WO2003024107A1 - Method and service paltform for a digital television system - Google Patents

Method and service paltform for a digital television system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003024107A1
WO2003024107A1 PCT/FI2002/000724 FI0200724W WO03024107A1 WO 2003024107 A1 WO2003024107 A1 WO 2003024107A1 FI 0200724 W FI0200724 W FI 0200724W WO 03024107 A1 WO03024107 A1 WO 03024107A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
server
receiver
terminal
information
program
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2002/000724
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Toni Leiponen
Mikko Karppinen
Marko PÖHÖ
Lari KÄRKKÄINEN
Original Assignee
Icareus Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FI20011801A external-priority patent/FI20011801A0/en
Priority claimed from FI20012542A external-priority patent/FI20012542A0/en
Application filed by Icareus Oy filed Critical Icareus Oy
Priority to EP02758493A priority Critical patent/EP1438857A1/en
Publication of WO2003024107A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003024107A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
    • H04N21/4433—Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/414—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
    • H04N21/4147—PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
    • H04N21/4227—Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/433—Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
    • H04N21/4334—Recording operations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47214—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6181—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via a mobile phone network
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Definitions

  • the invention is concerned with a digital television system and a method for providing/using services in a digital television system.
  • the digital television digi-TV
  • the digital television provides considerably more programs than the actual analog television. At the same time it becomes more and more difficult to find the right program. It is also troublesome to find right and diversified services for the digital television if they are spread over several different television channels and content providers.
  • the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard creates tools and mechanisms for fitting together different networks, devices and systems so that services based on content and the service content could be delivered to the consumer.
  • the DVB standards are published by the European Telecommunication Standard (ETSI) and in the DVB standards are made in co-operation by ETSI, the Centre for Electrotechnical Standards (CENELEC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
  • ETSI European Telecommunication Standard
  • CENELEC Centre for Electrotechnical Standards
  • EBU European Broadcasting Union
  • the Multimedia Home Platform defines a general interface between interactive digital applications and terminals, wherein these applications are used. These interfaces distinguish applications of different providers from the hardware and software details of different MHP terminal implementations. This enables the production of platform independent applications for different terminals, including set- top boxes, integrated digital TV-devices and multimedia-PCs.
  • the MHP is used together with the DVB standards for broadcasting and interactive services in all broadcasting networks including satellites, cable and microwave systems.
  • the MHP supports different applications, for example Electronic Program Guides (EPG), information services, applications, which often are synchronised to the TV content etc.
  • EPG Electronic Program Guides
  • Other corresponding middleware systems are for example OpenTV and Mediahighway.
  • the softwares provide often interfaces, i.e. Application Program Interfaces (APIs), through witch they can be used.
  • APIs Application Program Interfaces
  • middleware systems For example MHP applications can use service platforms, such as a set-top box, via the MHP-API interfaces.
  • MHP-MHP is one middleware system.
  • Other DigiTV Middleware systems are for example OpenTV and Mediahighway.
  • the middleware systems provide useful tools for performing interactivity, e.g. for broadcasting and interactive broadcasting profiles of MHP.
  • the broadcasting profile is meant for broadcasting (one-way) services, whereas the interactive broadcasting profile furthermore supports interactive services and can thus use internet by means of MHP.
  • Profile means in this connection a group of different functions.
  • the Application Programming Interface is a program interface, through which the applications according to the MHP specification use the service platform.
  • the DVB- MHP specification is a technical specification, which becomes an ETSI-specification. OpenTV and Mediahighway are closed specifications made by private companies.
  • the first digital television receivers based on DVB-MHP standards have already become to the consumer market.
  • the remote control becomes an interesting application area, as these devices will substitute VHS video recorders in the future and change the television watching habits of people. It is believed that interactive services will make the television, Internet and the mobile world closer to each other. It is impossible to make use of these possibilities without the right tools in view of the consumer.
  • Interactive television applications typically work in the receiver of the user, in a so called set-top box.
  • Examples of interactive television applications are interactive television program guides, e-mail, TV-network browsers, games etc.
  • An interactive television application system is known from WO-publication 00/78050, wherein DigiTV functions between the user and the television receiver is controlled by a handheld device.
