Invention Disclosure Form – iTV Monitisation
WHAT IS AN INVENTION?
As a general rule, an invention is a solution to a technical problem which has utility in a field of economic endeavour.
In general, if the solution to the problem is novel and involves an inventive step when compared with anything previously disclosed anywhere in the world, it is patentable.
The purpose of this document is to provide information from which a patent specification (a document describing the invention) can be prepared.
INFORMATION REQUIRED
1. Field of the Invention
The Field of Invention is a Method and System for the Monetisation of Interactive Television.
2. Background to invention
2.1 The problem
Interactive Television is an emerging industry. IPTV and iTV Technology Vendors, Systems integrators and Network Operators use DRM Key to manage the Transactions of Content Titles on a Per Transaction Basis. This is attached to proprietary software systems that are secured by End-Point Serial numbers and other Software Protection Mechanisms.
2.2 Known solutions to problem
Other Methods and Systems for Monetising Interactive Television have also included Software Codes distributed to end-user Devices.
3. The Invention
3.1 Description
The System is dependent upon a group of processes that establishes a “monetisation” network between parties.
3.1.1 The Central Address – the Central Address contains database services communicating between the networked software application instances.
3.1.2 The Client – is a software program that enables the communications between the distributed networks instances
3.1.2.1 The client requires Registered information to be acquired via a Professional Services organisation in-order to initially obtain Account Information.
3.1.2.2 Once the Client has established an account, they are able to connect to the network using the information provided.
3.1.2.3 The client originates the information between their user environment and their Account Details.
3.1.2.3.1 The Client describes the platform in both hardware, software and network location terms in real time to the central address to formulate identity. (“Identity”)
3.1.2.3.2 The Client then connects via Bluetooth to the Account Holders Mobile Phone, and transfers an information code to the authorised registration organisation.
3.1.2.3.3 The registration organisation receives the information, personally communicates with the end-user and sends a digital code to the client.
The Client is then activated.
3.1.2.4 The Identity information provided by the client is then used to provide an encryption information transaction process for tracking and storing the transaction details.
3.1.3 Transaction.
As identities utilise the larger software environment to transact information to other identities on the network, a transaction process occurs. . information transaction will be provided with a unique digital Identity sting, based on the current information of the parties in association to the transaction. The Information may be transacted in either a native or protected formats. to other identities on the network.
3.1.4 Resources
3.1.4.1 As identities provide transactions through the clients, resources are created in the databases located at the central address. (“resources”)
3.1.4.2 The Central Address, then encrypts the resource address and enables it to be distributed to the client identities that do not store the information.
3.1.4.3 The Encrypted resource ID is then used as part of the transaction request to acquire the information from the alternative identity.
Describe how your solution differs from previous attempts noted in 2.2
With reference to figures or flow charts, give a very detailed description of your solution, and how it would be implemented in a practical situation.
3.2 Advantages
Describe the advantages of your solution. Mention critical commercial aspects.
3.3 Concept
Describe the principle or concept that has underlined you finding a solution to the problem.
What are the features of your description in 3.1 that embody the essence of your solution/advantages.
3.4 Alternatives
Describe in detail variations to your solution that, whilst may be not working as well as your solution described in 3.1, will nonetheless embody the concept of 3.3
4 Inventors
Timothy Charles Holborn, 63 Yerrin St, Balwyn. 3103 Victoria, Australia. who is an independant party. the basic concept and/or design the features that embody the essence of the invention, as noted in 3.3.
5. Provide Drawings
Project: iTV FTA – Codename: “Immersive”
Project: iTV FTA
Codename: “Immersive”
Project Owner: The iTV Company Pty. Ltd.
Project Partners: confidentia;
Start Date: April 2007
Free to Air, Interactive Television Platform for Australia.
1.0 Project Overview
The immersive project aims to distribute content via a standards-orientated interactive platform to TV’s, to provide a mechanism for Free to Air broadcasters and other channel providers to compete with pay-tv, PC Internet and other similar platforms.
iTV content is defined as audio / video and computer software (HTML, JAVA, etc.) that is compiled into a presentation that can be manipulated by an end-user via a “remote control”.
