Apparatus and method for processing an interactive service

• US 9,602,887 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Sejin, Park, Byungsun, Moon, Kyoungsoo, Thomas, Gomer, An, Seungjoo, Lee, Jinwon, Kim, Jinpil, Kim, Kyungho, Ji, Aettie
• Primary Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US14/689,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• 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 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• 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 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

A method of processing an interactive service and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes generating a trigger, wherein the trigger contains a first identifier and a parameter, wherein the first identifier identifies an application to be launched, wherein the parameter contains a media time stamp and a content identifier, wherein the media time stamp indicates a current point in the playout of a content, wherein the content identifier identifies the content currently being viewed, wherein the trigger is passed into the application after the application is launched, and wherein the application delivers the content identifier to a server in order to identify the content currently being viewed; generating a broadcast signal including the trigger; and transmitting the broadcast signal.

Claims

1. A method of providing enhancements for a service, the method comprising:

generating signaling information related to the service,

wherein the signaling information includes an application table having information about applications of the enhancements for the service and an event table for initiating actions to be taken by the applications,

wherein the application table includes at least one application element having metadata and an app ID for an application corresponding thereto, each of the at least one application element including at least one event element having metadata and an event ID for an event targeting the application, each of the at least one event element including a plurality of data elements, each of the data elements having a data set to be used for an activation of the event and a data ID identifying the data set, and

wherein the event table includes a period identifier and a plurality of event messages, the period identifier identifying an interval of media presentation of the service, each of the event messages indicating presentation time for a target event and including first, second, and third reference, the first reference indicating one of app IDs identifying an application targeted by the target event, the second reference indicating one of event IDs identifying the target event, and the third reference indicating one of data IDs identifying a data set used for a target activation of the target event;

generating URL information providing URLs for acquiring next version of the application table for the enhancements; and

transmitting service data of the service, the signaling information, and the URL information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the each of the event messages further includes time information indicating the presentation time for the target activation of the target event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second reference indicates the one of event IDs within scope of an application element indicated by the first reference,

wherein the third reference indicates the one of data IDs within scope of an event element indicated by a combination of the first reference and the second reference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the application table includes the application elements as top-level elements, the application elements including the event elements as sub-elements, the event elements including the data elements as sub-elements.

5. An apparatus for providing enhancements for a service, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving module that receives service data of the service, signaling information related to the service, and URL information;

a parser that obtains the service data, the signaling information, and the URL information; and

an enhancement module that provides the enhancements for the service by using the signaling information,

wherein the signaling information includes an application table having information about applications of the enhancements for the service and an event table for initiating actions to be taken by the applications,

wherein the application table includes at least one application element having metadata and an app ID for an application corresponding thereto, each of the at least one application element including at least one event element having metadata and an event ID for an event targeting the application, each of the at least one event element including a plurality of data elements, each of the data elements having a data set to be used for an activation of the event and a data ID identifying the data set,

wherein the event table includes a period identifier and a plurality of event messages, the period identifier identifying an interval of media presentation of the service, each of the event messages indicating presentation time for a target event and including first, second and third reference, the first reference indicating one of app IDs identifying an application targeted by the target event, the second reference indicating one of event IDs identifying the target event, and the third reference indicating one of data IDs identifying a data set used for a target activation of the target event, and

wherein the URL information provides URLs for acquiring next version of the application table for the enhancements.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the each of the event messages further includes time information indicating the presentation time for the target activation of the target event.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second reference indicates the one of event IDs within scope of an application element indicated by the first reference,

wherein the third reference indicates the one of data IDs within scope of an event element indicated by a combination of the first reference and the second reference.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the application table includes the application elements as top-level elements, the application elements including the event elements as sub-elements, the event elements including the data elements as sub-elements.