METHOD FOR CHANNEL DOWNLOADING FOR ZAPPING A DIGITAL CHANNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE USER'S BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

A method for channel downloading for zapping from one digital channel to another channel in a decoding member to decode a channel and to transmit it to a screen, the decoding member including a downloading module including an activity state, wherein the method includes in the activity state downloading a first viewing channel in an activity quality and another channel in parallel with the first channel, the downloading being done according to an activity bit rate. The downloading module further includes an inactivity state having a downloading inactivity bit rate lower than the activity bit rate. The method includes in the inactivity state, downloading the first channel in the activity quality, receiving a signal of a channel change early warning sign, changing the state of the downloading module by switching from the inactivity to the activity state when the signal of a channel change early warning sign has been received.

Claims

1. A method for channel downloading for zapping from one digital channel to another digital channel in a decoding member configured to decode a channel and to transmit the channel to a screen, the decoding member comprising a downloading module comprising an activity state, wherein the method comprises in the activity state a step of downloading a first viewing channel in an activity quality and at least one other channel in parallel with the first channel, the downloading being carried out according to an activity bit rate, the downloading module further comprising an inactivity state having a downloading inactivity bit rate lower than the activity bit rate, wherein the method comprises in the inactivity state the steps of: downloading the first channel in the activity quality, receiving a signal of a channel change early warning sign, changing the state of the downloading module by switching from the inactivity state to the activity state when the signal of a channel change early warning sign has been received.

2. The method for channel downloading according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining an end of activity state to switch from the activity state to the inactivity state and wherein the determination step comprises different operations including: measuring an idle period in the activity state consisting in measuring the time elapsing from a change of downloaded channel or from the reception of a signal of channel change early warning sign, comparing the measured idle period with at least one memorised reference threshold value.

3. The method for channel downloading according to claim 1, wherein the signal of early warning sign comprises a signal sent by a remote control member to the decoding member.

4. The method for channel downloading according to claim 3, wherein the displacement sensor is an accelerometer and wherein the downloading method comprises a step of detecting a signal of early warning sign when an acceleration signal received is greater than or equal to a threshold signal representative of an acceleration of 0.3 g.

5. The method for channel downloading according to claim 3, wherein the signal of early warning sign comprises a signal originating from a measurement of the remote control sensor indicating at least an acceleration of 0.5 g or at least 1 g.

6. The method for channel downloading according to claim 3, wherein the signal of early warning sign comprises a signal of a pressing on a request button of the remote control member.

7. The method for channel downloading according to claim 1, wherein the signal of early warning sign comprises a signal received from a microphone corresponding to a key word.

8. The method for channel downloading according to claim 1, wherein in the inactivity state, the number of channels downloaded by the downloading module is a single channel.

9. The method for channel downloading according to claim 1 wherein in the inactivity state the method further comprises a step of downloading at least one other channel in parallel with the transmitted channel, the transmitted channel using a first part of the inactivity bit rate and the at least one other channel in parallel using a second part of the inactivity bit rate, and wherein the second part of the inactivity bit rate is lower than a second part of the activity bit rate for downloading at least one other channel in parallel in the activity state.

10. Method A method for broadcasting a downloaded channel to be able to send signals to command members of a display device, the broadcasting method comprising the downloading method according to claim 1 and wherein the decoding member comprises an output and the broadcasting method further comprises a step of decoding the first channel and a step of transformation into signals transmitted to the output for transmitting signals to command members of a display device for displaying the first channel.

11. Method A method for zapping from one channel to another channel comprising the broadcasting method according to claim 10, wherein the zapping method comprises the successive steps of: receiving a signal of change of requested channel, changing channel from the decoded channel-EN to the requested channel as a function of the signal of change of requested channel.

12. A decoding member configured to implement the downloading method according to claim 1 or/and the zapping method according to claim 11, the decoding member comprising a downloading module.

