U.S. patent application number 10/511797 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for user terminal, media system and method of delivering objects relating to broadcast media stream to user terminal.
Invention is credited to Anttila, Akseli, Kopra, Toni, Makipaa, Mikko.
Application Number | 20050154599 10/511797 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29248421 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050154599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kopra, Toni ; et
al. |
July 14, 2005 |
User terminal, media system and method of delivering objects
relating to broadcast media stream to user terminal
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system of delivering an
object relating to a broadcast media stream to a user terminal
(110) of a radio system (206). A broadcast system (2000) broadcasts
the media stream, associates the object to the media stream and
delivers an object identification of the object to at least one
user terminal (110) either through the radio system or as an RDS
broadcast. The user terminal (110) presents the object
identification in synchronization with the media stream in the user
terminal and sends, if a user requests the delivery of the object
based on the object identification, a transaction signal with the
object identification to a database (208) having at least one
object through the radio system (206). The database (208) delivers
the object of the object identification to the user terminal (110),
which sent the request signal, through the radio system (206).
Inventors: |
Kopra, Toni; (Vantaa,
FI) ; Makipaa, Mikko; (Helsinki, FI) ;
Anttila, Akseli; (Helsinki, FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CRAWFORD MAUNU PLLC
1270 NORTHLAND DRIVE, SUITE 390
ST. PAUL
MN
55120
US
|
Family ID: |
29248421 |
Appl. No.: |
10/511797 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 14, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI03/00290 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10511797 |
Oct 19, 2004 |
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10126623 |
Apr 22, 2002 |
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10511797 |
Oct 19, 2004 |
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10319475 |
Dec 16, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/426 20130101;
H04H 60/07 20130101; H04H 2201/40 20130101; H04N 21/4383 20130101;
H04N 21/6581 20130101; H04H 20/18 20130101; H04N 21/4786 20130101;
H04N 21/42202 20130101; H04N 21/4431 20130101; H04H 2201/70
20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101; H04N
21/84 20130101; H04N 21/4524 20130101; H04N 21/6547 20130101; H04L
29/06027 20130101; H04H 60/33 20130101; H04W 4/06 20130101; H04H
20/34 20130101; H04H 60/65 20130101; H04M 1/72403 20210101; H04N
21/8106 20130101; H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/433 20130101; H04H
60/46 20130101; H04N 21/485 20130101; H04N 21/6131 20130101; H04L
65/4084 20130101; H04M 1/72445 20210101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04H
60/51 20130101; H04H 60/66 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; H04H
60/80 20130101; H04H 2201/37 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04H
60/63 20130101; H04H 20/28 20130101; H04H 60/85 20130101; H04N
21/6181 20130101; H04H 60/73 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/001 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 1, 2002 |
WO |
PCT/IB02/02537 |
Claims
1. A method of delivering an object relating to a broadcast media
stream to a user terminal of a radio system, the method comprising:
broadcasting the media stream by a broadcast system, associating
the object to the media stream in the broadcast system, delivering
an object identification of the object from the broadcast system to
at least one user terminal, presenting the object identification in
synchronization with the media stream in the user terminal,
sending, if a user requests the delivery of the object based on the
object identification, a transaction signal with the object
identification from the user terminal to a database of at least one
object through the radio system, and delivering the object of the
object identification from the database to the user terminal, which
sent the request signal, through the radio system.
2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing
the broadcast system with object identifications of the objects
available in a database of an object provider.
3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising creating
the objects and the object identifications in the broadcast system
and saving the objects in a database.
4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising delivering
the object identification from the broadcast system to at least one
user terminal through the radio system.
5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising delivering
the object identification from the broadcast system to at least one
user terminal as an RDS broadcast.
6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising sending the
transaction signal from the user terminal directly to the database
of the object provider through the radio system.
7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising sending
first the transaction signal from the user terminal to a server
serving the broadcast system through the radio system, and sending
a signal with the object identification from the server to the
database of the object provider.
8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising associating
the object identification to the media stream such that the object
identification is attached to a broadcasting timeline of the media
stream, and delivering the object identification in accordance with
the broadcasting timeline of the media stream.
9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising recording
and processing the transfer of each object to the user terminals by
means of a transaction processing device.
10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising
identifying the format of the object identification and the object
by means of the user terminal, the identifying revealing
information, such as the supporting application needed, additional
rights pertaining to the object, forwarding limitations associated
with the object, or any combination thereof.
