WO2013017823A2

WO2013017823A2 - Communication system, method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013017823A2
Application number: PCT/GB2012/000637
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Marshall; Richard Harris; Vibeke Hansen; Philip WALDER
Original assignee: Connect Tv Limited
Priority date: 2011-08-02
Filing date: 2012-08-02
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: WO2013017823A3; GB201319747D0; GB2505349A; GB201113311D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communications system comprising a broadcast communications network and an addressable communications network, said communications system operative to link a broadcast TV channel to a content data service deliverable over said addressable communications network, responsive to selection of a broadcast communications network channel number. The present invention also relates to a broadcast TV receiver device operative to receive content via the communications system. The present invention also relates to a method of linking a broadcast TV channel to a content data service deliverable over a addressable communications network.

Description

Communications System, Method and Apparatus

The present invention relates to a communications system comprising a broadcast communications network and an addressable communications network, said communications system operative to link a broadcast television (TV) channel to a streaming channel for streaming video content (either live or as video-on-demand) and/or audio content.

Distribution of content such as music and video may take place over various communications channels. For example, music and video may be broadcast over terrestrial VHF and UHF networks to be received by TV sets, from satellite to ground stations or domestic satellite receivers and over cable networks. Such broadcast services generally comprise one or more communication channels, each channel comprising a particular carrier frequency onto which is modulated a signal representative of the content to be transmitted over the channel. Content, e.g. audio and/or video content, typically television programmes, films or music shows, are transmitted over a particular channel or channels at particular times in accordance with a programme schedule, or may be selected from a list of available content. In this regard, a viewer wishing to watch a particular broadcast channel has to instruct a set-top box (STB) or TV to tune into that channel.

The steps taken when a STB or TV (hereinafter "TV device") is instructed to tune to a particular broadcast channel are familiar and will generally involve the input of user instructions to the TV device. The TV device may be tuned to a particular channel, for example, by selecting a particular channel by channel number, or from a favourites list, or via an electronic programme guide (EPG).

Television viewers are generally familiar with how a TV device must be instructed in order for the TV device to tune to a particular channel.

Content is also available over computer networks such as the Internet. Content is usually accessed over the Internet using a personal computer such as a desktop, laptop computer, tablet device, phone or other mobile device. The location of content on a network such as the Internet is defined by a network address known as a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), of which a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a particular example. A particular content item can be addressed and downloaded to the computer addressing the content for later presentation or may be "streamed" whereby the computer presents the content as it is provided over the network.

Devices are available which can receive content via both of the above delivery methods. That is, they are operative to receive broadcast content and also content streamed via a network. Such devices may be in the form of STBs having a suitable port to allow the STB to be connected to a network. Thus content may be received via a conventional broadcast TV channel and via a network connection. Further, TVs, or devices connectable to a TV, may be provided with such a port to allow connection to a network, and such TVs, or other devices, are sometimes referred to as "Smart TVs" or hybrid devices.

Many communications networks, including those making up at least a part of the Internet, are configured to transmit large amounts of data and these are sometime termed "broadband" networks. For the purpose of this description the term "broadband network" is used to refer to a communications network or part thereof which is capable of transmitting content items such as video and music in an acceptable timeframe. Such networks may also support music or video streaming.

The steps undertaken by a broadband network connected TV device, when such TV device is instructed to retrieve content from the broadband network, may vary from device to device. Also, a TV device may have a number of different types of broadband content retrieval programs. The steps for launching these programs and/or the instructions that a user must input to instigate retrieval and display of broadband content may differ from program to program. Also, the steps for launching programs and/or the instructions that a user must input to instigate retrieval and display of content may differ between programs that access content from the broadband network and those that receive broadcast content.

In general overview, the steps which a broadband network connected TV device undertakes when instructed by a user to open a broadband content retrieval application may comprise: changing from a currently open application (e.g. display of broadcast TV, presentation of other content, etc.) to a broadband content retrieval application - this may involve closing the initial application before opening the broadband content retrieval application; displaying a broadband content retrieval application screen interface; and receiving instructions from the user regarding a content item to be retrieved.

It may be desirable to reduce the number of user interaction steps with the TV device which are required to effect a transition from a state where received broadcast delivered content is displayed to a state where broadband delivered content is displayed.

There is a limited amount of over the air broadcast spectrum available for digital television in the UK and other territories and there is greater demand for broadcast and interactive services than the broadcast spectrum can accommodate or is technically capable of providing.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention were devised with the foregoing in mind.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communications system comprising a broadcast communications network and an addressable communications network, said communications system operative to link a broadcast TV channel to a data service, in particular a content data service, deliverable over said addressable communications network, responsive to selection of a broadcast communications network channel.

Optionally, said data service may comprise a streaming channel for streaming content data such as video and/or music. The data may comprise broadcast TV content data.

Optionally, selection of said channel may be by entry of a channel number and/or selection of an entry in a channel list and/or an entry of an electronic program guide via a broadcast TV receiver device. The broadcast communications network may be an over-the-air network.

Optionally, the system may be operative transmit a link application with a TV broadcast signal over said broadcast communications network, said link application operative to communicate with said data service corresponding to said broadcast TV channel to direct said service data over said addressable communications network to said TV receiver device.

The broadcast television receiver device may be a television set or a set-top box.

The addressable network may comprise the Internet or any closed network carried over Internet services.

Optionally, the broadcast TV receiver device may be configured to display a message on an associated display screen indicative of the addressable network connectivity status of said device. Further optionally, the broadcast TV receiver device may be further configured to display a message on an associated display indicative of the need to have an addressable network connectable device responsive to determining the device does not have addressable network connectability. The broadcast TV receiver device may be further configured to display a message on an associated display indicative of the need to connect the device to an addressable network responsive to determining that the device has addressable network connectivity but is not connected to said addressable network.

Optionally, the may be operative to provide an online service for a user to enter preferences and/or personalisation data against a code for said broadcast TV receiver device and target messages for said broadcast TV receiver device by tagging said messages with said code in a broadcast TV signal, said device configured to extract messages tagged with said code from said broadcast TV signal.

The system may, optionally, be further operative to provide an information exchange service over said addressable network via said broadcast TV receiver device and to provide a data store corresponding to said device. Further optionally, the system may be operative to monitor channel selection via said broadcast TV receiver device for constructing a viewing habit profile corresponding to said device. Yet further, the system may, optionally, be operative to identify respective users of said over-the-air broadcast TV receiver device and construct a viewing habit profile corresponding to said respective users. The information exchange service may be optional and invoked responsive to a user opt-in request.

Optionally, the system may be operative to receive identity information corresponding to said broadcast TV receiver device, encrypt said identity information and transmit said encrypted identity information to said broadcast TV receiver device, said device configured to store said received encrypted identity information.

The broadcast TV receiver device may be further configured to automatically access said information exchange service using said encrypted identity information. The information exchange service may be configured to comprise a payment gateway.

