WO2011048241A2

WO2011048241A2 - Television receiver interface

Info

Publication number: WO2011048241A2
Application number: PCT/ES2010/000428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mercedes DE CASTRO ÁLVAREZ; Francisco Abril Bucero; Belén Ruiz Mezcua; José Manuel SÁNCHEZ PENA; Paloma MARTÍNEZ FERNÁNDEZ; Juan Manuel Carrero Leal; Mónica SOUTO RICO
Original assignee: Universidad Carlos Iii De Madrid
Priority date: 2009-10-21
Filing date: 2010-10-20
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Also published as: WO2011048241A3; ES2358144B1; ES2358144A1

Abstract

A television receiver interface (11) receives a compressed transport stream broadcast by an operator (15) of digital audiovisual services, said interface comprising an audience recording unit (112) that responds to the reception of a selectable service activation signal transported by the transport stream, capturing an identifier of the type of stream selected and starting a count of the period of time in which the stream is selected.

Description

TELEVISION RECEIVING INTERFACE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and audience sampling device in a digital radio and television signal information broadcasting system.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0002] The proliferation and demand by the general public of a multitude of digital information services associated with the diffusion of radio and television multimedia signals, implies providing the networks used in the diffusion of them and the end-user devices used to receive them, of adequate technical means for this purpose, ensuring quality parameters and their availability.

[0003] 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.

[0004] For example, DVB digital television can be transmitted through different types of broadcast networks: satellite, cable, terrestrial broadcasting, etc. Each transmission system uses a broadcast 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 stream. The structure of said MPEG-2 transport stream is defined in the ISO / IEC 13818-1 standard.

[0005] The MPEG-2 transport stream transports multiple audio-visual services multiplexed 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.

[0006] To assess the demand of a television or radio channel selected by an end user, the installation of specific devices of audience measure 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.

[0007] 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

[0008] 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.

[0009] An embodiment of the television receiving interface can receive a transport stream, which follows the schemes of a MPÉG-2 transport stream, in which different digital audiovisual information services including television channels have been multiplexed and radio, where each service comprises different combinations of types of streams specified by the DVB family for digital television, namely, a video stream 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 stream includes DVB subtitling, teletext; An application flow 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.

[0010] The receiving interface comprises an audience recording unit that can receive a first activation select signal of a flow corresponding to a service associated with a channel selected from the set of services transported by the transport stream MPEG-2, and responds to it by generating registration data, including selected service flow I will select and time range during which the flow remains selected.

[0011] It should be noted that the selection of a channel by the end customer implies that an audiovisual screen of the client can receive at least one main stream corresponding to the selected channel and, where appropriate, a stream associated with said main stream . For example, a main video stream corresponding to a television channel itself and the audio stream associated therewith, by default.

[0012] However, the client can define a user profile by audiovisual service, so that when the service is selected, the corresponding flows associated with the stored profile are transmitted to the audiovisual screen.

[0013] 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 selected flow or flows of the selected service, to an audiovisual screen so that it can be shown in it.

[0014] 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 stream other than a selected previous stream, for example, a corresponding auxiliary audio stream 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 stream to the audiovisual screen.

[0015] Consequently, the audiovisual screen simultaneously reproduces the selected video and an audio associated therewith.

[0016] If the subscriber makes a new selection, by means of an activation signal, relative to an additional stream of the DVB subtitle stream type, which can be displayed in addition to other streams already selected.

[0017] 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 stream. [0018] 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 channel of return, established between the receiving interface and an authorized audience manager and trained for the collection of data records, so that they can be carried out tasks of control and analysis of the consumption or audience of each flow of a service selected by the final customers from different providers of digital audiovisual information services.

[0019] Among the storable and / or transmissible data, profile data of each end user can be found. 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.

[0020] An advantage of the above is that, in order to control the audience of each type of flow of a selected digital information service, it is avoided to have to carry out a selection process of a subset of final subscribers from the set total 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 selected services by end users.

[0021] The subscriber must give his authorization for the collection of his audience data in accordance with current legislation.

[0022] Another embodiment of the receiving interface includes a communicable air interface unit with different types of devices that include, in turn, the corresponding air interface unit, so that an executable application can be downloadable in said devices to adapt them to an operation as a remote control unit or a remote control for controlling the operation of the subscriber's own television receiver interface and the audience recording unit.

[0023] The above 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 television DVB digital.

[0024] For example, a portable telephony terminal can be used as a remote control in case an executable application is downloaded to the same from the television receiving interface using BLUETOOTH technology.

