Reception of a flow representing a multimedia content

Abstract

A method for the reception of a flow representing a multimedia content is described, along with a device for receiving such a flow. The method includes determining that the restoration of first and second successive portions of the content modified by the restoration of respective first and second multimedia content, and activating a reading module for reading the first multimedia content, and another reading module for reading the second multimedia content, at a point in time prior to the end of the first portion. The method also includes alternately controlling the restoration of the first multimedia content and the second multimedia content during the reading of the first and second portions, respectively.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a flow representative of an item of multimedia content, the method being implemented by a device configured to receive the flow, the method comprising: activating a first reading procedure for reading the item of multimedia content, and rendering the read item of multimedia content, the method further comprising: determining, in the flow representative of the item of multimedia content, at first and second times respectively prior to first and second rendering times of first and second contiguous portions of the item of multimedia content that the rendering of the first and second contiguous portions should be modified by the rendering of first and second respective items of multimedia content, the first and second times associated respectively with a first item of access information for accessing the first item of multimedia content and a second item of access information for accessing the second item of multimedia content, the determining comprising at the first time prior to the first rendering time, reading the first item of access information to access the first item of multimedia content, where the first item of multimedia content has already been downloaded to the device; and at the second time prior to the second rendering time, reading the second item of access information to access the second item of multimedia content, where the second item of multimedia content has already been downloaded to the device; activating: a second reading procedure for reading the downloaded first item of multimedia content in parallel with the reading of the first portion, and a third reading procedure for reading the downloaded second item of multimedia content in parallel with the reading of the second portion, and at the first rendering time of the first portion, commanding the rendering, in the flow, of the first downloaded item of multimedia content that has been read, instead of or in addition to the rendering of the first portion, and at the second rendering time of the second portion, command the rendering, in the flow, of the second downloaded item of multimedia content that has been read, instead of or in addition to the rendering of the second portion.

2. The reception method of claim 1, wherein modifying the rendering of a given portion of the item of multimedia content comprises substituting the rendering of the given portion with the rendering of one of the first and second items of multimedia content.

3. The reception method of claim 1, wherein modifying the rendering of a given portion of the item of multimedia content comprises simultaneously rendering the given portion and one of the first and second items of multimedia content.

4. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the second reading procedure and the third reading procedure are activated after reading, in the flow, at a time before the start of the first portion of the item of multimedia content, of the first item of access information and the second item of access information.

5. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second item of access information is determined from an item of information corresponding to the first and/or second item of multimedia content.

6. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second item of access information comprises a multimedia content identifier.

7. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second item of access information contains an instruction for determining whether the rendering of a given portion of the item of multimedia content, which has not yet been read, may or may not be modified by the rendering of an item of multimedia content.

8. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second item of access information comprises an access address for accessing, via a communication network, the first and/or the second item of multimedia content.

9. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second item of access information comprises an item of user profile information.

10. The reception method of claim 1, wherein the first or the second matching item of multimedia content is accessible: from the device configured to receive the flow, or from a content storage device connected via a communication network to the device configured to receive the flow, or in a subflow associated with the received flow.

11. A computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement the method of claim 1.

13. A reception device configured to receive a flow representative of an item of multimedia content, the reception device comprising a processor and a memory, the reception device configured to: read the item of multimedia content in a first reading procedure, and render the read item of multimedia content, the device being further configured to: determine, in the flow representative of the item of multimedia content, at first and second times respectively before first and second rendering times of first and second contiguous portions of the item of multimedia content that the rendering of the first and second contiguous portions should be modified by the rendering of first and second respective items of multimedia content the first and second times associated respectively with a first item of access information for accessing the first item of multimedia content and a second item of access information for accessing the second item of multimedia content, the determining comprising at the first time prior to the first rendering time, reading the first item of access information to access the first item of multimedia content, where the first item of multimedia content has already been downloaded to the device; and at the second time prior to the second rendering time, reading the second item of access information to access the second item of multimedia content, where the second item of multimedia content has already been downloaded to the device; activate: a second reading procedure for reading the downloaded first item of multimedia content in parallel with the reading of the first portion, and a third reading procedure for reading the downloaded second item of multimedia content in parallel with the reading of the second portion, and at the first rendering time of the first portion, command the rendering, in the flow, of the first downloaded item of multimedia content that has been read, instead of or in addition to the rendering of the first portion, and at the second rendering time of the second portion, commanding the rendering, in the flow, of the second downloaded item of multimedia content that has been read, instead of or in addition to the rendering of the second portion.

Description

LIST OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description of a plurality of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show two embodiments of an architecture in which the flow reception method according to the invention is implemented;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show two examples of a first type of flow structure according to a first embodiment;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show two examples of a second type of flow structure according to the first embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a reception device implementing the flow reception method according to the first embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows the progress of a flow reception method according to the first embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIGS. 6A to 6D show examples of modifying the rendering of a given portion of an item of multimedia content;

(8) FIGS. 7A to 7C show three examples of a first type of flow structure according to a second embodiment;

(9) FIGS. 8A to 8C show three examples of a second type of flow structure according to a second embodiment;

(10) FIGS. 9A and 9B show variant embodiments of the flows shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a reception device implementing the flow reception method according to the second embodiment of the invention;

(12) FIG. 11 schematically shows the progress of a flow reception method according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment—Substitution of at Least Two Successive Portions of an Item of Multimedia Content

(13) With reference to FIG. 1A, a broadcast system SYD1 for broadcasting a flow representative of an item of multimedia content CM is shown according to a first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 1A, the item of multimedia content CM is in particular: a television program offered by a television channel CT.sub.j chosen from among a plurality of existing television channels CT.sub.1, CT.sub.2, CT.sub.j, . . . , CT.sub.X, a radio program offered by a radio station CR.sub.k chosen from among a plurality of existing radio stations CR.sub.1, CR.sub.2, . . . , CR.sub.k, . . . , CR.sub.Y.

