Distribution of ambience and content

• US 8,904,469 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Blackwell, Robin John
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US12/304,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,730 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/8405 represented by keywords

Abstract

A system for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network comprises a content provider (100) for distributing a program; a metadata provider (102) for distributing metadata, the metadata including a content reference identifier of the program and data relating to ambience complementing the program. The system further comprises a user terminal (118) comprising an input (106) for receiving the metadata; an input (106) for receiving the program using the content reference identifier; a rendering unit (116) for rendering the received program; an ambience generator (108) for generating an ambient effect different from audio or video; and an ambience controller (110) for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of the content, based on the received data relating to ambience complementing the program.

Claims

1. A system for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network, comprising:

a content provider for distributing a program;

a metadata provider for distributing metadata, the metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of the program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use in obtaining an ambient effect to complement the program; and

a user terminal comprising

an input for receiving the metadata;

an input for receiving the program using the content reference identifier;

a rendering unit for rendering the received program;

an ambience generator for generating the ambient effect, wherein the ambient effect is different from audio or video of the rendering of the received program; and

an ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of content of the received program.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising

an ambience provider for distributing ambience control data for creating a predetermined ambience effect synchronously with a rendering of a predetermined scene of the program;

and wherein

the metadata provider is arranged for including in the metadata a content reference identifier of the ambience control data;

the user terminal further comprises an input for receiving the ambience control data using the content reference identifier of the ambience control data; and

the ambience controller is arranged for causing the ambience generator to generate the predetermined ambience effect synchronously with the rendering of the predetermined scene.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the metadata provider is arranged for including a plurality of content reference identifiers of the program, and the data relating to ambience is indicative of a presence and/or a type of ambience control data accompanying the program when retrieved using the respective content reference identifiers;

the user terminal is arranged for displaying at least some of the data relating to ambience, and for enabling a user to select at least one of the plurality of content reference identifiers for receiving and rendering;

the user terminal comprises an input for receiving the program and the accompanying ambience control data using the selected content reference identifier; and

the ambience controller is arranged for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of the content, based on the received ambience control data.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the metadata provider is arranged for including a time stamp indicative of a moment of the program, and the data relating to ambience is associated with the time stamp;

and

the ambience controller is arranged for realizing the ambience as specified by the data relating to ambience at the time indicated by the time stamp.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the metadata provider is arranged for including, in the data relating to ambience, information characterizing the program;

and

the ambience controller is arranged for dynamically computing an ambience effect, to be generated by the ambience generator, based on the received program, taking into account the information characterizing the program.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the user terminal comprises

means for generating information relating to properties of the ambience generator and/or relating to user settings;

and

an output for sending the generated information to the metadata provider; and

the metadata provider comprises

an input for receiving the information from the user terminal; and

a metadata generator for generating the metadata to be distributed to the user terminal, taking into account the received information.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the ambience controller is arranged for reserving a resource of the ambience generator for use during the rendering of the received program, based on the received data relating to the ambience complementing the program.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the metadata is TV-Anytime compliant.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the metadata provider is arranged for generating the metadata TV-Anytime compliant, and for including the content reference identifier associated with the ambience control data in a related material field and/or in a package of content relating to the content reference identifier associated with the program.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ambient generator comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a light, a fan, a rumbler, a heater, and a blind.

11. A metadata provider for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network, arranged for distributing metadata, the metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of the program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use by an ambience controller and an ambience generator in obtaining an appropriate ambient effect to complement the program, wherein the ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, controls the ambience generator synchronously with a rendering of content of the program retrieved via resolving the first content reference identifier.

12. A user terminal comprising:

an input for receiving metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of a program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use in obtaining an ambient effect to complement the program;

an input for receiving the program using the content reference identifier;

a rendering unit for rendering the received program;

an ambience generator for generating the ambient effect, wherein the ambient effect is different from audio or video of the rendering of the received program;

an ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of content of the received program.

13. A method for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network, comprising

distributing a program;

distributing metadata, the metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of the program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use in obtaining an ambient effect to complement the program; and

at a user terminal

receiving the metadata;

receiving the program using the content reference identifier;

rendering the received program;

generating the ambient effect, wherein the ambient effect is different from audio or video of the rendering of the received program; and

controlling, in response to the received data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, the generating of the ambient effect synchronously with the rendering of content of the received program.

14. A method for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network comprising:

receiving metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier of a program and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing the program, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the data relating to ambience complementing the program for use in obtaining an ambient effect to complement the program;

receiving the program using the content reference identifier;

rendering the received program;

generating the ambient effect, wherein the ambient effect is different from audio or video of the rendering of the received program; and

controlling, in response to the received data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, the generating of the ambient effect synchronously with the rendering of content of the received program.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, embodied with a computer program comprising instructions for causing a processor to execute the method according to claim 14.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium, containing an XML file, that, when executed by a computer, is for communication between devices, being TV-Anytime compliant and comprising a package of metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier referring to audio and/or video content and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing a program of the audio and/or video content, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the ambient control data complementing the program for use by an ambience controller and an ambience generator in obtaining an appropriate ambient effect to complement the program, wherein the ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, controls the ambience generator synchronously with a rendering of content of the program retrieved via resolving the first content reference identifier.

17. A digital signal for communication between devices embodied in computer-readable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a computer, comprising metadata including both (i) a first content reference identifier referring to audio and/or video content and (ii) a plurality of second content reference identifiers pointing to different versions of data relating to ambience complementing a program of the audio and/or video content, wherein the metadata provides a loose coupling between (i) the program and (ii) an ambience of effects created in accordance with specifications external to the program, so that multiple versions of the program can be provided with each version having a different ambience associated with it, and wherein the data relating to ambience complementing the program comprises ambience control data or parameters to an ambience generating algorithm, the ambient control data complementing the program for use by an ambience controller and an ambience generator in obtaining an appropriate ambient effect to complement the program, wherein the ambience controller, responsive to the data relating to ambience complementing the program retrieved via resolving one of the second content reference identifiers, controls the ambience generator synchronously with a rendering of content of the program retrieved via resolving the first content reference identifier.