[0025] In summary, the television receiving interface can measure the audience of different types of streams, which have an activated end user, of a selectable audiovisual service transported by an MPEG-2 transport stream, that is, the recording unit of The audience is able to register the identifier of the selected type of stream of a selectable audiovisual service broadcast in MPEG-2 transport stream mode, independently and at different time points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] A more detailed explanation of one embodiment is given in the following description based on the attached figures in which:

[0027] Figure 1 shows in a block diagram a receiving interface according to one embodiment, and

[0028] Figure 2 shows in a block diagram flow types comprised within an audiovisual service according to the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In relation to FIG. 1, a television receiving interface 1 1, such as a set-top box, can receive a broadcast transport stream from a television operator 15 that transmits digital audiovisual information services provided by various providers of 16 digital television and radio services and related services through a transport network 12.

[0030] The transport stream diffused by the operator 15 transports several digital audiovisual services or tablets, multiplexed, each comprising the same types of data packet streams, types of streams specified by the DVB family of protocols for the digital television, see figure 2.

[0031] For example, an audiovisual service may comprise a video stream or none, at least one audio stream, at least one data stream such as DVB subtitles and others, at least one application stream that carry data related to services such as accessibility services for subscribers who have a disability, etc.

[0032] The signal received by the receiving interface 11 is decompressed by a input-output unit 111 that decompresses the received signal and supplies, in one of its outputs, the selected streams, by default, corresponding to the audiovisual service selected by the final subscriber who has previously issued an activation or selection signal from the less one type of a service will be selected by a remote control unit 13.

[0033] 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 digital information service selected, and Start an account of the time range in which the selection is active.

[0034] 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 flow does not always deactivate a previously selected data flow. Consequently, the registration unit 112 can perform several data records simultaneously and independently of one another.

[0035] The selection of a main video stream may be associated with the simultaneous activation of a default audio stream. For example, a stream associated with its original language and a later period of time, the viewer makes the selection of an audio stream associated with a language other than the original. Therefore, the video stream recording continues to increase the time count, while a data record relative to the original audio stream is stopped and a data record relative to the audio stream other than the original video stream begins.

[0036] Another example of the above occurs when an audio stream containing the audio description, which is a communication support service comprising a set of techniques and skills applied in order to compensate for gaps in capturing the visual part contained in any type of message, providing adequate audible information that translates or explains it, so that a possible visually impaired recipient perceives that message as a harmonious whole and in the most similar way as a person who sees it perceives.

[0037] Audio description is understood as an independent soundtrack which can be selected by a viewer and that describes the characters, the sets and the key actions in order to make blind people intelligible in the context in which the dialogues take place.

[0038] It can also be a data stream or an application of the subtitling MHP application type for communication support 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.

[0039] 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 flow. In the event that the selectable service comprises different types of additional streams, or an additional data or audio stream, the viewer can activate a stream associated with an accessibility application, such as subtitling, audio description, etc., by pressing. on the corresponding remote control key.

[0040] 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 unit of record 112 a take of a data record associated with the selected stream / s.

[0041] 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 carried by the stream. MPEG-2 transport. The data records include control data related to the selections made, duration of each of the selections made, user profile.

[0042] 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 data channel. return 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 stream in the form of subtitles, teletext or DVB-Sub, an audio stream 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 end users have been received , can compile and provide global statistics, that is, audience data of the channel and of the specific flows within the channel.

[0043] 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.

[0044] In summary, the manager 17 can analyze the audience of the audiovisual information services, which include accessibility services, used by the set of viewers.

[0045] The subscriber acting on the remote control 13 can activate and / or deactivate each type of data flow associated with a selectable service, data being collected from the selections made by the registration unit.

[0046] The receiving interface 1 1 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, such as remote control unit 13 to select, change and operate the television receiver interface and / or the audience record unit, after downloading from the receiving interface of an executable execution program in the communications device.

[0047] 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 program executable from the television receiving interface.

[0048] The download of the execution program for operating 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The computer program comprises for this purpose codes configured to execute the steps of the above process when executed by the computer. In addition, executable codes can be recorded on a carrier medium readable within a computer.

Claims

1. 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 selected service, transported by the transport stream, capturing an identifier of the selected flow type 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 registration 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 in that the registration unit (112) can transmit the registration data collected from each type of selected flow to a managing means (17) for collecting global audience data records.

4. Receiving interface according to any one of claims 1 to 3; characterized in that the receiving interface comprises an air interface unit (5) that can communicate with different types of devices (13) that also include air interface units, an executable application can be downloaded in said devices (13) by configuring them as a control unit to 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 stream.

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 record unit connectable to a television receiving interface (11) that can receive a compressed transport stream and broadcast from an operator (15) of digital audiovisual services; characterized in that the audience registration unit (112) responds to the reception of an activation signal of a selectable service, transported by the transport stream, 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 in 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 ranges of activation time of each selected stream of a selected digital audiovisual service when it is executed by the computer.