13. A computer programme product directly loadable in an internal memory of a decoding member, comprising software code portions which, when said programme is executed, lead said programme to implement the steps of the downloading method according to claim 1.

14. A non-transitory data recording support readable by a machine comprising a processor, comprising the computer programme according to claim 13.

15. An assembly comprising a decoding member according to claim 12 and a remote control member comprising an accelerometer sensor configured to send a signal of early warning sign to switch the downloading module from the inactivity state to the activity state.

16. The method for channel downloading according to claim 3, wherein the signal is a signal from a displacement sensor of the remote control member.

17. The method for channel downloading according to claim 4, wherein the acceleration is greater than 0.5 g.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software code instructions to perform the zapping method according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0123] These are only presented for indicative purposes and in no way limit the invention. The figures show:

[0124] FIG. 1, already described, represents a diagram illustrating the proceeding of a zapping sequence for a digital television decoder receiving a conventional steam of signals via the Internet network;

[0125] FIGS. 2a to 2c, also already described, each represent a timing diagram illustrating the proceeding, in the prior art, of a zapping sequence for a digital television decoder receiving a stream of signals via the Internet network;

[0126] FIG. 3, a schematic representation of the operation of a digital television network enabling the implementation of an example of the method according to the invention;

[0127] FIG. 4 represents a flow diagram of an example changing the state of the decoder.

[0128] FIGS. 5a to 5c each represent a timing diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

[0129] FIG. 6 represents a Grafcet sequential function chart illustrating a method for channel downloading according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0130] Unless stated otherwise, the different elements appearing in several figures will have kept the same reference.

[0131] FIG. 3 schematically represents an operation of a digital television network enabling the implementation of an example of the downloading method according to the invention in a decoding member of type decoder D1 according to the invention.

[0132] The decoder D1 comprises an output D10 connected to a television E1. The decoder D1 comprises a signal sensor not represented and a remote control interface D11 for reading the signals received on the sensor originating from a remote control Tc. The remote control Tc comprises a movement sensor C, in this case an accelerometer.

[0133] The decoder further comprises an input D12 connected to an Internet box B, also called Modem, making it possible to ensure the Internet gateway function between the public network and the private network.

[0134] An IPTV provider F transmits by Internet to the Internet box B data packets of television channel(s).

[0135] The Internet box B transmits these data to the decoder D1 via its input D12. The decoder D1 sends channel downloading requests to the provider F. The decoder thus downloads data packets of one or more channels. This downloading is carried out according to a bit rate, that is to say a measurement of the amount of digital data transmitted per time unit, in this case in Megabits per second.

[0136] The decoder D1 is configured to download the channels according to a channel downloading method.

[0137] To do so, the decoder comprises a processor D13 and comprises a memory D14. The decoder comprises a module for downloading D141 channels in the memory D14. The downloading module D141 comprises an activity state and an inactivity state.

[0138] In the two states, the decoder D1 comprises a downloading interface D15 used by the downloading module D141 for downloading at least one channel M viewed, and can further download channels in parallels therefrom. Downloading a channel is taken to mean downloading the data packets of a channel.

[0139] The decoder D1 is further configured to carry out a method for broadcasting the downloaded channel N. The broadcasting method comprises a step of decoding the downloaded channel N. The channel N is decoded by a decoding unit D16. The broadcasting method further comprises a step of transformation of the decoded channel into signals directly transmissible to the command members of the television E1. The decoded channel is transformed by a display interface D17 of the decoder D1. The television EI may thus display on a screen the channel N. The decoder D1 is thus configured to transmit these signals via its output D10 to the display member E.

[0140] The decoder D1 is thus configured to carry out the channel downloading method comprising a step of receiving a stream of one channel or several channel streams in parallel. The quality of the downloaded channels may be different.

[0141] The method for downloading in the downloading module comprises in the activity state a step of downloading a first viewing channel N in an activity quality, for example UHD. The downloading of this channel N requires a first bit rate, for example 25 Mb/s megabits per second, also called bandwidth.

