U.S. patent application number 10/990729 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for method and apparatus for generating a programme.
Invention is credited to Burke, Trevor John.
Application Number | 20050144652 10/990729 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10815703 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050144652 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burke, Trevor John |
June 30, 2005 |
Method and apparatus for generating a programme
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating a programme for
presentation as a sequence of programme elements from a set of
pre-recorded programme elements which may be transmitted to a
receiver. Programme elements each representing for example an event
are classified on the basis of programme element content, that is
the nature of the event to which the programme element relates.
Each programme element is allocated to at least one of the
predetermined set of classes and each programme element is stored
with at least one associated programme classification code. The
classification codes identify the class to which the associated
programme element has been allocated. A programme element is
generated by selecting at least one programme classification code
and presenting programme elements associated with that selected at
least one programme classification code. Users are able to generate
programmes based on for example the perceived value of individual
programme elements.
Inventors: |
Burke, Trevor John; (Wirral,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER
2029 CENTURY PARK EAST
SUITE 3500
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
|
Family ID: |
10815703 |
Appl. No.: |
10/990729 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10990729 |
Nov 17, 2004 |
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09462550 |
Mar 14, 2000 |
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09462550 |
Mar 14, 2000 |
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PCT/GB98/01817 |
Jul 10, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/135 ;
348/E5.102; 348/E5.104; 348/E5.112; 348/E7.06; 386/E5.001;
386/E5.02; 386/E5.043; 725/37; 725/45; 725/47; G9B/27.019 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4334 20130101;
H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04N 21/812 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101;
H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N 21/4882 20130101;
H04N 7/162 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101; H04N 21/47214 20130101;
G11B 2220/2545 20130101; H04N 21/858 20130101; G11B 2220/90
20130101; H04H 60/07 20130101; H04N 21/26603 20130101; H04N 21/4662
20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101; H04N 21/8549 20130101; H04N 7/163
20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101; H04N 21/8405 20130101; G11B
2220/20 20130101; G11B 27/031 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N
5/9201 20130101; H04N 5/782 20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; H04N
21/458 20130101; H04N 21/84 20130101; G11B 27/3027 20130101; H04N
21/8541 20130101; H04N 21/454 20130101; H04N 21/8543 20130101; H04N
21/4331 20130101; G11B 27/102 20130101; H04N 21/23412 20130101;
H04N 5/76 20130101; H04N 21/4508 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101;
H04N 21/8456 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/135 ;
725/037; 725/047; 725/045 |
International
Class: |
H02P 007/18; H04N
007/16; G06F 013/00; H04N 005/445 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 1997 |
GB |
9714624 |
Claims
1. A method of presenting programme elements to a user, the method
comprising: receiving a plurality of programme elements from a
transmitter; receiving a plurality of classification codes from the
transmitter, at least one classification code being received for
each of said plurality of programme elements, and each
classification code representing a class of a predetermined set of
classes to which one of said programme elements has been allocated;
displaying at least one of said plurality of programme elements to
a user on a display device; displaying a plurality of user
selectable icons on said display device simultaneously with the
said at least one programme element, each of said user selectable
icons representing one of said plurality of programme elements, and
being a visual representation of the class to which that programme
element has been allocated, receiving user input representing
selection of one of said user selectable icons; and displaying the
program element associated with the icon represented by said user
input on the display device.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each class represents a
type of event to which programme elements allocated to that class
relate.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each class represents a
subjective assessment of the value of programme elements allocated
to that class.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said icons are displayed
in an order corresponding to the temporal order of events
represented by the associated programme elements.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein an operator selects a
sub-set of the classes, and symbols corresponding only to programme
elements of the sub-set of classes are displayed.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of programme
elements are displayed simultaneously.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein still image and video
programme elements are displayed simultaneously.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein only programme elements
associated with a predetermined sub-set of the classes are
transmitted to the receiver, the sub-set being selected by a user
of the receiver.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein only received programme
elements corresponding to a sub-set of the classes are stored at
the receiver, the sub-set being selected by a user of the
receiver.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein received programme
elements and pre-recorded programme elements stored on a data
carrier in a memory device of the receiver are combined to generate
a programme.