  • the interactive television application can for example contain information connected to television programs, such as television program guides etc.
  • the handheld device can for example be a touchable remote screen, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, or the like.
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • the user can use interactive television application functions by means of the handheld device, such as different interactive program guides to be used, program guides based on the Internet and printed program guides remotely via the Internet or when watching television programs. It, however, does not provide solutions with which recordings and reminders can be installed by using a mobile terminal.
  • the handheld device can for example have a LCD screen or a two-way interface.
  • the interface can continuously collect TV information in order to list that and save the information in a local memory. It can also fetch advertisements in the normal use of the device.
  • the first screen can for example contain a main menu, containing interactive advertisements.
  • One issue in the menu can be a television guide.
  • the guide function e.g. the main menu of the guide appears having lists of programs etc.
  • the device By selecting some issue in the list, the device might present a description of a program.
  • the advertisements can for example be connected to programs, whereby more information about them can be received by selecting them, and reminders and other functions can be saved.
  • the handheld device can contain many properties of an interactive program guide, such as timewise listings, channelwise listings, cathegorywise favourite channels etc.
  • the user can install reminders and get them on the screen in the device or record programs. Furthermore, the user can group programs in the desired way.
  • the object of the invention is a solution for remote control of the functions of a digital television receiver with different terminals.
  • the invention provides a service platform and a method for a digital television receiver, which contains a server, a receiver and a terminal. There is a connection between the receiver and the terminal that works via the server.
  • the terminal is a mobile terminal such as a mobile device, a laptop, a portable telephone or a fixed terminal, such as a computer
  • the receiver has a program, a so called client program, that uses a return channel and which has installed new information fetched to the receiver from the server, the new information having come to the server from the terminal via the new connection and/or it has information installed in the digital receiver.
  • the information is fetched to the receiver by means of software installed in it. The information can come to the receiver also together with the program stream.
  • connection between the terminal and the server can be an interactive Internet connection or a radio link.
  • the method of the invention is primarily used for reminding of for recording of TV- programs.
  • the reminders are sent to the e-mail address of the consumer and/or to the mobile phone.
  • the user registers himself in advance and defines his e-mail address and his phone number.
  • the reminders can also be seen in Internet and at the receiver, when necessary.
  • the services are provided/used by means of menus, which appear on the screen of the terminal/receiver.
  • the menus in turn consist of different links, where recordings and reminders installed in the digital receiver can be studied.
  • the services are also used via text messages.
  • the services are used for recording of programs by sending a message from the terminal in order to record a desired program to the server, by identifying at the server, the sender of the message sent by means of the phone number or the identity, by saving the data of the message sent by the sender in the user database, by fetching the data of the message from the server to the digital television receiver and by identifying and recording the program to be recorded in the digital television receiver.
  • the message sent is a short message sent from the mobile device and/or a message from a www-page sent via Internet.
  • a reminder of a program to be watched is sent from the user terminal at desired time intervals until the program starts on the screen of the digital televisio reciever.
  • the consumer can install reminders, program recordings and administer program information also via the public Internet network or by means of mobile terminals.
  • the consumer is bound to the set-up box or DigiTV enabled by the digital television at home or to a close distance handheld device and for recording purposes, the consumers have directly used a video recorder.
  • the reminder and recording functions are used as a part of the device manufacturer or national EPG, etc.
  • One possibility to perform the invention is by means of the digi-tv-standard DVB-MHP and the programming language is e.g. Java.
  • the system is divided into three parts, in the set-top component (client program), the Internet component and the mobile component.
  • the components are combined by a common server, which is in the common Internet. All data between the different components goes always via the server.
  • the server also maintains user information and TV-program information.
  • the set-top box components synchronise its information with the server within delays installed by the consumer by using for example the return channel between the set-top box and the server. By means of this synchronisations it is also possible for the consumer to use the mobile terminal in order to control the installation also in the set-top box.
  • the server works as a passage between the different components and maintains information about that there always is the same information in all component for use.
  • the set-top box component installed in the set-top box or the digi-tv of the consumer communicates with the server in the Internet and thus enables the geographical remote use.