Optionally, the system may be further operative to synchronise said data service with a corresponding live TV broadcast signal and/or an on demand signal.

The system may, optionally, be further configured to provide timing information relating to said live TV broadcast signal and/or on demand signal to said data service for synchronising said data service with said live TV broadcast signal and/or on demand signal.

The information exchange service may be configured to provide to said broadcast TV receiver device a feedback mechanism arranged to receive user input for collation by said system.

The broadcast TV data, in particular content, may comprise live or on demand streaming audio and/or video data.

Optionally, the broadcast TV receiver device operative to receive data, in particular content, via said system may be operative, under influence of said communications system, to switch from a mode in which content is received via said broadcast communications network to another mode in which data is received via said addressable communications network dependent upon a predetermined and/or a monitored condition.

The broadcast TV receiver device may be operative to receive data, in particular content, via said broadcast communications network and further wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined and/or a monitored condition, the broadcast TV receiver device may be operative to send a request for data, in particular content, to a data, in particular content, provider via said addressable communications network

The broadcast TV receiver device may be operative to switch between reception of data, in particular content, via broadcast communications network and reception of data, in particular content, via said addressable communications network according to time of day and/or service demand.

Optionally, the system may be operative to configure a broadcast TV receiver device to report user interaction event data and/or broadcast TV receiver device location data to an analysis management module.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service management module for a communications system having any one or more of the above described features, said service management module operative to communicate, to a broadcast TV receiver device over said broadcast communications network, a broadcast application and configuration data for linking said broadcast TV channel with said data service.

Optionally, the service management module may be operative to communicate said broadcast application and configuration data to a broadcast head-end for integration into a broadcast signal. Further optionally, the service management module may be operative to communicate, to a broadcast TV receiver device over said addressable communications network, an IP application and configuration data for enabling said broadcast TV receiver device to establish a communications link with said data service The service management module may be operative to communicate said IP application and configuration data to an IP application system.

The IP application system may be operative to transfer said IP application and configuration data to said broadcast TV receiver device responsive to a request from said broadcast TV receiver device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast TV receiver device operative to receive data, in particular content, via a communications system having any one or more of the above described features.

Optionally, the broadcast TV receiver device may be further operative to receive, from said service management module, a broadcast application and configuration data for linking said broadcast TV channel with said data service and an IP application and configuration data for enabling said broadcast TV receiver device to establish a communications link with said data service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of linking a broadcast TV channel to a data service deliverable over a addressable communications network, said link being established responsive to selection of a broadcast communications network channel.

Optionally, the method may comprise: transmitting a link application with a TV broadcast signal over said broadcast communications network; receiving said link application at a TV receiver device and running said link application thereon; driving said TV receiver device to request, from a data service, delivery of service data over said addressable communications network to said TV receiver device; communicating requested service data responsive to said request.

One or more embodiments of the Connect TV system present invention may enable a connection between over the air broadcast channels and services delivered over the internet, using an application (MHEG or otherwise) broadcast in a broadcast stream. A broadcast stream may comprise a transport packet stream suitable for broadcasting content in a digital television environment, e.g. an MPEG2 transport packet stream.

This system may enable a link from live over the air broadcast television to live streaming over a broadband communications network, thus possibly expanding the number of live channels that can be delivered to TV devices. Display of received broadband delivered content may be implemented by instructing the TV device to tune to a particular channel number on a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channel list. Thus, whilst some channels in the channel list may be for the delivery of broadcast audio and video content, other channels in the DTT channel list may, either in addition to audio or video content, or instead of it, carry the instructions required to enable the TV device to implement an application which configures the TV device to receive content via a broadband communications network.

The system may enable the TV device to launch a live IP video (or audio) stream using an over the air broadcast application (MHEG or otherwise) received at the TV device.

The system may be operative to configure a TV device to display content provider branding (commonly referred to as a "skin" or "slate") based on the over the air broadcast channel that the broadcast application is launched from.

The system may be operative to uniquely target individual TV devices over broadcast (i.e. with no return path) using a unique identifier stored in the memory of the device. This identifier can be read by the application delivered over broadcast and used to filter the targeted information for said individual device.

The system may be operative to pair a TV device, with a remote account for personalisation of services delivered to broadcast devices, including the targeting of advertising and promotions. Alternatively, or additionally, the system may be operative to pair a TV device, with a remote account for localisation of services delivered to broadcast devices. Personalisation and/or localisation may be achieved by using any combination of personal data and location data derived from either or both of the broadcast or IP networks.

The system may be operative to pair a TV device with a remote account and a payment system to enable a user to use transactional services on the TV device. The transactional services functionality may be enabled by way of the delivered over the air broadcast application. Thus, a user, through use of a TV device with appropriate transactional services functionality, may be able to configure the TV device for different modes of subscription, or pay per view. Further, the user may be able to use the appropriately enabled TV device to conduct purchases.

The system may be operative to synchronise data, in particular content, received via the broadband communications network with an over the air broadcast application.

The system may be operative to configure the TV device to allow storage of a personalised key, or any other unique identification for the person and/or device, in the TV device. Such functionality may allow the TV device to be configured to receive personalised broadband communications network delivered content and/or personalised broadcast services

The system may be operative to obtain feedback and data from at least one TV device using the system of one or more embodiments of the present invention .using the over the air broadcast application, whereby users of connected TV devices enter such feedback and data through their TV devices. The feedback and data may then be communicated back through a broadband communications network.

The system may be suitable to reduce the number of instruction events a viewer must submit to a TV device to initiate a change of mode of operation of the TV device from a broadcast-delivered content displaying mode to an IP-delivered content displaying mode.

One or more embodiments of the present invention have been developed to link from an over the air broadcast channel, directly to a live streaming video or audio channel, or a range of channels. An application broadcast in a broadcast signal may be received by compatible TV devices. The application, when run on the TV device instructs the TV device to determine if the device is connected to the Internet.

The application may be able to uniquely identify unconnected devices. This ID code is then used to match the device with messages in the broadcast stream.

The application may be able to monitor the viewing habits of the viewers that use the device and can also ask profile questions of the viewers.

The application may be able to securely manage access to services, enabling the delivery of subscription or other access controlled services.

The application may be able to enable a payment gateway to present information and request feedback that will allow the payment gateway to be used directly on a broadcast device.

When a device is connected to a service using the application, the application can synchronise data, in particular content, to the live stream that is playing.

The application may be able to present viewers with feedback forms, written in MHEG, allowing the viewer to give quantitative and qualitative feedback directly on their TV.

One or more specific embodiments in accordance with aspects of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of a system for providing access to content from a plurality of sources in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a service management system of Fig. 1 and a broadcast environment of the system of Fig. 1 in more detail; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates service management system of Fig. 1 and an IP environment of the system of Fig. 1 in more detail;

Fig. 4 is a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in response to user input instructions whereby a particular TV channel is selected for display by the TV device;

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in an optional mode of operation of the system of the present invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in another optional mode of operation of the system of the present invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates a general overview of a process of data and/or information flow between elements of the system of the present invention, and which data and/or information flow occurs before, during, and after the process of Fig. 6.

