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WO2010049646A1 - Processing a request intended for an interactive programme guide server, and associated receiver device and interactive server - Google Patents

Processing a request intended for an interactive programme guide server, and associated receiver device and interactive server Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010049646A1
WO2010049646A1 PCT/FR2009/052078 FR2009052078W WO2010049646A1 WO 2010049646 A1 WO2010049646 A1 WO 2010049646A1 FR 2009052078 W FR2009052078 W FR 2009052078W WO 2010049646 A1 WO2010049646 A1 WO 2010049646A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
request
response
equipment
pair
interactive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/FR2009/052078
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Christian Bertin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Orange SA
Original Assignee
France Telecom SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by France Telecom SA filed Critical France Telecom SA
Publication of WO2010049646A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010049646A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318—Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
    • H04L67/568—Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/239—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests
    • H04N21/2393—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests involving handling client requests
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26283—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/64—Addressing
    • H04N21/6405—Multicasting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63—Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/64—Addressing
    • H04N21/6408—Unicasting
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/84—Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the processing of requests relating to TV programs transmitted by TV reception equipment to an interactive server
  • an interactive server When an interactive server receives a request from a TV reception equipment, it sends an individual response directly to the requesting equipment. The request and the response are transmitted through the same point-to-point link between the equipment and the server. If the server receives several requests from several receiving equipment, it must address individual responses respectively to the different receiving equipment applicants. However, users often react in a similar and concomitant manner to certain events, for example when starting a range of advertisements. Thus some events are likely to cause the issuance of a massive number of requests to the interactive server It must respond to each of these requests individually, which poses a problem of processing capabilities.
  • One of the aims of the invention is to improve the situation.
  • the invention relates to a method of processing a new request by a TV reception equipment, said request being intended for an interactive program guide server, in which, during the reception of a TV program, the the TV receiving equipment receives and stores in memory associated request and response pairs, a pair of associated request and response including a request for the interactive program guide server and a response to said request of the interactive server, and, in case new request for the receiving equipment for the interactive server, it is expected that a verification step in which the reception equipment verifies whether said new request corresponds to a request included in a pair of associated request and answer already received and valid, and
  • a step of sending the new request to the interactive server if the new request does not correspond to any request included in a pair of associated request and answer already received and valid, a step of sending the new request to the interactive server.
  • the receiving equipment when the receiving equipment generates a request for the program guide server, for example a request to know the title of the current program on a given TV channel, it is not immediately sent to the interactive server.
  • the receiving equipment first verifies if it has not already received the response to this request, by comparing the created request with the requests included in the received request-response couples. If this is the case, the response to the created request, already received, is used by the receiving equipment for example to display a message on the screen. Otherwise, the receiving equipment sends the request to the interactive server With this, we can significantly reduce the amount of requests received by the interactive server following an event, such as the beginning of an advertising range or the beginning a TV program, which triggers the creation of identical requests by many reception equipment.
  • the receiving equipment stores in memory a pair of request and response associated with an associated expiration time beyond which said pair is no longer valid
  • the validity of the request-response couples is thus limited in time. For example, in the case of a request to obtain the title of the TV program in progress on a given channel, the moment of expiration of the pair comprising this request and the associated response corresponds to the end time of the TV program. Beyond this time, the request-response pair has expired and is no longer valid.
  • the receiving equipment receiving a TV program through a transmission channel, it receives the response couples and associated requests in a stream transmitted through said TV program transmission channel
  • the invention also relates to a method of processing, by an interactive program guide server, requests from TV reception equipment, in which, following the receipt of a request from a requesting equipment, it is provided a step of sending a response to said request to the requesting equipment, characterized in that there is provided a step of sending a pair comprising said request and said associated response to destination of at least TV receiving equipment other than the requesting equipment.
  • the invention further relates to a TV program data reception equipment comprising
  • processing means arranged for, in case of correspondence between a new request and a request included in a received and valid pair of associated request and response, obtaining the answer associated with the request corresponding to the new request in said storage means
  • FIG. 1 represents a TV program broadcasting system equipped with an interactive program guide server
  • FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of a TV reception equipment of the system of FIG. 1, according to the particular example of implementation dec ⁇ t,
  • FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of the interactive program guide server of FIG. 1, according to the particular embodiment described,
  • FIG. 4 represents a flowchart of the steps of the method of processing a request by the interactive server of FIG. 3, according to the particular embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 5A represents a flowchart of the steps of a method for receiving and processing a pair of request and response associated with the receiving equipment of FIG. 2, according to the particular embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 5B represents a flowchart of the steps of a method of processing a request by the reception equipment of FIG. 2, according to the particular embodiment of the invention
  • the TV program broadcast system comprises a plurality of TV data channel sources S1, S2, • - •, SN, an interactive program guide server 2, a broadcast channel broadcaster television 3 and an insertion device 4.
  • the different TV broadcast channels correspond to different TV channels, denoted TVi,. , TVN, and bear the respective references Ci, C2,. ., C N -
  • a plurality of receiving equipment FV, referenced Ri,. . , Rx. Ri reception equipment,. .., R ⁇ are connected to the TV broadcast system through a broadcast network, hopefully an ADSL network 5.
  • the reception equipments Ri and R, (with l ⁇ y ⁇ X) receive the transmission channel C2 of the programs
  • the broadcast network being a VDSL network
  • the receiving equipment Ri, .., R ⁇ can receive only a limited number of TV broadcast channels at a time.
  • REQ is a request to obtain the title being broadcast TV program on channel C2.
  • the request REQ V contains an identifier of the current channel received by the equipment R v , in this case the channel Ca, -
  • the identifier of the current TV channel received by the equipment The requestor is present in the issued request, regardless of the channel on which the request is made.
  • the equipment receives the channel C2 and for example sends a request to obtain information relating to the following channel C% this request also contains the identifier of the channel C2 in a channel identification field received by the requesting equipment .
  • the interactive program guide server 2 receives requests from the different TV reception equipment Ri, .., R, and relating to the TV programs of the various TV channels, TV2,..., TVN.
  • a request REQ coming from the reception equipment R>, during a step El
  • the server 2 processes the request REQ 5 , in order to generate a response, denoted RESP V , during a step E2, and transmits this response RESP j directly to the equipment requesting R v during a step E3
  • the transmission of the request REQ V and that of the associated response RESP j is carried out through a direct link, here point-to-point or "umcast between the equipment R v and the interactive server 2.
  • the interactive server 2 transmits to the insertion device 4, during a ape E4, a message M ins of insertion request containing
  • request-response pair comprising the request REQ j and the associated response RESP V , noted (REQ V , RESP V ),
  • the expiration time y associated with the pair (REQ y , RESP v ) here corresponds to the end time of the TV program whose title is required
  • the pair (REQ j , RESP y ) is transmitted by the server 2 to the insertion device 4 with the identifier of the channel C2 received by the requesting equipment so that the channel C2 be used to spread the couple
  • the interactive server 2 could also transmit the identifier of the preceding channel and that of the channel following the channel Ca, namely the identifiers of the channels Ci and C3 so that these two channels are also used to broadcast the torque (REQ V , RESP V ) .
  • it could be provided to transmit with the pair (REQ j , RESP 5 ) the identifiers of all or part of the TV channels Ci,. .
  • the insertion device 4 inserts the pair (REQ V , RESP V ) and the associated expiration time tc Xpiy , contained in the message M, ns received. in the broadcast channel C2 indicated in this message M m s, in order to transmit the pair (REQ y , RESP y ) to all the reception equipment, here Ri 1 R y , which receive the channel Cz, during a step E5
  • the interactive server 2 transmits the torque (REQ y , RESP y ) to all the equipment that receives the channel C2, via the insertion device 4
  • the couple j are inserted in all these channels
  • equipment receiving at least one of these TV channels identified in the message M ins receive the torque (REQ V , RESP V ) through this particular IV channel they receive.
  • Each of the TV channels Ci,. . , CN here comprises a set of subchannels respectively for transmitting different types of streams such as audio, video, text (for example subtitles) or even metadata, that is to say data information about the TV program being broadcast (eg the program, genre, theme, start and end times of program, etc.).
  • the pair (REQ y , RESP j ) and the associated expiration time are inserted by the insertion device 4 into an additional subchannel of the diffusion channel C 2, specifically dedicated to the transmission of the associated question and answer couples.
  • the associated request and response couples could be inserted in a sub-channel. channel for transmission of an audio, video, subtitle or metadata stream.
  • the pair (REQ 1 , RESP 5 ) and the associated expiry time tc X p y are transmitted to the equipment receiving the channel C 2 , in this case the equipment Ri and R y , during a step E6.
  • reception equipment Ri the reception equipment
  • the receiving equipment R] receives TV program data through a TV broadcast channel, in this case the C2 channel.
  • the reception of TV program data on the channel C2 is represented in FIG. 5A by a step F1.
  • this step F l lasts during the entire period of reception of the channel C2 by the equipment Ri.
  • the steps described hereinafter referenced F2 to F4 are performed during the reception of TV program data through channel C2 by the equipment Ri.
  • the receiving equipment Ri receives pairs (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) of request and response associated with associated expiration times i. As explained previously, these pairs (REQ 1, RESP 1) request and reply associated with their respective time t_ V p, are transmitted through the subchannel dedicated to the transmission request response pairs and associated channel C2.
  • FIG. 5A shows a step F2 receiving by the equipment Ri a request-response pair (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ).
  • the equipment Ri records the couple (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) received with its associated expiry date t cxp i in a specific memory 19.
  • the pair (REQ 1 , RESP,) is stored in memory 19 at least until the expiry time t ⁇ ⁇ P , is achieved. It is valid only until this moment of expiration t ⁇ p ,,.
  • a user enters a program Q question for the interactive program guide server 2 using a program guide user interface.
  • the reception equipment Ri From the question entered by the user, the reception equipment Ri generates a request REQi in a predefined syntax that can be interpreted by the interactive server 2, during a step F6.
  • REQi is a request to obtain the title of the current program on the channel C2 received by the equipment Ri.
  • the REQi request could also be one of the following queries:
  • the request REQi is generated from a question entered by a user.
  • the reception equipment Ri could also generate automatically and periodically predefined requests for the server 2, in particular to anticipate frequent questions that can be entered by the user.
  • Step F7 is a verification step during which the receiving equipment
  • Ri checks whether said REQi request corresponds to a request from a pair of associated request and response already received and valid.
  • the check consists in comparing the REQi request and each of the received and valid queries (not expired) stored in the memory 19 together.
  • the comparison can be a strict comparison of the respective syntaxes of the two queries or a non-strict comparison allowing the recognition of two equivalent queries that are not strictly syntactically identical.
  • the reception equipment Ri obtains the response RESPk, associated with the corresponding request REQk already received, in the memory 19, during a step F8. It will be emphasized that a response to the REQi request is obtained without requesting the interactive server 2. This reduces the load of requests submitted to the interactive server 2 and prevents the server 2 from being confronted with a large number of requests. at certain events, such as starting a range of advertisements.
  • the response obtained RESPk is returned to the user here by displaying a message using the user interface, during a step F9.
  • the response obtained in the memory 19 is stored on hold by a program guide management module 15 of the equipment Ri.
  • the reception equipment Ri sends the request REQi to the interactive program guide server 2, during a step FlO. During a step F1, in response to the request REQi, the reception equipment Ri receives an answer
  • FIG. 2 a functional block diagram of the reception equipment Ri is shown. For the sake of brevity, only the elements of the equipment Ri relating to the invention will be described.
  • the equipment Ri comprises a connection interface 10 to the ADSL network 5, a module 11 for receiving the TV program data transmitted through a given TV channel, means 12 for processing the TV program data received through the received TV channel. , means 13 for rendering received TV program data, user interface means 14 and a module 15 for managing a program guide.
  • the reception module 11 connected to the ADSL connection interface 10, is arranged to receive data streams relating to a TV program being broadcast through a given channel (Ci, ... or CN), in particular the audio, video and subtitle streams
  • the processing means 12 are adapted to process the received TV program data, that is to say to decode and, in the case where the data is encrypted, to decrypt.
  • the rendering means 13 are arranged to render, ie play, the data and to provide them to suitable user interface members, namely loudspeakers for the audio data and a screen for the data.
  • the user interface means 14 comprise rendering and input user interface elements (loudspeakers, screens, input keys, remote control, etc.) as well as applications managing graphic interfaces intended to display on the screen. 'screen.
  • the program guide module 1 S has several roles - program information management, program information presentation, creating queries for the interactive program guide server 2.
  • the program guide module 15 is intended to create REQ requests relating to the programs either automatically and periodically (these requests being pre-programmed in module 15), or from a question entered by the user. are intended for the interactive server 2 and are written in a syntax understandable by it.
  • the module 15 is arranged to manage the received program information and to present it on the screen. It is connected to the user interface means 14.
  • the reception equipment Ri further comprises a module 16 for obtaining associated request and response couples, a query comparator 17 and a request processing module 18.
  • the obtaining module 16 is arranged to recover the associated request and response couples and their respective expiry times in the specific stream of associated request and response couples, broadcast through the TV channel received by the equipment Ri.
  • the module 16 is connected to the reception module 11 and to a memory 19 for storing the received request-response couples.
  • the memory 19 is itself connected to a memory management module 19A, for deleting from memory 19 the request-response couples having expired.
  • the comparator 17 is connected, at the input, to the memory 19 and the module 15 and, at the output, to the module 18 for processing the requests
  • a request REQ intended for the interactive server 2 When a request REQ intended for the interactive server 2 is created, it is first provided to the comparator 17 which compares it to each of the requests included in the request-response couples stored in the memory 19.
  • the processing module 18 is arranged to process the REQ request according to the result of the comparison made by the comparator 17 In the case of a positive comparison, it obtains the response to the request REQ in the memory 19 and transmits it to the module 15. In the case of a negative comparison, the request REQ is transmitted to the interactive server 2 through the connection interface 10.
  • the processing module 18 is connected to the comparator 17, to the network interface 10 and to the module 15.
  • the equipment Ri further comprises a central unit, not shown, intended to control the operation of all the elements of the equipment Ri.
  • the modules 16, 17, 18 and 19A are software modules of a computer program They comprise software instructions for controlling the execution by the equipment Ri of the steps P3, F4, F7, F8, F9 and Flo previously described
  • Figure 3 there is shown the interactive server 2 program guide.
  • It comprises a broadcast network connection interface 5, a program guide module 21 and a database 22.
  • the database 22 is intended to store information relating to the programs of the various television channels (title of the program, start and end times, theme, type of program, summary, etc.).
  • the program guide module 21 is adapted to provide a program guide service to users equipped with their TV reception equipment.
  • the module 21 comprises - a block 210 for transmitting program guide data to the TV reception equipment
  • the server 2 comprises a block 214 for sending to the insertion device 4 a message M m s of insertion request containing a pair comprising a request and an associated response, a torque expiration time, and the identifier of at least one channel to be used for transmission of the pair (one or more particular TV channels and / or a channel common to all TV channels).
  • Block 214 is a software module or computer program comprising software instructions for controlling the execution of step E4 previously described.
  • the insertion device 4 comprises means for inserting the request and response pair and the associated expiration time contained in the message M ms transmitted. by the server 2, in the TV channel or channels identified in this message M ms , and more specifically in a specific stream dedicated to the transmission of pairs of request and associated response, as previously explained in step E5.
  • the broadcast network is an ADSL network. It could of course be another network, such as a satellite network. In this case, the reception equipment simultaneously receives all the broadcast channels.
  • a request transmitted by a reception equipment to the interactive server 2 is accompanied by the identifier of the current channel received by the equipment. It may be envisaged that the request is not transmitted with the identifier of the current channel received. by the equipment. In this case, the server determines the channel (s) to be used for transmitting the associated request and response pair from the information contained in the received request.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