11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising; storing,
received programme elements together with respective classification
codes; and reading a programme element from storage for display on
said display device.
12. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving said plurality
of programme elements comprises receiving said plurality of
programme elements from a broadcast transmission of such programme
elements.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein receiving said
plurality of classification codes comprises receiving said
plurality of classification codes from a broadcast transmission of
such programme elements.
14. A method of presenting programme elements to a user, the method
comprising: receiving a plurality of programme elements from a
remotely located transmitter; receiving a plurality of
classification codes from the remotely located transmitter, at
least one classification code being received for each of said
plurality of programme elements, and each classification code
representing a class of a predetermined set of classes to which one
of said programme elements has been allocated; displaying at least
one of said plurality of programme elements to a user on a display
device; displaying a plurality of user selectable icons on said
display device simultaneously with the said at least one programme
element, each of said user selectable icons representing one of
said plurality of programme elements, and being a visual
representation of the class to which that programme element has
been allocated, receiving user input representing selection of one
of said user selectable icons; and displaying the program element
associated with the icon represented by said user input on the
display device.
15. Apparatus for presenting programme elements to a user, the
method comprising: a receiver adapted to receive a plurality of
programme elements from a transmitter; a receiver adapted to
receive a plurality of classification codes from the transmitter,
at least one classification code being received for each of said
plurality of programme elements, and each classification code
representing a class of a predetermined set of classes to which one
of said programme elements has been allocated; a display device
adapted to display at least one of said plurality of programme
elements to a user, the display device being further adapted to
display a plurality of user selectable icons simultaneously with
the said at least one programme element, each of said user
selectable icons representing one of said plurality of programme
elements, and being a visual representation of the class to which
that programme element has been allocated; and user input means
configured to receive selection of one of said user selectable
icons; wherein said display device is configured to display the
program element associated with the icon represented by said user
input.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the generation of
programmes made up from a series of programme elements each of
which is represented by a data packet. Individual programme
elements may define for example single images or series of images
or audio passages. The programme elements may be distributed in
pre-recorded form, or transmitted to a recipient provided with
equipment for recording programme elements for subsequent
replay.
[0002] Before the advent of recording equipment and in particular
video recorders, programmes were produced and distributed via the
atmosphere or cable and simply reproduced by recipient's receivers.
There was no possibility whatsoever for a recipient to control the
received programme over and above turning the receiver on or
off.
[0003] Video recorders made it possible for a recorded programme to
be viewed selectively in that a recording tape could be advanced to
a part of the programme of interest which could then be viewed, it
not being necessary to view every element of the programme recorded
on the tape. Video disc players were then introduced in which
individual programme elements were separately indexed such that
each programme element could be rapidly accessed as compared with a
video tape storage system. There was no fundamental difference
however between tape and disc systems in terms of the degree to
which a user could interact with the recorded programme in that the
user had to know where on the recording medium programme elements
of interest were located and thus required knowledge of which
programme element was recorded where on the recording medium.
Programme elements were recorded on the basis that each programme
element was allocated to a particular position on the recording
medium, access to any one programme element in essence requiring an
index in which programme element identity is related to storage
medium position.
[0004] Interactive video programmes are now available in which
programme elements are stored in the memory of a computer and
programmes are produced which in part are dependent upon actions
taken by an operator of the computer. (The term "memory" is used
herein to include solid state, disc, CD and any other form of data
storage capable of storing programme elements). For example a
computer game may display images to a user which are read out from
the computer memory, the user may then take actions appropriate to
the displayed image, and depending upon the actions taken by the
user the programme content will change. For example the user may
"kill" an adversary depicted on the computer monitor's screen, the
actions taken by the user to kill the adversary determining the
nature of the sequence of images and associated audio output
generated by the computer. Thus there is a limited degree of
interaction between the user and the programme in that the order of
presentation of stored programme elements is dependent upon actions
taken by the user, but essentially the user does no more than
determine which route is taken through a complex set of alternative
routes defined by the computer so as to produce a series of images
corresponding to that route. The user has no way of knowing what
the next programme element to be displayed will be, unless the user
has played the game a sufficient number of times to learn the
response of the computer to a particular control input.
