WO2007087763A1

WO2007087763A1 - Method for changing the content of a data stream

Info

Publication number: WO2007087763A1
Application number: PCT/DE2006/000150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Ryll
Original assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2006-01-31
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2007-08-09

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for changing the content of a picture or sound data stream which needs to be sent to a plurality of reception devices simultaneously, where the method involves a plurality of users of reception devices (E1, E2, E3) being informed, by means of a picture or sound data stream (S1, S2) which is sent to these reception devices simultaneously, that by sending messages (N1, N2, N3) to a message computer (R) it is possible to change the future content of the picture or sound data stream. The message computer receives the messages which then arrive. Every time that a message is received, an account sum is reserved in an account (K1, K2, K3). The account sums respectively reserved in the accounts are debited and the content of the picture or sound data stream is changed if the number of messages received reaches a first predetermined threshold value or if the sum of the account sums reserved in the accounts reaches a second predetermined threshold value.

Description

description

Method for changing the content of a data stream

The invention relates to a method for changing the content of an image or sound data stream to be sent simultaneously to a plurality of receiving devices.

Methods are known in which an image data stream or a sound data stream is simultaneously sent to a plurality of receiving devices. Examples of such methods are the transmission of television broadcasts or broadcasts. When broadcasting a television program, an image data stream is simultaneously sent to a plurality of

Television receivers (television receivers) sent. In a broadcast, a sound data stream is simultaneously sent to a plurality of broadcast receiving devices. Such methods are also commonly referred to as broadcast methods or multicast methods. In the broadcast method, the data stream is sent to all receiving devices present in a specific area (eg in a spatial area or in a specific network area). In the case of multicast methods, the data stream is sent only to a selection of all receiving devices present in a specific area. In these methods, the content of the transmitted image or sound data stream can generally not be influenced by the receiving device. Rather, a particular pre-defined program (eg television program or radio program) is often sent to the receiving devices by means of the picture or sound data stream. The object of the invention is to provide a flexible and versatile method with regard to the content of the data stream to be transmitted.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for changing the content of a video or audio data stream to be simultaneously sent to a plurality of receiving devices, wherein in the method

a plurality of users of receiving devices are informed by means of an image or sound data stream sent simultaneously to these receiving devices that the future content of the image or sound data stream can be changed by sending messages to a message processor, Message processor receives the incoming messages,

- In each case upon receipt of a message, an account amount is reserved in an account which is assigned to the user who has ordered the sending of the respective message, and

- The account amounts reserved in the accounts are deducted and at the future time the content of the image or sound data stream is changed, when the number of received messages reaches a first predetermined threshold or when the sum of the on the Accounts reserved account amounts reaches a second predetermined threshold.

In this method, it is particularly advantageous for the messages (which are sent to the message computer, for example, at the instigation of the users of the receiving devices) to be received by the message processor, and that after receipt of each of these messages in an account, a specific one Account amount (eg a cash amount of 1 Euro) is reserved, the account is assigned in each case to the user who has arranged the sending of the respective message. By evaluating the number of messages received (sum of received messages) or by evaluating the sum of account amounts reserved on the accounts, it is possible to change the content of the data stream only after a predetermined number of messages have been received (eg, 10,000 messages). or if a predetermined amount of account amounts (for example, € 10,000) could be reserved. As a result, it can be advantageously determined whether a predetermined number of users of the receiving devices are interested in changing the content of the data stream and also willing to pay for this change. By means of these reserved (and subsequently debited) account amounts, the costs for changing the content of the data stream can be borne and a surplus can be achieved with a corresponding choice of the first predetermined threshold value or of the second predetermined threshold value.

The method can proceed in such a way that the plurality of users of receiving devices are informed by means of the image or sound data stream sent to these receiving devices at the same time that by sending messages over a telecommunication network to a message computer, the future content of the image - or sound data stream can be changed, and the message calculator over the telecommunications network receives the subsequent incoming messages.

It is advantageous that the messages are transmitted via a telecommunications network to the message computer. By means of the telecommunication network, a return channel (data return channel) is transmitted by the user of the receiving device is realized while the image or sound data stream represents an outgoing channel (data transmission channel) for transmitting the image data or the sound data to the user of the receiving device.

