a) configured to receive a plurality of content segments, wherein each content segment includes data enabling the client apparatus to reproduce a content portion of a current event, and a content segment of the plurality of content segments includes data enabling the client apparatus to reproduce a final content portion of the current event and a initial content portion of a next event; wherein the receiving means (25, 25b) are configured to receive a supplementary information element relating both CD to the current event and to the next event, the C)J supplementary information element including: -supplementary information about the current event Cn which is set as relevant supplementary information; -supplementary information about the next event; and -time information indicative of a time at which the supplementary information about the next event becomes the relevant supplementary information and the supplementary information about the current event is no longer the relevant supplementary information; the client apparatus further comprising output means (201), configured to output, on the basis of the plurality of content segments and the supplementary information element, an audio and/or video signal usable by an audio and/or video reproduction apparatus (60) to reproduce the contents.*