KR20070035569A - Apparatus and method for replacing an interactive application - Google Patents

Abstract

Extraction apparatus 200 is configured to extract any version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program, the extraction apparatus 200 is a receiving means 210 for receiving information about the version of the object, and the version type Acquiring means 220 for acquiring the version type from the information indicating that a version of the object is a replacement version and replacing the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium, and which version of the object according to the version type It includes an extraction apparatus including a processing means 230 for processing.

Digital programs, interactive applications, version types,

Description

Apparatus and method for replacing an interactive application}

The present invention relates to a method of associating an interactive application with a version of an object with a digital program.

The invention also relates to a method of extracting certain versions of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for extracting certain versions of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program.

The invention also relates to a set-top box for extracting certain versions of objects from interactive applications associated with digital programs.

The invention also relates to a television set for extracting certain versions of objects from interactive applications associated with digital programs.

The invention also relates to a digital recorder for storing an interactive application having a version of an object and associated with a digital program.

The invention also relates to a computer program product for extracting certain versions of objects from interactive applications associated with digital programs.

The invention also relates to a storage carrier comprising such a computer program product.

The European patent application of application number 04101740.1 describes a system and method for recording and playing back interactive television set content, in particular a system and method for handling application data and associated audio / video data.

When recording an interactive television set, the interactive application is stored separately from the audio / video content of the transport stream. During recording, accurate synchronization between audio / video content and interactive applications must be ensured. This application uses a unique timing based validation attribute that is recorded with interactive application objects to synchronize audio / video content with the interactive application object associated with it. According to embodiments, timestamps, such as AIT (Application Information Table) tables, stream events, etc. are used when an item related to the interactive application is recorded. During playback, these timestamps are used to ensure accurate synchronization for stream events, digital storage media command and control (DSMCC) module version control, and application validation timing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for associating an interactive application with a digital program, which provides a more flexible mechanism for associating an interactive application with a digital program. The purpose is to associate an interactive application with a version of an object with a digital program.

Receiving a version type of a version of the object, indicating that a version of the object is a replacement version, wherein the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium,

Creating the interactive application with the received version type, and

-Associating the generated interactive application with the digital program.

The European application of application number 04101740.1 focuses on separately storing interactive applications associated with digital programs and synchronizing the interactive applications with their corresponding audio / video portions on playback, but if necessary, There is no mention of how to replace versions of objects in stored interactive applications. For example, an interactive application dynamically updates the score of a football match. Some version of the score object must be "2-0", but accidentally becomes "0-2" and stored as "0-2" during live play. On playback, the viewer does not want to see this error again. Therefore, there is a need to replace the wrong version with the correct version.

 According to the present invention, there is a version type of an object that is a replacement version, which replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium. An example of a replacement version is to correct the error described as in the example above. In this embodiment, the version of the object with the correct score "2-0" is created with its version type as the "replacement version" and the viewer side to replace the wrong version "0-2" of the object stored on the storage medium. Is sent to. Thus, upon playback, the viewer will not encounter this error score again.

By using the version type of the object version, which indicates that the version of the object is a replacement, and the replacement replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium, the viewer will not see the error score again. Comparing the present invention with the prior art, all versions of the object of the interactive application in the prior art are only provided during the broadcast. Thanks to the present invention, program authors have more flexible control of the objects of interactive applications.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 3. In this environment, the replacement version replaces the previous version of the object provided in real time, ie while the user is watching the broadcast program. For example, an alternate version of score "2-0" would replace "0-2" which is an incorrect score provided to the display unit during broadcast.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for extracting certain versions of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, which provides a more flexible mechanism for extracting an object from an interactive application. The purpose is to extract a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program,

Receiving information regarding a version of the object,

Obtaining a version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates that some version of the object is a replacement version and the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium,

-Processing any version of the object according to the version type. By using the version type, when broadcasting a digital program, on the receiving side, any version of the object can be processed according to the version type. If a version of an object is a replacement and a digital program is being recorded on the storage medium, the replacement version replaces the previous version of the object on the storage medium. If a version of the object is not a replacement and the digital program is watching, then some version replaces the previous version provided in real time.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in claim 8. In this environment, the replacement version also replaces the previous version of the provided object in real time.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for extracting certain versions of objects from interactive applications associated with digital programs, which provides a more flexible mechanism for extracting objects from interactive applications. This purpose is

Receiving means for receiving information about a certain version of the object,

Obtaining means for obtaining a version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates that some version of the object is a replacement version and the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium,

An extraction device comprising processing means for processing any version of the object according to the version type.