  • the software to be installed analogously enables the installing of the reminders and recordings locally in the set-top box or digi-tv. Finding a desired program by means of the search function is considerably faster than from a newspaper or from text TV. The recording becomes easier as it can be defined at the same time as the program information is searched anyway. Automatical reminders and suggestions remove the problem for the user with remembering when programs come.
  • the advantage of the invention is that the mobile terminal does not need any separate client programs in order to use the recording or reminder function.
  • Possible techniques to be used in the invention are, on the contrary, for example the Short Message Service, SMS, or the Wireless Application Protocol, WAP. It is either not expected that there would be keys in the terminal and the architecture has no bigger importance.
  • the digital receiver does not work as a server itself and it does not communicate directly with the mobile terminal. Instead, data is always transferred via the separate server in the Internet.
  • the client program asks for data from the server, with the advantage that the architecture does not require any individual identifier from the TV apparatus.
  • Figure 1 is a general overview of a digital television receiver system, wherein the invention is used.
  • the television of the consumer is formed of a digital receiver 3 and a TV screen 1 , which is via user interface 2 in contact with the digital television receiver 3. It is possible to deliver the client program to the digital television receiver 3 together with TV programs e.g. by using television network 4 or it is possible to install the program in the digital television receiver already in the manufacturing step or in some other stage for example as a MHP specification plug-in.
  • the client program communicates with the device (hardware 5) by using a fitting middleware application 8, e.g. DVB-MHP or OpenTV or some other way.
  • the set-top box component consists of software 9 in the digital television receiver with which end users can form/install the user preferences, which are used for recording and reminding.
  • the reminder appears at the screen of the terminal.
  • the reminder is installed with the terminal and the reminder works in such a way that the user set a program to be reminded of either via TV www-pages or via DigiTV.
  • the reminder goes out to the terminal x minutes before the program starts.
  • the software 9 is connected to the server 10 that works as a link between the terminal 11 of the end user and the digital television receiver 3.
  • the terminal 11 can be a computer 11a directly connected to the Internet or the like or a mobile terminal 11b working via a radio network.
  • the connection between the server and the terminal works e.g. by means of an Internet gateway 14 as an HTTP-protocol or alternatively, the server receives the message from the terminal as an SMS-message.
  • the software 9 can be performed as an Xlet application program, which is defined in the MHP- specification.
  • the Internet connection between the server and the software 9 is created e.g. by using classes defined in the MHP-specification
  • the information needed is transferred between the terminal of the end user and the server 10 as an SMS-message or as a message that goes through Internet, for example via the WAP- protocol.
  • the end user sends user preferences from the terminal 11a or 11b to the server for example of recordings of set TV-programs and reminders and this information is saved in the user database 12 at the server until the information also is transferred to the digital television receiver 3.
  • Program information of future programs is saved in the database 13.
  • the program stream coming from the broadcasting network 4 is read by means of components working as an interface which are installed in the digital receiver 3, by means of middleware or the like.
  • the user communicates at the terminal for example with a mobile phone 11b, with the server 10.
  • the server 10 receives the messages of the user either as short messages or by using for example WAP-technology, if the message is sent via the Internet.
  • the user has earlier registered himself to the server through Internet or wap-pages and information of the user is maintained in the database 12. In the future, the user is identified on the basis of the telephone number or user identity.
  • the information sent from the terminal 11 to the server 10 can be fetched to the digital television receiver 3 via a link 15, for example via internet or by sending the information from the server via link 16 to the broadcasting network 4, whereby the information comes along with the program stream 3 to the digital receiver.
  • the software 9 now and then (with desired intervals) synchronize its information with the data of the server 10, whereby the information that has come from the terminal to the server (such as the information of the program to be recorded) will be acknowledged by the program and the information installed in the receiver (such as a reminder) is sent to the terminal via the server.
  • the recording starts to a hard disc installed in the set-top box 3 or to some other primary or secondary saving media.
  • the recording takes place by reading the program stream and by writing it to the hard disc by using middleware or some other convenient way.
  • the reminder function of the software follows the program information and compare them to the reminder list that also might belong to the installations/data fetched from the server 10.
  • the reminder of this will appear on the terminal 11 of the client.
  • the method of the invention is in figure 2 presented in order to record a program generally step by step.
  • step 1 of figure 2 the consumer brows programs with his terminal and selects a program to be recorded and reminded of and sends a message of this to the server.
