Utilization of relational metadata in a television system

• US 7,950,033 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Pierre, Ludovic, Szymanski, Steven, Hensgen, Debra
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang, Annan Q
• Application Number:
  US09/974,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20030070183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,513 Days
• Field of Search: 725/135, 725/136, 725/120, 725 37- 61, 725131-134, 725139-142, 348/465, 348/468, 348/473, 348/476, 348/722, 709217-231
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A method and mechanism for delivering and processing relational metadata in a television system. A client is configured to receive a broadcast signal and relational metadata which corresponds to received programming. The received relational metadata includes information which identifies two sets of data and a relationship between them. Upon identifying the data indicated by the relational metadata and determining the indicated relationship, the client is configured to perform a predetermined action which corresponds to the received relational metadata and the identified data sets. The receiver includes, or is coupled to, a mass storage device configured to store received relational metadata and programming. Among the actions which may be automatically performed include replacing the first identified data with the second data on the storage device, deleting the first or second data from the storage device, requesting the second data from a remote location, or copying a previously captured portion of a broadcast signal from a temporary buffer to a mass storage device. Further, utilizing the relational metadata, personalized viewing content and experiences may be created by a viewer.

Claims

1. A method for processing relational metadata in a television system, the method comprising:

receiving at a client device at least one relational metadata instruction via a television programming signal, wherein the relational metadata instruction includes at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identifying an action corresponding to the relational metadata instruction; and

initiating the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from the group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data each comprise content configured for audio and/or visual presentation.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the broadcast signal, wherein the first data is included in the broadcast signal, and wherein the relational metadata instruction is received subsequent to the first data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the relational metadata instruction does not explicitly identify the first data.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data is received subsequent to the first data and is a subset of the first data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying a request and receiving the second data in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises presenting an icon responsive to detecting the relational metadata instruction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises recording at least a portion of the content identified by the relational metadata instruction on a mass storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the action with the relational metadata instruction, and wherein the initiating is in further response to determining the association.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an interface which enables a viewer to specify what types of received data are to be recorded in response to detecting the relational metadata instruction.

11. A device for processing relational metadata comprising a metadata processing engine, wherein the engine is configured to:

detect relational metadata instructions, wherein each of the relational metadata instructions includes at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identify an action corresponding to a relational metadata instruction; and

initiate the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from the group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a signal receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal, wherein the first data is included in the broadcast signal, and wherein the relational metadata instruction is received subsequent to receiving the first data.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the processing engine is configurable to associate the action with the relational metadata instruction.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the processing engine is further configured to generate and convey a request corresponding to the second data, wherein the second data is subsequently received by the device in response to the request.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is configured to provide an interface which enables a viewer to specify what types of received data are to be recorded in response to detecting relational metadata instruction.

16. A relational metadata processing engine comprising:

a parsing unit, wherein the parsing unit is configured to parse a relational metadata instruction, wherein the relational metadata instruction includes at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

an association unit, wherein the association unit is configured to associate the relational metadata instruction with a first type of relational metadata; and

a decision unit configured to convey an indication initiating an action in response to detecting the relational metadata instruction;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from a group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

17. The processing engine of claim 16, further comprising an action unit configured to take the action in response to detecting the indication.

18. The processing engine of claim 17, wherein the engine is configurable to associate the action with the relational metadata instruction.

19. The processing engine of claim 18, wherein the action comprises recording the second data on a storage device, and wherein the decision engine is configured to access the storage device to determine whether the second data has already been recorded.

20. The processing engine of claim 16, wherein the engine is further configured to provide an interface which enables a viewer to specify what types of received data are to be recorded in response to detecting the relational metadata instruction.

21. The processing engine of claim 20, wherein the first data is included in a broadcast signal, and wherein the relational metadata instruction is received subsequent to broadcast of the first data.

22. A television system for processing relational metadata comprising:

a first source for conveying a programming signal; and

a second source for conveying relational metadata corresponding to the programming signal, wherein the relational metadata includes a relational metadata instruction with at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data, and wherein the relational metadata instruction is configured to provide input to a relational metadata processing engine which is configured to initiate an action based on the input;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from a group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a client configured to receive the programming signal, wherein the client comprises the relational metadata processing engine.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first source and the second source are not located in a common location.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising a third source configured to convey the second data subsequent to conveyance of the programming signal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the third source is configured to convey the second data in response to a request initiated by a viewer.

27. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

receive relational metadata corresponding to a broadcast signal, wherein the relational metadata includes a relational metadata instruction with at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identify an action corresponding to the relational metadata instruction; and

initiate the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from the group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first data and the second data each comprise content configured for audio and/or visual presentation.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the first data is included in the broadcast signal, and wherein the relational metadata instruction is received subsequent to the first data.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the program instructions are further executable to convey a request for conveyance of the second data and receive the second data in response to the request.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the action comprises presenting an icon responsive to detecting relational metadata instruction.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the action comprises recording a portion of the content identified in the metadata on a mass storage device.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the program instructions are further executable to associate the action with the relational metadata instruction, and wherein the initiating is in further response to detecting the association.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the program instructions are further executable to provide an interface which enables a viewer to specify what types of received data are to be recorded in response to detecting the relational metadata instruction.

35. A method for processing relational metadata comprising:

parsing relational metadata, wherein the relational metadata includes a relational metadata instruction with at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

associating the relational metadata instruction with a first type of relational metadata instruction; and

deciding on a first action corresponding to said relational metadata;

wherein the relationship of the second data to the first data is selected from the group consisting of;

a summary, a correction, a repeat, a highlight, more detailed content, related text, and a related icon.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising conveying an indication initiating said action in response to the decision.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing an interface which enables a viewer to specify what types of received data are to be recorded in response to detecting relational metadata.

38. A method for processing relational metadata in a television system, the method comprising:

receiving at a client device at least one relational metadata instruction via a television programming signal, wherein the relational metadata instruction includes at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identifying an action corresponding to the relational metadata instruction; and

initiating the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the relational metadata instruction identifies content which is stored on a mass storage device, and wherein the action comprises deleting a portion of the identified content from the mass storage device.

39. A device for processing relational metadata comprising a metadata processing engine, wherein the engine is configured to:

detect relational metadata instructions, wherein each of the relational metadata instructions includes at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element,

wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identify an action corresponding to a relational metadata instruction; and

initiate the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the action comprises deleting content identified by the relational metadata instruction from a mass storage device.

40. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

Receive relational metadata corresponding to a broadcast signal, wherein the relational metadata includes a relational metadata instruction with at least a relationship identifier and a dataset element, wherein said relationship identifier specifies a type of relationship between a first data and a second data, and wherein the dataset element identifies the second data;

identifying an action corresponding to the relational metadata instruction; and

initiate the action in response to the identifying;

wherein the action comprises deleting a portion of the content identified by the relational metadata instruction from a mass storage device.