WO2001099416A2 - Systeme et procede d'elaboration, de distribution et de gestion de donnees concernant un contenu de programmation et des composants de ce dernier - Google Patents

Systeme et procede d'elaboration, de distribution et de gestion de donnees concernant un contenu de programmation et des composants de ce dernier Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001099416A2
WO2001099416A2 PCT/US2001/017131 US0117131W WO0199416A2 WO 2001099416 A2 WO2001099416 A2 WO 2001099416A2 US 0117131 W US0117131 W US 0117131W WO 0199416 A2 WO0199416 A2 WO 0199416A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
program
data
content
programming
video
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PCT/US2001/017131
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English (en)
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WO2001099416A3 (fr
Inventor
George A. Durden
John R. Stefanik
Scott R. Swix
Original Assignee
Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/751,809 external-priority patent/US20040261099A1/en
Priority claimed from US09/751,702 external-priority patent/US7380258B2/en
Application filed by Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation filed Critical Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
Priority to EP01937760A priority Critical patent/EP1461943A2/fr
Priority to AU2001263464A priority patent/AU2001263464A1/en
Priority to CA002413779A priority patent/CA2413779A1/fr
Publication of WO2001099416A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001099416A2/fr
Publication of WO2001099416A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001099416A3/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
    • H04N21/2543—Billing, e.g. for subscription services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/4508—Management of client data or end-user data
    • H04N21/4532—Management of client data or end-user data involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/454—Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47211—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4782—Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/163—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing by receiver means only
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to the field of programming control systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for allowing users to control and manage programming content.
  • an application residing on a set-top box or other consumer electronic device, such as a television set uses data synchronized to a program to dynamically block or modify portions of the program's video or audio based on a user's parental control settings.
  • this invention provides program users with program data for a program corresponding to discrete portions of the program.
  • the program data comprises (a) program content data, (b) program control data, or (c) both.
  • the content data may consist of rating values associated with categories in a rating system and/or content attribute values indicating the existence of predefined attributes or traits associated with each discrete portion of the program.
  • the program control data comprises information concerning the media component (e.g., audio, video, text, hyperlinks, etc.) to which the rating or content attribute applies.
  • the program control data may also contain control instructions corresponding to the ways in which each portion or media component of the program may be disabled, modified, replaced, and / or edited. These data are delivered to a set top box or other consumer electronics (“CE”) device that couples to a display, like a television or monitor.
  • CE consumer electronics
  • Users can enter into the CE device a presentation profile, by which a user specifies content the user does not wish to review or wishes to insert over existing content. For instance, the user may select certain types of rating categories and / or content attributes that the user desires not to be presented. Optimally, users may specify a method for disabling, such as deleting, modifying, replacing, or editing, the portions of the program having the undesirable rating and / or content attribute. Based on the program data associated with the program and the information contained in the user's presentation profile, the CE device controls the programming presented for display.
  • the program data is compared against the presentation profile.
  • the presentation profile indicates deletion or editing of specific type material
  • the program data indicates the presence of that material in a portion of the programming
  • that portion of the programming is modified accordingly.
  • systems and methods according to the present invention perform any of the following functions: block video, block audio, block video and audio, block only a portion of the audio or video, substitute local audio, substitute local video, substitute alternative audio stream, substitute alternative video channel / stream, substitute alternative video and audio channel / stream, edit content, and / or delete content.
  • this invention uses streaming data or timestamped data synchronized to a program to provide ratings and / or content attribute information that vary during the program.
  • This data is used by applications residing on a set-top box or other CE device to block or modify portions of a program's video or audio based on the settings selected by the user.
  • the data may also include program control data related to what component of the program to block, such as video only, audio only, or both video and audio.
  • this data includes instructions on possible ways to modify the content. For example, the data could instruct the application to do such things as switch to an alternate audio track, switch to an alternate video channel, or blackout a certain area of the screen. Alternatively, all of these different capabilities could be entered, enabled or disabled by the user via the presentation profile or a control.
  • DVRs Digital Video Recorders
  • digital disk recorders When outfitted with this invention, DVRs or the like are capable of dynamically editing and deleting scenes based on the program data and the presentation profile created by a user.
  • This invention aims to achieve one, combinations, or all of the following objectives:
  • Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating one potential format of a programming signal and corresponding program data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating another potential format of a programming signal and corresponding program data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary format for the data illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a presentation control system according to the present invention.
  • Figure 6 is an exemplary menu screen of a program viewer interface according to the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is an example of a presentation profile shown in Figure 7 according to the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program and corresponding program data according to the present invention.
