Methods and apparatus for the provision of user selected advanced closed captions

• US 20020122136A1
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIZIO, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: DePietro, Mark, Safadi, Reem, Barkley, Chuck, Reamer, Sean Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits

Abstract

User customizable advanced closed caption capabilities are provided using closed caption information, such as that described in the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) Television Data Systems Subcommittee standards, EIA-608 or EIA-708. The invention allows the user to override the closed caption presentation format as selected by the originator (e.g., programmer or broadcaster), in order to select alternate presentation attributes based on the user'"'"'s preference. The invention may also be implemented to customize other forms of text information (e.g., subtitles.). The invention also allows for storage and subsequent retrieval and review of text included within the closed caption information, which text serves as a transcript of the program. The methods and apparatus provided are independent of the type of delivery network, content format, and receiver type. In an example embodiment, closed caption information is extracted (e.g., by a closed caption processor 20) from a television signal 10, which television signal 10 also contains corresponding audiovisual programming. The processor 20 determines whether one or more user selected attributes 12 have been set. At least one user selected attribute 12 is applied to at least a portion of the closed caption information (e.g., via a closed caption driver 30). The closed caption information is displayed (e.g., via a display driver 40 and graphics processor 45) on a display device 50 (e.g., a television screen) in accordance with the user selected attributes 12 via a graphical overlay on top of the audiovisual programming. In this manner, user selected advanced closed caption features can be provided using existing closed caption information contained in the television signal.

Claims

1. A method for provision of user selected advanced closed captions, comprising the steps of:

extracting closed caption information from a television signal having corresponding television programming;

determining whether one or more user selected attributes have been set;

applying at least one user selected attribute to at least a portion of the closed caption information; and

displaying the closed caption information on a display device in accordance with the user selected attributes via a graphical overlay on top of the television programming.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the television signal is received, demodulated, and descrambled prior to said extracting of said closed caption information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user selected advanced closed caption attributes are applied to closed caption information received via one of a delivery network, a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a set-top terminal, a digital television, a personal computer, a video cassette recorder, a digital video recorder, or a digital video disk player.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the provision of user selected advanced closed captions occurs at one of a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a set-top terminal, a digital television, a personal computer, a digital video recorder, or a digital video disk player.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user selected attributes comprise at least one of font size, font type, font color, caption window position, caption window size, print direction, scroll direction, scroll rate, text opacity, background opacity, text justification left, text justification right, text justification center, and background color.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the closed caption information is displayed in one or more closed caption boxes.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein multiple closed caption boxes are displayed simultaneously.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the closed caption information is tagged with an identifier that distinguishes it from television programming data; and

the closed caption information is extracted based on the identifier.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the television signal comprises an MPEG-2 transport stream;

the closed caption information is carried in a user data field of video data syntax of the MPEG-2 transport stream; and

the closed caption information is extracted based on the user data field.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closed caption information comprises one of EIA-608 closed caption information or EIA-708 closed caption information.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user selected attributes are entered via at least one of a pop-up menu, a dialogue box, and a pull-down window menu.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the user selected attributes in memory.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

dynamically determining the location of one or more objects of interest in a displayed television scene; and

automatically adjusting at least one of the user selected attributes to make the presence of the displayed closed caption information less distracting based on the location of the one or more objects of interest.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of:

storing the closed caption information in memory.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the closed caption information is stored on one of a personal versatile recorder, a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set-top terminal, or a personal computer.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the user selected attributes include the option of automatically generating a transcript of the television programming from the stored closed caption information.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, comprising the further step of printing the transcript.

18. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of:

providing user controlled replay of the stored closed caption information.

19. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of:

providing on-screen review of closed caption text from the stored closed caption information.

20. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of:

inserting into the stored closed caption information at least one of page numbers, time and date of storing, and television program title.

21. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of transferring closed caption text from the stored closed caption information to writeable media.

22. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of:

transferring closed caption text from the stored closed caption information to one of a printer, a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set top terminal, or a personal computer.

23. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further step of:

providing file management functions for multiple stored closed caption files, wherein each stored closed caption file corresponds to a single television program.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein said file management functions are provided by one of a personal versatile recorder, a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set-top terminal, or a personal computer.

25. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising the further steps of:

providing for the insertion of bookmarks into closed caption text of the stored closed caption information; and

providing for the location of the bookmarks inserted into the closed caption text.

26. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of:

removing displayed closed caption information after a predetermined time period in which no closed caption information is received.

27. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of:

providing dynamic adjustment of closed caption text color when a transparent closed caption background is selected.

28. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of:

utilizing Unicode character technology for internationalization of closed caption information.

29. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the further step of:

receiving an Emergency Alert Signal; and

automatically overriding the user selected attributes in order to avoid overlap of the displayed closed caption information with a display of the Emergency Alert Signal.

30. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user selected attributes can be disabled on at least one of a per program basis or a per channel basis.