(14) The item of television multimedia content CM is broadcast live by broadcast equipment EDT, whereas the item of radio multimedia content CM is broadcast live by broadcast equipment EDR.

(15) As is known, such flows are broadcast by way of example through the air (for example radio waves or satellite) using the “broadcast” technique or else by way of an Internet hardware network (for example cable or fiber), using the multicast or unicast technique.

(16) The abovementioned architecture allows the user UT of a terminal TER to have access to the television programs or radio programs that are offered, both in a mobility situation and in a stationary situation, via a communication network RC.

(17) In a mobility situation, the terminal TER is for example a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a portable computer, etc.

(18) In a stationary situation, the terminal TER could be a personal computer or PC.

(19) Still in a stationary situation, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the terminal TER consists for example: of an access terminal TAC that is able to receive and process the broadcast flows from the broadcast equipment EDT or EDR, of a rendering terminal TRES able to render the programs processed by the access terminal TAC to the user UT.

(20) In one exemplary embodiment, the access terminal TAC and the rendering terminal TRES are grouped together in a single terminal. This could be for example a television containing a set-top-box decoder. In another example, the access terminal TAC is an Internet connection module and the rendering terminal TRES is a tablet acting as a rendering terminal and connected to the module by way of a local area network, for example a wireless one, in particular of Wi-Fi or PLC (abbreviation for “power line communication”) type. According to another example, the access terminal TAC is an Internet connection module and the rendering terminal is a radio set connected to this module by way of a local area network, for example a wireless one, in particular of Wi-Fi or PLC type.

(21) The access terminal TAC is also provided with means for storing items of multimedia content, in particular television programs or radio programs that are broadcast via the network RC. Alternatively, it may also be connected to an external multimedia content recording module.

(22) The user UT may interact with the access terminal TAC using a conventional remote controller or using a terminal that comprises a suitable remote controller software application for this purpose. The access terminal TAC, as well as the terminal TER, furthermore comprise means for connecting to the communication network RC, which may be, for example, of x-DSL, fiber or else 3G, 4G or 5G type.

(23) With reference to FIG. 1B, a broadcast system SYD2 for broadcasting a flow representative of an item of multimedia content CM is shown according to a second embodiment. The broadcast system SYD2 of FIG. 1B has elements in common with the broadcast system SYD1 of FIG. 1A. For this reason, these elements are represented by the same reference numbers and will not be described again. In the example of FIG. 1B, the item of multimedia content CM is selected by the user UT from a content catalog CAT, such as for example a VoD catalog, an audiovisual or audio only podcast catalog, a video and/or image and/or photo catalog, a music catalog, a digital book catalog, etc.

(24) The item of multimedia content CM is then transmitted in a flow by a service platform PFS, said flow being received by the access terminal TAC.

(25) With reference to FIG. 2A, a first embodiment of a flow F1a representative of an item of multimedia content CM is shown.

(26) The flow F1a contains a time marker t.sub.D for the start of the item of content CM and a time marker t.sub.F for the end of the item of content CM.

(27) The flow F1a also contains at least two predefined portions PM.sub.i and PM.sub.i+1 that follow one another in the item of content CM. Each portion is associated with a time segment of the flow F1a and to this end comprises a start time and an end time for the portion. The portions PM.sub.i and PM.sub.i+1 may be segments of equal or unequal duration.

(28) More particularly, the flow F1a is edited beforehand so as to contain: a time marker for the start t.sub.Di, respectively for the end t.sub.Fi, of the content portion PM.sub.i, a time marker for the start t.sub.Di+1, respectively for the end t.sub.Fi+1, of the content portion PM.sub.i+1.

(29) In the example of FIG. 2A, the time markers are signaled directly in the flow F1a, that is to say in-band.

(30) According to one embodiment, the abovementioned time markers are tags, such as for example SCTE 104/35 tags.

(31) According to another embodiment shown in connection with FIG. 3A, the abovementioned time markers are indicated in a signaling subflow SF1a associated with the flow F1a.

(32) The signaling of the time markers is transmitted in the communication network RC (FIG. 1A or 1B) and not directly in the flow that contains the item of multimedia content CM. This is in this case out-band signaling.

(33) The subflow SF1a contains information allowing the flow F1a to be analyzed by the access terminal TAC of the user shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

(34) According to the invention, and as will be described in more detail in the description below, it is proposed to modify, on the fly in the flow F1a, the rendering of at least two successive portions PM.sub.i, PM.sub.i+1 of the item of multimedia content CM by respectively rendering at least two substitute items of multimedia content CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v that are or are not tailored to the interests of the user UT of the terminal TER of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the remainder of the description, the substitute items of content possibly tailored to the interests of the user UT will be called items of content of interest. The items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v form part of a set ES of predetermined items of multimedia content CMI.sub.1, CMI.sub.2, . . . , CMI.sub.u, . . . , CMI.sub.v, . . . , CMI.sub.T, where 1≤u≤v≤T. The set ES is stored in a content server SC.

(35) According to the invention, with reference to FIG. 2A, the flow F1a is edited so as to contain: at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the portion PM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 before the start of the portion PM.sub.i+1, an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(36) According to another example shown with reference to FIG. 2B, the flow F1b contains, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the portion PM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(37) With reference to FIG. 3B, according to a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 3A, a flow F1b associated with a signaling subflow SF1b is shown, the subflow SF1b containing, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the portion PM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(38) If the predetermined times t.sub.Pi and t.sub.Pi+1 are marked in time by two SCTE 104/35 tags: with reference to FIG. 2A, the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.u and the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.v; with reference to FIG. 2B, the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.u and the item of access information IA.sub.v.

