WO2008117245A2

WO2008117245A2 - Method and system for processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission

Info

Publication number: WO2008117245A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bjorn C. W. Kaag
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2008-03-26
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Also published as: WO2008117245A3

Abstract

A method of processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals, wherein the event metadata includes scheduling information, includes obtaining data representative of respective ratings according to at least one criterion of individual events. The method also includes, for at least one point in time or time slot, performing the steps (25,28,31) of: (a) identifying events associated with a time interval with which the point in time or time slot at least partly coincides, (b) aggregating the respective ratings for the identified events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot, and (c) providing a signal based on the overall rating to an output device (2,19) for providing an output based on the overall rating.

Description

Method and system for processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals. The invention also relates to a system for processing the event metadata. The invention further relates to a use of such a method, and to a computer programme.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

EP-A2-0 854 645 discloses a JAVA-based electronic programme guide (EPG). The EPG includes a control module, a profile module, a suggest module and a schedule module that cooperate to provide various EPG functionalities. The suggest module accesses programme listing information in a database to generate a preferred programming schedule that allows viewers to more intelligently select programmes that may be desirable for viewing or recording. The preferred schedule includes channel programming corresponding to first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth channels, respectively. Using a viewer profile and an appropriate scoring algorithm, the suggest module generates a colour coded numerical or other scoring indicator for each programme for which the channel programming and the preferred schedule contain programming information. In general, the scoring indicator visually indicates to the viewer a degree of desirability likely to be associated with a corresponding programme, based on a viewer profile for the viewer. For example, the scoring indicator may include colour or shading that overlays textual information concerning the programme.

A problem of the known EPG is that it requires a relatively high amount of user interaction to provide a display of the preferred schedule where the programme listing information covers a large number of channels. This is because channels must be selected from among the available channels to ensure that the display fits onto a screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is desirable to provide a method and system that provide a user with meaningful compact information for determining which events to access, but which require relatively little user interaction, at least at first instance.

This object is achieved by the method according to the invention, which method includes, for at least one point in time or time slot, performing the steps of:

(a) identifying events associated with a time interval with which the point in time or time slot at least partly coincides,

(b) aggregating the respective ratings for the identified events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot, and (c) providing at least one signal based on the overall rating to at least one output device for providing an output based on the overall rating.

Because the respective ratings for the identified events are aggregated into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot, and an output device is caused to provide an output based on the overall rating, the amount of information that is provided as output at first instance is relatively small in relation to the number of events that might be identified. User interaction in order to pre-select concurrent transmission channels for the events is not required to generate the output, because it can be based on all events associated with a time interval with which a point in time or time slot at least partly coincides. Because the overall rating is associated with a point in time or time slots, meaningful information is provided to the user at first instance. Only if the overall rating for a time slot or point in time is indicative of the presence of events rated as being of interest need the user possibly take action to discover the identity of such events in some embodiments. One or more output devices may be used and the type of output may appear to one or more different senses, e.g. sight, hearing or smell. This is relatively easy to implement due to the fact that the overall rating is a relatively concise piece of information.

In an embodiment, the overall rating corresponds to one of a number of discrete values, and the output device is caused to provide a visual output having one of a corresponding number of visibly distinct appearances.

Thus, a compact simple overview is provided to the user, enabling the user to categorise the point in time or time slot. If it is categorised as coinciding with interesting events, the user can take action. Otherwise, he or she can ignore it without further interaction with the system processing the event metadata. The visibly distinct appearances are modulated in one embodiment, according to at least one other factor, for example the number of events having the same individual rating value, the time difference between the time slot concerned and a current time, etc. In such an embodiment, for example, each discrete value can correspond to a colour, with the colour shade, fill pattern or brightness being modulated according to the other factor.

In an embodiment, wherein the respective ratings of individual events each correspond to one of a number of values according to a quality of match to the at least one criterion, the respective ratings are aggregated into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot having one of the number of values.

