WO2016166691A1

WO2016166691A1 - Electronic apparatus for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals

Info

Publication number: WO2016166691A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/052121
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andries Petrus Cronje Fourie; Eduard Willem WALKER
Original assignee: Poynting Antennas (Pty) Limited
Priority date: 2015-04-14
Filing date: 2016-04-14
Publication date: 2016-10-20
Also published as: ZA201706972B

Abstract

An electronic apparatus 10 for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals 11 comprises a broadcast receiver 12 for receiving the signals 11. The receiver is connected to an antenna 20 and to a received signal renderer device. The apparatus further comprises a controller 14 connected to the broadcast receiver. A local electronic location determining arrangement 18 comprises a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver 22 and a database 28, both connected to the controller. The database 28 comprises pre-stored data relating to terrestrial signals which are receivable in each of a plurality of predefined geographical regions. The controller is configured to utilize terrestrial signals 13.1 to 13.n received by the receiver 22, the data in the database and a location determining algorithm 26 to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the apparatus is located. The controller is further configured automatically to control the broadcast receiver, depending on the geographical region determined.

Description

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS FOR USE IN RENDERING BROADCAST MEDIA CARRYING SIGNALS

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

This invention relates to an electronic apparatus for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals. The invention also relates to a method of controlling a broadcast receiver depending on the location of the broadcast receiver and a method of delivering broadcast media signals intended for a defined geographical region.

It is known that certain handheld electronic devices, such as cellular phones, can determine their location or position based on time delay information relating to bidirectional signals exchanged between the phone and base stations of the cellular system.

On the other hand, more permanently installed electronic apparatus comprising broadcast receivers and for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals, such as satellite TV receivers, are often intended to receive unidirectional broadcast signals only from satellites, for example, and do not have a return communication path available to a head-end.

Since these broadcasts often cover a large footprint on the earth, many receivers in the footprint receive the signals and the head-end or broadcaster does not know where these receivers are and if they are moved, the head-end or broadcaster has no way of telling that they have moved or whereto. This lack of position or location awareness inhibits certain location based actions, including controls, which may be of value to various parties including the head-end, the user and even third parties, such as third party advertisers.

Unless context indicates otherwise, in this specification the terms below will have the meaning as indicated:

broadcast: simultaneous one way distribution or dissemination from a source of a signal to be received by a plurality of broadcast receivers and includes internet multicast;

broadcast receiver: a receiver configured to receive a broadcast;

media carrying signal a signal carrying at least one of media, including but not limited to, audio, still images, text, animation, and video; and multimedia which is any combination of any of the above media, including but not limited to audio visual and interactivity content forms. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus for rendering broadcast media carrying signals, a method of controlling a broadcast receiver depending on the location of the broadcast receiver and a method of delivering broadcast media carrying signals intended for a defined geographical region with which the applicant believes the above disadvantages may at least be alleviated or which may provide a useful alternative for the known apparatus and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an electronic apparatus for rendering broadcast media carrying signals, the apparatus comprising:

- a broadcast receiver for receiving broadcast media carrying signals and which broadcast receiver is connectable to a first antenna and to a received signal renderer device for rendering the received broadcast media carrying signals;

- a controller connected to the broadcast receiver;

- an electronic location determining arrangement comprising a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver and a database, both connected to the controller, and which database comprises pre-stored data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals which are receivable in each of a plurality of predefined geographical regions; the controller being configured to utilize data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals received by the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver, the data in the database and a location determining algorithm executing on the controller to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the electronic apparatus is located; and

the controller further being configured automatically to control at least one of the broadcast receiver and the rendering of received broadcast media carrying signals, depending on the geographical region determined.

The apparatus may comprise, or may be in the form of, one of a set top box and a television apparatus and the broadcast receiver may comprise one of a satellite television signal receiver and a terrestrial television signal receiver. In other embodiments the apparatus may comprise a desk top computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a cellular phone etc. A return communication path from the apparatus to a head-end is not required.

The terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver may comprise a receiver for signals in a band between 3 kHz and 900 MHz and which receiver is connected to a second antenna. In some embodiments, the band may be the frequency modulation (FM) radio band extending between 65 MHz and 108 MHz, typically between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.

The controller may be operative to cause the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver to scan through at least part of the band and the controller may be configured to record for terrestrial wireless broadcast signals received in the at least part of the band, at least one of frequency, channel number, received signal strength and channel identification data.