(39) If the predetermined times t.sub.Pi and t.sub.Pi+1 are entered in the signaling subflows SF1a and SF1b of FIGS. 3A and 3B: with reference to FIG. 3A, the signaling subflow SF1a contains a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi with the item of access information IA.sub.u and a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 with the item of access information IA.sub.v, with reference to FIG. 3B, the signaling subflow SF1b contains a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi with the item of access information IA.sub.u and with the item of access information IA.sub.v.

(40) According to variant embodiments in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, if the flows F1a, F1b, F2a, F2b are broadcast by a given television channel, for example the television channel CT.sub.j in FIG. 1A, or by a given radio station, for example the radio station CR.sub.k in FIG. 1A, the flows F1a and F1b in FIGS. 2A and 2B and the subflows SF1a and SF1b in FIGS. 3A and 3B each contain time markers associated with items of access information for accessing the items of content of interest intended to modify the rendering of portions present in items of content broadcast on a channel or station other than the channel or station CT.sub.j or CR.sub.k.

(41) According to the invention, the item of access information IA.sub.u (respectively IA.sub.v) is, by way of non-exhaustive example: an instruction addressed to the access terminal TAC (FIGS. 1A and 1B) so that the latter determines, for a portion of the current item of multimedia content CM under consideration to be read, for example the portion PM.sub.i, whether the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i should or should not be modified by the rendering of an item of content of interest selected from the set ES of items of content of interest from FIGS. 1A and 1B, an item of information deduced from an item of information corresponding to the portion PM.sub.i, such as for example an item of metadata, a word intended to be spoken or displayed during the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i, etc., an identifier of an item of multimedia content of interest, such as for example the name of the file containing this item of multimedia content of interest, an access address, for example a URL (“Uniform Resource Locator”), for accessing, via a communication network, for example the network RC in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an item of content of interest from the set ES of items of content of interest CMI.sub.1, CMI.sub.2, . . . , CMI.sub.u, . . . , CMI.sub.v, . . . , CMI.sub.T, at least one item of user profile information, such as for example one or more district identifiers, an age or an age range, the value of an income or an income range, a duration of watching television in hours per day, etc.

(42) With reference to FIG. 4, according to a first embodiment, consideration is now given to the simplified structure of a reception device REC for receiving flow representative of an item of multimedia content CM. Such a device is contained in the access terminal TAC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Such a flow reception device is designed to implement the flow reception method according to the invention that will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.

(43) In a manner known per se, the reception device REC comprises: a communication module COM that is designed to communicate, via the communication network RC, in accordance for example with the http (abbreviation for “HyperText Transfer Protocol”) protocol, with the broadcasting equipment EDT and EDR of FIG. 1A or with the service platform PFS of FIG. 1B, an analysis module ANA for analyzing the received flows, a first reading module ML1 for reading the item of multimedia content CM contained in the flow, a decoding module DEC for the audio, video or else audio/video decoding of the data of the item of multimedia content CM, said data possibly being of text and/or audio and/or image and/or video and/or audiovisual type, a memory MEM for storing data, such as for example a buffer memory.

(44) The reception device REC comprises hardware and/or software resources, in particular a processing module MT for implementing the flow reception method of FIG. 5.

(45) The processing module MT contains a processor PROC driven by a computer program PG.

(46) On initialization, the code instructions of the computer program PG are for example loaded into a RAM memory, denoted MR, before being executed by the processing module MT.

(47) According to the invention, for at least first and second predefined successive portions CM.sub.i, CM.sub.i+1 of the item of multimedia content CM, the reception device REC comprises: a second reading module ML2 for reading a first item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u in parallel with the reading of the item of multimedia content CM by the first reading module ML1, the reading module ML2 being driven by the processor PROC of the processing module MT, a third reading module ML3 for reading a second item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v in parallel with the reading of the item of multimedia content CM by the first reading module ML1, the reading module ML3 being driven by the processor PROC of the processing module MT, the rendering module RST renders the item of audiovisual content CA and the item of multimedia content CM read on the peripheral device PER, a rendering control module COR commands the rendering, by the rendering module RST, either of the item of multimedia content CM or portions thereof, read by the reading module ML1, taking into account the markup information indicated in the received flow and the item and/or items of access information associated with this markup information, or of each item of content of interest read by the reading module ML2 (respectively ML3), instead of or in addition to the rendering of a given portion PM.sub.i (respectively PM.sub.i+1) of the current item of multimedia content CM, taking into account the markup information indicated in the received flow and the item and/or items of access information associated with this markup information.

(48) A first embodiment of the flow reception method according to the invention is now described with reference to FIG. 5. Such a method takes place as follows:

(49) At S1, the communication module COM of FIG. 9 receives a flow of the type shown in FIGS. 2A to 2B and 3A to 3B. As already explained above in the description, such a flow is representative of an item of multimedia content CM.

(50) At S2, the analysis module ANA of FIG. 4 then reads the various time markers inserted into the flow.

(51) At S3, following the reading of the time marker t.sub.D indicating the start of the item of multimedia content CM, the processing module MT activates the first reading module ML1 in order to read the data of the item of multimedia content CM.

(52) At S4, the rendering module RST renders the item of multimedia content CM on the peripheral device PER of FIG. 4, as the item of multimedia content CM is read at S3.

