Method and Tv Receiver for Storing Contents Associated to Tv Programs

• US 20090271815A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Pelizza, Maurizio, Quattrocchi, Luigi, Mozzone, Piero, Contin, Laura
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

In order to offer contents on demand services triggered by broadcasted TV programs in an efficient and effective way, notifications are received by a TV receiver, for example, a set-top box, on the availability of additional contents, such as, movie tracks, back stages, audio and/or video interviews, written articles, songs, photos, games, software programs, catalogues, brochures, electronic books, electronic tickets, electronic discounts, and electronic bonuses, together with TV programs, and these additional contents are automatically collected and stored into electronic appliances, for example, a portable electronic appliance, at the request of a user.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method for storing contents associated with a television program into an electronic appliance, comprising the steps of:

A) receiving a television signal through a television receiver, the television signal carrying at least a television program and data relating to contents associated with said television program;

B) decoding the television signal and identifying contents data;

C) asking a user for said user'"'"'s interest in said contents;

D) getting a reply from the user specifying which of said contents are of interest;

E) collecting specified contents; and

F) storing collected contents in an electronic appliance,

said steps being carried out sequentially and automatically.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said collected contents are stored in non-volatile storage means of said electronic appliance.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said contents associated with said television program are multimedia contents.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein said contents associated with said television program are keys for decrypting multimedia contents or licenses for using multimedia contents or keys for receiving multimedia contents.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein one or more of said steps is carried out taking into account the identity of said user and/or of said television receiver, said identity being stored in said television receiver or in a smartcard associated with said television receiver.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein one or more of said steps is carried out taking into account a user profile, said user profile being stored in said television receiver or in a smart card associated with said television receiver.

35. The method according to claim 29, wherein step C and step D are carried out by said television receiver through an interactive application stored or downloaded into said television receiver.

36. The method according to claim 29, wherein step C comprises displaying at least one image on a display associated with said television receiver.

37. The method according to claim 29, wherein, in step D, said television receiver receives input from the user.

38. The method according to claim 29, wherein, in step E, said television receiver sends at least one message to an information center through a wired or wireless data or telephone network.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein, in step E, said television receiver sends information identifying said specified contents to said information center.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein, in step E, said television receiver sends the identity of said television receiver and/or of said user to said information center.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein, in step E, said television receiver detects the operative status of said electronic appliance before sending said at least one message to said information center.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein, in step E, said television receiver alerts the user upon detecting that said electronic appliance is not operative.

43. The method according to claim 38, wherein, in step E, said television receiver sends a telecommunication address of said electronic appliance to said information center.

44. The method according to claim 38, wherein said at least one message comprises a service request for the provision of contents in push mode.

45. The method according to claim 29, comprising carrying out step E and step F through two different communication channels.

46. The method according to claim 29, wherein, in step E and/or step F, an information center sends said specified contents to said television receiver for temporary storage or directly to said electronic appliance.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein, in step E and/or step F, said information center sends said specified contents through the return channel of a television system.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein, in step E and/or step F, said information center sends said specified contents in broadcast mode through television signals.

49. The method according to claim 29, comprising carrying out step F at a time specified by said user.

50. The method according to claim 29, comprising carrying out step F at a time specified by an information center.

51. The method according to claim 49, comprising carrying out step F after a certain period of time from step E.

52. A television receiver capable of being adapted to carry out at least steps A to F of the method according to claim 29, when said television receiver is connected to an electronic appliance comprising non volatile storage capability.