HK1051939A

HK1051939A - Presenting programs

Info

Publication number: HK1051939A
Application number: HK03104126.6A
Authority: HK
Inventors: 彼得‧欧内斯特‧胡卡姆-米勒
Original assignee: 彼得‧欧内斯特‧胡卡姆-米勒
Priority date: 2000-03-01
Filing date: 2001-02-28
Publication date: 2003-08-22

Description

Presenting programs

Technical Field

The present invention relates to program presentation and in particular, but not exclusively, to providing further content and/or interaction to a user of a program presentation terminal via a data communications system.

Background

Broadcast systems are known in which a program to be presented, such as a television or radio program, is transmitted to its users (viewers) by means of a receiver device. For example, the basic principles and operation of television program broadcasting systems and the theory of displaying television programs to viewers of television sets are known to the skilled person and therefore such operation need not be explained in detail here. It is sufficient to note that: broadcast systems include systems based on wireless program signal transmission, satellite transmission, cable transmission, and the like, and program signal transmission may include analog or digital signal transmission and/or combinations of these transmission means.

These programs may be broadcast as live or recorded programs. Live broadcast presents events, such as football programs, news or sweepstakes, to viewers in substantially real time. These recorded programs have been recorded in advance and then transmitted at the appropriate time and presented to the viewer. Recorded programmes may also be presented from storage media such as videotape or audiotape, Compact Disc (CD) or Digital Video Disc (DVD) etc. by means of a video player, a video or CD player or a tape player. The recording may contain a program that has been previously broadcast or a recording that has been recorded to be released through a video or audio store.

Programs may also be categorized into several categories such as news, sports, game shows, entertainment shows, comedies, drama series, movies, children's shows, educational programs, documentaries, and so forth. For example, the goal of education is to help its audience learn new things and grow their knowledge and/or technology. Educational programs can be viewed by different groups of people, such as children or children, students, adults, or anyone who wishes to learn something new. The game programs may include, for example, entertainment programs that require no or only a modest fee and programs with wagering properties such as lotteries or bets.

Programs, such as documentaries, educational programs, and/or game programs, may include various motivational features or events, such as special tasks or executions that require questions to be answered or performed by a viewer or audience, or other events from which a remote audience desires feedback or from which the viewer desires to receive more information. Everyone watching a drama or comedy may wish to experience a story and/or the end of a story. The person watching the recording may wish to receive some further information and/or background of the fact, etc.

It is believed that interactivity may generally make programs more interesting and/or increase the efficiency of educational programs. For example, viewers of a TV program may wish to have the possibility of responding to questions, events, or other stimulus characteristics of the program they are currently watching. However, a conventional broadcast system does not provide feasible ease-of-use and affordable interactivity as desired by a distant viewer.

The viewer (or listener) may also wish to receive further content related to the program it is watching. The content may be any relevant information such as further information on the event or feature of the program, background information, information on the rules of the game to be displayed, etc. The further content may also include views from another angle, playback of an event, other views or parts of a program not shown by the broadcast system, etc.

Previously proposed solutions have proposed using the public switched communication network (PSTN) or other conventional telephone networks for program interaction. According to the previously proposed solution, the viewer or listener needs to have a telephone to call the television studio. The viewer may also contact the studio through a Personal Computer (PC) connected to the internet to give his answers or to give some other feedback or to obtain further information. Broadcast systems are generally not enabled to provide any tailored communication to selected users, except for telephone (or internet) calls between viewers and, for example, the presenter of the program over the public telephone network. Some viewers may find it inconvenient to call for a particular number provided by a program. Although communication is possible using the internet, not everyone has a home PC connected to the internet. A proportion of people also find PC and internet subscriptions too expensive and/or difficult to install and/or use and/or operate.

The previously proposed solutions therefore do not provide a cost-effective solution for interaction with a broadcast system, such as interactive learning or game programs or acquiring further content related to the program. This is not achieved for the following reasons: there is a lack of affordable and practical solutions to provide a communication channel towards a broadcast system or any other source of further content. Current solutions do not provide personalized interactivity and or further content to each user in a satisfactory manner.

The user may also wish to have mobility while watching or listening to the program. Such mobility may be limited by a wired connection between the terminal for interactive communication and the communication system. Furthermore, the current architecture may only provide a limited possibility of interactivity and/or further content related to the recorded program.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention aim to address one or several of the above problems. It is an object of particular embodiments to provide adapted interactivity and/or further content to a user of a conventional program presentation system via a user equipment that can communicate via a different communication medium than that used to provide the program.

