Method for interacting with a social network based on televisual information

The present invention relates to the field of interactive television.

The emergence of television sets connected to the Internet (or called "Smart TVs") allows a user to browse the web, especially on social networks from their television. To do this, the user must first launch the Internet browser television set and then exit the current TV show.

In particular, no interaction between the world of television and social networks is proposed today.

But there are social network dedicated to the world of television, as StarlingTV. These social networks bring together people with a common interest in certain channels (or channels) and television programs. When a user wants to exchange / share with people watching the same show as him, it connects to a dedicated area on the show of a social network.

However, such methods of sharing or exchange are not fault-free on a connected TV.

Indeed, the viewer must perform a particular action to access the chat rooms that suit him.

Moreover, the fact of simultaneously watch a program and connect to a space of a social network in connection with this last broadcast via the TV is not possible on all television sets.

There is thus a need to bind more strongly social networks and television data.

The present invention improves the situation.

To this end, the present invention provides an interaction with a social network according to the media stream information content.

The present invention therefore provides a method implemented by computer means, interpretation of a multimedia stream to an interaction with a space of a social network. The stream includes at least one information content transported in the flow.

The method comprises the steps of:<ul><li>reception of the stream,</li><li>reading in the stream of the multimedia content information,</li><li>interaction with a space of social network according to the read information content.</li></ul>

Such a process allows to easily adapt the interaction with the social network based on what the user watches or listens.

An area of ​​the social network can be a Web page featuring some users of this social network (and / or publications of these users).

The content information may be metadata embedded in the stream to enrich it. For example, this content information can be, but not limited to:<ul><li>one (or more) identifier (s) of space from the social network associated with this release or any such content;</li><li>an identifier of the film shown by mechanisms video on demand.</li></ul>

The stream may be a stream of data or television broadcasting. Then, content information may include program information and / or channel.

This information can then be:<ul><li>an identifier of the broadcast channel (eg, "CNN" or "France Inter")</li><li>a broadcast program identifier (eg "House MD S02E05" and "I Wanna Be Where You Are Michael Jackson").</li></ul>

Advantageously, this content information to determine simply the channel or program viewed by a user.

Preferably knowledge of this information allows the content process and automatic direct interaction with a social network in conjunction with the information. In the previous example, where the program identifier corresponding to "House MD S02E05", an automatic connection to a social network on the series "House MD" will be performed. Of course, the automatic nature of this connection is preferably managed through a conditional implementation of the method, so that it is not perceived as intrusive. In other words, it will be prudent to grant the user the choice, during a session of watching TV programs, validate or not the implementation of the automatic connection process to the social network.

The method may further comprise a step of identifying a selected area of ​​a social network associated with at least read information content. Interaction with a social space can then comprise a step of connecting to the chosen space.

The connecting step may be an identification with the space chosen social network to the means of user credentials.

The connecting step may be in addition to or alternatively a registration / subscription of the user space of the social network, so that all publications of the users of this space is sent.

Advantageously, this method can facilitate the automatic connection of users in the space of social networks the most appropriate depending on the user's activity on his television.

This process can facilitate the connection of users to a social space accessible to a group directly linked to the activity of the user on his television. For example, when the user is watching a movie, the social networking service may offer him to join a group of friends of the actors of the film, the director, the themes of the film, etc. and access to a space dedicated to this group.

The method presented above may further comprise, prior to at least the interaction, a step of storing at least an association between the information read content and the chosen space.

Thus, it is easy, from the previously stored association, to know the area of ​​the most suitable social network to transmit / channel viewed by the user (for example).

Interaction with a social space may comprise the steps of:<ul><li>connection to a predetermined social networking space,</li><li>publication of a message in the predetermined social networking space, the message being based on information read content.</li></ul>

The message can be published then customized according to the program watched by the user. Thus, it is possible to inform the people who know the user (or even members of the social network space) of the activity of this user.

The message can be "Mr. X looks YYYY issue and advise you."

The received media stream may include at least one channel of information. Thus, the interaction space with a social network may be further based on a time parameter.

This timing parameter may be a time indication as:<ul><li>a date and time (and possibly a time zone);</li><li>UNIX time (number of seconds since January 1, 1970 0:00:00 UTC);</li><li>an incremental counter.</li></ul>

The interaction with a space of the social network may then be a function of a program information, the program information being determined by the crossing of the read channel information and temporal parameter in a program schedule.

