WO2007034256A1 - Récepteur de signal tv interactif - Google Patents

Récepteur de signal tv interactif Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007034256A1
WO2007034256A1 PCT/IB2005/002758 IB2005002758W WO2007034256A1 WO 2007034256 A1 WO2007034256 A1 WO 2007034256A1 IB 2005002758 W IB2005002758 W IB 2005002758W WO 2007034256 A1 WO2007034256 A1 WO 2007034256A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
response
interactive
signal receiver
signal
receiver according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2005/002758
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roland Zitzke
Original Assignee
Farimex S.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Farimex S.A. filed Critical Farimex S.A.
Priority to PCT/IB2005/002758 priority Critical patent/WO2007034256A1/fr
Publication of WO2007034256A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007034256A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04N21/475—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
    • H04N21/4758—End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data for providing answers, e.g. voting
    • 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]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6582—Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an interactive TV signal receiver according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Interactive TV signal receivers which allow the participation of a user to interactive TV programmes transmitted by a TV broadcaster, in particular quiz shows.
  • Examples of interactive TV signal receivers are interactive set-top-boxes, interactive TV sets or interactive decoders.
  • a show master asks questions, usually presented with multiple choice answers, to candidates present in the studio; by choosing the right answer, candidates win prizes.
  • the console receives control data (comprising time out signals and the correct answers) from the broadcaster and compares them with the user's answers and response time in order to calculate and display a score.
  • control data comprising time out signals and the correct answers
  • the user's score, the user's response time and a user identification code are transmitted to a remote service system of the broadcaster in order to check the win.
  • EP 0 804 856 discloses a system wherein the TV broadcaster transmits in a teletext format the correct answers to the questions made by the show master during the course of the programme.
  • EP 0 804 856 also discloses an interactive receiver which checks a predetermined teletext page (wherein the broadcaster transmits the correct answers) and compares the correct answer with the input of the user in order to calculate the score.
  • EP 0 804 856 simplifies the receiver disclosed by US 4,592,546, but this simplification creates a security problem which cannot be overcome if not providing a live participation of the user in the last part of the TV programme.
  • the broadcaster has to transmit the correct answers to the receiver at the participant premises. This transmission of all correct answers during or prior to the putting on air of the show introduces a security problem because if these answers are decoded and decrypted outside of the designated receiver, it is easy to generate a correct answer without having answered to any question of the game.
  • the system disclosed by EP 0 804 856 presents a further problem, i.e.
  • Fig. 1 shows an interactive receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 shows an interactive set-top-box and a TV set.
  • the interactive television signal receiver of figure 1 is an interactive television set 1 connected to an antenna 2 for receiving TV signals.
  • the typical aerial can be substituted by a cable in the case of cable TV or in a TV system for an apartment building, as well as by a parabola in the case of a satellite system.
  • the interactive television signal receiver 1 is provided with a front end part 3 performing well known RF amplification, IF conversion and demodulation functions in order to obtain a demodulated TV signal which can be then processed by a TV signal processor 7.
  • Both the front end 3 and the TV signal processor 7 are part of the TV signal receiving means 8, i.e. of those components of the TV signal receiver which allow reception and decoding of the TV signals.
  • the front end part 3 is operated by a TV controller and data processing circuit 4 which is provided with features for the acquisition of information (e.g. of the teletext type) transmitted in the data carrying facility of a TV signal such as the vertical blanking interval of an analogue TV signal or a service channel in digital broadcast.
  • the TV controller and data processing circuit 4 comprises a microcontroller 4a, a data processor 4b (e.g. a teletext processor) and preferably also a memory 4c for storing the acquired data (e.g. teletext pages); all these elements are not shown in detail in the figures since well known to any person skilled in the art.
  • the TV controller and data processing circuit 4 is connected to input receiving means 5 which are adapted to receive inputs by a user.
  • the input receiving means 5 comprise an infrared, bluetooth or similar receivers which receive signals transmitted by input means 6, e.g. a remote control, operated by the user.
  • the type of device operated by the user to control the interactive TV signal receiver is not limited to a remote control, it can be a mouse or a keyboard which transmits user inputs to the input receiving means 5 through a transmitting media (e.g. cable, radio waves, infra red light...); depending on the type of device operated by the user and on the type of connection, appropriate input receiving means 5 will be provided.
  • a transmitting media e.g. cable, radio waves, infra red light...
  • the receiver is provided with a TV signal processor 7 which, in known way, provides the TV controller and data processing circuit 4 with the synchronising pulses and the combined video and blanking signal (CVBS) in order to allow, as for example, teletext decoding.