11. A media system relating to a broadcast system configured to
broadcast a media stream, the media system further comprising: a
radio system including at least one base station and at least one
user terminal, the broadcast system having a connection to the
radio system, the broadcast system being configured to associate at
least one object identification to a broadcasting timeline of the
broadcast media stream and the broadcast system being configured to
deliver object identifications to the user terminals; the user
terminal being configured to receive at least one object
identification from the broadcast system and to present the at
least one object identification in synchronization with the media
stream, and the user terminal being configured to send, if a user
requests the delivery of the object based on an object
identification, a transaction signal with the object identification
to a database having at least one object through the radio system,
and the database being configured to deliver the object of the
object identification to the user terminal, which sent the request
signal, through the radio system.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the database of the object
provider is configured to provide the broadcast system with object
identifications of the objects available in the database.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast system is
configured to create the objects and the object identifications and
save the objects in the database.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast system is
configured to deliver the object identification to at least one
user terminal through the radio system.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast system is
configured to deliver the object identification to at least one
user terminal as an RDS broadcast.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the user terminal is configured
to send the transaction signal directly to the database of the
object provider through the radio system.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the media system further
comprises a server serving the broadcast system, and the user
terminal is configured to send the transaction signal to the server
through the radio system, the server being configured to send a
signal with the object identification to the database of the object
provider.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast system comprises
a content creation tool configured to associate the object
identification to the media stream such that the object
identification is attached to a broadcasting timeline of the media
stream, and to deliver the object identification in accordance with
the broadcasting timeline of the media stream.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the media system further
comprises a billing unit configured to record and process of the
transfer of each object to the user terminals for billing
purposes.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the user terminal is configured
to identify the format of the object identification and the object,
the identifying revealing information, such as the supporting
application needed, additional rights pertaining to the object,
forwarding limitations associated with the object, or any
combination thereof.
21. A user terminal of a radio system, wherein the user terminal is
configured to receive an object identification of an object from a
broadcast system, the object being associated and synchronized to
the broadcast media stream in the broadcast system, present the
object identification in synchronization with the media stream in
the user terminal, send, if a user requests the delivery of the
object based on the object identification, a transaction signal
with the object identification to a database of at least one object
through the radio system, and receive the object of the object
identification delivered from the database through the radio
system.
22. The user terminal of claim 21, wherein the user terminal is
configured to receive the object identification from the broadcast
system through the radio system.
23. The user terminal of claim 21, wherein the user terminal is
configured to receive the object identification from the broadcast
system as an RDS broadcast.
24. The user terminal of claim 21, wherein the user terminal is
configured to send a transaction signal directly to the database of
the object provider through the radio system.
25. The user terminal of claim 21, wherein the user terminal is
configured to send a transaction signal from the user terminal to a
server serving the broadcast system through the radio system, the
server then sending a signal with the object identification to the
database of the object provider.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system of delivering
objects relating to a broadcast media stream to a user
terminal.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Broadcasters, such as the television and radio, have taken
steps to provide the audience with supplementary digital services,
such as program information, news, weather information,
competitions and other related content, in addition to a
traditional media stream. The supplementary digital services are
usually delivered over the Internet using the personal computers of
the audiences or other devices capable of connecting to the
Internet.
[0003] Radio and television stations often deliver content of the
content providers through their service and get revenues out of
content sales. Broadcasters are already offering ringing tones and
logos on their web sites, which are delivered to a user from the
content provider's system. The user is required to navigate to the
broadcaster's web site to access the information on what content is
available and how to acquire or purchase it. The broadcasters have
to promote the web address in the broadcast to attract users to
visit the web site.
[0004] There are, however, problems related to acquiring and
delivering the objects. Often, people do not have a PC with
Internet access when they are receiving the broadcast.
