WO2010071957A1 - Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision - Google Patents

Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010071957A1
WO2010071957A1 PCT/CA2008/002242 CA2008002242W WO2010071957A1 WO 2010071957 A1 WO2010071957 A1 WO 2010071957A1 CA 2008002242 W CA2008002242 W CA 2008002242W WO 2010071957 A1 WO2010071957 A1 WO 2010071957A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
method defined
television program
online content
viewer
content
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2008/002242
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Maarten Boudewijn Heilbron
Peter Werner Ratsch
Jeff Clarke
Original Assignee
Bce Inc.
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 Bce Inc. filed Critical Bce Inc.
Priority to PCT/CA2008/002242 priority Critical patent/WO2010071957A1/fr
Priority to CA2688959A priority patent/CA2688959C/fr
Priority to US12/643,506 priority patent/US10524021B2/en
Publication of WO2010071957A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010071957A1/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
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/18—Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/68—Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information
    • H04H60/73—Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information using meta-information
    • 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
    • H04N21/4312—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H04N21/4316—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
    • 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
    • H04N21/4722—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 additional data associated with the 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]
    • H04N21/60—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
    • H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/28—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
    • H04H20/30—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by a single channel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H2201/00—Aspects of broadcast communication
    • H04H2201/30—Aspects of broadcast communication characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
    • H04H2201/37—Aspects of broadcast communication characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data via a different channel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/38—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space
    • H04H60/39—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space-time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/76—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet
    • H04H60/81—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet characterised by the transmission system itself
    • H04H60/82—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet characterised by the transmission system itself the transmission system being the Internet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to interactive television and, in particular, to a method and system for delivering interactivity to viewers of television programs.
  • the basic process for watching television has not changed in decades. Viewers still tend to turn on the television, select a channel, and watch the television program available on that channel. Recognizing that this basic process is unlikely to change, efforts have turned to enhancing the resulting viewing experience, making it more "interactive" for viewers within the domain of a service provider.
  • the creator of a particular television program, or the service provider itself can design additional content to be rendered available to viewers at certain key moments in the television program. The additional content accompanies the particular television program delivered from the service provider, and is made available to multiple viewers of the same channel who have accepted an invitation to receive the additional content.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a method for delivering interactivity to viewers of television programs, comprising: receiving a request for interactivity from a viewer of a television program; obtaining descriptive information associated with the television program; retrieving online content on a basis of the descriptive information; and formatting the online content for delivery to the viewer.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for delivering interactivity to viewers of television programs, comprising: an interface configured to receive a request for interactivity from a viewer of a television program; an interactivity manager configured to obtain descriptive information associated with the television program and to retrieve online content on a basis of the descriptive information; and a formatting entity configured to format the online content for delivery to the viewer.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a computer- readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for execution by a computing device, wherein execution of the set of instructions by the computing device causes the computing device to execute a method for delivering interactivity to viewers of television programs, the method including: receiving, over a communication channel, a request for interactivity from a viewer of a television program; obtaining descriptive information associated with the television program; retrieving online content on a basis of the descriptive information; and formatting the interactive content for delivery to the viewer over the communication channel.
  • Fig. IA is a block diagram of an architecture for delivering interactive services, in accordance with a first non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. IB is a block diagram of an architecture for delivering interactive services, in accordance with a second non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating specific non-limiting steps in an interactivity process and a formatting process performed in the course of delivering interactive services in the architectures of Figs. IA and IB; and Figs. 3A-3D show some non-limiting possibilities for the layout of a viewer's screen that includes an interactive viewing area for the delivery of interactive services.
  • Fig. IA shows an architecture for delivery of interactive television services, in accordance with a first non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.
  • a television set 10 at an end user premise 12 (which can be fixed or mobile) is connected to an interface 14 that receives multi-channel television programming 84 from one or more sources of programming 18 over a television distribution system 16.
  • the television distribution system 16 can take on various forms, including a radio frequency distribution system (i.e., conventional airwaves), a cable distribution system, a satellite distribution system or an Internet distribution system. (Other possibilities exist, some of which will be described later on with reference to Fig.