During the reception of a TV programme, a TV receiver device (R1) receives combined request and response pairs and stores said pairs in a memory, a combined request and response pair including a request intended for the interactive programme guide server (2) and a response to said request from the interactive server (2). In the event of a new request from the receiver device (R1) intended for the interactive server (2), a verification step (F7) is provided in which the receiver device (Ri) verifies whether said new request (REQ1) matches a request included in a previously received and valid combined response and request pair (REQk, RESPk) and, if the new request (REQ1) matches a request (REQk) included in a previously received combined request and response pair (REQk, RESPk), a step (F8) is provided of obtaining the response (RESPk) combined with the request (REQk) matching the fresh request (REQ1) in a memory (19) of the receiver device (R1).

Description

Titre : Traitement d'une requête destinée à un serveur interactif de guide des programmes, équipement de réception et serveur interactif associés Title: Processing a Request for an Interactive Program Guide Server, Attendant Equipment, and Associated Interactive Server

L'invention concerne le traitement de requêtes relatives à des programmes TV émises par des équipements de réception TV vers un serveur interactifThe invention relates to the processing of requests relating to TV programs transmitted by TV reception equipment to an interactive server

Dans le domaine de la télévision numérique, il existe des serveurs interactifs auxquels les utilisateurs peuvent, à l'aide de leurs équipements de réception TV, adresser des requêtes relatives aux programmes TV afin par exemple d'obtenir le titre du programme en cours de diffusion sur une chaîne TV donnée, les heures de début et/ou de fin de ce programme, le titre du prochain programme, etc..In the field of digital television, there are interactive servers to which users can, with the aid of their TV reception equipment, send requests relating to TV programs in order, for example, to obtain the title of the program being broadcast. on a given TV channel, the start and / or end times of this program, the title of the next program, etc.

