HNTF/Home Network TF Discussions/UseCasesDualScreen

From Web and TV IG

These use cases are deliberately quite high level and user centric. They aim to demonstrate a range of applications that the Home Network taskforce could seek to enable.

Actors/Entities:

  • A programme or content comprises a television programme or other piece of audio visual content.
  • A television is a device that presents programme content from a variety of source - such as received via broadcast (cable, satellite, terrestrial), on-demand streaming services, or streamed from other devices in the home (e.g. PVR). It is connected to the home network.
  • A companion device could be a laptop, tablet, mobile phone or other device in the possession of the user. It is connected to the home network.
  • A website comprises web pages served from Internet servers belonging to broadcasters, content providers or any other third party.



Use Case: dual screen time-synchronised content

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description:

  • A user watches a programme on a television. A companion device displays a presentation of complimentary content - such as a web page based slideshow, delivered from a website. The presentation changes to match the different segments of the programme. If it is possible to seek within the programme timeline, the user can jump to a different point in the presentation and the television will also seek to the corresponding segment of the programme. The user can enable/disable content-program synchronization at any time.

Need/justification:

  • Added-value viewing experience for the user where additional information is available in a timely fashion without interrupting or cluttering the TV viewing experience. Adds options to improve the ease of navigation of programmes.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • none


Use Case: dual screen lip-sync accuracy time-synchronised content

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description:

  • A companion device plays, through headphones, alternative audio time-synchronised to a programme the user is watching on the television. Synchronisation required may be "lip-sync" in accuracy. The alternative audio is delivered to the companion device independently of the television device - such as via streaming from the broadcaster's servers.

Need/justification:*

  • Provides a mechanism for providing personalised value added services alternative audio, such as a director's commentary or accessibility services such as alternative languages or audio with improved intelligibility. This can be done without relying on delivery of the alternatives through existing channels (such as broadcast) and could be personalised for each viewer in the room.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • No existing suitable media playback synchronisation protocols?
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • Use Case: dual screen time-synchronised content


Use Case: website integration

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description:

  • A program website, when browsed using a companion device presents more information about the programme the user is currently viewing on their television. When reading a web page about a specific programme or series, the web page is able to detect if the user's television can access that programme through an on-demand service or a recording. If it can, the web page can offer to ask the television to play that programme. The web page can also offer to schedule a recording on your TV.

Need/justification:

  • Affords broadcasters and other content providers flexibility in delivering content to companion devices for dual screen experiences. Provides a means to tightly integrate television viewing and web based experiences.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Need for content metadata to carry suitable globally unique content identifiers.
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • none


Use Case: alternative remote controls

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description:

  • A companion device acts as an alternative means of controlling the television. Using the companion device, the user is able to control the television including: changing channel, selecting content to view. The companion device user interface permits the user to browse available content and programme schedules. The user interface presented by the companion device is independent of that on the television screen.

Need/justification:

  • Allows the creation of user interfaces utilising companion device features, such as touch screens. Such interfaces may have greater usability than can be achieved with a traditional infra-red button based remote control and on-television interface. Standardisation could facilitate a new ecosystem of interfaces.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • none


Use Case: alternative remote controls for accessibility

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description: The user interface may be customised or adapted for use by users with impairments, resulting in accessibility requirements not already catered for by the interface built into the television.

Need/justification:

  • Improves the accessibility of the television for users with physical or cognitive impairments
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • Use Case: alternative remote controls


Use Case: enabling interaction between companion content and television interactive services

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description:

  • One or more companion device can communicate with an interactive widget, application or service on the television. For example: a quiz programme may feature an interactive service to allow users to play along. Users each use their own individual companion device to participate in the quiz, in time with the programme as broadcast. Scores are compared and collated on the television screen.

Need/justification:

  • Added-value viewing experience for users. Improved interfaces and capabilities for interactivity.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support communication with interactive applications and services running on a TV device.

Dependencies:

  • none


Use Case: Integrating social media with viewing

Submitter(s): BBC (Matt Hammond)

Description: The user is using a social media web page or application on a companion device. The social media tool can identify what channel and programme the user is currently watching on the television and attach that contextual information when the user makes a social media posting. A different user may receive this and use the web page or application to request that the programme be displayed on their television.

Need/justification:

  • This facilitates tighter integration of social networking tools with television services, improving opportunities for recommendation, cross-promotion etc.
  • Existing standards for home network communication are not available from the browser context
  • Existing standards (UPnP?) do not support query and control of content playback where the content is not being streamed between devices

Dependencies:

  • Use Case: alternative remote controls
  • Use Case: website integration



Use Case: Using a large screen to display media from smartphone

Submitter(s): Dan Brickley

Description: The user has photos or video on their smartphone, and would like to display it on a larger screen (whether connected to a PC, media centre or more traditional television). Doing so currently is generally rather complex or impossible, for arbitrary pairs of devices.

(From a conversation with Dan Connolly and NoTube prototyping work.) 

DanC_kumc: Meanwhile, there are practical gaps. I have a MacBook hooked up to a TV; 
I just took a picture on my android phone. 
How do I look at the picture on the big screen?

Need/justification:

  • Very common scenario

Dependencies:

  • Media transfer
  • Unknown
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