According to an aspect of the invention, a method of presenting a program to a user is provided. In the method information about the user is stored in the remote management unit, preferably in its database. The program signal is provided to the program presentation device by a program signal broadcast system, and the program is then presented to the user based on the program signal. Predetermined events are monitored and, upon detection of the predetermined event, data is transmitted between the remote management unit and user equipment operable by the user while enjoying the program. The transmission is made over a data network and a wireless data communication link between the data network and the user equipment. The data associated with the program is personalized based on said stored information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of presenting a program to a user is provided. In which method information about the user is stored in a remote management unit. A program signal is generated by the playback device and subsequently provided to the program presentation apparatus. The program is then presented to the user based on the program signal. Predetermined events are monitored and, in response to detection of a predetermined event, data is transmitted between the remote management unit and user equipment operable by the user while enjoying the program. The transmission is made over a data network and a wireless data communication link between the data network and the user equipment. The data associated with the program is personalized based on said stored information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for providing interactivity to a viewer of a television program that has been provided via a television system. The television program is displayed to the viewer based on the signal from the television system. The method further comprises the steps of: packet data messages are generated that are communicated between the remote management unit and a handheld controller operable by the viewer while the viewer is watching the program. The management unit is connected to the packet switched data communication system and comprises a processor for processing information related to the viewer and a storage means for storing the information. The management unit also stores information related to the program. The hand-held controller is associated with a wireless module that initiates a wireless data communication link between the controller and a packet-switched communication network. According to a further method step, a packet data message is transmitted between the radio module and the packet-switched telecommunications system via a wireless data communication link, the transmitted signal from the television system and the packet data message being in different communication systems.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for presenting a program is provided. The system includes a program presentation terminal that presents a program to a user and a broadcast system that provides the program to the program presentation terminal. A data communications network is also provided. The remote management unit is connected to a data communication network. The remote management unit comprises a processor for processing data related to the program and a storage unit for storing information related to the user. Said processor being adapted to personalize data associated with the program based on information associated with the user. The system further includes user equipment operable by the user while the user is enjoying the program. The user equipment is adapted to communicate over the data network via a wireless data communication link between the data communication network and the user equipment and to provide information to the user based on data received from the remote management unit via the wireless data communication link while the user is enjoying the program.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for presenting a program is provided. The system includes a program presentation terminal that presents a program to a user and a program playback device that provides the program to the program presentation terminal. Packet data communication networks are also provided. The remote management unit is connected to a packet data communication network. The remote management unit comprises a processor for processing data related to the program and a storage unit for storing information related to the user. Said processor being adapted to personalize data associated with the program based on information associated with the user. User equipment operable by a user while the user is enjoying a program is also provided. The user equipment is adapted to communicate over a data packet network via a wireless data communication link between the data communication network and the user equipment and to provide information to the user based on data received from the remote management unit via the wireless data communication link while the user is enjoying the program.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for presenting television programs is provided. The system comprises a television terminal for displaying a television program based on a program signal and a program signal providing system adapted to provide the program signal to the television terminal. A packet data communication system is provided for data communication. The management unit is connected to a packet switched data communication system. Said management unit comprises a database storing personalization information related to viewers of a television program and a processor adapted to process data related to the television program. The system further comprises a portable user device adapted to be operable by a viewer while watching the television program. The portable user device includes a communication module for enabling data to be communicated over a wireless interface between the portable user device and a packet data communication system. The portable user equipment and the management unit are both adapted to communicate data related to the television program over said wireless interface and the packet data communication system while presenting the television program to the viewer on the basis of the program signal provided by the program signal providing system.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable user equipment operable while a viewer of a television program is watching a program provided by a television terminal adapted to receive television signals from a television system. The user equipment comprises a communication module for enabling data communication over a wireless interface between the portable user equipment and a packet data communication system, which is a system independent of the television system. The user equipment also comprises a controller adapted to process data received from or to be transmitted to a remote management unit connected to the packet data communication system. The portable user equipment is adapted to communicate data related to the television program and which has been personalized based on the personalized features of the viewer over said wireless interface while the television program is being provided to the viewer.

In more specific embodiments of the present invention, the data transmission may originate from a remote unit. Information related to the program may also be stored in the remote unit. Alternatively, data may be transmitted from the user equipment. A broadcast system or apparatus that rebroadcasts the recorded program may provide a program signal to a presentation device. The user device may comprise a portable or handheld controller. Wireless communication may be provided between the controller and other devices of the system.

The packet data communication network is preferably based on one of the third generation communication standards. The wireless link may comprise a short range radio link. The wireless link may operate in an unlicensed radio band. The wireless link may employ frequency hopping in which the frequency may change between subsequent data packets.

The data transmission over the wireless link may include control instructions for the user equipment, additional information related to the program, and/or further content related to the program. Data transmission between the user equipment and the remote management unit may provide interactivity between the viewer of the television program and the television system.

The program may include at least one event that may be responded to by the user, for example by inputting a response to the user device. The user device may present an audio message and/or a video message based on data transmitted from the remote unit. Voice-based internet protocol (VOIP) may transmit voice messages. The data transmission may be initiated by events defined in the program in advance or based on monitoring of a time code associated with the recording medium used to store the program. The user may also initiate data transfer by entering a voice message into the controller or pressing the appropriate key. At least one element of the user equipment may be operated based on data received from the remote management unit.

The data to be transmitted to the user device is preferably personalized prior to transmission based on information stored in a database of the remote management unit. The user may be enabled to modify the information stored in the database.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a cost effective method of enabling a viewer of, for example, a TV program to communicate with it and/or receive further content and related information related to the program. There is no requirement that any means be provided to provide linking and or synchronization between the program and the preferred two-way communication on the premise that the user enjoys the program. These embodiments thus enable easy and/or affordable interactivity with programs. These embodiments may be used with existing television or radio receivers in any household today. These embodiments may provide the user with selectable and/or adapted data. The adaptation may be based on personal characteristics of each user of the system. These embodiments may produce programs and/or children's programs and/or games that are more interesting to viewers based on interactive learning. These embodiments also enable more feasible and affordable real-time communications between users and program service providers than conventional approaches.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of data communication over a cellular network;

FIG. 5 illustrates an architecture of a management unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 6 shows an example of an information record stored in the management unit of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention relating to the presentation of TV programs transmitted over a public television broadcast network 25. The television network 25 may be any network such as a conventional analog network or a digital television network. The network 25 comprises a transmitter or antenna 2 for transmitting television signals towards the television apparatus 1. It will be appreciated that instead of transmitting the television signal via an antenna, the signal may be transmitted via other media, such as cable or a subscription satellite (not shown). It will also be appreciated that although only one antenna and television set is shown for clarity, the number of antennas and television sets connected to the TV network is typically much greater.