  • step 2 the server saves the message sent from the terminal in the user database.
  • step 3 the client program in the digital receiver fetches the client information with regular intervals from the server as a consequence of which the server sends the client message further to the digital receiver in step 4.
  • the client information can be mediated to the receiver also via the broadcasting network.
  • the broadcasting network sends television programs to the digital receiver during sending times (here described as step 5).
  • the client program in the receiver follows the program stream and compare the programs with the client messages which are fetched from the server in step 6.
  • the receiver identifies a program to be recorded, it records the program to the hard disc in step 7.
  • the recorded program can be seen on the screen (step 8).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a sevice platform and a method for a digital television receiver system, which system comprises a server, a receiver and a terminal. There is a connection working between te receiver and the terminal through the server.

Description

METHOD AND SERVICE PLATFORM FOR A DIGITAL TELEVISION SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention is concerned with a digital television system and a method for providing/using services in a digital television system.
BACKGROUND ART
The digital television, digi-TV, provides considerably more programs than the actual analog television. At the same time it becomes more and more difficult to find the right program. It is also troublesome to find right and diversified services for the digital television if they are spread over several different television channels and content providers.
The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard creates tools and mechanisms for fitting together different networks, devices and systems so that services based on content and the service content could be delivered to the consumer. The DVB standards are published by the European Telecommunication Standard (ETSI) and in the DVB standards are made in co-operation by ETSI, the Centre for Electrotechnical Standards (CENELEC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) defines a general interface between interactive digital applications and terminals, wherein these applications are used. These interfaces distinguish applications of different providers from the hardware and software details of different MHP terminal implementations. This enables the production of platform independent applications for different terminals, including set- top boxes, integrated digital TV-devices and multimedia-PCs. The MHP is used together with the DVB standards for broadcasting and interactive services in all broadcasting networks including satellites, cable and microwave systems. The MHP supports different applications, for example Electronic Program Guides (EPG), information services, applications, which often are synchronised to the TV content etc. Other corresponding middleware systems are for example OpenTV and Mediahighway.
The softwares provide often interfaces, i.e. Application Program Interfaces (APIs), through witch they can be used. When these APIs work as interfaces between system programs or systems (HW), they are called middleware systems. For example MHP applications can use service platforms, such as a set-top box, via the MHP-API interfaces. Thus, DVB-MHP is one middleware system. Other DigiTV Middleware systems are for example OpenTV and Mediahighway.
Thus, the middleware systems provide useful tools for performing interactivity, e.g. for broadcasting and interactive broadcasting profiles of MHP. In the case of MHP, the broadcasting profile is meant for broadcasting (one-way) services, whereas the interactive broadcasting profile furthermore supports interactive services and can thus use internet by means of MHP. Profile means in this connection a group of different functions.
The Application Programming Interface (API) is a program interface, through which the applications according to the MHP specification use the service platform. The DVB- MHP specification is a technical specification, which becomes an ETSI-specification. OpenTV and Mediahighway are closed specifications made by private companies.
Detailed information of DVB standards is found from Internet from page www.dvb.org and information of MHP standards from page www.mhp.org.
The first digital television receivers based on DVB-MHP standards have already become to the consumer market. Along with the development of the devices the remote control becomes an interesting application area, as these devices will substitute VHS video recorders in the future and change the television watching habits of people. It is believed that interactive services will make the television, Internet and the mobile world closer to each other. It is impossible to make use of these possibilities without the right tools in view of the consumer.
Interactive television applications typically work in the receiver of the user, in a so called set-top box. Examples of interactive television applications are interactive television program guides, e-mail, TV-network browsers, games etc.
An interactive television application system is known from WO-publication 00/78050, wherein DigiTV functions between the user and the television receiver is controlled by a handheld device. The interactive television application can for example contain information connected to television programs, such as television program guides etc. In this WO-publication, there is a solution for the use of such applications for remote use with a handheld device that is foreseen with a remote screen, which is in a fixed platform in a set-top box. The handheld device can for example be a touchable remote screen, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, or the like. The user can use interactive television application functions by means of the handheld device, such as different interactive program guides to be used, program guides based on the Internet and printed program guides remotely via the Internet or when watching television programs. It, however, does not provide solutions with which recordings and reminders can be installed by using a mobile terminal.