In the extracting apparatus according to the present invention, when information regarding a version of an object is received, a version type of a certain version of the object is obtained, which version of the object is a replacement version and the replacement version is a previous version of the object stored in the storage medium. Indicates to replace. Any version of the object is sent to replace the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium if the digital program is writing or is ignored.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a set-top box for extracting a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program.

A receiver for receiving said digital program associated with said interactive application,

A set top box comprising an extraction device for extracting a version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a television set for extracting some version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program.

A receiver for receiving said digital program associated with said interactive application,

A display for displaying the digital program, and

A television set comprising an extractor for extracting a version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital recorder for storing an interactive application associated with a digital program and having a version of an object.

A receiver for receiving the digital program associated with the interactive application,

Storage means for storing the digital program and the interactive application on a storage medium;

Retrieving means for retrieving said digital program associated with said interactive application from said storage medium, and

A digital recorder comprising an extraction device for extracting a version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program described above.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a computer program product for extracting certain versions of objects from interactive applications associated with digital programs. This purpose is

Code for receiving information regarding the version of the object,

Code for obtaining the version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates which version of the object is a replacement version, the replacement version replacing a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium,

A computer program product comprising code for processing any version of the object according to the version type.

The invention and the advantages thereof will become more apparent with reference to exemplary embodiments and figures.

Corresponding parts in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

1 is a flow diagram of associating an interactive application with a digital program in accordance with the present invention.

2 schematically shows the most important components of the extraction apparatus according to the invention.

3 is a view schematically showing a set-top box according to the present invention.

4 shows schematically a television set according to the invention;

5 shows schematically a digital video recorder according to the invention;

1 is a flow diagram of associating an interactive application with a digital program in accordance with the present invention. The interactive application here does not mean that the application is run by a digital program user, but rather that the interactive application can run on its own under certain circumstances. For example, an event, such as a goal of a football game, may begin to provide an interactive application with an introduction of the player who scored the goal.

The digital program can include an audio portion, a video portion and a data portion. In comparison to interactive applications, audio, video and data portions are played manually to the user. In the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard, a digital program includes zero or more video sub-streams, namely MPEG Motion Picture Experts Group Packetized Elementary Stream (PES), zero or more audio sub-streams, zero or more data sub-streams and services. May contain information. An extreme example of a digital program is that only the digital program contains service information.

In the DVB Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standard, interactive applications are transmitted as transport streams (TSs) within modules through digital storage media commands and control (DSMCC) object carousels. In DSMCC, objects contain five types of objects. There are directory objects, file objects, stream event objects, stream objects and service gateway objects, among which file objects are one of the most relevant to the present invention.

DSMCC modules are transmitted on the broadcast channel with the same TS as the audio / video content. DSMCC object carousel defines when and how to send modules / files containing applications to a TS with audio / video content. There is no connection to the server sending the TS to the receiving device to request the desired files. All files are sent repeatedly all the time, for example every 10 seconds. Interactive television set terminals, for example MHP terminals, such as a set top box (STB), look for the files they need when they come in.

The data and attributes of an object, such as a file, in an object carousel are transmitted in a message. The message format is called the Broadcast Inter ORB Protocol (BIOP) Generic Object Message format (or simply BIOP message). BIOP messages consist of a MessageHeader, a MessageSubHeader, and a MessageBody.

The MessageHeader provides information about the version of the BIOP protocol and the length of the BIOP message. The MessageSubHeader embeds information about the loaded object, such as ObjectType (file, stream, directory, etc.) and objectKey (unique identifier within the module). MessageBody depends on objectType and contains the data of the actual object. The size of a BIOP message is variable.

The BIOP message is broadcast to modules of object carousels. The module is formed by one or more concatenated BIOP messages and thus has a variable length. Each object in the module is identified by an objectKey. The object can then be easily found by parsing the length of the BIOP message and the objectKey field of the BIOP message. Each module is broken down into one or more blocks, which are contained in a DownloadDataBlock (DDB) message. Each DownloadDataBlock message has the same size (except for the last block of the module, which may be smaller) and is transmitted in turn in the MPEG2 private section as specified in ISO / IEC 13818-6. Encapsulation rules for DownloadDataBlock messages in the MPEG2 private section are rules that generally allow blocks to be obtained directly from the transport stream using hardware filters found in demultiplexers.

