Digital Broadcast Control Data for Ancillary Information Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Digital television broadcasting faces challenges in providing interactive services due to its one-way medium nature, making it difficult to link programming with ancillary data that can be accessed on demand, especially when compared to digital radio systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for accessing ancillary information associated with images in a digital broadcast data stream, where control data is embedded within the broadcast signal, allowing users to access additional information through a digital broadcast receiving device, which can receive programming and data over multiple channels, using a processor and memory to implement instructions for presenting this information alongside video images or in response to user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital television broadcasting uses one-way medium transmission, then broadcast coverage and signal delivery are simplified, but interactive services and on-demand ancillary data access cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds control data within the existing digital broadcast signal structure, nesting ancillary information access capabilities inside the standard broadcast stream. This allows interactive services to be added without creating a separate complex transmission system, as the control data is integrated into the broadcast signal itself rather than requiring a separate communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces control data as an intermediary element between the broadcast signal and the receiving device. This control data acts as a mediator that carries information about available ancillary services and enables the receiver to access relevant data, bridging the gap between one-way broadcast and interactive service requirements without fundamentally changing the broadcast transmission model.
2Loss of information
If traditional commercials are broadcast during program breaks, then advertising revenue is generated, but viewer engagement is interrupted and ad effectiveness cannot be tracked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by embedding control data that enables tracking of viewer interactions with ancillary information. The system can detect when viewers access ancillary data related to advertisements and provide feedback to advertisers about ad effectiveness, allowing for measurement of advertising impact without interrupting the viewing experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves advertising from the temporal dimension (commercials during breaks) to the informational dimension (ancillary data accessible during programming). Instead of interrupting the program timeline, advertisements and product information are embedded as ancillary data that viewers can access on-demand, adding an informational layer without affecting the primary program viewing experience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital television provides multiple programming choices and higher quality, then broadcasting versatility is improved, but providing interactive ancillary services becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the broadcast signal universal by embedding control data that can describe multiple types of ancillary services within a single broadcast stream. This allows the same broadcast infrastructure to provide both traditional programming and interactive ancillary services, making the system multi-functional without requiring separate transmission systems for different service types.
Data Source
AI summary
Ancillary information associated with one or more images embedded in a digital broadcast data stream may be accessed by a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, and a memory. The processor may execute program instructions to access the ancillary information. Control data may be associated with one or more visual components of one or more video images. The control data and images may be combined into a digital broadcast data stream. The device may receive the images and control data. The images may be presented on a display device. The receiving device may use the control data to present or store a perceptible indication that ancillary information is associated with the visual components in conjunction with presenting the images. The device may use the control data to present or store the ancillary information in response to an input signal.