The handheld device can for example have a LCD screen or a two-way interface. The interface can continuously collect TV information in order to list that and save the information in a local memory. It can also fetch advertisements in the normal use of the device.
The first screen can for example contain a main menu, containing interactive advertisements. One issue in the menu can be a television guide. By selecting the guide function, e.g. the main menu of the guide appears having lists of programs etc. By selecting some issue in the list, the device might present a description of a program. In the list, the advertisements can for example be connected to programs, whereby more information about them can be received by selecting them, and reminders and other functions can be saved.
The handheld device can contain many properties of an interactive program guide, such as timewise listings, channelwise listings, cathegorywise favourite channels etc. The user can install reminders and get them on the screen in the device or record programs. Furthermore, the user can group programs in the desired way.
With existing solutions it is, however, only possible to receive interactive television application data.
THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is a solution for remote control of the functions of a digital television receiver with different terminals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a service platform and a method for a digital television receiver, which contains a server, a receiver and a terminal. There is a connection between the receiver and the terminal that works via the server.
The preferable embodiments of the invention have the characteristics of the subclaims.
User information and TV-program information is maintained at the server. The terminal is a mobile terminal such as a mobile device, a laptop, a portable telephone or a fixed terminal, such as a computerThe receiver has a program, a so called client program, that uses a return channel and which has installed new information fetched to the receiver from the server, the new information having come to the server from the terminal via the new connection and/or it has information installed in the digital receiver. The information is fetched to the receiver by means of software installed in it. The information can come to the receiver also together with the program stream.
The connection between the terminal and the server can be an interactive Internet connection or a radio link.
The method of the invention is primarily used for reminding of for recording of TV- programs. The reminders are sent to the e-mail address of the consumer and/or to the mobile phone. The user registers himself in advance and defines his e-mail address and his phone number. The reminders can also be seen in Internet and at the receiver, when necessary.
The services are provided/used by means of menus, which appear on the screen of the terminal/receiver. The menus in turn consist of different links, where recordings and reminders installed in the digital receiver can be studied. The services are also used via text messages.
The services are used for recording of programs by sending a message from the terminal in order to record a desired program to the server, by identifying at the server, the sender of the message sent by means of the phone number or the identity, by saving the data of the message sent by the sender in the user database, by fetching the data of the message from the server to the digital television receiver and by identifying and recording the program to be recorded in the digital television receiver.
The message sent is a short message sent from the mobile device and/or a message from a www-page sent via Internet. A reminder of a program to be watched is sent from the user terminal at desired time intervals until the program starts on the screen of the digital televisio reciever.
By means of the invention, the consumer can install reminders, program recordings and administer program information also via the public Internet network or by means of mobile terminals. Without this invention the consumer is bound to the set-up box or DigiTV enabled by the digital television at home or to a close distance handheld device and for recording purposes, the consumers have directly used a video recorder. The reminder and recording functions are used as a part of the device manufacturer or national EPG, etc.
One possibility to perform the invention is by means of the digi-tv-standard DVB-MHP and the programming language is e.g. Java.
The system is divided into three parts, in the set-top component (client program), the Internet component and the mobile component. The components are combined by a common server, which is in the common Internet. All data between the different components goes always via the server. The server also maintains user information and TV-program information. The set-top box components synchronise its information with the server within delays installed by the consumer by using for example the return channel between the set-top box and the server. By means of this synchronisations it is also possible for the consumer to use the mobile terminal in order to control the installation also in the set-top box. Thus, the server works as a passage between the different components and maintains information about that there always is the same information in all component for use.
The set-top box component installed in the set-top box or the digi-tv of the consumer communicates with the server in the Internet and thus enables the geographical remote use. The software to be installed analogously enables the installing of the reminders and recordings locally in the set-top box or digi-tv. Finding a desired program by means of the search function is considerably faster than from a newspaper or from text TV. The recording becomes easier as it can be defined at the same time as the program information is searched anyway. Automatical reminders and suggestions remove the problem for the user with remembering when programs come.