The television network system also has a broadcasting apparatus 3 that supplies television program signals to the antenna. It should be understood that broadcasters typically include a variety of different elements in a television studio and elsewhere in a television system. The apparatus required to provide the antenna 2 with television program signals and the operation thereof are well known and do not form part of the present invention and will therefore not be described in further detail herein.

The system of fig. 1 further comprises a data processing entity or management unit 4 having a processor device 5 and a storage means or database 7. A database 7 is provided for storing information on individual users 14 of the system. That is, each user of the system may be individually registered on the administration unit 4 to tailor a personalized experience for each user based on the information stored in the database. The information stored in the database 7 may be used, for example, to personalize communications to each user. For example, additional content related to a particular program may be personalized, for example, so that different viewers with different interests may receive different additional content.

In its simplest form, the information relating to the user may comprise instructions allowing the user to obtain data from the management unit 4 or to transmit data to the management unit 4. The database 7 or a different database is also preferably used for storing information related to the program, such as additional content or background information. The management unit or hub 4 may communicate via a connection 17 with one or several elements of the television system 25, although this is not required in all embodiments.

The management unit 4 is connected to a suitable gateway device 8 for communication via the packet data communication network 6. For example, the management unit 4 may be provided with voice over IP (internet protocol) gateway means to initiate voice communication over a packet switched Internet Protocol (IP) over a data network. The skilled person is familiar with various possible gateway architectures for connecting data processing entities to a data network and will therefore not be discussed in more detail here.

The administration unit 4 may operate and run through an independent service provider that provides interactivity and/or other content services. Alternatively the management unit 4 may be controlled by the TV company itself. As will be explained below, the program providers and/or production groups of television programs may also be connected to the management unit 4 so that they can communicate with the viewer via the interactive system and/or control the communication between the viewer (i.e. the user 14) and the management unit 4.

The data communication network 6 may comprise any network capable of providing transport services to the management unit 4. The communication system preferably provides broadband communication services to its subscribers. Broadband services are preferably provided to home users via a data communication system, for example, based on any of the third generation (3G) communication standards. An example of the 3G standard will be discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 4. Data packet networks may also be based on technologies such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL). The data communication system typically includes various elements such as one or more network controllers, switches and/or routers (not shown for clarity) and one or more gateways 8.

The home base station 9 is shown connected to the data communication network 6 and thus also to the management unit 4. The connection between the management unit 4 and the base station 9 may be based on any suitable data transmission protocol, such as the Internet Protocol (IP). The base station 9 is adapted to connect the data network 6 and one or several user equipments within a certain area of the base station 9. The particular area may be, for example, a unit of a house, a suburban residential area, or an apartment.

User 14 is provided with a portable user device. The user equipment may comprise a portable (i.e. handheld) field controller 10, which controller 10 can be seen and operated by a user while watching the TV apparatus 1. The controller 10 provides an interactive remote base station which communicates with the base station 9 via a wireless interface 13. To achieve this, the controller 10 of fig. 1 has a radio communication module 12 capable of wireless high-speed data connection with the base station 9. Thus, the data network 6 and the base station 9 are able to provide broadband communication between the management unit 4 and the portable controller 10.

In the case of using a public data communication network providing wireless services to users, the user equipment 10 may be adapted to communicate directly with base stations of the data network. Such an embodiment is described in more detail with reference to fig. 4. Alternatively, the wireless link 13 between the controller 10 and the base station 9 may be based on a communication protocol capable of providing local low power wireless services. The low power wireless service may be different from the standards and protocols of the data network 6. The low power wireless link may be provided by a Short Range Radio Link (SRRL) between any two or more that are sufficiently close to each other. Short-range low-power wireless services typically operate in unlicensed frequency ranges, such as frequencies above 2 GHz. For example, the unlicensed ISM bands 2.4 to 2.5GHz and 5.725 to 5.875GHz are permissible in the united states.

The controller 10 and the base station 9 have suitable wireless communication modules 12 and 19, respectively, so that a two-way call can be made between the two base stations. The wireless modules 12 and 19 are preferably based on standardized low power radio communication components. It will be appreciated that although this description describes a base station comprising a wireless module, in its simplest form the base station 9 may be constituted by a radio transmitter and/or receiver and means for connecting the transmitter and/or receiver to the data network 6.

