ES2358144B1 - TV RECEIVING INTERFACE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A television receiving interface (11) receives a compressed and broadcast transport stream from a digital audiovisual services operator (15), which comprises an audience recording unit (112) that responds to the reception of an activation signal from a selectable service, transported by the transport flow, capturing an identifier of the type of flow selected and initiating an account during the period of time that the flow is selected.

Description

different digital audiovisual information services

TV receiving interface.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an audience sampling method and device in a digital radio and television signal information broadcasting system. State of the art

The proliferation and demand by the general public of a multitude of digital information services associated with the diffusion of radio and multimedia television signals, implies providing the networks used to broadcast them and the end-user devices used to receive them, of adequate technical means for this purpose, ensuring quality parameters and their availability.

The audiovisual and information contents associated with radio and television services are produced or collected in a main source, where they are compressed, multiplexed and adapted to the transport network used to disseminate them. Digital information service providers provide audiovisual content to end users including, among other content: television and radio channels. Operators want to know the demand for the content provided by them.

For example, DVB digital television can be transmitted through different types of broadcast networks: satellite, cable, terrestrial broadcasting, etc. Each transmission system uses a diffusion scheme adapted to the transmission medium in question, but in all cases the compressed and multiplexed broadcast output signal corresponds to an MPEG-2 transport fl ow. The structure of the mentioned MPEG-2 transport fl ow is defined in the ISO / IEC 13818-1 standard.

The MPEG-2 transport stream transports multiplexed several audiovisual services over a radio frequency and / or satellite and / or IP and / or cable transport network. In the radio and television environment, the distribution network to the end user is usually the DTT terrestrial network, although not exclusively.

To assess the demand of a television channel

or radio selectable by an end user, the installation of specific audience measurement devices is required and, therefore, the channel selected by the end user can be known. The installation of such equipment requires the realization of a sample of final clients, the legal authorization provided by the laws prior to the authorization of the selected final clients, the installation of the audience measurement equipment and the collection of the acquired measurement data for the different digital information services.

The performance of the aforementioned work consumes high human and media resources, therefore, it would be necessary to perform these tasks more easily and with a lower overall cost. Description of the invention

The present invention seeks to solve or reduce one

or more of the drawbacks set forth above through a digital television receiver interface as defined in the claims.

An embodiment of the television receiving interface may receive a transport fl ow, which follows the patterns of a transporsual fl ow including television and radio channels, where each service comprises different combinations of types of fl ow specified by the DVB family for digital television, namely a video fl ow can carry videos related to a program, videos related to sign language associated with the previous video; an audio stream includes original audio streams, translated audio, audio description; a data fl ow includes DVB subtitling, teletext; An application fl ow includes accessibility applications to digital television, additional digital services such as video on demand, email, Internet, games; Interactive television service applications include accessibility services to digital television; a multimedia home platform application, multimedia home platform MHP; broadcast from an operator of digital audiovisual services.

The receiving interface comprises an audience recording unit that can receive a first signal to activate a flow corresponding to a service associated with a selectable channel of the set of services transported by the transport stream MPEG-2, and responds to the same generating registration data, including selected flow of the selectable service and time range during which the flow remains selected.

It should be noted that the selection of a channel by the final client implies that an audiovisual screen of the client can receive at least one main fl ow corresponding to the selectable channel and, where appropriate, a fl ow associated with said main fl ow. For example, a main video stream corresponding to a television channel itself and the audio stream associated therewith, by default.

However, the customer can define a user profile per selectable audiovisual service, so that when this service is selected, the corresponding flows associated with the stored profile are transmitted to the audiovisual screen.

The television receiving interface, as it has received the activation or selection signal of a channel, responds to the same signal, transmitting an output signal, corresponding to the flow or selected flows of the selectable service, towards an audiovisual screen so that it can be shown in the same.

A second activation signal can be received, in the same way by the television receiving interface and the recording unit, to select a type of fl ow other than some previous fl ow selected, for example, an auxiliary audio fl ow corresponding to an audio other than the original of the selected video stream. The recording unit generates data of the selection made by the end customer, selected audio stream and time range of the selection. In turn, the receiving interface responds by transmitting an output signal associated with the selected audio fl ow to the audiovisual screen.

Consequently, the audiovisual screen simultaneously reproduces the selected video and an audio associated with it.

