Closed Caption Service 6 Transport for Service Usage Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced interactive television systems lack a standardized method for broadcasters to track which and how many of their service offerings are being consumed, due to challenges in identifying service usage across different distribution chains and interfaces, particularly with HDMI interfaces and ACR systems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves delivering the URL of the service-usage reporting server within the digital closed captioning stream's Service #6, using CEA-708 advanced captioning commands, allowing service usage reporting data to be transported alongside closed caption data, even in compressed video packets, thus ensuring the server's location is accessible to receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If service usage reporting data is transported through standard caption Service #6, then device complexity is reduced and compatibility with existing decoders is improved, but the ability to reliably track and report service usage across different distribution chains is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the closed captioning infrastructure universal by enabling it to carry both traditional closed caption data and service usage reporting data through the same Service #6 transport mechanism. This multi-functionality allows existing decoders to continue processing caption data while new functionality for service usage tracking is added without requiring separate infrastructure or increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure within Service #6 that mediates between the broadcast signal and the service usage reporting server. This intermediary contains embedded URLs and reporting data that bridge the gap between content delivery and usage tracking, enabling reliable service usage reporting without direct complex interactions between receivers and ACR servers.
2Measurement precision
If access to the full Transport Stream is required for service usage reporting, then measurement precision of service usage data is improved, but ease of operation and compatibility with compressed video interfaces are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential service usage reporting data and URL information from the full Transport Stream and embeds them directly within the closed caption Service #6 data. This extraction allows service usage reporting to function with compressed video interfaces and without requiring access to the complete Transport Stream, while still maintaining the precision needed for accurate service usage tracking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex interactions with ACR servers are implemented, then service usage reporting capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by embedding all necessary service usage reporting information, including URLs and reporting parameters, directly within the closed caption Service #6 stream. Receivers can autonomously extract and report service usage data without requiring complex interactions with external ACR servers, thereby achieving versatile service usage reporting capability while maintaining ease of manufacture and deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A reception apparatus, including circuitry configured to receive a broadcast stream including audio/video content and a uniform resource identifier (URI). The circuitry is configured to determine whether a command identifier associated with the URI indicates the URI is a location of a server to which service usage information is to be sent. The circuitry is configured to, when the command identifier indicates the URI is the location of the server to which the service usage information is to be sent, associate the URI with the service provider. The circuitry is configured to provide the service usage information to the server according to the associated URI.