  • a TV signal processor 7 which, in known way, provides the TV controller and data processing circuit 4 with the synchronising pulses and the combined video and blanking signal (CVBS) in order to allow, as for example, teletext decoding.
  • CVBS combined video and blanking signal
  • Audio 9 and video 10 amplifiers are operated by the TV controller and data acquisition circuit 4 in order to display and listen to a TV programme.
  • Display means and speakers, respectively connected to said video amplifier 10 and said audio amplifier 9, are not shown in figure 1.
  • the interactive TV signal receiver comprises a memory device 12 and a timer circuit 13, which are preferably connected to (or comprised in) the microcontroller 4a.
  • the memory device 12 is preferably an EEPROM or flash memory which can be accessed by the microcontroller 4a both in reading and in writing.
  • the timer circuit 13 is preferably adapted to implement the function of clock
  • a TV programme in particular a quiz show
  • a TV user provided with a receiver according to the invention can participate in the TV programme, e.g. by pressing a start button on a remote control or other input means.
  • the TV broadcaster does not transmit data relative to the correct answers to the questions, contrary to the case of the prior art where the correct answers were transmitted to the receiver. In this way, both a reduction of the band occupancy and an improvement of the security is obtained.
  • the microcontroller 4a During the course of the TV programme, the user will answer the question asked by the show master. As the microcontroller 4a reveals that a response input has been received, the microcontroller 4a interrogates the timer circuit 13 in order to calculate the response time as it will be disclosed in the following.
  • the microcontroller 4a records into the memory device 12 the response input and the relative response time.
  • the microcontroller 4a After all response times and response inputs have been stored, the microcontroller 4a generates a response code, which is representative of a single sequence of response inputs and response times, said sequence corresponding to said stored response inputs and response times.
  • the response code is not the score made by the user having participated in the TV programme, since the receiver does not know the correct response and hence has no possibility of calculating the exact score.
  • the response code which can be displayed on a screen or on a display of the interactive TV signal receiver, is alphanumeric and suitable for being typed into a touch-tone phone or a mobile messaging system.
  • the code can be directly transmitted by the interactive device through output interface 11.
  • an output interface 11 is a telephone interface (e.g. a modem) which allows the transmission of data through the telephone line, for example by using dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) communication.
  • DTMF dual tone multi-frequency
  • the output interface 11 can work in different ways; it can be connected to a local fixed phone set or it can be connected to a mobile phone equipment (for instance through the Bluetooth technology) , so as to send data using the data stream facility available in the mobile phones (SMS, MMS, WAP, and so on).
  • the code is displayed and the user communicates said code either by phone or by sending a short message (SMS) or similar to a remote service system.
  • the response code generated by the microcontroller 4a is the output of a response function F(xi) having as input parameters xi at least the response inputs and the response times.
  • said response function F(xi) is subject to a cryptographic process, so that a user cannot build a response code by himself.
  • the response function F(xi) can be a cryptographic function, which receives the response inputs and the response times and encrypt them, or it can be a function relating to the response inputs and the response times, and which is then supplied as input parameter to a cryptographic function which encrypts the result of the response function.
  • Both the response function and the possible cryptographic function can be stored in a memory area of the receiver.
  • an identification code is provided to each interactive TV signal receiver or to each user (e.g. the subscription number of a TV user), in order to identify in a unique way said interactive TV signal receiver or said user.
  • the identification code and the response code are both communicated to a remote service system of the broadcaster, which is dedicated to the purpose of receiving the response codes, and taking the decision on whether the answers were correct and given in the proper time frame.
  • the identification code is stored in a memory area of the interactive TV signal receiver and is used by the microcontroller 4a as a further input parameter xi of the response function F(xi).
  • the response code will be representative of the user and it won't be necessary to communicate two codes to ⁇ ie remote service system of the broadcaster.
  • the broadcaster transmits control data, for example information useful for the operation of the interactive TV signal receiver, in particular information useful for controlling the generation of said response codes.
  • control data particularly for a quiz show, are the following:
  • Time synchronization signals e.g. a time signal which is used by the interactive TV signal receiver to reset the internal timer circuit on the correct hour, or a reference time signal which can be used by the interactive TV signal receiver to measure the time taken by the user to select a response.
  • Form of answers i.e. number, alphabetic letter or dedicated buttons which can be used by the receiver to filter response inputs from other user inputs, like brightness or volume control.
  • Filter information i.e. information which can be used to invalidate apparently bad formatted or duplicate answers or answers given outside an answer time frame during the course of the show.
  • control data shall not contain the correct answers to the questions.
  • Control data can be transmitted with the TV signals, in particular during the vertical blanking intervals and preferably in a teletext type format, or separately from said