(53) At S5, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start time t.sub.Di of a predefined portion PM.sub.i of the item of content CM, the analysis module ANA determines that the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i should be modified by rendering an item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u over the duration t.sub.Fi−t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i or over part of this duration.

(54) To this end, the analysis module ANA reads an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing said item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u from the flow F1a (respectively F1b, SF1a, SF1b).

(55) At S6, the processing module MT activates the second reading module ML2 so that the latter loads the first data packets PAQ.sub.u relating to the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, before the start time t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i.

(56) At S7, at the start time t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i, the second reading module ML2 reads the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u.

(57) At S8, at the start time t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i, the rendering control module COR of FIG. 4 then commands the rendering of the item of multimedia content CMI.sub.u instead of or in addition to the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i of the item of multimedia content CM that is currently being read by the first reading module ML1. As shown in FIG. 4, the rendering of the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u is implemented exactly between the start time t.sub.Di and the end time t.sub.Fi of the portion PM.sub.i, such that the user UT does not perceive the modification of the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM that is implemented, advantageously, without a break in the flow.

(58) Moreover, no latency phenomenon is caused at the time t.sub.Di when the second reading module ML2 starts to read the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u, since the reading module ML2 already had the first data packets PAQ.sub.u of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u, as obtained at S6.

(59) At S9, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 before the time t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1 that directly follows the portion PM.sub.i in the item of multimedia content CM, and while the second reading module ML2 is still currently reading the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and the module COR commands the rendering thereof synchronously, the analysis module ANA determines that the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i+1 should be modified by rendering an item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v over the duration t.sub.Fi+1−t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1 or over part of this duration.

(60) To this end, the analysis module ANA reads an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing said item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v from the flow F1a (respectively F1b, SF1a, SF1b).

(61) At S10, the processing module MT activates the third reading module ML3 so that the latter loads the first data packets PAQ.sub.v relating to the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v, before the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1.

(62) At S11, at the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1, the processing module MT deactivates the second reading module ML2, the third reading module ML3 then reading the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(63) At S12, at the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1, the rendering control module COR of FIG. 4 then commands the rendering of the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v instead of or in addition to the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i+1 of the item of multimedia content CM that is currently being read by the first reading module ML1. As shown in FIG. 4, the rendering of the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v is implemented exactly between the start time t.sub.Di+1 and the end time t.sub.Fi+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1, such that the user UT does not perceive the modification of the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM that is implemented, without a break in the flow.

(64) No latency phenomenon is caused between the time t.sub.Fi when the second reading module ML2 finishes reading the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u and the time t.sub.Di+1 when the third reading module ML3 starts to read the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v, since the reading module ML3 already had the first data packets PAQ.sub.v of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v, as obtained at S10.

(65) As an alternative to the method that has just been described above, operations S6 and S10 are carried out together, at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start time t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i under consideration in the item of content CM, thereby making it possible to anticipate the preloading of the data of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v to an even greater extent.

(66) By virtue of the flow reception method that has just been described, it is thus possible to replace, on the fly, the rendering of at least two successive portions in the item of multimedia content, by respectively rendering two substitute items of multimedia content that may match the interests of the user UT.

(67) Of course, it may be contemplated to modify the rendering of more than two successive portions present in the item of multimedia content CM. Thus, for example, the reading modules ML2 and ML3 will again be activated respectively if the processing module MT determines that for example the rendering of the successive portions PM.sub.i+2, PM.sub.i+3, and then PM.sub.i+5, PM.sub.i+6 should be modified.

(68) The interests of the user UT comprise at least one criterion CRT for characterizing the user according to various aspects, such as for example geographical, social, demographic, matrimonial, etc. aspects. Each criterion CRT is moreover known in advance by the broadcast equipment EDT and EDR of FIG. 1A and by the service platform PFS of FIG. 1B. Such criteria CRT comprise for example: the district identifier of the town in which the user UT lives, and/or the name of the road on which the user UT lives, and/or the age of the user UT, and/or the nationality of the user UT, and/or the annual income of the user UT, and/or the status of the user UT, for example married, single, childless, large household, student, executive, employee, and/or the type of subscription to which the user UT has subscribed, and/or one or more time slots during which the user UT watches television, etc.

(69) According to one preferred embodiment, the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u and CMI.sub.v accessed respectively via the items of access information IA.sub.u and IA.sub.v are downloaded into the memory MEM of the reception device REC, prior to the start time t.sub.Di of the portion PM.sub.i and to the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the portion PM.sub.i+1, in the form of respective files, for example: of mp4 type and having for example the names “spotu.mp4” and “spotv.mp4”, of mp3 type and having for example the names “spotu.mp3” and “spotv.mp3”, of jpeg type and having for example the names “spotu.jpg” and “spotv.jpg”.

(70) Each item of content of interest CMI.sub.u and CMI.sub.v is downloaded from the content server SC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, following the reception of a request from the reception device REC, said request containing: one and/or more items of criteria information CRT of the user UT, as mentioned above, an identifier of the reception device REC, an identifier IPM associated with the portion PM.sub.i (respectively PM.sub.i+1).

(71) According to this preferred embodiment, the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are for example identifiers of the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v, such as for example the names of the files “spotu.mp4”, “spotv.mp4”, “spotu.mp3”, “spotv.mp3”, “spotu.jpg” and “spotv.jpg” mentioned above.

(72) According to another embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 4, if for example the user UT switches on his terminal TER just before the reading of the portion PM.sub.i (respectively PM.sub.i+1), the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are URL links allowing the reception device REC to respectively access the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v stored in the content server SC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, so that they are read directly by the reading modules ML2 and ML3, respectively. Each URL is contained in a request from the reception device REC, said request containing: one and/or more items of criteria information CRT of the user UT, as mentioned above, an identifier of the reception device REC, an identifier IPM associated with the portion PM.sub.i (respectively PM.sub.i+1).