  • the interface 14 may also take on various forms, and generally can comprise transmit and/or receive circuitry as well as equipment such as a modulator/demodulator (modem) and/or an encoder/decoder (codec). In some cases, the interface 14 can be integrated with end user equipment such as a cable modem or a set top box supplied by a cable or satellite company. Alternatively, the interface 14 may be integrated with the television set 10. Alternatively still, the interface 14 may be incorporated into a video capable device at the end user premise 12, such as a Blu-Ray player, game console, etc.
  • the television set 10 includes at least one output device 24, at least one input device 26 and a control entity 28. The at least one input device 26 allows a viewer 30 to select a program for viewing.
  • the control entity 28 which, in response, controls conveyance of an audio visual signal over the at least one output device 24, which can include a display and a loudspeaker.
  • the control entity 28 can in some cases implement a personal video recording (PVR) function, allowing received television programs to be recorded and played back at a later time via the at least one output device 24.
  • the at least one input device 26 can include a console.
  • a remote control (not shown) can be used by the viewer 30 to control operation of the television set 10 and/or the interface 14.
  • the television set 10 is implemented as a computer and thus the at least one input device 26 can include one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-sensitive screen, microphone, game controller, etc.
  • One feature of the control entity 28 is the ability to detect an expression of interest in obtaining interactive content, as supplied by the viewer 30 via the at least one input device 26 (e.g., the console, remote control, keyboard, mouse, touch- sensitive screen, microphone, game controller, etc.). More specifically, the viewer's interest in obtaining interactive content can be expressed during viewing of a particular television program by hitting a dedicated button on a remote control, by pressing a predetermined sequence of keys on a remote control or keyboard, by clicking a dedicated area on a graphical user interface using a mouse or by touching the dedicated area directly on-screen, etc. It is also envisaged that the viewer 30 may speak a command (e.g., "please give me interactive content") into a microphone.
  • a command e.g., "please give me interactive content
  • the control entity 28 is operative to convert the detected expression of interest into a request for interactivity.
  • the request for interactivity is conveyed via the interface 14 to an interactivity server 20 over a communication channel hereinafter referred to as an interactive channel 22.
  • the interactive channel 22 can take on many forms.
  • One possibility is for the interactive channel 22 to be established over a telephony line that connects the end user premise 12 to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
  • PSTN public switched telephone network
  • the interactivity server 20 could be coupled to a modem that is reachable over the PSTN at a specific telephone number that can be dialed by the interface 14.
  • Another possibility is for the interactive channel 22 to be established over an upstream (reverse) channel of a cable distribution system.
  • the interactivity server 20 could be connected to a cable head end that is reachable over the upstream channel. Yet another possibility is for the interactive channel 22 to be established over a connection that traverses the Internet, access to which is provided by an Internet service provider (ISP). In this case, the interactivity server 20 could be implemented as a website that is reachable over the Internet at a specific address. It should be noted that Internet access could be provided wirelessly using WiMax, WiFi, etc.
  • ISP Internet service provider
  • the interactive channel 22 between the interactivity server 20 and the end user premise 12 is established for a particular "customer" who subscribes to interactive services that are provided by the interactivity server 20.
  • the particular customer may have a business relationship with an operator of the interactivity server 20, whereby payment may be made to the operator on a monthly, per-use or other basis for the privilege of enjoying the interactive services provided by the interactivity server 20.
  • equipment at the end user premise 12 e.g., a set top box or cable modem to which the interface 14 may be integrated
  • the operator of the interactivity server 20 also controls and/or operates the television distribution system 16.
  • a completely separate business relationship may be established (with a different commercial entity) for the purposes of connecting the end user premise 12 to the television distribution system 16.
  • access to the television distribution system 16 may be free of charge (e.g., in the case of a radio frequency distribution system), requiring no special relationship between the end user premise 12 and the television distribution system 16.
  • the manner in which the multi-channel television programming 84 is received from the sources of programming 18 does not constrain the manner in which the interactivity server 20 is reached for the purposes of establishing the interactive channel 22.
  • the end user premise 12 has access to the Internet and let it further be assumed that the interactivity server 20 is a website that is reachable over the Internet at a specific address.
  • the interface 14 can be initialized to reach the interactivity server 20 at its specific address without regard to the manner in which the multichannel television programming 84 is received from the sources of programming 18.