Over the air digital television broadcasts in the UK can be delivered with a broadcast application that enables multimedia and interactive services. These services have been used for broadcast delivered data content using a data carousel. On Freeview and Freesat in the UK the broadcast application is configured to the Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG) language standard for describing interactive television services. The recent inclusion of an internet connection (Interaction Channel or Return Path) in all Freeview HD and Freesat TV devices in the UK, means that a MHEG application can be used to link the T device, using a broadband communications network connection (e.g. to the Internet) for the delivery of other content (i.e. broadband, or IP, content, rather than broadcast content). The system of the present application can configure a TV device to link from a received broadcast channel to a live TV data streaming video or audio channel, or IP delivered data service giving access to a range of channels. A particular channel through which such link can be achieved may be selected directly by instructing the TV device to tune to a particular channel number (i.e. user entry of a particular channel no. via a user interface). Thus, a TV device implementing this link may be thought of as switching between receipt of broadcast delivered content and IP delivered content when an appropriate channel is selected. Optionally, or additionally, the TV device may be instructed to tune to a particular channel number by a user selecting the channel from the TV device channel list, or by a user selecting the channel using the TV device electronic programme guide (EPG).

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates components and communication links of a system 100 for providing access from one or more content receivers to content from a plurality of sources. The system 100 comprises a plurality of content sources provided by a plurality of broadcast content providers 102, a plurality of IP content providers 103, and/or a plurality of combined broadcast and IP content providers 104. The providers 102, 103, 104 can distribute content for reception by a plurality of TV devices 106 (e.g. TVs, set-top boxes (STB) etc.) and subsequent viewing of the content on a display associated with the TV devices 106 over at least one of a communications network 108 (such as: a wide area network (WAN), e.g. the Internet; local area networks (LAN); or a combination of two or more such networks) and a broadcast television network 110. The system 100 also comprises a service management system 112 which is operative to transfer a broadcast MHEG (or otherwise) application and broadcast configuration data to the broadcast television network 110 for onward transmission to the plurality of TV devices 106. The reception of the broadcast MHEG application and broadcast configuration data at one or more of the plurality of TV devices 106 and what the plurality of TV devices 106 can do with a received broadcast MHEG application and broadcast configuration data will be described in more detail later. Although the broadcast and IP applications are MHEG applications in one or more embodiments of the present invention, other applications could be used in . other optional or additional arrangements, e.g. a Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) application, an Open TV application or an Open Cable™ Platform (OCAP) application.

To ensure compatibility with the system of one or more embodiments of the present invention, the TV devices 106 should be compliant with the UK digital television Freeview HD or FreeSat TV standards. The system may be implemented in other territories where there are provided digital television broadcasting systems which are similar to the UK digital television Freeview HD or FreeSat TV standards. Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in those territories which offer a TV broadcast service with a similar architecture which can exploit the system. Thus, the system of one or more embodiments of the present invention could optionally be adapted for use in countries implementing the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV or "HbbTV" standard.

The broadcast configuration data comprises a broadcast service configuration component which comprises instructions for how a TV device receiving the broadcast configuration data must implement the broadcast MHEG application. The broadcast configuration data also comprises a broadcast service assets component. The broadcast service assets component can comprise, for example, screen background information, colour information, graphics, logos, text, etc. that are to be displayed when a TV device implements a received broadcast MHEG application.

The broadcast service configuration components and broadcast service assets components may be named using a naming convention in which a channel identifier forms part of a character string forming each file name. The channel identifier may be, for example, the Service ID of a broadcast channel. Thus, file names of the files comprising the broadcast service configuration components and broadcast service assets components of the broadcast configuration data may be of the form "[Service

ID - channel 1] , [Service ID - channel 2]....., [Service ID - channel n]....". The service ID may appear as a prefix or suffix in a file name. When a TV device is instructed by the broadcast MHEG application to retrieve broadcast configuration data files specific to the channel from which the broadcast MHEG application was launched (e.g. Channel 1 ), the TV device will retrieve from local memory only those broadcast configuration data files with Service ID - channel 1 forming part of the file name. A similar naming convention can be adopted for an IP MHEG application and IP configuration data. These are introduced below.

To implement the system of one or more embodiments of the present invention, only a single broadcast MHEG application may be required. However, there may be a plurality of sets of broadcast configuration data (i.e. a set for each channel through which a service offered by the system of one or more embodiments of the present invention can be implemented). The same broadcast MHEG application can be used for different channels, but the broadcast configuration data may differ from channel to channel. In optional arrangements, more than one broadcast MHEG application may be broadcast alongside the plurality of sets of broadcast configuration data.

The service management system 112 is also operative to receive data from a plurality of IP content providers 103 and/or a combined broadcast and IP content providers 104. The data may comprise presentational information specified by a content provider. The presentational information may relate to how user interfaces of each of the content providers are to be displayed on a TV device when the TV device is operating in an IP content receiving mode, i.e. receiving content via communications network 108. The presentational information may comprise, for example, screen background information, colour information, graphics, logos, text, etc. that are to be displayed when a TV device is displaying content received from a particular IP content provider.

The data received from the IP content providers 103, 104 will be referred to hereinafter as IP configuration data. This IP configuration data is transferred via communications network 108 to an IP MHEG application system (not shown in Fig. 1 - see Fig. 3). Additionally, an IP MHEG application is transferred via communications network 108 to the IP MHEG application system. The IP MHEG application system is operative to store the IP MHEG application and IP configuration data for transfer to a TV device 106 (via communications network 108), when a TV device 106 so requests the IP MHEG application and IP configuration data.

The reception of the IP MHEG application and IP configuration data at one or more of the plurality of TV devices 106 and what the plurality of TV devices 106 can do with a received IP MHEG application and IP configuration data will be described in more detail later.

Similar to the broadcast configuration data, the IP configuration data comprises an IP service configuration component which comprises instructions for how a TV device receiving the IP configuration data must implement the IP MHEG application. The IP configuration data also comprises an IP service assets component. The IP service assets component can comprise, for example, and as described above, screen background information, colour information, graphics, logos, text, etc. that are to be displayed when a TV device implements a received IP MHEG application,

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates service management system of Fig. 1 and a broadcast environment of the system of Fig. 1 in more detail.

The service management system 112 comprises a service monitoring element 114, a service manager 116, and a service configuration element 118. The service management system 112 further comprises a storage element containing a broadcast MHEG application 120 and associated broadcast configuration data 22.

Broadcast configuration data 122, as indicated above, comprises a broadcast configuration service component 124 component which comprises instructions for how a TV device receiving the broadcast configuration data must implement a received broadcast MHEG application. Further, the broadcast configuration data comprises a broadcast service assets component 126. The broadcast service assets component 126 can comprise, for example, screen background information, colour information, graphics, logos, text, etc. that are to be displayed when a TV device implements a received broadcast MHEG application. The configuration and asset information are delivered as files over the DSM-CC carousel. These files contain the number of the Service ID in their file name as a way to identify which configuration data to associate with each channel. This naming convention has been described above. Each channel broadcast using a broadcast communications network must have a unique Service ID associated with it. Thus the same MHEG. application may be used for multiple channels with each channel having its configuration data associated by Service ID.