The controller may be configured to generate from the recorded data a presentation of frequencies in the at least part of the band at which a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal is received and relative signal strength of the received terrestrial wireless broadcast signals.

The location determining algorithm may be operative to compare said generated presentation to data pre-stored in the database and which data comprises for each of said predefined geographical regions a representation of signals receivable and relative signal strengths and to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the electronic apparatus is located by finding the best match between the generated presentation and the pre-stored presentation data. Hence, the location determining arrangement may be configured to utilize wireless signals in the form of public terrestrial broadcast signals to determine the location of the arrangement. The signals may be public broadcast radio signals, such as FM signals, terrestrial TV signals and cellular signals.

The controller may be configured to cause the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver of the location determining arrangement to scan through at least part of at least one of a public radio broadcast band (such as 88MHz to 108MHz) and a public television band (such as UHF TV bands and VHF TV bands) and the controller may be configured to record for wireless signals received in the band, at least one of frequency, channel number, received signal strength and channel identification data. The controller may be configured automatically to control at least one of the broadcast receiver and the rendering of received broadcast media carrying signals, depending on the geographical position determined, by performing one of the following location related actions:

- causing specific advertisements to be "captured" from a broadcast media carrying signal, stored and displayed immediately or in defined slots/programs by the apparatus based on the location as determined and/or other parameters defined by a head-end; - other information such as safety, local news, local weather, local attraction and location specific services can also be displayed or otherwise provided to users with the apparatus;

- content may also be restricted based on location. The apparatus may automatically be disabled when located outside of an authorized region. The user may optionally be alerted to contact the head-end to rectify or vary payment to reactivate or obtain services. Service offerings or messages requesting/mandating/ incentivising users to provide information to content providers may also be activated based on location. For example, a service provider may offer a benefit in exchange for information on family size/demographics/income which could provide improved advertising targeting and/or converged services etc to users. For example: Johannesburg users with the apparatus can get a message: "Contact MWEB who can provide internet to your receiver in Johannesburg at special price etc".

Also included within the scope of the present invention is an electronic location determining arrangement as herein defined or described.

The invention also includes within its scope a method of delivering broadcast media signals via a broadcast receiver at a user station, the method comprising, at the user station: - automatically determining a location of the receiver; and if the determined location complies with predetermined geographical parameters, causing a location dependent action to be performed.

There is also provided a method of controlling a broadcast receiver depending on the location of the broadcast receiver in one of a plurality of predefined geographical regions, the method comprising, at a site of the broadcast receiver:

- receiving available terrestrial wireless broadcast signals by a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver of an electronic location determining arrangement;

- automatically determining the location of the broadcast receiver by utilizing data relating to the received terrestrial wireless broadcast signals, a database comprising pre-stored data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals which are receivable in each of the plurality of predefined geographical regions, and a location determining algorithm which executes on a controller to compare the data relating to the received signals to the database data to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the broadcast receiver is located; and - if the determined location complies with predetermined geographical parameters, causing the broadcast receiver to perform a location dependent action. The predetermined geographical parameters may define a first of said plurality of predefined geographical regions and the location based action may comprise causing a first media item, which forms part of a broadcast media carrying signal and is targeted at users in the first region, to be rendered by a renderer device connected to the broadcast receiver.

The first media item may be one of an advertisement, warning message and news item targeted at users in the first region.

The invention still further includes within its scope a method of delivering broadcast media signals intended for a first geographical region which is a part of a second larger geographical region via broadcast receivers at respective user stations in the first region, the method comprising, at a head-end:

- associating a first media item with the first region;

- broadcasting the media item as part of a media carrying signal;

- utilizing location data generated locally by broadcast receivers in the first region, to enable rendition of the first media item in the first region. More particularly, a method of delivering broadcast media signals intended for a first geographical region which is part of a second larger geographical region via broadcast receivers at respective user stations in the first region, the method comprising, at a head-end:

- associating a first media item with the first region;

- broadcasting the first media item as part of a media carrying signal;

- utilizing location data determined at the user stations in the first region by utilizing data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals received at the stations, a database comprising pre- stored data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals which are receivable in the first region, and a location determining algorithm which executes on a controller to compare the data relating to the received signals to the database data to determine whether the broadcast receivers are located in the first region; and

- if the determined location is the first region, allowing the broadcast receivers to perform a location dependent action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS

The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus comprising a local location determining arrangement and for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals;

figure 2 is a diagram or presentation of received wireless signal strength against frequency, which, in use, is generated by the local location determining arrangement of the apparatus; figure 3 is a diagram illustrating finding the location of the apparatus within a first geographical region comprising four terrestrial broadcast transmitters; and

figure 4 is another diagram illustrating a second geographical region which is divided into four sub-regions and a plurality of electronic apparatus in the sub-regions which are controlled in accordance with their respective locations. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An electronic apparatus for use in rendering broadcast media carrying signals 1 1 is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in figure 1 .