An effect is that the overall rating is more meaningful to a user. A reduction in unnecessary further interaction is achieved, in that the user is less likely to select a point in time or time slot for further investigation that turns out not to coincide with events of interest to that user.

In an embodiment, the step (c) includes causing an output device to provide a further output, indicative of how many of the identified events have individual ratings corresponding in value to the value of the overall rating. An effect is that additional information is provided in a compact form, allowing a user to take appropriate action. The output indicative of how many of the identified events have individual ratings corresponding in value is a visible and/or audible representation of the number in one embodiment, but may be provided by adjusting the output indicative of the overall rating in dependence on how many of the identified events have the same individual rating.

In an embodiment, the overall rating is obtained by applying at least one prioritisation rule, such that the overall rating corresponds to the individual rating of the identified events having highest priority.

An effect is to avoid conflicts when determining an overall rating where identified events have different individual ratings. In particular, since an aim is to allow the user to ascertain the presence of particularly interesting or particularly detested events, the overall rating can provide information meeting that aim in a compact way, even in the presence of other events that are neither of particular interest nor particularly detestable. An embodiment includes obtaining at least a parameter determining at least one of the criteria according to which individual events are rated.

An effect is that the criteria used to obtain individual ratings can be adapted to individual users.

An embodiment includes, for a certain one of the points in time or time slots, providing an output signal to a system for accessing the media data in dependence on the overall rating, the output signal causing the system for accessing the media data to do one of (i) inhibiting or (ii) triggering user access to at least some of the events identified in step (a) for that time slot.

An effect is to provide an implementation of the method in the context of a user interface for selecting media data scheduled for transmission, for access or for implementing a content lock. In the present context, access can be one of recording or playing back media data, either as it is being transmitted or with a time delay. In an embodiment, the output signal to the system for accessing the media data is provided responsive to an input signal provided by a user.

An effect is to avoid unnecessary automatic access and/or to allow a user to overrule a content lock.

An embodiment of the method includes performing the steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of time slots, wherein the output device is caused to display a series of fields on a display device, each field having an appearance corresponding to a value of the overall rating obtained for an associated respective one of the plurality of time slots.

An effect is to provide a compact user interface at a first stage of a process of selection of an event for access by a user.

An embodiment includes causing the output device to display the fields in an order corresponding to a temporal order of the associated time slots and having relative dimensions corresponding to the durations of the associated time slots.

An effect is to increase the information content of the user interface whilst retaining the compactness of display.

An embodiment of the method includes performing the steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of points in time or time slots, and causing an output device (2) of a user interface to provide information associated with at least one of the events identified for a particular one of the points in time or time slots based on the event metadata and in response to a user input signal selecting that particular one of the points in time or time slots.

Thus, a multi-stage process for allowing a user to select events for access is implemented. In particular, the display of unnecessary information at a first stage is avoided, and a more compact output can be provided at a second stage, this display can be limited to information on events associated with time intervals with which the selected point in time or time slot coincides, or even only to information on only those of such events that have an individual rating corresponding to one of a number of rating values, e.g. the overall rating for the point in time or time slot or a value selected by a user. An embodiment of the method includes causing an output device to provide an output indicative of only the overall rating for a point in time or time slot coinciding with a current time obtained from a clock.

An effect is to be able to provide a simple alert to the user when an event that is likely to be of interest is currently being transmitted. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a method according to the invention to provide an interface to a system for accessing the media data, wherein an output device of the user interface is caused to provide the output based on the overall rating.

The user interface allows a user to select events of interest with relatively little interaction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system for processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals includes: an input for receiving the event metadata; a data processing system, configured to derive data representative of respective ratings according to at least one criterion of individual events on the basis of the event metadata, and, for at least one point in time or time slot, to identify events associated with a time interval with which the point in time or time slot at least partly coincides, wherein the data processing system (i.e. "processor") is further configured to aggregate the respective ratings for the identified events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot and to cause the output device to provide a perceptible output based on the overall rating.

The system can provide meaningful information for determining which events to access, but without having to process a large amount of user input, at least at first instance In an embodiment, the processing system is configured to carry out a method according to the invention. The identifying and the aggregating steps of the method may be carried our by the processor.