The advantage of the invention is that the mobile terminal does not need any separate client programs in order to use the recording or reminder function. Possible techniques to be used in the invention are, on the contrary, for example the Short Message Service, SMS, or the Wireless Application Protocol, WAP. It is either not expected that there would be keys in the terminal and the architecture has no bigger importance.
As there is an Internet connection channel between the server and the terminal, no separate communication devices are needed for the different channel solutions and any IR- or Bluethoot-solutions to form the connection are not needed. The digital receiver does not work as a server itself and it does not communicate directly with the mobile terminal. Instead, data is always transferred via the separate server in the Internet.
The client program asks for data from the server, with the advantage that the architecture does not require any individual identifier from the TV apparatus.
In the following, the invention is described by means of figures, which are not meant to restrict the invention.
FIGURES
Figure 1 is a general overview of a digital television receiver system, wherein the invention is used.
Figure 2 is presented as a flow scheme of the method of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In figure, 1 the television of the consumer is formed of a digital receiver 3 and a TV screen 1 , which is via user interface 2 in contact with the digital television receiver 3. It is possible to deliver the client program to the digital television receiver 3 together with TV programs e.g. by using television network 4 or it is possible to install the program in the digital television receiver already in the manufacturing step or in some other stage for example as a MHP specification plug-in. In the receiver, the client program communicates with the device (hardware 5) by using a fitting middleware application 8, e.g. DVB-MHP or OpenTV or some other way.
The set-top box component consists of software 9 in the digital television receiver with which end users can form/install the user preferences, which are used for recording and reminding. The reminder appears at the screen of the terminal. The reminder is installed with the terminal and the reminder works in such a way that the user set a program to be reminded of either via TV www-pages or via DigiTV. The reminder goes out to the terminal x minutes before the program starts.
The software 9 is connected to the server 10 that works as a link between the terminal 11 of the end user and the digital television receiver 3. The terminal 11 can be a computer 11a directly connected to the Internet or the like or a mobile terminal 11b working via a radio network. The connection between the server and the terminal works e.g. by means of an Internet gateway 14 as an HTTP-protocol or alternatively, the server receives the message from the terminal as an SMS-message.
The software 9 can be performed as an Xlet application program, which is defined in the MHP- specification. The Internet connection between the server and the software 9 is created e.g. by using classes defined in the MHP-specification The information needed is transferred between the terminal of the end user and the server 10 as an SMS-message or as a message that goes through Internet, for example via the WAP- protocol. In the invention, the end user sends user preferences from the terminal 11a or 11b to the server for example of recordings of set TV-programs and reminders and this information is saved in the user database 12 at the server until the information also is transferred to the digital television receiver 3. Program information of future programs is saved in the database 13.
The program stream coming from the broadcasting network 4 is read by means of components working as an interface which are installed in the digital receiver 3, by means of middleware or the like.
The user communicates at the terminal for example with a mobile phone 11b, with the server 10. The server 10 receives the messages of the user either as short messages or by using for example WAP-technology, if the message is sent via the Internet. The user has earlier registered himself to the server through Internet or wap-pages and information of the user is maintained in the database 12. In the future, the user is identified on the basis of the telephone number or user identity.
The information sent from the terminal 11 to the server 10 can be fetched to the digital television receiver 3 via a link 15, for example via internet or by sending the information from the server via link 16 to the broadcasting network 4, whereby the information comes along with the program stream 3 to the digital receiver.
In the first alternative, the software 9 now and then (with desired intervals) synchronize its information with the data of the server 10, whereby the information that has come from the terminal to the server (such as the information of the program to be recorded) will be acknowledged by the program and the information installed in the receiver (such as a reminder) is sent to the terminal via the server.
When the software 9 or some other application, with which the software 9 communicates, identifies the program to be recorded, the recording starts to a hard disc installed in the set-top box 3 or to some other primary or secondary saving media. The recording takes place by reading the program stream and by writing it to the hard disc by using middleware or some other convenient way. The reminder function of the software follows the program information and compare them to the reminder list that also might belong to the installations/data fetched from the server 10. When the TV- program to be reminded of starts at the screen 1 , the reminder of this will appear on the terminal 11 of the client.
