WO2015011733A2

WO2015011733A2 - Tele-viewer interactive tv show

Info

Publication number: WO2015011733A2
Application number: PCT/IN2014/000493
Authority: WO
Inventors: S Narayanan
Original assignee: S Narayanan
Priority date: 2013-07-26
Filing date: 2014-07-25
Publication date: 2015-01-29
Also published as: WO2015011733A3

Abstract

A system and method to interact with the telecasted television content in real time using a user's telecommunication device is provided. The television content includes a typical television program and an interactive program which is broadcasted from the television station. A tele-interactive controller is positioned between the television station and a telecommunication service provider system. The tele-interactive controller is configured to receive a first access code from the user and connects the user with the television station. Further, the tele-interactive controller also configured to receive at least one of the one or more second access code and controls the operation of the interactive program broadcasted from the television station

Description

TELE-VIEWER INTERACTIVE TV SHOW FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of broadcasting an interactive television program and more particularly relates to a system and method for interacting with television program through a telecommunication device in real time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Television is certainly one of the most influential forces of our time. Through the device called a television set or TV, you are able to receive news, sports, entertainment, information and commercials. The television broadcasting industry, comprising television channels, continues to remain an attractive mode of entertainment because of its reach and penetration. In the current scenario, fragmentation of viewership ratings and excess capacity are forcing general entertainment channels (GECs) to incur high content and distribution costs to stay competitive even as fragmentation of advertisement revenues and the high costs are pushing up the breakeven levels. However, television has remained a one-way experience for the viewer, wherein viewers do not have the opportunity or ability to interact with the content of a television broadcast. Due to heavy competition the channels are looking for innovative ideas to attract viewership. Many recent prior art television based systems have attempted to address the need for interactivity between television and its viewers. The prior art television system telecasts the quiz and/or questions in the broadcasting content. The users can individually answer questions related to a television broadcast using Short Message Service (SMS) or some other means, and receive information as to the accuracy of their answers. The SMS received from all users stored in the centralized server and it performs the validation of the answers. Finally after some time period, the winner and the answers to the question broadcasted along with the television program. The user needs to wait until the server consolidation and validation of answers to know the end results. Hence, the interactivity of the television content is not happening in real-time and user cannot experience the interactivity in real-time. [0003] More recently, television-integrated Web access has become known in the art. This TV system uses Internet Protocol to deliver the broadcasting content (i.e. the typical TV program content) to the users. Those interactive TV systems allows user to interact with the broadcasting content in real-time. For example, the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) deliver the typical broadcasting content to the user along with some interactive content to experience the interactivity in real-time. However, this kind of TV system requires a high speed internet connection to perform interaction with the interactive content.

[0004] Accordingly there is a need in that art to provide a solution to one or more of above said problems. The present invention solves one or more of these problems in a unique and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a system which substantially overcomes the one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to present the system and method for providing interactive television program. Further, the method allows user to interact with broadcasting television program using a telecommunication device in real time.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to make the television content more interactive by making the viewers/users participate and control the television content through a telecommunication device. This will create more interest among the viewers to be a part of the show. In normal shows there will be few participants in the studio. This invention will make all the viewers as virtual participants. This invention will allow the viewers to actively participate in the television content. For example kids can play video game which is getting telecasted live in TV, with other viewers as competitors using their phone or any other device. The phone or the device will be connected to the "Interactive tele-controller" which will in turn pass the inputs to the games and the "Interactive tele-controller" will give the input to the TV Telecast interface. Similarly any program can be made interactive using this invention.

[0008] The interactive television system includes a television station which telecast a typical television program to the users, a telecommunication service provider system and a tele-interactive controller which is located between the telecommunication service provider system and the television station. The tele-interactive controller may be integrated within the television station. The telecommunication service provider system allots a first access code to the tele-interactive controller, so that the user can communicate with the tele-interactive controller by dialling the first access code in his/her telecommunication device. The tele- interactive controller stores one or more interactive programs and one or more second access code, a predefined time interval corresponds to each of the one or more interactive programs. Further, the one or more second access code is displayed along with the interactive program and the tele-interactive controller receives at least one or more second access code from the telecommunication device and controls the interactive program.

[0009] In the first embodiment of the invention, the television station broadcasts the television content by combining the interactive program along with the television program. In this embodiment, a television screen displays the television program and the interactive program in two portions. The typical television program is normally telecasted from the television station and the interactive program is controlled by the tele-interactive controller based on one or more second access code received from the user.

[0010] In the second embodiment of the invention, the television station broadcasts the television content. In this embodiment, a television screen displays the television program and the television program user tele-caller show. The tele-caller show is hosted by an anchor the call received from the user is routed to the television station through the telecommunication service provider system. The anchor switches the tele-caller show to the interactive program. Upon receiving the confirmation from the anchor, the tele-interactive controller broadcast the interactive program to the user through the television station. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0011] The advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings given as non-restrictive examples only and in which:

[0012] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an interactive television system employing a television station and a telecommunication service provider system in accordance to the preferred embodiment herein; ^!r

[0013] Figure 2 is a flow diagram which illustrates a method for telecasting an interactive television content using the interactive television system of the figure 1 in accordance to one embodiment herein;

[0014] Figures 3A-3C illustrates a screenshots the TV screen according to the first embodiment of the invention; and

[0015] Figures 4A-4B illustrates a screenshots of the TV screen according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A system and method for providing an interactive television program in real-time using a telecommunication device is described herein.