According to another aspect, the computer programme according to the invention includes a set of instructions capable, when incorporated in a machine-readable medium, of causing a system having information processing capabilities to perform a method according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a very schematic diagram of a system for accessing media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating steps in a method of processing event metadata including scheduling information, carried out in the system;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating subsequent steps enabling a user to select a media event;

Fig. 4 is a screen shot at a first stage in a process of selecting scheduled media data for access; and Fig. 5 is a screen shot at a second stage in a process of selecting scheduled media data for access.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Outlined herein is an example of a method for selection and playback of media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals. The events will be referred to herein as media events. The media data can include audio, video, audiovisual and data content, including event metadata. The methods outlined herein can be applied in any system for accessing such media data, including TV sets, DVD recorders, E-hub storage servers, radio tuners, or any other similar device. Examples of systems in which media events are scheduled for transmission include live broadcasts, disseminated via the Internet, or transmitted by cable, terrestrial or satellite broadcast. Further examples include multicasts, near video-on-demand, filecasts, IP (Internet Protocol) datacasts, and streamed media, such as Internet radio and IP-TV. As an example, a system 1 for accessing television programmes, examples of media events, is discussed. The system 1 comprises a conventional analogue television set 2 and a digital set-top box 3. The set-top box 3 includes a tuner 4, an analogue/digital converter 5 and a demodulator 6. The function of these components is to retrieve a plurality of digital programme streams from a carrier signal. The programme streams are multiplexed streams of digital data packets, so that they are transmitted substantially concurrently. Each programme stream comprises a sequence of events, associated with respective time intervals. In another embodiment, single programme streams are received, within which data packets encoding consecutive media events are carried. In yet another embodiment, burst transmission of media events is applied by the head-end (not shown) transmitting the media data to the system 1.

The illustrated set-top box 2 further includes a network adapter 7. Suitable types of network adapter 7 include wired network adapters, e.g. ethernet adapters, wireless network adaptors and cable modems. It will be appreciated that some or all of the types of scheduled transmission of media data mentioned above could take place via a data communications network to which the network adapter 7 provides access, additionally or alternatively to the types of transmission using a carrier wave picked up by the tuner 4.

Events may be accessed by recording them on a mass-storage device 8 for later rendering. They may also be accessed by rendering them substantially directly upon receipt. A demultiplexer 9 is provided for separating the digital data packets encoding a selected event from the multiplex of digital data streams provided by the demodulator 6.

In one embodiment, the digital data streams comprise data packets encoding events in a compressed format. A decoder 10 is provided for decoding and decompressing the audiovisual data to generate a digital audio stream and a digital video stream. The digital video stream is provided to a video encoder 11 for conversion into a colour space suitable for the television set 2. The output of the video encoder 11 is provided to a modulator 12, which provides an analogue video signal to the television set 2. The audio stream generated by the decoder is converted by an audio digital-to-analogue converter 13 for output to the television set 2.

The operation of the set-top box 3 is controlled by a central processing unit 14, in accordance with instructions stored in system memory. In this example, the system memory includes Read-Only Memory (ROM) 15, Electronically Erasable Programmable Memory (EEPROM) 16 and Random Access Memory (RAM) 17. The central processing unit 14 is arranged to store and read data from the RAM 17 in operation. The instructions stored in ROM 15 and EEPROM 16 enable the central processing unit 14 to implement a user interface for selecting media events for access. Graphical output is provided on a screen 18 of the television set 2. To generate the graphical output, the set-top box 3 is provided with a graphics engine 19. The output of the graphics engine 19 is provided to the video encoder 11. An additional form of output is provided on a front-panel display unit 20, which is a simple light source, e.g. a light-emitting diode, in one embodiment. In another embodiment, a larger-sized front-panel display unit 20 is used as an alternative to the screen 18 of the television set 2. In that alternative embodiment, the graphical user interface is provided only on the front-panel display unit 20, which may be augmented with one or more discrete simple light sources for signalling purposes as will be explained.