The method may be such that when the number of received messages reaches the first predetermined threshold or when the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches the second predetermined threshold, the users of the plurality of receiving devices via the video or audio data stream above be informed that at the time in the future, the content of the image or sound data stream is changed.

As a result, the users of the receiving devices are advantageously informed that the content of the picture or sound data stream is changed so that they can adjust to the changed situation.

The method may be such that when the number of received messages reaches the first predetermined threshold, or when the sum of account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches the second predetermined threshold, no further messages are accepted by the message processor, and the Users of the plurality of receiving devices are informed by means of the image or sound data stream that at the time in the future, the content of the image or sound data stream is changed.

In this case, advantageously after reaching the first threshold or. after reaching the second threshold of the message calculator no further messages received, so that no further account amounts Accounts are reserved. Once the first or the second threshold value has been reached, the message processor is no longer burdened with the reception of the messages, but can increasingly be used for other tasks (for example, further process sequences with regard to other picture or sound data streams).

However, the method may also be such that when the number of messages received reaches the first predetermined threshold, or when the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches the second predetermined threshold, messages continue to be received by the message processor and only after Expiration of a predetermined period of time, which begins upon reaching the first or second threshold, the users of the plurality of

Receiving devices are informed by means of the image or sound data stream that at the time in the future, the content of the image or sound data stream is changed.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous for the message processor to continue to receive messages for a certain period of time even after the first or second threshold value has been reached, and only then to inform the users that the content of the video or audio data stream is changed. As a result, account amounts can advantageously be reserved whose sum is greater than the second threshold value.

In the method, the content of the image or sound data stream may be changed by eliminating a scheduled broadcast of advertising information about the image or sound stream, or by using a predetermined television or audio stream. transmitted via the picture or sound data stream.

In this case, it is advantageously contrary to the wishes of many users of the receiving devices if (for example at an exciting point in a feature film) the transmission of advertising information is dispensed with, that is to say an advertising interruption of this feature film is avoided. In this case, the reserved account amounts can be used to compensate for or even overcompensate for the financial loss caused by the missing sending of the advertising information. For the users of the receiving devices, there is thus the possibility that these users can cause the omission of the sending of the advertising information, provided that these users each reserve an account amount in their account and have them charged later. In the same way, the users can obtain that a predetermined television or radio broadcast is sent out at the future time. It would generally be relatively costly for a single user to initiate the cancellation of a commercial or the broadcast of a predetermined television or radio broadcast. In the method according to the invention, however, the costs for this elimination or transmission are advantageously distributed among the plurality of users, so that the burden on the individual user remains within tolerable limits.

The method may be arranged such that the account amount is reserved on a prepaid account or on a postpaid account of the user.

This can advantageously be known as such and, for example, in payment systems of telecommunications networks. zen used prepaid accounts and postpaid accounts are used to implement the method according to the invention.

The method may also be such that, upon receipt of the messages, the sum of the account amounts already reserved on the accounts is repeatedly formed or the number of received messages is determined, and the users of the receiving devices repeatedly use the image or sound data stream for the respective current sum or number can be informed.

As a result, the users are advantageously informed about the respectively current sum or number during the course of the procedure. As a result, further users can be made to initiate the sending of further messages to the message processor if the first threshold or the second threshold has not yet been reached and if these other users wish to change the content of the data stream.

The method may be configured such that the reservations are canceled for the account amounts respectively reserved on the accounts, and the content of the image or sound data stream is not changed at the time in the future, if until expiration of a predetermined waiting period the number of received messages does not reach the first predetermined threshold or if, by the expiration of the predetermined waiting period, the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts does not reach the second predetermined threshold.

If the first or the second threshold are not reached, the reserved account amounts are advantageously released again (ie the reservations are canceled), so that no burden on users with these account amounts occurs. Furthermore, the action desired by the user (the change of the content of the image or sound data stream) is not performed, that is, the content of the data stream is not changed.