  • initialization can take place by way of a software download received by the interface 14 on a specific channel over the television distribution system 16. Alternatively, initialization can take place during manufacturing of the interface 14 (or of the television set 10, if the interface 14 is integrated therewith). Alternatively still, initialization can take place through interaction with an end user after the interface 14 is shipped. It should also be appreciated that the particular customer is but one of many other customers who may subscribe to interactive services that are provided by the interactivity server 20. As customers are basically entities created for the purposes of accounting, each may include such identifying information as a name, address and account number in order to assist the operator of the interactivity server 20 to discriminate among them. Additional information may also be associated with each customer and be held in various customer-centric databases, as will now be described.
  • the particular customer may subscribe to certain interactive television applications that may be offered by various suppliers.
  • the architecture in Fig. IA is shown to include an subscription database 40, which stores the particular customer's identifying information together with identifying information regarding the interactive application(s) to which the particular customer subscribes.
  • the interactivity server 20 has access to the subscription database 40 along a communication link 42, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • demography database 44 Another example of a customer-centric database is a demography database 44, which stores the particular customer's identifying information in addition to demographic information regarding the particular customer. Examples of demographic information can include age, gender, race, income, number of children, nationality and location (e.g., street address, postal code or latitude/longitude), to name a few non-limiting possibilities.
  • the interactivity server 20 has access to the demography database 44 along a communication link 46, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • a customer-centric database is a marketing database 48, which can be a subset of the demography database 44.
  • the marketing database 48 stores the particular customer's identifying information in addition to marketing information pertaining to the particular customer. Examples of marketing information include brands purchased by the particular customer, commercial establishments (either brick-and-mortar or online) visited by the particular customer, targeted marketing information collected by various marketing agencies, and so on.
  • the interactivity server 20 has access to the marketing database 48 along a communication link 50, which may be a logical or physical communication link. Still other customer-centric databases may be provided in the architecture of
  • the interactivity server 20 comprises an interface 52 of its own, as well as an interactivity manager 54 and a formatting entity 56.
  • the interface 52 regulates the flow of data along the interactive channel 22. That is, upstream data (such as a request for interactivity) arriving from the interface 14 over the interactive channel 22 is directed by the interface 52 towards the interactivity manager 54, whereas formatted interactive content 82 received from the formatting entity 56 is placed by the interface 52 onto the interactive channel 22 and released towards the interface 14.
  • the interactivity manager 54 executes an interactivity process in response to a request for interactivity received from the interface 14.
  • the interactivity manager 54 can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, control logic or any combination thereof, hi particular, the interactivity manager 54 may comprise a processor and a memory, where the memory stores computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processor and which, when read by the processor, cause the interactivity process to be executed.
  • the interactivity manager 54 consults and has access to one or more of the aforementioned customer-centric databases including, in particular, the subscription database 40.
  • the interactivity manager 54 may consult and have access to other databases which can include, in some cases, a scheduling database 58 and an auxiliary database 60.
  • the interactivity manager 54 has access to the scheduling database 58 along a communication link 62, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • the scheduling database 58 if used, stores scheduling information and descriptive information associated with various television programs that may be transmitted by the sources of programming 18. Descriptive information associated with a particular television program can be regarded as information that characterizes the particular television program.
  • the scheduling database 58 stores a broadcast program grid, which includes a plurality of entries having coordinates along two scheduling information axes. One of the scheduling information axes includes a time line and the other scheduling information axis includes a set of channels.
  • the entry associated with a particular time interval (i.e., a range of points along the time line) and a particular channel comprises descriptive information associated with the television program being broadcast on the particular channel during the particular time interval, hi a non-limiting example embodiment, the descriptive information may take the form of metadata.
  • the entries in the scheduling database 58 may be coarsely or finely granular with respect to the time intervals they represent, and this can have an influence on the descriptive information that the entries can store.
  • the descriptive information may include a title of the television show, an episode number (if applicable) and the identity (including the Internet address) of a particular one of the sources of programming 18 associated with the particular channel (e.g., the name of a media network, such as ABC, CNN, CTV, Fox, etc.).