Additionally, navigating through a complicated Internet web
structure to the correct service address is laborious and time
consuming. Moreover, the acquisition of a ringing tone, for
example, requires the user to send a text message to a defined
service number with a service code and content identification
string. The service codes and identification strings are difficult
to remember. The complexity in accessing the service results in a
high barrier for a user to connect to a service and low ratings of
the service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide an improved method
and system for delivering an object to a user. According to an
aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of delivering
an object relating to a broadcast media stream to a user terminal
of a radio system. The method further comprises broadcasting the
media stream by a broadcast system, associating the object to the
media stream in the broadcast system, delivering an object
identification of the object from the broadcast system to at least
one user terminal, presenting the object identification in
synchronization with the media stream in the user terminal,
sending, if a user requests the delivery of the object based on the
object identification, a transaction signal with the object
identification from the user terminal to a database of at least one
object through the radio system, and delivering the object of the
object identification from the database to the user terminal, which
sent the request signal, through the radio system.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a media system relating to a broadcast system configured
to broadcast a media stream. The media system further comprises: a
radio system including at least one base station and at least one
user terminal, the broadcast system having a connection to the
radio system, the broadcast system being configured to associate at
least one object identification to a broadcasting timeline of the
broadcast media stream and the broadcast system being configured to
deliver object identifications to the user terminals; the user
terminal being configured to receive at least one object
identification from the broadcast system and to present the at
least one object identification in synchronization with the media
stream, and the user terminal being configured to send, if a user
requests the delivery of the object based on an object
identification, a transaction signal with the object identification
to a database having at least one object through the radio system,
and the database being configured to deliver the object of the
object identification to the user terminal, which sent the request
signal, through the radio system.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a user terminal of a radio system. The user terminal is
configured to receive an object identification of an object from a
broadcast system, the object being associated and synchronized to
the broadcast media stream in the broadcast system, present the
object identification in synchronization with the media stream in
the user terminal, send, if a user requests the delivery of the
object based on the object identification, a transaction signal
with the object identification to a database of at least one object
through the radio system, and receive the object of the object
identification delivered from the database through the radio
system.
[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the
dependent claims.
[0009] The method and system of the invention provide several
advantages. The present solution provides the user with information
about the object at the same moment when the user has an
opportunity to request and receive the object. The ordering of an
object is simple and fast, because the user needs only to activate
a request of the object based on the object identification
presented to the user, without needing to remember or use codes for
the identification of the object.
LIST OF DRAWINGS
[0010] In the following, the invention will be described in greater
detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and the
accompanying drawings, in which
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a radio system,
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a media system,
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a broadcast system and a
server,
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a user terminal,
[0015] FIG. 5A shows signalling in the media system,
[0016] FIG. 5B shows signalling in the media system,
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a display of the user terminal with an object
identification, and
[0018] FIG. 7 represents a flow chart of the method.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Let us first study FIG. 1 that illustrates the structure of
a radio system although it is assumed known per se. The radio
system can be based on, for example, UMTS (Universal Mobile
Telephone System) or WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple
Access).
[0020] The core network may, for example, correspond to the
combined structure of the GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications) and GPRS systems (General Packet Radio Service).
The GSM network elements are responsible for the implementation of
circuit-switched connections, and the GPRS network elements for the
implementation of packet-switched connections, some of the network
elements being, however, shared by both systems.
[0021] A centre 100 represents a mobile services switching centre
(MSC) and a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) enabling
circuit-switched and packet-switched signalling, respectively, in
the radio system. Because all traffic in the radio system can be
controlled by the centre 100, the centre 100 can gather the
accounting information of each user for use in billing.
[0022] The core network may have a gateway unit 102, which
represents a gateway mobile service switching centre (GMSC) and a
gateway GPRS support node (GGSN). GMSC attends to the
circuit-switched connections between the core network and external
networks, such as a public land mobile network (PLMN) or a public
switched telephone network (PSTN), and GGSN attends to the
packet-switched connections between the core network and external
networks, such as the Internet.
[0023] The centre 100 controls a radio access network (RAN) 104,
which may comprise at least one base station controller 106
controlling at least one base station 108. The base station
controller 106 can also be called a radio network controller, and
the base station can be called a node B. A user terminal 110
communicates with at least one base station 108 over a radio
interface.
[0024] A server 204, which is an important part of the present
solution, may be connected to the centre 100, but it may also be
connected to the gateway 102 or to some part of RAN 104. In some
applications, the server 206 may communicate with the radio system
over the radio interface in the same manner as the user terminal
110.
[0025] The user terminal can communicate using a GPRS method in the
parallel channel. Data in packets that contain address and control
data in addition to the actual data are transferred in a connection
set up using the GPRS method. Several connections may employ the
same transmission channel simultaneously. A packet-switching method
is suitable for data transmission where the data to be transmitted
is generated in bursts. In such a case, it is not necessary to
allocate a data link for the entire duration of transmission but
only for the time it takes to transmit the packets. This reduces
costs and saves capacity considerably during both the set-up and
use of the network.