  • Communication network includes any network or infrastructure that supports communications between multiple devices, including broadband distribution networks, public or private packet-switched or other data networks, including the Internet, or circuit-switched networks such as the public switched telephone network and wireless networks.
  • Consumer electronics device or “CE device” is any electronic device or combination of devices capable of receiving, displaying, playing, presenting, recording, deleting, editing, substituting, or disabling audio and
  • CE devices include: televisions, personal computers, cable set-top boxes, video cassette recorders, digital video recorders, digital video disc players, compact disc players, and personal computers.
  • Content data is any information corresponding to at least a portion of a program and related to the content of the program, including content ratings and content attributes, traits, or characteristics.
  • Control data is any information corresponding to at least a portion of a program and related to the manner in which the portion may be disabled, modified, replaced, deleted, edited, or otherwise modified by a CE device, set top box or the like.
  • Presentation control system is any device or combination of devices having (1) a receiver adapted to receive a program signal and (2) a processor for controlling the program to be displayed on a consumer electronic device, including a set-top box, television, or personal computer.
  • Program or “Programming” is any electronic presentation of information, such as text, audio, video, graphics, or any other form of multimedia, over a communications network.
  • Exemplary programming includes: Internet programming, television broadcasts, cable television programming, pay- per-view programming, video-on-demand, interactive television programming, satellite programming, and multimedia presentations.
  • Program data means content or control data or other data associated with or describing the content or manner of presentation of programming.
  • Presentation preferences refers to information related to the types of program content that either a person desires not to view or that a person desires to replace and/or the manner in which programs and portions of programs having this type of content may be disabled, modified, replaced, deleted, edited, or otherwise modified by a CE device.
  • Service provider is any entity that delivers programs to a program viewer, including cable providers, television broadcasters, satellite providers, and entities supporting Internet World Wide Web (“Web”) sites.
  • FIG. 1 shows components of a system 10 for implementing an embodiment of this invention.
  • a transmission facility 12 such as a cable head end, is operated by a service provider and receives various types of programming from data / content providers 14, which may provide traditional broadcast or cable television programming, video services such as pay-per-view, near video-on-demand, video- on-demand, promotional channels, or interactive television services.
  • Exemplary data / content providers 14 include BellSouth, (the assignee of this invention), Disney, Time-Warner, DirectTN etc.
  • transmission facility 12 may also receive electronic program guide (EPG) data from data providers 16.
  • EPG electronic program guide
  • a particular content provider 14, such as Disney may also provide EPG data, thus acting as an EPG data provider 16.
  • EPG data provider 6 may include companies that specialize in EPG data, such as Gemstar, United Video, Starsight, etc.
  • Transmission facility 12 processes the programming furnished by data / content providers 14 and 16 and provides to program viewers 18 a signal 13 over a communications network 15, which may be a broadband distribution network, a public or private packet-switched or other data networks (including the Internet), circuit switched networks such as the public switched telephone network, wireless networks, or any other desired communications network.
  • Transmission facility 12 may comprise a plurality of servers, such as broadcast server 19, video server 20, EPG data server 22, and program data server 24, for providing multiple types of programming and related data via signal 13.
  • Program viewers 18 receive programming at a presentation control system 26, which may be a standard set top box, a properly programmed processor, coupled to a display, a consumer electronic device, or any other device adapted to couple to communications network 15.
  • Control system 26 includes, or couples to, a receiver (such as receiver 56 shown in Figure 5) for receiving and decoding signal 13 and a processor for controlling the program content to be displayed on devices such as television 28, personal computer 34 or any other suitable display device.
  • Presentation control system 26 may be a stand alone system that communicates with a display device and other consumer electronic devices or may be combined with the display device and / or any other suitable CE device in one device. In accordance with the present invention, presentation control system 26 also may receive a presentation profile 35 from program viewers 18. Based on presentation profile 35 and program data 36 received from transmission facility 12, the presentation control system 26 manages and controls the presentation of program content by interacting with video cassette recorder (VCR) 30, digital video recorder (DVR) 32, personal computer 34, or any other suitable CE device.
  • VCR video cassette recorder
  • DVR digital video recorder
  • signal 13 carries multiple channels 38, each occupying a different portion of a frequency spectrum of signal 13.
  • Transmission facility 12 may provide program viewers 18 with different programs 40 throughout the day on each channel 38.
  • Each program 40 may be divided into multiple consecutive data frames 42, each of which contains all of the data related to the presentation of program 40 for a particular time interval.
