Handling broadcast data tokens

• US 20020038352A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ashley, Alexis
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In connection with the supply of data tokens identifying the forthcoming delivery of audio/video content, a method for obtaining content access data relating to forthcoming content is provided, together with a method for supplying such data and apparatus supporting the methods. Where a remote resolution utility (12) is available to supply access data, in the form of time and channel for broadcast, for example, in response to supply of an appropriate content identifier, the method comprises capturing, other that directly via the mechanism by which content is to be delivered, of a content identifier (16) for an item of content; determining from said content identifier said resolution utility; transmitting the captured content identifier to said resolution authority; and receiving the access data returned by said resolution utility.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus operable to obtain from a remote resolution utility content access data relating to the forthcoming delivery of content, the apparatus including:

a data capture stage arranged, on receipt of a content identifier other than via the mechanism used to deliver said content, to determine from said data the address of said resolution utility; and

a communications stage coupled with said data capture stage and configured, on receipt of a resolution utility address from said capture stage, to establish a communications link with said resolution utility, supply the captured content identifier thereto, and await the return of the content access data.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data capture stage comprises means arranged to parse a received content identifier to identify therefrom the address of said resolution utility.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications stage comprises an Internet browser configured on receipt of a URL relating to a resolution utility, to establish a network connection therewith, including transmitting said captured content identifier thereto and awaiting a reply including said content address data.

4. A broadcast video recorder comprising an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said content address data comprises at least a date and time for broadcast of said content, the recorder including a recording stage programmable with said date and time.

5. A broadcast video recorder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said content address data includes specification of one from a plurality of channels on which said content is to be delivered, and said recorder is further configured to detect such a specification and to switch to recording from such channel at said date and time specified.

6. A method for obtaining content access data relating to forthcoming content, wherein a remote resolution utility is available to supply said access data in response to supply of an appropriate content identifier, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing, other that directly via the mechanism by which content is to be delivered, a content identifier for an item of content;

determining from said content identifier said resolution utility;

transmitting the captured content identifier to said resolution utility; and

receiving the access data returned by said resolution utility.

7. A method for capturing broadcast content comprising the steps of obtaining content access data according to claim 6, and programming automated data capture means with the received access data.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a date on which the content is to be broadcast.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a time at which the content is to be broadcast.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a date on which the content is to be broadcast.

11. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes a specification of the delivery medium by which the content is to be delivered.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the specification of the delivery medium includes identification of a wireless broadcast frequency.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the specification of the delivery medium includes identification of a broadcast data channel having a predetermined frequency.

14. A method as claimed in any of claim 6, wherein a resolution utility is identified by an Internet URL.

15. A method as claimed in any of claim 6, wherein a resolution utility is identified by an Internet Domain Naming System name which identifies a first server from which data may be obtained, said data enabling a user to obtain access data.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the data from the first server is the address of a further server supplying said access data.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a date on which the content is to be broadcast.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a time at which the content is to be broadcast.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes at least a date on which the content is to be broadcast.

21. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the content is broadcast data, and the content access data includes a specification of the delivery medium by which the content is to be delivered.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the specification of the delivery medium includes identification of a wireless broadcast frequency.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the specification of the delivery medium includes identification of a broadcast data channel having a predetermined frequency.

24. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein a resolution utility is identified by an Internet URL.

25. A method as claimed in any of claim 17, wherein a resolution utility is identified by an Internet Domain Naming System name which identifies a first server from which data may be obtained, said data enabling a user to obtain access data.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data from the first server is the address of a further server supplying said access data.

17. A method for supplying to a user content access data relating to forthcoming content, where a resolution utility is arranged, in response to receipt of a particular content identifier, to supply to a user respective content access data, the method comprising:

supplying to a user a content identifier other than directly via the mechanism by which the content will be delivered, where the user has means for determining therefrom the address of the resolution utility, together with means for sending the content identifier to the resolution utility and receiving content access data from the same.