The program schedule can be an EPG (for "Electronic Program Guide" in English or "Electronic Programme Guide" in French). The EPG is broadcast with the flow, generally on the teletext channel, and gives information on these television programs and future.

The program schedule can also be a remote database for the channel program combination depending on the time of broadcast.

Thus, it is easy, from the knowledge of the channel and watched the current time to determine the broadcast program. This information is given by a program schedule.

A device for the interpretation of a media stream may be advantageous in itself, since it allows you to interact with a space of a social network based on an information read content.

Thus, the present invention also provides a reading device of a media stream for interaction with a space of a social network. The media stream comprises at least one content information.

The device comprises:<ul><li>a receiver for receiving a media stream,</li><li>a reading unit in the stream of content information,</li><li>an interaction module with a space of social network according to the read information content.</li></ul>

In addition, the device includes a STB terminal type (for "Set Top Box" in English), or may simply be such a terminal.

The interaction module can also be called client interaction module.

A system for the interpretation of a media stream may be advantageous in itself, since it allows for multiple users of this system to get the simple interaction data with a space a social network in accordance with information to read content.

Thus, the present invention also provides a system of interaction with a space of a social network. This system comprises:<ul><li>a device of the type described above, for an interpretation of a media stream comprising at least one content information,</li><li>the means of association between an identifier of social networking space and the content information read by the reading device module, and </li><li>transmission means to the interaction module of the device of the identifier space to associate information read content.</li></ul>For example, association and transmission system means allow the STB-type device to know the space of the associated social network watched program (and thus interact with it). These means may be combined into a single server with a database for one or more users.

A computer program for carrying out the method described above, installed on an existing equipment, is in itself advantageous, since it allows to interact with a space of a social network according to read content information.

Thus, the present invention also provides a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method described above, when this program is executed by a processor.

The <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref>, <figref idrefs="f0003">2b</figref>, <figref idrefs="f0004">2c</figref> described in detail below, may form the organizational structure of the general algorithm of such a computer program.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description. This is purely illustrative and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows an example of local network of a typical home in one embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref> illustrates a particular embodiment of the TV stream interpretation process and interaction with a social network that can be implemented in a STB terminal type;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">2b</figref> illustrates a particular embodiment of the method of identifying information required may be implemented in a STB terminal type;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">2c</figref> illustrates a particular embodiment of the method of interaction with a social network that can be implemented in a STB terminal type; </li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0005">3</figref> is an example of STB terminal type in one embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0006">4</figref> is an example of a broadcast system, enrichment and content information associated with social networking information in one embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a local network of a typical home HAB. The local network has, in the example shown, a bridge 102 which is connected to a WAN 100 such as the Internet.

In this local network, telecommunications equipment have the ability to exchange data. In addition, a television 104 can be connected to the LAN 101. It can have a direct connection to the network or can be connected via a terminal type STB 103 (for "Set Top Box" by English). Indeed, STB-type devices are most often used interfaces between local and televisions networks.

The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows an example in which the television 104 has no network capacity but is connected to a terminal type STB 103. Thus, it is possible to browse websites or social networks using the combination of the Internet browser installed on the terminal type STB 13 and the television set 11 as a visual aid.

Moreover, it is possible to find over the WAN 100 (like the Internet) of social networks 106. A social network includes a set of users connected by a social networking online service implemented on a network communication, here the Internet. On this social network, users can gather in communities or groups, and view, share and / or exchange information, photos, videos, etc. within the social network space, such as "walls", each dedicated to a community or to a group. These spaces can be private (for example, persons authorized to discuss these spaces are exhaustively listed) or public (eg, any user / person may participate in trade within this space).

Finally, the service providers to large networks typically provide: <ul><li>Internet TV stream broadcast services (commonly referred to as IPTV), and / or</li><li>video-on demand, and / or</li><li>radio broadcasting services over the Internet, and / or</li><li>music distribution services.</li></ul>

These services are provided by servers 105 connected to the WAN 100. Usually these flows television are transmitted via the gateway 102 to the type of terminal STB 103. These streams are then decoded into the type of terminal STB 103 and displayed on the screen television 104.

Furthermore, the block diagram shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref> is a typical example of the method used, for example, by the STB 103 terminal.

When a television stream (or streams TV) IP 200 is received by the terminal STB 103, the stream 200 may contain a lot of information in addition to video information as such.