The method may be arranged such that the message processor receives messages the transmission of which has been initiated by the users by means of a mobile telephone, a landline telephone or a voice-over-IP telephone.

By means of the mobile telephone of the landline telephone or the voice-over-IP telephone, the user can conveniently initiate the sending of the messages, since at least one of these telephones is today often available everywhere.

The method can proceed in such a way that the messages used are signaling messages which occur in the case of a user-side call of a predetermined telephone number in the telecommunications network.

As a result, the method can advantageously be implemented particularly simply because such signaling messages occur anyway in the case of a user-side call to a predetermined telephone number in the telecommunications network. On the part of the message calculator, only these messages need to be recognized.

Finally, in the method, the image or sound data stream can be sent to the receiving devices using a broadcast transmission method or a multicast transmission method. For further explanation of the method according to the invention embodiments are shown in the figures. It is in

1 shows an embodiment of a method with a radio-based transmission of a television picture data stream and in

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method with a cable-based transmission of a television picture

Data stream shown.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first house H1 in which a user of a first receiving device El lives. In the exemplary embodiment, the first receiving device E1 is a television set with a terrestrial antenna A. The user of the television set El also has three communication terminals KEG1, KEG2 and KEG3. This is a mobile telephone KEG1 A fixed-line telephone KEG2 and a voice-over-IP telephone KEG3 (also known as "SIP telephone") implemented by means of a computer These messages can be used in each case to send messages to a message processor R, which in one In the exemplary embodiment, the telecommunication network is a telephone network KN, which is designed as an intelligent network (IN = Intelligent Network). (In another exemplary embodiment, the telecommunication network KN may be of the telecommunication network KN Telecommunications network KN, for example, to a cable network of a cable TV provider or the Internet act.) The news Computer R is able to receive the messages sent by the communication terminals, to count and to carry out certain method steps upon receipt of each of these messages. Derar- term computer R as such are already ^'now used in so-called "televoting systems" in the intelligent telephone networks. The message computer R is connected to a discriminator gate unit (discriminator) D and with a payment system (OCS OCS Online Charging System) A control unit S, which in turn has a connection to facilities of a television studio ST, is connected to the message computer R. The television studio ST is connected to a transmitting installation SA, which transmits an image and / or sound data stream by means of electromagnetic waves This image and / or sound data stream S1 is received by the antenna A of the first receiving device E1, whereupon the television program is output on a screen of the receiving device E1 so that the user of the receiving device E1 can watch TV ,

Furthermore, a second house H2 with a second receiving device E2 and a third house H3 with a third receiving device E3 are shown schematically, in which likewise receiving device users reside. The second receiving device E2 and the third receiving device E3 are also television sets. These receiving devices E2 and E3 are able Bildbzw. Receive sound stream S1 of the transmission SA and output the corresponding television program on their screens. The users of these further receiving devices E2 and E3 also have communication terminals in the form of a telephone (not shown in the figure), with which they can send messages to the message computer R or cause the sending of such messages.

The payment system OCS has access to accounts associated with the users of the receiving facilities. Beispielswei- se has the payment system OCS access to an account Kl, which is associated with the user of the receiving device El. Furthermore, the payment system OCS has access to an account K2, which is assigned to the user of the receiving device E2. Finally, the payment system OCS also has access to an account K3, which is assigned to the user of the receiving device E3.

The embodiment is based on the following situation: In the television broadcasts, which are broadcast by the transmitter SA, advertising blocks are included. These advertising blocks (hereinafter referred to as simply "Television") by the operator of the transmission system or the television studios sold to advertising companies. Advertising revenues represent a basis of the business of television shows (especially if it ^is' a private television station.) The The willingness to pay is essentially determined by the attractiveness of the respective television program during which the commercial block is to be run Generally harmful that some viewers at the beginning of an ad block switch the station (also called "zapping"), as these viewers are then not reached by the ad block.