  • the descriptive information may include an indication of the sport (e.g., hockey, football, women's tennis, etc.), a level of the event (e.g., regular season game, playoff, final, etc.) and the identity (including the Internet address) of a particular one of the sources of programming 18 associated with the particular channel (e.g., the name of a media network, such as CBS, TSN, CTV, etc.).
  • the sport e.g., hockey, football, women's tennis, etc.
  • a level of the event e.g., regular season game, playoff, final, etc.
  • the identity including the Internet address of a particular one of the sources of programming 18 associated with the particular channel (e.g., the name of a media network, such as CBS, TSN, CTV, etc.).
  • the descriptive information stored in the scheduling database 58 may include, in addition to the information referred to above, the identity of a particular actor or product placement (e.g., a Ford vehicle) appearing on screen at the current time.
  • the descriptive information may include the name of the product or service being advertised and the name of the company whose product or service is being promoted.
  • the descriptive information may include statistical data that is valid at the current time.
  • the scheduling database 58 may also comprise individual program timelines for non-broadcast television programs, such as playback of a movie from a digital library or playback of a previously recorded program (such as a TV series or sporting event, which may have been broadcast at the time of recording, but is no longer being broadcast at the time of playback).
  • the individual program timeline for a particular non-broadcast television program includes a plurality of entries corresponding to time intervals relative to a start time of the television program. The time intervals can be as coarsely or as finely granular as desired.
  • the entry associated with a particular time interval comprises descriptive information associated with the television program.
  • the scheduling database 58 is operative to identify the entry associated with the appropriate time interval of the appropriate individual program timeline, and will return the descriptive information contained therein to the requestor.
  • descriptive information associated with a particular television program can also be obtained by consulting the auxiliary database 60.
  • the interactivity manager 54 has access to the auxiliary database 60 along a communication link 64, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • the auxiliary database 60 if used, stores descriptive information that is associated with input criteria identifying various television programs. (In some embodiments, the input criteria may be a subset of descriptive information that was obtained from the scheduling database 58, in which case the descriptive information stored in the auxiliary database 60 can be regarded as "enhanced" descriptive information.)
  • the descriptive information stored in the auxiliary database 60 may include additional information known to be associated with the show. This may include, inter alia, the names of actors, producers, directors or other participants having a role in the show, a list of other shows that those participants may have participated in, the type of show
  • EPG electronic program guide
  • the descriptive information stored in association therewith may include, for example, the names of teams, athletes, coaches or other participants having a role in the sporting event, the season or career statistical data pertaining to these participants (e.g., goals, assists, penalty minutes, goals-against average, earned-run average, home runs, wins, losses, corner kicks resulting in goals, aces on first serve in matches played in May at an altitude above 2000m, etc.), team statistical data, league statistical data, etc.
  • the interactivity manager 54 causes retrieval of the data to be ultimately released towards the end user premise 12 over the interactive channel 22. This is achieved by retrieving online content 68 from the Internet 66 and directing the retrieved online content 68 towards the formatting entity 56. Accordingly, the interactivity manager 54 is assumed to have access to the Internet 66 over a communication link 76. It is noted that where the interactive channel 22 itself traverses the Internet 66, the interactivity server 20 need not require a second connection to the Internet 66.
  • the interactivity manager 54 may also have access to an interactive application warehouse 70 that supports one or more interactive applications 72 for consumption by a variety of customers including the particular customer.
  • the interactivity manager 54 further has the capability to trigger one or more of the interactive applications 72, resulting in the generation of "managed content 74".
  • managed content is meant content over which the operator of the interactivity server 20 has control.
  • the interactivity manager 54 also has the capability to direct the managed content 74 towards the formatting entity 56, for eventual delivery to the end user premise 12 over the interactive channel 22.
  • the formatting entity 56 executes a formatting process on (i) the managed content 74, if any, received from the interactive application warehouse 70 via the interactivity manager 54 and (ii) the online content 68 received from the Internet 66 via the interactivity manager 54.
  • the formatting entity 66 can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, control logic or any combination thereof.
  • the formatting entity 66 may comprise a processor and a memory, where the memory stores computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processor and which, when read by the processor, cause the formatting process to be executed.
  • the formatting process involves a filtering sub-process and a presentation sub-process, which will be described in further detail later on.