Yet another form of output is provided by an ambient system 21 controlled by, or at least communicating with, the central processing unit 14. Types of output provided by the ambient system 21 include ambient lighting (adjustable in colour and/or intensity, for example), ambient smell (using reservoirs of aroma) and background sounds (adjustable in level and/or character, for example).

User input signals are received from a remote control unit 22 by an infrared transceiver 23. It is noted that, in some embodiments, additional output can be provided on an output device included in the remote control unit 22. This is particularly true where the remote control unit 22 is a universal remote control unit 22, or indeed where the remote control unit 22 is a programmed general-purpose communication device, such as a handheld computer or mobile telephone handset.

In an embodiment, event metadata is received by means of the network adapter 7 in the form of electronic programme guide data over a network (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, the network adapter 7 is not used. Instead, the event metadata is included as a digital data stream in the transmission signal, and retrieved by the demultiplexer 9, the decoder, or an application resident in system memory, depending on the mode of delivery of the event metadata.

The event metadata includes data identifying media events, linked to scheduling information comprising data identifying the time intervals associated with those media events. In one embodiment, the data identifying events is linked to annotation data characterising the events, i.e. their contents. In another embodiment, the event metadata includes ratings of the individual media events according to at least one criterion. In one embodiment, such ratings are associated with the media events by a back-end system remote from the set-top box 3. In the following, however, it will be assumed that the set-top box 3 implements these back-end functions.

Thus, turning to Fig. 2, the set-top box 3 obtains at least a parameter value determining at least one of a plurality of criteria according to which individual media events are rated (step 24). To this end, a set-up menu is shown on the screen 18 and/or a screen of the front-panel display unit 20 and/or a screen of a remote device (not shown). The user can navigate through such a menu using the remote control unit 22, using buttons (not shown) provided on a front-panel of the set-top box or using a device similar to the remote control unit 22, like a mobile telephone handset or handheld computer. The user may set which channels to rate the media events of, for example. The user may also select the source of the media events to rate, for example whether to include media events available for playback from the mass-storage device 8 over a limited time interval (for example where such media events have been provided by a video-on-demand service). In an alternative embodiment, the parameter values obtained at this step 24 are at least partly received from a device, e.g. retrieved from the mass-storage device 8, from system memory or communicated via the network adapter 7 or infrared transceiver 23.

In the embodiment that is the focus of the present description, output data enabling the display of a compressed time bar 25 (Fig. 4) is generated. The compressed time bar 25 represents a number of consecutive time slots. To tailor the clarity of display and to improve the speed at which the event metadata is processed where possible, input data is received from the user or a data processing device regarding the number and duration of the consecutive time slots which the method illustrated in Fig. 2 is to cover. In the illustrated examples, it is assumed that the consecutive time slots are of equal length, incidentally, although this need not be the case. For each of the pre-set number of time slots, the media events associated with a time interval with which the time slot at least partly coincides are identified (step 26). That is to say that any media event commencing, ending or spanning the time slot is identified. To shorten this step 26, only information relating to media events in a limited number of available transmission channels may be examined. These transmission channels correspond, for example, to programme streams within the multiplex received by the demultiplexer 9, or to carrier frequencies of signals to which the tuner 4 can tune to.

Subsequently (step 27), data representative of respective ratings according to at least one criterion are obtained for each of the media events identified in the preceding step 26. This data is used to populate one of a set of arrays 28 of data including event identifications and associated individual ratings. Where the individual ratings have been generated by a remote back-end system, the step 27 of obtaining them involves retrieving the appropriate data from the event metadata. In the embodiment on which this description focuses, a back-end system implemented in the set-top box 3 applies criteria developed at least partly on the basis of user input (received in the first step 24) to assign individual ratings to the media events. In particular, a first criterion is indicative of whether a media event matches a user's preferences. A second criterion is indicative of whether a media event matches a user's dislikes. As a result, one of four values is assigned to the media events. The values are confidence values, indicative of the quality of match to at least one criterion. A media event may be qualified, possibly qualified, unlikely to qualify, or unqualified.

