Customized virtual broadcast services

• US 20050273833A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Soinio, Markku
• Application Number:
  US10/845,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/113
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for representing virtual channels of a broadcast genre type in a display of an IP datacasting receiver is disclosed. Aspects of the invention are applicable to video and audio broadcasting via IP over Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) or IP time slicing over DVB. In one arrangement, the number of content channels available to a user is expanded due to the virtual channels being mixed with broadcasted channels. A profile for a virtual channel may be constructed by either selecting channels or defining a type of program that are preferred to be consumed during a specific time period. A virtual channel may be created by comparing information in the profile that defines preferred channels with transmission units either with genre information or a list of channels that may be stored in a digital receiving device. The genre information may include metadata describing IP addresses, time intervals, names of channels and content. Local content may also be mixed with the virtual channels thereby providing an increased degree of customization of content.

Claims

1. A terminal, comprising:

a processor for controlling operation of the terminal;

a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the terminal to perform a method for establishing a virtual channel, comprising;

(a) receiving a digital broadcast of a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) data packets relating to a plurality of programs on a plurality of genre program channels on a radio frequency band, each of the genre program channels having associated therewith a data packet stream identifier;

(b) retrieving data defining the virtual channel comprising at least two sequential elements indicating the genre program channels and corresponding data packet stream identifiers; and

(c) controlling the terminal to consume the received IP data packets on the basis of the data packet stream identifiers in the at least two sequential elements to thereby provide the -virtual channel.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is one of a mobile terminal, a set-top box, a television device, a radio device, and a personal computer.

3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the digital broadcast comprises digital video broadcast.

4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the genre program channels include video and audio content.

5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (b) one of the at least two sequential elements includes a text representation of content associated with the genre program channels.

6. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (b) the data defining the virtual channel is customized by a service provider.

7. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes a step of controlling the terminal to provide a stream of local data associated with one of said at least two sequential elements.

8. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein said stream of local data associated with one of said at least two sequential elements comprises audio content.

9. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein said stream of local data associated with one of said at least two sequential elements comprises graphics content.

10. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying an indication of the genre program channel having the IP data packets being consumed, the indication being displayed on a display device of the terminal.

11. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the indication comprises text.

12. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (b) the data is retrieved responsive to a selection profile indicating the genre program channels.

13. The terminal according to claim 12, wherein the genre program channels are selected by a user.

14. The terminal according to claim 12, wherein the genre program channels are determined by a profile of a user.

15. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein in step (b) the data is retrieved responsive to a selection profile indicating preferences of a user.

16. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes a step of changing the IP data packets for decoding in a decoder based on the data defining the virtual channel.

17. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising at least one IP data packet decoder.

18. The terminal according to claim 17, wherein step (a) includes a step of decoding at least one IP data packet stream simultaneously.

19. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising at least one IP data packet receiver.

20. The terminal according to claim 19, wherein step (a) includes a step of receiving IP data packet streams on at least one radio frequency band simultaneously.

21. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes a step of changing the IP data packets for decoding in a decoder based on a profile.

22. A method of representing a virtual channel of broadcasted genre type channels in a display of an IP datacasting receiver device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a digital broadcast of a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) data packets relating to a plurality of programs on a plurality of genre program channels on a radio frequency band, each of the genre program channels having associated therewith a data packet stream identifier;

(b) retrieving data defining a virtual channel comprising at least two sequential elements indicating the genre program channels and corresponding data packet stream identifiers; and

(c) controlling the receiver device to consume the received IP data packets on the basis of the data packet stream identifiers in the at least two sequential elements to thereby provide the virtual channel.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein in step (a) the digital broadcast comprises digital video broadcast.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein in step (a) the genre program channels include video and audio content.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein in step (b) one of the at least two sequential elements includes a text representation of content associated with the genre program channels.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein step (c) includes a step of controlling the receiver device to provide a stream of local data for one of said at least two sequential elements.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said stream of local data for one of said at least two sequential elements comprises audio content.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said stream of local data for one of said at least two sequential elements comprises graphics content.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of displaying an indication of the genre program channel having the IP data packets being consumed, the indication being displayed on the display of the IP datacasting receiver device.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the indication comprises text.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein in step (b) the data is retrieved on the basis of a selection profile indicating the genre program channels.