The immersive project will produce a system and methodology to generate iTV channels and content, distribute iTV content securely within a distribution environment (ie: Australian Broadband Network) and view / interact with content create, on a standard advanced set-top box.
Commercially, the immersive project will demonstrate a “free to air” styled IPTV/Digital TV service, via a Set-Top Box that will enable viewing of a free to end-user, interactive content.
The principle distribution of iTV will be paid by the broadcasters via advertising revenue, as an extension to the existing FTA Business Model. The system will however, be capable of delivering additional “iTV” services that incorporate end-user fee (“premium services”) orientated business models.
Background: The convergence of video media business systems.
Free to air broadcasters have been steadily losing their audience to other applications and services that utilise the television, over the past decade. This has produced a range of issues for free to air broadcasters, the most worrying of such is an effective attack upon their core revenue drivers – advertising.
If FTA’s do not receive advertising dollars, then they are unable to provide quality content.
iTV provides the means to deliver “content portals”. Content portals are interactive domains, such as DVD menus, program sites and other interactive programming. A content portal separates the content titles assets from the rest of the iTV environment.
Each iTV Channel can cater for as many content portals as the iTV Channel provide wishes to create. Furthermore, links and overlays can be provided between the iTV content portal and a digital broadcast. Providing the means to leverage a standard broadcast, with interactive content.
End-Users are able to save content to the Set-Top Box. If a user saves a broadcast show, then it will appear within the content portals generated by the channel provider.
The technology systems will incorporate an advanced set-top box profile, an internet storage and distribution methodology, a content production and syndication process, metering profiles, as well as a means to facilitate other requirements as made necessary for the implementation of a “Broadcast” level technology solution.
The basis to the technology already exists, and has been ratified by international standards authorities such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), International Organisation for Standards (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The First Project commercialise these standards via the sales and development of an operational iTV platform.
2.0 Project Plan May / June 2007: Deliverables.
Within the next 2 months, The iTV Company Requires the following;
- Pre-sales contracts with customers for purchasing channels.
- A PR Campaign
- Technology Supply Agreements
- Technology Implementation Agreements
- A project plan, including technical specifications.
- Establishment of core staff, and operational management and growth strategy
- A prospectus, to raise further funds.
The estimated expenditure breakdown is as follows;
Within two months. The iTV Company aims to be in a position where the company can choose between establishing its own infrastructure or commercialising existing infrastructure.
Description of Deliverables:
The Prototypes will include the demonstration of a Interactive Television Experience, and the opportunities for Advertisers to create interactive spaces and immersive content to sell products and services in connection to TV entertainment.
The Pre-Sales will Include commercial agreements with all three Commercial Free to Air Stations, as well as a range of significant Internet portal players and other “premium content” providers for the purchase of an Interactive Channel. The agreements will feature a “call to action” that will ensure timely sales within the 2 month window.
Channel Providers will provide an amount up-front that will be put in escrow until the channel has been delivered.
A limited number of STB’s will be Sold. This may include a preferred partner (such as Nintendo or Teac) who provides the funds required to develop the First iTV Software Image. The project aims to give away STB’s, on a contracted basis. A ‘symbolic’ fee for obtaining it, and a mechanism to ensure they use it and a method to ensure they don’t break it and ask for another one.
Technology (Commercialisation Phase 1) will be design and project documentation, and acquisition of Technology licenses.
Finding out more – TV Anytime
I’m working on Interactive Television, and have found your name mentioned on the RFC for TV-ANYTIME.
I am interested in defining whether this project is near a status whereby it could be used in a STB Deployment for iTV with DVB-T FTA’s. An adventurous project, however I believe I’ve defined the revenue models, and need to grasp some “architectural” understanding (top level spec’s) of the Integrated IP-Framework.
In order to take a solution to broadcasters, an end-to-end design needs to exist, for implementation with FTA’s, from production through to set-top specification.