[0142] FIG. 5a represents a timing diagram of an example of channel downloading when the downloading module is in an activity state and a switch to the inactivity state.

[0143] A channel N is requested to be viewed, that is to say that a user requests to view a channel. The packets of the channel N are downloaded. A downloaded channel is taken to mean that the packets of a channel are downloaded.

[0144] The downloading module D141 further comprises in its step of downloading the viewed channel the downloading in parallel of two other channels. In this case, the two other downloaded channels are the channel N+1, that is to say the channel M, and the channel N1, that is to say a channel designated O.

[0145] The downloading of at least one channel N other than the first decoded channel M, in this case the two channels O and M, each also necessitates a bit rate for example of 25 Mb/s. The downloading of three channels thus necessitates 75 Mb/S of bit rate.

[0146] Thus, in the activity state the downloading module downloads the channels in period of activity such as for example in the example of FIG. 2b.

[0147] It follows that during this activity time, if the user performs an action of requesting a change of channel 100 and that one of the channels is the channel N+1, i.e. the channel M, the channel change time will be uniquely the channel change latency LCC. Obviously, the zapping time is not reduced if the channel requested by the user is not one of the channels downloaded in parallel with the channel viewed in the activity state of the decoder.

[0148] The decoder is also configured to switch from the activity state to the inactivity state. In FIG. 5a, an action of end of activity 102 is determined, it follows that the decoder D1 switches from the activity state EA to the inactivity state EI.

[0149] The determination of end of state may be a step of the channel downloading method carried out by the downloading module but could also be carried out by another module of the decoder.

[0150] The determination step may comprise different operations. FIG. 6 represents a step of determination of end of state comprising an action of measuring an idle period in the activity state. In this case, the action of measuring an idle period is a countdown CaR having a reference threshold value, in this case 15 minutes. This could also be a time delay, and the idle period may be between 5 and 20 minutes for example. The reference threshold value may be memorised in a memory of the decoder, for example in the downloading module.

[0151] The countdown measures the time elapsing from a change of channel or from a switch from the inactivity state to the activity state from a memorised reference threshold value, which is in this case 15 minutes. Thus, the countdown compares the measured idle period with the threshold value of 15 minutes.

[0152] The countdown is reinitialised at each activity signal. FIG. 6 shows examples of activity signal. The activity signal comprises signals received originating from the base of the user. In this case, the activity signal comprises a signal of pressing on a button To of the remote control TC and a signal of movement of the remote control TC originating from the movement sensor C.

[0153] Thus, when the user performs the zapping action 100, the decoder receives a channel change signal 101 originating from the zapping action, for example from a remote control, and measures the idle period from this change of channel. At each change of channel, the idle period is reinitialised.

[0154] If, during the 15 minutes, the decoder has not received any activity signal, the downloading module detects an end of state 102 and switches from the activity state EA to the inactivity state EI.

[0155] The downloading module is configured in the inactivity state to continue to download the first channel M viewed. The quality may be identical or may be improved. The downloading in the inactivity state EI of a single channel N may be carried out in a unicast stream. When the method switches to the activity state EA, the downloading of the channels N, N+1 and N1 may be carried out while downloading several streams in parallel.

[0156] FIG. 5a shows in this example that only the channel N continues to be downloaded (the other channels N+1 and N1 are no longer downloaded).

[0157] FIG. 4 represents an example of flow chart changing the state of the downloading module D141 of the decoder D1. During the switch from the inactivity state to the activity state, there is a restart of downloading of channels in parallel and during the switch from the activity state to the inactivity state, there is a stoppage of downloading of channels in parallel.

[0158] In this inactivity state EI, the decoder decodes the channel N in the decoding unit D16 and records in a buffer memory D142 the decoded channel N, to be retransmitted by means of the display interface D17 into signals at the output D10 applicable by the display device E1.

[0159] Thus the bit rate for channel downloading switches from 75 Mbit/s to 25 Mbit/s.