[0026] The present solution is generally described in FIG. 2. A
media system, which can be called a visual radio system in many
applications, comprises the following elements: a broadcast
transmitting system 200, a content creation tool 202, a server 204,
a network 206 of the radio system and at least one user terminal
110. The broadcast system, which transmits broadcasts to users, can
be a cable TV network, a satellite TV network, a radio frequency TV
network, a radio cable or terrestrial network, and/or any TV or
radio network utilising digital transmission techniques. The users
of the broadcast system can be different from the users of the
radio system 206. The object provider's delivery system is also
included in this system and enables a delivery and a purchase of an
object.
[0027] A broadcast transmitting system 200, such as a radio
station, transmits a media stream. The media stream can be radio or
TV programs, for example.
[0028] In addition to the broadcast channel formed by the broadcast
system the present solution also provides a parallel channel, which
utilizes the content creation tool 202 and the radio system in
following way. Under the control of the broadcast transmitting
system 200, the content creation tool 202 outputs a signal with
information on a content item. The information can be an object
identification relating to the media stream, data about the music
played at the moment, a time table of the program, DJ's message to
the listeners or the like. The signal may include any of these
features alone or as a combination thereof. The object
identification of a deliverable or purchasable object is selected
from a list of the available objects maintained by an object
provider. The object identification refers to a deliverable object,
which may be purchased.
[0029] If the radio system is utilized, the signal enters a server
204, which serves as a gateway to the radio system, and the server
204 feeds the signal with the object identification relating to the
media stream to the network 206 of the radio system. A base station
of the network then transmits the signal to a user terminal 110 in
the coverage area of the broadcast, if the use of the parallel
channel has been initiated in the user terminal 110. The parameters
required for delivering and purchasing are included in the object
identification sent to the user terminal 110.
[0030] The object identification can also be sent to the user
terminals as a broadcast utilizing RDS (Radio Data System), if the
user terminals have a receiver for the RDS signal. The RDS
signalling can be utilized on the FM broadcast because the RDS
information is encoded in the FM signal.
[0031] The object and the object identification can comprise text,
a picture, a video, an audio recording, a game, a logo, a screen
saver, a ringing tone, vibration of the user terminal, light, beep,
link to web/WAP, a series of these or any combination thereof.
[0032] A user actively receiving the parallel channel or a RDS
signal has an opportunity to buy the object when the object
identification is shown to the user by the user terminal 110. The
object identification may be shown to the user for example at the
moment when a song having associated with the object starts playing
in the broadcast. When the user wishes to receive or buy the
offered object, the user initiates a request of delivery by
activating a "deliver" or "buy" button displayed on the screen of
the user terminal 110. If the object identification is sent to the
user through the radio system, it should be noted that there is no
need for the user to be able to receive or to be aware of the
broadcast, but it is enough that the user can receive the object
identification through the parallel channel. Naturally in this
case, the user terminal does not necessarily need a broadcast
receiver.
[0033] Irrespective of whether the object identification is sent
through the radio system or as a broadcast, the response to the
object identification can be carried out in the same way. The
activation of the "buy" or "deliver" button forms a signal
requesting the purchase or delivery of the object, and the signal,
including the object identification, is transmitted from the user
terminal 110 to the base station of the radio system 206. The radio
system 206 forwards the signal to the object provider's delivery
system by using, the parameters attached to the object
identification. If the object provider is an operator, the object
can be in an object database 208 which may be a part of the radio
system 206. The object provider can also be an administrator of the
server 204 which in that case may include the object database 208.
Additionally, the object provider can be the broadcaster, and
hence, the object database 208 can also be a part of the content
creation tool 202.
[0034] The signal to request the delivery or purchase can also be
handled by the broadcaster's system (content creation tool 202),
and the request can be used to create and archive statistics
crucial for revenue-sharing between the broadcaster and the object
provider.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows more details of the broadcast system and the
server. As already described in FIG. 2, along the parallel channel
of the media system, there may be the following elements: a
broadcast transmitting system 200, the content creation tool 202,
the visual server 204, the radio system 206 and at least one user
terminal 110. The broadcast transmitting system 200 of a radio
station uses a sophisticated digital content management system to
run a broadcast, such as an FM transmission, an AM transmission or
a digital radio or television transmission.