[0005] Viewers cannot "edit" programmes with current systems. There
are often circumstances in which a viewer of a programme knows the
kind of elements of a programme which will be of interest and which
will not, and yet a viewer cannot make selections of programme
elements of interest even from a recorded programme without a
detailed index that describes the nature of each programme element
which is recorded at a particular position in a recording
medium.
[0006] There are circumstances in which it would be highly
desirable for a user to be able to edit programme content. In many
circumstances, particularly in the case of broadcast sports
programmes, potential viewers of those programmes are really
interested in only relatively small sections of a broadcast
sporting event. For example, with live broadcasts, sections of high
interest value, for example the scoring of a goal, are often
repeated at the expense of not broadcasting passages of play which
are relatively uninteresting, for example the period leading up to
the game being restarted after the scoring of a goal. The perceived
value of a broadcast programme is considerably enhanced by such
"action replays" but it is frustrating for a viewer not to be able
to decide which sections of a game to replay and to be forced
simply to accept what is broadcast by the programme producer.
[0007] It is often the case that elements of real interest in a
sporting event could be delivered over a relatively slow
communications channel the bandwidth of which is insufficient to
carry a full live broadcast of the event. Thus, bandwidth
restraints are a real limitation of broadcast television systems.
Furthermore, the resolution available with standard personal
computer display screens is far greater than that available with a
standard television receiver, and this can be a severe limitation
in some circumstances where images of great detail are required to
enhance viewer appreciation. The available resolution cannot be
used however with broadcast programmes given the limited resolution
of the broadcast images. At present, the only way that enhanced
quality images can be made available is by the distribution of
programme material on disc, and clearly such an approach would not
generally be appropriate for ephemeral events such as sports
fixtures.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide improved
methods and apparatus for generating a programme in order to
address one or more of the problems outlined above.
[0009] According to the present invention there is provided a
method for generating a programme for presentation as a sequence of
programme elements from a set of pre-recorded programme elements,
wherein the programme elements are classified on the basis of
programme element content such that each programme element is
allocated to at least one of a predetermined set of classes, each
programme element is stored with at least one associated programme
classification code, each classification code identifying a class
to which the associated programme element has been allocated, and a
programme is generated by selecting at least one programme
classification code and presenting programme elements associated
with the said at least one programme classification code.
[0010] Programme elements may be classified by reference to a type
of event to which the element relates, for example a shot on goal
or the scoring of a goal in a football match. Alternatively,
programme elements may be classified by reference to a subjective
assessment of the value of the programme element, for example the
level of excitement generated by a particular passage of play in a
football match. Thus the classification codes can be used to give
information to a user of the system which is not merely defined in
terms of the position of a particular event in time but rather to
the nature of the event itself.
[0011] Programme element selection which is required to generate
the programme presented to a user may be controlled automatically
by applying predetermined selection criteria, for example by
repeating stored programme elements sequentially so as to only
present programme elements with a predetermined classification
value. Alternatively, programme element selection may be controlled
by an operator of a display device connected to the system. For
example symbols may be displayed representing the class of each
stored programme element, and the operator may select programme
elements by selection of associated symbols. Symbols may be
displayed in an order corresponding to a temporal order of events
represented by the associated programme element.
[0012] The operator may select a sub-set of the classes, and
symbols corresponding only to programme elements of that sub-set
may be displayed. Programmes may be generated comprising a
plurality of programme elements which are presented simultaneously,
for example in the form of combined video and audio programme
elements or combined video and still image programme elements.
[0013] The programme elements may be delivered to an end user on a
data carrier such as a tape or CD but generally will be transmitted
to and stored at a user's receiver with the associated programme
classification codes. Programmes are then generated by selection of
classification codes at the receiver.
[0014] Only programme elements associated with a sub-set of the
classes may be transmitted to the receiver, the sub-set being
selected by a user of the receiver. Alternatively, only received
programme elements corresponding to a sub-set of the classes are
stored at the receiver, the sub-set being selected by a user of the
receiver. Thus a user can filter out programme elements with a
perceived value of less than a certain threshold either by
transmitting a control signal which prevents programme elements
that are not of interest being transmitted to the receiver at all
or by discarding received programme elements with a perceived value
of less than the threshold.