In a next step 29, the respective ratings of the media events identified previously for the time slot under examination are aggregated into an overall rating associated with the time slot under examination. The overall rating also has one of the (four) values to which each of the respective ratings of the individual media events corresponds, i.e. qualified, possibly qualified, unlikely to qualify or unqualified. To derive the value of the overall rating, at least one prioritisation rule is applied, such that the value of the overall rating corresponds to the value of the individual rating of the identified media events having highest priority. That is to say that the four values are ranked, and that the overall rating corresponds to the highest ranked of all the values assigned to the media events identified in the first step 26 of the steps that are carried out for each time slot.

In the present example, an example of a ranking would be that set out in Table 1, with an additional rule for parallel qualified and possibly qualified media events.

TABLE 1 In this case, if there is at least one media event with an individual rating corresponding to

"qualified", then the overall rating for the time slot is "qualified", regardless of the individual ratings of the other media events identified for the time slot. If there are no media events with an individual rating corresponding to "qualified", but at least one media event with an individual rating corresponding to "possibly qualified", then the overall rating for the time slot becomes "possibly qualified", etc.

The overall rating for the time slot under consideration is entered into an array 30 linking overall ratings to the time slots to which they apply. In an optional next step 31, data representative of how many of the media events used to obtain the overall rating have an individual rating corresponding in value to the value of the overall rating is obtained. This data is also entered into the array 30. For this step, the additional rule for parallel qualified and possibly qualified media events is applied. If the overall rating is "possibly qualified", then the count entered into the array 30 is the total of the possibly qualified and the qualified media events. The steps 26, 27, 29, 31 are repeated for all the time slots on which the compressed time bar 25 is to be based. Then, the compressed time bar 25 is displayed on the screen 18. The compressed time bar 25 is illustrated in Fig. 4.

It is noted that the fields of which the compressed time bar 25 is comprised are displayed in an order corresponding to a temporal order of the associated time slots. They have relative dimensions corresponding to the durations of the associated time slots in the illustrated embodiment. In this example, the time slots are of equal duration. In other embodiments, the lengths of the fields in a direction of alignment of the fields vary according to the durations of the associated time slots.

The compressed time bar 25 has a number of fields, each having an appearance corresponding to a value of the overall rating obtained for an associated respective one of the time slots used to populate the array 30. That is to say that a visibly distinct appearance corresponding to one of the number (four) of possible rating values is provided to the fields. Preferably the fill of the fields is visibly distinct, as in the present case. Here, the fill pattern differs according to the overall rating value. In another embodiment, the colour of the fields differs, and corresponds to colours of keys (not shown) provided on the remote control unit 22 or another input device of the system 1. In an embodiment, the colours representative of the different rating values correspond to those of standardised "DAVIC" (Digital Audio Video Council) keys on the remote control unit 22. To maximise the number of rating categories, the rating values correspond in number to the number of coloured keys on the remote control unit 22.

Such coloured keys on the remote control unit 22 allow the user to provide an input sigal triggering the system 1 to provide a further visual output indicating how many of the identified media events in each time slot have ratings corresponding in value to a selected one of the number of possible values. The further visual output is provided in the form of a time bar (not shown) replacing the compressed time bar 25 on the screen or placed next to it. Each field in the time bar represents a time slot. Only if media events associated with a time interval with which a particular time slot at least partly coincides have an individual rating corresponding in value to the selected one of the number of values is information displayed in the field corresponding to that time slot. For example, the further time bar may show the number of media events in each time slot that have an individual rating corresponding to "qualified". The number of media events rated "qualified" and associated with a time interval with which a particular time slot at least partly coincides is displayed in the field representing that time slot. In an alternative embodiment, the fields corresponding to the time slots are provided with a modified appearance indicative of the number of events having the same individual rating. An option is given to the user to have all such media events, or all such media events identified for a particular user-selected time slot, recorded automatically on the mass-storage device 8. Another further time bar (not shown) shows the number of media events in each time slot that have an individual rating corresponding to "unlikely to qualify". This may include media events for which annotation information was missing from the event metadata.

