System and method for providing timing data for programming events

• US 20020088009A1
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dukiewicz, Gil Gavriel, Hitt, Dale Kittrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4665 involving classification methods, e.g. Decision trees
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A video production facility system may produce closed caption data that includes text data and timing data. The system may receive script data for a video program. The system may then determine identifiers for individual programming events that make up the program. The system may then produce closed caption data for the program. The closed caption data may include text data corresponding to the script data, and timing data provided at locations that correspond to the beginning of each of the programming events. The timing data may comprise an identifier of the corresponding programming event. Further timing data may be provided that marks the ends of programming events, or that marks individual segments within a programming event. Related embodiments may pertain to systems that implement such processing. The closed caption data may be synchronized to a video signal based on the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system that is used in the production of the video program. Timing data may alternatively be provided within the video signal itself.

Claims

1. A method in a video production facility system for producing closed caption data for video programming events, comprising:

receiving script data for a video program;

determining identifiers of individual programming events within the program; and

producing closed caption data for the program, the closed caption data comprising text data corresponding to said script data, and timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the programming events, the timing data corresponding to a programming event comprising an identifier of the corresponding programming event.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each programming event.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing synchronized transmission of the closed caption data and programming events.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, wherein providing synchronized transmission comprises synchronizing transmission of the closed caption data to the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system used in the production of the video program.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing the programming events and the closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the programming event.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event that is inserted into the closed caption data at a location separated from the beginning of the programming event by a predetermined amount of time.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the timing data is encoded as hidden closed caption data.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

14. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each programming event.

15. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

16. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said closed caption data further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

17. The device claimed in claim 13, further comprising providing synchronized transmission of the closed caption data and programming events.

18. The device claimed in claim 17, wherein providing synchronized transmission comprises synchronizing transmission of the closed caption data to the display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system used in the production of the video program.

19. The device claimed in claim 13, further comprising storing the programming events and the closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

20. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the programming event.

21. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event that is inserted into the closed caption data at a location separated from the beginning of the programming event by a predetermined amount of time.

22. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein the timing data is encoded as hidden closed caption data.

23. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

24. The device claimed in claim 13, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

26. The method claimed in claim 25, the timing data further comprising end timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of programming events.

27. The method claimed in claim 25, the timing data further comprising segment beginning timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

28. The method claimed in claim 25, the timing data further comprising segment end timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

29. The method claimed in claim 25, further comprising transmitting the synchronized video signal and closed caption data to client video reception devices.

30. The method claimed in claim 25, further comprising storing the synchronized video signal and closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

31. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data comprises an identifier associated with a programming event of the television program.

32. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data comprises an identifier associated with a programming event of the television program and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the programming event.

33. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data comprises an identifier associated with a programming event of the television program that is inserted into the closed caption data at a location separated from the beginning of a programming event by a predetermined amount of time.

34. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the timing data is encoded as hidden data.

35. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the live television program is a news program.

36. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein the live television program is a home shopping program.

37. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

38. The method claimed in claim 25, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

40. The device claimed in claim 39, the timing data further comprising end timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of programming events.

41. The device claimed in claim 39, the timing data further comprising segment beginning timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

42. The device claimed in claim 39, the timing data further comprising segment end timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

43. The system claimed in claim 39, further comprising a storage device for storing the video signal and the synchronized closed caption data on a machine readable storage medium.

44. The system claimed in claim 39, further comprising a transmitter for providing the video signal and the synchronized closed caption data to a transmission medium.

45. The device claimed in claim 39, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

46. The device claimed in claim 39, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

48. The storage medium claimed in claim 47, wherein said timing data is accompanied by timing data markers.

49. The storage medium claimed in claim 47, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

13. A device for providing closed caption data for video programming events, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and having stored therein programming instructions to perform data processing, comprising;

receiving script data for a video program;

determining identifiers of individual programming events within the program; and

producing closed caption data for the program, the closed caption data comprising text data corresponding to said script data, and timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the programming events, the timing data corresponding to a programming event comprising an identifier of the corresponding programming event.

25. A method of generating closed caption data for a video program, comprising:

producing closed caption data comprising timing data and text data corresponding to at least an audio portion of the video program, the timing data comprising beginning timing data provided at locations in the closed caption data corresponding to beginnings of programming events within the video program;

producing a video signal for the video program; and

synchronizing the closed caption data to the video signal in accordance with display of corresponding text by a teleprompter system used in the production of the video program.

39. A system for providing closed caption data for a video program, comprising:

a video signal source providing a video signal of the program;

a closed caption data source providing closed caption data including text data for the video program and timing data for programming events within the video program, the timing data comprising beginning timing data provided at locations in the closed caption data corresponding to beginnings of programming events within the video program; and

a teleprompter system for displaying text to be read during production of the video program,

the closed caption data being synchronized to the video signal in accordance with display of corresponding text by the teleprompter system.

47. A machine readable storage medium storing signals representing a video program, the signals comprising:

a video signal representing a video portion of the video program; and

closed caption data comprising text data corresponding to at least an audio portion of the video program, and timing data comprising identifiers of programming events used in metadata describing the programming events, the locations of the timing data in the closed caption data corresponding to beginnings of corresponding programming events within the video program.

50. A method in a video production facility system for producing a video, comprising:

determining programming events within a video program;

determining identifiers of the programming events; and

producing a video signal for the program, the video signal comprising timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the programming events, the timing data corresponding to a programming event comprising an identifier of the corresponding programming event.

51. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each programming event.

52. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

53. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

54. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said timing data is provided in vertical blanking intervals of the video signal.

55. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said timing data is provided in data fields of a digital video signal.

56. The method claimed in claim 50, further comprising storing the video signal including the timing data on a machine readable storage medium.

57. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the programming event.

58. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event that is inserted into the video signal at a location separated from the beginning of the programming event by a predetermined amount of time.

59. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

60. The method claimed in claim 50, wherein said timing data is encrypted.

61. A device for providing closed caption data for video programming events, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and having stored therein programming instructions to perform data processing, comprising;

determining programming events within a video program;

determining identifiers of the programming events; and

producing a video signal for the program, the video signal comprising timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of each of the programming events, the timing data corresponding to a programming event comprising an identifier of the corresponding programming event.

62. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of each programming event.

63. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to beginnings of segments within the programming events.

64. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said video signal further comprises timing data provided at locations corresponding to ends of segments within the programming events.

65. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said timing data is provided in vertical blanking intervals of the video signal.

66. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said timing data is provided in data fields of a digital video signal.

67. The device claimed in claim 61, further comprising storing the video signal including the timing data on a machine readable storage medium.

68. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event and data indicating an amount of time by which the identifier precedes the beginning of the programming event.

69. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein the timing data for a programming event comprises an identifier associated with the programming event that is inserted in to the video signal at a location separated from the beginning of the programming event by a predetermined amount of time.

70. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said timing data is accompanied by a timing data marker.

71. The device claimed in claim 61, wherein said timing data is encrypted.