WO2008031986A2

WO2008031986A2 - Method and device for controlling action on a continuous data stream, and user digital channel multiplexer using it

Info

Publication number: WO2008031986A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/051912
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sophie Boutiton; Pascal Nourry; Pierre Fevrier
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-11
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: WO2008031986A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling action on a continuous data stream, and a user digital channel multiplexer using it. A subject of the invention is an action control method adapted for implementation in an item of equipment of a communication network suitable for data streaming, said network equipment being adapted for seeing a request for a predetermined type of action on said stream, characterized in that said control method comprises a step of ordering the prohibition of execution of said predetermined type of action.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACTION CONTROL ON A CONTINUOUS DATA STREAM, AND DIGITAL CHANNEL MULTIPLEXER

USER USING IT

A method and device for controlling action on a continuous stream of data, and a user digital channel multiplexer using it. In particular, the invention relates to a multiplexer (DSLAM or Digital Subscriber An Access Multiplexor in English) controlling the access to the zapping function in television services via the IP network.

The zapping function is commonly used by viewers and, more particularly, during advertising ranges. However, it is the advertising that allows the financing of television channels and therefore the production of programs offered to viewers. Therefore, it is in the interest of broadcasters that the advertising ranges are viewed and not ignored.

With this in mind, Philips filed an international application published in September 2004 under the number WO2004054259 which describes an advertising control device that prevents zapping during the dissemination of advertising pages. This solution offers a control of the zapping commands by a software application integrated in the customer's video system. Upon activation of a first application (using the home multimedia platform or Multimedia Home Platform MHP in English), the customer is warned of the obligation not to zap during the imminent broadcast of the range of advertisements if he wants be able to access the rest of the broadcast program. Without client intervention, the application takes control of the zapping commands during the period of the range of advertisements. If the customer refuses to continue the process of blocking (when the client zap on the remote control of his television), the control device launches a second application to counter the first application allowing zapping but in return the customer can not return as a result of his program at the end of the advertising range. A third application is then launched to allow the customer to buy his right to "zapping" by maintaining his access to the rest of the program. The implementation of this control device in the audio / video device of the client requires the integration of additional components in the customer's video system (television, computer, or an adjacent device such as a receiver or decoder - in English, set up box). The equipment must therefore be modified to integrate this control device and requires the use of a specific platform called MHP. Therefore, this solution is complex to implement and therefore very expensive.

In addition, the fact that this control system is implemented in the client terminal implies that the reliability of this control system is based on the security level of the client terminal. However, it is known that it is appropriate to have a relative confidence in the security of the client terminals.

The present invention makes it possible to overcome or, at the very least, to reduce all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art by having the action control (for example the blocking of the zapping action) performed either in the video system or not. of the client but a communication network equipment able to see the action requests.

An object of the invention is an action control method adapted to be implemented in an equipment of a communication network capable of broadcasting streaming data streams, said network equipment being adapted to view a request for a predetermined type of action on said stream, characterized in that said control method includes a prohibit execution control step of said predetermined type of action.

Advantageously, the prohibition control step is implemented under predetermined prohibition conditions. In particular, when the user has purchased a right package of a given type of action, the prohibition command is not implemented for this user and this type of action thus avoiding an intrusive perception of the control of the user. action by the user. In another embodiment, the predetermined prohibition conditions of the data on the user and data on the content of the stream thus allow a "parental control". For example if the user under 16 years, the action of selection of a channel broadcasting at the time of the action of television programs indicated as prohibited at least 16 years will be prohibited. In particular, a predefined list of channels and / or schedules can serve as prohibition conditions respectively to the channel selection action and / or the action on the television.

Advantageously, the control method comprises a control step authorizing execution of said action implemented under predetermined authorization conditions. In particular, if the user occasionally buys the zapping right for the current advertising range, the user continues to be able to act as he wishes.

Advantageously, the control method comprises an action validation step comprising issuing a request for validation of the action request and receiving the response to said request, said response to the validation request being a condition authorization. In particular, asking the user to confirm his request for zapping allows him to take the time to decide by knowing the consequences of his choice of zapping and, consequently, that they seem to him less brutal.

Advantageously, the control method comprises a reward step activated according to the response received from a user to said action validation request for calculating said reward and crediting said user of said reward. Thus, "good behavior" is rewarded rather than punishing the bad behavior which is always better perceived by the user. In particular, when the reward consists of buying credit for access to paid programs or video-on-demand, it allows the user to become familiar with such programs encouraging him subsequently to the purchase of such products even without purchase credit resulting from reward. Advantageously, the credit is not executed if a validation of said reward is not received from said user. In particular, when the reward results from the fact that the user has not zapped an advertising range, the validation by the user of the reward makes it possible to ensure that the television is not switched on without a spectator.