[0017] The following description is of exemplary embodiment of the invention only, and is not limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the structural/operational features described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth herein. It should be appreciated that the description herein may be adapted to be employed with alternatively configured devices having different shaped, components, and the like and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an interactive television system 100 employing a television station 102 and a telecommunication service provider system 104 in accordance to the preferred embodiment herein. The interactive television system 100 includes a tele-interactive controller 106 which is positioned between the television station 102 and the telecommunication service provider system 104. In one embodiment, the tele- interactive controller 106 is integrated within the television station 102. The television station 102 broadcasts a television content to the one or more users 108 of the television channel. The television content includes a television program 110, a first access code 112 and an interactive program 114. The television program 110 is a typical program includes but not limited to movie, a drama, a comedy clips and a telecaller shows. The first access code 112 is a number which is allocated to the television station 102 or the tele-interactive controller 106 by the telecommunication service provider system 104. The first access code 112 is include but not limited to 10 digit mobile phone number or landline number or toll free number. The interactive program 114 is a program which requires an input from the users 108 via the telecommunication service provider system 104. The first access code 112 allows the user to communicate with the interactive television system. The television content is displayed as three portions (i.e. three sections) 116A-C in a television screen 118 of the user. A first portion 116A of the television screen 118 displays the television program 110, a second portion 116B of the television screen 118 displays the first access code 112, and a third section 116C of the television screen 118 displays the interactive program 114. The third section 116C of the television program also displays one or more second access code 120 and at least one of personal information 122 related to the user 108. The interactive program 114 is controlled based on the one or more second access code 120 received from the user 108 through the telecommunication service provider system 106. The user 108 has a telecommunication device 124 which includes but not limited to mobile phone, a phone with dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) keypad (i.e. land-line phone) and IP phone. The telecommunication device 124 facilitates the user 108 to interact with the interactive television system 100.

[0019] Figure 2 is a flow diagram 200 which illustrates a method for telecasting an interactive television program using the interactive television system 100 of the figure 1 in accordance to one embodiment herein. In step 202, the television content is broadcasted from the television station 102. The television content includes at least two of a typical TV program 110, a first access code 112, an interactive program 114, one or more second access code 120 and a predefined time interval 122. In step 204, the television content is displayed in the TV screen 118 of the user in one or more sections. In step 206, a tele-interactive controller 106 receives the call is from the user 108 when the user 108 dials the first access code 112 from his/her telecommunication device 124. In step 208, the tele-interactive controller 106 connects the call to the television station 102. In step 210, the one or more second access code 120, the predefined time interval 126 and the interactive program 114 is displayed in the TV screen 118 upon the call connected to the television station 102. In step 212, the interactive program 114 is controlled based on the one or more second access code 120 received from the user's telecommunication device 124. In step 214, the call is disconnected by the tele-interactive controller 106 upon the predefined time interval 122 is lapsed.

[0020] Figures 3A-3C illustrates a screenshots the TV screen 118 according to the first embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment of the invention, the television station 102 broadcasts the television content which comprises the television program 110, the first access code 112 and the interactive program 114. For example, the television program 110 is a drama, the first access code 112 is toll free number i.e. 18001033335 and the interactive program 114 is a jumping car game. As shown in the figure 3 A, the first section 116A of the television screen 118 displays the television program 110, the second section 116B displays the first access code 112 and the third section 116C displays the jumping car game 114. The user 108 dials the toll free number from his/her telecommunication device 124 such as mobile phone. The call from user's mobile phone 124 is routed to the tele- interactive controller 106 through the telecommunication service provider system 104. The tele-interactive controller 106 connects the call and displays the at least one of the personal information 122 such as phone number and/or the image of the user 108 in the third section 116C of the TV screen 118. In one embodiment, the phone number and image is obtained from the telecommunication service provider system 104. In another embodiment, the telephone number and the image is stored in the tele-interactive controller 106 when the user 108 is already registered with the interactive television system. The tele-interactive controller 106 also displays one or more second access codes 120 in the third section 116C of the TV screen 118. For example, the one or more second access code 120 includes "010" for start and "154" for jump. The tele-interactive controller 106 also displays the predefined time interval 126 (e.g. 60 sec) in the third section 116C. The tele-interactive controller 106 receives at least one of the one or more second access code 120 and controls the interactive program 114 based on the user input (i.e. second access code). For example, the user 108 press "010" in the mobile phone 124 then the tele-interactive controller 106 starts the jumping car game 114 as well as it starts the decreasing the predefined interval 126 sequentially by one. If the user 108 press "154" in the mobile phone 124, then the car displayed in the third section 116C jumps. The tele-interactive controller 106 automatically disconnects the call when the predefined interval 126 become lapsed (i.e. it become zero). The tele-interactive controller 106 also configured to calculate the score of the user based on the user operation done in the interactive program 114.