  • the output of the formatting entity 56 is the formatted interactive content 82 that is provided to the interface 52.
  • the formatting entity 56 consults and has access to various ones of the aforementioned databases, including the demography database 44 and the marketing database 48.
  • the formatting entity 56 also consults and has access to one or more other databases which can include, in some cases, a heuristics database 78 and a viewability database 96.
  • the heuristics database 78 stores information regarding certain habits, preferences, opinions, etc., of the viewer 30 individually as well as within the larger context of a viewing community. For example, the heuristics database 78 may store peer ratings collected from online blogs regarding a television show. The heuristics database 78 may also store feedback received from viewers (including the viewer 30) that have been previously presented with certain portions of the online content 68, thus indicating a spectrum of viewer reactions which can be combined with demographic and marketing information to influence the manner in which information is formatted for the viewer 30.
  • the formatting entity 56 has access to the heuristics database 78 along a communication link 80, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • the viewability database 96 stores information regarding a plurality of online addresses (e.g., web sites, web pages, etc.) and a degree to which the content made available online by those online addresses is suited for presentation in an interactive viewing area at the end user premise 12. This information may be collected as a background operation, either directly by the service provider or by a third part on behalf of the service party.
  • the formatting entity 56 has access to the viewability database 96 along a communication link 98, which may be a logical or physical communication link.
  • Fig. IA shows the databases 40, 44, 48, 58, 60, 78 as discrete components to which the interactivity server 20 has access
  • one or more of the aforementioned databases can be combined into a single database.
  • one or more of the aforementioned databases may be integrated with the interactivity manager 54 and/or the formatting entity 56 and/or other components of the interactivity server 20.
  • the formatted interactive content 82 reaches the interface 14 along the interactive channel 22. Meanwhile, as will be recalled, the multi-channel television programming 84 is available to the interface 14 via the television distribution system
  • the interface 14 allows one or more selected channels of television programming to reach the television set 10 for conveyance to the viewer 30.
  • a blending function in the interface 14 and/or the control entity 28 blends the selected channel(s) with the formatted interactive content 82 to create a composite television signal for presentation to the viewer 30 over the at least one output device 24.
  • Fig. IB The arrangement of Fig. IB is possible and convenient when both the television programming and the interactive services are controlled or operated by the same commercial entity or "service provider".
  • a relationship is established between the service provider (offering both television programming and interactive services) and a particular "customer" (which is an abstraction of an entity that presumably owns or operates the end user premise 12) so as to allow the viewer 30 to enjoy the privilege of being able to (i) view television programs distributed by the service provider (which may originate from third party content providers) and (ii) participate in interactive services offered by the service provider. It will be appreciated that payment for this privilege may be made to the service provider on a monthly, per-use or any other agreed upon basis.
  • the selected television data stream 104 and the formatted interactive content 82 are conveyed to the end user premise 12 over the communication channel 100.
  • the interactivity manager 54 obtains descriptive information associated with the particular television program being viewed by the viewer 30.
  • the descriptive information associated with the particular television program maybe obtained in one or more of the following ways.
  • the request for interactivity 202 can include not only the identity of the television program but also the relative time of occurrence.
  • the interactivity manager 54 then accesses the scheduling database 58 over the communication link 62 by providing the identity of the television program and the relative time of occurrence.
  • the scheduling database 58 consults the individual program timelines to determine which entries to consult, and then returns the corresponding descriptive information to the interactivity manager 54.
  • a portion of the descriptive information associated with the particular television program may be obtained from the auxiliary database 60.
  • the interactivity manager 54 supplies to the auxiliary database over the communication link 64 a portion (i.e., some or all) of the descriptive information that was included in the request for interactivity 202 or obtained from the scheduling database 58.
  • the interactivity manager 54 receives additional descriptive information that the auxiliary database 60 holds as being associated with the portion of the descriptive information supplied thereto. Still other ways of obtaining the descriptive information associated with the particular television program may become apparent to those of skill in the art.