  • transmission facility 12 also provides program viewers 18 with program data 36 for each program 40.
  • Data 36 is information associated with program data 42 comprising program content data, program control data, or both. As shown in Figure 2, data 36 may be divided into multiple consecutive data frames 54 corresponding to data frames 42 of program 40.
  • Program content data may be information related to rating and / or content attributes, such as MPAA ratings, TV Parental Guidelines ratings, or any other rating system.
  • Program control data may be information related to the manner in which program data 42 may be edited, substituted, deleted, or otherwise altered. For instance, in situations where program data 42 may be substituted, program control data may contain information about other channels or streams or other locations where replacement program data are present.
  • program viewers 18 may use the information contained in data 36 about programs 40 to control and manage which programs are presented, which portions of programs are presented, and which media components are presented.
  • Data 36 may also be used to control and manage the manner in which programs, portions of programs, and media components of programs and portions of programs are edited, substituted, deleted, or otherwise altered based on the information in data 36 and/or viewer preferences.
  • data 36 associated with program data 42 for programs 40 may be formulated by a number of entities. For instance, programming producers may formulate data 36 while producing programming. Alternatively, data 36 may be formulated by data / content providers 14, EPG data providers 16, by the entity supporting transmission facility 12, or by any other entity that has access to programming.
  • An example of a method of formulating alternative programming is one which uses the Internet.
  • a studio may release a portion or all of a story-line for a series on the Internet and allow users there to "vote" or suggest endings or twists in the plot line. Either before or after receiving such input, the studio may film the most popular of the suggestions and embed these alternative programs into other channels.
  • the site can be linked to the transmission facility and, following tabulation of viewer feedback, the site can automatically instruct the transmission facility to load a particular alternative track. Ultimately, such viewer feed back may be done in real time or virtual real time.
  • Program data 36 may be provided using many possible data delivery methods, as skilled persons will recognize. The following details several exemplary delivery methods:
  • Timestamped Delivery Data 36 may be provided using a timestamped data delivery approach. This approach delivers all data 36 for an entire program either before the program begins or when the user tunes to the program. Timestamps are used to associate particular ratings and / or content attributes data to particular portions of the program. Ideally, this approach works best when presentation control system 26 has or couples to an internal clock that synchronizes to a network clock to assure accurate synchronization of data 36 to the program content.
  • Batch EPG Delivery Data used by existing EPGs is often delivered all at once, for example as a batch transmission.
  • a similar approach can be used by which existing EPG data is supplemented with program data 36.
  • an EPG data server 22 may receive data 36 from an EPG data provider 16.
  • the data provided by the EPG data server 22 may be enhanced by the addition of data provided by a program data server 24.
  • the transmission facility 12 delivers the resulting data through the distribution network 5 to presentation control system 26 or consumer electronic device 28, 20, 32, or 34.
  • Streaming Delivery Data 36 may also be provided using a streaming delivery method. This approach delivers program content data and program control data in real-time along with the program's video and audio content. There is no need for timestamps or clock synchronization since the data delivery is synchronized to the showing of the program.
  • Methods of delivering streaming data include an MPEG private data stream or data insertion into the program's VBI (vertical blanking interval) line.
  • An advantage of this approach over the timestamped approach described above is that it is not effected by delays in the video content. For example, if a program is delayed because a sporting event that precedes it goes into overtime, the program's timestamped data may no longer be accurate since it was downloaded ahead of time and assumed the program began at a certain time. Program viewer 18 may tune to the program while in progress.
  • Data 36 would have to be repeatedly retransmitted during the period for which it was valid because presentation control system 26 or consumer electronic device 28, 30, 32, or 34 may not know what the last data values were when tuning to a program. Ideally, the retransmission interval should not be more than once a second.
  • program viewers 18 receive signal 13 and data 36 from transmission facility 12.
  • data 36 may be included within signal 13 as another channel within the frequency spectrum or may be received as an independent data stream or as a periodic download. In situations where data 36 is received in the form of a periodic download before programs are viewed, data 36 may be stored in memory by system 26. In alternative embodiments, data 36 may be supplied to program viewers 18 as part of a broadcast television signal in the vertical blinking interval. Data 36 may also be supplied by other service providers using communications network 15 or any other suitable communications network. Data 36 may also be received via any public or private packet-switched or other data networks including the Internet, circuit switched networks such as the public switched telephone network, wireless networks, or any other desired communications infrastructure. IV. Data Formatting
  • Data 36 provides program viewers 18 continuous information related to the content of programs 42 throughout the entire presentation. As shown in Figure 4, data 36 may have a data structure comprising:
  • program content parameters such as: timestamp 44, rating 46, content attribute 48, program component 50, and any other suitable parameter for identifying the content of program data 42
  • program control parameters such as: control instruction or action 52 or any other suitable parameter associated with the manner in which program data 42 may be edited, substituted, deleted, or otherwise altered.