Lorsqu'un serveur interactif reçoit une requête émise par un équipement de réception TV, il envoie une réponse individuelle directement à l'équipement requérant. La requête et la réponse sont transmises à travers une même liaison point à point entre l'équipement et le serveur. Si le serveur reçoit plusieurs requêtes en provenance de plusieurs équipements récepteurs, il doit adresser des réponses individuelles respectivement aux différents équipements récepteurs requérants. Or, les utilisateurs réagissent souvent de façon similaire et concomitante à certains événements, par exemple au démarrage d'une plage de publicités. Ainsi certains événements sont susceptibles de provoquer l'émission d'un nombre massif de requêtes vers le serveur interactif Celui-ci doit répondre à chacune de ces requêtes de manière individuelle, ce qui pose un problème de capacités de traitement.When an interactive server receives a request from a TV reception equipment, it sends an individual response directly to the requesting equipment. The request and the response are transmitted through the same point-to-point link between the equipment and the server. If the server receives several requests from several receiving equipment, it must address individual responses respectively to the different receiving equipment applicants. However, users often react in a similar and concomitant manner to certain events, for example when starting a range of advertisements. Thus some events are likely to cause the issuance of a massive number of requests to the interactive server It must respond to each of these requests individually, which poses a problem of processing capabilities.

Un des buts de l'invention est d'améliorer la situation.One of the aims of the invention is to improve the situation.

A cet effet, l'invention concerne un procédé de traitement d'une nouvelle requête par un équipement de réception TV, ladite requête étant destinée à un serveur interactif de guide des programmes, dans lequel, durant la réception d'un programme TV, l'équipement de réception TV reçoit et stocke en mémoire des couples de requête et réponse associées, un couple de requête et réponse associées comprenant une requête destinée au serveur interactif de guide des programmes et une réponse à ladite requête du serveur interactif, et, en cas de nouvelle requête de l'équipement de réception destinée au serveur interactif, il est prévu - une étape de vérification dans laquelle l'équipement de réception vérifie si ladite nouvelle requête correspond à une requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide, etFor this purpose, the invention relates to a method of processing a new request by a TV reception equipment, said request being intended for an interactive program guide server, in which, during the reception of a TV program, the the TV receiving equipment receives and stores in memory associated request and response pairs, a pair of associated request and response including a request for the interactive program guide server and a response to said request of the interactive server, and, in case new request for the receiving equipment for the interactive server, it is expected that a verification step in which the reception equipment verifies whether said new request corresponds to a request included in a pair of associated request and answer already received and valid, and

- si la nouvelle requête correspond à une requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide, une étape d'obtention de la réponse associée à la requête correspondant à la nouvelle requête dans une mémoire de l'équipement de réceptionif the new request corresponds to a request included in a pair of associated request and answer already received and valid, a step of obtaining the answer associated with the request corresponding to the new request in a memory of the receiving equipment

.Avantageusement, si la nouvelle requête ne correspond à aucune requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide, une étape d'envoi de la nouvelle requête vers le serveur interactif.Advantageously, if the new request does not correspond to any request included in a pair of associated request and answer already received and valid, a step of sending the new request to the interactive server.

Ainsi, lorsque l'équipement de réception génère une requête destinée au serveur de guide des programmes, par exemple une requête pour connaître le titre du programme en cours sur un canal TV donné, celle-ci n'est pas immédiatement envoyée au serveur interactif. L'équipement de réception vérifie d'abord s'il n'a pas déjà reçu la réponse à cette requête, par comparaison de la requête créée avec les requêtes incluses dans les couples requête-réponse reçus. Si tel est le cas, la réponse à la requête créée, déjà reçue, est utilisée par l'équipement de réception pour par exemple afficher un message à l'écran. Sinon, l'équipement de réception envoie la requête au serveur interactif Grâce à cela, on peut diminuer de façon conséquente la quantité de requêtes reçues par le serveur interactif suite à un événement, tel que le début d'une plage de publicité ou le début d'un programme TV, qui déclenche la création de requêtes identiques par de nombreux équipements de réception.Thus, when the receiving equipment generates a request for the program guide server, for example a request to know the title of the current program on a given TV channel, it is not immediately sent to the interactive server. The receiving equipment first verifies if it has not already received the response to this request, by comparing the created request with the requests included in the received request-response couples. If this is the case, the response to the created request, already received, is used by the receiving equipment for example to display a message on the screen. Otherwise, the receiving equipment sends the request to the interactive server With this, we can significantly reduce the amount of requests received by the interactive server following an event, such as the beginning of an advertising range or the beginning a TV program, which triggers the creation of identical requests by many reception equipment.

Avantageusement encore, l'équipement de réception stocke en mémoire un couple de requête et réponse associées avec un instant d'expiration associé au-delà duquel ledit couple n'est plus valideAdvantageously, the receiving equipment stores in memory a pair of request and response associated with an associated expiration time beyond which said pair is no longer valid

La validité des couples requête-réponse est ainsi limitée dans le temps. Par exemple, dans le cas d'une requête d'obtention du titre du programme TV en cours sur un canal donné, l'instant d'expiration du couple comprenant cette requête et la réponse associée correspond à l'horaire de fin du programme TV Au-delà de cet horaire, le couple requête-réponse est expiré et n'est donc plus valide.The validity of the request-response couples is thus limited in time. For example, in the case of a request to obtain the title of the TV program in progress on a given channel, the moment of expiration of the pair comprising this request and the associated response corresponds to the end time of the TV program. Beyond this time, the request-response pair has expired and is no longer valid.

Dans un mode de réalisation particulier, l'équipement de réception recevant un programme TV à travers un canal de transmission, il reçoit les couples de réponse et requête associées dans un flux transmis à travers ledit canal de transmission du programme TVIn a particular embodiment, the receiving equipment receiving a TV program through a transmission channel, it receives the response couples and associated requests in a stream transmitted through said TV program transmission channel

L'invention concerne aussi un procédé de traitement, par un serveur interactif de guide des programmes, de requêtes provenant d'équipements de réception TV, dans lequel, suite à la réception d'une requête en provenance d'un équipement requérant, il est prévu une étape d'envoi d'une réponse à ladite requête à l'équipement requérant, caractérisé par le fait qu'il est prévu une étape d'envoi d'un couple comprenant ladite requête et ladite réponse associées à destination d'au moins un équipement de réception TV autre que l'équipement requérant. L'invention concerne encore un équipement de réception de données de programme TV comprenantThe invention also relates to a method of processing, by an interactive program guide server, requests from TV reception equipment, in which, following the receipt of a request from a requesting equipment, it is provided a step of sending a response to said request to the requesting equipment, characterized in that there is provided a step of sending a pair comprising said request and said associated response to destination of at least TV receiving equipment other than the requesting equipment. The invention further relates to a TV program data reception equipment comprising

- des moyens de réception de couples de requête et réponse associées durant la réception d'au moins un programme TV, un couple de requête et réponse associées comprenant une requête destinée au serveur interactif de guide des programmes et une réponse à ladite requête du serveur interactif,means for receiving associated request and answer couples during the reception of at least one TV program, a pair of request and associated responses comprising a request for the interactive program guide server and a response to said request of the interactive server ,

- des moyens de mémorisation des couples de requête et réponse associées reçus,means for storing the associated request and response pairs received,

- des moyens pour créer une nouvelle requête destinée au serveur interactif,means for creating a new request for the interactive server,

- des moyens pour comparer ladite nouvelle requête avec celles incluses dans les couples de requête et réponse associées mémorisés, etmeans for comparing said new request with those included in the associated stored query and answer pairs, and

- des moyens de traitement agencés pour, en cas de correspondance entre une nouvelle requête et une requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées reçu et valide, obtenir la réponse associée à la requête correspondant à la nouvelle requête dans lesdits moyens de mémorisationprocessing means arranged for, in case of correspondence between a new request and a request included in a received and valid pair of associated request and response, obtaining the answer associated with the request corresponding to the new request in said storage means

.L'invention sera mieux comprise à l'aide de la description suivante des procédés de traitement mis en œuvre par un équipement de réception et par un serveur interactif respectivement, ainsi que de l'équipement de réception et du serveur interactif, selon un exemple de réalisation particulier de l'invention, en référence aux dessins annexes sur lesquels : - la figure 1 représente un système de diffusion de programmes TV doté d'un serveur interactif de guide des programmes;The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of the processing methods implemented by a reception equipment and by an interactive server respectively, as well as the reception equipment and the interactive server, according to one example. particular embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a TV program broadcasting system equipped with an interactive program guide server;

- la figure 2 représente un schéma bloc fonctionnel d'un équipement de réception TV du système de la figure 1 , selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation decπt,FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of a TV reception equipment of the system of FIG. 1, according to the particular example of implementation decπt,

- la figure 3 représente un schéma bloc fonctionnel du serveur interactif de guide des programmes de la figure 1, selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation décrit,FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of the interactive program guide server of FIG. 1, according to the particular embodiment described,

- la figure 4 représente un organigramme des étapes du procédé de traitement d'une requête par le serveur interactif de la figure 3, selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation de l'invention,FIG. 4 represents a flowchart of the steps of the method of processing a request by the interactive server of FIG. 3, according to the particular embodiment of the invention,

- la figure 5A représente un organigramme des étapes d'un procédé de réception et de traitement d'un couple de requête et réponse associées par l'équipement de réception de la figure 2, selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation de l'invention,FIG. 5A represents a flowchart of the steps of a method for receiving and processing a pair of request and response associated with the receiving equipment of FIG. 2, according to the particular embodiment of the invention,

- la figure 5B représente un organigramme des étapes d'un procédé de traitement d'une requête par l'équipement de réception de la figure 2, selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation de l' inventionFIG. 5B represents a flowchart of the steps of a method of processing a request by the reception equipment of FIG. 2, according to the particular embodiment of the invention;

En référence à la figure 1 , le système de diffusion de programmes TV comprend une pluralité de sources Si, S2, • - •, SN de canal de diffusion de données TV, un serveur interactif 2 de guide des programmes, un diffuseur de canaux de télévision 3 et un dispositif d'insertion 4.With reference to FIG. 1, the TV program broadcast system comprises a plurality of TV data channel sources S1, S2, • - •, SN, an interactive program guide server 2, a broadcast channel broadcaster television 3 and an insertion device 4.