A suitable low power radio service that can be used in this embodiment is based on so-called Bluetooth^TMAnd (4) protocol. The term Bluetooth^TMIs a specification for a small factor, low cost, Short Range Radio Link (SRRL) between various devices, such as mobile stations, portable personal computers, and other portable devices, as formulated by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMAnd real-time voice and data transmission is facilitated. If the controller 10 is equipped with Bluetooth^TMThe wireless module 12 is provided with a controller and also with Bluetooth^TMA connection can be established between the base stations 9 of the radio modules 19. Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMThe technology allows for the replacement of any cable that connects devices to each other, typically with a universal short-range radio link. Wireless Bluetooth^TMThe module operates in the globally available unlicensed ISM at 2.4 GHz. The connection may be established and maintained even when neither the controller 10 nor the base station 9 is in line of sight (e.g. located in a different room). A short-range link may cover a radio communication area of, for example, about 10 meters, but the range may be extended to about 100 meters by an amplifier.

Bluetooth^TMIs a combination of circuit and packet switching. A time slice may be reserved for the synchronized data packets. The data packet nominally covers a single time slice, but may extend to cover up to 5 time slices or even more. Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMThe technical specifications define fast acknowledgement and frequency hopping schemes to improve the stability of the radio link and to overcome interference and fading. Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMThe radio module is adapted to transmit or receive data packetsThen by hopping to the new frequency interference from other signals can be avoided. The use of short data packets and fast hops may also limit the impact of other devices, such as microwave ovens or receivers and/or transmitters. Shaped binary FM modulation is applied to minimize the complexity of the transceiver of the radio module.

Bluetooth^TMThe radio communication may support an asynchronous data channel, up to three simultaneous synchronized voice channels, or a channel that supports both asynchronous data and synchronized voice. Bluetooth currently available^TMThe total data rate of the application is 1MB per second. Each voice channel may support a 64kb/s synchronous link. Currently, an asynchronous channel may support 721kb/s in either direction while allowing a 57.6kb/s asynchronous link in the return direction or may support 432.6kb/s synchronous link. The time division duplex scheme may be used for full duplex transmission. Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMThe network topology of the system may support point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections, thereby enabling communication between several devices simultaneously.

Bluetooth^TMThe size of the wireless module is relatively small and typically includes a single chip. Bluetooth (R) protocol^TMThe chip may include all required processors, radios, interface devices, etc. Since the chip is a standardized component, the implementation cost of the radio controller 10 can be relatively low. General Bluetooth^TMThe power consumption of the architecture is low. A fast frequency hopping scheme may establish a stable radio link between the controller 10 and the base station 9.

The controller 10 may have a voice input/output device 16 and/or various trigger sensors in the housing of the device. A graphical display 11 and selection buttons 15 may also be provided in the controller. The display 11 may be adapted to display video images or still images based on signals received from the base station 9 by radio transmission. The display 11 may also comprise a so-called touch screen functionality. The controller 10 may be allowed IP. The controller 10 may have a dedicated application program loaded therein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail. A TV program producing company can produce a program using the interactive controller 10. The program may be a recorded program or a live program and transmitted in a conventional manner. The generation of the message for communication between the controller 10 and the management unit 4 may be linked to a predetermined event generated during production. The time code of the film constitutes a trigger for transmitting a signal from the management unit 4 towards the controller 10 according to a preferred embodiment. The play-out of the program can be tracked and time code detection can be performed by the elements 3 of the broadcast system 25. The element 3 may be used to generate and transmit a request for the management unit 4 over the connection 17 to transmit data towards the controller 10. According to which the possibility element 3 or the management unit 4 monitors predetermined events, such as predetermined sound effects or visual effects in the program, and starts transmitting data as soon as such events are detected. The sound effect detection or the visual effect detection may be based on digital sound or image processing techniques. The initiation of sending a message may also be based on a combination of several events, e.g. such that it is sufficient that a time code condition and a start effect have to be fulfilled or that one of several possible events is detected before any message is generated and/or sent. The transmission of data from the management unit 4 can also be started upon receipt of a request from the controller 10. The data that can be sent to the controller 10 can take the form of, for example, voice data, video data, and control instruction data.

The user 14 may receive personalized content from the management unit 4 and thus provide enhanced and adapted television viewing appreciation. Each user can be personalized in the management unit or service provider portal on the basis of the information stored in its database 7. Personalized information may be obtained, for example, when purchasing the controller. The purchaser may complete a registry identifying the owner of the controller or the user of the controller (e.g., all members of the family). In this way, the controller and/or interactivity may be personalized to each person. One or more of the following criteria may be used as part of the personalization process: a name; a last name; date and/or place of birth; sex; eye color; hair color; personal interests/preferences; hobbies; nationality; a preferred language; address information; an email address; a telephone number; and so on. More detailed health information such as information on visual or auditory impairments may also be stored in the database, which may be used, for example, when providing programs to a particular group. Figure 6 shows a list of possible personal details stored in the administration unit.

The personal information may be submitted to the provider of the interactive service, for example by means of the post office, the internet (e.g. by means of a hypertext markup language HTLM page), by means of a telephone or personal visit, or any other suitable means. This information is stored in the database 7 and the controller is personalised to each viewer based on the stored information. The stored data may be used at predetermined events in the program or upon a request by the controller to initiate a program that transmits data to the controller.

The triggered messages and personalized data may be combined to form a "video event" or a "sound event". An example of the latter is a birthday song given to a person on his/her birthday. The generated events are sent to the gateway 8 where the sound file is converted, for example using Voice Over IP protocol, and transmitted Over the data network 6 to the controller 10.