[0021] Figures 4A-4B illustrates a screenshots of the TV screen 118 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment of the invention, the television station 102 broadcasts the television content which comprises the television program 110 and the first access code 112. For example (as shown in figure 4 A), the television program 110 is a user choice where an anchor is hosting the program, the first access code 112 is toll free number i.e. 18001033335 and the interactive program 114 is a shooting game. As shown in the figure 4A, the first section 116A of the television screen 118 displays the television program 110 and the second section 116B displays the first access code 112. The user 108 dials the toll free number from his/her telecommunication device 124 such as mobile phone. The call from user's mobile phone 124 is routed to the tele-interactive controller 106 through the telecommunication service provider system 104. The tele- interactive controller 106 connects the call and displays the at least one of the personal information 122 such as phone number or the image of the user in the new screen. In one embodiment, the phone number and image is obtained from the telecommunication service provider system 104. In another embodiment, the telephone number and the image is stored in the tele-interactive controller 106 when the user 108 is already registered with the interactive television system. The user 108 is communicating with the anchor 402 for some time and requesting the anchor 402 to display the interactive program 114. Upon receiving the confirmation from the anchor 402, the tele-interactive controller 106 displays the interactive program 114 in full TV screen 108 along with the one or more second access code 120 and a predefined time interval 124. For example, the interactive program 114 is the shooting program and the one or more second access 120 includes "011" for start, "159" for left, "258" for right, "897" for straight, "963" for down and "624" for up. Similarly the predefined timer interval 124 is 60 seconds or more than that. The direction of a riffle displayed in the interactive program 114 is controlled based on the second access code 120 received from the user 108. The tele-interactive controller 106 automatically disconnects the call when the predefined interval 124 become lapsed (i.e. it become zero).

[0022] In third embodiment of the invention, the television content may be broadcasted to the users using TCP/ Internet protocol (IP) through broadband network. The user viewing the television content using the display device such as television, laptop and computer which is having broadband (i.e. internet) connection. Further, the telecommunication device such as mobile phone is embedded with the specialized application to perform an interaction operation with the television content.

[0023] The present invention facilitates user to interact with the telecasted television content in real time using the telecommunication device. The system and method described herein allows the user to experience the real time interaction with the television content (which includes the typical television program and the interactive program) which is broadcasted from the television station. The tele-interactive controller is configured to receive the first access code from the user and connects the user with the television station. Further, the tele-interactive controller also configured to receive at least one of the one or more second access code and controls the operation of the interactive program broadcasted from the television station. [0024] Embodiments of the present invention also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may be a general purpose computer system selectively programmed by a computer program stored in the computer system. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, other type of machine-accessible storage media, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, each coupled to a computer system bus.

[0025] The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear as set forth in the description below. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein.

[0026] It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be recognized that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for interacting with a television (TV) content in a real time using a telecommunication device comprising the steps of:

broadcasting, from a television station, said television content to a user of a television channel, wherein said television content comprises a television program, a first access code, an interactive program, and said first access code is a number;

displaying said television content in a television screen of said user in a plurality of sections, wherein a first section displays said television program, a second section displays said first access code, and a third section displays said interactive program;

receiving a call from said user, when said user dials said first access code in his/her telecommunication device;

connecting said call to said television station through a tele-interactive controller; displaying a plurality of second access code and said interactive program in said third section;

receiving at least one of said plurality of second access code from said user via said telecommunication device; and

controlling, by said tele-interactive controller, said interactive program based on said second access code received from said user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: displaying at least one of a personal information of said user in said third section, wherein said personal information comprises an identity number of said telecommunication device an image of said user, wherein said identity number and said image is obtained from a telecommunication service provider system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said image of said user is obtained from said tele-interactive controller when said user is a registered user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunication device is a mobile phone or a phone with a dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) keypad or an IP phone.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first access code is allocated to said television station or said tele-interactive controller by a telecommunication service provide system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of second access code is a number.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving said second access code for a predefined time interval, wherein said predefined interval is also displayed in said third section of said television screen; and disconnecting, by said tele-interactive controller, said call automatically when said predefined time interval is lapsed.

8. A method for interacting with a television (TV) content in real time using a telecommunication device comprising the steps of:

broadcasting, from a television station, a television content to a user of a television channel, wherein said television content comprises at least two of a television program, a first access code, an interactive program, and said first access code is an number;

displaying said television content in a television screen of said user in a plurality of sections, a first section displays said first access code and a second section displays said television program; receiving a call from an user when said user dials said first access code in his/her telecommunication device; connecting said call to said television station through a tele-interactive controller; broadcasting, by said tele-interactive controller, a plurality of second access code and said interactive program in said television screen; receiving at least one of said plurality of second access code from said user; and controlling, by said tele-interactive controller, said interactive program based on said second access code received from said user.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said television program is hosted by an anchor and said tele-interative controller is configured to receive input from said anchor and to broadcast said interactive program and said plurality of second access code to said user for a predefined interval.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

receiving said second access code for said predefined time interval, wherein said predefined interval is also displayed in said television screen; and disconnecting, by said tele-interactive controller, said call automatically when said predefined time interval is lapsed.