Method, Apparatus and Computer Program for Triggering an Event

A method of triggering an event, the event being associated with content being broadcast over a medium and being played back on a user playback device, the method comprising:

• transmitting comparison data and event data relating to content that is to be subsequently broadcast for play back on a user playback device, the comparison data and the event data being for storage at or locally to a second user device;
• subsequently broadcasting said content for play back on a user playback device;
• and
• receiving a result of a user input to a said second user device that is given in response to an event being triggered by the second user device that indicates that user input is required, the event being triggered at a said second user device by the event data following a comparison of at least one of an audio component and video component of the content being played back on a said user playback device and received at a said second user device with the comparison data that is stored on or otherwise locally accessible to a said second user device wherein the comparison is determined to correspond to an audio cue or a visual cue respectively that is transmitted with the content.

Apparatus for triggering an event, the event being associated with content being broadcast over a medium and being played back on a user playback device, the apparatus comprising:

• a transmission system arranged to transmit comparison data and event data relating to content that is to be subsequently broadcast for play back on a user playback device, the comparison data and the event data being for storage at or locally to a second user device;
• a broadcast system arranged to subsequently broadcast said content for play back on a user playback device;
• and
• a receiver for receiving a result of a user input to a said second user device that is given in response to an event being triggered by the second user device that indicates that user input is required, the event being triggered at a said second user device by the event data following a comparison of at least one of an audio component and video component of the content being played back on a said user playback device and received at a said second user device with the comparison data that is stored on or otherwise locally accessible to a said second user device wherein the comparison is determined to correspond to an audio cue or a visual cue respectively that is transmitted with the content.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon such that when the instructions are executed on a user device with a processor, the user device is arranged to:

• receive at least one of an audio component and a video component of content that is being played back on a user playback device;
• compare the received audio component and/or video component with comparison data that is stored on or otherwise locally accessible to the user device;
• and
• when the received audio component and/or video component contains an element that, in accordance with the comparison, is determined to correspond to an audio cue or a visual cue respectively that is transmitted with the content, cause an event to be triggered by the second user device.