Process for associating and delivering data with visual media

• US 20020118763A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Helen J. Harris, Robert S. Harris
• Original Assignee: Helen J. Harris, Robert S. Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Robert S., Harris, Helen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/136,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118763A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A process for associating and delivering data with a video signal includes digitizing an analog data signal. The digitized data is then compressed and transcoded into a format compatible with a video source signal. The data is then inserted into unused video lines of the video source signal. The encoded video source signal is transmitted to a decoder where the inserted data is separated from the video source signal. The inserted data is then converted to its original form, and either visually displayed or audibly delivered to an end user. The invention can be used to associate and deliver audio narrative description with a video signal for the benefit of the visually impaired.

Claims

1. A process for associating and delivering data with a video signal, comprising the steps of:

encoding a video source signal by inserting data in unused video bandwidth of the video source signal;

transmitting the encoded video source signal;

decoding the encoded video source signal; and

visually displaying the data or audibly delivering the data to an end user.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the encoding step includes the step of digitizing an analog data signal.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the analog data signal comprises an audio signal.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the audio signal comprises an audio narrative description of visual media associated with the video source signal.

5. The process of claim 2, including the step of compressing the digitized data.

6. The process of claim 5, including the step of transcoding the compressed digitized data.

7. The process of claim 6, including the step of inserting the transcoded and compressed digitized data into predetermined unused video lines of the video source signal.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the decoding step includes the step of separating the inserted data from the video source signal.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the decoding step includes the step of decompressing the inserted data.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the decoding step includes the step of converting the data from a digital format into an analog signal.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the analog signal comprises an audio signal that is delivered to audio speakers.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the analog signal comprises an audio narrative description of visual media associated with the video source signal.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the analog data signal comprises an audio signal.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the audio signal comprises an audio narrative description of visual media associated with the visual source signal.

16. The process of claim 15, audio narrative description of the visual media is delivered to audio speakers.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the encoding step includes the step of digitizing an analog data signal comprising the audio narrative description.

19. The process of claim 18, including the step of compressing the digitized audio narrative description data.

20. The process of claim 19, including the step of transcoding the compressed and digitized audio narrative description data into a format compatible with the video source signal.

21. The process of claim 17, wherein the decoding step includes the step of transcoding the inserted audio narrative description data into its original format.

22. The process of claim 21, including the step of decompressing the inserted audio narrative description data.

23. The process of claim 22, including the step of converting the inserted audio narrative description data from a digital format to an analog signal.

13. A process for associating and delivering data with video media, comprising the steps of:

digitizing an analog data signal;

compressing the digitized data;

transcoding the compressed digitized data into a format compatible with a video source signal;

encoding the video source signal with the data by inserting the data into unused video lines of the video source signal;

transmitting the encoded video source signal;

decoding the encoded video source signal to separate the inserted data from the video source signal;

transcoding the inserted data into its original format;

decompressing the inserted data;

converting the inserted data from a digital format to an analog signal; and

visually displaying or audibly delivering the analog data signal to an end user.

17. A process for associating and delivering data with video, comprising the steps of:

encoding a video source signal with data comprising an audio narrative description of visual media associated with the video source signal by inserting the audio narrative description data into unused video lines of the video source signal;

transmitting the encoded video source signal;

decoding the encoded video source signal to separate the inserted audio narrative description data from the video source signal; and

delivering the audio narrative description data to an audio speaker.