The user 14 may activate the controller 10 while watching the program. The user may enter various information such as his/her identity, information about the channel he/she is viewing, and the like. Such information may also be provided by the receiver device through a connection with the controller 10 or the base station 9. To communicate with other devices in the home, the TV may have a similar wireless module as the controller, or may communicate via a conventional infrared link. The controller can then generate and transmit a message to the management unit, more specifically to its processor 5. Based on the messages from the controller 10 and/or information stored in the database 7, the processor 5 generates content entities for the users 14 that are transmitted back to the controller and presented to it.

According to one embodiment, the controller is associated with a toy, such as the teddy bear 10 of fig. 4. It should be understood that in the following description reference is made to the teddy bear 10 as well as to the portable field controller, as appropriate. When the toy is not used as an interface with a television system, it can be played in a conventional manner. At the start of a particular broadcast, the child may activate the toy, for example by pressing on the toy's nose or by touching or pressing on other predetermined parts or activation means of the toy. The toy starts up, i.e., "wakes up", and as the broadcast continues, the toy may ask questions related to the broadcast. A child may communicate with a program by the teddy bear sending an answer (e.g., by pressing one or more of its buttons, by touching an element of his/her toy given by the program or by speaking into the toy). The management unit 4 may verify the answer and feed back the correctness of the answer to the child.

The audible message may be output through one or more speakers built into the teddy bear (e.g., in the mouth of the teddy bear). The voice message may be based on a signal fed back by the VoIP conversion. A microphone may also be built into the teddy bear (e.g., in one or both ears 16) to enable a child to talk to it. The input may be encoded again using VoIP and transmitted back to the control system 4 where speech recognition software may interpret the content. The control system 4 may then generate a suitable reply.

The controller 10 is according to a further embodiment designed to be able to initiate mechanical movements of at least some of its components. This can achieve the required amount of battery power and also adds to the overall design. For example, if the controller is in the form of a toy, such as a teddy bear, movement of the toy's mouth, eyes, head, limbs, and ears is possible. The movement can be controlled by the management unit 4 via a data network. For example, the movements of the various elements of the teddy bear may be fed back to the child in the story of the program, or based on answers to questions he/she is asked to answer. It should be understood that similar control command mechanisms may be used to control the operation of any controller and/or its various components that may be used in implementing embodiments of the present invention.

A further embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to figure 3. The video recorder 20 shown comprises a video recorder, preferably via Bluetooth^TMA radio module which the radio link is able to communicate with the base station 9. The video recorder or similar program playback device is adapted to detect a time code or any other indication in the recorded program. The detection of this indication triggers the sending of a signal from the video recorder (VCR) via the data network 6 towards the base station 9 and further towards the management unit 4. The management unit 4 can accordingly generate and send to the user of the recorder the predefined content to be provided to him. This embodiment enables interactive viewing of recorded programs, the difference with the embodiment of fig. 1 being that the triggering event may originate from video recorder 20, which is typically located at the location of viewer 14, rather than from broadcast system 25.

Video receiver 20 may include information in the transmission that identifies the program and/or the user, etc. The presentation of the content to the user can be performed by means of the video recorder 20, i.e. typically connected to a TV apparatus, or by means of the control unit 10. The controller 10 may be similar to the controller described with reference to fig. 1 and 2.

It should be understood that the playback apparatus 20 may be any device capable of presenting programs on a storage medium such as a video tape, a Digital Video Disc (DVD), a disc on a computer, etc., and that the programs to be displayed via the TV display do not have to be broadcast via a broadcast system.

According to a further embodiment, the video recorder 20 or the TV apparatus and the controller 10 may communicate with each other via a wireless link 23 or via the base station 9. In the latter case the base station functions as an interface element between various devices such as 10 and 20 connected thereto.

According to an embodiment the video recorder 20 or the TV apparatus has means for detecting a predetermined event from the broadcast signal. The device may comprise, for example, a dongle adapted to translate a time code from the broadcast signal. After detecting the event, the message is sent to the base station 9 or the controller 10 over any short range link. Such an embodiment enables an arrangement in which it is not necessary to have a communication link (such as the link 17 in figure 1) between the broadcast system 25 and the management unit 4. This can be achieved even in the case where the user is watching a program that cannot be recorded and/or replayed by the recorder 20 but is only received by the TV apparatus and presented immediately. Further, the embodiment can realize the presentation of the additional content by, for example, the TV apparatus such as by an additional window opened on its display screen or by replacing an image on the display screen based on the broadcast signal with an image based on the communication data from the management unit 4.

Messages sent between the video recorder 20 and the base station 9 may also be "forwarded" by the controller 10. The user of the controller 10 can confirm that the data is to be actually sent to the remote management unit 4 or to the video recorder 20 and/or the TV apparatus before the next forwarding.

Fig. 4 shows a preferred variant of the wireless data communication interface. In the embodiment of fig. 4 the data network 6 comprises a network capable of providing wireless packet switched data communication services such as a general packet radio service GPRS network, an EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM development) mobile data network or a suitable third generation telecommunication system such as CDMA (code division multiple access) or TDMA (time division multiple access) based on a third generation telecommunication system known as Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). For a more detailed description of GPRS networks, see, for example, 3GPP technical specification 3G TS 23.060 "central Packet Radio Service (GPRS); service Description; stage 2 "(month 1 year 2000). This document is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. A more detailed description of WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) based UMTS systems is found in SGPP specifications related to UTMS. Other suitable packet-switched data communication standards include, but are not limited to, IS-95, international mobile telecommunications system 2000, and i-phone.