  • Timestamp 44 associates program content and program control data with a particular time interval within a program 40.
  • the time interval may be represented as an offset from the start of program 40 and may be expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds or in any smaller unit of time, such as the length of a video frame.
  • rating 46 may be a value associated with a ratings system, such as the TV Parental Guidelines ratings system, the MPAA ratings system, or any other standard ratings systems.
  • rating 46 may be values associated with multiple ratings systems.
  • Content attributes 48 may be a value associated with a trait or attribute of program 40. Content attribute 48 may be based on the content rating system employed by the TV Parental Guidelines or MPAA rating system. Content attribute 48 may be a value indicating the existence of certain attributes or traits in a particular time interval of program 40, such as violence (V), sexual situations (S), coarse or crude indecent language (L), suggestive dialogue (D), fantasy violence (FV), or any other defined attribute or trait.
  • Program components 50 may be used to identify the media component of program rating 46 and / or content attribute 48 apply.
  • program component 50 may indicate that rating 46 or content attribute 48 apply only to the video component, only the audio component, or both the video and audio components.
  • Program component 50 may also be used where program 40 contains multiple audio and / or video streams within the same channel 38, in which case the data may indicate to which stream or streams rating 46 or content attribute 48 apply.
  • Program control parameters, such as control instructions or actions 52 may be a value associated with the various ways in which program 40 may be blocked, disabled, modified, replaced, and / or edited. For instance, the following table I illustrates an example of possible control instructions and their corresponding functions supported by data 36.
  • data 36 may also be presented as a timestamped variance from a default setting.
  • Data 36 may associate program 40 with a standard default setting, which is the same for all types of programs 40. Accordingly, only those portions of program 40 that vary from the default setting need to be assigned program content and control data.
  • the default setting may refer to programs that do not have any undesirable content and / or attributes.
  • data 36 need only contain information for those time intervals of program 40 that contain content and / or attributes that differ from the default setting and may reduce the amount of information in data 36.
  • data 36 may also be delivered to program viewers 18 in real-time along with program 40.
  • data 36 does not have to include information related to the time interval within program 40 because the two parallel streams are synchronized.
  • Data 36 may comprise a plurality (e.g., more than two) of data frames 54, each corresponding to a discrete time interval of program 40.
  • data frames 54 may be synchronized with data frames 42 in program 40 such that the time interval associated with each is equal.
  • the time interval associated with control data frames 54 may vary from that of data frames.
  • Table II An example of a possible data format for dynamic ratings and content attributes is shown below in Table II. Table II
  • DEFAULT indicates a set of overall ratings and content attributes for the program. These overall ratings and content attributes would be similar to the ones already provided by many existing EPGs and other parental control systems.
  • Rating is a value associated with a ratings system such as the TV rating system or MPAA rating system. However, other rating systems are possible and could be used. A program could have ratings from more than one rating system. Also, the program's rating value for a particular rating system could be missing or NULL since not all programs are rated.
  • Content is a value associated with a content attribute system (the word “traits” is sometimes used instead of “content”) such as the ones associated with the TV rating system (V,S,L,D,FV) or MPAA rating system (e.g. Nudity, Violence, etc.).
  • TV rating system V,S,L,D,FV
  • MPAA rating system e.g. Nudity, Violence, etc.
  • a program could have multiple content attributes from multiple content attribute systems.
  • Timestamp indicates when the associated ratings, content attributes, and actions begin. Ideally, the timestamp should be an offset from the start of the program. The timestamp could be expressed in hours, minutes and seconds (e.g. hh:mm:ss). A way should exist to subdivide seconds into a smaller unit of time such as frames (1/30 second).
  • Component refers to the part of the program to which the ratings and content attributes apply, such as audio, video, or both. “Component” may also refer to substitute channels, streams, or other locations of substitute audio and / or video. If a component value is not specified, both video and audio are assumed.
  • “Action” indicates ways in which the program could be modified to nullify the portion of the program with the given ratings and / or content attributes. For instance, an action could instruct the presentation control system 26 to perform any of the functions described above in Table I. Table III illustrates how this data format could be used to deliver program data 36 using the timestamped delivery approach described above.