The electronic apparatus comprises a broadcast receiver 12 for receiving broadcast media carrying signals 1 1 and which broadcast receiver is connected or connectable to a first antenna 20 and to a received signal renderer device, such as a television screen or monitor (not shown), for rendering the received broadcast media carrying signals. The electronic apparatus further comprises a controller 14 comprising at least one processor 16 and which controller is connected to the broadcast receiver. A local electronic location determining arrangement 18 comprises a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver 22 and a database 28, both connected to the controller. The database 28 comprises pre-stored data relating to terrestrial broadcast signals which are receivable in each of a plurality of predefined geographical regions. The controller is configured to utilize terrestrial wireless broadcast signals 13.1 to 13.n received by the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver 22, the data in the database and a location determining algorithm 26 executing on the processor to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the electronic apparatus 10 is located. The controller is further configured automatically to control at least one of the broadcast receiver 12 and the rendering of received media carrying broadcast signals 1 1 , depending on the geographical region determined.

In the example embodiment of figure 1 the electronic apparatus 10 is in the form of a set top box comprising the broadcast receiver 12, which is a satellite TV broadcast signal receiver, typically comprising an encrypted signal decoder (not shown), and which box is connected in known manner to the first antenna in the form of a satellite dish antenna 20 and the renderer device. The location determining arrangement 18 comprises a location determining receiver comprising a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver 22 which is connected to a second antenna 24 for receiving the wireless signals 13.1 to 13.n, location determining algorithms 26 which, in use, execute on the processor 16 and the data base 28 storing location related data and which database is connected to the controller 14. The controller is configured to control the broadcast receiver and/or rendition as aforesaid in response to outputs from location dependent action algorithms 30 which, in use, are also executing on the processor 16 of the controller. Although the above aspects of this invention are shown as several functional blocks, it will be appreciated that various combinations of processors, software or firmware and memory arrangements could be used to achieve the functionalities and hence the separate blocks should be understood to represent functionality and not necessarily physical implementation.

The database 28 may comprise data as will be described below and said data and the algorithms 26 and 30 may be pre-stored or downloaded and/or updated over the air, also in known manner.

As will be explained in more detail below, the location determining algorithm 26 determines, with inputs from the location receiver 22 and the database 28, the location of the apparatus 10 and the controller 14 then in response to outputs from the action algorithms 30, controls the broadcast receiver 12 and/or rendition as aforesaid, depending on the location determined.

One example of operation of the location determining arrangement 18 is illustrated in figure 2. In this example, the terrestrial wireless broadcast signals 13.1 to 13.n which are used by the arrangement 18 are public radio broadcast signals, typically FM radio broadcast signals, falling within the band 88 MHz to 108 MHz. Also in this example, the antenna 24 may be an "incidental" antenna which may for example be created by simply linking some part of a circuit board, box or a coaxial cable to the antenna 20 and a distinct internal or external antenna 24 may not be required. Receiver 22 is controlled by the controller 14 to scan an FM band 32 (shown in figure 2) and the controller 14 then records, as shown in figure 2, channels or channel numbers or frequencies f1 to f4 and respective signal strengths A1 to A4 of all channels found in the band 32. Some FM signals contain data encoded into the signal identifying a channel or "station" and other position data such as broadcast transmitter position. One such a system is the RDS standard. Should encoded data, such as RDS station identifiers, be present in the received FM channels, the controller 14 decodes these identifiers which may, as stated above also include transmitter information, such as transmitter identity, position and other information. Hence, controller 14 can present to the location algorithms 26 data of two kinds a) a first kind comprising only "analogue" FM signal information, namely the frequencies f1 to f4 or channels at which FM broadcast signals were received in the band 32 and the signal strength A1 to A4 of each received signal and b) a second kind also comprising decoded identification data incorporated in the signal.

