KR20050052538A - Method and system for supporting user interaction in broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for supporting user interaction in interactive TV and radio programs. The method enables a new way to implement the interaction, as well as new types of content services. For example, a viewer may obtain a picture of his/her favourite actor as follows: the viewer presses a key of a remote control when the favourite actor is shown on a TV-receiver, the TV-receiver sends a time code to the viewer's mobile phone, the viewer transmits the time code to a still image service, and the service sends the still image of the favourite actor in a MMS message to the viewer. The method is based on the idea that each piece of a broadcast can be mapped to a code, such as a time code. This way a TV-viewer can interact with a program pointing to any piece of the broadcast by using the time code.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING USER INTERACTION IN BROADCASTING}

The present invention relates to video and / or audio broadcasts and user interaction with TV-programs and other forms of interactive content services.

Digital TV broadcasting began in many countries and will eventually replace analog television broadcasting. Digital broadcasting includes digital television, cable TV, video streaming, radio, multimedia programs, the Internet, and the like. Digital television receivers can receive all these types of services. Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) and digital video broadcasting (DVB) are generally terms used in connection with digital broadcasting.

Interactive TV or interactive TV is a term generally used when a viewer can communicate with an interactive TV-program. Viewers may send information to broadcasters or service providers, for example, to place orders, answer quizzes, and participate in voting.

A return channel or a back channel refers to a channel for transmitting viewer information, such as a viewer's identity and selection, to a broadcaster or a third party. Public switched tele-communication networks (PSTNs) or mobile communication networks may be used to implement uplink channels. The viewer may transmit the information to the broadcaster through the uplink channel, for example, by using a mobile phone. There are a variety of methods known in the art for implementing uplink channels.

In this application we use the term "interactive content service" which means a service whose content is mainly transmitted to a user via a video and / or audio broadcast network and connected with at least one uplink channel. For example, TV-programs and advertisements can be considered as interactive content services. Viewers of a TV-program can primarily obtain the content of the service through the TV-receiver and use the upstream channel to interact with the service if desired.

GB 2360171 describes an example of using an uplink channel. Telecommunication systems are used for interaction between viewers and TV-program services. The viewer has a teddy bear as a control module. The viewer can act via the control module, and in response to the user action, the TV-program service can, for example, move the bear's leg.

Prior art TV-advertisements may include telephone numbers, text TV pages, or Internet addresses from which information about the advertised product may be obtained. The telephone number or text TV page shown in the TV commercial is associated with the advertised product. Thus, when a viewer calls the number or watches the text TV page, the viewer gets information about the product being advertised. If the TV-advertisement includes an internet address, the internet address is provided exclusively for the advertised product or there is a link for the viewer to obtain an internet page containing information about the advertised product.

Phone numbers, text TV pages, and Internet addresses are the prior art means by which viewers interact with TV- commercials or other TV-programs. Thus phone numbers, text TV pages and Internet addresses could be called "action codes." When the viewer watches something interesting on the TV, the viewer can execute using the action code shown on the TV.

The TV-viewer is one example of a user and the radio listener is another example, so the term "user" means both. Sometimes an employee of a service provider handling a broadcast can also be considered a user.

The first drawback of the prior art is the weak availability of action code. Commercial advertisements are often short enough that users lack the time to write down the phone number. In any case, making a call or using the Internet is expensive to attract users' attention.

A second drawback of the prior art is that the possibility of interaction is very limited because the service provider strictly controls the interaction. The service provider assigns an action code, maps the action code to one or more TV-programs, and shows them in the TV-program.

A third drawback is that there is no means for the user to point to any part of the broadcast when the user interacts with the service associated with the broadcast. This kind of means is very useful in some prior art content services and new types of content services.

1 shows an embodiment of a time-based encoding.

2 shows an embodiment of sequence number-based encoding.

3 shows a third encoding embodiment.

4 shows a TV-receiver for an interactive program.

5 shows a service display and interaction logo intended to assist the viewer in interacting with a TV-program.

6 shows a method of supporting user interaction.