[0036] Broadcast System
[0037] A broadcast transmitting system 200 comprises a timing
information module 300, a dynamic content delivery module 302 and a
user interface 304. Timing information on the broadcast to
synchronize transmissions of the broadcast channel and the parallel
channel is communicated to the server 204 by the timing information
module 300. The timing information module 300 provides information
on the starting time and the ending time of a particular program,
as well as information on the timing of advertising breaks,
starting and ending of a song etc. The length of advertising and
other similar breaks can be deduced for example from the show run
time at the starting time of the break.
[0038] The dynamic content delivery module 302 can feed additional
content information to a content structure tool 312 and a content
object tool 310 in the content creation tool 202 and finally to a
content delivery engine 322 in the server 204. The additional
content information from the dynamic content delivery module 302
can be for example results of events in the broadcast, such as the
name of a winner in a quiz show. When the additional content
information is determined during the program, for example in live
events, sports coverage or in broadcast radio, the additional
content information is communicated to a content packaging module
310 to create content items dynamically.
[0039] In addition, the dynamic content delivery engine module 302
can receive interaction results from an interaction engine 324 in
the server 204 through a feedback module 314 used as a part of the
broadcast, for example, to display the results of a vote on the TV
as a video overlay. The feedback module 314 processes the
interaction signals from the users and creates a suitable
presentation to be shown to the broadcasting personnel or to the
receivers of the broadcast.
[0040] The broadcasting personnel uses a user interface 304 to
control and adjust parallel channel timing of the content items
with respect to the broadcast media stream. For example, the
signalling in the parallel channel may be paused and resumed. These
control events are communicated through a synchronization engine
320 in the server 204 to an interaction engine 400 in the user
terminal 110 and the synchronization engine 320 adjust the parallel
channel timing accordingly.
[0041] A broadcast content delivery module 306 transmits the
broadcast to a broadcast receiver 350, such as FM radio receiver,
TV set receiver, or the like. The receiver may be in the user
terminal.
[0042] Content Creation Tool
[0043] The content creation tool 202, which can also be called a
visual radio tool in many applications, forms the presentation of
the content items displayed in the user terminal. The content
creation tool 202 resides in a radio or in a television station and
the content creation tool 202 can be integrated with the broadcast
transmitting system 200 so as to form a broadcast system 2000.
[0044] The content creation tool 202 automatically associates or
the personnel uses the content creation tool to associate an object
identification with the media stream in a similar manner as any
content item is associated with the media stream. The content
structure tool 312 attaches timing to display each object
identification or another content item in a user terminal in
relation to a broadcasting timeline of the media stream (for
example, show the identification of this object on the screen of
the user terminal at 14:43:02 after the beginning of the program)
and defines the delivery of each object identification and other
content items in accordance with the broadcasting timeline of the
media stream.
[0045] In addition, the content creation tool 202 creates the
object identification and defines user navigation structure within
the parallel channel. The user navigation structure can define the
deliverer and the price of the object, etc. Responses that are sent
to the server 204 in response to the user interaction can be fed to
the feedback module 314 in the content creation tool 202.
[0046] The content structure tool 312 defines the layouts for
displaying the object identifications and other content objects,
such as their size and positions on the screen of the user
terminal.
[0047] The content packaging module 310 is used to create a content
package of the content item to be delivered to the user terminal
110, including the content structure definition created using the
content structure tool 312 as well as the content to be displayed,
including text strings, graphic file objects, animations, video
clips, etc. Additionally, the content packaging module 310 with the
information from the timing information module 300 may define the
object's availability prior, during and after broadcast of the
media stream, defining an additional time period during which the
media object's availability is announced but it is not available
for transfer, or any combination thereof. Any desired part of a
media stream may also be utilised to create of an object associated
with the media stream.
[0048] Generally, the content creation tool 202 allows the radio
station to create a visual, acoustic or tactual presentation and
manage the content flow shown on the screen of the user terminal in
synchronization with the broadcast. In addition, the content
creation tool allows the station to manage interactive elements,
such as delivering and purchasing objects, votings and quizzes.
[0049] Server
[0050] The server 204 provides the users with broadcast-related
content based on their current parallel channel selection. The
server 204 controls the content flow to and from the user terminal.
It facilitates the timed delivery of content to the user terminal
as well as collecting and forwarding interaction results to the
radio station. The server 204 controls the number of users. If
necessary, the server 204 limits the number of users using the
parallel channel at the same time. The server also takes care of
content adaptation for different application platforms in various
user terminals.