[0160] Thus, if another product such as a video games console or a computer using the same Internet box B requires a resource of 30 Mbit/s for example, the necessary bit rate in the box will go from the activity state 105 Mb/s to 55 Mbit/s. In the case where the box cannot go beyond a bit rate of 100 Mbit/s, there is thus a risk of saturation of the bandwidth.

[0161] The loading method further comprises the steps in the inactivity state of: [0162] receiving a signal of a channel change early warning sign 103 by the user [0163] changing the state of the downloading module by switching from the inactivity state to the activity state when a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 has been received.

[0164] The downloading module may be configured to receive a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 by the user and to change by switching from the inactivity state to the activity state when a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 has been received.

[0165] The signal of early warning sign 103 may be sent by the remote control member TC. The signal of channel change early warning sign 103 may comprise a signal of pressing on a request button of the remote control member or a signal of the position sensor C. Obviously, the signal of channel change early warning sign 103 cannot be a channel change button because it would no longer be a channel change early warning sign. In other words, the remote control member TC comprises channel change buttons on the one hand and on the other hand request buttons, such as for raising or lowering the sound volume, information, direct recording, etc. Pressing on the off button to place the decoding member DC in sleep mode obviously cannot be interpreted as a channel change early warning sign.

[0166] For example, the acceleration sensor can measure an acceleration of the displacement of the remote control member and send an acceleration signal to the decoder.

[0167] The method may comprise a step of detecting a signal of early warning 103 when an acceleration signal received is greater than or equal to a threshold signal representative of an acceleration of 0.3 g, preferentially greater than 0.5 g or 1 g.

[0168] The decoder comprises in this case a user behaviour analysis module D143 to carry out the step of detecting a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 by the user. The downloading module D141 receives the signal of channel change early warning sign 103 from the detection module D143.

[0169] For example, the method may comprise a step of comparison of an acceleration signal received with at least a threshold signal representative of an acceleration of 0.5 g and in that if the acceleration signal is greater than the threshold signal, a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 is considered as detected.

[0170] The user behaviour analysis module D143 is in this case configured to carry out this comparison step.

[0171] According to another embodiment, not represented, the remote control is configured to carry out the step of comparison, the method further comprises a step of sending a signal of early warning sign to the decoder uniquely if the acceleration signal measured by the sensor is greater than a threshold value, for example 0.5 g or at least 1 g. This makes it possible to determine a pick-up of the remote control by the user.

[0172] According to an embodiment not described, the decoding member comprises a microphone. The signal of early warning sign 103 may comprise in this case a signal received from a microphone to open an application in the decoding member DC. For example, the signal may be a key word or phrase to trigger the decoding member. The microphone may be, according to another example not represented, in the remote control.

[0173] The signal of early warning sign may also be a detection of advertising in the channel. For example, the detection may be carried out by an increase in the volume in the decoding of packets.

[0174] Thus, the downloading module switches from the inactivity state EI to the activity state EA. FIG. 5b shows the case of a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 without the user having changed channel. In this case, the downloading module switches to the activity state from this signal of channel change early warning sign 103 received and, after a downloading latency, the channels N+1 and N1 are downloaded. The countdown thus measures an idle period and if the user does not perform any action, notably on the remote control, no activity signal is sent. After the idle period, in this case fifteen minutes, the downloading module switches back to the inactivity state.

[0175] However, in the case where a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 is a precursor of a channel change by the user, the switching over in advance to the activity state EA for the loading of channels make it possible to decrease the zapping time TZ.

[0176] FIG. 5c represents such a case, for example, the user picks up his remote control TC and thus the displacement sensor identifies a change of orientation of the remote control by the user representative of a signal of channel change early warning sign 103 and next presses on a P+ button, also called CH+ button, of the command TC to zap to the following channel M (N+1).