From the database 28, the controller 14 can obtain information on FM broadcasts over a region, eg Southern Africa, which information may comprise: location of each broadcast transmitter/transponder, frequencies transmitted by such transmitter, Effective Radiated Power (ERP) associated with each broadcast, RDS information associated with each broadcast.

The location algorithm 26 may now use the information received from the controller 14 and compare it to the data provided by the data base 28 and if only data of the first kind is available, use the pattern of figure 2 to determine the region in which the box is located. The FM band contains approximately 200 channels (frequency slots) and for any area where, say, about 10 channels are received, the pattern would be unique enough to determine location with acceptable limits of accuracy.

An example of such location determination is illustrated in figure 3, depicting for the sake of simplicity, only four transmitters 40.1 to 40.4 each broadcasting a respective one (1 ) FM station on a respective frequency f1 to f4 as shown in figure 2. A first roughly determined location of apparatus 10 is defined as the area 50.1 in which those four frequencies can be received. This can be roughly calculated based on the ERP of each transmitter as well as its location obtained from the database 28 using simple "flat earth" propagation models and assuming the well known reduction in signal as the inverse of the square of the distance from the transmitter. A more accurate location 50.2 in figure 3 may be determined by assessing the relative signal strengths A1 to A4. Using these relative signal strengths the approximate position from each of the transmitters 40.1 to 40.4 in region 50.1 can be determined given the ERP of each transmission. For example, if the device is located at 50.2 the signals from broadcast transmitters 40.2, 40.3 and 40.4 will be stronger with roughly similar strengths, while the signal from broadcast transmitter 40.1 will be weaker, due to the larger distance thereof from 50.2. The values of A1 to A4 hence define circles around each transmitter and where these intersect, the device 10 is located. Errors in propagation assumptions may put an uncertainty in the actual position depicted by region 50.3. The size of 50.3 will depend on the number of broadcast transmitters received and the accuracy of the propagation algorithm used by the location algorithm 26. If RDS information is also available, then the pattern can likely be determined much easier, since channel codes as well as channels used by such channel code (both stored in database 28) directly translates to the first rough region 50.1 and further refinement using the signal strengths as described above, can refine the location to 50.3 or even 50.2.

Even just channel information quite quickly can determine at least country and larger regions, because different countries normally broadcast different stations. A country like South Africa has about 180 FM transmitters and a country wide station such as "Radio RSG" is perhaps transmitted by all of them, but since different frequencies are used in different regions of the country and given that more than just the one station is broadcast, about 180 rough regions may be defined across South Africa. Since many local broadcasts also exist, many more than the 180 regions may actually uniquely be determined by purely using the above second kind of information and simple lookup tables.

Figure 4 illustrates a region 60.1 over which an operator broadcasts media carrying signals via a satellite transmitter and the actual physical locations of electronic apparatus or set top boxes 10.1 to 10.6 within the region 60.1 . The operator may define a number of sub-regions, such as sub- regions 60.2 to 60.5 of different shapes and sizes. Some of the sub- regions may overlap and may be within bigger regions, such as sub- regions 60.2 to 60.5 which are inside larger region 60.1 .

If 60.1 represents a province of South Africa, 60.2 a town in the province, 60.3 and 60.4 suburbs of a city in the province and 60.5 a restricted area (perhaps a neighbouring country), the following actions could automatically be performed by controller 14 of each box, in response to the local location determining arrangement 18 in each box:

- arrangement 18 of box 10.6 determines that it is located in a region 60.5 where that box is not sold or permitted to operate and the controller 14 automatically deactivates the broadcast receiver 12 or rendering of media and optionally presents a message to the user. If the user then contacts the operator and they reach agreement, the operator may enable that box 10.6 via satellite transmission, to resume operation;

- a local store in town 60.2 pays the operator to send an advertisement to all boxes in town 60.2 at certain times. These adverts are downloaded from satellites, targeted and tagged for region 60.2 and only boxes (10.4 and 10.5) in town 10.2 will display the advertisements under control of the action algorithms 30 in those boxes;

- a storm warning intended for suburb 60.4 could be broadcast and boxes, such as box 10.1 , in the region 60.4 could interrupt rendition of media and display the warning on the renderer devices;

- local weather forecasts for province 60.1 could be transmitted (with regional tags) and if a user accesses a weather channel, the controller 14 of the box, in response to the determined location of the box and the action algorithms 30, causes the appropriate weather forecast for the region 60.1 and even the relevant sub-region to be rendered. Many other actions can be associated with determined location. These actions, data for database 28 and defined geographical regions 50.1 , 60.1 to 60.5 may be pre-loaded before sale of a box and if the operator technology allows, preferably also be updated over the air via satellite. This would allow new actions or action algorithms 30, regions, location information, location algorithms 26 and the like to be updated and to implement new functionalities.