(73) As a variant of this other embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3B, the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are flow pointers allowing the reception device REC to access the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v directly from the subflows SF1a and SF1b.

(74) According to another embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 4, each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v contains at least one item of user profile information, such as for example one or more district identifiers, an age or an age range, the value of an annual income or an annual income range, a duration of watching television in hours per day, etc. Following the reading of each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v by the analysis module ANA, the processing module MT of the reception device REC checks whether said at least one item of profile information corresponds to at least one criterion CRT of the user UT. If this is the case, the rendering of the portions PM.sub.i, PM.sub.i+1 is modified by respectively rendering the items of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v. If this is not the case, the reading modules ML2 and ML3 are not activated and the first reading module ML1 conventionally reads the portions PM.sub.i, PM.sub.i+1, the successive rendering of which on the device PER of FIG. 4 is implemented by the rendering module RST.

(75) According to yet another embodiment, each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v is an instruction transmitted to the processing module MT of FIG. 4, which determines, for a given portion PM.sub.i, whether or not to modify the rendering of this portion with a specific item of content of interest, on the basis of various criteria that may be linked to the subscription of the user UT, to the capacities of the reception device REC, to the bandwidth evaluated at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi, before the start of the portion PM.sub.i.

(76) A description will now be given, with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D, of various possible configurations for modifying the rendering of a given portion of the item of multimedia content CM. The given portion is for example the portion PM.sub.i.

(77) In the example of FIG. 6A, the portion PM.sub.i is of audiovisual type and to this end comprises an audio component CA.sub.i and a video component CV.sub.i. Modifying the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i then consists in substituting the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i with the rendering of an item of content of interest CMI.sub.u that is also of audiovisual type, to this end comprising an audio component CA.sub.u and a video component CV.sub.u.

(78) In the example of FIG. 6B, the portion PM.sub.i is of audio type and to this end comprises an audio component CA.sub.i. Modifying the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i then consists in substituting the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i with the rendering of an item of content of interest CMI.sub.u that is also of audio type, to this end comprising an audio component CA.sub.u.

(79) In the example of FIG. 6C, the portion PM.sub.i is of audiovisual type and to this end comprises an audio component CA.sub.i and a video component CV.sub.i. Modifying the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i then consists in substituting only the rendering of the audio component CA.sub.i of the portion PM.sub.i with the rendering of an item of content of interest CMI.sub.u that is also only of audio type, to this end comprising an audio component CA.sub.u. If for example the portion PM.sub.i of the item of multimedia content is the crucial part of a film rendered in a language that is not that of the user UT, the audio component CA.sub.u of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u that is rendered is in the native language of the user UT.

(80) In the example of FIG. 6D, the portion PM.sub.i is of audiovisual type and to this end comprises an audio component CA.sub.i and a video component CV.sub.i. Modifying the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i then consists in adding the rendering of an item of content of interest CMI.sub.u during the rendering of the portion PM.sub.i. The item of content of interest CMI.sub.u is for example of image type, to this end comprising an image component CI.sub.u that appears in superimposed form during the rendering of the portion CM.sub.i or during only part of this rendering, at a predetermined location on the screen forming the peripheral device PER of FIG. 4. According to one example, in the case where the user is called Mr. Dupont, the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u could in this example be a banner containing advertising text addressed specifically to the user UT, Mr. Dupont, entitled for example: “Mr. Dupont, a new supermarket has just opened 50 m from your street!”.

Second Embodiment—Substitution of a Plurality of Successive Items of Multimedia Content into an Item of Multimedia Content CM (for Example Advertising Break)

(81) With reference to FIG. 7A, a second embodiment of a flow F2a representative of an item of multimedia content CM is shown. According to one example, the item of multimedia content CM is an advertising break containing several successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K (1≤i≤K). The advertising break is associated with an item of audiovisual content CA in the flow F2a. Such an item of audiovisual content CA is of audio type or video type or else of audio and video type.

(82) The successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K belong to a set EM stored in the content server SC of FIGS. 1A and 1B and are edited beforehand by a content provider to which the server SC belongs, in order to be able to be played one after the other over the duration t.sub.Fad−t.sub.Dad of the item of multimedia content CM. According to another example, the set EM could be stored in a content server other than the server SC.

(83) The flow F2a contains a time marker t.sub.DC for the start of the item of content CA and a time marker t.sub.FC for the end of the item of content CA. The flow F2a also contains: a time marker for the start t.sub.Di, respectively for the end t.sub.Fi, of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, . . . , a time marker for the start t.sub.Di, respectively for the end t.sub.Fi, of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, . . . , a time marker for the start t.sub.DK, respectively for the end t.sub.FK, of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.K.

(84) In the example of FIG. 7A, the item of multimedia content CM interrupts the item of content CA between a predetermined time t.sub.Dad and a predetermined time t.sub.Fad that are marked in the flow F2a.

(85) With reference to FIG. 7B, a flow F2b is shown that is a variant of the flow F2a of FIG. 7A. In the example of FIG. 7B, the item of content CM is located in the flow F2b, just before the item of audiovisual content CA.

(86) With reference to FIG. 7C, a flow F2c is shown that is another variant of the flow F2a of FIG. 7A. In the example of FIG. 7C, the item of content CM is located in the flow F2c, just after the item of audiovisual content CA.