Another object of the invention is a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the action control method according to the invention when said program is executed on a computer.

The subject of the invention is also an action control device adapted for an equipment of a communication network capable of broadcasting streaming data, said network equipment being adapted to see a request of a predetermined type. action on said stream. This control device comprises control means, said control means being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action.

The invention further relates to an equipment of a communication network adapted to the broadcasting of a stream of data continuously, said network equipment being adapted to see a request for a predetermined type of action on said transmitted stream on said network. This network equipment comprises action control means, said control means being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action.

The subject of the invention is also a user digital channel multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising means for transmitting in a communication network a continuous stream of data to at least one user and processing means capable of executing on a stream a data stream. an action associated with a request for a predetermined type of action on said stream. This multiplexer comprises action control means, said control means being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action. The features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description, given by way of example, and the figures relating thereto which represent: FIG. 1, a diagram of a broadcasting system in which invention can be implemented,

FIG. 2, a diagram of the system of FIG. 1 comprising the control device of the invention,

FIGS. 3a to 3d, diagrams of several embodiments of the control device of the invention,

FIG. 4, a diagram of the exchanges during the implementation of the control method according to a variant of the invention,

- Figure 5, a flowchart of the control method according to the invention.

In general, action on a data stream is understood to mean any type of action: in particular zapping, fast forwarding, subtitling, teletext access, etc. By data is meant any type of data: including file, video content, image, sound and / or multimedia.

The description will be made, for example, on the control of zapping during the range of advertisements in an IP network television service. However, this application is only one example of application of the present invention and should not be limited thereto. In fact, the action control can be used to implement a parental control or even to offer specific services to users receiving specific content or a specific channel, or to subscribers of the service. The invention is not limited to television services but to any type of data transmitted by streaming stream, nor to IP networks but to any type of network, particularly cable networks, for which the required action is seen in the network.

Figure 1 illustrates a broadcast system in which the invention can be implemented. The three players involved in broadcasting via the IP 2 network are the distributors of content (in particular television channel, VOD) 1, the user digital channel multiplexer 21 such as the subscriber digital channel multiplexer DSLAM and the user terminal 31 ... 3n (in the figure are shown a user terminal 31 comprising a television 31 1 and a set top box 312 and a user terminal 3n), that is, the video system of the user in our example.

The content distributor 1 continuously broadcasts content in the form of an F data stream in the IP network 2. The DSLAM multiplexer 21 receives the stream F. Each DSLAM multiplexer 21 covers a few hundred users. It retransmits the stream F to the terminals of these users 31 ... 3n. DSLAM 21 is the last link in the broadcast chain before the user accesses the content.

In a television content broadcasting service via the IP network 2, the video signal F transmitted by the DSLAM multiplexer 21 to a user terminal 31 comprises only one program (a single string). At each zapping command A, a request req A is sent by the user terminal 31 to the IP network 2 to select the new channel requested by the user as shown in FIG. 2 (and, in particular, to the DSLAM multiplexer 21 which will execute the zapping A).

Thus, in the case of a DSLAM 21 multiplexer, the invention advantageously uses the functionalities of the DSLAM, which is a piece of equipment belonging to the network operator, to control the display of the advertisements during the broadcast of television contents over an IP network. The prohibition of the zapping action is deported at the head of the network and is no longer in the video system of the user. It is done automatically at the DSLAM 21 multiplexer during the detection of advertising range, and the authorization is done through the return channel at the request of the user.

More generally, the network comprises a control device 2j2 (j nonzero integer) able to see the action requests A issued by the user terminals to the action processing devices 2i3 (i non-zero integer). If i = j, one and the same equipment of the network 2i (not shown in the figure) comprises both the control device 2j2 and the device of 2i3 treatment. If i = 1 and / or j = 1, the multiplexer 21 comprises respectively the control device 2j2 and / or the processing device 2i3.

The control device 2j2 is adapted to transmit a command c processing device 2i3, in particular to prohibit or authorize the execution of an action A of a predetermined type. For example, the control device 2j2 may indicate to the processing device 2i3 not to execute all the zapping actions A for which it will receive a zapping request req A from the terminal 31. If, by default, the processing device 2i3 is authorized to execute the zapping-type actions A or that it has received an authorization command c from the control device 2j2, then it will execute the action A on the stream F.

In an embodiment that is not illustrated, the control device 2j2 makes a request upstream of the network, for example to the content distributors 1, or locally to request the rights relating to the action A inherent to each user.

In a non-illustrated embodiment, an action rights management device acquired by the user is connected to the control device.