[0051] The synchronization engine 320 receives the starting time
and advertising break information from the timing information
module 300 of the broadcast transmitting system 200 or from the
content creation tool 204. In addition, the synchronization engine
320 provides the means for the user terminals 110 to synchronize
their clocks to the broadcast system time references by running a
synchronization algorithm with the server 204.
[0052] The content delivery engine 322 delivers a signal with the
content package created by the content packager 310 to the content
delivery engine 322 in the server. The signal is fed from the
content delivery engine 322 to the interaction engine 324 in the
server 204, which sends the signal through the radio system 206 to
the user terminal 110. A user terminal-specific variant of the
content item can be delivered, which contains graphics objects
optimised to the capabilities and the screen size of each user
terminal. One content package, including object identifications or
other content items, may correspond to the whole program and be
delivered before the program starts. The content can alternatively
be delivered in one package that contains both the user terminal
software module in a suitable format, such as a Java MIDlet and the
content package for a particular show. This is suitable for
recorded shows and programs, where the content and content timeline
are known beforehand. In this case, dynamic content can be
delivered in addition to the content package to take care of
variation in content during the broadcast. By delivering all or a
part of the content beforehand the network traffic of the radio
system 206 during the program reduces. The synchronization and the
timing makes it possible to present the content timely.
[0053] Alternatively, the content can be delivered dynamically in
content blocks, where a block corresponds to a segment of the
program. This approach is suitable for for example FM radio, where
the play list is usually decided for several songs to be played and
for advertising breaks.
[0054] Interaction Engine
[0055] The interaction engine 324 can forward delivery and purchase
requests from user terminals 110 to the provider's database, which
actually delivers the requested object. It is also possible that
the interaction engine 324 or some other part of the server 204
serves as a database, and also responds to the request and delivers
the requested object in addition, the interaction engine 324 in the
server 204 collects the interaction responses from the user
terminals and makes them available to the broadcast transmitting
system 200 as well as to the broadcast personnel for adaptation
purposes for instance. The interaction engine 324 may also create
and store statistics of the number of users as well as the activity
to participate in interactions.
[0056] A billing unit 330 is connected to the radio system 206 and
the billing unit 330 manages billing transactions relating to the
users' requests of objects and for generating invoices to the user
terminal in accordance with the billing transactions. The
transactions may be recorded so as to present invoices to users of
the media system. Both the billing unit 330 and the interaction
engine 324 may alone or together act as a transaction processing
device, which records and processes the transfer of each object to
the at least one user terminal.
[0057] Mobile
[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates a user terminal 110, which may comprise
conventional components, including wireless modems, processors,
memory, a user interface, a display, etc. In addition, the user
terminal may include a broadcast receiver 412, such as a TV or
radio tuner, video streaming engine, etc. The user terminal is
usually a mobile or a cellular telephone.
[0059] The user terminal 110 includes a specific software module
for creating the parallel channel experience. This module, which
comprises the blocks 400 to 410, can be implemented using a native
operating system, such as Symbian, or using a programming
environment, such as Java MIDP.
[0060] A content item, such as an object identification, delivered
to the user terminal 110 either from the server interaction engine
324 or as a broadcast, is stored in local memory 402. The content
structure is separated from content objects and screen layouts. The
content structure means a layout, a structure and a style of each
slide, where the slide means one screen of information in the user
terminal. The content item is an object identification (or an
object). The content item can be represented as a template to which
the texts and signs can be added. The content can be stored and
separated in a content storage of the local memory 402 as a
background process, so that the required information, such as an
object identification, is always available for a content processor
404 and for a rendering engine 406 when needed. The rendering
engine 406 forms the visual, acoustic and/or tactual effects of the
content item for the user. Default information can also be stored
in the content storage of the local memory 402 to be shown in case
dynamic content cannot be delivered to the user terminal 110 in
time.
[0061] The initiation of the reception of the object
identifications can be made in several ways. The user can select an
operation, which makes the user terminal to receive and display the
object identifications coming from the broadcast system either
through the radio system or as a broadcast. If the user terminal
includes a receiver for the broadcast channel, the user can select
a suitable broadcast channel, and the user terminal may
automatically initiate the reception and the display of the object
identification instead of manual initiation.
[0062] When the presentation of the object identification in the
user terminal 110 is initiated, the user terminal 110 may transmit
information about itself to the server 204, and the server 204
informs the user terminal of the media stream. With the information
about the user terminal, a specific variant of the content items
can be delivered, which contains for example graphics objects
optimised to the capabilities and the screen size of each user
terminal.
