WO2007010416A2

WO2007010416A2 - A method and a system for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program

Info

Publication number: WO2007010416A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/003004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franck Malka; Amit Or
Original assignee: Inlive Interactive Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-07-04
Filing date: 2006-07-04
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: WO2007010416A3

Abstract

A method for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen is described. The method comprises broadcasting a video signal to all television screens of the viewers watching the interactive program comprising contents of the interactive program that are common to all viewers and that include at least one participation code to be input by the viewers into a communica¬ tion device for enabling the viewers of the interactive program to actively participate in the interactive program; establishing a 2-way communica¬ tion path between the broadcast station and the communication device based on an Internet Protocol (IP), upon inputting a participation code of the at least one participation code into the communication device; receiv¬ ing real-time responses to the interactive program from the participating viewers inputting further codes corresponding to their real-time responses into their communication devices; generating, transmitting and displaying common real-time information on the television screen of all viewers watching the interactive program based on the received real-time re¬ sponses; and generating, transmitting and displaying personal real-time information on the television screen of a specific viewer watching the in¬ teractive program based on the received real-time response of said specific viewer. Further a corresponding system is described.

Description

inLive Interactive Ltd.

A method and a system for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program

The present invention relates to real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen.

A corresponding method and system is described in WO 2005/050969 A2 of the present applicant, the disclosure of which is herewith included by reference. This known system allows TV viewers at home to interact with interactive television programs by using their telephone keypad. In order to participate on the interactive television program a viewer has first to dial a predefined telephone number indicated on the television screen to be connected to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR). The IVR plays back pre-recorded playback messages to the caller which typically include a welcome playback message informing the caller that he is now participating in the live TV show. Further, instruction playback messages regarding the Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) key assignment for indicating re- sponses of the caller are played.

If the caller inputs a corresponding response using the telephone keypad the generated DTMF tone is identified and evaluated by the system and the corresponding result is visually integrated into the video signal broad- casted back by the broadcast station to the TV audience. Therefore the TV audience will visually be presented a feedback resulting from a plurality of viewer's responses. However, with this system a personal feedback is only possible by establishing a direct telephone connection to the viewer. This can either be done automatically by an IVR or manually by a live operator which will e.g. inform the viewer if he won a price by answering the most questions correctly in a televised quiz.

This personal contact with the viewer by means of telephone contact is, however, confusing for the viewer and needs to be enhanced. Since the viewer uses, while interacting with the interactive television program, the telephone as remote control it is inconvenient if the user is requested to listen to the voice on the handset of the telephone to be provided with personal feedback. This is in particular true for devices on which handset and telephone keypad are integrally built as e.g. for usual mobile phones. In addition, for devices without voice capabilities, such as remote controls, a voice option is not available so that such devices cannot be used for interacting with the television content although almost with each television set a corresponding remote control is available.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and a system for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program which is simplified and in which the possibility for personal feedback is improved.

According to the invention this object is solved by a method for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen, the method comprising broadcasting a video signal to all television screens of the viewers watching the interactive program comprising contents of the interactive program that are common to all viewers and providing at least one participation code to be input by the viewers into a communication device for enabling the viewers of the interactive program to actively participate in the interactive program; establishing a 2-way communication path between the broadcast station and the communication device based on an Internet Protocol (IP), upon inputting a participation code of the at least one participation code into the communication device; receiving real-time responses to the interactive program from the participating viewers inputting further codes corresponding to their real-time responses into their communication devices; generating, transmitting and displaying common real-time information on the televi- sion screen of all viewers watching the interactive program based on the received real-time responses; and generating, transmitting and displaying personal real-time information on the television screen of a specific viewer watching the interactive program based on the received real-time response of said specific viewer.

The invention further provides a system for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen, the system comprising broadcasting means, which broadcasts a video signal to all television screens of the viewers watching the interactive program comprising contents of the interactive program that are common to all viewers, a communication device for inputting at least one participation code to enable the viewers of the interactive program to actively participate in the interactive program; communication establishing means, which establishes a 2-way communication path between the broadcast station and the communication device based on an Internet Protocol (IP), upon inputting a participation code of the at least one participation code into the communication device; receiving means, which receives real-time responses to the interactive program from the partici- pating viewers inputting further codes corresponding to their real-time responses into their communication devices, wherein the broadcasted video signal comprises common real-time information based on the received real-time responses; generating means, which generates personal real-time information based on the received real-time response of a spe- cific viewer watching the interactive program; transmitting means, which transmits the generated personal real-time information to the communication device of said specific user; and display means, which displays the transmitted personal real-time information on the television screen of said specific viewer.

With the invention it is therefore possible to provide each viewer of an interactive television program with a personal feedback displayed in realtime on the television screen of the specific viewer watching the interactive program. By displaying visual personal feedback individually for each user on his/her television screen interaction is simplified and user experience is improved.

