Synchronization system and method for audiovisual programmes associated devices and methods

• US 8,626,872 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Lesenne, Laurent, Maillard, Alain, Pasquier, Frdric
• Primary Examiner(s): BEHARRY, NOEL R
• Application Number:
  US10/519,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,847 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 386/38
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• 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 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a synchronization system and method. The synchronization system comprises a specification unit for specifying synchronization signals associated with an audiovisual program, the latter comprising an audiovisual content and control information, a recognition unit for recognizing the synchronization signals in a transmitted stream carrying this program, by recognition of at least one extracted portion of the audiovisual content, and an activation unit triggering an action in case of detection of these signals. The specification unit prepares and transmits to the recognition unit recognition elements making it possible to obtain this extracted portion, as well as at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of the synchronization signals. The recognition or activation unit then delays the triggering of this action according to the lag transmitted, in case of detection of the synchronization signals. In variants, the timeout lag is determined and/or the recognition elements are obtained independently of the specification unit.

Claims

1. Recognition unit comprising a processor for executing instructions for recognizing audiovisual portions of audiovisual content from at least a first audiovisual programme in at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions:

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, said recognition unit comprising;

a reception module for receiving recognition elements and a recording module for recording said recognition elements in a storage space, said recognition elements comprising at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of said first audiovisual programme, said at least one audiovisual portion being also comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, and said recording module extracting said at least one audiovisual portion of content from said at least a first audiovisual programme and said recording module recording said at least one extracted audiovisual portion in said storage space,

a reception module for receiving said at least a second audiovisual programme and said at least a first audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

a detection module for detecting said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme by means of said recognition elements stored in said storage space, by recognition in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme, of said at least one extracted audiovisual portion,

and a transmission module for transmitting action instructions in case of detection of said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said instructions triggering at least one action,

and said recognition unit also comprising a timeout module for timeout before said transmission of action instructions by the transmission module when said synchronization signals are detected in said at least a second audiovisual programme.

2. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein said reception module for receiving recognition elements and said recording module for recording said recognition elements receive and record also at least one timeout lag and in that the timeout module uses said lag.

3. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein the module for receiving recognition elements and said recording module for recording recognition elements and the module for transmitting action instructions respectively receive, record and transmit identifiers relating to said actions to be triggered.

4. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein said recognition elements include at least one Boolean operator, said detection module detecting at least two of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content in conjunction with said boolean operator and the transmission module transmitting said action instructions in case of such detection.

5. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein said recognition elements include at least one time information item, said detection module detecting said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content in conjunction with said time information item and the transmission module being transmitting said action instructions in case of such detection.

6. Recognition unit according to claim 5, wherein said time information item comprises at least one information item chosen from among a date of detection and a detection time slot.

7. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein said recognition elements include at least one channel reference, said detection module detecting said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content in conjunction with said channel reference and the transmission module transmitting said action instructions in the case of said detecting.

8. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein the reception module for receiving recognition elements receives among said recognition elements, instructions for extracting said at least one audiovisual portion of said at least a first audiovisual programme, and said recording module extracts directly said at least one audiovisual portion according to said instructions for extracting and records said at least one audiovisual portion in the storage space.

9. Recognition unit according to claim 1, wherein the reception module for receiving recognition elements receives from among said recognition elements, at least one identifier of said at least one audiovisual portion, and in that said detection module retrieves from the storage space said at least one audiovisual portion previously recorded and associated with said identifier, so as to recognize in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme said at least one audiovisual portion.

10. Activation assembly comprising a processor for executing instructions for activation by recognition of audiovisual portions of audiovisual content from at least a first audiovisual programme in at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions:

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, the activation assembly comprising;

a recognition unit for recognizing said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by means of recognition elements comprising said at least one audiovisual portion being extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme and being recorded in a storage space, said audiovisual portion being also comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content,

and an activation unit triggering at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals by the recognition unit, wherein at least one of said recognition and activation units delays the triggering of said action by at least a determined timeout lag, in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

said recognition unit being in accordance with claim 1.

11. Activation assembly according to claim 10, wherein said activation assembly receives said timeout lag with said recognition elements.

12. Specification unit comprising a processor for executing instructions for specifying audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme serving as synchronization signals associated with said at least a second audiovisual programme, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions:

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, and said synchronization signals being detected in said audiovisual programme and thus triggering at least one action,

wherein said specification unit comprises

a preparation module for preparing recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of a first audiovisual programme, which audiovisual portions are also comprised in said second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being transmitted prior to transmission of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and a transmission module for transmitting said recognition elements independently of transmissions of said at least a second audiovisual programme, to at least one recognition unit detecting said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognizing said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of said at least a first audiovisual programme in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and the preparation and transmission modules of said unit respectively prepare and transmit at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

said specification unit cooperating with said recognition unit.

13. Specification unit according to claim 12, wherein the preparation and transmission modules of said unit respectively prepare and transmit identifiers relating to said actions to be triggered in case of detection of said synchronization signals.

14. Specification unit according to claim 13, wherein said action identifiers relate to at least one of the following actions:

broadcasting of an interactive service, triggering of an interactive service, triggering of an update of an interactive service, triggering of a recording of said at least a second audiovisual programme and connection to a website.

15. Synchronization system comprising a processor for executing instructions comprising:

a specification unit for specifying audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions;

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content broadcast to users,

a recognition unit for recognizing said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content extracted from at least a first audiovisual programme in the at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least one audiovisual portion are being comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and an activation unit triggering at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals by the recognition unit, said detection being done through recognition in said at least a second audiovisual programme of said at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme, the recognition unit and the activation unit forming an activation assembly,

wherein the specification unit prepares and transmits to the recognition unit recognition elements, as well as at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals, and in that the activation assembly delays the triggering of said action according to said lag transmitted, in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

the specification unit being in accordance with claim 12.