7 shows one embodiment of a system that supports user interaction.

When implementing an interactive content service, there is a basic question to solve: "How can a user direct to a particular part of the broadcast when the user interacts with the broadcast?"

In the new type of service, the basic question is "How can the user direct to which part of the broadcast when the user interacts with the broadcast?"

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide the possibility of directing to any part of the broadcast. This pointing capability allows new types of services and new methods to implement prior art services.

In addition to telephone numbers, text TV pages, and Internet addresses, there are new ways to use. Most broadcasts include a "time code". Thus, we can think of a broadcast as being divided into several parts, each part having its own time code.

In one aspect of the invention, a user uses a remote control to capture the time code from the broadcast. The user then sends the captured time code in the short message to the designated telephone number. A system receiving a short message obtains the time code from the short text. The system accesses the storage device where the broadcast is stored. The system reads the storage device and retrieves a particular portion of the broadcast to which the time code is mapped. The system determines the context of user execution based on the retrieved portion of the broadcast. For example, the context may be that the user wants to obtain additional information about the product shown in the broadcast.

The TV-receiver according to the invention receives a signal initiated by a user and obtains a time code or corresponding code from the broadcast in response to the received signal, wherein the code identifies a particular part of the broadcast. The TV-receiver then provides the code to the user and / or sends the code to another device.

The system according to the invention is for one or more interactive content services. Still picture service is an example of a new type of service. When a user captures a time code from a digital TV-broadcast and sends it to a service provider, the user can obtain a picture of his favorite actor in a message that includes multimedia such as, for example, an e-mail or a multimedia messaging service message. will be.

The present invention includes a method and system for supporting user interaction, and also includes a terminal for presenting a broadcast including an interactive program.

In many countries, several TV channels and radio channels broadcast programs simultaneously. Some TV channels show programs 24 hours a day, and some stop transmitting at night. Assume that a TV or radio channel broadcast lasts only 24 hours. If each part of the broadcast is of length in seconds, the broadcast is divided into 86400 parts, where each part is mapped to a specific code. The code may be referred to as a piece of broadcast code. POB codes can be used for the same purposes as telephone numbers, TV text pages, or Internet addresses. There are various ways of encoding a POB code and mapping the POB code to part of a broadcast.

1 shows an example of time-base encoding. The broadcast 101 is divided into 86400 parts, so the first part 102 of the broadcast is mapped to POB code 00.00: 00 and the second part 103 is mapped to POB code 00.00: 01.

In the previous example, each part of the broadcast is one second in length. The portion may also be longer or shorter. TV-broadcast can be divided into several parts which are still pictures. In that case, the POB code mapped to the parts of the TV-broadcast preferably contains 1/100 of a second. Accordingly, the user may instruct the user to a desired still picture using the POB code mapped to the still picture. In this way the user can, for example, get a picture of his favorite actor, video clip, or animation.

2 shows an example of sequence number-base encoding. The broadcast 201 is divided into 86400 parts, such that the first part 202 of the broadcast is mapped to POB code 1, the second part 203 is mapped to POB code 2, and the third part 204 Is mapped to POB code 3.

During a radio broadcast, a radio listener can obtain information about a portion of the music played on the radio by sending the POB code to a radio station. In this case, the music part is the part of the broadcast to which the POB code is mapped. The music portion may last for 2 minutes, for example, so that the portion of the broadcast also lasts 2 minutes.

POB codes may be encoded using numbers and / or letters, or other characters. The part of the broadcast may or may not have a) the same length of time or b) the same byte size. Each part does not need to be mapped to POB code, because some programs provided on the channel can be non-interactive. Thus, the POB code can be omitted from the non-interactive part of the broadcast. Alternatively, we can assume that a null POB code is sent with each non-interactive part of the broadcast.

3 shows an example of encoding, in which parts of a broadcast have different lengths, and a POB code is omitted from some parts. The broadcast 301 is divided into parts such that the first part 302 of the broadcast is mapped to the POB code "AA" and the longer second part 303 is mapped to the POB code "AB". The POB code is omitted from the third portion 304. When using the alphabet A-Z, 676 POB codes consisting of two letters are available.