In the embodiment described by means of FIG. 1, the method proceeds as follows: Shortly (eg 5 minutes) before the start of an advertising block, the following text is inserted into the current television program: "If you want to prevent the next commercial break, then please call the telephone number 0180 12345 (cost per call 0.50 cents). As soon as more than € 50,000 has been collected men are the commercial break and the ^'broadcast omitted continues without interruption. "This text is sent to the receiving devices El, E2 and E3 off sending image data stream transmitted. simultaneously with the current television program from the transmitter SA by a result, the users of these receivers El, informed ^'E2 and E3 that they can be arranged by calling the telephone number 0180 12 345, that the future content of the image data stream is changed. changes in future Switzerland halts the image data stream consists embodiment in that the commercial break is prevented and the running movie is transmitted without interruption.

If a user of the receiving equipment (ie a television viewer) is interested in preventing the commercial break, then he will call the telephone number 0180 12345. In the exemplary embodiment, the user of the first receiving device E1 calls the telephone number 0180 12345 by means of his mobile telephone KEG1, whereby a corresponding signaling message N1 is sent from the communication terminal KEG1 to the message computer R. The message computer R receives the signaling message Nl. The message computer R recognizes on the basis of the signaling message Nl that the call comes from the communication terminal KEGl the user. This may be the message computer R, for example, on the basis of co-transmitted with the message Nl mobile phone number MSISDN (MSISDN = Mobile Station ISDN Num over) ^• recognize. In the message processor R so the sender of the message Nl is known. The message processor R then sends an information message identifying the sender of the message N1 to the control unit S, whereupon the control unit S informs the payment system OCS and the discriminator unit D. The payment system OCS determines the account associated with the sender of the message Nl. In the embodiment, these are a so-called "prepaid account""(ie a prepaid Gutha ^¬ benkonto) of the user of the first receiver El. A pre-determined amount of account is reserved in this credit account. In the exemplary embodiment 0.50 cents are reserved. Information about the reserved account amount (0.50 cents) is transmitted via the discriminator unit D and the control unit S to the television studio ST, whereupon in the current television program _. a text is displayed: "So far, € 0.50 have come together.".

Next, the user of the receiving device E2 sends a message N2 to the message computer R, in that this user calls the telephone number 0180 12345 via his landline telephone. The message calculator R receives them

Message N2. The message is registered and the user of the second receiving device E2 is determined as the sender of the message. Subsequently, the payment system OCS determines the account assigned to this user; in the exemplary embodiment, it is again a prepaid account. Also on this

Prepaid account is reserved the amount € 0.50. The discriminator unit now forms the sum of the account amounts reserved on the two prepaid accounts (€ 0.50 plus € 0.50 = € 1.00) and compares them with the threshold of € 50,000. The discriminator unit D determines that the threshold

€ 50,000 has not been reached. As a result, the text will appear in the TV program "1.00 € have been collected so far." (Alternatively, the sum of the account amounts reserved on the two prepaid accounts can also be calculated in the payment system or in the control unit and transmitted to the discriminator unit D. .)

In the course of the exemplary embodiment, more and more messages are received from receiver users at the message stations. Computer R is sent and received by this. In each case, an account amount is reserved on the account which is assigned to the respective user. For example, the user of the receiving device E3 sends a message N3 to the message computer R, in that this user calls the telephone number 0180 12345 by means of his voice-over-IP telephone. The message processor R receives this message N3. An account amount is then reserved on account K3. After 100,000 viewers have called, total account amounts of € 50,000 are reserved on the various accounts. The sum of the account amounts reserved in the accounts is therefore € 50,000. The discriminator unit D determines that the threshold (50,000 €) has been reached. The discriminator D sends corresponding information to the message computer R, whereupon this

Message Calculator R does not receive any further messages from users. In response to a corresponding signal from the control unit S, the information is displayed in the current television program "The next commercial interruption is omitted." The users of the receiving devices El, E2, E3, etc. are thus informed by means of the video or audio data stream. At some future point in time, the content of the image data stream is changed, namely that the originally planned commercial interruption is canceled and that the television program continues uninterrupted, and the account amounts reserved on the prepaid accounts are deducted and sent to the operator of the television station transferred.

