Thomson Licensing S.a.

Thomson Licensing

Alain Maillard

Laurent Lesenne

Nadine Patry

Frédéric Pasquier

The present invention relates in particular to a synchronization system and method. The synchronization system comprises a specification unit for specifying synchronization signals associated with an audiovisual program, the latter comprising an audiovisual content and control information, a recognition unit for recognizing the synchronization signals in a transmitted stream carrying this program, by recognition of at least one extracted portion of the audiovisual content, and an activation unit triggering an action in case of detection of these signals. The specification unit prepares and transmits to the recognition unit recognition elements making it possible to obtain this extracted portion, as well as at least one action timeout lag in case of detection of the synchronization signals. The recognition or activation unit then delays the triggering of this action according to the lag transmitted, in case of detection of the synchronization signals. In variants, the timeout lag is determined and/or the recognition elements are obtained independently of the specification unit.

Synchronization system and method for audiovisual programmes associated devices and methods

The interactive multimedia devices is based on network structures involving: a broadcasting network ( ) and a return path network ( ). On the broadcasting network, the interactive data are multiplexed with the broadcast audiovisual signals so as to offer interactivity to connected end-users on the return path network. To address specific sociological profiles, and to save bandwidth, a plurality of filters, let's say a number N, is associated with a single interactive application. In such case, the comparison continues until one of the N filters match the profile stored in the terminal permanent memory. If one of the filters matches the viewer's profile, the interactive application is executed, else the application is ignored. In this way, a plurality of categories of viewers can interact. A plurality of filters can be associated with an interactive application with different contents. To each filter corresponds a content. These contents are displayed if the corresponding filters match the viewer's profile.

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Paris, France

Alain Maillard