It is also possible for two or more parts of the same broadcast to have the same POB code. For example, an ad presented several times a day may have the same POB code.

POB codes can be defined as follows: Codes transmitted in video and / or audio broadcasts are a) made visible and / or b) sent to another device in response to a signal initiated by a user, wherein the POB The code is mapped to a specific part of the broadcast. However, the POB code does not necessarily need to be transmitted in the broadcast, where the POB code is obtained using a decision based on the frame size, another byte size, time code, pulse, or other data transmitted in the broadcast.

The point of time shown on the TV is not a POB code because it changes every second. The text TV page is not a POB code because it cannot be obtained from broadcast as a time code. When the user watches or listens to the broadcast it is very important that the user can make the POB code visible and / or send it to another device. Prior art text TV pages are not.

The terminal according to the invention 1) receives a signal initiated by the user, 2) obtains a POB code from the broadcast, wherein the POB code identifies a particular part in the broadcast, and 3a) displays the POB code to the user And / or transmit the POB code to another device.

The terminal may be a TV receiver or a radio receiver, or a terminal equipped with a TV receiver or a radio receiver. Some known mobile phones already include a radio receiver. The mobile phone is well suited for interactive radio programs because the radio receiver and upstream channel are integrated in one device. In addition, the mobile phone may include a relatively large display and JAVA support.

4 shows a TV-receiver showing an interactive program. TV-receiver 401 receives signal 402 initiated by viewer 403 and obtains a POB code from broadcast 404 in response to the received signal. The TV-receiver 401 displays (405) the POB code to the viewer and sends it to the mobile phone 407 using, for example, Bluetooth technology (406). The viewer can then send the POB code from the mobile phone 407 to a system managing the interactive program.

The Bluetooth wireless technology is a specification for radio links that can be integrated into mobile devices. Bluetooth does not require the use of cables to connect to computers, mobile phones, mobile computers and other forms of electronic devices. There is also another possibility of sending a POB code from a TV receiver to another device. For example, the TV receiver 401 shown in FIG. 4 may be connected to the Internet. If so, the TV receiver can send the POB code to another device via the Internet. Prior to transmission, the TV-receiver may request confirmation from the viewer.

Each TV-channel needs only one phone number since the POB is mapped to a particular part of the broadcast. The context of user execution may be determined based on the specific portion of the broadcast.

5 shows a service display and interaction logo to assist user interaction with a TV-program. When the TV-program includes an interactive portion, the interactive logo 501 is shown in the TV-receiver 502. The viewer can then execute by pressing the remote control key. For example, a viewer may play when watching their favorite actor 503 on TV. By pressing a key, service display 504 appears on the screen of the TV-receiver. The service display 504 includes a POB code "AFFE".

The POB code may be automatically mapped to parts of the broadcast, for example by using a time code. However, it is also possible for a broadcaster or content provider to map the POB code to some parts of the broadcast before or during the broadcast. Thus, an employee or a specific person or program of a broadcaster or content provider may map the POB code to a particular portion of the broadcast. For example, a TV-narrator may select one or more still images related to a soccer game, map a POB code to a still image, and viewers may then watch and order the still images.

The possibility of using the present invention in digital broadcasting is greater than in analog broadcasting. The digital broadcast may include a corresponding element or JAVA bytecode for showing additional content such as a service display or a menu at the terminal. An application programming interface (API) is an interface that enables effective execution of an application. The Java bytecode can be thought of as an application and can also be delivered to a terminal, such as a digital TV receiver, in a broadcast. MHP-API (Multimedia Home Platform API) is for multimedia applications. Java objects described for example from Java bytecode in the terminal can use MHP-API or other API-supported JAVA. However, Java is one possible programming language that can be used when building applications.