Before the transfer to the operator of the television station, the debited account amounts can be reduced by service fees for the use of the telecommunications network, the message computer R, the discriminator unit D, the payment system OCS and the control unit S; these services Fees are then transferred to the service operator (eg the operator of the telecommunications network KN). The threshold value can be calculated according to the following formula: Threshold S> = price agreed with the advertising companies for advertising block + service charge for the service provider. The actual money transfers are made in a conventional way by bank transfers.

A short time before the next scheduled commercial block, the procedure is repeated, that is, it is again in the current television program, the text appears: "If you want to prevent the next commercial break, then call the phone number 0180 12345 (cost per call 0, 50 cents). As soon as more than 50,000 € have come together, the commercial break is canceled and the shipment continues without interruption. "The other process steps are repeated accordingly.

Another embodiment of the method may also be such that upon reaching the threshold (50,000 €), a timer unit begins to run which measures a predetermined period of time (for example, this period may be 2 minutes). During ^this' period takes the message computer R continue to receive messages and advertising accounts amounts to the appropriate accounts re'serviert.

Only at the expiration of this predetermined period of time (ie at the end of the 2 minutes) the message computer R receives no further messages and the users of the receiving devices are informed by means of the picture or sound data stream that the advertising block is dispensed with. This information can be obtained, for example, by inserting into the current television program the text message "The next ad block is omitted." After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, in the exemplary embodiment a total of 63.138,50 € on the different prepaid accounts reserved. This amount is then debited from the accounts.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the discriminator unit D can also determine (count, sum) the number of received messages N1, N2, etc., and compare the number (sum) with a predetermined threshold value. (Alternatively, the number of received messages can also be determined by the message processor or the control unit.) The user of the receiving device is informed in this embodiment that the image data stream is changed as soon as 100,000 television viewers have called. The users of the receiving devices are then informed by text messages about the number of received messages during the procedure (eg "5,731 viewers have called so far.") Alternatively, the information can also be given by means of a percentage, eg "So far 79% of the necessary 100,000 spectators called. " or "So far 79% of the necessary viewers have called.".

The transmission of the image or sound data stream via a television transmission system SA is an example of a so-called broadcast transmission method. Alternatively, the audio or audio data stream can also be sent by means of a so-called multicast transmission method, for example by means of the method "Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS)." In the exemplary embodiment, the messages N1, N2 etc. are signaling messages which are included in the exemplary embodiment the call of the respective user at the predetermined telephone number

0180 12345 are transmitted from the telephone over the telephone network KN to the message processor R. The user does not need to speak a word. The message calculator R receives the message and recognizes the user without Voice data from the respective phone to the message computer R need to be transferred.

In the embodiment, when sending the first text information to the user ("If you want to prevent the next commercial break, then please call the phone number 0180 12345 (cost per call 0.50 cents) ...") to be started with a time measurement If, by the expiration of a predetermined waiting period (the waiting period may be, for example, 5 minutes), the number of received messages does not reach the first threshold (100,000 callers), or alternatively the sum of the account amounts reserved on the pre-paid accounts exceeds the second threshold 50,000 € is not reached, then the account amounts already reserved in the accounts are released again (ie the reservations are canceled / deleted) and the content of the image or sound data stream is not changed (ie the film being broadcast is interrupted and the next commercial block becomes sent as originally planned).

The method can also be such that when a threshold value is reached, the advertising block is not completely eliminated, but is shortened by a certain period of time. For example, for each reserved € 10,000 the ad block can be shortened by 30 seconds. This is also possible several times in succession, so that e.g. for 3 x 10.000 € = 30.000 € the ad block is shortened by 90 seconds.

Information about the current and future television program is stored in the control unit S, so that the method described can begin in each case a certain time (eg 5 minutes) before the start of the next commercial interruption. The data of the calling television viewers and their number are transmitted to the discriminator unit D, for example. The discriminator unit D can be designed as an independent unit, but it can also be a component of the payment system OCS. As soon as the discriminator unit ascertains that the corresponding threshold value has been reached, it sends a corresponding message to the message processor R, so that the latter no longer accepts further calls. Alternatively, the discriminator unit ensures that the measurement of the predetermined period of time is started during which messages continue to be received by the message processor.