16. Broadcasting centre, wherein it comprises a device chosen from among at least a specification unit in accordance with claim 12, a recognition unit, an activation assembly, and a synchronization system.

17. Services operator, wherein it comprises a device chosen from among at least a specification unit in accordance with claim 12, a recognition unit, an activation assembly, and a synchronization system.

18. Terminal for receiving audiovisual programmes, wherein it comprises a device chosen from among at least a specification unit in accordance with claim 12, a recognition unit, an activation assembly, and a synchronization system.

19. Method, implemented by a processor including executable instructions, of activation by recognition of audiovisual portions of audiovisual content from at least a first audiovisual programme in at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions:

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, said method comprising the following steps;

reception of at said at least a first audiovisual programme and of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

detection of said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme received by means of recognition elements comprising at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content being extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme and being stored in a storage space, by recognition of said at least one audiovisual portion in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these portions of audiovisual content of said first audiovisual programme, which audiovisual portions are also comprised in said second audiovisual programme,

and triggering of at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals in said audiovisual programme,

wherein the triggering of said action is delayed by at least one determined lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

said method of activation being implemented by means of an activation assembly.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme comprise at least one recognition part containing said at least one audiovisual portion, and at least one live transmission to be broadcast following said recognition part, said synchronization signals being detected during the broadcast of said recognition part and said action being triggered during the broadcast of said following live transmission, by means of said timeout lag.

21. Method, implemented by a processor including executable instructions, of specifying audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals associated with said at least a second audiovisual programme, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions:

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, said synchronization signals being detected in said at least a second audiovisual programme and thus triggering at least one action,

wherein said method of specification comprises the following steps;

preparation of recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a first audiovisual programme, which audiovisual portions are also comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being transmitted prior to transmission of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

transmission of said recognition elements independently of transmissions of said at least a second audiovisual programme, for detection of said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of said at least a first audiovisual programme in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and transmission of at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals independently of transmissions of said audiovisual programme,

said method being implemented by means of a specification unit.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme comprise at least one recognition part containing said at least one audiovisual portion, and at least one live transmission to be broadcast following said recognition part, said synchronization signals being detected during the broadcast of said recognition part and said action being triggered during the broadcast of said following live transmission, by means of said timeout lag.

23. Synchronization method, implemented by a processor including executable instructions, comprising the following steps:

a step of specifying audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals associated with said at least a second audiovisual programme, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions;

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, in which recognition elements that comprise at least one audiovisual portion of the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme are specified for said detection, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content,

a step of detecting said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, in which said synchronization signals are detected in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of said at least a first audiovisual programme in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions being also comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being transmitted prior to transmission of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and a step of triggering at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

wherein the triggering of said action is delayed by at least one determined lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals,

said synchronization method being implemented by a synchronization system.

24. Method according to claim 23, wherein said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme comprise at least one recognition part containing said at least one audiovisual portion, and at least one live transmission to be broadcast following said recognition part, said synchronization signals being detected during the broadcast of said recognition part and said action being triggered during the broadcast of said following live transmission, by means of said timeout lag.

25. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer program comprising the steps of:

receiving at least a first audiovisual programme and at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content broadcast to users, said least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme, and said at least a first audiovisual programme comprising audiovisual portions of content that are also comprised in said second audiovisual programme,

detection of audiovisual portions of audiovisual content in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content serving as synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions;

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and where said detection is done by means of recognition elements extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme and stored in a storage space, by recognition of said extracted audiovisual portion, in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said recognition elements being audiovisual portions of audiovisual content extracted from said at least a first audiovisual programme,

and triggering of at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, wherein the triggering of said action is delayed by at least one determined lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals.

26. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer program comprising the steps of:

preparing recognition elements comprising at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content extracted from at least a first audiovisual programme which at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content is also present in at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being transmitted prior to transmission of said at least a second programme, each of said at least one audiovisual portion of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions;

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a first audiovisual programme and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content,

transmitting said recognition elements independently of transmissions of said at least a second audiovisual programme, for detection of audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme, said audiovisual portions serving as synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of said audiovisual portions in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

and

transmitting at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals independently of transmissions of said at least a second audiovisual programme.

27. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer program comprising the steps of:

specifying audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of at least a second audiovisual programme, said portions serving as synchronization signals associated with said at least a second audiovisual programme, each of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content consisting of at least one of the following audiovisual portions;

an image, an image part, a sound and any combination of at least two of said audiovisual portions, and said at least a second audiovisual programme, being audio and/or video, comprising an audiovisual content to be broadcast to users, in which recognition elements that comprise at least one audiovisual portion of the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme are specified for detection, said recognition elements being constructed from pictures, sounds, parts of pictures or combinations of these audiovisual portions of audiovisual content,

detecting said synchronization signals in said at least a second audiovisual programme, in which synchronization signals are detected in said at least a second audiovisual programme, by recognition of said audiovisual portions of audiovisual content of said at least a first audiovisual programme in the audiovisual content of said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least one audiovisual portion being also comprised in said at least a second audiovisual programme, said at least a first audiovisual programme being received prior to reception of said at least a second audiovisual programme,

triggering at least one action in case of detection of said synchronization signals, wherein the triggering of said action is delayed by at least one determined lag in case of detection of said synchronization signals.