The storage element of the service management system 112 further contains an IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130. IP configuration data 130, as indicated above, comprises an IP configuration service component 132 component and an IP service assets component 134. The IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 are illustrated in Fig. 2 and described briefly here merely for completeness. However, they relate to the IP environment of the system rather than the broadcast environment of the system. They will be discussed in more detail in relation to Fig. 3.

The service manager 116 is operative to control upload of the broadcast MHEG application 120 and the broadcast configuration data 122 to the broadcast communications network 110 via a virtual private network (VPN) 13. Similarly, the service manager 116 is operative to control upload of the IP MHEG application 128 and the IP configuration data 130 to a communications network (not shown in Fig. 2 - see Fig. 3). This upload of the IP MHEG application 128 and the IP configuration data 130 to a communications network is described in more detail in relation to Fig. 3.

In optional arrangements, a broadcast operator may specify that upload of the broadcast MHEG application 120 and the broadcast configuration data 122 to the broadcast communications network 110 be via a method other than via a VPN. For example, they may be uploaded via a wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), the Internet and/or manually (i.e. files uploaded directly into the broadcast head-end system from a storage medium, e.g. CD, DVD, flash-drive, USB memory device, etc.).

The service monitoring element 114 is operative to receive information from an analysis manager (not shown - see Fig. 3). This information may comprise, for example, events which occur on a TV device (possibly including) user viewing habits and/or location information of one or more particular TV devices 106 using the system of the present invention. The mechanism by which such information is collected and transferred to the service monitoring element 114 will be described in more detail in relation to Figs. 3 and 7.

The service configuration element 118 may be implemented by an operator to create broadcast MHEG application 120, broadcast configuration data 122, IP MHEG application 128 and IP configuration data 130 specific to each content provider who wishes to provide content for distribution to TV devices using one or more embodiments of the system of the present invention. The broadcast communications network 110 comprises a broadcast head-end system .136 and a transmission device 138. These are conventional components in a broadcast communications network and will be familiar to those skilled in the art in the field of the present invention.

Broadcast head-end system 136 comprises a multiplexer 140 and a digital storage media command and control (DSM-CC) object carousel generator 142. The multiplexer 140 and DSM-CC object carousel generator 142 are operative to create a transport packet stream suitable for carrying video, audio, and data packets for broadcast through the transmission device 138.

The multiplexer 140 is operative in a conventional manner to create a time-division multiplexed signal containing video and/or audio content from a plurality of broadcast content providers 102. In addition to creating a time-division multiplexed signal containing these video and/or audio elements, the multiplexer 140 is operative to receive data elements for the broadcast signal from the DSM-CC object carousel generator 142, and include these data elements along with the video and/or audio elements in the time-division multiplexed signal.

The DSM-CC object carousel generator 142 is operative to receive the broadcast MHEG application 120 and broadcast configuration data 122 via virtual private network 113 from the service management system 112. An object carousel which includes the broadcast MHEG application 120 and broadcast configuration data 122 is created by the DSM-CC object carousel generator 142, and this object carousel, in turn, is time-division multiplexed with the video and/or audio content from the plurality of broadcast content providers 102 by the multiplexer 40.

A broadcast signal transmitted by transmitting device 138 comprises an MPEG2 transport packet stream which contains time-division multiplexed video and/or audio content from the plurality of broadcast content providers 102 and the broadcast MHEG application 20 and broadcast configuration data 122. The broadcast signal may further comprise a plurality of other broadcast MHEG applications from the broadcast content providers. One or more TV devices 106 are operative to receive the broadcast signal and can extract the appropriate video and/or audio and/or data content relevant to the channel to which the TV devices 106 are tuned. The extracted content can be processed by the one or more TV devices 106 in a conventional manner so that the appropriate video and/or audio and/or data content can be displayed by a respective display device connected to (or forming part of) the one or more TV devices 106.

In addition to these conventional operations, the one or more TV devices 106 receiving the broadcast signal, and tuned to an appropriate channel, are operative to extract the broadcast MHEG application 120 and broadcast configuration data 122 from the received broadcast signal. The extracted broadcast MHEG application 120 is implemented by a processor of a TV device and the extracted broadcast configuration data 122 is cached locally on a memory device of the TV device.

Implementation of the extracted broadcast MHEG application 120 will be described in more detail later. Briefly, however, a broadcast MHEG application 120 running on a TV device processor initiates extraction of broadcast configuration data 122 associated with the particular channel to which the TV device is tuned from the memory device. The processor of the TV device uses the files of the broadcast configuration data 122 to configure the TV device so that appropriate service assets associated with the channel can be displayed. Additionally, one of the files of the broadcast configuration data 122 contains a character string that constitutes a reference to an IP MHEG Application System (not shown in Fig. 2 - see Fig. 3). The character string may comprise, for example, a uniform resource identifier (URI). The character string is channel specific and will differ from channel to channel. The processor of the TV device uses the character string to establish a connection via communications network (see Figs. 1 or 3) to the IP MHEG Application System. This enables the TV device to send a request to the IP MHEG Application System for a channel-specific IP MHEG application and channel-specific IP configuration data to be transmitted from the IP MHEG Application System to the TV device. Implementation of the broadcast MHEG application 120 and of the IP MHEG application will be described in more detail in relation to Fig. 4. P T/GB2012/000637

P540675WO

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates service management system of Fig. 1 and an IP environment of the system of Fig. 1 in more detail.

The service management system 112 illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same service management system as illustrated in Fig. 2 and described above in relation to that figure. In the following description, transfer of the IP HEG application 128 and IP configuration data 130 from the service management system 112 to an IP MHEG application system 144 will be discussed in more detail. Also discussed will be the transfer of the IP MHEG application 128 and IP configuration data 130 from the IP MHEG application system 144 to one or more TV devices 106. Further, the transfer of IP content from an IP content provider 103 and/or broadcast & IP content provider 04 to one or more TV devices 106 will be described.

As described above, service manager 116 is operative to control upload of the IP MHEG application 128 and the IP configuration data 130 to an IP MHEG application system 144. This is achieved by transferring the IP MHEG application 128 via communications network 108 to the IP MHEG application system 144 (see arrow A). Transfer of the IP configuration data 130 to the IP MHEG application system 144 is also achieved via communications network 108 (see arrow B). However, in an optional arrangement where the IP MHEG Application system 144 may be a locally hosted server, then the IP MHEG application 128 could be transferred manually.