Another further time bar (not shown) shows all media events having an individual rating corresponding to "unqualified". Depending on the settings of the system 1, these media events match a category from a blacklist (e.g. horror or violence), match dislikes of the user (based on a voting system), or did not match the rating system in use. This may occur where the event metadata is used in conjunction with tables delivered in a broadcast stream, e.g. as defined in DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) or ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) standards. Returning to the illustrative screen view provided in Fig. 4, a user may use the interface in various ways as outlined in Fig. 3. In a first step 33, common to all options, the user selects a time slot. To this end, a frame 34 can be moved along the compressed time bar 25 using keys on the remote control unit 22. In other embodiments, a different kind of pointing device or cursor is used. With the frame 34 on a particular field representing a particular time slot, the system 1 responds by identifying media events associated with a time interval at least partly coinciding with that particular time slot and having an individual rating corresponding to the overall rating for that particular time slot (step 35).

If a first menu option is selected by a user, user access to the media events identified in the previous step 35 is inhibited (step 36). That is to say that the set-top box 3 is programmed to make it impossible to record, decode and/or render these media events. The selection of this option may additionally or alternatively be made in accordance with automatic settings without user intervention. If a second menu option is selected by a user or an external input signal, all media events identified in the previous step 35 are recorded (step 37).

If a third menu option is selected by a user or an external input signal, information associated with the media events identified in the previous step 35 is retrieved (step 38) from the event metadata, and displayed (step 39) in a box 40 on the screen 18. Subsequently, an input signal selecting one of the media events is received (step 41). This signal is used to perform one of three possible steps 42-44, leading to access to the signal encoding the media event to be blocked (step 42), to the media event being rendered on the television set 2 (step 43) or to the signal encoding the media event to be recorded (step 44) on the mass-storage device 8.

As an addition or alternative to the compressed time bar 25, output relating to only one point in time or time slot is provided using the front-panel display unit 20 and/or the ambient system 21. The set-top box 3 includes a system clock (not shown), implemented in software for the CPU 14, for example. It obtains from this the current time at regular intervals. For the current point in time or an interval linked to the current point in time or a point in time in the future, the set-top box 3 identifies media events associated with a time interval with which the point in time or time slot at least partly coincides, aggregates the respective ratings for the identified media events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot and causes the front-panel display unit 20 and/or the ambient system 21 to provide an output if the overall rating corresponds to one of a pre-determined number of values. For example, a coloured light may be turned on if media events in the category "qualified" are currently being transmitted. A differently coloured light may be turned on if media events in the category "unqualified" are currently being transmitted. In one embodiment, the feature is operative when the set-top box 3 is operating in a stand-by mode in which no audio-visual signals are transmitted to the television set 2, i.e. no media events are currently being accessed. Thus, the user is alerted to the fact that media events that could be of interest to him or her are available for recording or rendering. As is the case for the compressed time bar 25, a simple and informative interface is provided for making at least a first viewing decision. In a variant, the ambient system 21 provides output based on the overall rating in the form of an output indicative of the time interval between the current time and a point in time or time interval for which the overall rating has a certain value, for example "qualified". Thus, the ambient system 21 provides advance warning of a point in time or time slot at which a user may want to start using the system 1. This embodiment can be implemented by using the array 29 obtained using the method steps of Fig. 2 to identify the next time slot with the target value of the overall rating.