[0015] Received programme elements may be combined with
pre-recorded programme elements stored on a data carrier in a
memory device of the receiver so as to enhance the perceived value
of the generated programme. For example images related to a
particular golf course can be combined with images and audio
related to live events at that golf course.
[0016] Although the invention is applicable in circumstances in
which a communications channel used to transmit programme elements
has the capacity to carry a continuous live broadcast of for
example a sporting event, the invention is applicable in
circumstance in which communications channels do not have such a
capacity. When using such channels, it will take longer to send a
programme element representing a particular event than the time
occupied in the generated programme by that programme element. This
is not a problem however as programme elements can be repeated such
that a continuous programme can be generated.
[0017] The invention also provides a method for generating a
programme for presentation at a receiver by transmitting a stream
of programme element data packets and associated programme
generation control data to the receiver, storing the programme
element data packets and associated programme generation control
data at the receiver, and generating a programme by reading out the
programme element data packets in a manner dependent upon the
programme generation control data, the programme element data
packets being read out such that the duration of at least one
programme element in the generated programme is less than the time
taken to transmit the data packet of that programme element from
the transmitter.
[0018] Thus, although in the preferred embodiment of the invention
individual programme elements are associated with classification
codes selected on the basis of the content of the individual
programme elements, classification codes do not have to be
generated and instead it is possible simply to transmit control
data which enable programme elements to be repeated so as to
produce a continuous generated programme despite the fact that
programme elements are transmitted over a communications channel of
limited capacity. Programme generation may be controlled
automatically in accordance with a predetermined routine or by a
user of the receiver to whom the control data is displayed so as to
enable programme element selection.
[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which;
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the overall
structure of a system in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of equipment provided
at each receiver of the system of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically represent the generation of
programme element data packets and associated classification codes
and the storage of received programme element data packets and
associated codes at a receiver;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the addition of
classification codes to television signals produced at a programme
source;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the storage and use
of programme element data packets and associated classification
codes at a receiver;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of a display screen showing FIG. 6 to a
larger scale;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of symbols displayed on
the screen of FIG. 7 to represent the progress of a sporting event;
and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a display screen in
a form suitable for the generation of a programme including
simultaneously reproduced programme elements.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, terminals 1 which may be conventional
PC's (Personal Computers) are connected via conventional modems 2
and telephone lines 3 to a conventional telephone exchange 4. The
telephone exchange receives either via existing telephone links or
via a direct connection 5 programme element data packets and
programme generation control data from a programme source 6.
Conventional data compression techniques may be used such that the
transmitted programme element data packets include for example only
the data necessary to represent the changes between successive
frames of a programme element. Each programme element may include a
predetermined number of successive frames, although a programme
element could be made up of only a single frame. For example, a
single frame could be transmitted as part of a data packet
including voice data describing that single frame.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, each terminal comprises and input
interface 7, a buffer 8 and a conventional display device 9.
Programme element data packets are stored in the buffer 8 and read
out under the control of a controller 10 which receives the
programme generation control data via input interface 7 and modem 2
from the telephone line 3.
[0030] Each terminal 1 receives a stream of data which is delivered
to the input interface 7 from the modem 2, the stream of data
incorporating programme element data packets, from each of which
one or a series of video images and associated audio output can be
generated, and control signals which are subsequently used to
control the display of programme element data packets stored in the
buffer. For example, the buffer may be capable of storing data
packets representing two minutes of a continuous real-time
programme. If that data was to be read out to the display at a rate
corresponding to the normal frame rate of a conventional television
system, all of the image data stored in the buffer would be read
out in two minutes. Assuming a data rate on the telephone line 3
which is only one sixth of that required for continuous real-time
reproduction, only two minutes in every twelve minutes of a
real-time event could be reproduced as data would be read out of
the buffer faster than it could be updated in the buffer. In
accordance with the present invention, programme element data is
stored in the buffer for subsequent reproduction in dependence upon
control signals from the controller 10, the selection of programme
element data to be stored and reproduced being such as to enhance
the perceived quality of the programme appearing on the display
9.