Thus, the flux may have been enriched with metadata. This metadata may include:<ul><li>the broadcast channel number,</li><li>an identifier associated with the broadcast channel number,</li><li>the name of the broadcast program,</li><li>an identifier associated with the broadcast program,</li><li>the name of the actors, the director, ...</li><li>the category of content broadcast,</li><li>the title of the broadcast content,</li><li>the age group authorized the broadcast stream, etc.</li></ul>

Metadata can also contain a social network ID or IDs of multiple social networks.

For example, the metadata may be contained in the EPG (for "Electronic Program Guide" in English or "Electronic Program Guide" in French) of a type of MPEG2-TS video stream.

The terminal type STB 103 can extract this data from the TV streams (step 201). Assuming metadata about the channel number (or, if appropriate program) have not changed since the last extraction by the type of terminal STB 103 ( "OK" output of test 202), it is not necessary, in one embodiment, to execute the rest of the process set forth below.

Once the read metadata, type of terminal STB can retrieve certain information necessary for interaction with a social network (step 203) and then interact with it (step 204). The social network can be configured by default in the terminal 103 or be identified in the metadata.

Furthermore, the block diagram shown in <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref> is a typical example of a program, some instructions can be performed with the STB terminal type 103. As such, the <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref> can match the organizational structure of the general algorithm of a computer program within the meaning of the invention.

The <figref idrefs="f0003">2b</figref> details a possible embodiment for recovery (step 203) 217 ​​certain information necessary to interact with a social network (step 204).

After reading the read metadata 211 in the TV stream, the type of terminal STB 103 determines the information necessary for interactions with the social network.

They say, for example, the type of terminal STB 103 is configured to interact with the social network, if it is able to interact with the social network and the user has registered the ID of this social network a memory of the terminal type STB 103.

For example, if the metadata 211 TV streams contain information related to the channel watched by the user (exit "CHAIN" of test 212) and if the type of terminal STB 103 is configured to interact with the social network program information function (output "PROG" test 215), then the type of STB terminal 103 makes a request to an external correspondence database to identify a program of data associated with the broadcast program at a given time (eg the current time of the application) on the channel designated by the metadata stream (step 216). This query can be explained by natural language as follows: "What is the program broadcast on the CNN channel at 14:32 on August 31, 2011?". This database can also be internal to the type of terminal STB 103 and a simple reading of the database is then performed.

If the metadata of TV streams contain information about the program watched by the user (output "PROG" test 212) and if the type of terminal STB 103 is configured to interact with the social network based on channel information (exit "CHAIN" of test 213), then the type of STB terminal 103 makes a request to an external correspondence database to identify a partner channel data to the program designated by the metadata stream (step 214 ). This query can be explained by natural language as follows: "On what channel is broadcast with the program identifier 'FR565478?". This database can also be internal to the type of terminal STB 103 and a simple reading of the database is then performed.

If the metadata of TV streams contain information related to the program (channel respectively) and the type of terminal STB 103 is configured to interact with the social network on the basis of program information (channel respectively), no request to external / internal database is required because the read information 211 217 contain exactly the information necessary for the interaction.

The <figref idrefs="f0004">2c</figref> details an embodiment interaction with a social network (step 204).

Once the information necessary for the interaction with the identified social network (217), the type of terminal STB 103 may interact with the social network. The terminal type STB 103 can be configured in two main types of interaction with social networks:<ul><li>automatic publication of messages to the channel or program looked into a predefined space of a social network (exit "PUBLICAT" test 221)</li><li>connecting to a space of a social network related to the channel or program being viewed (exit "CONN_GROUP" test 221).</li></ul>

The connection can be automatic but can also depend on the wishes of the user (for example, connecting to a space dedicated to a player selected by the user).

These two types of interaction can be concurrently activated. Of course, the user can also completely disable these interactions on the type of terminal STB 103. These interactions are described below.

If the type of terminal STB 103 is configured for automatic message published in a predefined space of a social network (exit "PUBLICAT" test 221), the type of terminal STB 103 must first identify the message to publish (step 222 ).

The predefined area may include:<ul><li>public space or restricted user on this social network (or "wall"),</li><li>a space of social network dedicated to this purpose.</li></ul>

The public space of a user can be a web page containing all the publications of a user and accessible by all.