2j2 so that the control device 2j2 recovers from the rights management device the rights relating to the action A inherent to each user.

According to the variants, the rights management device is upstream in the network, is local to the control device 2j2, is integrated in the control device 2j2.

Figures 3a to 3d show various non-limiting embodiments of the invention. The embodiment of FIG. 3a illustrates a control device 2j2 receiving the stream F. This control device 2j2 comprises detection means 2j2 _D , and control means 2j21. In the case of the blocking of the zapping during the advertising ranges, the detection means 2j2 _D detects the beginning and the end of the range of advertisements contained in the stream F. For example, the stream F is provided with a first signal of control at the beginning of the range of advertisements and a second control signal at the end of the range of advertisements to serve as a reference point to the control device 2j2.

When the beginning of the range of advertisements is detected, this information is taken into account by the control means and causes the generation of a c prohibition command zapping that inactivates the processing by the processing device 2i3 A shares zapping requirements later. When the end of the range of advertisements is detected, this new information is taken into account by the control means and this time leads to the generation of a zapping authorization command c which reactivates the processing by the processing device 2i3 A zapping actions required later.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the detection is not carried out in the network 2 but by the detection means 31 _D of the user terminal 31.

In the embodiment of Figure 3C, the detection is again performed in the network 2 as in the embodiment of Figure 3A. In this embodiment, the control device 2j2 is interposed between the terminal 31 (not shown in this figure) and the processing device 2i3, particularly with regard to the action requests req A. Thus, instead of inactivate or activate the processing device 2i3, the control c, respectively, prohibition or authorization stops or not the transmission of requests for actions req A to the processing device 2i3 using means of interrupt 2j22.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3D, the detection is carried out in the terminal as in the embodiment of FIG. 3B and the command c is implemented using interrupt means 2j22 as in the mode of FIG. embodiment of Figure 3C.

Depending on the type of action controlled, the use of detection means is not necessary in the control device 2j2 or the terminal 31. For example, when the user requests the authorization of a type of action A given, the control device 2j2 receives this request and, in particular, either this type of action is not subject to any particular condition: it controls the authorization, or this type of action is authorized only for subscribers it checks in the subscriber database if the user requesting the authorization is subscribed and orders the authorization if necessary.

FIG. 4 shows the exchanges in the broadcasting system between the distributor 1, the control device 2j2 and the terminal 31 in the case of a free channel access service. In return for free access, the user accepts the prohibition of action A zapping during the advertising ranges. This prohibition is justified by the viability of the channel through advertising.

The content distributor 1 broadcasts a given channel, for example the channel 3 C3. The stream constituting the chain C3 comprises an advertising range represented hatched. When the beginning of the advertising range is detected, the control device 2j2 prohibits the execution of any action A stop zapping A. In a preferred embodiment, the detection and blocking resulting from the prohibition are carried out by the DSLAM multiplexer 21 (not shown) having the control device 2j2. Thus, when the terminal 31 requires req A zapping action, this zapping action A is not executed and the terminal continues to receive the received string C3 before the control device 2j2 prohibits the action of actions A zapping and therefore the advertising range being broadcast.

When the end of the range of advertisements is detected, the control device 2j2 authorizes the execution of any action A zapping OK A. Thus, when the terminal 31 requires req A (C2) a zapping action, in particular, to the chain 2 C2, this zapping action A (C2) is executed and the terminal then receives the chain C2.

Figure 5 shows several embodiments of the control method according to the invention. The dashed items are optional one by one. In a first (optional) so-called detection step, Sd data are detected and subjected to the next so-called decision step A implemented by the control means 2j21 of the control device 2j2. As long as no data 0 is detected, the detection step is repeated.

The decision step A makes it possible to generate a command c prohibition stop A or authorization OK A to perform all actions of a predetermined type TA. The command c can be a function of predetermined conditions on certain parameters s. These parameters s are, inter alia, s _r parameters read from database or in a memory (either the DSLAM 21 or terminal 31, for example) and / or the detected parameter Sd.

In a particular embodiment of the invention: as long as the parameter s _d of the beginning of the advertising range is not detected, the decision step is not activated;

- as soon as the parameter _{d d} at the end of the advertising range is detected, the decision step is deactivated.

In another embodiment of the invention, the decision step is always active and repeated as illustrated in FIG.

In a variant of the invention, when the command is a prohibition, if an action request concerning an action A of type TA is received (illustrated by step A?), The next step is a validation step comprising possibly a validation request req V of the request concerning the action A, and a response V.