The acquisition of an object from a transport stream requires the complete acquisition of the module containing that object. This requires knowledge of the module's delivery parameters such as module version, module size, block size, timing and broadcast channel. These delivery parameters are sent in the DownloadInfoIndication (DII) message as shown in Table 1, which must be obtained from the network before acquiring the module. One DownloadInfoIndication message may describe delivery parameters of multiple modules.

[Table 1] DownLoadInfoIndication ( DII ) message

Table 1 contains two fields that are particularly relevant to the present invention (see the italics in Table 1). One field is "moduleVersion". As soon as an object in the module changes, it means a new version of this object, and the module's version number "moduleVersion" changes accordingly. Another field is "moduleInfoByte" and its syntax is defined in Table 2.

[Table 2] BIOP :: ModuleInfoByte syntax

According to the invention, a new parameter of the object, namely "version_type", is introduced to provide more flexible control of any version of the object. One embodiment of the syntax of this parameter is provided as Table 3.

[Table 3] syntax of version_type_data

In Table 3 described above, "M" is equal to the number of objects in this module. By using this loop, each object can have its corresponding version type, which can be one of the parameters as shown in Table 4.

"replaced_version_number" indicates that the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium should be replaced. Its value depends on how the previous version of the object is stored. For example, each stored version of an object has a suffix of the version number as part of its file name, such as object_v1.txt, object_v2.txt, and the value of "replaced_versoin_number" may be 1, which is object_v1. Indicates that txt will be replaced. This parameter may also be defined in other ways as long as the previous version of the object to be replaced is on the storage medium.

[Table 4] Value of version_type

In Table 4 described above, the "normal" version_type indicates that this version of the object will replace the previous version of the object provided on the display unit, for example the TV screen. Versions of objects of this type work similarly to versions of objects in the prior art. For example, a football game program in accordance with the DVB standard is associated with an application that includes an object that describes the state of a football game including current scores, cards, and the like. The filename of this object is the same as matchfact_status.txt, but the contents of the object change over time. Whenever there is a state change, such as a score change, a new version of this object is created and broadcast with matchfact_status.txt with the same filename. The receiver will catch a new version of the object from the transport stream and the new version will be used in the application. The old version is ignored and the score on the screen is updated accordingly.

Since the prior art has only this version type, there is no need for a version type parameter. However, in accordance with the present invention, more version types can be selected, and therefore there is a need to have version type parameters. When a version of an object whose version type is "normal" is created, it may have parameters of the version type to explicitly indicate its properties. The version of an object may create a "normal" as the default attribute, so the object does not reveal its attributes explicitly. Under this situation, any version of an object without a version type parameter will be considered "normal".

According to the present invention, there are two types of replacement versions, one is "storage replacement" and the other is "both replacement".

"Store replacement" means that this version of the object replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium, eg a hard disk. The object may be stored in a storage medium as disclosed in the European application of application number 04101740.1. Each version of an object may have a corresponding validity period that represents its life cycle. An example of a replacement version is to correct one of the previous "normal" versions of an object with an incorrect score number "0-2". In this embodiment, the version of the object with the correct score "2-0" and the same file name "matchfact_status.txt" is created as "save replacement" with this version type, and the wrong version "0-2 of the object stored on the storage medium. Is sent to the viewer to replace it. Thus, when the stored digital program is played, the viewer will not encounter this incorrect score.

"Replace both" means that this version of the object replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium, e.g. the hard disk, and this version of the object also replaces the previous version of the object provided on the display unit, e. Replace. The object may be stored in a storage medium as disclosed in the European application of application number 04101740.1. Each version of an object may have a corresponding validity period thereof. An example of a replacement version is to correct one of the previous "normal" versions of an object with an incorrect score number "0-2". In this embodiment, the version of the object with the correct score "2-0" and the same file name "matchfact_status.txt" is created as "replace both" with this version type. The version of the object is sent to the viewer to replace the wrong version of object "0-2" stored on the storage medium. Thus, when the stored digital program is played, the viewer will not encounter this incorrect score. The version of the object will replace the previous version of the object on the TV screen if the program is being viewed, which is normally the latest version shown on the screen.

Since changes in the object version in the DVB MHP standard are reflected by changes in the version of the module version, the version type parameter is put into the module's information, for example DII information. The version type of the object is inserted in the userInfoLength field of the DII as shown in Table 5.

[Table 5] BIOP containing version_type_data syntax :: ModuleInfo

Note that version types may have more choices available with numbers between 0x03 and 0xFF. Version types may also be added to other areas of the application's information as long as the version types of the object arrive at the user side no later than the version of the object.