[0031] For example, if the programme element data packets received
represent a sporting event, image data representing only one sixth
of the image data generated at the sporting event would be
transmitted to the buffer. The received image data would however be
replayed in a manner which effectively conceals the fact that image
data representing periods of the sporting event which arc of little
visual interest has been discarded. Thus for example a ten second
sequence leading up to the scoring of a goal would be transmitted
once but might be reproduced several times. It will be appreciated
that even with conventional real-time live television broadcasts,
highlights are often repeated a number of times, thereby discarding
some of the images generated at the event. During a relatively dull
period of a match, programme element data related to a relatively
more interesting part of the event would be transmitted to the
terminal. During a relatively dull period of an event, programme
element data might not be transmitted to the terminal or, in the
absence of any relatively more interesting passages of play, data
packets could be transmitted which would be allocated a relatively
low priority. A subsequently occurring passage of relatively
greater interest could be subsequently transmitted and displayed as
soon as it is resident in the buffer. Accordingly by allocating
different priorities to different sequences of images a controller
of the system can control the images displayed to the end user so
as to maximise the perceived value of the programme that the images
constitute.
[0032] FIGS. 3 and 4 seek to illustrate one possible embodiment of
the invention as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3
represents 15 successive programme events each of which is
represented by a data packet identified by numbers 1 to 15. The
system operator allocates "value" to each of the programme elements
in the form of a priority code, those codes being represented by
letters A to J, with the letters being allocated in order such that
the programme elements of maximum interest are allocated to a class
identified by letter A and programme elements of minimum interest
are allocated to a class identified by letter J. For the purposes
of this example, it will be assumed that each programme element
lasts exactly one minute but requires two minutes to be transmitted
to the terminal. The terminal buffer is capable of storing five one
minute programme elements at a time. FIG. 4 illustrates which
programme elements are stored at the terminal during each of the
fifteen periods represented by the programme element illustrated in
FIG. 3. The left hand column in FIG. 4 represents the number of
each of the fifteen programme elements, the second to sixth columns
in FIG. 4 represent the contents of five memory locations in the
terminal, showing which programme element is stored at the end of
each period, and the letters in the seventh to eleventh columns
represent the value allocated to the stored programme elements.
[0033] It will be seen that in the first period programme element I
is generated, transmitted to the terminal and stored. Likewise in
the second, third, fourth and fifth periods, the second to fifth
programme elements are generated, transmitted and stored. At this
time in the process ten minutes will have elapsed. During that ten
minutes period the user will have been presented with a series of
images made up from the information as stored. For example during
the fifth period, programme elements 1 and 2 may be presented
sequentially during the time that the fifth element is being
delivered. The sixth programme element has a higher priority than
the first programme element and therefore it is transmitted and
stored in the first memory location. The seventh element has a
lower priority than any of the stored programme elements and
therefore is not transmitted. The eighth element has a higher
priority than the oldest of the H value programme element
(programme element 4) and therefore is transmitted and replaces
that element in the store. The ninth element then replaces the
fifth programme element, the tenth element replaces the sixth
element, the eleventh element replaces the third element, the
twelfth element is not transmitted as it has a lower value than any
of the stored values, the thirteenth element is not transmitted as
it has a lower value than any of the stored values, the fourteenth
element is transmitted as it has a higher value than programme
element 2, but the fifteenth element is not transmitted as it has a
lower value than any of the stored values.
[0034] Clearly if the simple routine according to FIG. 4 was
followed without fail, in the end all of the memory locations would
be filled with high value programme elements which might, depending
on the application, become "stale", in which case one could have a
routine for example to reduce the priority of stored programme
elements over time so that the stored programme elements are
"refreshed". For example the priority level of any stored programme
element could be reduced by one step every two cycles of the
routine.