  • the interactivity manager 54 retrieves the aforementioned managed content 74. This can begin with a search for an interactive application associated with the particular television program that was being viewed by the viewer 30 when he/she expressed an interest in obtaining interactive content. To this end, the interactivity manager 54 can access the interactive application warehouse 70 to search for one of the interactive applications 72 that may be associated with the particular television program. Assuming that a particular interactive application has been identified, the interactivity manager 54 also accesses the subscription database 40 via the communication link 42 in order to determine whether the particular customer does indeed subscribe to the particular interactive application.
  • the interactivity manager 54 may instantiate the particular interactive application, which causes the release of the managed content 74.
  • the managed content 74 may comprise specialized content that is associated with the particular television program.
  • the specialized content may include statistical data of the players and teams currently involve din the game, a selection of camera angles to choose from, live action from other hockey games, etc.
  • the managed content 74 may comprise computer-readable instructions which, when downloaded to and executed by the control entity 28 at the end user premise 12, permits further interaction with the viewer 30 through a local application such as a game or a voting application, for example.
  • the interactivity manager 54 retrieves the aforementioned online content 68 based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program.
  • the descriptive information associated with the particular television program can vary widely, and may include descriptive information included with the request for interactivity and/or obtained from the scheduling database 58 and/or obtained from the auxiliary database 60.
  • the descriptive information associated with the particular television program may comprise:
  • the online content 68 that is retrieved based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program may comprise content that is obtained from one or more sources 90 connected to the Internet 66, including possibly one or more of:
  • a sanctioned website of the particular television program in which case the online content 68 can comprise information regarding actors, past episodes, upcoming episodes, sponsors, fan reviews, etc.
  • the address of the sanctioned website can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or it can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine (e.g., Google, Yahoo, etc.);
  • the address of the sanctioned website can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or it can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine;
  • the address of the information server can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or it can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine.
  • the information server may be a statistics server, in which case the online content 68 may include updated statistical data pertaining to teams, athletes and/or coaches involved in the sporting event;
  • the information server may be a blog server, in which case the online content 68 may include moment-by-moment postings by bloggers who are simultaneously watching the drama, movie or sporting event;
  • a set of advertisement servers or an advertisement broker in which case the online content 68 can comprise advertisements targeted to viewers of the particular television program.
  • An auction system could be implemented whereby advertisers submitting the highest bids would be entitled to have their advertisements conveyed to the viewers of the particular television program.
  • the addresses of the advertisement servers and/or the advertisement broker can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or they can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine;
  • a third party commercial website such as websites enabling the viewer 30 to effect an e-commerce transaction, in which case the online content 68 can comprise content targeted by the e-commerce website to viewers of the particular television program.
  • a national chain of restaurants may wish to make a special promotional offering to viewers at the start (or during an intermission) of a broadcast of a specific sporting event (e.g., the Super Bowl).
  • a shoe store may wish to offer promotions for its products to viewers of the show Sex and the City. This would enable viewers to purchase a product currently shown or advertised in current programming as it is aired.
  • the address of the third party commercial website can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or it can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine;
  • a user-generated content (UGC) information server in which case the online content 68 can comprise UGC such as blogs, reviews, shrines and the like pertaining to the particular television program or participants having a role in the particular television program.
  • UGC user-generated content
  • the address of the UGC website can be known a priori based on the descriptive information associated with the particular television program, or it can be obtained by providing a portion of the descriptive information to a search engine;
  • the viewer is assumed to have developed, through his or her account with the social networking website, a personal social network, and may have joined a certain number of common interest groups. Under such circumstances:
  • Identifying the appropriate online members of the viewer's personal social network could be gained by the interactivity manager 54 supplying the viewer's account credentials (e.g., obtained from the viewer 30, from the particular customer or via a credentials database) to the social networking website. This could then be a first step in setting up an eventual instant messaging, chat or SMS session between contacts/friends; etc.
  • the online content 68 may be made up of any one or more of text, video, graphics, etc.
  • a filtering sub-process is performed on the managed content 74 and/or the online content 68. This may result in selecting at least some of the online content 68 and/or at least some of the managed content 74.