If the subscriber makes a new selection, by means of an activation signal, relative to an additional fl ow of the DVB subtitle fl ow type, which can be displayed in addition to other already selected fl ow.

The audience record unit generates data related to the consumption, selected flow and time range of the selection, of the different flows provided by a digital audiovisual information service and disseminated as an MPEG-2 transport fl ow.

The recorded audience data corresponding to each type of flow selected by the viewer can be stored in a data storage unit internal and / or external to the receiving interface, and / or can be transmitted through a return channel, established between the receiving interface and an authorized audience manager and trained for the collection of data records, so that control and consumption or audience analysis tasks can be carried out for each flow of a service selectable by the final customers of different suppliers of digital audiovisual information services.

Among the storable and / or transferable data, you can find data from each end user's profile. The profile contains information that allows the user to be typified in terms of age, audiovisual preferences, type of disability: auditory, visual, physical or cognitive, and other similar parameters.

An advantage of the above is that, in order to control the audience of each type of flow of a selectable digital information service, it is avoided to have to carry out a process of selecting a subset of final subscribers from the total set of the audience, and installation in the home of the subset of selected subscribers of particularized equipment to provide data on the audiences of each of the services selectable by the end users.

The subscriber must give his authorization for the collection of his audience data in accordance with current legislation.

Another embodiment of the receiving interface includes an air interface unit communicable with different types of devices including, in turn, the corresponding air interface unit, so that an executable application can be downloadable in said devices to adapt them to an operation such as remote control unit or remote control for the operation of the subscriber's own television receiver interface and the audience record unit.

The foregoing has the advantage of facilitating the use of different types of devices as a remote control in case the subscriber is familiar with the use of the same, improving the subscriber's experience with digital information services such as DVB digital television.

For example, a portable telephony terminal can be used as a remote control in the event that an executable application is downloaded from the television receiving interface using BLUETOOTH technology.

In summary, the television receiving interface can measure the audience of different types of flows, which have an activated end user, of a selectable audiovisual service transported by an MPEG-2 transport stream, that is, the audience recording unit is capable of registering the identifier of the selected fl ow type of a selectable audiovisual service broadcast in MPEG-2 transport fl ow mode, independently and at different time points.

Brief description of the fi gures

A more detailed explanation of one embodiment is given in the following description based on the attached figures in which:

Figure 1 shows in a block diagram a receiving interface according to one embodiment, and

Figure 2 shows in a block diagram flow types comprised within an audiovisual service according to the invention. Embodiment of the invention

In relation to Figure 1, a television receiving interface 11, such as a set-top box, can receive a broadcast stream broadcast from a television operator 15 that transmits digital audiovisual information services provided by various television service providers 16 and digital radio and related services through a transport network 12.

The transport stream disseminated by the operator 15 transports several compressed and multiplexed digital audiovisual channels or services, each comprising the same types of data packet streams, types of streams specified by the DVB family of protocols for digital television, Figure 2.

For example, an audiovisual service may comprise a video stream or none, at least one audio stream, at least one stream of data such as DVB subtitles and others, at least one application stream that transport data relating to services such as services of accessibility for subscribers who have a disability, etc.

The signal received by the receiving interface 11 is decompressed by an input-output unit 111 that decompresses the received signal and supplies, in one of its outputs, the selected fl ows, by default, corresponding to the audiovisual service selectable by the final subscriber that has previously issued an activation or selection signal of at least one type of a service selectable by a remote control unit 13.

The selection made is also received directly and / or through the input-output unit 111 by an audience registration unit 112, which records the identifier of the type of flow selected and associated with the selectable digital information service, and initiates an account of the time range in which the selection is active.

When the client deactivates a selection made, the registration unit 112 stops counting and a new data record associated with a new selected flow begins, if applicable. It should be noted that the selection of a type of data fl ow does not always deactivate a previously selected data fl ow. Consequently, the registration unit 112 can perform several data records simultaneously and independently of one another.

The selection of a main video stream may be associated with the simultaneous activation of a default audio stream. For example, a fl ow associated with the original language of the same and a later period of time, the viewer makes the selection of an audio fl ow associated with a language other than the original. Therefore, the video fl ow record continues to increase the time count, while a data record relative to the original audio fl ow stops and a data record relative to the audio fl ow other than the original of the video begins.