[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 explain how programme data packets are
delivered to a terminal but do not explain the manner in which
those packets are used to generate a programme. Many alternative
control schemes could be envisaged. For example, the terminal could
automatically generate a programme from the stored elements,
cycling through the stored elements in a predetermined manner. For
example all A priority programme elements could be repeated say
three times, all B priority programme elements could be repeated
once, and so on. Programme elements could be of varied duration so
as to enable the allocated priorities to represent programme
elements which begin and end with natural break intervals, for
example to coincide with interruptions in play. As an alternative
to automatic programme generation control however, it would be
possible for the operator of the terminal to have total control of
the images presented, for example by presenting the operator with
an image representing the priority value allocated to the locally
stored programme elements for direct selection of programme
elements of interest by the terminal operator.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of a process which can
be used to generate a data stream the content of which enables the
operator of a terminal receiving that data stream to "edit" a set
of received programme elements to produce a programme uniquely
adapted to the user's wishes. FIG. 6 represents the handling of the
data stream at the user terminal, FIG. 7 the appearance of a screen
represented to a smaller scale in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 a series of
symbols or `icons` displayed on the screen of FIG. 7 with a series
of sequence numbers to assist in understanding the description of
the significance of those icons set out below.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, data represented by arrow 11 is
captured by a TV camera 12 to produce a stream of digital data
represented by arrow 13, that digital data defining the video and
audio content of the events taking place in front of the camera 12.
As the data is generated, a system operator allocates
classification data to the video and audio content of the data
stream 13, the classifications being a subjective indication of the
content of the associated programme element data packages. The
value classification data is represented in FIG. 5 by the arrow 14.
Further control data may be added as represented by arrow 15 to
further classify the subjective value data 14, for example the
identity of a team responsible for a particular event. The combined
data 14 and 15 is output as represented by arrow 16 in the form of
control data.
[0038] The two data streams represented by arrows 13 and 16 are
delivered to a transmitter, transmitted to a terminal and stored in
a terminal buffer as represented in FIG. 6. The combined data
stream is represented by lines 17 and the buffer by rectangle 18.
In the buffer, each class of data is stored according to its class
type in its own area of the buffer, the class type corresponding to
the subjective value allocated to the associated programme
elements. Data is read out from that buffer as represented by lines
19 in accordance with commands delivered to the buffer 18 by the
user on the basis of information displayed on the terminal display
screen 20.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, this is a larger reproduction of the
screen 20 of FIG. 6. The blank area which occupies most of FIG. 7
corresponds to area of the display screen on which programme
elements will be displayed, and the symbols appearing at the bottom
of the screen correspond to displayed icons which represent the
content of a series of programme element data packets stored in the
buffer 18.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 8, the icons appearing at the foot of the
screen shown in FIG. 7 are reproduced next to numbers 1 to 16.
Assuming that programme element data packets are being delivered at
a rate such that a real-time reproduction of a live event can be
produced, the display screen will show the live action. Programme
elements of particular interest are however stored for later
reproduction, each stored programme element being classified and
represented by an associated icon. The first icon corresponds to
"kick off", that is the first passage of the game. The second icon
indicates a high quality passing sequence, the third a high quality
long pass, the fourth a shot on goal, the fifth a yellow card
warning to player number 8, the sixth a further high quality
passing sequence, the seventh a goal, the eighth a further shot on
goal, the ninth a further yellow card warning to player number 4,
the tenth a penalty, the eleventh another goal, the twelfth half
time (45 minutes), the thirteenth another high quality passing
sequence, the fourteenth a corner, the fifteenth a penalty, and the
sixteenth another goal. Home team icons may be highlighted for
example in red and away team icons in black.
[0041] The icons appear from the bottom left of the screen and
continue moving to the right as the game progresses. This means
that the oldest recorded events are on the right. Further events
will cause the oldest events to be displaced.
[0042] The programme element data packets represented in FIG. 8 are
generated by storing only data packets including events which are
of interest to the terminal operator as defined by a minimum
priority set by that operator. For example none of the recorded
programme elements corresponds to boring periods of play. The user
can simply review the icons and switch between different icons
using a keyboard or remote control device in a conventional manner,
for example by moving a cursor on the simulated control panel at
the bottom right hand corner of FIG. 7. It is easy for the operator
to see in the example represented in FIG. 8 that there were ten
highlights exceeding the operators threshold setting before half
time. The colour of the icons will indicate which team if any
dominated play. It can be seen that there was a good passing
movement, a good long forward pass before an identified player
received a yellow card. The first half included two goals for teams
identified by the colour of the associated icon. The current score
can be determined by looking at the colour of the three icons
representing the scoring of a goal. The terminal operator has the
choice of either seeing the whole broadcast programme, seeing all
the highlights, or jumping through the sequence of highlights in
any desired order.