If the data communication is based on the use of a public land line mobile network (PLMN), the base station 9 is provided by a base station of the PLMN system instead of the short range wireless link home base station of fig. 1. The controller 10 may be activated to communicate directly with said PLMN base station 9. To achieve this, the controller 10 may comprise, for example, a GPRS transceiver module and a suitable data processing unit, such as a Symbian EPOC microprocessor. The EPOC platform may be used because it supports wireless application technology (WAP) and may be used with voice over IP (VoIP) clients. According to a variant embodiment, the short-range radio home base station can enable communication with a base station of a PLMN system.

The description of GPRS according to the invention makes it possible to transmit data rates of up to 115bit/s via the radio interface, but such data rates may be further increased in future applications. This enables information to be transmitted wirelessly at speeds that can be used in this embodiment. The introduction of GPRS (general packet radio service) is a key step in the development of today's second generation communication networks, such as from GSM (global system for mobile communication) to third generation systems, and it is believed that the first commercial GPRS service will be initiated in the near future. After GPRS is implemented, further developments in the broadband model are believed to occur using EDGE, with speeds up to 384bit/s being possible. It IS believed that the bandwidth potential of third generation systems such as UMTS or IMT2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications System 2000) or IS-95 in the first phase can be as high as 2Mbit/s, and even higher in the future. The inventors have found that wireless packet switched services may implement embodiments of the present invention because they have the capability of providing wireless high speed data connections, which are not easily achieved over conventional circuit switched wireless connections.

An advantage of packet switched services over conventional data services is that packet switched services are always available. Packet switched services are therefore also referred to as connectionless services, since no communication circuitry is required. Instead, each data packet is provided with an address and is routed to the destination based on the address. This means that the user can always be connected and always on-line, and thus the administration unit 4 will be easily and quickly accessible. Another advantage is that users of the packet switched service can pay only for the content used, rather than by time of connection. This enables seamless access to the full range of new and existing Internet Protocol (IP) based services. The watcher will be able to keep the interactive service logged on permanently and to send and receive data to and from the management unit quickly with a large file attachment. Since the viewer can always be connected and always on-line, the interactive service will be easy and fast to access, and since there is the ability to charge per data unit received and transmitted, the user can pay only for the data transmission resources used, e.g. per data packet transmitted.

According to one embodiment, wireless transmission may be performed using Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technology. For example, the display and selection buttons built into the controller 10 may also be based on a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) application.

Fig. 5 shows a possible architecture of the management unit. The interactive control function 50 controls the interaction between the broadcast system (via the interface 17), the user equipment (via the input/output 8) and the database 7.

The information associated with the user and stored in the database of the management unit may be divided into a number of subdirectories. Fig. 6 shows the possibility of division. More specifically, the information may be divided into categories such as personal detailed information and user equipment information. User equipment information may be further divided into historical telemetry (historical telemetry) and event telemetry (eventeremetry). The history information may include information such as the last time the device was used and/or used, the length of time the device was used last and/or used generally, the total length of time used, the type of program being viewed, etc. Information related to billing may also be stored, such as total bills, monthly accumulated bills, last month/year bills, and the like.

Event information, i.e., valid telemetry information, may include, for example, the status of the user equipment, program markers, information related to the quality of the signal and/or possible device testing.

The device information may be linked to an element of a provider of data communication services for communication towards the user device. For example, communication may be provided between the management unit and a subscriber recorder (such as a home location recorder) or an operator's billing database.

Figure 5 also shows a functional block 51 of the interactivity and timing of the program. Block 51 provides the functionality by which a content provider or production company can enter interactive scripts required for their program. The administration unit may make and provide templates that allow non-technical personnel to enter such information using, for example, a WWW-based graphical user interface. For example, the following fields may be included in the interactivity and timing description entity of a program.

A main field: program ID (each program can hold a unique ID in the management unit); a predetermined start date; a predetermined start time; event 1; event 2; …, respectively; and (4) event N. Each event in the interactive system may contain sub-fields such as:

the timing of the broadcast; type (data/voice); a script; expected response (e.g., correct answer); out-of-range responses (incorrect answers); out of range scripts (footnotes that allow further interaction for the user to find the correct answer).

The following is an example of the interaction and timing based on the fields described above:

interaction and timing

Main field

Program ID

Predetermined start date/time

Event 1

Time sequence

Type (B)

Script

Predetermined response-whether the input is correct?

Out of range response

Out of range scripts

Expected response-whether the input is correct?

The next event

The user is also able to customize the interactive service based on the HTML interface and the PC. In addition to receiving content and/or interacting with programming, the user may also use the controller for other purposes, such as ordering a video-on-demand type of service or goods/services provided by the programming.

According to a further embodiment, the management unit 4 may be adapted to selectively assign towards a user of the system. For example, unit 4 may initiate commercial or other content to be transmitted to the selected user based on information about the user and the program he/she is currently watching. The user who has registered as a football club a fan will receive different information than the user who has registered as a club B fan, etc.

It should be appreciated that although embodiments of the invention have been described in terms of programs and user equipment, embodiments of the invention may be used with any other suitable type of control device and program. For example, the program may ask the viewer to express their opinion or suggestion as to the question posed by the program.