Another example of the above occurs when an audio fl ow containing the audio description, which is a communication support service comprising a set of techniques and skills applied in order to compensate for the lack of capture of the visual part contained in any type of message , providing adequate audible information that translates or explains it, so that a possible visually impaired receiver perceives that message as a harmonic whole and in the most similar way as a person who sees it perceives.

Audio description is understood as an independent soundtrack that can be selected by a viewer and that describes the characters, the sets and the key actions in order to make blind people intelligible the context in which the dialogues are developed.

It can also be a data fl ow or an application of the MHP application type of subtitling to support communication that is transmitted to an audiovisual screen 14, being able to display text and graphics, sound information that is produced in any audiovisual work. Subtitling is understood as a transcript of the dialogues, music and sound effects, presented on the audiovisual screen simultaneously with the sound, visible at the viewer's discretion.

A subscriber can act on the remote control 13, for example, by pressing a key corresponding to an alphanumeric keypad thereof to select a selectable service and also a service fl ow. In the event that the selectable service comprises different types of additional flows, or an additional data or audio flow, the viewer can activate a flow associated with an accessibility application, such as subtitling, audio description, etc., by pressing. on the corresponding remote control key.

Each of the signals emitted by the remote control 13, are received at the receiving interface 11 and the recording unit 112 so that the television interface 11 transmits the selected channel to the audiovisual screen 14, starting the recording unit 112 a take of a data record associated with the selected fl ow / s.

The registration unit 112 includes a processing unit 113 that executes an executable program whose execution collects the data records associated with the data streams selected by the end customer and associated with a selectable digital information service transported by the MPEG transport stream -2. The data records include control data related to the selections made, duration of each of the selections made, user profile.

The recording unit may transmit said data records to an internal and / or external storage unit 114 of the registration unit 112, internal and / or external to the receiving interface 11 and / or, through a return channel, to a management unit 17 independent of the operator and / or the service provider, and / or dependent on the operator and / or the digital information service provider or the entity in charge of collecting the audience data. Accessibility services can be distributed in several ways: through a data fl ow in the form of subtitles, teletext or DVB-Sub, an audio fl ow that transports audio description, interactive MHP applications. The processor 113 of the registration unit 112 governs the transmission of the data records and, where appropriate, can generate audience statistics by transmitting them to the authorized manager 17, which once the audience records of a set of final users have been received , can compile and provide global statistics, that is, audience data of the channel and of the concrete fl ows within the channel.

Therefore, the registration unit 112 can account for which digital information service is selected and, in turn, which channel flows are selected, for example, identifier of the main and / or additional data flow individually and / or simultaneously, time range during which each type of selected flow is activated.

In summary, the manager 17 can analyze the audience of the audiovisual information services, which include accessibility services, used by the set of viewers.

The subscriber acting on the remote control 13 can activate and / or deactivate each type of data fl ow associated with a selectable service, data being collected from the selections made by the registration unit.

The receiving interface 11 includes an air interface unit 115 that can communicate with fixed and / or portable communication devices 13 such as a mobile telephone terminal, a desktop computer, a laptop, etc., so that the end user can use any type of device, including an air interface unit, as a remote control unit 13 to select, change and operate the television receiving interface and / or the audience recording unit, after downloading from the receiving interface of a Executable execution program on the communications device.

For example, a mobile telephone terminal 13 may be used, to interact as a control unit with the receiving interface 11, by the previous viewer downloading BLUETOOTH of the corresponding executable program from the receiving television interface.

The download of the execution program to operate the mobile terminal 13 as a control unit can be ordered by acting on the remote control and interacting on an application menu shown on the display screen. The processor 113 of the registration unit 112 executes an application associated with the executable menu so that the receiving interface 11 shows the same within the application screen.

The audience measurement procedure can be performed by a computer, loadable within an internal memory of a computer with input and output units and, also, with processor units.

The computer program comprises for this purpose codes configured to execute the steps of the above process when it is executed by the computer. In addition, executable codes can be recorded on a carrier medium readable within a computer.

Claims (9)

one.

A television receiving interface that can receive a stream of compressed and broadcast transport from a digital audiovisual services operator (15); characterized in that the receiving interface (11) comprises an audience registration unit (112) that responds to the reception of an activation signal of a selectable service, transported by the transport fl ow, capturing an identifier of the type of flow selected and initiating an account for the period of time that the flow is selected.

