Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance

• US 10,154,318 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Fabian-Isaacs, Constance, Ammann, Charles B., DeWeese, Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US14/573,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 725 40, 725 47, 725 52, 725 53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance features are provided. A guidance application may provide listings displays having listings for audio-friendly content. The listings may be indicated as listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application may provide displays dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application provides audio-prompts describing display screens. The guidance application may determine a user'"'"'s identity from a voice command and provide personalized guidance features.

Claims

1. A method for providing media content, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of listings;

receiving a user selection to access an audio-based guidance feature dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content displayed by a media guidance application;

determining whether a listing of a plurality of listings corresponds to a media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

generating for display the listing of the plurality of listings in response to determining that the listing does correspond to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

in response to receiving the user selection, automatically enabling, without receiving further user selections, verbal audio prompts for a display that includes the listing that corresponds to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

determining whether the listing is scheduled to be available within a pre-defined time interval; and

in response to determining that the listing is scheduled to be available within the pre-defined time interval, generating an audio notification that the listing is scheduled to be available within the pre-defined time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user selection further comprises:

receiving a voice command from a user;

identifying the user based on the voice command; and

determining that the user belongs to a group of users who have difficulties viewing or understanding visual content based on the identification.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating for audible output an audio clip describing the listing.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a user request to provide the audio clip at an increased speed; and

providing the audio clip at the increased speed, in response to receiving the user request to provide the audio clip at the increased speed.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving a user request to provide the audio clip at a reduced speed; and

providing the audio clip at the reduced speed, in response to receiving the user request to provide the audio clip at the reduced speed.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

activating audio clip playback in response to receiving a user request to activate audio clip playback; and

deactivating the audio clip playback in response to receiving a user request to deactivate audio clip playback.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein generating for audible output further comprises:

determining that the listing does not have an associated audio clip; and

generating an audio clip from text associated with the listing using text to speech conversion techniques.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating for display further comprises:

receiving a user request to view a second listing of the plurality of listings; and

generating for display the second listing of the plurality of listings.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the verbal audio prompt includes a first segment that describes the listing that corresponds to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks and a second segment that includes an audio indicator that verbally indicates that the listing that corresponds to the media asset is associated with supplemental audio tracks.

10. A system for providing media content, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive a plurality of listings;

receive a user selection to access an audio-based guidance feature dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content displayed by a media guidance application;

determine whether a listing of the plurality of listings corresponds to a media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

generate for display the listing of the plurality of listings in response to determining that the listing does correspond to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

in response to receiving the user selection, automatically enable, without receiving further user selections, verbal audio prompts for a display that includes the listing that corresponds to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks that contain supplemental audio information that describes visual portions of programs;

determine whether the listing is scheduled to be available within a pre-defined time interval; and

in response to determining that the listing is scheduled to be available within the pre-defined time interval, generate an audio notification that the listing is scheduled to be available within the pre-defined time interval.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when receiving the user selection, to:

receive a voice command from a user;

identify the user based on the voice command; and

determine that the user belongs to a group of users who have difficulties viewing or understanding visual content based on the identification.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for audible output an audio clip describing the listing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user request to provide the audio clip at an increased speed; and

provide the audio clip at the increased speed, in response to receiving the user request to provide the audio clip at the increased speed.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user request to provide the audio clip at a reduced speed; and

provide the audio clip at the reduced speed, in response to receiving the user request to provide the audio clip at the reduced speed.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

activate audio clip playback in response to receiving a user request to activate audio clip playback; and

deactivate the audio clip playback in response to receiving a user request to deactivate audio clip playback.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating for audible output, to:

determine that the listing does not have an associated audio clip; and

generate an audio clip from text associated with the listing using text to speech conversion techniques.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating for display, to:

receive a user request to view a second listing of the plurality of listings; and

generate for display the second listing of the plurality of listings.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the verbal audio prompt includes a first segment that describes the listing that corresponds to the media asset that is associated with supplemental audio tracks and a second segment that includes an audio indicator that verbally indicates that the listing that corresponds to the media asset is associated with supplemental audio tracks.