(87) Other configurations are of course possible. For example, several items of multimedia content CM could interrupt the item of content CA. According to another example, an item of multimedia content CM could be located in the flow F2a, F2b or F2c, just before and/or just after the item of content CA, while at least one other item of multimedia content CM could interrupt the item of content CA.

(88) In the examples of FIGS. 7A to 7C, the time markers are signaled directly in the flow, that is to say in-band.

(89) According to one embodiment, the abovementioned time markers are tags, such as for example SCTE 104/35 tags.

(90) According to another embodiment shown in connection with FIGS. 8A to 8C, the abovementioned time markers are indicated: in a signaling subflow SF2a associated with the flow F2a, in a signaling subflow SF2b associated with the flow F2b, in a signaling subflow SF2c associated with the flow F2c.

(91) The signaling of the time markers is transmitted in the communication network RC (FIG. 1A or 1B) and not directly in the flow that contains the item of audiovisual content CA and the associated item of multimedia content CM. This is in this case out-band signaling.

(92) The subflow SF2a (respectively SF2b, SF2c) contains information allowing the flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c) to be analyzed by the access terminal TAC of the user UT of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

(93) By way of non-exhaustive example, the consecutive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . , CM.sub.K in the item of multimedia content CM may be commercials, film trailers, music clips, etc. that are offered by partner content providers: either from television channels CT.sub.1 to CT.sub.X or radio stations CR.sub.1 to CR.sub.Y shown in FIG. 1A, or from the service provider that owns the service platform PFS of FIG. 1B.

(94) Of course, the items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . , CM.sub.K do not necessarily have the same duration.

(95) According to the invention, and as will be described in more detail in the description below, it is proposed to substitute, on the fly in the flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c), the rendering of at least two successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.i, CM.sub.i+1 present in the item of multimedia content CM by respectively rendering at least two substitute items of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v that are or are not tailored to the interests of the user UT of the terminal TER of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

(96) According to the invention, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the flow F2a (respectively F2b) contains: at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, at a predetermined time t.sub.P+1 before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1, an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(97) According to another example shown with reference to FIG. 7C, the flow F2c contains, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(98) With reference to FIG. 9A, according to a variant embodiment of the flow F2a of FIG. 7A, a flow F′2a is shown that contains, directly in the item of audiovisual content CA: at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1, an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(99) With reference to FIG. 9B, according to a variant embodiment of the flow F2c of FIG. 7C, a flow F′2c is shown that contains, directly in the item of audiovisual content CA, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(100) If the predetermined times t.sub.Pi and t.sub.Pi+1 are marked in time by two SCTE 104/35 tags: with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 9A, the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.u and the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.v; with reference to FIGS. 7C and 9B, the SCTE 104/35 tag at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi comprises a data field containing the item of access information IA.sub.u and the item of access information IA.sub.v.

(101) If the predetermined times t.sub.Pi and t.sub.Pi+1 are entered in the respective signaling subflows SF2a, SF2b, SF2c of the flows F2a, F2b, F2c: with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, each signaling subflow SF2a, SF2b contains a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi with the item of access information IA.sub.u and a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 with the item of access information IA.sub.v, with reference to FIG. 8C, the signaling subflow SF2c of the flow F2c contains a data field associating the predetermined time t.sub.Pi with the item of access information IA.sub.u and with the item of access information IA.sub.v.

(102) According to variant embodiments of FIGS. 7A to 7C, 8A to 8C and 9A to 9B, if the flows F2a, F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c are broadcast by a given television channel, for example the television channel CT.sub.j in FIG. 1A, or else by a given radio station, for example the radio station CR.sub.k in FIG. 1A, the flows F2a, F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c and the subflows SF2a, SF2b, SF2c each contain time markers associated with items of access information for accessing items of content of interest intended to be substituted for the rendering of items of multimedia content broadcast on a channel or station other than the channel or station CT.sub.j or CR.sub.k.

(103) According to the invention, the item of access information IA.sub.u (respectively IA.sub.v) is, by way of non-exhaustive example: an instruction addressed to the access terminal TAC of FIGS. 1A and 1B so that the latter determines, for current item of content under consideration from among the successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K, for example the item of content CM.sub.i−1, whether the rendering of the following item of multimedia content CM.sub.i should or should not be substituted with the rendering of an item of content of interest selected from the set ES of items of content of interest of FIGS. 1A and 1B, an access address, for example a URL (“Uniform Resource Locator”), for accessing, via a communication network, for example the network RC in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an item of content of interest from the set ES of items of content of interest CMI.sub.1, CMI.sub.2, . . . , CMI.sub.u, . . . , CMI.sub.v, . . . , CMI.sub.T, an item of information deduced from an item of information corresponding to the next item of multimedia content to be read, such as for example an item of metadata, a word intended to be spoken or displayed during the rendering of this item of multimedia content, etc., an identifier of an item of multimedia content of interest, such as for example the name of the file containing this item of multimedia content of interest, at least one item of user profile information, such as for example one or more district identifiers, an age or an age range, the value of an income or an income range, a duration of watching television in hours per day, etc.

(104) With reference to FIG. 10, consideration is now given to the simplified structure of a reception device REC′ for receiving flows according to a second embodiment of the invention. The device REC′ is identical in all respects to the device REC in FIG. 4. The elements forming it are therefore represented by the same reference numbers as the elements of FIG. 4.

(105) Such a reception device REC′ is contained in the access terminal TAC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Such a flow reception device is designed to implement the flow reception method according to the second embodiment that will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.