[0177] FIG. 5c, shows that after having detected the signal of channel change early warning sign 103, a zapping action 100 during the activity state EI leads to a channel change signal 101. The channel M being downloaded, the zapping time TZ then corresponds only to the channel change latency LCC. A zapping method is next described explaining how the channel change is carried out.

[0178] The channel M having become the first channel, the channels downloaded in parallel become the channel M+1 corresponding to channel N+2 and the channel N (M1) continues to be downloaded.

[0179] According to an embodiment, not represented, the decoder D1 may receive signals from a smartphone, and in that the signal of early warning sign comprises the opening of a remote control application in the smartphone to be used as remote control. The remote control application may command the decoder D1.

[0180] During the opening of the application, the smartphone sends an application opening signal to the decoder D1 and which is determined as a signal of early warning sign 103.

[0181] According to another embodiment, not represented, in the inactivity state, the downloading module is configured so that the method further comprises in the step of downloading the channel M the downloading of a single other channel in parallel, for example N+1. In other words, the number of channels downloaded in the activity state is greater, in this case three, than the number of channels in the inactivity state, in this case two channels. Thus, this makes it possible to decrease the bandwidth in the inactivity state. The bit rate is thus lower in the inactivity state than in the activity state.

[0182] According to another embodiment, not represented, in the inactivity state, the downloading module is configured so that the downloading method further comprises in the step of downloading the channel M the downloading of at least one of the other channels downloaded in parallel in the activity state but in a quality inferior to the quality in the activity state.

[0183] Thus, in the event of a channel change press of the user without detection of early warning sign, the zapping time is decreased if the channel requested by the user is one of the downloaded channels.

[0184] The decoder D1 comprises a method for zapping a channel comprising the downloading method according to one of the embodiments described as well as the broadcasting method described previously and a step of reception of the requested channel change signal 101 then a step of changing the decoded channel N to the requested channel M as a function of the channel change signal 101. The change of channel takes place by interrupting the decoding and the transmission of the decoded channel N then by carrying out the steps of decoding and of transmission of the requested channel M.

[0185] The decoder D thus executes a so-called command IGMP join command, in this case the channel M, and a so-called command IGMP leave command, in this case the channel N, to the provider via Internet.

[0186] Obviously, the change of channel is possible in the two states of the decoder D1 (of activity or of inactivity). As explained above, in the case of activity state EA, the change of channel will be done with a zapping time TZ corresponding to the channel change latency LCC if the channel M requested by the user corresponds to the channel or channels downloaded in parallel with the decoded channel N before the reception of the channel change signal 101.

[0187] In the case of inactivity state, if there is no channel downloaded in parallel as in the example represented, the zapping time TZ will correspond to the sum of the downloading latency LT and the channel change latency LCC.

[0188] In the example described, the decoding member is a decoder but could be a tablet or instead a computer.

[0189] In the example represented, the channels downloaded in parallel with the decoded channel are the following channel N+1 and the preceding channel N1. According to another embodiment, not represented, the channels downloaded in parallel are channels other than the channels following and preceding the channel viewed. For example, the user behaviour analysis module may detect and memorise a regularly decoded channel, in particular a channel regularly watched at a certain time. In this case, at this time the downloading module can download in parallel this regularly watched channel.

[0190] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment that has been described.

[0191] Thus, the decoder according to the invention notably comprises means for implementing the method according to the invention, and notably a programme memory with a first application for carrying out the channel change method.

[0192] The present invention has been described and illustrated in the present detailed description and in the figures of the appended drawings, in possible embodiments. The present invention is not limited, however, to the embodiments described. Other alternatives and embodiments may be deduced and implemented by those skilled in the art on reading the present description and the appended drawings.

[0193] In the claims, the term comprises does not exclude other elements or other steps. A single processor or several other units may be used to implement the invention. The different characteristics described and/or claimed may be advantageously combined. Their presence in the description or in the different dependent claims does not exclude this possibility. The reference signs cannot in any way be understood as limiting the scope of the invention.