[0063] When the timer controller module 408 is connected to the
server 204, the timer controller module 408 may run a
synchronization algorithm to synchronize an internal clock of the
user terminal with the time in the server. A simple synchronization
algorithm can be used, based on calculating round trip delays of
requests sent to the server 204 from the user terminal 110 and
calculating the difference between the user terminal clock and the
server clock. Once the user terminal 110 has performed
synchronization and the starting time of a program is known, media
stream timeline references can be translated to references in the
internal clock of the user terminal 110. The content items can be
shown to the user in synchronization with the broadcast.
[0064] The timer controller 408 determines whether the program has
already started and what is the current timeline position. If the
program is running, the timer controller 408 can automatically find
a correct content item in the parallel channel to be displayed in
the user interface 410.
[0065] Once the user terminal, is, activated and the user terminal
has received a content item (object identification) to be shown at
the current time, the content processor 404 starts executing. The
processor 404 reads the content structure definition in the content
structure memory 4024 to determine the current content to be
displayed and communicates the content items and related layouts to
the rendering engine 406 for display in the user interface 410.
Based on the content structure definition, the content processor
404 instructs the timer controller 408 to create timer events to
trigger advancement in the parallel channel according to content
structure. When such a timer event takes place, the content
processor 404 is again initiated to display the next content item.
The processor 404 again reads structure definition in the content
structure memory 4024, determines the current content items and
layouts with the help of content objects memory 4022 and sends them
to a user interface 410 to be displayed.
[0066] When the displayed content item, such as an object,
identification, contains a possibility for the user to interact by
selecting an on-screen button widget or entering text to a text
entry widget, a signal having information on the action is
communicated from the user interface 410 to the content processor
404. The content processor 404 analyses the action and triggers a
transaction as defined by the content structure of the action. The
user activity triggers communication from the user terminals 110 to
the server 204 automatically and the user does not need to know a
long list of service numbers, service codes or identification
strings. The signal of the user action is communicated from the
content processor 404 to the interaction engine 400 of the user
terminal, which transmits the signal through the radio system 206
to the database 208 and possibly also to the interaction engine 324
of the server 204.
[0067] Next, the method of delivering an object to the user
terminal is explained using FIGS. 5A and 5B. In both Figures, it is
assumed that the object provider communicates a list of available
objects in the database to the broadcaster, with parameters
required to make a delivery and/or a purchase, including the
service providers contact number, a station-specific order code,
and unique object identification for each available object.
[0068] According to FIG. 5A the broadcasting section 500
(broadcasting system 200, content creation tool 204 and server 206)
makes an object available for delivery and purchase by sending a
signal 502 with the object identification through the parallel
channel by utilizing the radio system during a suitable period of
broadcast. The object identification can be broadcast to the user
also as an RDS signal from the broadcast system 2000. The
broadcaster uses the content creation tool to create a content
package, which, in addition to the parameters for delivering and
purchasing listed above, defines the type of user interaction
required for the order (e.g. a button to press), text strings and
images displayed to the user, and timing availability of the
offering (starting time and ending time).
[0069] In addition, the server 204 selects the required layouts and
versions of content objects, such as the correct-size versions of
displayed images, for a particular user terminal type.
[0070] The object identification information is displayed on the
screen of the user terminal 110 in synchronized fashion with the
radio broadcast, based on the timing information from the broadcast
system 2000. A widget allowing the user to initiate the request of
delivering the object is displayed as well. The widget may be sent
to the user terminals earlier than the piece of media stream
begins, but the showing of the widget is synchronized to the
broadcast. The widget may both be also sent and shown to the user
terminals in synchronization with the broadcast. The widget may be
shown to the user for example at the beginning of a piece of media
stream (such as a certain song or program) with which the object is
associated.
[0071] When the user wishes to buy the advertised object, he or she
activates the widget, which triggers a transaction of the delivery
of the object.
[0072] The specific module of creating the parallel channel
experience in the user terminal 110 sends a transaction signal 504
to the database 208 of the object provider. The user terminal 110
also sends a terminal identity (such as MSISDN=Mobile Subscriber
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or SIP (Session
Initiation Protocol) address) with the object identification to the
database 208 if not already available. The user terminal 110 may
also send a signal 506 relating to the transaction signal 504 to
the broadcasting section 500 (to the server 206) to make the
broadcaster for instance to monitor and to keep statistics on the
demand of the objects. The signal 506 is sent to the broadcasting
section 500 through the radio system.