In a variant, the output signal based on the overall rating changes character as the overall rating of the time slot or point in time with which the current point in time coincides changes. Thus, the output can change between that corresponding to an overall rating with the value "qualified", through "possibly qualified" to "unlikely to qualify". The output signal may be derived by interpolating between output signal values corresponding to the overall rating values between which a transition is in progress, based on the time interval remaining to the first next time slot with a different value of the overall rating. For example, the light output of the ambient system 21 may change from yellow through blue to red, as the current point in time moves from a time slot with an overall rating of "possibly qualified" to "unlikely to qualify" to "unqualified". In another variant, the light output of a light source on the front-pannel display unit 20 flashes in the colour corresponding to the overall rating value for the current time slot, with the frequency of flashing changing as a transition to a time slot with a different value for the overall rating approaches. In all such embodiments, the user is provided with information on which to base a decision on whether or not to access media data, without having to navigate a listing of the offering of media events.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. As an example of an alternative, the step 26 of identifying media events may be limited to identifying media events associated with a time interval commencing within the time slot under consideration.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method of processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals, wherein the event metadata includes scheduling information, which method includes: obtaining data representative of respective ratings according to at least one criterion of individual events, and for at least one point in time or time slot, performing the steps (26,29,32) of:

(b) aggregating the respective ratings for the identified events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot, and

(c) providing at least one signal based on the overall rating to at least one output device (2,20,21) for providing an output based on the overall rating.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the overall rating corresponds to one of a number of discrete values, and wherein the output device (2,20,21) is caused to provide a visual output having one of a corresponding number of visibly distinct appearances.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective ratings of individual events each correspond to one of a number of values according to a quality of match to the at least one criterion, and wherein the respective ratings are aggregated into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot having one of the number of values.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the step (c) includes causing an output device (2) to provide a further output indicative of how many of the identified events have individual ratings corresponding in value to the value of the overall rating.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the overall rating is obtained by applying at least one prioritisation rule, such that the overall rating corresponds to the individual rating of the identified events having highest priority.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, including obtaining at least a parameter determining at least one of the criteria according to which individual events are rated.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, including, for a certain one of the points in time or time slots, providing an output signal to a system (1) for accessing the media data in dependence on the overall rating, the output signal causing the system (1) for accessing the media data to do one of (i) inhibiting or (ii) triggering user access to at least some of the events identified in step (a) for that time slot.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the output signal to the system for accessing the media data is provided responsive to an input signal provided by a user.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, including performing the steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of time slots, wherein the output device (2) is caused to display a series (25) of fields on a display device, each field having an appearance corresponding to a value of the overall rating obtained for an associated respective one of the plurality of time slots.

10. Method according to claim 9, including causing the output device (2) to display the fields in an order corresponding to a temporal order of the associated time slots and having relative dimensions corresponding to the durations of the associated time slots.

11. Method according to any one of claims 1-10, including performing the steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of points in time or time slots, and causing an output device (2) of a user interface to provide information (40) associated with at least one of the events identified for a particular one of the points in time or time slots based on the event metadata and in response to a user input signal selecting that particular one of the points in time or time slots.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, including causing an output device (20,21) to provide an output indicative of only the overall rating for a point in time or time slot coinciding with a current time obtained from a clock.

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, including causing an output device (20,21) to provide an output indicative of a time interval from a first point in time to a first next point in time or time slot having an overall rating of a certain value.

14. Use of a method according to any one of claims 1-13 to provide an interface to a system (1) for accessing the media data, wherein an output device (2,20,21) of the user interface is caused to provide the output indicative of the overall rating.

15. System for processing event metadata relating to media data scheduled for transmission and comprising events associated with respective time intervals, wherein the event metadata includes scheduling information, which system includes: an input (4,7) for receiving the event metadata; a data processing system (14-17,19), configured to derive data representative of respective ratings according to at least one criterion of individual events on the basis of the event metadata, and, for at least one point in time or time slot, to identify events associated with a time interval with which the point in time or time slot at least partly coincides, wherein the data processing system (14-17,19) is further configured to aggregate the respective ratings for the identified events into an overall rating associated with the point in time or time slot and to cause an output device (2,20,21) to provide a perceptible output indicative of the overall rating.

16. System according to claim 15, wherein the processing system (14-17,19) is configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1-14.

17. Computer programme including a set of instructions capable, when incorporated in a machine-readable medium, of causing a system (3) having information processing capabilities to perform a method according to any one of claims 1-14.