(106) In the reception device REC′ of FIG. 10: the first reading module ML1 is designed to read the item of audiovisual content CA contained in the flow, including the successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K of the item of multimedia content CM associated with the item of audiovisual content CA, the module DEC is designed to implement audio/video decoding of the data of the item of audiovisual content CA and of the successive items of multimedia content of the item of content CM, said data possibly being of text, audio, video or audiovisual type, a memory MEM for storing data, such as for example a buffer memory.

(107) The reception device REC′ comprises hardware and/or software resources, in particular a processing module MT for implementing the flow reception method according to the invention that will be described below.

(108) According to the second embodiment of the invention, for at least first and second successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.i, CM.sub.i+1 of the item of multimedia content CM associated with the item of content CA: the second reading module ML2 reads a first item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u in parallel with the reading of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i by the first reading module ML1, the third reading module ML3 reads a second item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v in parallel with the reading of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1 by the first reading module ML1, the rendering control module COR commands the rendering, by the rendering module RST: either of the item of audiovisual content CA read by the reading module ML1, or various consecutive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K in the item of multimedia content CM and read by the reading module ML1, taking into account the markup information indicated in the received flow and the item and/or the items of access information associated with this markup information, or of each item of content of interest read by the reading module ML2 (respectively ML3), instead of a given item of multimedia content CM.sub.i (respectively CM.sub.i+1) of the item of multimedia content CM, taking into account the markup information indicated in the received flow and the item and/or the items of access information associated with this markup information.

(109) A second embodiment of the flow reception method according to the invention is now described with reference to FIG. 11. This second embodiment is implemented by the reception device REC′ of FIG. 9.

(110) Such a method takes place as follows:

(111) At S′1, the communication module COM of FIG. 10 receives a flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c) of the type shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, 8A to 8C, 9A to 9B. As already explained above in the description, such a flow is representative of an item of audiovisual content CA and comprises, in relation to the item of content CA, at least one item of multimedia content CM inside which there are a plurality of consecutive items of content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K.

(112) At S′2, the analysis module ANA of FIG. 10 then reads the various time markers inserted into the flow.

(113) At S′3, following the reading of the time marker t.sub.Dc indicating the start of the item of content CA (FIGS. 7A, 7C, 8A, 8C, 9A, 9B) or of the time marker t.sub.Dad indicating the start of the item of multimedia content CM (FIGS. 7B, 8B), the processing module MT activates the first reading module ML1 in order to read either the item of content CA or, directly, the successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.1, . . . , CM.sub.i, . . . CM.sub.K.

(114) At S′4, the rendering control module COR commands the rendering module RST such that it renders the item of audiovisual content CA or the item of multimedia content CM on the peripheral device PER of FIG. 10, as either of them are read at S′3.

(115) At S′5, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start time t.sub.Di of an item of multimedia content CM.sub.i under consideration in the flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c), the analysis module ANA determines that the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i should be replaced by the rendering of an item of multimedia content of interest of the same duration as the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i and that corresponds to the interests of the user UT of the reception device REC′.

(116) To this end, the analysis module ANA reads an item of access information IA.sub.u for accessing the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u from the flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c).

(117) It is assumed that, at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start time t.sub.Di of an item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, the first reading module ML1 reads the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i−1 that temporally precedes the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i in the time segment CM.sub.i.

(118) At S′6, the processing module MT activates the second reading module ML2 so that the latter loads the first data packets PAQ.sub.u relating to the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u, before the start time t.sub.Di of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i.

(119) At S′7, at the start time t.sub.Di of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, the second reading module ML2 reads the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u.

(120) At S′8, at the start time t.sub.Di of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, the rendering control module COR then commands the rendering, by the rendering module RST, of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u read by the reading module ML2, instead of the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i that is read by the first reading module ML1. As shown in FIG. 10, the rendering of the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u is implemented exactly between the start time t.sub.Di and the end time t.sub.Fi of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, such that the user UT does not perceive the substitution of the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i that is implemented, advantageously, without a break in the flow.

(121) No latency phenomenon is caused between the time t.sub.Fi−1 when the first reading module ML1 finishes reading the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i−1, the synchronous rendering of which is implemented by the rendering module RST, and the time t.sub.Di when the second reading module ML2 starts to read the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u, since the reading module ML2 already had the first data packets PAQ.sub.u of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u, as obtained at S′6.

(122) At S′9, at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi+1 before the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1 that directly follows the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i in the item of multimedia content CM, and while the second reading module ML2 is still currently reading the item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u and the module COR is synchronously commanding the rendering thereof, the analysis module ANA determines that the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1 should be replaced by an item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v of the same duration as the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1.

(123) To this end, the analysis module ANA reads an item of access information IA.sub.v for accessing said item of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.v from the flow F2a (respectively F2b, F2c, F′2a, F′2c).

(124) At S′10, the processing module MT activates the third reading module ML3 so that the latter loads the first data packets PAQ.sub.v relating to the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v, before the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1.

(125) At S′11, at the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1, the processing module MT deactivates the second reading module ML2, the third reading module ML3 then reading the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v.

(126) At S′12, at the start time t.sub.Di+1 of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1, the rendering control module COR then commands the rendering of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v instead of the rendering of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1 that is currently being read by the first reading module ML1. As shown in FIG. 10, the rendering of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v is implemented exactly between the start time t.sub.Di+1 and the end time t.sub.Fi+1 of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1, such that the user UT does not perceive the substitution that is thus implemented without a break in the flow.

(127) No latency phenomenon is caused between the time t.sub.Fi when the second reading module ML2 finishes reading the item of content of interest CMI.sub.u and the time t.sub.Di+1 when the third reading module ML3 starts to read the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v, since the reading module ML3 already had the first data packets PAQ.sub.v of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v, as obtained at S′10.