In some cases it may even be possible to use an existing communication path for establishing the 2-way communication path between the broad- cast station and the communication device. Existing communication paths are known for generic purposes such as e.g. an electronic program guide. These existing communication paths can be used by the invention to transfer the personal information to the end user. The participation code may be transmitted together with the common contents of the broad- casted video signal to be displayed on the television screen or e.g. be announced by the operator of the interactive television program. It is also possible that the corresponding participation code can be transmitted by using one or more predetermined keys of the communication device. In one embodiment of the invention the communication device comprises a cellular phone having a display to be used as television screen being capable of receiving and displaying video streams and the broadcasted video signal, the common real-time information and the personal real-time information is displayed on the display of the cellular phone. In this embodiment the display of the cellular phone itself builds the television screen and the viewer is able to input the participation code and the further code using the keypad of his/her cellular phone. The cellular phone is capable of translating the input codes into an IP based signal which is transmitted to the broadcast station using an Internet Protocol in order to be identified and evaluated for generating a common and/ or a personal feedback in real-time.

In a further embodiment the communication device comprises a set top box connected to a television screen or a television set comprising a television screen and the broadcasted video signal, the common real-time information and the personal real-time information is displayed on the television screen of the set top box or the television set. In this case the communication device may further comprise a remote control having input keys through which the viewer can input the corresponding participation code and the further codes. These codes can be generated by using designated keys of the remote control or even keys provided directly on the set top box or the television set. It is also possible that other input devices such as touch screens may be used.

The translation of the codes input by the viewer into an IP based signal is made by translation means in form of client software in the communication device, which is also responsible to act as transmitter and receiver on top of the communication channel based on the Internet Protocol. The corresponding Internet Protocol based signal is received by an application server at the broadcasting station, which identifies the user input and assigns it to the correct interactive television program. A related game engine processes the received signal and generates appropriate personal feedback, which is in turn re-transmitted to the client software. The client software transforms the received personal feedback signal into visual information and presents it as an overlay on top of the video broadcast signal for displaying the broadcast video signal together with the personal feedback signal on the screen of the cellular telephone or on the television screen of the TV set.

Preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with respect to the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a cellular phone building a communication device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a TV set comprising a set top box, a TV screen and a remote control building a communication device according to a second embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a communication device 1 in the form of a cellular phone 2 comprising a display 3 and a keypad 4 having input keys 5.

The cellular phone 2 is capable to receive video streams and to display the received video streams on the display 3 so that the display 3 can act as television screen 6. In an upper part 7 of the television screen 6 a soccer game is displayed which is broadcasted by a broadcast station to be received by a mass audience. The broadcasted soccer game is part of an interactive television program in which questions are transmitted to the viewer of the program either by displaying the questions on the television screen 6 or by transmitting corresponding audio information. Concurrently or after displaying the question possible answers are displayed on the television screen in a middle part 8 of the television display. Each possible answer is preceded by a number which enables the viewer to select a desired answer by using a corresponding key 5.

In addition a graphic timer 10 is displayed on the television screen 6 indicating a time frame in which the viewer can answer the questions.

After pressing the corresponding key 5 to indicate the chosen answer on the right side of the middle part 8 of television screen 6 the accumulated results resulting from the corresponding inputs of all participating viewers are displayed and in addition in a bottom part 11 of the television screen 6 the personal score of the specific user is individually displayed as personal real-time feedback.

The broadcast operator continues to cycle through the questions until the last question of the game is reached. At the end of the game the viewer with the highest game score is sent a personal feedback in form of personal visual real-time information displayed in the bottom part 11 of the television screen 6. This personal information may for example comprise instructions on how to collect the won reward.

Fig. 2 shows a communication device I¹ which comprises a set top box 12, a television set 13 and a remote control 14. With the communication de- vice I' the same interaction as described with respect to Fig. 1 is possible by inputting the corresponding numbers 9 for answering the questions through predetermined keys 5 on the remote control 14.

The system enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows a broadcast system 15, which comprises an operator console 16, an application server 17, a content processor 18 and a content data server 19.

The broadcast system 15 is connected to an IP network 20 to which in one embodiment the communication device I¹ is connected. In another embodiment (also shown in Fig. 3) the communication device 1 is connected to the IP network 20 through a cellular base station 21. In the latter embodiment the communication device 1 which is built as cellular phone 2 is connected with the cellular base station 21 through a wireless connection (e.g. 3G connection).

The communication devices 1, 1' comprise an interactive host 22 which is a client software installed on the IP enabled communication devices 1, 1' which are connected to the IP network 20. The operator console 16 is used to control the interactive television program (interactive event) by operating the application server 17 and the content processor 18. The content processor 18 receives the event content data from the content data server 19.