The method of the invention is in figure 2 presented in order to record a program generally step by step. In step 1 of figure 2, the consumer brows programs with his terminal and selects a program to be recorded and reminded of and sends a message of this to the server. In step 2, the server saves the message sent from the terminal in the user database. In step 3, the client program in the digital receiver fetches the client information with regular intervals from the server as a consequence of which the server sends the client message further to the digital receiver in step 4. The client information can be mediated to the receiver also via the broadcasting network.
The broadcasting network sends television programs to the digital receiver during sending times (here described as step 5). The client program in the receiver follows the program stream and compare the programs with the client messages which are fetched from the server in step 6. When the receiver identifies a program to be recorded, it records the program to the hard disc in step 7. The recorded program can be seen on the screen (step 8).

Claims

1. Service platform to a digital television receiver system, which system comprises a server, a receiver and a terminal, characterized in that there is a connection between the receiver and the terminal that works via the server.
2. Service platform of claim, I cha ra cte rized in that user information and TV-program information is maintained on the server.
3. Service platform of claim 1 or 2 , ch a racte ri zed in that the terminal is a mobile terminal such as a mobile station, a laptop, a portable phone or a fixed terminal, such as a computer.
4. Service platform of any claims 1 to 3, characterized in that there is a program in the receiver, wherein there is saved new information that has come to the receiver from the server and from the terminal to the server and/or information installed in the digital receiver.
5. Service platform of any claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connection between the terminal and the server is an interactive Internet connection or a radio link.
6. Service platform of any claims 1 to 4, ch a racte rized in that the connection between the server and the receiver is an interactive connection, whereby the program in the receiver uses a return channel for fetching the information that has come to server from the terminal.
7. Service platform of any claims 1 to 4, characterized in that there is a connection between the server and the terminal working through the broadcast network.
8. Method for providing/using services in a digital television receiver system, which system comprises a server, a receiver and a terminal, characterized in that the services are used by means of a connection between the terminal and the receiver that works via a server.
9. Method of claim 8, ch aracteri zed in that information is fetched from the server to the receiver via the connection between the server and the receiver.
10. Method of claim 9, characterized in that new information that has come to the receiver from the server is fetched via an interactive connection from the terminal by means of software installed in the receiver, which uses a return channel or the information goes in the opposite direction.
11. Method of claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that information comes to the server to the receiver via a program network.
12. Method of claims 8 or 9, characterize d in that the method for providing/ using services is used for browsing TV-program information or for watching suggesting, reminding of or recording TV-programs.
13. Method of claim 12characterizedin that the reminders are sent to the e- mail address of the consumer and/or to the mobile phone or it appears on an Internet homepage.
14. Method of any of claims 8-13, ch a ra cte rized in that the services are provided/used by means of a menu which appears on the screen of the terminal receiver.
15. Method of any claims 14, characterized in that the menus are formed of different links.
16. Method of any of claims 12-15, characterized in that the recordings and reminders installed in the digital receiver can be studied in a desired menu.
17. Method of any of claims 12-16, characterized in that the services are used for recording programs by a) sending a message to the server from the terminal for the recording of the desired program, b) identifying the message sent in point a) in the server by means of a user telephone number and/ or identifier, c) saving the information of the message sent by the sender in a user database in the server connected to the server, d) fetching the information of the message from the server to the digital television receiver, e) identifying and recording the program to be recorded in the digital television receiver.
18. Method any of claim 17, characterized in that the message sent in step a) is a short message sent for a mobile station and/or a message coming from a www- page sent via Internet.
19. Method of any of claims 12-18characterizedin that the reminder from the program to be seen is sent when the user so wishes to the user terminal at desired times before the program starts on the screen of the digital television receiver.
PCT/FI2002/000724 2001-09-12 2002-09-09 Method and service paltform for a digital television system WO2003024107A1 (en)

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FI20011801A FI20011801A0 (en) 2001-09-12 2001-09-12 Digital TV service platform
FI20011801 2001-09-12
FI20012542 2001-12-21
FI20012542A FI20012542A0 (en) 2001-12-21 2001-12-21 Leading and service platform for a digital television system
FI20020167A FI114842B (en) 2001-09-12 2002-01-30 Procedure and service platform for a digital television system
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FI20020167A (en) 2003-03-13
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EP1438857A1 (en) 2004-07-21

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