  • Table III shows where the content data has been formulated into a series of data records, each record associated with a particular portion of the programming.
  • TV-MA;L,V,S are the default ratings and content attributes for the entire program. These are similar to existing rating systems that use generalized ratings and content attributes for the entire program.
  • • "00:00:00:00 G” is the first timestamp offset and first rating for the program. These values indicate that at the start of the program, the program contains material rated G and there are no content attributes present. If no ratings/content values are specified for the beginning of the program, the default ratings/content values should be used.
  • L audio changeto 14 is the second timestamp offset. These values indicate that 11 minutes, 15 seconds, and 2 frames from the start of the program, the programs rating has changed to "R” and the show now has a content attribute "L” which indicates coarse “Language”. The "audio” value indicates that the rating is only associated with the audio portion of the program. "Changeto 14" indicates that an alternative audio track exists for that portion of the dialog. For the purposes of this example, assume that a character in the program has uttered a brief vulgarity. In this case, at the offset shown, presentation control system 36 may switch to an alternative audio track if the ratings and content attributes equal or exceed those indicated by the user's parental control settings. At the next timestamp, presentation control system 26 would reset the audio settings to those indicated by the next ratings/content data.
  • program data 36 is batch delivered to presentation control system 26
  • an applet at the CE device or set top box associated with the user's display device may scan all of data 36 in advance to determine how often blocking would occur during the program. If implementing the user's presentation profile 35 based on the received program data 36 would cause an unacceptably high amount of blocking or modification (e.g., in terms of amount of time program is blocked or percentage of program blocked), the entire program could be blocked or the user informed and allowed to change the rating. The user may select the threshold at which this decision is made as part of the user's input of presentation profile 35 data.
  • system 26 may include a viewer interface by which viewer 18 inputs a presentation profile 35 containing instructions for controlling programming to be displayed and the format thereof.
  • the presentation profile 35 that viewers may create allows more flexibility in using system 26 for controlling and managing programming.
  • Viewer interface 58 and a template 59 allow viewers to enter data stored in a profile 35 that then operates with application program 60.
  • the viewer interface 58 may be a standard remote control, a wired or wireless keyboard, control buttons on the CE device implementing system 26, infrared port, PDA port or other suitable communication device for communicating commands to the application program 60.
  • viewer interface 58 devices or software such as a viewer interface applet or the like
  • viewers can input information, such as information called for by template 59, into the CE device so that application 60 can populate a memory or other storage device with the users' presentation profile 35.
  • Application program 60 enables program viewers 18 to interact with the template 59 and television 28 using a standard menu system to populate the presentation profile 35 with the appropriate data.
  • viewer 18 may configure system 26 permanently or temporarily to disable certain channels 38 in order to block undesired programming.
  • application 60 running on a set top box or other CE device allows the user to turn parental controls on or off and indicate what ratings or content should trigger those controls. For example, if the user set the ratings level to R, all material with a rating of R or higher would be blocked or modified, as depicted in Table IV below.
  • users may modify discrete programming portions having certain attributes. For example, if content attributes associated with the TV ratings system were used, viewers may indicate which of the following content attributes should be blocked or modified, as per Table V below in which the user blocks "Sexual Situations", “Suggestive Dialog” and “Language” content.
  • the system offers users the ability to block ratings or content attributes in several different ways. Specifically, the user could choose from the following blocking options for each rating level and content attribute:
  • Table VII below shows a further example using a different, MPAA ratings system:
  • viewer 18 could choose to allow audio to be modified but not video, forcing video to always be blocked.
  • viewer 18 may select any of the following disabling methods: complete block, partial block, substitution from local device, substitution from service provider (alternate channel), and substitution from service provider (alternate stream), and local edit.
  • viewers may add additional, demographic data to their presentation profile.
  • the viewer may indicate the viewer's household income, number of children, ages, gender, etc.
  • This demographic data as explained in applicant's concurrently filed application entitled, "Methods for Displaying Programming Content Based on User's Demographic Data, Usage Data and/or Commands," which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference, may be used by an applet running on the viewer's system 26 to select a particular program or advertisement targeted to viewers with a predetermined demographic profile.
  • Figure 5 shows at least portions of a system 26 for controlling and managing the presentation of programming received via signal 13 based on data 36.
  • the consumer electronics device that resides in a viewer's home and implements the system 26 can be provided with a blocking processor 66 adapted to communicate with a memory 62, a demultiplexer 64, and a control processor 68. Skilled persons will recognize that processors 66, 68 can be actual microprocessors or simply different portions of a single processor devoted to different tasks.