  • the filtering sub-process may include one or more of the following (which are mentioned in the context of the online content 68 but could be applied equally in the context of the managed content 74): - Excluding portions of the online content 68 containing obscene, illegal or other objectionable material (as measured by some standard, and possibly depending on parameters such as on ratings information about the television program);
  • - Ranking the online content 68 for viewability within the interactive viewing area 320 e.g., by consulting the viewability database 96) and choosing to retain portions of the online content 68 that have ranked highly in terms of viewability; - Estimating a potential interest of the online content to the viewer 30 (e.g., by consulting the demography database 44) and choosing to retain portions of the online content 68 that are estimated to be of greatest potential interest to the viewer 30; - Assessing a commercial relevance of the online content 68 to the particular customer (e.g., by consulting the marketing database 48) and choosing to retain portions of the online content that are assessed to be of greatest potential relevance to the particular customer;
  • a presentation sub-process is performed on the portions of the managed content 74 and the online content 68 that have survived the filtering sub-process, hereinafter referred to as filtered managed content
  • the shape, size and internal layout of the interactive viewing area 320 can depend on the capabilities (e.g., dimensions, resolution, etc.) of the viewer's display and on the type and volume of interactive content to be presented. It may thus be helpful in some embodiments to classify the filtered managed content 74A and the filtered online content 68 A into a plurality of categories, such as "text", “web pages", “video”, etc.
  • the formatted interactive content 82 and the interactive viewing area configuration parameters are sent along the interactive channel 22 to the interface 14.
  • the formatted interactive content 82 and the interactive viewing area configuration parameters arrive at the interface 14, where the formatted interactive content 82 undergoes blending with one or more selected channel(s) from the multi-channel television programming 84 to create the aforementioned composite television signal for presentation to the viewer 30 over the at least one output device 24.
  • Such blending takes into consideration the interactive viewing area configuration parameters in order to ensure that the interactive viewing area 320 will have the desired size, shape and internal layout.
  • the interface may apply known processing techniques such as picture-in-picture, squeezeback, overlay, side-by-side, etc.
  • the formatted interactive content 82 and the interactive viewing area configuration parameters are processed by the blending function 106 of the interface 52B, which also receives the selected television data stream 104 from the television distribution system 16B.
  • the interactive viewing area configuration parameters advise the blending function 106 as to the desired size, shape and internal layout of the interactive viewing area 320.
  • the blending function 106 then performs a blending step 230, which results in the creation of the composite television signal 108 that is encoded by the interface 52B and sent downstream to the end user premise 12 over the communication channel 100.
  • the TV viewing area 310 and the interactive viewing area 320 may intersect, e.g., one may be partly overlaid onto the other in the portion of the screen 300, as is shown in Fig. 3D.
  • the TV viewing area 310 can be omitted and the interactive viewing area 320 can take over the entirety of the screen 300.
  • a navigation module 92 which can be located at the interactivity server 20 as, for example, a component subtending to the interactivity manager 54, but can also be distributed so as to include a portion at the end user premise 12.
  • the navigation module 92 is operative to register commands issued by the viewer 30 when passing over a specific point or area within the screen 300.
  • movement of a mouse (which is an example of the at least one input device 26) can be tracked by the navigation module 92 based on the monitoring of upstream data that reaches the interactivity manager 54 after having travelled across the interactive channel 22. When the mouse is clicked, this is interpreted as a command which can influence operation of the interactivity manager
  • the formatted interactive content 82 displayed in the interactive viewing area 320 includes a list of actionable links to a set of websites.
  • the navigation module 92 causes the interactivity manager 54 to retrieve online content available at the address associated with the particular link that was clicked by the viewer 30.
  • the navigation module 92 cooperates with the formatting entity 56 so as to cause the newly retrieved online content to appear within the interactive viewing area 320, for example in a new window or to replace an existing portion of the interactive viewing area 320.
  • Other navigation commands can include altering the size, shape or configuration of the interactive viewing area 320 and/or the TV viewing area 310, as well as activation of various menus (e.g., by right clicking and left clicking), accessing features through the use of dedicated buttons or combinations of buttons, and so on.
  • the above examples refer to a mouse but this is merely one example of the at least one input device 26, and it will be appreciated that other input devices (such as a remote control, touch surface, game controller, voice system, etc.) can be used to effect the requisite selections and convey the requisite viewer input.
  • navigation module 92 was described with reference to the arrangement of Fig. IA, the same navigation module could be used in the arrangement of Fig. IB.