[0043] Thus a terminal operator can either watch a programme in a
conventional manner, or skip through parts of a broadcast programme
looking at only those sections of real interest, or periodically
review the displayed icons to see if anything of sufficient
interest has happened to merit further attention. The operator can
thus use the system to identify programme elements of interest
without it being necessary for the operator to do more than glance
occasionally at the screen. The operator can make a decision to
record all or only highlights of a broadcast programme, interact
with the programme by actively selecting programme elements to be
displayed, or allow the system to make a selection of programme
elements to be stored in accordance with a predetermined value
selection keyed into the terminal at an earlier time by the user,
or allow the generation of a continuous programme by allowing the
classification data transmitted with the programme elements to
control programme generation in accordance with a default set of
value selections determined by the system provider. The system can
be used in circumstances where the data delivery communications
channel can carry data at a rate sufficient to accommodate all of
the real-time programme transmission, or at a rate higher than a
conventional transmission (to allow the generation of for example
high definition images), or at a rate lower than a normal
transmission (in which case a "full" programme can be achieved by
repeating previously stored programme elements as necessary).
[0044] In terms of the significance to the user of the capabilities
of the system, the terminal gives great flexibility so that the
terminal operator can choose to experience a broadcast event in any
of a large number of ways, for example by:
[0045] 1. Setting a threshold value to select only highlights of a
transmission.
[0046] 2. Setting a threshold value which could be transmitted to
the programme source and used at that programme source to select
"above threshold" passages of play from for example more than one
sporting event.
[0047] 3. Displaying by means of icons a "storyboard" of a sequence
of events to allow rapid access to events of particular
significance.
[0048] 4. Choosing to permanently record any set or subset of
highlights.
[0049] 5. Recalling and replaying any stored item at will
substantially instantaneously.
[0050] 6. Storing programme elements and associated icons for
review at the icon level or as a full programme at a later
time.
[0051] 7. Storing automatically only the highlights of an event for
later review, thereby reducing storage requirements.
[0052] 8. Arranging for the system to take out elements of a
broadcast event of little interest to the viewer.
[0053] 9. Watching a programme live and automatically storing
highlights for later replay.
[0054] 10. Using the system to "watch" a programme so as to alert
the operator when something interesting is happening.
[0055] In reduced bandwidth systems in which the available
bandwidth does not allow the delivery to the user's terminal of all
of the real-time broadcast signal, it is necessary to "expand" the
time occupied on the screen by transmitted programme elements so as
to "fill in" periods of time during which programme elements are
being transmitted. This can be achieved by simply repeating
programme elements, assuming that each viewed programme element
corresponds to the simple reproduction of a real-time series of
events, or by using still images and associated audio signals.
There are many occasions, particularly during lapses in action,
where a still picture and well recorded sound is better than poor
video in terms of enhancing the entertainment value. Such an
application of the present invention is described with reference to
FIG. 9.
[0056] FIG. 9 represents a screen which has been split into four
sections A to D. These different sections can be used for any
specific purpose, can vary in size, and their usage may be changed
according to the dynamics of the broadcast material. For the
purposes of illustration section A of FIG. 9 may be used to display
a moving video picture, section B diagrams or graphs, and section C
a high quality still picture. An associated audio programme is also
produced. For example, the system illustrated schematically in FIG.
9 can be used in association with the broadcast of a programme
describing a golf tournament. A golfer may be shown standing on the
fairway of a particular hole at a famous gold course in section A
of the screen. The golfer can be describing the beauty of the
course and how he would play that hole. Section C of the screen can
be used to present a very high quality image of the golfer's
current location. Section B may contain a plan of the hole showing
where the golfer's first drive finished, with distance markers,
ranges and the like.
[0057] The golfer can work to a script which directs the user's
attention to selected parts of the screen. For example the golfer
may draw the attention of the terminal user to the way the ground
falls away to the left, the dangers of over-pitching straight into
a bunker guarding the green, and the beauty of the course and
various geographical features. All the time that the golfer is
delivering this message, there is no motion at all on the screen.
If the golfer talks for 20 seconds about the still picture image on
the screen, this gives 20 seconds for the next video section to
build up in the system buffer. That next video section can then be
replayed at a higher speed than that at which it was recorded in
the buffer so as to improve the perceived quality.