  • Processor 68 (1) controls various components like tuner 64, blocking processor 66, signal processor 70 and (2) communicates with one or more consumer electronic devices, such as VCR 30, DVR 32, personal computer 34, or any other suitable consumer electronics or home theater and / or entertainment device.
  • An output signal processor 70 outputs video and audio signals to television 28 or any other suitable display device. Skilled persons will recognize that these hardware components - which could be combined into one component - may be found in or added to traditional set-top boxes or consumer electronic devices and need merely be reprogrammed with the functionality described herein.
  • system 26 acts on (1) program data 36 that has both content and control data, (2) presentation profile 35, or (3) a combination of the program data 36 and presentation profile 35. Examples of each of these are given below:
  • a processor e.g., blocking processor 66, accesses profile 35 from a memory 62 and combines it with data 36 to determine if and how program 40 should be presented. As seen in Figures 7 and 8, for each time interval of program 40, blocking processor 66 compares data 36 against profile 35 and acts as needed.
  • data 36 contains information for each time interval of program 40 related to various presentation control and management parameters, such as rating 46, content attribute 48, program component 50, control instruction 52.
  • Profile 35 contains a list of rating / content attributes 74 that viewer 18 does not want to be presented and the corresponding disabling method 76.
  • a blocking processor 66 compares rating 46 and content attribute 48 values in data 36 with the rating / content attributes 74 in profile 35. If data 36 does not contain any rating / content attributes listed in profile 35, blocking processor 66 does not send any control instructions to control processor 68. Under these circumstances, control processor 68 then forwards channel 38 from demultiplexer 64 to output processor 70 where it may be presented on television 28. On the other hand, if data 36 contains a rating / content attribute listed in profile 35, blocking processor 66 then determines applicable instruction 76. Depending on the particular combination of program component 50 values in data 36 and disabling method listed in profile 35, blocking processor 66 may send any of the control instructions 52 mentioned above and shown in Table I to control processor 68. Implementation or exemplary instructions is described below:
  • Blocking processor 66 sends "block video” control instruction if viewer 18 selects the “partial block” disabling method per instruction 76 and program component 50 is "video.”
  • Blocking processor 66 sends a "block audio” control instruction if viewer 18 selects the “partial block” disabling method per instruction 76 and program component 50 is “audio.” • Blocking processor 66 sends a "block video and audio” control instruction if viewer 18 selects the "complete block” disabling method per instruction 76 regardless of the program component 50. In response to any of these instructions from blocking processor 66, control processor 68 performs the appropriate signal processing to edit the signal in channel 38 received from demultiplexer 64 and then forward the edited signal to output processor 70 for presentation on television 28.
  • blocking processor 68 performs the appropriate signal processing to edit the signal in channel 38 received from demultiplexer 64 and then forward the edited signal to output processor 70 for presentation on television 28.
  • programming may also be dynamically edited based on the viewer's presentation profile 35.
  • blocking processor 66 sends a "block portion of video" control instruction if viewer 18 selects the "partial block” disabling method 76 and program component 50 is "video.” Thereafter, processor 68 may modify the signal in order to blank or blur the affected portion of the video display or may overlay the affected portion with any desirable text or other message. After completing signal processing, control processor 68 forwards the signal to output processor 70 for presentation on television 28.
  • blocking processor 66 sends a "substitute local audio" control instruction if viewer 18 or the transmission facility 12 has selected the "substitution from local device” disabling method per instruction 76 and program component 50 is "audio.”
  • control processor 68 performs the appropriate signal processing to block the audio component of channel 38 received from demultiplexer 64.
  • Control processor 68 then initiates a communications link with (a) a different channel having the substitute audio or (b) the desired local device, such as memory 62, DVR 32, VCR 30, personal computer 34, or any other suitable device capable of providing audio, from which the substitute audio is to be received. After receiving the substitute audio, control processor 68 performs the appropriate signal processing to combine the substitute audio with channel 38 and then forwards the combined signal to output processor 70 for presentation on television 28.
  • the desired local device such as memory 62, DVR 32, VCR 30, personal computer 34, or any other suitable device capable of providing audio, from which the substitute audio is to be received.
  • alternate content may be provided from transmission facility 12 as part of the original signal 13, either in the form of alternate channels 38 or alternate streams within a channel 38.
  • Program 40 on channel 38 may comprise a plurality of audio streams and a plurality of video streams, as well as a plurality of alternate audio streams and a plurality of alternate video streams. In this way, there may be an alternate stream according to each rating / content attribute category.