The limited space of a user can be a web page containing all the publications of a user and accessed by a defined set of people as friends, colleagues or family.

The dedicated area may be an Internet page entitled "the TV friends": the latter may be public space.

To identify (step 222) the message to publish on the predefined space of this social network, an external database can be accessed. This database combines information 207 (e.g., the identifiers of programs or channels) and standard messages. This database can be managed by the provider of the social network. Alternatively, the message to be displayed can be inserted into the content, optionally in combination with a social network ID to which the message is to be displayed.

This database can also be internal to the type of terminal STB 103 and a simple reading of the database is then performed.

A message type can be associated with a social network identifier, in particular to allow the publication of different messages on different social networks respectively. This message may be an advertisement posted on a user's personal space to inform his friends that he watches a television program.

This message can be automatically released by the type of terminal STB or publication confirmation may be requested from the user. In the latter case a confirmation message may be displayed on the television screen to get a user validation.

Advantageously, one similar message is issued by user.

The message type can be customized for the user by adding his first name, name, etc. For example this message type can be "Mr. X looks the movie 'The Untouchables' currently on Cinemax to OrangeTV and recommend it."

Thus, STB type of the device connects to the social network, especially in the space provided for this purpose, using credentials previously stored in a memory of the terminal type STB 103 (step 223) and then publishes the typical message (step 224).

Moreover, looking at content, a user can implicitly or explicitly accept to be part of a group of users linked to content that looks enabling it to receive later, either in an email on his personal space of social network , messages for advertising purposes related to this group.

For automatic connection to a space of a social network related to the channel or program being viewed (exit "CONN_GROUP" test 221), the space of the social network can be a space bringing together all the people watching the same channel or the same program. This space can also be a space containing all the user's knowledge watching the same channel or the same program.

From the information 217, the STB terminal type can make a request (step 225) from an external database in order to know the space of the social network associated with this information 217. For example, if this information indicates 217 the user looks at the CNN channel, the query may return a discussion space information that the combined space is the space having as identifier "1458594587" and as entitled "CNN's audience."

Thus, a mapping database combining the programs / channels and discussion spaces of the associated social network can be managed by the operator of the social network (or a third).

This database can also be internal to the type of terminal STB 103 and a simple reading of the database is then performed.

Based on the discussion forum of information and the user's login credentials stored in a memory of STB type of terminal, the terminal can connect 103 (step 226) to the discussion of the social network space .

Thus, once connected to this space, the user can simply exchange in this space with other users. The user can send and receive messages remarks, comments or textual or audio / video to its real-time TV screen. As an illustration, a discussion insert associated with this discussion space can be displayed on the television screen to allow the user to continue watching the program or channel while trading within the space for discussion of the social network.

The user can also view the remarks of posts and comments on other equipment such as a laptop, a mobile terminal, a tablet, etc.

Of course, if the connection to the area identified in step 225 is already effective, it is not necessary to perform the steps of connections (step 226).

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the connection step (step 226) may be immediately followed by the publication of a message in this space, especially if other people are already connected to this space. This message can be a welcome message to inform others that a new person is connected.

Of course, the user can at any time unsubscribe spaces to which it is currently connected.

The <figref idrefs="f0005">3</figref> is an example of STB 103 terminal type in one embodiment of the invention.

The terminal type STB 103 has an interface 301 for receiving one or more TV feeds. This interface can be an RJ45 network interface or wireless or coaxial interface.

Once the received TV streams, it is interpreted as interpretable video signal by a television station by a unit 302 suitable for this purpose. The TV stream can be an MPEG2-TS stream type carried by an IP (for "Internet Protocol" in English). The video signal can be a signal of VGA, DVI, or SCART. This signal is transmitted to the television via an output interface 303. Moreover, it is possible to extract the metadata of TV streams using an extraction module 304.

Once the metadata extracted, they are transmitted to a module 306 managing the interactions with the social network.

The parameters of this social network (name, URL, etc.) are stored in a memory 305 of the terminal type STB 103. Indeed, several social networks can be offered to the user in particular according to their preference and / or type of program watched.