2.

Receiving interface according to claim 1; characterized in that the recording unit (112) can store the registration data collected from each type of selected flow in at least one storage unit (114).

3.

Receiving interface according to claim 1 or 2; characterized because the registration unit

(112) can transmit the registration data collected from each type of selected flow to a managing medium (17) collection of global audience data records. 4. Receiving interface according to any of claims 1 to 3; characterized in that the receiving interface comprises an air interface unit (115) that can communicate with different types of devices (13) that also include air interface units, an executable application being downloadable in said devices (13) configuring them as a control unit a distance from the television receiving interface (11).

5.

Receiving interface according to claim 4; characterized in that the device (13) that includes the air interface acting as a control unit transmits a selection activation signal of a digital audiovisual service transported by the transport fl ow.

6.

Receiving interface according to claim 5; characterized in that the device (13) acting as a control unit can be a portable telephone terminal, a desktop computer, a portable computer, etc.

7.

An audience registration unit connectable to a television receiving interface (11) that can receive a compressed and broadcast transport stream from a digital audiovisual services operator (15); characterized in that the audience registration unit (112) responds to the reception of an activation signal of a selectable service, transported by the transport fl ow, capturing an identifier of the selected flow type and initiating an account for the period of time that the flow is selected.

8.

A computer program may be loadable into an internal memory of a computer with input, output units and a processing unit, where the computer program comprises executable codes configured to collect the identification data of the selected flows and time ranges of activation of each selected fl ow of a selected digital audiovisual service when executed by the computer.

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200930882 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 21.10.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: H04H60 / 00 (2008.01) H04N7 / 24 (2011.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

EP 1361759 A1 (CANAL & TECHNOLOGIES SA) 12/11/2003, 1-8

paragraphs [90,91,93,163,197]; Figure 1.

TO

WO 0011865 A1 (SONY ELECTRONICS INC) 02/03/2000, 1-8

figure 4.

TO

US 2009013356 A1 (DOERR MICHAEL B ET AL.) 01/08/2009, 1-8

paragraphs [9,23,66,320,334,354,454,455].

TO

US 2007162927 A1 (RAMASWAMY ARUN ET AL.) 07/12/2007, 1-8

paragraphs [40 -42.45 -47.49.53.56]; figure 1A.

TO

US 2006171474 A1 (RAMASWAMY ARUN ET AL.) 08/03/2006, 1-8

paragraphs [29,30,32,36-38]; figure 7.

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 14.07.2011

Examiner B. Pérez García Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 200930882 Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) H04H, H04N Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI, INSPEC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930882 Date of the Written Opinion: 14.07.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-8 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-8 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930882 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

EP 1361759 A1 (CANAL & TECHNOLOGIES SA) 12.11.2003

D02

WO 0011865 A1 (SONY ELECTRONICS INC) 02.03.2000

D03

US 2009 013356 A1 (DOERR MICHAEL B et al.) 08.01.2009

D04

US 2007162927 A1 (RAMASWAMY ARUN et al.) 12.07.2007

D05

US 2006171474 A1 (RAMASWAMY ARUN et al.) 03.08.2006

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The state of the art document closest to the invention is D01. Following the wording of claim 1, D01 describes a television receiving interface (512 + 2000) that can receive a compressed transport stream (MPEG-2) and broadcast from an operator (1000) of digital audiovisual services; characterized in that the receiving interface (512 + 2000) comprises an audience register unit (3120) that responds to the reception of an activation signal of a selectable service, transported by the transport stream, capturing an identifier of selected flow and initiating an account thereof during the period of time that the flow is selected. (See paragraph 197). However, there is a significant difference between D01 and the first claim. In D01, the audience record stores information about all types of streams that are received / selected, while in the request the record is made separately for each type of data. The technical effect of this difference is that different types of data streams (audio, video, subtitles, a specific language, etc.) are registered differently. In this way, the TV operator will be able to obtain information on which applications (audio, video, subtitles, teletext ...) they prefer to receive their viewers and for which programs and broadcasting times. The objective technical problem is how to perform this differentiated registration depending on the type of data that the user is receiving. No documents have been found in the state of the art, to help solve this problem. In the light of the documents found, the application is considered to bring novelty and inventive activity to the current state of the art, according to articles 6 and 8 of the Spanish Patent Law. State of the Art Report Page 4/4