The IP MHEG application 128 and the IP configuration data 130 may be stored locally on a memory device of the IP MHEG application system 144 and may be transferred therefrom to a TV device 06 responsive to a request from the TV device 106. Optionally, the IP MHEG application system 144 may form part of the service management system 112. In this optional arrangement, the IP MHEG application 128 and the IP configuration data 130 may be transferred to a TV device 106 responsive to a request from the TV device 106 via an MHEG application server.

A TV device 106 implementing a broadcast MHEG application for a channel to which the TV device is tuned, uses a character string extracted from a broadcast configuration data file specific to that channel. The character string comprises an address (e.g. URI) which is used to establish a connection to the IP MHEG application system 144. The TV device 106, under the control of the broadcast MHEG application, issues a request to the IP MHEG application system 144 for an IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 30 to be transferred to the TV device 106. Such request and transfer are communicated using communications network 108. The requested IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 are specific to the channel to which the TV device 106 is currently tuned. Thus, when a TV device is instructed by the broadcast MHEG application to request a channel-specific IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 from the retrieve broadcast configuration data files specific to the channel from IP MHEG application system 144, the TV device uses the Service ID specific to the channel from which the broadcast MHEG application was launched in the request. Therefore, if the broadcast MHEG application was launched from, for example, Channel 1 , the TV device will request from the IP MHEG application system 144 only an IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 files with "[Service ID - channel 1]" forming part of the file names.

Upon receiving such a request from the TV device 106, the IP MHEG application system 144 transfers the channel-specific IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 to the TV device 106 via communications network 108 (see arrow D).

When the IP MHEG application 128 and associated IP configuration data 130 are received by the TV device 106, the processor of the TV device 106 initiates the IP MHEG application 128 and terminates the currently implemented broadcast MHEG application 120.

The IP MHEG application 128, running on the TV device processor, uses the files of the associated IP configuration data 130 to configure the TV device so that appropriate IP service assets 134 associated with the channel can be displayed. Additionally, one of the files of the IP configuration data 130 contains a character string (e.g. URI) that constitutes a reference to a playout server 148 of an IP content provider 103, 104 associated with the selected channel. The processor of the TV device 106 uses the character string to establish a connection via communications network 108 to the playout server 148 of the IP content provider 103, 104. This enables the TV device 06 to send a request (see arrow E) to the playout server 8 of the IP content provider 103, 104 for that provider's IP content 150 (and, if appropriate, IP metadata 152) to be transferred to the TV device 106. The IP content provider 103, 104, responsive to the request, initiates transfer (see arrow F) of the content to the TV device 106 via communications network 108.

In an optional arrangement, the IP HEG application 128 may be implemented to transmit, or cache and transmit, data relating to events which occur on the TV device 106. Data relating to such events may be cached locally on a memory of the TV device 106, and transferred via the communications network 108 to analysis manager 146. The transfer to the analysis manager 146 may be periodic or on an event-by-event basis. The TV device may send a stream of event data, tagged with a unique ID of the TV device, and other information, to the analysis manager 1 6 that collects event data for analysts. The analysis data may be transferred from the analysis manager 1 6 to the service monitoring element 114 of service management system 112 using, for example, the communications network 108, or any other suitable mechanism. The service monitoring element .114 may create a log of such analysis data for provision to content providers. The analysis data may be interpreted by the content providers to determine viewer behaviour and may be used by the content providers to conduct trend analysis based on monitoring of viewer behaviour.

The analysis data may also comprise information relating to the location of TV devices which use the services offered by one or more embodiments of the present invention. The analysis managing 146 can establish a link between TV devices 106 and the service management system 112. Analysis data reported back to the service management system 112 may be used as information for content providers to dynamically localise and/or personalise their services.

Information relating to the location of TV devices using the services offered by one or more embodiments of the present invention may be obtained using geolocation data extracted from the TV devices. A TV device may contain data indicating a transmitter from which it normally receives signals and also data relating to its IP connection. The geolocation data may be derived using transmitter and IP information extracted from the TV device. The TV device is operative to extracting a network ID value from the MPEG-2 transport stream received by the TV device. The network ID value may be cached locally on the TV device and it may be from local memory that this information is extracted to derive the geolocation data described above. The network ID may be unique to individual regions of a country, and not necessarily the transmitters themselves (e.g. several transmitters in the same geographical region may share the same network ID).

Geolocation data may be used to tailor content streams according to specific locations. Further, dynamic bandwidth mapping may be used by the service management system 112 based upon analysis data extracted from TV devices to determine broadband and similar service performance for specific locations. Again, content streams may be tailored as appropriate based upon the data obtained using dynamic bandwidth mapping.

Fig. 4 is a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in response to user input instructions whereby a particular TV channel is selected for display by the TV device.

A viewer may select (step 400) a particular channel using a TV device user interface (e.g. remote control). The particular channel may be selected by entering a channel number using the user interface (or, for example, by pressing an "up" or "down" button on the user interface). The channel may also be selected by using the user interface to move a cursor on an on-screen menu. When the cursor highlights a desired channel, that channel may be selected by way of the user interface. The onscreen menu may comprise, for example, a channel list or EPG.

When the viewer selects a channel, the TV device tunes (step 402) to the selected channel number (e.g. CH 112). Each channel may comprise of one or more audio, video and data components where a data component may comprise an MHEG application. Where the channel comprises one (of which there may be a number) which is allocated for delivery of content using one or more embodiments of the present invention, the broadcast MHEG application is extracted from a received over-the-air broadcast signal and a processor of the TV device implements the broadcast MHEG application (step 404).

The processor may conduct an optional step wherein appropriate display implementing elements of the TV device are instructed by the processor to display an initial "application loading" page. Such a page may be displayed until display data relating to a main page has been located, retrieved and processed.

The main page for display whilst the TV device processor is implementing the received broadcast MHEG application may optionally be allocated a design and functionality appearance (or "slate") which is_. dependent on the channel from which the broadcast MHEG application has been launched. This is enabled by broadcasting one or more data files containing design and functionality data for each of the channels that the broadcast application can be launched from. This design and functionality data forms part of the broadcast service assets referred to previously.

The processor of the TV device is operative, under the instruction of the broadcast MHEG application to determine (step 408) the channel identity from which the broadcast MHEG application is launched. This is achieved by determining the Service ID of the channel. The processor is operative to interrogate an appropriate element of the TV device where the Service ID is normally cached to determine the Service ID. The processor compares this Service ID with the services attributes of the broadcast configuration data cached locally on the TV device and retrieves the design and functionality data specific to the selected channel.

The service attributes may comprise, but are not limited to:

- colour of background and text

- displayed text

- logo

- additional graphics

- behaviour

- link to an IP video stream (e.g. URI) Thus making a single application capable of delivering multiple versions of itself to an over the air broadcast receiving TV device. That is, only one broadcast MHEG application may be delivered, but the broadcast configuration data files, which are channel specific, allow different information, text, images, etc. to be displayed. The broadcast MHEG application is only included in the over-the-air broadcast signal once for each multiplex, thereby improving performance in the limited bandwidth capacity environment of broadcast communications networks as each channel on a multiplex has the ability to link to the same MHEG application. In the field of broadcast TV, a multiplex is generally understood as a group of TV channels that are mixed (multiplexed) for broadcast over a digital TV channel and separated out again (demultiplexed) by a receiving device.