In addition, an application with a version of the object according to the invention may be associated with the digital program in other ways as long as the version type can be extracted when the digital program is being played / stored.

1 illustrates a method of associating an interactive application with a digital program according to the present invention. This process can be completed by one of a variety of current program production tools, such as Coral MHP.

First, a digital program and a plurality of objects are obtained (step S110). The digital program may include any A / V or data sub-streams as described above and service information. Each object has a corresponding version and is part of an interactive application.

Secondly, the version type of one of the objects is received (step S120). The version type may be one of the "version_type" defined above, such as "storage replacement", which means that this version of the object is a replacement version, which replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium.

Thirdly, an interactive application with the received objects and version type according to the DVB MHP standard is created (step S130). Data and attributes are encapsulated in one or more modules and their corresponding DII. The version type is added to the DII message of the corresponding module.

Fourthly, the generated interactive application is associated with a digital program (step S140). Each module is divided into one or more blocks, which are listed in the DownloadDataBlock (DDB) message. Each DownloadDataBlock message is the same size (except for the last block of the module, which may be smaller) and in turn sent in the MPEG2 private section.

Note that the process of creating and associating may be accomplished according to current or future digital program production techniques.

Finally, the digital program is broadcasted (step S150). This broadcast can be satellite, terrestrial or cable.

Figure 2 schematically shows the most important components of the extraction apparatus according to the invention. The extractor is used to extract any version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program. Extraction apparatus 200 is provided with a receiving means 210, obtaining means 220 and processing means 230.

Receiving means 210 is used to receive information about the version of the object. An example is that the receiving means 210 receives a DII message of a module having a version of an object.

Acquisition means 220 is used to obtain a version type from the information. An example is that the obtaining means 220 obtains a version type parameter from the DII information received by the receiving means 210.

The version type may be one of "version_type" defined in Table 4. For example, the version type is "storage replacement", which indicates that a version of an object is a replacement version, which replaces the previous version of an object stored on the storage medium.

The processing means 230 is used to process any version of the object according to the version type.

In the embodiment, the version type obtained by the obtaining means 220 is "normal". In this embodiment, the corresponding module is extracted from the transport stream and some version of the object is obtained from the module as a new version of the object. The new version will be used in the application and the old version will be ignored.

In another embodiment, the version type obtained by the obtaining means 220 is "storage replacement". In this embodiment, if a digital program is recording, any version of the object is extracted from the transport stream and replaces the previous version of the object stored on the storage medium as defined in the version type data, for example as "replaced_version_number". . The expiration date of the replacement version stored on the storage medium is set to the same period as that of the previous version of the object. If the digital program is not recording, any version of the object will be ignored and will not be extracted from the transformation stream. Some versions of the object are not sent to the display unit in real time.

In another embodiment, the version type obtained by the acquiring means 220 is "replace both." In this embodiment, if a digital program is recording and / or watching, any version of the object is extracted from the transport stream. The extracted object replaces the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium, for example as defined in the version type of data as "replaced_version_number" when the program is writing. The validity period of the replacement version stored on the storage medium is set to the same period as that of the previous version of the object. The extracted object replaces the previous version of the object provided when the program is watching. The provided object may only be the latest version, and in this situation, the previous version of the provided object is the previous latest version.

Note that if more transfer types were introduced, there may be more situations not illustrated above.

The invention may also be implemented by a suitably programmed computer with a computer program for extracting any version of an object from an interactive application associated with the digital program. A computer program product for extracting a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program includes code for receiving information about the version of the object, code for obtaining a version type from the information, and version version representing a version of the object. The replacement version is a replacement version, which replaces the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium, and contains code for handling any version of the object, depending on the version type. Such computer program product may be stored in a storage carrier.

These portions of the program code may be provided to the processor to create a machine such that code running on the processor generates means for implementing the functions specified above.

Figure 3 schematically shows a set-top box according to the present invention. The set top box 300 incorporates a receiver 310 for receiving a digital program and an interactive application associated with the digital program, the interactive application having some version of the object. Digital programs and interactive applications may be transmitted to the set-top box in one of a variety of ways, such as by cable broadcasting, by terrestrial broadcasting, or by phase broadcasting. Received digital programs and interactive applications are processed in the set-top box by processing unit 320 and then exported for display or recording. The set top box 300 also includes an extraction device 200 as described above. The extraction apparatus 200 obtains a version type of a certain version of the object from the information received by the receiver 310, and processes any version of the object according to the version type. The extraction apparatus 200 then controls the processing unit 320 to conditionally process any version of the object. If the version type acquired in the extraction apparatus 200 is " storage replacement " and the digital program is recording, then any version of the object is extracted from the transformation stream and replaces the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium (not shown). .