If necessary, the interaction module 306 can make a request to a remote server (or a local memory) in order to know the channel or program associated with the extracted metadata. This request is then transmitted to the remote server via a network interface connected to a wide area network on which this server is located. Furthermore, this interaction module is configured to, when the channel or program associated with known extracted metadata, identify the area of ​​the social network associated with that channel or program (or identify the type message associated with that channel or this program) as described in the method of<figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref>, <figref idrefs="f0003">2b</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004">2c</figref>. This identification can be performed using an association table stored in the memory 305 of the terminal type STB 103. This identification may also be performed by a request transmitted via the interface 307 to a remote server.

Finally, a connection to the space of the social network is performed by the interaction unit 306. If necessary, this interaction is carried out with the social network with the user credentials that are stored in the memory 305.

The social network can be hosted on a remote server connected to the Internet, this connection is a set of network exchange messages transmitted to the social network via the interface 307.

Finally, the connection module 306 can advantageously inform the interpretation module 302 so that it fits into the video signal output to the TV space for discussion of the social network. For example, this insertion may be to see the bottom right of the screen of the television set a window displaying the latest posts in the chat room. This window is relatively small compared to those of the TV set, so that the user can continue watching the channel or program while connected to the space.

The <figref idrefs="f0006">4</figref> is an example of a broadcast system, enrichment of a TV streams and content of information association with zones of a social network in an embodiment of the invention.

An enrichment server 400 receives a first TV streams to enrich on an input interface 401. Once the received stream, the metadata can be inserted into the stream by a Enhancement Module 402. This metadata can be any information the channel or broadcast program (or a video movie identifier to the application if appropriate).

The information to be inserted as metadata in the stream are received by the enrichment server 400 via an input interface 403a and are transmitted to the module 402 to perform the enrichment of TV streams. This TV stream is then delivered to the type of client terminals STB 103 via a broadcast interface 404.

In addition, the information delivered through the interface 403a is also transmitted to an association server 410 via an interface 403b. This information is then transmitted to a module 405 database stand to store certain associations. In particular, these associations may help to know:<ul><li>knowing a channel identifier of a program; </li><li>a program knowing the identifier of a channel and time of broadcast;</li><li>ID space of a social network associated with a program (a channel respectively) knowing the identifier of the program (this channel, respectively);</li><li>message type associated with a program (respectively channel) knowing the identifier of the program (that channel respectively).</li></ul>

This database can be stored in a memory 406 of the server 410. The database can be queried via a network interface 407. This interface module 405 then communicates a message indicating which data should be returned as well as the selection information necessary (for example, the identifier of the broadcast channel and a broadcast time).

The module 405 finally reads the memory 406 on which the associations are stored and returns a message containing the requested information (eg, the identifier of the program) to the interface 407 for this message to be delivered to the terminal type STB 103 who made the request.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples; it extends to other variants.

Other achievements are indeed possible.

The foregoing description of the present TV broadcasts flow but other variants are possible. Indeed, a broadcasting broadcast stream is also possible without any substantial modification of the description. Thus, programs IDs are then radio program identifiers and channel identifiers are identifiers of broadcast channels or radio name. Moreover, a broadcast of a video stream on demand is also possible without substantial changes in the description. Thus, programs IDs are identifiers of the film whose distribution was requested. The channel identifiers can then be a constant identifier.

Content IDs can also be the ID space of a social network. Thus, the flow is directly enriched with this information and no external application is needed to know it. The step 225 of the<figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 2c</figref> is then superfluous.

Moreover, the method (described in the <figref idrefs="f0002">2a</figref>, <figref idrefs="f0003">2b</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004">2c</figref>) Can be rerun in order to detect any change of channel or program by the user. Thus, in the case of a change in content (TV channel change or transition to the next program on the same television channel), a disconnection of the space of the social network and a connection to a new space can be performed. Moreover, only one of these two actions (disconnecting and reconnecting) can be performed depending on the configuration of the terminal type STB 103.

In the case of a change of program or channel, it is also possible to delay the disconnection and reconnection of the user in the focus areas of the first content and new.

In the case of a channel change, it is also possible to display the chat room for new content without registering the user to this discussion space to leave the choice to the user to either change channel new or to stay on the program. If the user decides to stay on this channel and after a certain period of time, the social networking service can automatically connect the user to the new space for discussion and disconnect it from the first content space.

Furthermore, the process described above on the type of terminal STB 103 may be performed at another point in the network: for example, steps 201-214 (or subparts thereof) can be executed<ul><li>at the server 105 delivers the flow of television, or</li><li>at a social networking server, or</li><li>at a third party server.</li></ul>