Context-Awareness for IPTV Services Personalization

The new digital TV allows users not only to access new services and functionalities from their providers, but also to become active parts in the content creation and distribution process. With the consolidation of services such as network Time Shifting (nTS) and network Personal Video Recorder(nPVR), users are allowed to record their own content and could also make them available to other users. In this new TV model, context-awareness is promising in monitoring the user\´s environment (including networks and terminals), interpreting the user\´s requirements and making the user\´s interaction with the TV dynamic and transparent. Consequently, content personalization is achieved, matching the user\´s needs and his surrounding environment (networks and devices). Nowadays, there is an increasing trend for context-aware TV systems, in which promising applications and services enhancements are expected. This paper focuses on context-awareness for IPTV services personalization. Firstly, a definition of "context" for IPTV services and the different context types along the IPTV delivery chain are given, and existing related works are presented. Secondly, the modelling means for the context information are discussed. Then, a, context-aware IPTV architecture is introduced, applying semantic technologies aiming to provide enhanced IPTV services personalization.