Les différents canaux de diffusion TV correspondent à différentes chaînes TV, notées TVi, . , TVN, et portent les références respectives Ci, C2, . ., CN- Sur la figure 1 , on a également représenté une pluralité d'équipements de réception FV, référencés Ri, . . , Rx. Les équipements de réception Ri, . .., R\ sont reliés au système de diffusion TV à travers un réseau de diffusion, en l'espère un réseau ADSL 5.The different TV broadcast channels correspond to different TV channels, denoted TVi,. , TVN, and bear the respective references Ci, C2,. ., C N - In Figure 1, there is also shown a plurality of receiving equipment FV, referenced Ri,. . , Rx. Ri reception equipment,. .., R \ are connected to the TV broadcast system through a broadcast network, hopefully an ADSL network 5.

Dans l'exemple particulier représenté sur la figure 1 , les équipements de réception Ri et R, (avec l<y<X) reçoivent le canal C2 de transmission des programmesIn the particular example shown in FIG. 1, the reception equipments Ri and R, (with l <y <X) receive the transmission channel C2 of the programs

FV de la chaîne TV2. On soulignera que, dans l'exemple particulier décrit ici, le réseau de diffusion étant un réseau VDSL, les équipements de réception Ri, .. , R\ ne peuvent recevoir qu'un nombre limite de canaux de diffusion TV à la fois.FV of TV2 channel. Note that in the particular example described here, the broadcast network being a VDSL network, the receiving equipment Ri, .., R \ can receive only a limited number of TV broadcast channels at a time.

En référence à la figure 4, on va maintenant décrire la réception et le traitement d'une requête, notée REQy, provenant de l'équipement Rv, par le serveur de guide des programmes 2. On suppose ici que l'équipement Ry est en train de recevoir un programme TV de la chaîne TV? a travers le canal Cz- Dans l'exemple décrit ici REQy est une requête pour obtenir le titre du programme TV en cours de diffusion sur le canal C2. En outre, la requête REQV contient un identifiant du canal courant reçu par l'équipement Rv, en l'espèce le canal Ca,- Dans l'exemple particulier décrit ici, l'identifiant du canal TV courant reçu par l'équipement requérant est présent dans la requête émise, quel que soit le canal sur lequel porte cette requête. Ainsi, si l'équipement reçoit le canal C2 et envoie par exemple une requête pour obtenir des informations relatives au canal suivant C% cette requête contient également l'identifiant du canal C2 dans un champ d'identification du canal reçu par l'équipement requérant.With reference to FIG. 4, the reception and processing of a request, denoted REQy, originating from the equipment R v , will now be described by the program guide server 2. It is assumed here that the equipment R y is receiving a TV program from the TV channel? through the channel cz- In the example described here REQ is a request to obtain the title being broadcast TV program on channel C2. In addition, the request REQ V contains an identifier of the current channel received by the equipment R v , in this case the channel Ca, - In the particular example described here, the identifier of the current TV channel received by the equipment The requestor is present in the issued request, regardless of the channel on which the request is made. Thus, if the equipment receives the channel C2 and for example sends a request to obtain information relating to the following channel C% this request also contains the identifier of the channel C2 in a channel identification field received by the requesting equipment .

Le serveur interactif de guide des programmes 2 reçoit des requêtes émises par les différents équipements de réception TV Ri, .. , R\, et relatives aux programmes TV des différentes chaînes TVi, TV2, .. ., TVN- Suite a la réception d'une requête REQ, en provenance de l'équipement de réception R>, lors d'une étape El, le serveur 2 traite la requête REQ5, afin de générer une réponse, notée RESPV, lors d'une étape E2, et transmet cette réponse RESPj directement à l'équipement requérant Rv lors d'une étape E3 La transmission de la requête REQV et celle de la réponse associée RESPj s'effectuent à travers une liaison directe, ici point à point ou "umcast", entre l'équipement Rv et le serveur interactif 2. En outre, selon l'exemple de réalisation particulier de l'invention décrit ici, suite à la réception et au traitement de la requête REQV provenant de l'équipement Rv, le serveur interactif 2 transmet au dispositif d'insertion 4, lors d'une étape E4, un message Mins de demande d'insertion contenantThe interactive program guide server 2 receives requests from the different TV reception equipment Ri, .., R, and relating to the TV programs of the various TV channels, TV2,..., TVN. a request REQ, coming from the reception equipment R>, during a step El, the server 2 processes the request REQ 5 , in order to generate a response, denoted RESP V , during a step E2, and transmits this response RESP j directly to the equipment requesting R v during a step E3 The transmission of the request REQ V and that of the associated response RESP j is carried out through a direct link, here point-to-point or "umcast between the equipment R v and the interactive server 2. In addition, according to the particular embodiment of the invention described here, following the reception and processing of the request REQ V from the equipment R v , the interactive server 2 transmits to the insertion device 4, during a ape E4, a message M ins of insertion request containing

- un couple de requête-réponse comprenant la requête REQj et la réponse associée RESPV , noté (REQV ,RESPV) ,a request-response pair comprising the request REQ j and the associated response RESP V , noted (REQ V , RESP V ),

- un instant d'expiration v associé et - l'identifiant d'au moins un canal de diffusion à utiliser pour la diffusion du couple (REQv7RESPj).- an associated v expiration time and the identifier of at least one broadcast channel to be used for broadcasting the pair (REQ v7 RESP j ).

La requête REQy étant une requête pour obtenir le titre du programme TV en cours de diffusion sur le canal C2, l'instant d'expiration

Figure imgf000008_0001
y associé au couple (REQy,RESPv) correspond ici à l'horaire de fin du programme TV dont le titre est requisThe request REQ there is a request to obtain the title being broadcast TV program on channel C2, the expiration time
Figure imgf000008_0001
y associated with the pair (REQ y , RESP v ) here corresponds to the end time of the TV program whose title is required

En outre, dans l'exemple particulier décrit ici, le couple (REQj ,RESPy) est transmis par le serveur 2 au dispositif d'insertion 4 avec l'identifiant du canal C2 reçu par l'équipement requérant afin que le canal C2 soit utilisé pour diffuser le couple

Figure imgf000008_0002
Le serveur interactif 2 pourrait transmettre également l'identifiant du canal précédant et celui du canal suivant le canal Ca, à savoir les identifiants des canaux Ci et C3 afin que ces deux canaux soient également utilisés pour diffuser le couple (REQV,RESPV). D'une manière générale, on pourrait prévoir de transmettre avec le couple (REQj ,RESP5,) les identifiants de tout ou partie des canaux TV Ci, . . , CN afin que ces derniers soient utilisés pour transmettre le couple (REQy,RESPy). Lors d'une étape E5, après réception du message Mms, le dispositif d'insertion 4 insère le couple (REQV,RESPV) ainsi que l'instant d'expiration associé tcXpiy, contenus dans le message M,ns reçu, dans le canal de diffusion C2 indiqué dans ce message Mms, afin de transmettre le couple (REQy,RESPy) à tous les équipement de réception, ici Ri1 Ry, qui reçoivent le canal Cz, lors d'une étape E5 Ainsi, le serveur interactif 2 transmet le couple (REQy,RESPy) à tous les équipements qui reçoivent le canal C2, par l'intermédiaire du dispositif d'insertion 4In addition, in the particular example described here, the pair (REQ j , RESP y ) is transmitted by the server 2 to the insertion device 4 with the identifier of the channel C2 received by the requesting equipment so that the channel C2 be used to spread the couple
Figure imgf000008_0002
The interactive server 2 could also transmit the identifier of the preceding channel and that of the channel following the channel Ca, namely the identifiers of the channels Ci and C3 so that these two channels are also used to broadcast the torque (REQ V , RESP V ) . In general, it could be provided to transmit with the pair (REQ j , RESP 5 ) the identifiers of all or part of the TV channels Ci,. . , CN so that they are used to transmit the couple (REQ y , RESPy). In a step E5, after receiving the message M ms , the insertion device 4 inserts the pair (REQ V , RESP V ) and the associated expiration time tc Xpiy , contained in the message M, ns received. in the broadcast channel C2 indicated in this message M m s, in order to transmit the pair (REQ y , RESP y ) to all the reception equipment, here Ri 1 R y , which receive the channel Cz, during a step E5 Thus, the interactive server 2 transmits the torque (REQ y , RESP y ) to all the equipment that receives the channel C2, via the insertion device 4

Dans le cas où le message Mlm de demande d'insertion contient les identifiants de plusieurs canaux TV dans le champ d'identification des canaux à utiliser pour la diffusion, le couple

Figure imgf000008_0003
j sont insérés dans tous ces canaux Ainsi les équipements qui reçoivent au moins l'un de ces canaux TV identifiés dans le message Mins reçoivent le couple (REQV,RESPV) à travers ce canal IV particulier qu'ils reçoivent.In the case where the insertion request message M lm contains the identifiers of several TV channels in the identification field of the channels to be used for broadcasting, the couple
Figure imgf000008_0003
j are inserted in all these channels Thus equipment receiving at least one of these TV channels identified in the message M ins receive the torque (REQ V , RESP V ) through this particular IV channel they receive.

