Interactive Service Processing via Second Screen Discovery and Trigger Synchronization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current TV systems lack the capability to provide interactive services between content providers and viewers, specifically failing to deliver supplementary information related to broadcast content in real-time during playback.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for processing an interactive service that involves receiving a discovery message from a first device, requesting and receiving descriptions of second screen support services, accessing a trigger service to identify and establish timing for interactive events, and delivering triggers such as time base, activation, interaction, or channel change triggers to synchronize interactive content with broadcast segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a system provides unidirectional broadcast information, then the system complexity is low, but the interactivity and viewer engagement are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinteractivityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into multiple independent components: broadcast information delivery unit, trigger detection unit, and supplementary information provision unit. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve interactivity through coordinated operation of simple modules rather than a complex monolithic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A trigger mechanism acts as an intermediary between the broadcast content and the supplementary information system. The trigger detects specific points in the broadcast and mediates the delivery of relevant supplementary information, enabling interactivity without requiring complex direct communication between all system elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If supplementary information is provided continuously during broadcast, then viewer engagement improves, but information synchronization accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewer engagementVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous information delivery, the system uses periodic triggers detected at specific intervals during the broadcast. Each trigger initiates a discrete supplementary information delivery event, maintaining synchronization accuracy while providing engaging content at relevant moments throughout the broadcast.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes trigger points and associated supplementary information in advance. When a trigger condition is met during broadcast, the corresponding information is delivered with precise timing. This preliminary preparation ensures synchronization accuracy is maintained while still providing engaging supplementary content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a discovery message mechanism is implemented, then device compatibility and service detection improve, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The discovery message mechanism extracts and separates service capability advertising from the main broadcast content. By isolating the discovery function into distinct messages that devices can independently process, the system achieves broad device compatibility without requiring all broadcast data to be processed by every device, thereby reducing overall communication overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2910030B1Apparatus and method for processing an interactive service
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2910030B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2910030B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2910030B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method of processing an interactive service and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes sending a discovery message to a second screen application running in a second device, wherein the discovery message advertises second screen support services that the first device can provide, receiving a request for descriptions of the second screen support services from the second screen application, sending a response with the descriptions to the second screen application, providing a HTTP proxy server using a HTTP proxy server service allowing the second device to access files that are received by the first device in a broadcast stream, wherein the HTTP proxy server service is one of the second screen support services, receiving the files from the broadcast stream and delivering the files to the second device via the HTTP proxy server.