The interactive host 22 is a software application that runs within an operating environment of the IP enabled communication devices 1, I¹. It can be activated either by the viewer participating in the interactive television program through the IP enabled communication devices 1, T or remotely in response to data sent to the IP enabled communication devices 1, 1' through the IP network 20. Once activated the interactive host 22 can:

1. Receive one or more data streams (e.g. one video stream, one public data stream and one personal data stream).

2. Translate these data streams into a combined user presentation (using means such as video display, audio sound, etc.).

3. Monitor the IP enabled communication devices' 1, 1' input keys 5 for inputs that are relevant to the interactive event.

4. Transmit the user input through the IP network 20 to the applica- tion server 17.

The operator console 16 is a software application running on a computer. It enables an operator to:

1. Author and configure an interactive event which can be done both, ahead of time (before the actual event) as well as during the event itself, allowing for ad-hoc content to be added as the event progresses.

2. Initiate and control the progress of the interactive event by controlling the content, interaction cues and timing.

3. View participation results as they are received in real-time from the application server 17. The application server 17 is a software application that runs on a powerful computer server. It is controlled by the operator through the operator console 16. The application server 17 enables mass audience participation experience by:

1. Generating common and personal data streams that are relayed to the interactive hosts 22 installed in the communication devices 1, 1' of the viewer participating in the interactive television program through the IP network 20. The data streams are synchronized with the external event content transmitted by the content data server 19 and combined into a single presentation by the interactive hosts 22.

2. Receiving participation information that is transmitted by the interactive hosts 22 in response to viewers' inputs on the IP enabled communication devices 1, 1'.

3. Real-time processing of the collected viewers' inputs into aggregated results. These results are relayed both to the operator console 16 and to the viewers themselves by sending updated common and personal data streams. This can be done through an automatic process or with interaction of an operator through the operator console 16.

The content data server 19 transmits event related data from external sources such as video data from a live TV broadcast. The content data server 19 sends the data into the content processor 18 which in turn is controlled by the operator console 16. This enables the system operator to modify the external data to include data that is required for the interactive event, such as graphic overlay added to a video source. The content processor 18 then transmits the data to the interactive host 1, I' in the communication devices 1, 1' through the IP network 20. The interactive host 1, I' integrate this data with the data streams generated by the application server 17 into a unified visual presentation for the viewer participating in the interactive television program.

In the following the method according to the invention is further described.

If a member of the mass television viewer audience watching an interactive television program decides to participate in the interactive program he inputs a participation code shown for example on the television screen 6 using the input keys 5 of the communication device 1, 1' (either the cellular phone 2 or the remote control 14). It is also possible that the participa- tion code is announced by the operator of the interactive television program or that a special key is provided on the communication device 1, 1' which is used for inputting the participation code (e.g. "the green key"). The pressed key(s) are identified by the interactive host 22 and translated into an IP based signal which is transmitted over the IP network 20 to the application server 17.

The application server 17 establishes a 2-way communication path to the interactive host 22 and generates a personal video data stream which may for example comprise a welcome message as well as some initializing ques- tions. This personal data stream is transferred through the IP network 20 to the interactive host 22 which combines this personal data stream with the external event content transmitted by the content data server 19 and the content processor 18 into a combined video data stream by overlaying the personal video data on top of the broadcasted video signal from the content data server 19. Further, the combined video data is displayed on the television screen 6 to the specific viewer.

Although with the invention this initialization step can be carried out us- ing only visual information it is also possible that in the initialization step audio signals are transmitted to the cellular phone 2 as it has been described in the introductory part of this application.

The questions provided by the operator during the interactive television program through the operator console 16 forming common real-time information are combined with the common video signal provided by the content data server 19 through the content processor 18 and the resulting video signal is broadcasted through the IP network 20 to all viewers of the interactive television program.

A viewer who wants to answer a question inputs a corresponding answer code through the keys 5 of the cellular phone 2 or the remote control 14 of the respective communication device 1, 1'. The corresponding inputs are identified by the interactive host 22, translated into an IP based signal and transmitted through the IP network 20 to the application server 17. The application server 17 optionally stores and processes the collected viewer inputs into aggregated results in real-time and these results are relayed both to the operator console 16 and to the participating viewer by sending updated common and personal data streams. While the common updated data stream is broadcasted to all viewers of the interactive television program the personal data stream is only sent to the specific viewer inputting the corresponding answer and the interactive host 22 of the communication device 1, I¹, receiving the common and the personal data stream combines them to a video stream which is displayed on the television screen 6 to the specific viewer. With the invention it is possible to provide a viewer participating in an interactive television program with both common as well as personal visual real-time information on his television screen so that participating in the interactive television program is simplified and viewer's experience is enhanced.