  • TV signals e.g. through a different transmitting channel or media.
  • the interactive TV signal receiver will thus be adapted to receive said control data.
  • the TV controller and data acquisition circuit 4 of figure 1 is preferably provided with features for the acquisition of information of the teletext type, as a consequence it is adapted to receive control data of the same type.
  • a particularly useful control data is the time synchronization signal, since response times are preferably generated by taking into consideration said time synchronization signal.
  • timer circuit 13 marks a time different to the one marked by a remote clock of the broadcaster, than the time response generated by the microcontroller 4a can suffer of this offset.
  • the time synchronization signal is representative of a time marked by a remote clock, and the microcontroller 4a is adapted, in particular programmed:
  • the microcontroller 4a As soon as the microcontroller 4a has received the user response inputs, it detects times from said timer circuit 13.
  • the response times which will be stored by the microcontroller 4a in a memory area 12 of the receiver thus correspond to said detected times minus the calculated offset.
  • control data comprise a time synchronization signal representative of a time marked by a remote clock
  • microcontroller 4a is adapted, in particular programmed, to transmit said time synchronization signal to the timer circuit 13.
  • the timer circuit 13 receiving said time synchronization signal, sets its time to the time of said remote clock; in this way there is no offset between the time marked by the timer circuit 13 and the one marked by the remote clock of the broadcaster. As soon as microcontroller 4a has received the user response inputs from the input receiving means, it detects times from the timer circuit 13.
  • the response times which will be stored by the microcontroller 4a in a memory area 12 of the receiver correspond to said detected times.
  • the above synchronization problem is avoided by transmitting (within said control data) a start signal.
  • the microcontroller 4a is adapted , in particular programmed:
  • the response times correspond to said detected time intervals.
  • the start signal can be either a signal indicating the time instant from which an answer can be given to a question, or simply a reference signal indicating a time zero.
  • an interactive TV signal receiver according to the present invention can be a set-top-box 1' to be connected to a TV set.
  • a person skilled in the art will have clear the means, described above with reference to an interactive TV set 1, that have to be provided in an interactive set-top-box 1' according to the invention.
  • the set-top-box V comprises a connection to an antenna 2, a front end part 3, means 7' for decoding the received signal, a TV controller and data acquisition circuit 4', a receiving interface 5, a memory device 12 and a timer circuit 13.
  • the set-top-box is provided with a display 16 on which a response code can be displayed.
  • the set-top-box 1' will feed video signals and audio signals to a TV set 15 through known output interface means 14; if desired, the response code can be displayed on the TV set.
  • set-top-boxes can be used to receive TV signals, in particular digital, according to different standards, e.g. digital video broadcasting (DVB) standards (digital terrestrial, cable, satellite, DVBH7), and to generate a new TV signal, such as a PAL or RGB signal, to be fed to a TV set or a monitor.
  • DVD digital video broadcasting
  • Control data will thus be transmitted with different formats depending upon whether the TV broadcaster is transmitting digital terrestrial television signals or satellite signals or cable TV signals. It should be noted that in a DVB service channel, teletext, EPG and other possible data services are transmitted in packet elementary streams (PES) separated from those carrying the audio and video information.
  • PES packet elementary streams
  • the set-top-box will be provided with suitable means which are per se known to a person skilled in the art and do not need to be here disclosed. It is clear that many changes are possible to the interactive TV signal receiver according to the present invention, without departing from the teaching of the present invention as it appears from the present description and the annexed claims.
  • the TV signal receiver can be provided with a dedicated processor which, opportunely connected with other components of the TV receiver (e.g. TV signal receiving means, timer circuit 13, memory 12, input receiving means 5), is adapted to generate response code as done by the microcontroller in the embodiments above disclosed.
  • the microcontroller or said dedicated processor if the case) can read the identification code or the cryptographic function from a memory area external to said TV receiver, for example from a smart card inserted into a slot of said TV receiver or from a SIM card of a mobile phone which is in communication (e.g. through a Bluetooth connection) with said TV receiver.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L’invention concerne un récepteur de signal TV interactif (1,1') comprenant : des moyens de réception de signal TV (8) destinés à recevoir et décoder des signaux TV, des moyens de réception d'entrée (5) destinés à recevoir des entrées de réponse d'utilisateur transmises par un utilisateur grâce à des moyens d'entrée (6), un circuit de temporisateur (13) destiné à détecter des temps de réponse correspondants auxdites entrées de réponse d'utilisateur, des moyens de mémoire (12) destinés à stocker lesdits temps de réponse et lesdites entrées de réponse. Selon l'invention, ledit récepteur de signal TV comprend des moyens (4a) aptes à générer des codes de réponse représentatifs d'une séquence unique d'entrées de réponse et de temps de réponse, ladite séquence correspondant auxdites entrées de réponse et auxdits temps de réponse stockés.
PCT/IB2005/002758 2005-09-19 2005-09-19 Récepteur de signal tv interactif WO2007034256A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2005/002758 WO2007034256A1 (fr) 2005-09-19 2005-09-19 Récepteur de signal tv interactif