The processor implements the step of determining if the TV device is compatible to receive services of one or more embodiments of the present invention (step 412). If the TV device is not compatible, the processor instructs the appropriate display implementing elements of the TV device to cause a "non-compatible" slate to be displayed (step 414).

The processor implements the step of determining if the TV device is connected to an IP network (step 416). If the TV device is not connected, the processor instructs the appropriate display implementing elements of the TV device to cause a "non- connected" slate to be displayed (step 418). The "compatible" and "connected" determination steps may take place in any order.

Thus, the processor can instruct the appropriate display implementing elements of the TV device to display different "slates" which may include the following scenarios:

- If the device does not have a suitable communications network (e.g. Internet) connection capability, a "slate" will be displayed that explains to the viewer that they need a connected device to receive the service (steps 412, 414).

- If the device does have a suitable communications network connection capability, but is not connected, a 'slate' will be displayed that explains to the viewer that they need to connect their, device to the Internet to receive the service. Again, this slate can be branded based on the broadcast channel from which the broadcast MHEG application was launched (steps 416, 418). If the device is both compatible and connected to a suitable communications network, the processor is operative to implement steps to link to an appropriate IP content provision service. Whilst such steps are being implemented, a slate appropriate to the selected channel may be displayed (step 420).

The processor uses the service ID of the channel from which the broadcast MHEG application was launched to locate another service asset file specific to that channel. This service asset file contains a URI which comprises an IP address of the IP MHEG application system which the TV device must contact in order to download an appropriate IP MHEG application and IP configuration data specific to the selected channel. The processor extracts the URI from the service asset file (step 422) and uses the URI to establish a connection with the IP MHEG. application system (step 424). A request for the channel specific IP MHEG application and IP configuration data is sent from the TV device to the IP MHEG application system. Responsive to such a request, the IP MHEG application system locates the appropriate IP MHEG application and IP configuration data in a repository and communicates these to the TV device (step 426).

Upon receipt of the IP MHEG application and IP configuration data, the IP configuration data is cached locally on the TV device, and the processor of the TV device is operative to implement the received IP MHEG application.

The processor searches the IP configuration data to locate a URI service asset file. This service asset file is similar to that mentioned above in that it contains a URI which comprises an IP address. However, in the present URI service asset file, the IP address relates to that of a playout server of the IP content provider who provides IP delivered content for the selected channel.

The processor extracts the URI from the service asset file (step 428) and uses the URI to establish a connection with the playout server of the IP content provider (step 430). A request for the IP content is sent from the TV device to the playout server of the IP content provider. Responsive to such a request, the playout server of the IP content provider initiates streaming of the IP content to the TV device.

The TV device receives the requested IP content (step 432) and the received content is processed by appropriate elements of the TV device for display (step 434).

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in an optional mode of operation of one or more embodiments of the present invention. This optional mode of operation may be termed "Dynamic Path Switching" because the TV device is operative to switch from a mode in which content is delivered via a first path to another mode in which content is delivered via a second path. A factor which determines whether or not the TV device switches from receiving content via one path or the other may depend upon a predetermined or a monitored condition. For example, the TV device may switch between reception of content via broadcast delivery and IP delivery according to time of day and/or service demand.

Such a mode of operation may also permit multiple optional or personalised elements (e.g. different endings to a content item) to be delivered to a TV device, and for one of the elements to be displayed dependent upon predetermined or monitored conditions.

The ability to deliver content via a broadcast medium in one particular time period and via an IP medium in another particular time period may be useful to some content providers. Due to broadcast bandwidth limitations, a particular content provider may be able to provide its content over a broadcast medium for only certain hours in a day. For the remainder of the day, the broadcast content provider may have to take its service "off-air" as it does not have available capacity to broadcast during those hours. However, using the dynamic path switching mode of the present invention may allow the provider to provide its content via an IP medium during the hours in a day where its broadcast service would normally be "off-air". This may allow a content provider to provide content to TV devices for an entire day. For part of the day, content would be communicated via the broadcast medium, and for a remaining part of the day, content would be communicated via the IP medium. The steps implemented by a TV device operating in the dynamic path switching mode of operation are the same as those illustrated in Fig. 4, and as described above, but with the addition of some further steps which are implemented to determine a particular condition (time-of-day in the illustrated arrangement). Steps which are common to those of Fig. 4 are denoted by like reference numerals.

Thus, when a viewer selects a channel on the TV device (step 400), the TV device tunes (step 402) to the selected channel number (e.g. CH 7). Where the channel comprises one (of which there may be a number) which is allocated for delivery of content using the system of the present invention, the broadcast HEG application is extracted from a received over-the-air broadcast signal and a processor of the TV device implements the broadcast MHEG application (step 404).

The processor is operative to determine (step 500) the time-of-day from an internal clock of the TV device. If it is determined that the current time falls within a pre- specified time period B, then the processor is operative to instruct appropriate elements of the TV device to display content received via a broadcast medium (step 504). However, if it is determined that the current time falls within a pre-specified time period A, then the processor is operative to continue the process for establishing a connection with a play out server to enable content to be received by the TV device via an IP medium. Thus, steps 406 to 434 are implemented by the TV device. Since these steps 406 to 434 have previously been described above in relation to Fig. 4, they will not be described again.

The time period may also be indicated by the inclusion of an asset in either the broadcast or broadband delivered assets.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic process flow control diagram illustrating steps which a TV device implements in another optional mode of operation of the system of the present invention. Many of the steps of the process of Fig. 6 are common to those of Figs. 4 and 5 and are again denoted by like reference numerals. The process may be used as a monitoring application to provide feedback information from a TV device to one or more content providers.

Some process steps may be optional and may be dependent upon whether or not the process is to be "visible" or "invisible". The process may be implemented alongside the process illustrated in Fig. 4 and as discussed above, and may be used to provide feedback information to broadcast and/or IP content ^"providers. If the process is implemented after selection of a TV channel corresponding to a conventional broadcast TV channel, then the broadcaster may require the process to be hidden (i.e. "invisible") so that the process does not cause data to be displayed which might interfere with displayed broadcast delivered content. Thus, steps 406, 412, 414, 416, 418, 430, 432, 434, may not be required when the monitoring application is launched from a conventional broadcast TV channel (the "invisible" mode). However, when launched from a TV channel which is used to establish a link for delivery of IP content (a "visible" mode), steps 406, 412, 414, 416, 418, 430, 432, 434 may be required.

Thus, the process begins again when a viewer selects a channel on the TV device (step 400), the TV device tunes (step 402) to the selected channel number (e.g. CH 1). Where the channel comprises one (of which there may be a number) which is allocated for delivery of content using the system of the present invention, the broadcast MHEG application is extracted from a received over-the-air broadcast signal and a processor of the TV device implements the broadcast MHEG application (step 404).