Alternatively, so-called postpaid accounts can also be used as accounts. In a further embodiment, the image or sound data stream can also be changed by sending a predetermined television or radio broadcast by means of the data stream at the time in the future. Such a program can be, for example, a successful film. Such an embodiment is below. described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment. This exemplary embodiment differs from the exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIG. 1 in that the television studio ST has a video transmission device which has a sound data stream and / or an image data stream S2 (for example films) to the reception devices E1, E2, via line-connected paths. E3 etc. transmits.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is based on the following situation: The user of the receiving device El wants to watch a movie on his home TV El. He knows that this film is offered through a video-on-demand communication service, the video-on-demand communication service is a service that orders a special movie exclusively for one user (here the users) the receiving device El) provides. This service is a so-called point-to-point transmission. A transmission of a film by means of the video service "video-on-demand" is complex both on the part of the sender and on the part of the communication network used for the transmission of the data stream, therefore, a video-on-demand film transmission is also comparatively For example, it costs $ 5 per movie, so video-on-demand service provider revenue is determined by the price per movie ($ 5) and the number of viewers who request the movie This reduces the cost of the video-on-demand service provider to a comparatively high level (compared to a normal TV broadcast) and reduces the relatively large amount of device power required on the sender side and on the transmission network side Advantage, if he managed to find a majority of viewers who watch a particular movie want to see one and the same time. Then he would not have to broadcast this film individually for each viewer by means of the elaborate and expensive point-to-point transmission, but the film could be sent out together for all interested viewers via broadcasting or multicasting. The process running to this end is shown in FIG. 2 and is similar to the method described in connection with FIG. In the following, only the essential differences will be described. At the beginning of the process, the majority of users of the receiving devices El, E2, E3, etc. are informed in the context of the television program by means of an image data stream S2 sent simultaneously to these receiving devices that they have the option of future content of the image Data stream S2 to change. You will be sent the following text message: "If you want to see 'on 29 February 2006 at ^20:15' for the price of 0.50 cents the film The Punch Bowl (rather than video-on-demand movie for the price of 5 € ), then call the phone number 0180 54321 (0.50 cents per call). As soon as more than 10,000 viewers call, the film will be broadcast at the specified time instead of the program, Repor- tage aktuell ', announced in the program guide. "If interested, viewers will call the specified phone number to replace the movie for .50 cents of 5 € Calls to this telephone number have the effect of transmitting signaling messages to the message processor R, which realizes a televoting service.

The process then proceeds as explained in FIG. The message calculator R recognizes the caller. The calls are then registered and counted. An account amount is reserved in the accounts of the respective callers. When the threshold is reached (eg 10,000 spectators), the reserved account amounts are debited and the viewers are informed via a text message displayed in the television program that the film "The Feuerzangenbowle" will be broadcast on 29.02.2006 at 20:15. In 2006, starting at 8:15 pm, the film "Die Feuerzangenbowle" will be broadcasted using the image / sound data stream S2. Alternatively, the film can also be transmitted via a so-called point-to-multipoint transmission, so that only those users can see through their receiving facilities the movie, which have actually called the news computer R. In this case, the movie data could also be transmitted encrypted.

The method described in FIG. 2 may alternatively be modified in such a way that several films, radio plays, songs or the like are offered for selection for a future date. It will then be the. Film (or audio play, piece of music, etc.) for which the corresponding threshold is reached first. Only the accounts of those viewers are debited (ie only from these accounts - the reserved account amounts are deducted) which have called for the film actually to be broadcast ("winning film") The callers for the other films are not charged the accounts and the Reservations are canceled (ie the reservations are released or deleted).