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2005/002758 WO2007034256A1 (fr) 2005-09-19 2005-09-19 Récepteur de signal tv interactif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007034256A1 true WO2007034256A1 (fr) 2007-03-29

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ID=36501906

Family Applications (1)

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PCT/IB2005/002758 WO2007034256A1 (fr) 2005-09-19 2005-09-19 Récepteur de signal tv interactif

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2007034256A1 (fr)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0474923A1 (fr) * 1990-09-11 1992-03-18 Sigma-Delta N.V. Appareil pour participer à des jeux de quiz, transmis ou enregistrés
US5734413A (en) * 1991-11-20 1998-03-31 Thomson Multimedia S.A. Transaction based interactive television system
US6135777A (en) * 1988-10-20 2000-10-24 Vogel; Peter S. Event logging system
US20010003099A1 (en) * 1986-03-10 2001-06-07 Henry Von Kohorn Evaluation of responses of participatory broadcast audience with prediction of winning contestants; monitoring, checking and controlling of wagering, and automatic crediting and couponing
EP0804856B1 (fr) * 1995-11-22 2003-05-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Television interactive
EP1343319A2 (fr) * 2002-03-07 2003-09-10 Chello Broadband NV Acquisition d'horloge d'une réponse

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010003099A1 (en) * 1986-03-10 2001-06-07 Henry Von Kohorn Evaluation of responses of participatory broadcast audience with prediction of winning contestants; monitoring, checking and controlling of wagering, and automatic crediting and couponing
US6135777A (en) * 1988-10-20 2000-10-24 Vogel; Peter S. Event logging system
EP0474923A1 (fr) * 1990-09-11 1992-03-18 Sigma-Delta N.V. Appareil pour participer à des jeux de quiz, transmis ou enregistrés
US5734413A (en) * 1991-11-20 1998-03-31 Thomson Multimedia S.A. Transaction based interactive television system
EP0804856B1 (fr) * 1995-11-22 2003-05-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Television interactive
EP1343319A2 (fr) * 2002-03-07 2003-09-10 Chello Broadband NV Acquisition d'horloge d'une réponse

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