After optionally implementing step 406, the TV device proceeds to implement steps 408 and 410. Steps 412 to 420 will be implemented if the channel from which the application is launched dictates that the mode of operation should be "visible". However, if the mode of operation is "invisible", the TV device will implement step 422 directly after step 410.

Again, establishment of a connection to the IP MHEG application system is conducted when the TV device implements steps 422, 424 and 426. When operating in the "invisible" mode, the processor of the TV device is operative to extract a URI from the IP service asset file (step 428) and uses the URI to establish a connection with an analysis manager (step 600). The processor can implement a TV device monitoring operation to create a log of user interaction events with the TV device. Such a log can be provided (step 602) to the analysis manager via the connection established in step 600.

When operating in the "visible" mode, the processor of the TV device is operative to carry out steps 428, 600 and 602 as described above, but also steps 430, 432. and 434 to receive content from an IP content provider and to cause such received content to be displayed.

When reporting a log to the analysis manager, the processor of the TV device may add a TV device identifier to the log. The TV device identifier (ID) can uniquely identify the device being used by a viewer. This may be achieved by the TV device locally generating a unique user ID code based on, for example, the name and postcode of the viewer. This same code may be generated on an online service (e.g. a website) where the user can enter their viewing preferences and other personalisation data. This ID code may be used to match the device with the viewer's profile (3.3) and generate messages that are delivered in the broadcast stream to allow the broadcaster to target specific messages to a single box or a group of boxes based on the users' preferences entered on the online service. The application implemented by one or more embodiments of the present invention will configure the TV device to display only the data that is marked with an ID that matches the one stored on the TV device.

In an optional arrangement, one or more embodiments of the present invention may provide for the exchange of secure information between a TV device connected to a service using the application and a remote server. A unique account may be created for the TV device. A TV device implementing the application may cause to be displayed information prompting a viewer to opt-in to a service that will monitor the viewing habits of viewers who use the device. The service may be implemented using the process described in relation to Fig. 6. When a TV device implements the monitoring application, it monitors the channels selected through the device to infer 7

P54067SWO viewing habits of a user of the device. Optionally, prospective users may be given individual IDs which they use to log-in to a device prior to using it such that an individual user may have their viewing habits monitored. A TV device implementing the application may cause to be displayed profile questions to the viewers who have opted in. Answers input by the users in response to questions may be used by the system to create a profile, which will then be used to tailor the content and services offered to the viewers using that specific TV device.

Optionally, when a TV device implementing the above-described IP HEG application connects to a service, the application can configure the TV device to exchange secure information with the remote server that is supplying the service. The TV device implementing the application can prompt the viewer to provide unique identification information. The application will be passed to the service management system and, in response thereto, the service management system can issue a unique encrypted key to the TV device ( which will be stored thereon. Using this stored information, the application controls the TV device to manage access to services without the need for the viewer to identify themselves. This may enable the delivery of subscription or other access controlled services, without the need for conditional access devices or other equipment.

Optionally, when a TV device connects to a service using the above-described IP MHEG application, the application can configure the TV device so that the user can be securely identified over the system. This may be suitable for implementing a payment authentication gateway and for identifying the user to the payment authentication gateway. Information from the payment gateway may be presented to the viewer via the link established between the TV device and content provider by way of the IP MHEG application implemented by the TV device. The content provider may request information and feedback from the viewer via the link and this may allow the payment gateway to be used directly on the TV device for the purchase of content, the payment of subscriptions, or other transactions such as the purchase of items offered by a shopping channel using an payment authentication from the payment gateway presented back to the TV device implementing the IP MHEG application. A device implementing the above-described IP HEG application is operative to receive services by way of the system of the present invention. These services may allow a TV device to be configured to synchronise content to a live (or on demand) IP content stream that is being displayed by the TV device. This may be achieved by pushing time-based information onto the IP content delivered stream. This may allow a TV device to update instantly without the^' need to keep checking for updates. This mechanism can be used to present synchronised information to the TV device for display in real time for one or more of the following applications:

• "red-button" triggers (e.g. "Press RED now");

• live sports results;

• gaming services (i.e. betting on the outcome of a live or pre-recorded event);

• synchronised quiz functionality; and

• in-programme purchasing.

Fig. 7 illustrates a general overview of a process of data and/or information flow from broadcast of a broadcast MHEG application, to its reception by a TV device, the processes implemented when the broadcast MHEG application is received, the reporting of feedback from the TV device to an analysis manager, and to provision of a personalised presentation to the TV device in response to the feedback. It may be considered as a simplified view of the elements involved in the process illustrated in Fig. 6 and described in relation to that figure.

An IP MHEG application implemented by a TV device in the manner described in relation to Fig. 6 is operative to allow the TV device to identify when a unique user is logged-in to the TV device. The IP MHEG application can allow the TV device to collect data on the behaviour of the viewer in the services provided using one or more embodiments of the present invention, or in services of content providers using the services provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention. In addition, implementation of the IP MHEG application by the TV device may allow the TV device to present viewers with feedback forms, written in MHEG, which allowing those viewers to submit (using the user interface of the TV device) quantitative and/or qualitative feedback directly. The submitted feedback can be collated by the 00637

P540675WO

TV device and reported to the service management system (using the process described above in relation to Fig. 6).

Content owners may be able to use one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide selected viewers with access to content, controlled by access control, and to collect feedback and ratings from these viewers (such feedback and ratings being submitted directly through the TV device implementing the IP MHEG application). One or more embodiments of the present invention may allow particular content to be distributed to the TV devices of only those viewers who have completed a questionnaire presented to them via a display element of their TV device. The distribution of the content to those particular viewers may be controlled by access, control mechanisms.

It will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that one or more embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be implementable utilising programmable data-processing apparatus and other data-processing resources. Respective data-processing apparatus and associated processing resources may be located at different geographic locations within the communications system, for example centralised control of the system is likely to be at a different geographic location from individual broadcast TV receiver devices. Additionally or optionally, data-processing apparatus and associated processing resources for data streaming may also be located at a different geographic location from the controller for the communications system.

Insofar as embodiments of the invention described above are implementable, at least in part, using a software-controlled programmable processing device such as a general purpose processor or special-purposes processor, digital signal processor, microprocessor, or other processing device, data processing apparatus or computer system it will be appreciated that a computer program for configuring a programmable device, apparatus or system to implement the foregoing described methods, apparatus and system is envisaged as an aspect of the present invention. The computer program may be embodied as any suitable type of code, such as source code, object code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, such as MHEG OpenTV, Liberate, OCAP, MHP, Flash, HTML and associated languages, JavaScript, PHP, C, C++, Java, BASIC, Perl, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, JAVA, ActiveX, assembly language, machine code, and so forth. A skilled person would readily understand that term "computer" in its most general sense encompasses programmable devices such as referred to above, and data processing apparatus and computer systems.