4 schematically shows a television set according to the invention. Television set 400 includes a digital program and a receiver 410 for receiving an interactive application associated with the digital program, the interactive application having some version of the object. Digital programs and interactive applications are transmitted to the television set 400 by one of a variety of methods, such as by cable broadcasting, by terrestrial methods, or by phase broadcasting. Received digital programs and interactive applications are processed in a television set having a processing unit 420 for display in a providing unit 430, for example, a CRT. Television set 400 also includes an extraction device 200 as described above. The extraction apparatus 200 obtains a version type of a certain version of the object from the information received by the receiver 410 and processes any version of the object according to the version type. The extraction device 200 then controls the processing unit 420 to conditionally process any version of the object.

5 schematically shows a digital recorder according to the invention. The digital recorder 500 has a receiver 510 for receiving a digital program and an interactive application associated with the digital program, the interactive application having some version of the object. The digital program and the interactive application may be transmitted to the digital recorder 500 by one of a variety of methods, such as by cable broadcasting, by terrestrial method, or by phase broadcasting. The digital recorder 500 includes a storage unit 520 for storing digital programs and interactive applications on the storage medium 530. The storage medium 530 may be a hard disk or other suitable medium such as a CD-RW. The digital recorder 500 also includes a retrieval unit 540 for retrieving a digital program associated with the interactive application from the storage medium 530. The retrieval unit 540 is used to reproduce a program stored by the recorder or the storage unit 520. The digital recorder 500 also incorporates an extraction device 200 as described above. The extraction apparatus 200 obtains a version type of a certain version of the object from the information received by the receiver 510 and processes any version of the object according to the version type. The extractor 200 then controls the storage unit 520 to store any version of the object on the storage medium 530. If the version type obtained by the extraction apparatus 200 is " storage replacement ", then any version of the object is extracted from the transformation stream and replaces the previous version of the object stored in the storage medium 530.

Under certain circumstances, during playback of a digital program, the version type of the object can be ignored.

It is noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting of the invention and those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word 'comprises' does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. Singular expression (a or an) elements do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be realized in one and the same item of hardware.

Claims (15)

In a method of associating an interactive application with a version of an object with a digital program: Receiving a version type of a version of the object, wherein the version type indicates that a version of the object is a replacement version and the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium. , Creating the interactive application with the received version type, and Associating the generated interactive application with the digital program. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive application is transmitted repeatedly. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object provided in real time. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital program is a digital TV program conforming to a digital video broadcast standard. In a method of extracting a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, Receiving information about a version of the object, Obtaining a version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates that some version of the object is a replacement version, and the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium; Processing a version of the object according to the version type. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing step includes replacing the previous version of the object on the storage medium with the replacement version. 6. The version of claim 5 wherein each version of the object has a corresponding expiration date and the expiration date of the replacement version stored on the storage medium is set to the same period as the previous version of the object. How to extract it. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing step comprises replacing the previous version of the object provided in real time with the replacement version. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interactive application is sent repeatedly. An apparatus for extracting a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, Receiving means for receiving information about a version of the object, Obtaining means for obtaining a version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates that a version of the object is a replacement version, and the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored in a storage medium; And processing means for processing any version of the object according to the version type. In a set-top box that extracts a version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, A receiver for receiving the digital program associated with the interactive application, A set top box comprising an extractor for extracting a version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program as claimed in claim 10. In a television set for extracting some version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, A receiver for receiving the digital program associated with the interactive application, A display for displaying the digital program, and A television set comprising an extractor for extracting any version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program as claimed in claim 10. A digital recorder for storing interactive applications associated with a digital program and having a version of an object, A receiver for receiving the digital program associated with the interactive application, Storage means for storing the digital program and the interactive application on a storage medium; Retrieving means for retrieving the digital program associated with the interactive application from the storage medium, and A digital recorder, comprising: an extraction device for extracting any version of the object from the interactive application associated with the digital program as claimed in claim 10. A computer program product for extracting some version of an object from an interactive application associated with a digital program, Code for receiving information about a version of the object, Code for obtaining the version type from the information, wherein the version type indicates which version of the object is a replacement version, wherein the replacement version replaces a previous version of the object stored on a storage medium, And code for processing any version of the object in accordance with the version type. A storage carrier comprising the computer program product as claimed in claim 14.

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