  • the transmission facility 12 includes within the data 36 information concerning the channel or URL to which the system 26 should tune for the alternate content.
  • the alternate content may also be provided by a service provider other than the service provider supplying signal 13.
  • a service provider other than the service provider supplying signal 13.
  • the systems and methods of the present invention will now be described with reference to a particular example.
  • a particular viewer desires to view a program 40 containing the movie Titanic.
  • the viewer has configured a profile 35 to completely block any programming content or portions of programming content containing nudity or associated with a rating of R or X and to perform a local edit for portions of programming content rated PG-13 and containing sexual situations.
  • the movie Titanic has been divided into multiple consecutive data frames 42 for each discrete time interval for the duration of the movie.
  • data 36 associated with each portion of Titanic is also provided to the viewer.
  • Data 36 comprises rating data, content attribute data, and control instructions.
  • each data frame associated with Titanic was rated PG and had a general content rating except for the data frame associated with the love scene. This data frame was rated PG-13 because of the sexual situation.
  • the systems and methods of the present invention enable the program viewer to view each portion of the movie except the portion rated PG-13 and containing the sexual situation.
  • the systems and methods of the present invention enable the program viewer to edit out the undesirable portion using DVR 32.
  • control system 26 may reside on the CE device or set top box coupled to a display device. For instance, it may not be immediately apparent to viewers whether the control system 26 is in effect when they initiate the display device and tune to a program.
  • On screen indicators may be used to indicate the status of the controls (e.g., an icon may display or a message like "All programming with ratings above PG-13 have been blocked.”). Likewise, during modification of the programming content, an icon may indicate to the user that the content has been edited or deleted.
  • icons or other indications can be displayed to the viewers indicating that they selected the alternative scene or otherwise identifying the source of the alternative scene.
  • PIN entry or other security protocols can be implemented by system 26 to allow valid users to initiate, modify or disable the controls. Correct PIN entry shows the programming in its unmodified form. Programming controls can be reinstated when the user tunes to another channel or turns off the Set Top Box or CE device.

Abstract

L'invention concerne des systèmes et des procédés permettant à des téléspectateurs de commander et de gérer la présentation des programmes sur la base de types spécifiés de catégories d'évaluation et d'attributs de contenu que le téléspectateur ne souhaite pas voir présentés. L'invention fournit des données de programme correspondant à chaque programme. Ces données comprennent (1) des informations dynamiques en rapport avec le contenu des composants discrets du programme télévisuel et, éventuellement, (2) des données correspondantes servant à commander la présentation de ce contenu. Dans un exemple, les données du programme comprennent des valeurs d'évaluation et d'attributs de contenu ainsi que des données de commande indiquant le composant média auquel s'applique la valeur ou des instructions correspondant aux démarches permettant de désactiver, modifier, remplacer et/ou sélectionner des composants de programme. Un décodeur ou tout autre dispositif électronique grand public configuré, permet de combiner les données de programme relatives à la programmation que l'utilisateur souhaite désactiver, avec des données qu'il a entrées. Le dispositif électronique grand public permet ainsi, sur la base des données de programme et le profil de présentation du téléspectateur, de contrôler si chaque élément ou composant de programmation applicable est présenté au téléspectateur et/ou comment il est présenté au téléspectateur.
PCT/US2001/017131 2000-06-21 2001-05-24 Systeme et procede d'elaboration, de distribution et de gestion de donnees concernant un contenu de programmation et des composants de ce dernier WO2001099416A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01937760A EP1461943A2 (fr) 2000-06-21 2001-05-24 Systeme et procede d'elaboration, de distribution et de gestion de donnees concernant un contenu de programmation et des composants de ce dernier
AU2001263464A AU2001263464A1 (en) 2000-06-21 2001-05-24 System and method for formulating, delivering and managing data concerning programming content and portions thereof
CA002413779A CA2413779A1 (fr) 2000-06-21 2001-05-24 Systeme et procede d'elaboration, de distribution et de gestion de donnees concernant un contenu de programmation et des composants de ce dernier

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US21305800P 2000-06-21 2000-06-21
US60/213,058 2000-06-21
US21452900P 2000-06-27 2000-06-27
US60/214,529 2000-06-27
US23118000P 2000-09-07 2000-09-07
US60/231,180 2000-09-07
US09/751,809 US20040261099A1 (en) 2000-06-21 2000-12-29 Method for formulating, delivering and managing data concerning programming content and portions thereof
US09/751,809 2000-12-29
US09/751,702 US7380258B2 (en) 2000-06-21 2000-12-29 Systems and methods for controlling and managing programming content and portions thereof
US09/751,702 2000-12-29

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NL1020989C2 (nl) * 2002-07-03 2004-01-06 Filip Rogier Meurs Inrichting en werkwijze voor het verschaffen van beeld- en geluidgegevens.