It should also be noted herein that while the embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example, various modifications and changes can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a program to a user, comprising:

storing information related to a user in a remote management unit;

providing a program signal to a program presentation device via a program signal broadcast system;

presenting the program to the user based on the program signal; and

data is transmitted between the remote management unit and user equipment operable by the user when the user is enjoying the program, over the data network and over a wireless data communication link between the data network and the user equipment in response to a predetermined event, and said data is associated with the program and is personalized based on said stored information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted from a remote management unit.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein data is transmitted from a user equipment.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said device comprises a portable controller.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user equipment processes data packets received from or to be transmitted to the management unit.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of storing data relating to the programme in the remote unit.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base station connects a wireless data communications link to a data network.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the wireless link comprises a short range radio link.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein data is transmitted over a wireless link within an unlicensed radio frequency band.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless link operates in a frequency band of approximately 2.4 GHz.

11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising transmission of data packets.

12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the wireless link applies frequency hopping.

13. A method according to claims 11 and 12, wherein the frequency used for the wireless link is changed between subsequent data packets of the data packet transmission.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless link is based on Bluetooth^TMThe general short range radio link protocol defined by the professional group.

15. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transmitted over the wireless link comprises control instructions for the user equipment.

16. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transmitted between the management unit and the user equipment comprises additional information relating to the program.

17. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data transmitted between the management unit and the user equipment further comprises program related content.

18. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transmission between the user equipment and the remote management unit provides interactivity between a viewer of a television program provided by the television system and the television system.

19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a packet data message is generated in the user equipment in response to a user input, the generated message being subsequently transmitted from the user equipment to the remote management unit, and in response to receiving the packet data message, the remote management unit generates a further packet data message for transmission to the user equipment.

20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the programme comprises at least one event to which the user can react by inputting an answer to the user device.

21. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user device provides an audio message to the user based on data delivered from the remote management unit.

22. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user device provides a video message to the user based on data delivered from the remote management unit.

23. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user is provided with one or more questions or tasks by the user device based on data transmitted from the remote management unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user inputs answers to said one or more questions or tasks, data based on the answers is transmitted to the management unit, and the management unit generates and sends feedback messages related to the answers to the user device.

25. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising transmitting voice messages over a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

26. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transmission is initiated by a predetermined event associated with the programme.

27. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transfer is initiated on the basis of monitoring of a time code associated with the recording medium on which the programme is stored.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein an element of the broadcast system monitors the time code.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the means for replaying the recorded program monitors the time code.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the user equipment monitors for a time code.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the event monitoring is based on detection of a predetermined audio or video effect in the program.

32. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user initiates the data transmission by inputting a voice message to the controller, modifies the voice message to be suitable for transmission over the wireless link and the data network, and identifies the voice message in the remote management unit.

33. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one element of the user equipment is operated based on data received from the remote management unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one element is moved based on control instructions in a data message generated by a remote management unit.

35. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data network provides broadband data transmission services to its subscribers.

36. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data network comprises a third generation mobile telecommunications network.

37. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data network is based on at least one technique from the following alternatives: an asynchronous data subscriber line; an integrated services digital network; general packet radio communication; enhanced data rates for GSM development; universal mobile telecommunications service, IS-95; an international mobile telecommunications system 200.

38. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data to be transmitted to the user device is personalised prior to transmission.

39. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user changes said information stored in the database.

40. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data transmitted to the user device is routed based on information stored in said database.

41. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the information of the user stored in the management unit comprises information relating to at least one of the following personal characteristics: a name; a last name; the date of birth; a radix rehmanniae; sex; eye color; hair color; personal interests/preferences; hobbies; nationality; a preferred language; health care; address information; a telephone number; an email address.

42. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein information relating to the use of the user device is stored in a remote management unit.

43. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the user device is associated with a toy.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the toy is a hugging toy, doll, or the like.

45. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the program is a selected one of: an educational program; a game program; recording sheets; a news program; sports programs; an entertainment program; comedy; a drama; a movie; a program for children.

46. A method of presenting a program to a user, comprising:

storing information related to a user in a remote management unit;

generating a program signal by a playback device;

providing a program signal to a program presentation device;

presenting the program to the user based on the program signal; and

47. The method defined in claim 46 wherein the user is provided with interaction with programming stored on the recording medium when the user desires to enjoy the recorded programming.

48. A method according to claim 46 or 47, wherein the user is provided with additional data relating to the programme stored on the recording medium when the user wishes to enjoy the recorded programme.

49. The method of any one of claims 46 to 48 further comprising the step of broadcasting the programme and recording the programme by a replay device prior to providing the signal to the presentation apparatus.

50. A method according to any of claims 46 to 49, wherein the predetermined event is monitored by the user equipment.

51. A method according to any of claims 46 to 50, wherein in response to detection of an event, the user equipment transmits a packet data message to the remote management unit.

52. The method of any one of claims 46 to 51 wherein the generation of predetermined events is monitored by a replay device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the replay device sends a notification to the user equipment in response to the detection of the event.

54. The method of any one of claims 46 to 53, further comprising wireless communication between the user equipment and the replay device.

55. A method according to any one of claims 46 to 54, wherein the transmission data is relayed between said device for replaying recorded programmes, the user equipment and the data network.