  • interactivity server 20 may be located at the end user premise 12 and integrated with the equipment thereat, such as a set top box, cable modem or computing device.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision, et sur un appareil et un support de stockage lisible par ordinateur mettant en œuvre le procédé. Le procédé comprend la réception d'une requête d'interactivité provenant d'un spectateur d'un programme de télévision; l'obtention d'informations descriptives associées au programme de télévision; la récupération d'un contenu en ligne sur la base des informations descriptives; et le formatage du contenu en ligne en vue d'une distribution au spectateur.
PCT/CA2008/002242 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision WO2010071957A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CA2008/002242 WO2010071957A1 (fr) 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision
CA2688959A CA2688959C (fr) 2008-12-22 2009-12-21 Methode et systeme de recuperation de contenu en ligne dans un environnement interactif de television
US12/643,506 US10524021B2 (en) 2008-12-22 2009-12-21 Method and system for retrieving online content in an interactive television environment

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CA2008/002242 WO2010071957A1 (fr) 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/643,506 Continuation-In-Part US10524021B2 (en) 2008-12-22 2009-12-21 Method and system for retrieving online content in an interactive television environment

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010071957A1 true WO2010071957A1 (fr) 2010-07-01

Family

ID=42286813

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2008/002242 WO2010071957A1 (fr) 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010071957A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030208756A1 (en) * 1996-12-19 2003-11-06 Index Systems, Inc. Method and system for displaying targeted advertisements in an electronic program guide
US20050015803A1 (en) * 2002-11-18 2005-01-20 Macrae Douglas B. Systems and methods for providing real-time services in an interactive television program guide application
US20070214480A1 (en) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-13 Yakov Kamen Method and apparatus for conducting media content search and management by integrating EPG and internet search systems
US20070271586A1 (en) * 2006-05-16 2007-11-22 Qwest Communications International Inc. Socially Networked Television Experience

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030208756A1 (en) * 1996-12-19 2003-11-06 Index Systems, Inc. Method and system for displaying targeted advertisements in an electronic program guide
US20050015803A1 (en) * 2002-11-18 2005-01-20 Macrae Douglas B. Systems and methods for providing real-time services in an interactive television program guide application
US20070214480A1 (en) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-13 Yakov Kamen Method and apparatus for conducting media content search and management by integrating EPG and internet search systems
US20070271586A1 (en) * 2006-05-16 2007-11-22 Qwest Communications International Inc. Socially Networked Television Experience

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10524021B2 (en) Method and system for retrieving online content in an interactive television environment
JP7114714B2 (ja) 拡張現実において補完コンテンツを提示するためのシステムおよび方法
US9451295B2 (en) Meta channel media system control and advertisement technology
US8695031B2 (en) System, device, and method for delivering multimedia
US8601512B2 (en) Meta channel network-based content download technology
US8769582B2 (en) Meta channel based media system control technology
US11689779B2 (en) Systems and methods for customizing delivery of advertisements
US10380168B2 (en) Methods and system for distributing information via multiple forms of delivery services
US8973037B2 (en) Intuitive image-based program guide for controlling display device such as a television
US9762945B2 (en) Methods and systems for recommending a display device for media consumption
US9137565B1 (en) Meta channel caching and instant viewing related technology
US20140082659A1 (en) Systems and methods for generating progressive advertisement schedules in media assets
JP2021503821A (ja) 短いメディア視聴プロファイルおよび長いメディア視聴プロファイルに基づいて、推奨を提供するためのシステムおよび方法
WO2010091089A1 (fr) Technologie de commande d'un système multimédia basée sur un métacanal
JP7084484B2 (ja) イベントのための通知頻度を動的に調節するためのシステムおよび方法
CN111615831A (zh) 提供进度条以更新先前查看的内容的查看状态的系统和方法
CA2688959C (fr) Methode et systeme de recuperation de contenu en ligne dans un environnement interactif de television
WO2010071957A1 (fr) Procédé et système pour offrir de l'interactivité à des spectateurs de programmes de télévision
US12149779B2 (en) Advertisement user interface
US20220321940A1 (en) Advertisement user interface

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 08879043

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 112(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 06/10/11)

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 08879043

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1