Interactive TV Response Timing with High-Resolution Clock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interactive television systems lack sufficient timing resolution to accurately determine the fastest response times among multiple users, especially in large-scale interactive events, due to limitations in millisecond accuracy and varying broadcast delays across different media.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that include a receiver unit capable of receiving a video stream with a timing stream, forming messages with high-resolution timing indications, and transmitting these messages to analyze user responses, using a timing stream with a resolution of at least 0.1 ms and associated with video frame information, such as an MPEG Program Clock Reference, to calculate relative response times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If millisecond accuracy timing is used in current interactive television systems, then the system is simple to operate and compatible with existing infrastructure, but the timing resolution is insufficient to accurately determine the fastest response times among multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
A timing stream is introduced as an intermediary component between the video stream and the response timing measurement. This timing stream carries high-resolution timing information (at least 0.1 ms resolution) that is synchronized with the video content, allowing the system to achieve fine timing resolution without fundamentally redesigning the entire interactive television infrastructure. The timing stream acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between existing video delivery systems and the need for precise timing measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
Timing information is prepared and embedded in the timing stream in advance, before users need to respond. The system pre-synchronizes the timing stream with the video stream, so that when users respond to interactive content, the high-resolution timing data is already available to accurately measure response times. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time timing calculations during user interactions.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution timing information is implemented, then accurate response time measurement is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and requires additional timing stream infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The timing stream is merged with the existing video stream infrastructure. Both streams are transmitted together through the same delivery network, and the timing information is synchronized with video frame information (such as MPEG Program Clock Reference). This merging approach allows high-resolution timing measurement without requiring a completely separate timing infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing stream serves multiple functions: it provides high-resolution timing information for response measurement, maintains synchronization with video content, and can be used across different broadcast media (cable, satellite, terrestrial). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems for each function, thereby reducing overall infrastructure complexity while achieving the goal of accurate timing measurement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different broadcast delays for different media are accounted for, then fair comparison of user responses across cable, satellite, and terrestrial is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to needing to calculate and adjust for varying delays
Solution Approach 1:
The timing stream carries inherent timing information that automatically accounts for broadcast delays specific to each media type. Each receiver unit uses the timing information from its own timing stream to calculate relative response times, eliminating the need for a centralized system to manually calculate and adjust for delays across different media. The system serves itself by using locally available timing data to achieve fair cross-media comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
Each receiver unit independently processes its own timing stream to determine local response times relative to the video content it receives. Instead of requiring centralized delay calculation for all users, each system adapts to its specific broadcast medium's characteristics by using its own synchronized timing information. This local adaptation approach achieves cross-media compatibility without requiring complex centralized delay management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmitting a message in an interactive television system, comprises receiving at a receiver unit a video stream including video data and a timing stream indicative of the timing of the video data; receiving at the receiver unit an instruction from a user to transmit a message from the receiver unit and in response to the instruction forming the message so as to include a timing indication based on current data from the timing stream; and transmitting the message from the receiver unit.