[0073] In the database 204 of the object provider, the user
terminal is identified from the received signal 504, which may be
an SMS (Short Message Service) message. The database sends in
response to the request a signal 508 with the ordered object to the
user terminal 110 by a suitable delivery channel (SMS, WAP COD
(Wireless Application Protocol Content Delivery), MMS (Multimedia
Messaging Service)) by utilizing the radio system.
[0074] When the user terminal 110 receives the signal 508 with the
object, it notifies the user. The object can be saved in the memory
of the user terminal and shown to the user.
[0075] FIG. 5B shows an alternative way to order the object.
Similar to FIG. 5A the broadcasting section 500 makes an object
available for delivery and purchase by sending a signal 502 with
the object identification through the parallel channel by utilizing
the radio system or through the broadcasting network as an RDS
signal during a suitable period of the broadcast. And when the user
wishes to buy the advertised object, he or she activates the widget
which triggers the transaction of the delivery of the object.
[0076] The specific module of creating the parallel channel
experience in the user terminal sends a transaction signal 510 to
the broadcaster section 500 (server 204). The server may record the
request, add it to the statistics and forward it to the content
creation tool for monitoring purposes.
[0077] The broadcaster section 500 (content creation tool) sends a
signal 512 with the request composed of a station specific order
code and unique object identifier to the database 208 of the object
provider as defined by the object identifier. The request can be a
text string. The broadcaster section 500 may send the request
through the radio system. The broadcaster section 500 also needs to
send a terminal identity (such as MSISDN or SIP) to the server 204,
if not already available.
[0078] The database 208 of the object provider identifies the
terminal from the received signal, which may be an SMS message, and
in response to the request sends a signal 508 with the ordered
content to the user terminal by a suitable delivery channel (SMS,
WAP COD, MMS).
[0079] When the user terminal 110 receives the signal 508 with the
object, it notifies the user. The object can be saved in the memory
of the user terminal.
[0080] When the object is transferred to the user terminal, it may
be identified by the terminal by its format or supporting
application (e.g. through MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail
Extension) type mapping). This initial identification may further
reveal which type of potential use is allowed. In other words,
additional rights and limitations may be attached to the object
(e.g. the user's ability to forward the object to others may be
limited). Hence, when a specific user purchases a certain object,
which is transferred to the terminal, the object includes
privileges describing rights and limitations in use or copying of
the object.
[0081] FIG. 6 shows a user terminal 110 whose display shows an
object identification. The name 600 expresses what is available at
the moment, and the widget 602 as a hotkey can be activated in
several ways. The display can be sensitive to touch. Additionally
or alternatively, pressing a certain key 604, some keys 606 or any
key 608 of the user terminal may activate the widget to send a
transaction signal requesting the delivery of the object.
[0082] Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates the main steps of the method
once again. In step 700, the method begins. In step 702, the
broadcast system is broadcasting the media stream. In step 704, an
object is associated with the media stream in the broadcast system.
In step 706, an object identification of the object is delivered
from the broadcast system to at least one user terminal 110. In
step 708, the user terminal presents the object identification in
synchronization with the media stream. In step 710, if at least one
user requests the delivery of the object based on the object
identification, a transaction signal is sent with the object
identification from the at least one user terminal to a database of
at least one object through the network of the radio system. And in
step 712, the object is delivered from the database to the at least
one user terminal, which sent the request signal, through the
network of the radio system. In step 714 the method ends.
[0083] The object provider is a party who has the rights for a
relevant digital content, a distribution system for delivering the
content to the user terminals, and the capability to bill the end
user for the content. The object provider's delivery system is
responsible for receiving and handling delivery requests and
delivering the actual content to the user terminal. The object
provider's delivery system also initiates the billing of the user.
Typically, this is done using the operators billing system, and the
network operator adds the cost to the user's monthly bill. Often
network operators have the dual role of delivering an object and
billing the delivery of the object.
[0084] In the user terminal, the media system provides an
integrated user experience, allowing the user to start both
listening to a broadcast and receiving the content relating to the
broadcast. The operation of the media system is based on two
channels, the broadcast channel and the parallel channel. The media
system also provides the visual and interactive parallel channel
functionality, such as receiving and displaying content and
reporting user interactions to the server.
[0085] Even though the invention is described above with reference
to examples according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear
that the invention is not restricted thereto but it can be modified
in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.
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