The described methods have a number of advantages. The inventive method allow an optimization of the broadcasting of television broadcasts, in which both the operator of the television station and the operator of the telecommunications network can benefit. In this case, for example, the operator of the television station is given the opportunity to have the revenue he receives from advertising companies for a commercial block overbought by a large number of viewers. If the number of interested viewers reaches the respective threshold, or if those reserved in the accounts of the interested viewers

Accounts amounts reach a threshold, then the ad block is not sent, but it is omitted and the audience can watch the currently broadcast film without interruption. The attractiveness of the broadcasts of the television studios and Hör ^¬ funkstudios is increased because the broadcasts are not interrupted by frequent advertising blocks or get the viewer instead of the predetermined regular program of their preferred broadcasts offered. For the operator of the telecommunications network, there is the possibility to offer an att ^¬ raktive service and thus not only to generate additional phone calls and better utilize the telecommunications network, but also to receive fees for the service.

Claims

claims

1. A method for changing the content of a simultaneously to a plurality of receiving devices (El, E2, E3) to be sent image or sound data stream (Sl, S2), wherein in the method

- A plurality of users of receiving devices (El, E2, E3) is informed by means of a simultaneously sent to these receiving devices image or sound data stream (Sl, S2) about that by sending messages

(Nl, N2, N3) to a message processor (R) the future content of the image or sound data stream can be changed,

- The message calculator (R) receives the then arriving messages (Nl, N2, N3), - each on the receipt of a message (Nl, N2, N3) out an account amount on an account (Kl, K2, K3) is reserved , which is assigned to the user who has caused the sending of the respective message (Nl, N2, N3), and

- the account amounts reserved on the accounts (K1, K2, K3) are debited and the content of the picture or sound data stream (S1, S2) is changed at the time in the future when the number of received messages reaches a first predetermined threshold or when the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches a second predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

- The plurality of users of receiving devices (El, E2, E3) by means of simultaneously sent to these receiving devices image or sound data stream (Sl, S2) is informed that by sending messages (Nl, N2, N3) via a Telecommunications network (CN) to the Richt-Rechner (R) the future content of the image or sound data stream can be changed, and

- The message computer (R) via the telecommunications network (KN) receives the then arriving messages (Nl, N2, N3).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

if the sum of the number of received messages (Nl, N2, N3) reaches the first threshold value or if the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches the second threshold value, the users of the plurality of receiving devices (El, E2, E3) use the image be informed that the content of the image or sound data stream is changed at the time in the future.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the number of received messages (Nl, N2, N3) reaches the first threshold or when the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts reaches the second threshold,

- from the message calculator (R) no further messages are received, and

- The users of the plurality of receiving means (El, E2, E3) are informed by means of the image or sound data stream that at the time in the future, the content of the image or sound data stream is changed.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the number of received messages (Nl, N2, N3) reaches the first threshold or when the sum of the on the Accounts reserved account amounts reaches the second threshold,

messages are still being received by the message processor (R), and the users of the plurality of receiving devices (E1, E2, E3) are only informed by means of the image after expiry of a predetermined period of time which begins when the first or second threshold value is reached. or sound data stream to be informed that in the future _. When the content of the picture or sound data stream is changed.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the content of the image or sound data stream is changed, - by eliminating a planned transmission of advertising information on the image or sound data stream, or

- By a predetermined television or radio broadcast over the image or sound stream is sent out.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- The account amount is reserved on a prepaid account (Cl) or on a postpaid account of the user.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- When the messages (Nl, N2, N3) are received, the sum of the account amounts already reserved in the accounts is repeatedly formed or the number of received messages is determined, and

- By means of the image or sound data stream, the users of the receiving devices (El, E2, E3) are informed repeatedly about the respective current sum or number.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if the number of received messages does not reach the first threshold value until the expiry of a predetermined waiting time or the sum of the account amounts reserved on the accounts does not reach the second threshold value,

- for the account amounts reserved on the accounts (K1, K2, K3), the reservations are canceled, and - at the time in the future, the content of the image or sound data stream is not changed.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the message computer (R) receives messages whose transmission from the users by means of a mobile phone (KEGl), a landline phone (KEG2) or a voice-over-IP phone (KEG3).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- As messages (Nl, N2, N3) signaling messages are used, which occur in a user-side call a predetermined telephone number in the telecommunications network (CN).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- The image or sound data stream using a broadcast or multicast transmission method to the receiving devices (El, E2, E3) is sent.