31. Apparatus for provision of user selected advanced closed captions, comprising:

a processor for;

extracting closed caption information from a television signal having corresponding television programming;

determining whether one or more user selected attributes have been set;

a closed caption driver for applying at least one user selected attribute to at least a portion of the closed caption information;

a display driver; and

a graphics processor for displaying the closed caption information received from the display driver on a display device in accordance with the user selected attributes via a graphical overlay on top of the television programming.

32. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving the television signal;

a demodulator for demodulating the television signal; and

a descrambler for descrambling the television signal.

33. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the user selected advanced closed caption attributes are applied to closed caption information received via one of a delivery network, a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a set-top terminal, a digital television, a personal computer, a video cassette recorder, a digital video recorder, or a digital video disk player.

34. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set top terminal, or a personal computer.

35. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the user selected attributes comprise at least one of font size, font type, font color, caption window position, caption window size, print direction, scroll direction, scroll rate, text opacity, background opacity, text justification left, text justification right, text justification center, and background color.

36. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

the closed caption information is displayed in one or more closed caption boxes.

37. Apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein multiple closed caption boxes are displayed simultaneously.

38. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

the closed caption information is tagged with an identifier that distinguishes it from television programming data; and

the closed caption information is extracted based on the identifier.

39. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

the television signal comprises an MPEG-2 transport stream;

the closed caption information is carried in a user data field of video data syntax of the MPEG-2 transport stream; and

the closed caption information is extracted based on the user data field.

40. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein said closed caption information comprises one of EIA-608 closed caption information or EIA-708 closed caption information.

41. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the user selected attributes are entered via at least one of a pop-up menu, a dialogue box, and a pull-down window menu.

42. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, further comprising:

a memory device for storing the user selected attributes in memory.

43. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

the location of one or more objects of interest in a displayed television scene are dynamically determined; and

at least one of the user selected attributes is automatically adjusted to make the presence of the displayed closed caption information less distracting based on the location of the one or more objects of interest.

44. A method in accordance with claim 31, further comprising:

memory for storing the closed caption information.

45. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set top terminal, or a personal computer.

46. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein the user selected attributes include the option of automatically generating a transcript of the television programming from the stored closed caption information.

47. Apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein the transcript is printed.

48. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein user controlled replay of the stored closed caption information is provided.

49. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein on-screen review of closed caption text from the stored closed caption information is provided.

50. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein at least one of page numbers, time and date of storing, and television program title is inserted into the stored closed caption information.

51. A method in accordance with claim 44, wherein closed caption text from the stored closed caption information is transferred to writeable media.

52. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein closed caption text from the stored closed caption information is transferred to one of a printer, a personal versatile recorder (PVR), a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set top terminal, or a personal computer.

53. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein the processor provides file management functions for multiple stored closed caption files, wherein each stored closed caption file corresponds to a single television program.

54. Apparatus in accordance with claim 53, wherein said apparatus comprises one of a personal versatile recorder, a digital television, a digital video recorder, a digital video disk player, a set-top terminal, or a personal computer.

55. Apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein:

inserting of bookmarks into closed caption text of the stored closed caption information is provided for; and

locating of the bookmarks inserted into closed caption text of the closed caption information is provided for.

56. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the displayed closed caption information is removed after a predetermined time period in which no closed caption information is received.

57. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein closed caption text color is dynamically adjusted when a transparent closed caption background is selected.

58. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein Unicode character technology is utilized for internationalization of closed caption information.

59. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

in the event an Emergency Alert Signal is received, the user selected attributes are automatically overridden in order to avoid overlap of the displayed closed caption information with a display of the Emergency Alert Signal.

60. Apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the user selected attributes can be disabled on at least one of a per program basis or a per channel basis.

61. A method for the provision of user selected advanced closed captions, comprising the steps of:

extracting the closed caption information from a television signal having associated television programming;

determining whether one or more user selected attributes have been set;

applying at least one user selected attribute to at least a portion of the closed caption information;

displaying the closed caption information on a display device in accordance with the user selected attributes via a graphical overlay on top of the television programming;

dynamically determining the location of one or more objects of interest in a displayed television scene; and

automatically adjusting at least one of the user selected attributes to make the presence of the displayed closed caption information less distracting based on the location of the one or more objects of interest.

62. Apparatus for the provision of user selected advanced closed captions, comprising:

a processor for;

extracting the closed caption information from a television signal having associated television programming;

determining whether one or more user selected attributes have been set;

a closed caption driver for applying at least one user selected attribute to at least a portion of the closed caption information; and

a display driver;

a graphics processor for displaying the closed caption information received from the display driver on a display device in accordance with the user selected attributes via a graphical overlay on top of the television programming;

wherein;

the location of one or more objects of interest in a displayed television scene are dynamically determined; and

at least one of the user selected attributes is automatically adjusted to make the presence of the displayed closed caption information less distracting based on the location of the one or more objects of interest.