I am not a university trained S/W Engineer. However, I’ve been working with digital video distribution technologies (from the computer side of the world) over the past 7 or so years. To my understanding, this is the broadcast industries evolving “standard” for enabling iTV.
However,
Please let me know if you have any info that may help, and whether there are some people here in OZ (Australia) or technology / tech vendors you may suggest I further investigate.
iTV Company WebStuff
The iTV Company aims to provide a community for the emerging Interactive Television Industry and work with other companies to help develop iTV. So, if you’re looking around for some ideas or want to get involved. The iTV Company hopes it can help you and your business become involved in the commercialisation of Interactive Video Content.
The iTV Company has launched an RSS Feed syndication program. linking RSS Feeds, globally concerning matters about iTV – in one place – theiTVCompany.com.au
A web-link archive has also been added. Members are able to add new Web-links to the ITV Company website by signing up as a user, and submitting a new link. Sign-up today, and get involved in The iTV Company development..
1. Choice via menu – delivering menu’s in choosing content within a channel
2. Choice within content – delivering “non linear” content, enabling users to “choose their own adventure”…
A web-link archive has also been added. Members are able to add new Web-links to the ITV Company website by signing up as a user, and submitting a new link. Sign-up today, and get involved in The iTV Company development..
The iTV Company – Establishes a company website.
Built in only a few days, The ITV Company establishes web-presence with the assistance of Joomla.
Joomla is a Open-Source Content Management System. The Joomla system enables a producer to quickly plug-together a system, for managing content and publication processes. The Joomla platform operates with PHP, MySQL, XML and CSS. It incorporates a sophisticated “point and click” administration system, for managing the site.
Additional Joomla “plug-in’s” were used to add some of the other features that were not incorporated in the initial Joomla package. This was an easily accomplished task, as the administration system incorporates a functionality to add “plug-in” packages
Joomla enabled The iTV Company to deploy a web-site for minimal cost, and minimal technical difficulty.
Now, the all important task – time to start generating some immersive content…
The iTV Company – Interacting Free To Air.
In today’s papers, there are a multitude of articles discussing the plight of Free to air broadcasters.
We all enjoy a bit of Free TV, but due to diminishing revenues and fewer eyeballs – our Free TV Is getting less, and less compelling content – because fewer advertisers are focusing their advertising dollars to TVC’s on the Free to Air Broadcasts.
Less than 15 years ago, in Australia, Free TV was the standard purpose of the householders televisions. Pay TV didn’t exist, and gaming consoles and early computers were for the geeks. Not many had imagined the changes that would happen, as computer horsepower developed, and the lounge room would take part in such a battle for commercial supremacy.
Today, Global Giants such as EBay and Google are buying out companies like YouTube and Skype for over a Billion US Dollars. The Household Television is increasingly connected to Internet distributed Content, as an evolution to the Pay-TV era that has only just reached a sustainable subscription rate, in Australia.
Timothy Holborn, founder of The iTV Company, has initiated works to develop iTV standards, a platform and iTV Content that has been designed to be integrated with Free To Air Broadcasters to expand the offerings of Free To Air Broadcasters, and other content channels – to advertisers.
As it was suggested to me over the Easter period. “Free TV is like the beach”, it’s free for people to use.
Interactive TV (“iTV”) offers existing broadcasters a path towards reclaiming the household television, growing their advertising revenues on an incremental and usage basis.
The Production of iTV Content, is different to the generic “web-browser” HTML. iTV Content needs to be navigated with a Remote Control, and produced in a manner that will minimize damage to older non-plasma or LCD Screens. The Resolution is different and the decisions to use the content will generally be through social discussion in a householders lounge room. iTV Content and content navigation systems also need to be suitable for families environments and standardized; so that new, interactive content, can be distributed across the plethora of environments that exist between the televisions, a broadcaster, and the broadband that can enable interactivity and provide further immersive channeling.
In 2007, the iTV Company will start selling iTV. Through this business practice, The iTV Company hopes it can contribute towards the evolution of Free TV, and the maintenance of the evolutionary Entertainment, Edutainment and advertising technology. Television.