Chacun des canaux de diffusion TV Ci, . . , CN comprend ici un ensemble de sous-canaux respectivement destinés à transmettre différents types de flux tels que des flux audio, vidéo, de texte (par exemple des sous-titres) ou encore de métadonnées, c'est- à-dire de données d'informations relatives au programme TV en cours de diffusion (par exemple le ùtre, le genre, le thème, les heures de début et de fin de diffusion du programme , etc.). Dans l'exemple particulier decπt ici, le couple (REQy,RESPj) et l'instant d'expiration associé

Figure imgf000009_0001
sont insérés par le dispositif d'insertion 4 dans un sous- canal supplémentaire du canal de diffusion C?, spécifiquement dédié à la transmission des couples de question et réponse associées En variante, les couples de requête et réponse associées pourraient être insérés dans un sous-canal de transmission d'un flux audio, vidéo, de sous-titre ou encore de métadonnées. On pourrait encore envisager d'ajouter un canal commun indépendant, distinct des canaux de chaîne TV, pour la transmission des couples de question et réponse associées, dans le cas où le réseau permet aux équipements de réception de recevoir plusieurs canaux de diffusion simultanément Une fois insérés dans le sous-canal dédié du canal Ca, le couple (REQ1 ,RESP5) et l'instant d'expiration associé tcXp y sont transmis aux équipements qui reçoivent le canal C2, en l'espèce les équipements Ri et Ry, lors d'une étape E6.Each of the TV channels Ci,. . , CN here comprises a set of subchannels respectively for transmitting different types of streams such as audio, video, text (for example subtitles) or even metadata, that is to say data information about the TV program being broadcast (eg the program, genre, theme, start and end times of program, etc.). In the particular example decπt here, the pair (REQ y , RESP j ) and the associated expiration time
Figure imgf000009_0001
are inserted by the insertion device 4 into an additional subchannel of the diffusion channel C 2, specifically dedicated to the transmission of the associated question and answer couples. Alternatively, the associated request and response couples could be inserted in a sub-channel. channel for transmission of an audio, video, subtitle or metadata stream. One could still consider adding an independent common channel, distinct from the TV channel channels, for transmitting the associated question and answer pairs, in the case where the network allows the receiving equipment to receive several broadcast channels simultaneously. inserted in the dedicated subchannel of the channel Ca, the pair (REQ 1 , RESP 5 ) and the associated expiry time tc X p y are transmitted to the equipment receiving the channel C 2 , in this case the equipment Ri and R y , during a step E6.

En référence à la figure 5A, on va maintenant décrire le procédé de réception d'un programme TV par un équipement de réception TV, ici l'équipement de réception Ri.With reference to FIG. 5A, the method of reception of a TV program by a TV reception equipment, here the reception equipment Ri, will now be described.

L'équipement de réception R] reçoit des données de programme TV à travers un canal de diffusion TV, en l'espèce le canal C2. La réception de données de programme TV sur le canal C2 est représentée sur la figure 5A par une étape Fl Bien entendu, cette étape F l dure pendant toute la période de réception du canal C2 par l'équipement Ri. Les étapes décrites ci- après référencées F2 à F4 sont réalisées durant la réception Fi de données de programme TV à travers le canal C2 par l'équipement Ri.The receiving equipment R] receives TV program data through a TV broadcast channel, in this case the C2 channel. The reception of TV program data on the channel C2 is represented in FIG. 5A by a step F1. Of course, this step F l lasts during the entire period of reception of the channel C2 by the equipment Ri. The steps described hereinafter referenced F2 to F4 are performed during the reception of TV program data through channel C2 by the equipment Ri.

Durant la réception des données de programme TV à travers le canal C2, l'équipement de réception Ri reçoit des couples (REQ1, RESP1) de requête et réponse associées avec des instants d'expiration associées

Figure imgf000009_0002
i. Comme précédemment explicité, ces couples (REQ1, RESP1) de requête et réponse associées avec leurs dates d'expiration respectives t_Vp , sont transmis à travers le sous-canal dédié à la transmission de couples de requête et réponse associées du canal de diffusion C2.During the reception of the TV program data through the channel C 2 , the receiving equipment Ri receives pairs (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) of request and response associated with associated expiration times
Figure imgf000009_0002
i. As explained previously, these pairs (REQ 1, RESP 1) request and reply associated with their respective time t_ V p, are transmitted through the subchannel dedicated to the transmission request response pairs and associated channel C2.

A titre d'exemple îllustratif, on a représenté sur la figure 5A un étape F2 de réception par l'équipement Ri d'un couple requête-réponse (REQ1, RESP1). Lors d'une étape F3, l'équipement Ri enregistre le couple (REQ1, RESP1) reçu avec sa date d'expiration associée tcxp i dans une mémoire spécifique 19. Le couple (REQ1, RESP,) est conservé dans la mémoire 19 au moins jusqu'à ce que l'instant d'expiration tι\P, soit atteint. Il n'est valide que jusqu'à cet instant d'expiration t^p,,. On peut prévoir un processus de contrôle des dates d'expiration des couples de requête et réponse associées de la mémoire 19, effectué périodiquement, par exemple toutes les 30 secondes, les couples étant supprimés lors d'une étape F4 s'ils ne sont plus valides, c'est-à-dire si leur instant d'expiration a été atteint ou dépassé. En variante, on pourrait également envisager de supprimer de la mémoire 19 les couples expirés, non valides, uniquement lorsque la mémoire 19 est remplie de manière à pouvoir y enregistrer un nouveau couple de requête et réponse associées reçu. L'instant d'expiration est ici fourni avec le couple (REQ1, RESPi). En variante, il pourrait être calculé par l'équipement de réception Ri à partir d'un instant de réception du couple et d'une durée T configurée dans l'équipement Ri. Les étapes F2 à F4 sont réitérées pour chaque couple de requête et réponse associées (REQ1, RESP1) reçu par l'équipement Ri.By way of illustrative example, FIG. 5A shows a step F2 receiving by the equipment Ri a request-response pair (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ). During a step F3, the equipment Ri records the couple (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) received with its associated expiry date t cxp i in a specific memory 19. The pair (REQ 1 , RESP,) is stored in memory 19 at least until the expiry time t ι \ P , is achieved. It is valid only until this moment of expiration t ^ p ,,. It is possible to provide a process for checking the expiry dates of the associated query and response pairs of the memory 19, carried out periodically, for example every 30 seconds, the couples being deleted during a step F4 if they are no longer valid, that is, whether their expiration time has been reached or exceeded. Alternatively, one could also consider deleting from memory 19 the expired couples, invalid, only when the memory 19 is filled so as to be able to record a new pair of request and associated response received. The moment of expiration is here provided with the pair (REQ 1 , RESPi). Alternatively, it could be calculated by the reception equipment Ri from a torque reception instant and a duration T configured in the equipment Ri. The steps F2 to F4 are repeated for each pair of request and response associated (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) received by the equipment Ri.

On va maintenant décrire un procédé de traitement d'une requête destinée au serveur interactif 2 par l'équipement de réception Ri, en référence à la figure 5B, selon un exemple de réalisation particulier de l'invention. Dans l'exemple décrit, on suppose que l'équipement Ri reçoit un programme TV à travers le canal C2.We will now describe a method of processing a request for the interactive server 2 by the receiving equipment Ri, with reference to Figure 5B, according to a particular embodiment of the invention. In the example described, it is assumed that the equipment Ri receives a TV program through the channel C2.