It should be evident that terrestrial wireless signals other than public FM broadcast signals may be used by the location determining arrangement. Such other signals may comprise other public broadcast signals, such as terrestrial TV, DTV and other formats of audio (radio) transmission. As stated above, cellular devices can determine position using time delay information to base stations and base station IDs. Base stations sometimes send their coordinates as well, making it easier. A lookup table of base station positions linked to IDs can be stored in the location database 28. This can, of course, be done without the cellular device having a SIM card or means to actually communicate bi-directionally - merely using the device without associating it to a base station provides sufficient functionality for such position determination.

GPS signals are often used for autonomous positioning algorithms with associated actions based on such position. GPS signals are often not available indoors. Moreover, due to the use of specific bands and low level signals GPS signals can be easily "jammed" or otherwise rendered unusable. Cellular signals, which are often used to achieve more accurate positioning, are not available in all regions and although its use is one of the options presented above, from issues of unavailability and potential user/third party interference, blocking or jamming may have limited use.

Terrestrial radio and TV broadcast signals are much more ubiquitous and signal levels are high in coverage areas which makes position determination using these more robust.

Having apparatus for rendering broadcast media carrying signals, which can determine their location using publically available wireless signals and low cost general purpose receivers for the signals combined with location algorithms, a database and autonomous action algorithms provide novel and inventive functionality and options to an operator. The invention may find application in situations wherein apparatus in certain regions or sub- regions need to be targeted.

Claims

1 . Electronic apparatus for rendering broadcast media carrying signals, the apparatus comprising:

- a controller connected to the broadcast receiver;

- an electronic location determining arrangement comprising a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver and a database, both connected to the controller, and which database comprises pre-stored data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals which are receivable in each of a plurality of predefined geographical regions;

- the controller being configured to utilize data relating to terrestrial wireless broadcast signals received by the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver, the data in the database and a location determining algorithm executing on the controller to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the electronic apparatus is located; and

- the controller further being configured automatically to control at least one of the broadcast receiver and the rendering of received broadcast media carrying signals, depending on the geographical region determined.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is in the form of one of a set top box and a TV apparatus and wherein the broadcast receiver comprises one of a satellite television signal receiver and a terrestrial television signal receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver comprises a receiver for signals in a band between 3 kHz and 900 MHz and which receiver is connected to a second antenna.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the controller causes the terrestrial wireless broadcast signal receiver to scan through at least part of the band and wherein the controller is configured to record for terrestrial wireless broadcast signals received in the at least part of the band, at least one of frequency, channel number, received signal strength and channel identification data.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to generate from the recorded data a presentation of frequencies in the at least part of the band at which a terrestrial wireless broadcast signal is received and relative signal strength of the received terrestrial wireless broadcast signals.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the location determining algorithm is operative to compare said generated presentation to data pre-stored in the database and which data comprises for each of said predefined geographical regions a representation of signals receivable and relative signal strengths and to determine in which of said predefined geographical regions the electronic apparatus is located by finding the best match between the generated presentation and the pre-stored presentation data.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the band is the frequency modulation (FM) radio band extending between 65 MHz and 108 MHz.

8. A method of controlling a broadcast receiver depending on the location of the broadcast receiver in one of a plurality of predefined geographical regions, the method comprising, at a site of the broadcast receiver:

- automatically determining the location of the broadcast receiver; and - if the determined location complies with predetermined geographical parameters, causing the broadcast receiver to perform a location dependent action.

The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined geographical parameters define a first of said plurality of predefined geographical regions and wherein the location based action comprises causing a first media item, which forms part of a broadcast media carrying signal and is targeted at users in the first region, to be rendered by a renderer device connected to the broadcast receiver.

The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first media item is one of an advertisement, warning message and news item targeted at users in the first region.

A method of delivering broadcast media signals intended for a first geographical region which is a part of a second larger geographical region via broadcast receivers at respective user stations in the first region, the method comprising, at a head-end:

- associating a first media item with the first region;

- broadcasting the media item as part of a media carrying signal; - utilizing location data generated locally by broadcast receivers in the first region, to enable rendition of the first media item in the first region.