6 shows the steps of the method according to the invention. First, the method receives a user signal at a terminal providing a digital TV-broadcast, and in response to the received user signal, the method obtains a specific POB code mapped to a specific portion of the broadcast (602). The method provides a service display on the terminal to the user who initiated the user signal (603), and when the option to use an upstream channel is missed from the terminal (604), the method displays the service display (605). ) To make the code visible. In any case, the method transmits 606 the code from the user's site to a server having access to a data storage device where at least a portion of the broadcast is stored. Then, at the server, the method receives 606 the transmitted code. When the code relates to a specified operation requiring a specific portion of the broadcast, the method uses the code as a search key to fetch a specific portion of the broadcast from the data storage (609) and executes the designated operation ( 610). The designated operation may be converted into MMS form, for example, before a specific portion of the broadcast, which is withdrawn from the data storage device, is transmitted to the user. The method may, for example, provide a service display 504 shown in FIG. 5 (603). When the terminal has the option to use the uplink channel 604, it is not necessary to provide the code (ie, POB code) to the user. Wherein the option is 1) an upstream channel is provided at the terminal, 2) the user is enabled to use the upstream channel, and 3) a service provider providing digital TV-broadcasting uses the upstream channel. It means making it possible.

The method may provide the POB code for a designated time (eg 1 minute). Alternatively, the method may wait for another signal initiated by the user to remove the POB code from the display of the terminal. It is important that the POB code is provided to the user so that the user has enough time to use the POB code.

The user may send other forms of user information with the POB code to the device handling the user interaction. The user information may include, for example, a telephone number of the user. Alternatively, the user information may include one or more user selections. For example, the user can define how long the video clip he wants to acquire. If the user information is +10, the user information may define that the user wants to have a video clip (starting from the time determined by the POB code and ending after 10 seconds). There are various ways to encode this kind of user information. If the user information includes a phone number, as mentioned above,

Video clips, music portions, still images, and the like are examples of user specified content and possible user information sent by the user for the user to acquire as a response to the POB code.

Upon receiving the code 606 from a user's site, the method may include 1) information defined by the user, 2) information identifying the user, 3) information identifying the specific device to which the information was sent, and / or 4) The user information including at least one of the user's location information can be simultaneously received. If the method needs to send one or more messages to the user, the method needs user information including information identifying the user and / or information identifying the particular device. Such messages include, for example, still images or video clips.

The idea of whether the code relates to a designated action that requires a particular portion of the broadcast is based on the TV-program to which the code is mapped.

The POB code and / or user information may be sent from the message to the server via a network capable of changing the message.

The designated action may comprise one or more of a sub-action, i.e. a sub-action that stores a portion of the user information for later use or changes the value of a particular counter related to the user information.

The system according to the invention

1) store at least one portion of the digital TV-broadcast together with non-running code in the data storage, each code being mapped to at least one portion of the broadcast,

2) receive a code from a user's site, in response to a user signal initiated by the user, the code is obtained from a digital TV-broadcast provided through a terminal at the user's site,

3) if the code relates to a specified operation requiring a particular portion of the broadcast, use the code as a search key to fetch the portion from the data storage device, and

4) Execute the specified operation.

7 shows an example of a system that supports user interaction. There is a viewer 701 and a system 702. Although various networks may be used for communication between the viewer and the system, details in this implementation are omitted from FIG. 7. The system consists of a server 703 and a database 704, and interactive TV-programs belonging to the broadcast are stored in the database 704. The system 702 receives the POB code 705 sent by the first viewer and the POB code 706 sent by the second viewer. The POB codes 705 and 706 are "19.21". In addition, the system receives user information from the two viewers. The user information includes the viewer's telephone number and a "yes / no" response. Assume that the POB code " 19.21 " is mapped to the part of the broadcast that contains the TV-quiz question number 3. Thus, the system performs an operation related to the portion. The operation may, for example, implement a service that deals with viewer response to TV-quiz. In addition to the POB codes 705 and 706, the system receives the POB code 707 from a third viewer. The POB code 707 is " 21.32: 45.02 " related to a football game broadcast on evenings 21-23. In more detail, the POB code 707 is mapped to the first goal made in the soccer game. In this case, the system may execute a service of transmitting a still image of the first goal 708 to the third viewer.