En référence à la figure 5B, lors d'une étape F5, un utilisateur saisit une question Q relative aux programmes et destinée au serveur interactif de guide des programmes 2, à l'aide d'une interface utilisateur de guide des programmes. A partir de la question saisie par l'utilisateur, l'équipement de réception Ri génère une requête REQi dans une syntaxe prédéfinie apte à être interprétée par le serveur interactif 2, lors d'une étape F6. Dans l'exemple particulier décrit ici, REQi est une requête pour obtenir le titre du programme en cours sur le canal C2 reçu par l'équipement Ri.With reference to FIG. 5B, during a step F5, a user enters a program Q question for the interactive program guide server 2 using a program guide user interface. From the question entered by the user, the reception equipment Ri generates a request REQi in a predefined syntax that can be interpreted by the interactive server 2, during a step F6. In the particular example described here, REQi is a request to obtain the title of the current program on the channel C2 received by the equipment Ri.

A titre d'exemples îllustratifs, la requête REQi pourrait également être l'une des requêtes suivantes :As illustrative examples, the REQi request could also be one of the following queries:

- Quel est le titre du programme suivant sur le canal C2?- What is the title of the following program on the C2 channel?

- Quelles sont les informations sur le programme en cours sur le canal C2?- What is the information about the current C2 channel program?

- Quel est le titre du film de 21 :00 sur le canal C2?- What is the title of the 21: 00 movie on the C2 channel?

- Quelle est l'heure de fin de l'émission en cours sur le canal C2? - Quel est le titre du programme sur le canal précédent Ci?- What is the end time of the current program on channel C2? - What is the title of the program on the previous channel Ci?

- Quel est le titre du programme sur le canal suivant C ^? Dans l'exemple décrit ici, la requête REQi est générée a partir d'une question saisie par un utilisateur. L'équipement de réception Ri pourrait également générer automatiquement et de façon périodique des requêtes prédéfinies destinées au serveur 2, afin notamment d'anticiper des questions fréquentes susceptibles d'être saisies par l'utilisateur.- What is the title of the program on the next channel C ^? In the example described here, the request REQi is generated from a question entered by a user. The reception equipment Ri could also generate automatically and periodically predefined requests for the server 2, in particular to anticipate frequent questions that can be entered by the user.

Dans les deux cas, qu'il s'agisse d'une requête générée à partir d'une question d'un utilisateur ou d'une requête prédéfinie et générée automatiquement, le traitement de la requête REQi par l'équipement Ri s'effectue selon les étapes F7 à FI l qui vont maintenant être décrites L'étape F7 est une étape de vérification durant laquelle l'équipement de réceptionIn both cases, whether it is a query generated from a user's question or a predefined and automatically generated query, the processing of the query REQi by the equipment Ri is carried out according to steps F7 to FI l which will now be described Step F7 is a verification step during which the receiving equipment

Ri vérifie si ladite requête REQi correspond à une requête d'un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide. La vérification consiste à comparer syntaxiquement la requête REQi et chacune des requêtes reçues et valides (non expirées), enregistrées dans la mémoire 19. La comparaison peut être une comparaison stricte des syntaxes respectives des deux requêtes ou une comparaison non stricte permettant la reconnaissance de deux requêtes équivalentes qui ne seraient pas strictement identiques sur le plan syntaxique.Ri checks whether said REQi request corresponds to a request from a pair of associated request and response already received and valid. The check consists in comparing the REQi request and each of the received and valid queries (not expired) stored in the memory 19 together. The comparison can be a strict comparison of the respective syntaxes of the two queries or a non-strict comparison allowing the recognition of two equivalent queries that are not strictly syntactically identical.

Si la vérification F7 est positive, autrement dit si la requête REQi correspond à une requête REQk incluse dans un couple de requête REQk et réponse RESPk associées déjà reçu, stocké en mémoire 19 et valide (c'est-à-dire non expiré), l'équipement de réception Ri obtient la réponse RESPk, associée à la requête correspondante REQk déjà reçue, dans la mémoire 19, lors d'une étape F8. On soulignera qu'une réponse à la requête REQi est obtenue sans solliciter le serveur interactif 2. Grâce à cela, on réduit la charge de requêtes soumises au serveur interactif 2 et on évite que le serveur 2 soit confronté à un grand nombre de requêtes suite à certains événements, comme le démarrage d'une plage de publicités.If the verification F7 is positive, in other words if the request REQi corresponds to a request REQk included in a pair of request REQk and answer RESPk associated already received, stored in memory 19 and valid (that is to say not expired), the reception equipment Ri obtains the response RESPk, associated with the corresponding request REQk already received, in the memory 19, during a step F8. It will be emphasized that a response to the REQi request is obtained without requesting the interactive server 2. This reduces the load of requests submitted to the interactive server 2 and prevents the server 2 from being confronted with a large number of requests. at certain events, such as starting a range of advertisements.

La requête REQi ayant été générée suite a une question saisie par l'utilisateur, la réponse obtenue RESPk est restituée à l'utilisateur ici par affichage d'un message à l'aide de l'interface utilisateur, lors d'une étape F9. Dans le cas d'une requête automatique (sans question préalable de l'utilisateur), la réponse obtenue dans la mémoire 19 est stockée en attente par un module de gestion de guide des programmes 15 de l'équipement Ri. IOThe request REQi having been generated following a question entered by the user, the response obtained RESPk is returned to the user here by displaying a message using the user interface, during a step F9. In the case of an automatic request (without prior question from the user), the response obtained in the memory 19 is stored on hold by a program guide management module 15 of the equipment Ri. IO

Si la vérification F7 est négative, autrement dit si la requête REQi ne correspond à aucune requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu, stocké en mémoire 19 et valide (non expiré), l'équipement de réception Ri envoie la requête REQi au serveur interactif de guide des programmes 2, lors d'une étape FlO. Lors d'une étape Fl 1, en réponse à la requête REQi, l'équipement de réception Ri reçoit une réponseIf the verification F7 is negative, in other words if the request REQi does not correspond to any request included in a pair of associated request and response already received, stored in memory 19 and valid (not expired), the reception equipment Ri sends the request REQi to the interactive program guide server 2, during a step FlO. During a step F1, in response to the request REQi, the reception equipment Ri receives an answer

RESPi transmise directement par le serveur interactif 2. On notera que la transmission de la requête REQi et de la réponse RESPi lors des étapes FlO et FI l s'effectue par une liaison directe entre l'équipement Ri et le serveur interactif 2RESPi transmitted directly by the interactive server 2. It will be noted that the transmission of the request REQi and the RESPi response during the steps FlO and FI l is performed by a direct connection between the equipment Ri and the interactive server 2

Sur la figure 2, on a représenté un schéma bloc fonctionnel de l'équipement de réception Ri. Par souci de concision, seuls les éléments de l'équipement Ri relatifs à l'invention seront décrits.In FIG. 2, a functional block diagram of the reception equipment Ri is shown. For the sake of brevity, only the elements of the equipment Ri relating to the invention will be described.

L'équipement Ri comprend une interface 10 de connexion au réseau ADSL 5, un module 11 de réception des données de programme TV transmises à travers un canal TV donné, des moyens 12 de traitement des données de programme TV reçues à travers le canal TV reçu, des moyens 13 de restitution de données de programme TV reçues, des moyens 14 d'interface utilisateur et un module 15 de gestion d'un guide des programmes.The equipment Ri comprises a connection interface 10 to the ADSL network 5, a module 11 for receiving the TV program data transmitted through a given TV channel, means 12 for processing the TV program data received through the received TV channel. , means 13 for rendering received TV program data, user interface means 14 and a module 15 for managing a program guide.

Le module de réception 11, relié à l'interface de connexion ADSL 10, est agencé pour recevoir des flux de données relatifs à un programme TV en cours de diffusion a travers un canal donné (Ci, ...ou CN), notamment les flux audio, vidéo et de sous-titres Les moyens de traitement 12 sont adaptés pour traiter les données de programme TV reçues, c'est-à-dire pour les décoder et, dans le cas où les données sont chiffrées, les déchiffrer. Les moyens de restitution 13 sont agencés pour restituer, c'est-à-dire jouer, les données et les fournir à des organes d'interface utilisateur qui conviennent, à savoir des haut-parleurs pour les données audio et un écran pour les données vidéo et les données de texteThe reception module 11, connected to the ADSL connection interface 10, is arranged to receive data streams relating to a TV program being broadcast through a given channel (Ci, ... or CN), in particular the audio, video and subtitle streams The processing means 12 are adapted to process the received TV program data, that is to say to decode and, in the case where the data is encrypted, to decrypt. The rendering means 13 are arranged to render, ie play, the data and to provide them to suitable user interface members, namely loudspeakers for the audio data and a screen for the data. video and text data

Les moyens d'interface utilisateur 14 comprennent des organes d'interface utilisateur de restitution et de saisie (haut-parleurs, écran, touches de saisie, télécommande, etc.) ainsi que des applications gérant des interfaces graphiques destinées à s'afficher sur l'écran. Le module 1 S de guide des programmes a plusieurs rôles - gestion des informations de programme, présentation des informations de programme, création de requêtes destinées au serveur interactif de guide des programmes 2.The user interface means 14 comprise rendering and input user interface elements (loudspeakers, screens, input keys, remote control, etc.) as well as applications managing graphic interfaces intended to display on the screen. 'screen. The program guide module 1 S has several roles - program information management, program information presentation, creating queries for the interactive program guide server 2.