(128) As an alternative to the method that has just been described above, operations S′6 and S′10 are carried out together, at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi before the start time t.sub.Di of an item of multimedia content CM.sub.i under consideration in the flow, thereby making it possible to anticipate the preloading of the data of the item of content of interest CMI.sub.v to an even greater extent.

(129) By virtue of the flow reception method that has just been described, it is thus possible to substitute, on the fly, the rendering of at least two successive items of multimedia content in the item of multimedia content CM associated with an item of audiovisual content CA, by respectively rendering two substitute items of multimedia content or items of multimedia content matching the interests of the user UT.

(130) Of course, more than two successive items of multimedia content present in the item of multimedia content CM may be substituted. Thus, for example, the reading modules ML2 and ML3 will again be activated respectively if the processing module MT determines for example that the successive items of multimedia content CM.sub.i+2, CM.sub.i+3, and then CM.sub.i+5, CM.sub.i+6 should be substituted, etc.

(131) In the example of FIG. 10, it is considered that the item of multimedia content CM.sub.1+2, which follows the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+1 in the item of multimedia content, should not be substituted because for example the item of access information IA.sub.w for accessing an item of content of interest CMI.sub.w of the item of content CM.sub.i+2, which is read by the analysis module ANA at a predetermined time t.sub.Pi+2 before the start time t.sub.Di+2 of the item of content CM.sub.i+2, does not ultimately link to any item of content of interest. In this example, therefore, at the time t.sub.Di+2, the first reading module ML1 reads the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i+2, which is rendered synchronously on the device PER, the third reading module ML3 being deactivated.

(132) According to one preferred embodiment, the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u and CMI.sub.v accessed respectively via the items of access information IA.sub.u and IA.sub.v are downloaded into the memory MEM of the reception device REC′, prior to the start time t.sub.Dad of the item of multimedia content CM, in the form of files, such as for example: of mp4 type and having for example the names “spotu.mp4” and “spotv.mp4”, of mp3 type and having for example the names “spotu.mp3” and “spotv.mp3”, of jpeg type and having for example the names “spotu.jpg” and “spotv.jpg”.

(133) Each item of content of interest CMI.sub.u and CMI.sub.v is downloaded from the content server SC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, following the reception of a request from the reception device REC′, said request containing: one and/or more items of criteria information CRT of the user UT, as mentioned above, an identifier of the reception device REC′, an identifier I.sub.CM associated either with the item of content CM.sub.i (respectively CM.sub.i+1) or with the item of multimedia content CM that comprises this item of content.

(134) Such an embodiment is implemented if the item of content CA, which the user UT is currently watching and/or listening to, precedes the item of multimedia content CM, as in the case of FIGS. 7A, 7C, 8A, 8C, 9A, 9B.

(135) According to this preferred embodiment, the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are identifiers of the abovementioned items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v.

(136) According to another embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 10, if for example the user UT turns on the television or the radio at the time when the item of multimedia content CM is being broadcast, and for example the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i−1 is currently being rendered, the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are URL links allowing the reception device REC′ to respectively access the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v stored in the content server SC of FIGS. 1A and 1B, so that they are read directly by the reading modules ML2 and ML3, respectively. Each URL is contained in a request from the reception device REC′, said request containing: one and/or more items of criteria information CRT of the user UT, as mentioned above, an identifier of the reception device REC′, an identifier I.sub.CM associated either with the item of content CM.sub.i (respectively CM.sub.i+1) or with the item of multimedia content CM that comprises this item of content.

(137) As a variant of this other embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C, the items of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v read by the analysis module ANA are flow pointers allowing the reception device REC′ to access the items of content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v directly from the subflows SF2a (respectively SF2b, SF2c).

(138) According to another embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 10, each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v contains at least one item of user profile information, such as for example one or more district identifiers, an age or an age range, the value of an annual income or an annual income range, a duration of watching television in hours per day, etc. Following the reading of each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v by the analysis module ANA, the processing module MT of the reception device REC′ checks whether said at least one item of profile information corresponds to at least one criterion CRT of the user UT. If this is the case, the rendering of the items of multimedia content CM.sub.i, CM.sub.i+1 is substituted by respectively rendering the items of multimedia content of interest CMI.sub.u, CMI.sub.v. If this is not the case, the reading modules ML2 and ML3 are not activated and the first reading module ML1 conventionally reads the items of content CM.sub.i, CM.sub.i+1, the successive rendering of which on the device PER of FIG. 10 is implemented by the rendering module RST.

(139) According to yet another embodiment, each item of access information IA.sub.u, IA.sub.v is an instruction transmitted to the processing module MT of FIGS. 1A and 1B, which determines, for a given item of multimedia content CM.sub.i, whether or not this item of content should be substituted, on the basis of various criteria that may be linked to the subscription of the user UT, to the capacities of the reception device REC′, to the bandwidth evaluated at the predetermined time t.sub.Pi, before the start of the item of multimedia content CM.sub.i.

(140) The second embodiment that has just been described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11 is particularly suitable for the substitution of commercials intended to be watched/listened to by the user before or after the broadcasting of the item of audiovisual content CA or even during the interruption of the item of content CA, specifically on a case by case, that is to say commercial by commercial basis. The user will therefore be much less inclined to change channels or stations or skip the advertising break, since the commercials of interest rendered instead of the commercials provided by default in the advertising break will be in line with the interests of the user, in other words his/her profile and/or his/her personal tastes, at the current time of broadcasting of the item of audiovisual content.

(141) It goes without saying that the embodiments described above have been given purely by way of completely non-limiting indication, and that numerous modifications may be easily made by a person skilled in the art without otherwise departing from the scope of the invention.