Suitably, the computer program is stored on a carrier medium in machine readable form, for example the carrier medium may comprise memory, removable or nonremovable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Company Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD- RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) subscriber identity module, tape, cassette solid-state memory. The computer program may be supplied from a remote source embodied in the communications medium such as an electronic signal, radio frequency carrier wave or optical carrier waves. Such carrier media are also envisaged as aspects of the present invention.

As used herein any reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the "a" or "ah" are employed to describe elements and components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, broadcast over the air television includes both terrestrial transmission as well as satellite transmission.

Furthermore, an embodiment in accordance with the present invention may provide an IP application over a broadcast channel unrelated to content data but to provide access to other data services. Example, the other data services may include data collection on viewing behaviour or another service accessible over the addressable network.

Optionally or additionally, the IP application (MHEG or otherwise) may be resident on the TV device, for example within the EPG or elsewhere in the TV device.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed therein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all of the problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features during prosecution of this application or of any such further application derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specific combinations enumerated in the claims.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising a broadcast communications network and an addressable communications network, said communications system operative to link a broadcast TV channel to a data service deliverable over said addressable communications network, responsive to selection of a broadcast communications network channel.

2. A communications system according to claim 1 , wherein said data service is a content data service.

3. A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said content data service comprises a streaming channel for streaming content data such as video and/or music.

4. A communications system according to claim 3, wherein said content comprises broadcast TV content data.

5. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein selection of said channel is by entry of a channel number and/or selection of an entry in a channel list and/or an entry of an electronic program guide via a broadcast TV receiver device.

6. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said broadcast communications network is an over-the-air network.

7. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said system is operative transmit a link application with a TV broadcast signal over said broadcast communications network, said link application operative to communicate with said data service corresponding to said broadcast TV channel to direct said service data over said addressable communications network to said TV receiver device.

8. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said broadcast television receiver device is a television set or a set- top box.

9. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said addressable network comprises the Internet.

10. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is configured to display a message on an associated display screen indicative of the addressable network connectivity status of said device.

11. A communications system according to claim 10, wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is further configured to display a message on an associated display indicative of the need to have an addressable network connectable device responsive to determining the device does not have addressable network connectability.

12. A communications system according to claims 10 or 11 , wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is further configured to display a message on an associated display indicative of the need to connect the device to an addressable network responsive to determining that the device has addressable network connectivity but is not connected to said addressable network. 3. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, further operative to provide an online service for a user to enter preferences and/or personalisation data against a code for said broadcast TV receiver device and target messages for said broadcast TV receiver device by tagging said messages with said code in a broadcast TV signal, said device configured to extract messages tagged with said code from said broadcast TV signal. 14. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, further operative to provide an information exchange service over said addressable network via said broadcast TV receiver device and to provide a data store corresponding to said device.

15. A communications system according to claim 14, further operative to monitor channel selection via said broadcast TV receiver device for constructing a viewing habit profile corresponding to said device.

16. A communications system according to claim 5, further operative to identify respective users of said over-the-air broadcast TV receiver device and construct a viewing habit profile corresponding to said respective users.

17. A communications system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein said information exchange service is optional and invoked responsive to a user opt-in request.

18. A communications system according to any preceding claim, further operative to receive identity information corresponding to said broadcast TV receiver device, encrypt said identity information and transmit said encrypted identity information to said broadcast TV receiver device, said device configured to store said received encrypted identity information.

19. A communications system according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is further configured to automatically access said information exchange service using said encrypted identity information.

20. A communications system according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said information exchange service is configured to comprise a payment gateway.

21. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, further operative to synchronise said data service with a corresponding live TV broadcast signal and/or an on demand signal.

22. A communications system according to claim 21 , further configured to provide timing information relating to said live TV broadcast signal and/or on demand signal to said content data service for synchronising said content data service with said live TV broadcast signal and/or on demand signal.

23. A communications system according to any claim dependent on any of claims 14 to 17, wherein said information exchange service is configured to provide to said broadcast TV receiver device a feedback mechanism arranged to receive user input for collation by said system.

24. A communications system according to claim 3 or any of the preceding claims dependent on claim 3 wherein said broadcast TV content data comprises live or on demand streaming audio and/or video data.

25. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a broadcast TV receiver device operative to receive data, in particular content, via said system is operative, under influence of said communications system, to switch from a mode in which data, in particular content, is received via said broadcast communications network to another mode in which data, in particular content, is received via said addressable communications network dependent upon a predetermined and/or a monitored condition.

26. A communications system according to claim 25, wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is operative to receive data, in particular content, via said broadcast communications network and further wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined and/or a monitored condition, the broadcast TV receiver device is operative to send a request for data, in particular content, to a data, in particular content, provider via said addressable communications network

27. A communications system according to claim 25 or 26, wherein said broadcast TV receiver device is operative to switch between reception of content via broadcast communications network and reception of data, in particular content, via said addressable communications network according to time of day and/or service demand.

28. A communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said system is operative to configure a broadcast TV receiver device to report user interaction event data and/or broadcast TV receiver device location data to an analysis management module.

29. A service management module for a communications system according to any one of the preceding claims, said service management module operative to communicate, to a broadcast TV receiver device over said broadcast communications network, a broadcast application and configuration data for linking said broadcast TV channel with said data service.

30. A service management module according to Claim 29, operative to communicate said broadcast application and configuration data to a broadcast head-end for integration into a broadcast signal.

31. A service management module according to Claim 29 or 30, further operative to communicate, to a broadcast TV receiver device over said addressable communications network, an IP application and configuration data for enabling said broadcast TV receiver device to establish a communications link with said data service

32. A service management module according to Claim 31 , operative to communicate said IP application and configuration data to an IP application system.

33. A service management module according to Claim 32, wherein said IP application system is operative to transfer said IP application and configuration data to said broadcast TV receiver device responsive to a request from said broadcast TV receiver device.

34. A broadcast TV receiver device operative to receive data, in particular content, via a communications system according to any one of claims 1 to 28.

35. A broadcast TV receiver device according to claim 34, further operative to receive, from said service management module of claims 29 to 33, a broadcast application and configuration data for linking said broadcast TV channel with said data service and an IP application and configuration data for enabling said broadcast TV receiver device to establish a communications link with said data service.

36. A method of linking a broadcast TV channel to a data service deliverable over a addressable communications network, said link being established responsive to selection of a broadcast communications network channel.

37. A method according to claim 36, comprising: transmitting a link application with a TV broadcast signal over said broadcast communications network; receiving said link application at a TV receiver device and running said link application thereon; driving said TV receiver device to request, from a data service, delivery of service data over said addressable communications network to said TV receiver device; communicating requested service data responsive to said request.

38. A computer program comprising computer program elements operative in a computer processor to implement one or more, aspects of a communications system in accordance with claims 1-28, implement a service management module in accordance with claims 29-33, implement a broadcast TV receiver in accordance with claim 34 or claim 35 and/or implement a method in accordance with claim 36 or claim 37.