56. A method of providing interactivity to a viewer of a television program provided via a television system, comprising:

displaying a television program to a viewer based on a signal from the television system;

generating packet data messages for communication between a remote management unit and a handheld controller operable by a viewer when the viewer is viewing a program, wherein the management unit is connected to a packet switched data communications system and comprises processor means for processing viewer related information and information related to the program and storage means for storing the information, and wherein the handheld controller is associated with a wireless module for enabling a wireless data communications link between the controller and a packet switched communications network; and

packet data messages are communicated between the radio module and the packet switched telecommunications system over a wireless data communication link, wherein signals from the television system and the packet data messages are transmitted over different communication systems.

57. A system for presenting a program, the system comprising:

a program demonstration terminal for demonstrating programs for users;

a broadcasting system for providing the program to a program presentation terminal;

a packet data communication network;

a remote management unit connected to a packet data communication network, said remote management unit comprising a processor for processing data associated with a program and a storage unit for storing information associated with a user, said processor being adapted to personalize the data associated with the program based on said information associated with the user; and

user equipment operable by a user while the user is enjoying the program, the user equipment being adapted to communicate over a packet data network via a wireless data communication link between the data communication network and the user equipment, and to provide information to the user based on data received from the remote management unit via the wireless data communication link while the user is enjoying the program.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the user device includes a portable controller having means for providing an audio message to the user based on data received from the administrative unit.

59. A system as claimed in claim 57 or 58, wherein the user device comprises a portable controller having means for providing a video message to the user based on data received from the management unit.

60. A system as claimed in any of claims 57 to 59, comprising a base station connecting the wireless data communication link to a packet data network.

61. The system of any of claims 57 to 60, wherein the wireless data communication connection comprises a short range radio link.

62. A system as claimed in any of claims 57 to 61, wherein the wireless link is adapted to apply frequency hopping.

63. A system as in claim 62, where the frequency of the wireless link is adapted to change between subsequent data packets.

64. The system of any one of claims 57 to 63, wherein the data transmission between the user equipment and the remote management unit provides interaction between the television program and viewers of the television program provided by the broadcast system.

65. A system according to any of claims 57 to 64, comprising monitoring means for monitoring a predetermined event.

66. A system as claimed in claim 65, wherein the system is adapted to transmit data between the management unit and the user equipment in response to detection of a predetermined event by the monitoring means.

67. The system of claim 65 or 66, wherein the predetermined event is detected based on a time code associated with the program.

68. A system as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 67, wherein the broadcast system distributes the programme signals to a plurality of presentation terminals, the arrangement being such that each individual user of the plurality of terminals can receive data which has been personalised on the basis of characteristic information for each person stored in the remote management unit.

69. A system as claimed in any of claims 57 to 68, wherein the packet data communications network comprises a third generation mobile telecommunications network standard.

70. A system as claimed in any of claims 57 to 69, wherein the user equipment comprises speech recognition means.

71. A system as claimed in any of claims 57 to 70, wherein the user equipment comprises at least one element controllable based on data received from the remote management unit.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein at least one element is moved based on control instructions in a data message generated by the remote management unit.

73. A system for presenting a program, the system comprising:

a program demonstration terminal for demonstrating programs for users;

a program playback device for providing the program to the program demonstration terminal;

a packet data communication network;

a remote management unit connected to the packet data communication network, said remote management unit comprising a processor for processing data associated with a program and a storage unit for storing information associated with a user, said processor being adapted to personalize the data associated with the program based on the information associated with the user; and

74. A system for presenting television programs, the system comprising:

a television terminal for displaying a television program based on the program signal;

a program signal providing system adapted to provide a program signal to a television terminal;

a packet data communication system;

a management unit connected to a data communication system, said management unit comprising:

a database for storing personalization information related to viewers of television programs, and

a processor adapted to process data associated with the television program; and the number of the first and second groups,

a portable user device adapted to be operable by a viewer while watching a television program, the portable user device comprising a communications module for enabling data to be communicated over a wireless interface between the portable user device and a data communications system,

whereby the portable user equipment and the management unit are both adapted to communicate data related to the television program over said wireless interface and the data communication system while presenting the television program to the viewer on the basis of the program signal provided by the program signal providing system.

75. The system defined in claim 74 wherein the management unit and the portable user equipment are adapted to provide the viewer with the possibility of interacting with the television program.

76. The system of claim 74 or 75, wherein the management unit and the portable user equipment are adapted to provide the viewer with further content related to the television program.

77. A system as claimed in any of claims 74 to 76, wherein the data communication is adapted to be initiated by a predetermined event associated with a television programme.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein the predetermined event comprises a time code.

79. The system of any one of claims 74 to 78, wherein the management unit is located remotely from the television terminal and the television signal providing system.

80. A portable user equipment operable while a viewer of a television program is watching a program provided by a television terminal adapted to receive television signals from a television system, the user equipment comprising:

a communication module for enabling data communication over a wireless interface between the portable user equipment and a packet data communication system, said packet data communication system being a system independent of the television system; and

a controller adapted to process data received from or to be transmitted to a remote management unit connected to the packet data communication system, whereby the portable user equipment is adapted to communicate data related to the television program and which has been personalized based on the personalized features of the viewer over said wireless interface while the television program is being provided to the viewer.

81. The portable user equipment of claim 80 including audio means for presenting audio messages.

82. A portable user device as claimed in claim 80 or 81, comprising display means for presenting a video message.

83. A portable user device as claimed in any of claims 80 to 82, comprising speech recognition means to receive user input.