Reference numeral list

1, I¹ communication device

2 cellular phone 3 display

4 keypad

5 input key

6 television screen

7 upper part of the television screen 8 middle part of the television screen

9 numbers

10 graphical timer

11 bottom part of the television screen

12 set top box 13 television set

14 remote control

15 broadcast system

16 operator console

17 application server 18 content processor

19 content data server

20 IP network

21 cellular base station 2 interactive host

Claims

1. A method for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audi- ence in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen (6), the method comprising: a) broadcasting a video signal to all television screens (6) of the viewers watching the interactive program comprising contents of the interactive program that are common to all viewers and providing at least one participation code to be input by the viewers into a communication device (1, 1') for enabling the viewers of the interactive program to actively participate in the interactive program; b) establishing a 2-way communication path between the broadcast station and the communication device (1 , I¹) based on an Internet Protocol (IP), upon inputting a participation code of the at least one participation code into the communication device (1, 1'); c) receiving real-time responses to the interactive program from the participating viewers inputting further codes corresponding to their real-time responses into their communication devices (1, I¹); d) generating, transmitting and displaying common real-time in- formation on the television screen (6) of all viewers watching the interactive program based on the received real-time responses; and e) generating, transmitting and displaying personal real-time information on the television screen (6) of a specific viewer watching the interactive program based on the received realtime response of said specific viewer.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by transforming the transmitted common real-time information and/ or the transmitted personal real-time information into a visual information which can be displayed on the television screen (6).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by overlaying the common real-time information and/ or the personal real-time information on top of the broadcasted video signal.

4. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (1, 1') comprises a cellular phone (2) having a display (3) to be used as television screen (6) being capable of receiving and displaying video streams, and that the broadcasted video signal, the common real-time information and the personal real-time information is displayed on the display (3) of the cellular phone (6).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the cellular phone (2) comprises input keys (5), and that the step of inputting the participation code and the further codes comprises inputting the respective codes by using the input keys (5) of the cellular phone (2).

6. Method according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the communication device (1, 1') comprises a set top box (12) connected to a television screen (6) or a television set comprising a television screen (6) and that the broadcasted video signal, the common real-time information and the personal real-time information is displayed on the television screen (6) of the set top box (12) or the television set.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the communication device comprises a remote control (14) having input keys (5), and that the step of inputting the participation code and the further codes comprises inputting the respective codes by using the input keys (5) of the remote control (14).

8. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the codes input by the viewers are translated into an IP based signal.

9. A system for enabling real-time participation of a mass viewer audience in an interactive television program broadcasted from a broadcast station and displayed live on at least one television screen (6), the system comprising: a) broadcasting means (15), which broadcasts a video signal to all television screens (6) of the viewers watching the interactive program comprising contents of the interactive program that are common to all viewers; b) a communication device (1, I¹) for inputting at least one participation code to enable the viewers of the interactive program to actively participate in the interactive program; c) communication establishing means (17), which establishes a 2 -way communication path between the broadcast station and the communication device (1, 1') based on an Internet Protocol (IP), upon inputting a participation code of the at least one participation code into the communication device (1, 1'); d) receiving means (17), which receives real-time responses to the interactive program from the participating viewers input- ting further codes corresponding to their real-time responses into their communication devices (1, I¹), wherein the broadcasted video signal comprises common real-time information based on the received real-time responses; e) generating means (17), which generates personal real-time in- formation based on the received real-time response of a specific viewer watching the interactive program; f) transmitting means (17), which transmits the generated personal real-time information to the communication device (1, 1 ') of said specific user; and g) display means, which displays the transmitted personal realtime information on the television screen (6) of said specific viewer.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the communication device (1, I¹) comprises transforming means (22) which transforms the transmitted personal real-time information into a visual information which can be displayed on the television screen (6).

11. System according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the transforming means (22) generates a customized video signal to be displayed on the television screen (6) by overlaying the personal real-time information on top of the broadcasted video signal.

12. System according to anyone of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the communication device (1, 1') comprises a cellular phone (2) having a display (3) to be used as television screen (6) being capable of receiving and displaying video streams, and that the broadcasted video signal, the common real-time information and the personal real-time information are displayed on the display (3) of the cellular phone (2).

13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the cellular phone (2) comprises input keys (5) and code translating means (22) which translates the participation code and/ or the further code input by the viewer using the input keys (5) into an IP based signal.

14. System according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cellular phone (2) is a 3G cellular phone.

15. System according to anyone of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the communication device (1, 1') comprises a set top box (12) connected to a television screen (6) or a television set comprising a television screen on which the broadcasted video signal comprising the common real-time information and the personal real-time information is displayed.

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that the communication device (1, 1') comprises a remote control (14) having input keys (5) and code translating means (22) which translates the participation code and/ or the further code input by the viewer using the input keys (5) into an IP based signal.

17. System according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the communication device (1 , 1') comprises an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) device.