[0058] Further pre-recorded data packets may be used to make up the
final programme. For example an illustration of the golfer's
technique of relevance to the particular hole may be taken from a
library of information held on a CD in the PC CD drive, that
information being displayed in section A of the screen whilst a
sponsors message appears in place of the course plan in section
B.
[0059] Section D of the screen shows icons, in the illustrated case
numbers, which are either subjective ratings by the programme
producer of the significance of associated programme elements, or
identify particular events in a manner similar to the football
example illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8. This makes it possible to the
user to jump between sections of the programme, repeating sections
of interest at will, thereby once again obtain control over the
programme as a whole.
[0060] It will be appreciated that programme elements can be
reproduced serially, that is a programme could be made up of
programme elements presented one at a time with no overlap between
successive elements, or in parallel, that is a programme may be
made up of programme elements some of which will be presented
simultaneously. The simultaneous presentation of programme elements
could enhance a user's appreciation in various circumstances. For
example, if a programme to be presented to a user is intended to
represent the progress of a car race, most of a display screen
could be occupied by an image showing the two leading cars in the
race, with the remaining area of the screen showing an image
representing the approach to the finish line of that race. Such
combinations of images can enhance the appreciation of a programme
by linking together two events where a first one of the events (the
relative position of the two leading cars) and a second event
(their approach to the finishing line) is of significance to an
overall appreciation of the subject of the programme.
[0061] It will also be appreciated that combinations of images can
be presented either serially or in parallel so as to enhance the
impact of advertisements by linking the presentation of particular
advertisements to the occurrence of particular events. For example,
programme elements representing the progress of a motor race may be
combined with a programme element representing advertising images
the presentation of which can be linked to the progress of the
race. One possibility would be to put on the screen advertising
material relevant to the sponsor of a race car or the supplier of
tyres to a race car at the time that race car successfully crosses
the finishing line. A sponsor's message could thus be superimposed
on or otherwise combined with images of the winning race car and
driver.
[0062] The embodiments of the invention described above assume that
programme element classification is controlled by the source of the
programme elements. It is possible however for a user of the system
to determine the programme element classifications, either to
replace classifications set by the programme element source, or to
establish a set of programme elements and associated
classifications from an unclassified broadcast programme. For
example, a user could receive a broadcast of an event, store the
entire broadcast, divide the stored programme into programme
elements of interest, and set classifications for each programme
element of interest. Thus a user could classify programme elements
related to a sporting event on a basis ideally suited to the
interests of that user, thereby enabling a subsequent reproduction
of the programme elements in a manner controlled by reference to
the user's own classification system. A user would not then be
forced to rely upon the classification system considered
appropriate by the programme element source but could set up
classifications matching the particular user's interests however
idiosyncratic those interests might be.
[0063] Programme element classification can be used in a variety of
ways, for example to "time stamp" the beginning of one programme
element in a programme made up from a series of sequentially
presented programme elements. Thus a user wishing to suspend a
programme for a period of time so as to enable for example a
telephone call to be answered could in effect apply a "time stamp"
classification to the programme element being watched at the time
the decision to suspend is made, the applied classification being a
flag identifying the point in the programme to which the viewer
will wish to return after viewing restarts. The time stamp
classification would in effect modify the manner in which stored
programme elements are presented by causing the system to bypass
all earlier programme elements in the series of programme elements
making up the programme to be viewed.
[0064] In embodiments of the invention described with reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4, programme elements are classified by reference to a
"value" assessment of individual elements. In the embodiment of the
invention described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, classification
is by reference to the nature of the event. It will be appreciated
that various graphical representations of the classifications
associated with individual programme elements could be presented to
users. For example, in a classification system based on programme
element "values" on a scale of 1 to 10, the values of a series of
programme elements representing successive events in a real-time
broadcast programme may be presented in the form of a bar chart,
each bar of the chart having a length corresponding to the value in
the range 1 to 10 allocated to a respective programme element. Such
a presentation of the classifications of individual programme
elements would enable a user to rapidly access any series of
programme elements which on the basis of the allocated value
classifications is likely to be of significant interest.
* * * * *