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EP3203756A1 (fr) * 2016-02-02 2017-08-09 Thomson Licensing Procédés permettant de déterminer un profil personnalisé et pour filtrer des extraits d'un contenu multimédia, dispositifs correspondants, produit de programme informatique et support lisible par ordinateur
US10419817B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2019-09-17 Opentv, Inc. Smart playlist
US10785517B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2020-09-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. Method for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US10893334B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2021-01-12 Broadband Itv, Inc. Video-on-demand content delivery method for providing video-on-demand services to TV service subscribers
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US11252459B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11265589B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2022-03-01 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11570521B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-01-31 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection

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WO2002017634A3 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2003-02-13 Intellocity Usa Inc Selection ou exclusion de videos
US7421729B2 (en) 2000-08-25 2008-09-02 Intellocity Usa Inc. Generation and insertion of indicators using an address signal applied to a database
WO2002017634A2 (fr) * 2000-08-25 2002-02-28 Intellocity Usa Inc. Selection ou exclusion de videos
WO2003077554A1 (fr) * 2002-03-11 2003-09-18 Invidex Inc. Systeme et procede permettant de gerer des services de transmission video
US7640487B2 (en) 2002-06-11 2009-12-29 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method of filtering a bitstream according to user specifications
WO2003105441A2 (fr) * 2002-06-11 2003-12-18 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procede de filtrage d'un train de bits en fonction de specifications d'utilisateur
WO2003105441A3 (fr) * 2002-06-11 2004-05-06 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Procede de filtrage d'un train de bits en fonction de specifications d'utilisateur
NL1020989C2 (nl) * 2002-07-03 2004-01-06 Filip Rogier Meurs Inrichting en werkwijze voor het verschaffen van beeld- en geluidgegevens.
US10893334B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2021-01-12 Broadband Itv, Inc. Video-on-demand content delivery method for providing video-on-demand services to TV service subscribers
US11516525B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-11-29 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11601697B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2023-03-07 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11272233B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-03-08 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11259060B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11259089B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. Video-on-demand content delivery method for providing video-on-demand services to TV service subscribers
US11259059B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11252459B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11252476B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. Video-on-demand content delivery system for providing video-on-demand services to TV service subscribers
US10791351B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2020-09-29 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US10785517B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2020-09-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. Method for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
CN1770846B (zh) * 2004-11-02 2012-05-09 Lg电子株式会社 广播服务方法和广播服务设备
US8712831B2 (en) 2004-11-19 2014-04-29 Repucom America, Llc Method and system for quantifying viewer awareness of advertising images in a video source
US8036932B2 (en) 2004-11-19 2011-10-11 Repucom America, Llc Method and system for valuing advertising content
CN100440980C (zh) * 2006-11-24 2008-12-03 华为技术有限公司 复用器、数字电视网络系统及其音量调整方法
US11589093B2 (en) 2007-03-12 2023-02-21 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11245942B2 (en) 2007-03-12 2022-02-08 Broadband Itv, Inc. Method for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US11570500B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-01-31 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11570521B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-01-31 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11695976B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-07-04 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11265589B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2022-03-01 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11272235B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2022-03-08 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11277669B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2022-03-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11290763B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2022-03-29 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11582498B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-02-14 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
WO2009085385A2 (fr) * 2007-12-27 2009-07-09 Nbc Universal, Inc. Système et procédé servant à protéger un contenu transféré entre des dispositifs
WO2009085385A3 (fr) * 2007-12-27 2009-08-27 Nbc Universal, Inc. Système et procédé servant à protéger un contenu transféré entre des dispositifs
US11593444B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2023-02-28 Opentv, Inc. Collecting data from different sources
US10419817B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2019-09-17 Opentv, Inc. Smart playlist
US11074308B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2021-07-27 Opentv, Inc. Collecting data from different sources
US11843827B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2023-12-12 Opentv, Inc. Smart playlist
US8949871B2 (en) 2010-09-08 2015-02-03 Opentv, Inc. Smart media selection based on viewer user presence
US9800927B2 (en) 2010-09-08 2017-10-24 Opentv, Inc. Smart media selection based on viewer user presence
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