Le module 15 de guide des programmes est destiné à créer des requêtes REQ relatives aux programmes soit de façon automatique et périodique (ces requêtes étant pré- programmées dans le module 15), soit à partir d'une question saisie par l'utilisateur Les requêtes sont destinées au serveur interactif 2 et sont écrites dans une syntaxe compréhensible par celui-ci.The program guide module 15 is intended to create REQ requests relating to the programs either automatically and periodically (these requests being pre-programmed in module 15), or from a question entered by the user. are intended for the interactive server 2 and are written in a syntax understandable by it.

En outre, le module 15 est agencé pour gérer les informations de programmes reçues et pour les présenter à l'écran. Il est relié aux moyens d'interface utilisateur 14. L'équipement de réception Ri comprend en outre un module 16 d'obtention de couples de requête et réponse associées, un comparateur de requêtes 17 et un module 18 de traitement des requêtes.In addition, the module 15 is arranged to manage the received program information and to present it on the screen. It is connected to the user interface means 14. The reception equipment Ri further comprises a module 16 for obtaining associated request and response couples, a query comparator 17 and a request processing module 18.

Le module d'obtention 16 est agencé pour récupérer les couples de requête et réponse associées et leurs instants d'expiration respectifs dans le flux spécifique de couples de requête et réponse associées, diffusé à travers le canal TV reçu par l'équipement Ri. Le module 16 est relié au module de réception 11 et à une mémoire 19 de stockage des couples de requête-réponse reçus. La mémoire 19 est elle-même relié à un module 19A de gestion de la mémoire, destiné à supprimer de la mémoire 19 les couples de requête-réponse ayant expiré. Le comparateur 17 est relié, en entrée, à la mémoire 19 et au module 15 et, en sortie, au module 18 de traitement des requêtesThe obtaining module 16 is arranged to recover the associated request and response couples and their respective expiry times in the specific stream of associated request and response couples, broadcast through the TV channel received by the equipment Ri. The module 16 is connected to the reception module 11 and to a memory 19 for storing the received request-response couples. The memory 19 is itself connected to a memory management module 19A, for deleting from memory 19 the request-response couples having expired. The comparator 17 is connected, at the input, to the memory 19 and the module 15 and, at the output, to the module 18 for processing the requests

Lorsqu'une requête REQ destinée au serveur interactif 2 est créée, elle est d'abord fournie au comparateur 17 qui la compare à chacune des requêtes incluses dans les couples requête-réponse stockés dans la mémoire 19. Le module de traitement 18 est agencé pour traiter la requête REQ en fonction du résultat de la comparaison réalisée par le comparateur 17 En cas de comparaison positive, il obtient la réponse à la requête REQ dans la mémoire 19 et la transmet au module 15. En cas de comparaison négative, la requête REQ est transmise au serveur interactif 2 à travers l'interface de connexion 10. Le module de traitement 18 est relié au comparateur 17, à l'interface réseau 10 et au module 15.When a request REQ intended for the interactive server 2 is created, it is first provided to the comparator 17 which compares it to each of the requests included in the request-response couples stored in the memory 19. The processing module 18 is arranged to process the REQ request according to the result of the comparison made by the comparator 17 In the case of a positive comparison, it obtains the response to the request REQ in the memory 19 and transmits it to the module 15. In the case of a negative comparison, the request REQ is transmitted to the interactive server 2 through the connection interface 10. The processing module 18 is connected to the comparator 17, to the network interface 10 and to the module 15.

L'équipement Ri comprend en outre une unité centrale, non représentée, destinée à commander le fonctionnement de l'ensemble des éléments de l'équipement Ri. En outre, les modules 16, 17, 18 et 19A sont des modules logiciels d'un programme d'ordinateur Ils comprennent des instructions logicielles pour commander l'exécution par l'équipement Ri des étapes P3, F4, F7, F8, F9 et FlO précédemment décrite Sur la figure 3, on a représenté le serveur interactif 2 de guide des programmes.The equipment Ri further comprises a central unit, not shown, intended to control the operation of all the elements of the equipment Ri. In addition, the modules 16, 17, 18 and 19A are software modules of a computer program They comprise software instructions for controlling the execution by the equipment Ri of the steps P3, F4, F7, F8, F9 and Flo previously described In Figure 3, there is shown the interactive server 2 program guide.

Par souci de concision, seuls les éléments du serveur 2 relatifs à l'invention seront décrits.For the sake of brevity, only the elements of the server 2 relating to the invention will be described.

Il comprend une interface 20 de connexion au réseau de diffusion 5, un module 21 de guide des programmes et une base de données 22.It comprises a broadcast network connection interface 5, a program guide module 21 and a database 22.

La base de données 22 est destinée à stocker des informations relatives aux programmes des différentes chaînes de télévision (titre du programme, horaires de début et de fin, thème, type de programme, résumé, etc.).The database 22 is intended to store information relating to the programs of the various television channels (title of the program, start and end times, theme, type of program, summary, etc.).

Le module 21 de guide des programmes est adapté pour fournir un service de guide des programmes à des utilisateurs équipés de leurs équipements de réception TV. En particulier, le module 21 comprend - un bloc 210 de transmission de données de guide des programmes aux équipements de réception TVThe program guide module 21 is adapted to provide a program guide service to users equipped with their TV reception equipment. In particular, the module 21 comprises - a block 210 for transmitting program guide data to the TV reception equipment

- un bloc 211 de réception de requêtes émanant d'équipements de réception TV et relatives aux programmes,a block 211 for receiving requests from TV reception equipment and relating to the programs,

- un bloc 212 de détermination d'une réponse à une requête reçue, à partir des informations stockées dans la base de données 22, eta block 212 for determining a response to a request received, based on the information stored in the database 22, and

- un bloc 213 d'envoi de la réponse à la requête à l'équipement de réception ayant émis cette requête.a block 213 for sending the response to the request to the reception equipment that has sent this request.

En outre, selon l'exemple particulier de réalisation de l'invention, le serveur 2 comprend un bloc 214 d'envoi au dispositif d'insertion 4 d'un message Mms de demande d'insertion contenant un couple comprenant une requête et une réponse associées, un instant d'expiration du couple et l'identifiant d'au moins un canal à utiliser pour la transmission du couple (un ou plusieurs canaux TV particuliers et/ou un canal commun à tous les canaux TV). Le bloc 214 est un module logiciel ou programme d'ordinateur comprenant des instructions logicielles pour commander l'exécution de l'étape E4 précédemment décriteIn addition, according to the particular embodiment of the invention, the server 2 comprises a block 214 for sending to the insertion device 4 a message M m s of insertion request containing a pair comprising a request and an associated response, a torque expiration time, and the identifier of at least one channel to be used for transmission of the pair (one or more particular TV channels and / or a channel common to all TV channels). Block 214 is a software module or computer program comprising software instructions for controlling the execution of step E4 previously described.

Le dispositif d'insertion 4 comprend des moyens pour insérer le couple de requête et réponse et l'instant d'expiration associe, contenus dans le message Mms transmis par le serveur 2, dans le ou les canaux TV identifiés dans ce message Mms, et plus précisément dans un flux spécifique dédié à la transmission de couples de requête et réponse associées, comme précédemment explicité dans l'étape E5.The insertion device 4 comprises means for inserting the request and response pair and the associated expiration time contained in the message M ms transmitted. by the server 2, in the TV channel or channels identified in this message M ms , and more specifically in a specific stream dedicated to the transmission of pairs of request and associated response, as previously explained in step E5.