Sending a still picture, video clip, or another user-specific content to the user is an example of the result of a designated action. The designated action consists of one or more sub-actions.

The designated action may comprise one or more of a sub-action, i.e., a sub action that stores a portion of the user information for later use, or changes the value of a particular counter related to the user information. The counter value and / or user information portion may be stored in the same data storage as the digital TV-broadcast, but may also be stored in another data storage. The system may further be applied to calculating statistics using an entity, ie one or more of the stored portion of the user information or the value of the particular counter.

The TV-channel broadcaster using the system may use the user information and / or the counter value when implementing various services. For example, a service may calculate statistics or perform an analysis. Thus, the service provides the possibility of interaction between TV-viewers who measure the activity of the TV-viewers, direct marketing to the TV-viewers, or who are interested in a particular part of the broadcast.

Claims (14)

A method for supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting, the method comprising Transmit a digital TV-broadcast as a set of invisible codes, each code mapped to one or more parts of the broadcast, Receiving a user signal at a terminal representing the broadcast and in response to the received user signal a) obtaining a specific code mapped to a specific portion of the broadcast, b) provide the service display on the terminal to the user who initiated the user signal, wherein the option of using an upstream channel is omitted from the terminal, c) make the code visible through a service display, and transmit the code from the user's site to a server having access to a data storage device where at least one portion of the broadcast is stored, On the server Receiving the transmitted code, wherein the code is related to a designated action requiring a particular portion of the broadcast, Withdraw the portion from the data storage using the code as a search key, and To execute the specified action A method for supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting comprising steps. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is Providing a still picture on the terminal in response to the received user signal in addition to providing a service display on the terminal to the user. And further comprising the steps of: supporting user interaction in a digital TV-broadcast. 3. The method of claim 2, in response to said transmitted code. Send a still picture from the server to a device defined by the user, wherein the still picture is obtained from a particular portion of the broadcast; A method of supporting user interaction in a digital TV broadcast. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is In addition to sending the code Send user information from the user's site to the server, wherein the user information comprises information defined by the user, information identifying the user, information identifying the specific device to which the information was sent, location information of the user A method for supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting comprising at least one. The method of claim 4, wherein the designated operation is -Save parts of user information for later use Changing the value of a particular counter related to the user information A method for supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting comprising at least one of sub-operations. The method of claim 4, wherein the designated operation is -Transmitting a duration of the broadcast to the user in response to the received user information, wherein the duration of the broadcast is determined by the user information. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is transmitted to a server in the message via a network capable of changing the message. In a system supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting, the system is At least one portion of the digital TV-broadcast is stored in the data storage with non-inflammable codes, each code mapped to at least one portion of the broadcast, Receiving a code from a user's site, in response to a user signal initiated by the user, the code is obtained from a digital TV-broadcast provided through a terminal at the user's site, If the code relates to a designated action requiring a particular part of the broadcast, withdraw the part from the data storage using the code as a search key, and To execute the specified action A system for supporting user interaction in digital television broadcasting. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein in performing the designated operation the system is Send a still picture to a device defined by the user, wherein the still picture is obtained from a particular portion of the broadcast; A system for supporting user interaction in digital television broadcasting. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is further -Receive user information from your site, In this case, the user information includes at least one of information defined by a user, information identifying a user, information identifying a specific device to which the information is transmitted, and location information of the user. A system that supports user interaction. The server of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to execute the designated operation. Send a duration of the broadcast to the user, wherein the duration of the broadcast is determined by the user information A system for supporting user interaction in digital television broadcasting. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the designated action is -Store part of the user information for later use Changing the value of a particular counter related to the user information A system for supporting user interaction in digital TV-broadcasting comprising at least one of sub-operations. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is further To calculate statistics using at least one of a stored portion of user information, the value of the particular counter A system for supporting user interaction in digital television broadcasting. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the code is transmitted to a system in the message via a network capable of changing the message.