Event Notification Message Signaling for Seamless Content Substitution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for signaling content substitution in broadcasting networks require proprietary receivers and are not standardized for general public terminals, leading to increased costs and potential user experience disruptions due to discontinuities in content rendering.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses event notification messages without temporal information to trigger content substitution actions in terminals, allowing for flexible and cost-effective signaling of content substitution by inserting these messages into broadcast data streams based on existing standards, such as SCTE protocols, enabling terminals to execute actions immediately upon message receipt without knowing the exact execution time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If proprietary receivers are used to interpret SCTE 35/104 protocols for content substitution, then content substitution functionality is achieved, but terminal cost increases and deployment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent substitution functionalityVSAvoidterminal cost and deployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes terminal devices universally capable of content substitution by implementing standardized event notification message processing. Instead of requiring proprietary receivers, the solution uses standard protocols (SCTE 35/104) that can be implemented in general-purpose terminals, allowing one terminal design to serve multiple functions including content substitution without additional proprietary hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent copies the functionality of proprietary receivers by implementing event notification message processing directly in standard terminal devices. The terminal receives and processes event notification messages inserted in the broadcast stream, replicating the substitution functionality previously available only through specialized proprietary equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If content substitution is implemented using traditional protocols, then substitution capability is provided, but user experience is degraded due to discontinuities and black screens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstitution capabilityVSAvoiduser experience disruptions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by inserting event notification messages into the broadcast stream in advance of the actual content substitution point. The terminal receives and processes these messages beforehand, preparing to switch to alternative content smoothly. This advance notification allows the terminal to buffer and transition content without abrupt interruptions, black screens, or rendering discontinuities that would degrade user experience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If event notification messages are inserted at precise temporal locations, then substitution timing is accurate, but message insertion complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstitution timing accuracyVSAvoidmessage insertion complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses temporal information as an intermediary element between the content substitution requirement and the event notification message insertion. By embedding temporal information within the event notification messages, the system achieves precise timing control without complex insertion logic. The temporal information acts as a mediator that carries timing data through the broadcast stream, allowing accurate substitution timing while keeping the message insertion process straightforward and standardized

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3652953B1Method for signalling a substitution to a terminal, method for substitution by a terminal, corresponding computer program products, system and terminal
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 TDF
  • EP3652953B1 patent drawingFigure 1~7
  • EP3652953B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3652953B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention concerns a method for signalling, to a terminal, the substitution of a content broadcast via a broadcast network to which the terminal is connected, by a substitution content targeted at least for the terminal. Such a method comprises: • obtaining (E300) at least one packet of substitution information comprising a piece of temporal information indicating an execution time by the terminal of at least one action for the substitution of the broadcast content by the substitution content; • generating (E310) at least one event notification message inducing, immediately on receipt by the terminal, execution of the at least one action; and • inserting (E320), in a data stream carrying the broadcast content within the broadcast network, at least one event notification message at a temporal location depending on the piece of temporal information.