Dans la description qui précède, le réseau de diffusion est un réseau ADSL II pourrait bien entendu s'agir d'un autre réseau, tel qu'un réseau satellite Dans ce cas, les équipements de réception reçoivent simultanément l'ensemble des canaux de diffusion Ci, .. , CN-In the above description, the broadcast network is an ADSL network. It could of course be another network, such as a satellite network. In this case, the reception equipment simultaneously receives all the broadcast channels. Ci, .., CN-

Dans la description qui précède, une requête transmise par un équipement de réception au serveur interactif 2 est accompagnée de l' identifiant du canal courant reçu par l'équipement On pourrait envisager que la requête ne soit pas transmise avec l'identifiant du canal courant reçu par l'équipement. Dans ce cas, le serveur détermine le ou les canaux à utiliser pour la transmission du couple de requête et réponse associées à partir des informations contenues dans la requête reçue. In the foregoing description, a request transmitted by a reception equipment to the interactive server 2 is accompanied by the identifier of the current channel received by the equipment. It may be envisaged that the request is not transmitted with the identifier of the current channel received. by the equipment. In this case, the server determines the channel (s) to be used for transmitting the associated request and response pair from the information contained in the received request.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS 1 Procédé de traitement d'une nouvelle requête par un équipement de réception JTV (Ri), ladite requête (REQi) étant destinée a un serveur interactif de guide des programmes (2), dans lequel, durant la réception d'un programme TV, l'équipement de réception TV (Ri) reçoit et stocke en mémoire des couples de requête et réponse associées (F2, F3), un couple de requête et réponse associées comprenant une requête (REQ1) destinée au serveur interactif de guide des programmes (2) et une réponse (RESP1) à ladite requête (REQ,) du serveur interactif (2), et, en cas de nouvelle requête (REQi) de l'équipement de réception (Ri) destinée au serveur interactif (2), il est prévuA method for processing a new request by a reception equipment JTV (Ri), said request (REQi) being intended for an interactive program guide server (2), in which, during the reception of a TV program, the TV reception equipment (Ri) receives and stores in memory associated request and response pairs (F2, F3), a pair of associated request and response including a request (REQ 1 ) for the interactive program guide server ( 2) and a response (RESP 1 ) to said request (REQ,) of the interactive server (2), and, in case of a new request (REQi) of the reception equipment (Ri) intended for the interactive server (2), it is provided - une étape (F7) de vérification dans laquelle l'équipement de réception (Ri) vérifie si ladite nouvelle requête (REQi) correspond à une requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide (REQu RESPk), eta verification step (F7) in which the reception equipment (Ri) checks whether said new request (REQi) corresponds to a request included in a pair of associated request and response already received and valid (REQu RESPk), and - si la nouvelle requête (REQi) correspond à une requête (REQk) incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide (REQk, RESPk), une étape (F8) d'obtention de la réponse (RESPk) associée à la requête (REQk) correspondant à la nouvelle requête (REQi) dans une mémoire (19) de l'équipement de réception (Ri).- if the new query (REQI) corresponds to a request (REQk) included in a request torque and response associated j received and valid (REQk, RESPk), a step (F8) for obtaining the response (RESPk) associated with the request (REQk) corresponding to the new request (REQi) in a memory (19) of the reception equipment (Ri). 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel si la nouvelle requête (REQi) ne correspond a aucune requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées déjà reçu et valide, une étape (FlO) d'envol de la nouvelle requête (REQi) vers le serveur interactif (2).2. Method according to claim 1, in which if the new request (REQi) does not correspond to any request included in a pair of associated request and response already received and valid, a step (FlO) of flight of the new request (REQi). ) to the interactive server (2). 3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'équipement de réception (Ri) stocke en mémoire un couple de requête et réponse associées (REQ1, RESP,) avec un instant d'expiration associe
Figure imgf000016_0001
au-delà duquel ledit couple (REQ1, RESP1) n'est plus valide 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving equipment (Ri) stores in memory a pair of associated request and response (REQ 1 , RESP,) with an associated expiration time.
Figure imgf000016_0001
beyond which said pair (REQ 1 , RESP 1 ) is no longer valid 4 Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'équipement de réception (R]) recevant un programme 'IV à travers un canal de transmission, il reçoit les couples de requête et réponse associées dans un flux transmis à travers ledit canal de transmission du programme TV.4 A method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving equipment (R]) receiving a program IV through a transmission channel, it receives the request response pairs and associated to a stream transmitted through said transmission channel TV program. 5. Procédé de traitement, par un serveur interactif de guide des programmes5. Processing method, by an interactive program guide server (2), de requêtes provenant d'équipements de réception TV (Ri, . , R\), dans lequel, suite à la réception d'une requête (REQy) en provenance d'un équipement requérant (Rv), il est prévu une étape (E3) d'envoi d'une réponse (RESPy) à ladite requête (REQy) à l'équipement requérant (Ry), caractérisé par le fait qu'il est prévu une étape (E 4) de transmission d'un couple comprenant ladite requête et ladite réponse associées (REQy, RESPy) à destination d'au moins un équipement de réception TV autre que l'équipement requérant.(2), requests from TV receiving equipment (Ri,., R \), in which, following receipt of a request (REQ y ) from a requesting equipment (R v ), it there is provided a step (E3) for sending a response (RESPy) to said request (REQ y ) to the requesting equipment (R y ), characterized in that a step (E 4) of transmission of a pair comprising said request and said associated answer (REQ y , RESP y ) to at least one TV reception equipment other than the requesting equipment. 6. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le serveur interactif (2) envoie le couple comprenant la requête et la réponse associéesThe processing method according to claim 5, wherein the interactive server (2) sends the pair including the request and the associated response. (REQ7, RESPv) à un dispositif d'insertion (4) destiné à insérer ledit couple dans au moins un canal de diffusion de données de programme TV.(REQ 7 , RESP v ) to an insertion device (4) for inserting said pair into at least one TV program broadcast channel. 7. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le serveur interactif (2) envoie le couple comprenant la requête et la réponse associées (REQ,, RESPy) au dispositif d'insertion avec un identifiant (ID(C 2)) d'au moins un canal de diffusion à utiliser pour la transmission du couple.7. Processing method according to claim 6, wherein the interactive server (2) sends the pair comprising the request and the associated response (REQ ,, RESPy) to the insertion device with an identifier (ID (C 2)) d at least one broadcast channel to be used for transmitting the torque. 8. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel, lors de l'étape d'envoi, le couple comprenant la requête et la réponse associées (REQV, RESP\) est transmis avec des informations d'expiration associées
Figure imgf000017_0001
V)-8. The method of claim 5, wherein, during the step of sending, the couple comprising the request and associated response (REQ V, RESP \) is transmitted with the associated expiry information
Figure imgf000017_0001
V ) - 9. Equipement de réception de données de programme TV comprenant9. TV program data reception equipment comprising - des moyens (11, 16) de réception de couples de requête et réponse associées durant la réception d'au moins un programme TV, un couple de requête et réponse associées comprenant une requête destinée à un serveur interactif de guide des programmes et une réponse à ladite requête du serveur interactif,means (11, 16) for receiving associated request and response couples during the reception of at least one TV program, a pair of associated request and response comprising a request intended for a interactive program guide server and a response to said interactive server request, - des moyens (19, 19A) de mémorisation des couples de requête et réponse associées reçus, - des moyens (15) pour créer une nouvelle requête destinée au serveur interactif,means (19, 19A) for storing the associated request and response pairs received; means (15) for creating a new request for the interactive server, - des moyens (17) pour comparer ladite nouvelle requête avec celles incluses dans les couples de requête et réponse associées mémorisés, etmeans (17) for comparing said new request with those included in the associated stored query and answer pairs, and - des moyens (18) de traitement agencés pour, en cas de correspondance entre une nouvelle requête et une requête incluse dans un couple de requête et réponse associées reçu et valide, obtenir la réponse associée à la requête correspondant a la nouvelle requête dans lesdits moyens de mémorisation.processing means (18) arranged for, in case of correspondence between a new request and a request included in a received and valid associated request and response pair, obtaining the answer associated with the request corresponding to the new request in said means memorisation. Programme d'ordinateur enregistré sur un support de données pour un équipement de réception de données de programme TV, comprenant des instructions logicielles pour commander l'exécution des étapes du procédé de la revendication 1, lorsque lesdites instructions sont exécutées par un ordinateur.A computer program recorded on a data carrier for a TV program receiving equipment, comprising software instructions for controlling the execution of the steps of the method of claim 1, when said instructions are executed by a computer. Serveur interactif de guide des programmes comprenant des moyens (210) de transmission de données de guide des programmes à des équipements de réception, des moyens (211 , 212) de réception et de traitement d'une requête provenant d'un équipement de réception, des moyens (213) d'envoi d'une réponse a l'équipement de réception requérant et des moyens (214) d'envoi d'un couple comprenant la requête et la réponse associées a destination d'au moins un autre équipement de réception.Interactive program guide server comprising means (210) for transmitting program guide data to receiving equipment, means (211, 212) for receiving and processing a request from receiving equipment, means (213) for sending a response to the requesting receiving equipment and means (214) for sending a pair including the associated request and response to at least one other receiving equipment . Système comprenant le serveur interactif selon la revendication 11 et un dispositif d'insertion comprenant des moyens pour insérer un couple de requête et réponse associées transmis par le serveur interactif dans au moins un canal de diffusion de données de programme TV reçu par une pluralité d'équipements de réception. A system comprising the interactive server according to claim 11 and an insertion device comprising means for inserting a pair of associated request and response transmitted by the interactive server into at least one a TV program data broadcast channel received by a plurality of reception equipment.
PCT/FR2009/052078 2008-10-30 2009-10-28 Processing a request intended for an interactive programme guide server, and associated receiver device and interactive server Ceased WO2010049646A1 (en)

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070244982A1 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-10-18 Scott Iii Samuel T Hybrid Unicast and Multicast Data Delivery
WO2007142573A1 (en) * 2006-06-02 2007-12-13 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Multicast delivery

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070244982A1 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-10-18 Scott Iii Samuel T Hybrid Unicast and Multicast Data Delivery
WO2007142573A1 (en) * 2006-06-02 2007-12-13 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Multicast delivery

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