If the answer V confirms with the request concerning the action A, the decision step takes into account this new parameter and reissues a command c. In the case where the simple validation of the request concerning action A is sufficient to lift the prohibition of action A, the decision step generates an authorization command OK A. In the event that the lifting of prohibition is conditioned, in particular, with a subscription, with data concerning the age of the users or with a purchase of right to this type TA of action, the step of decision lifts the prohibition by the TA authorization order only if all the conditions are fulfilled.

In particular, a human machine interface HMI (not shown) asks the user to validate his zapping request. If this request is validated, the control device 2j2 gives the authorization OK A for zapping ... or not STOP A. The authorization will be possibly conditional.

In a variant of the invention, if the answer V does not confirm the request request, the control method continues with a reward step. This reward step includes a step of calculating the bonus reward.

Thus, in an "incentive" type service, the service credits, for example, the token user account according to the number of advertisements displayed or according to the duration of the range of advertisements displayed. In a variant of the invention, the reward is announced in video or audio form to the user either at the end of the calculation or instantly so that the user seeing as the range of advertising increases its reward (its tokens) is encouraged not to zap. In the latter case, the calculation step determines the duration of the advertising range according to the date on which it receives the end of advertising range information, for example in the form of the action authorization.

OK A. The calculated reward will be credited during the user credit step.

In a variant of the invention, if the user begins to look at the advertising range and accumulates chips and then zaps before the end of the advertisement range, the chips accumulated until the zapping action are credited. As previously, in a particular embodiment, a validation request req V of the action is sent to the user.

In our example application, this service encourages the user not to zap the advertising ranges because: - the user can change channels as he wants, including during advertising;

- the credits are distributed during the advertising ranges (for example, one token per advertisement of 30 seconds); - these credits can be used to access paid programs at the session or duration, access services, buy the authorization for a given action (actions such as zapping, parental control, etc.) in a timely manner or by subscription to the right of action for a given period (this variant is particularly interesting when the visualization of the continuation of the program is conditioned).

In a variant of the invention, the crediting step will only be performed if the user validates his reward in a bonus validation step? thus avoiding rewarding a post turned on without a viewer.

In order to calculate the reward as a function of the number of advertisements displayed, an embodiment of the invention comprises a device for detecting data inserted in the contents of the stream F or directly in the data of the stream F (that is to say tattooed) integrated:

in the user terminal 3 (in particular, before the display of the contents which has the advantage of being able to process the encrypted contents). In certain variants of the invention, this detection device is involved in the implementation of other functionalities: for example, stopping the descrambling of the rest of the content under certain conditions, in particular, in case of non-viewing of the advertising range .

or in the network 2 (especially at the level of the multiplexer 21), this network equipment performs, in some embodiments of the invention, a log of the visualized contents.

In one embodiment, a brick detects tattoos to credit the token user. In another embodiment, the invention uses Entertainment Management Message (EMM) content management messages to credit users who are watching. ads. Tokens are then added throughout the course of the advertising range through this detection of tattoos or information contained in the EMM.

Claims

An action control method adapted to be implemented in an equipment of a communication network capable of broadcasting streaming data, said network equipment being adapted to see a request of a predetermined type of data. action on said flow, characterized in that said control method comprises a step (decision A) for prohibiting the execution of said predetermined type of action.

2. Access control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said prohibition control step (decision A) is implemented under predetermined prohibition conditions.

3. Control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control method comprises a decision step (decision A) for authorizing execution of said action implemented under predetermined authorization conditions. .

4. Access control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control method comprises an action validation step comprising issuing a request for validation of the action request ( req V) and receiving the response to said request (V?), said response to the validation request being an authorization condition.

5. An access control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control method comprises a reward step activated according to the response received from a user to said action validation request allowing calculate (bonus) said reward and credit (credit) said user of said reward.

6. Access control method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the credit is not executed if a validation (bonus?) Of said reward is not received from said user.

A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the method according to any of the preceding claims when said program is run on a computer.

8. Action control device adapted for an equipment of a communication network (2) capable of broadcasting data streams (F) continuously, said network equipment being adapted to view a request (req A) of a predetermined type of action on said stream, characterized in that said control device comprises control means (2j21), said control means (2j21) being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action.

9. Equipment for a communication network (2) suitable for broadcasting a stream (F) of data continuously, said network equipment being adapted to see a request (req A) of a predetermined type of action on said stream transmitted on said network, characterized in that said network equipment comprises action control means (2j2), said control means (2j2) being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action.

10. User digital channel multiplexer, said multiplexer (21) comprising means for transmitting in a communication network (2) a continuous stream (F) of data to at least one user and processing means (2i3) capable of executing on a stream (F) an action (A) associated with a request (req A) of a predetermined type of action on said stream (F), characterized in that said multiplexer (21) comprises control means action (2j2), said control means (2j2) being adapted to prohibit the execution of said predetermined type of action.