System for synchronizing the playback of two or more connected playback devices using closed captioning
First Claim
1. A method for synchronizing the playback of a pre-recorded program stored in a plurality of playback devices, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving incoming program content signals comprised of a series of frames, said program content signals including a string of closed-caption (CC) characters;
sampling the string of said CC characters at a predetermined sampling interval, wherein said sampling interval represents at least one CC character for each frame;
storing a sequence of sampled CC characters and the corresponding frame according to a predetermined format in a memory; and
, simultaneously displaying a desired segment of said program content signals between the plurality of said playback devices in response to a user'"'"'s request.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and system for synchronizing the replay of a pre-recorded program between a plurality of playback devices utilizing closed-caption data. The internal block of the playback devices are synchronized. Upon receiving program content signals including a series of frames and a string of closed-caption (CC) characters, the string of CC characters is sampled at a predetermined sampling interval, and the sequence of sampled CC characters and the corresponding frame are stored according to a predetermined format in a memory. Thereafter, in response to a user'"'"'s request, the desired program content signals responsive to the user'"'"'s request are retrieved from the respective memory of playback devices and displayed for viewing.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing the playback of a pre-recorded program stored in a plurality of playback devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving incoming program content signals comprised of a series of frames, said program content signals including a string of closed-caption (CC) characters;
sampling the string of said CC characters at a predetermined sampling interval, wherein said sampling interval represents at least one CC character for each frame;
storing a sequence of sampled CC characters and the corresponding frame according to a predetermined format in a memory; and
,simultaneously displaying a desired segment of said program content signals between the plurality of said playback devices in response to a user'"'"'s request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for synchronizing the playback of a program between a plurality of playback devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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analyzing incoming program content signals including a series of frames and closed-caption (CC) signals;
retrieving said CC signals from said program content signals;
formatting said retrieved CC signals and the corresponding segment of said program content signals according to predetermined criteria into a storage device;
transmitting a request, by a first playback device to a second playback device, to retrieve a desired segment of said program content signals stored in the respective storage device for viewing; and
,synchronously displaying said desired segment of said program content signal contents by said first playback device and said second playback device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for synchronizing the playback of a program between a plurality of playback devices, comprising:
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a signal receiving unit for receiving program content signals, the program content signals including a series of frames and closed-caption (CC) signals;
an analyzing unit for analyzing the program content signals to identify said CC data;
a data sorting unit for extracting and separating said CC signals from the program content signals and for sampling said CC signals and the corresponding program content signals at a predetermined sampling interval;
a clock generator for generating said predetermined sampling interval;
a memory for storing a sequence of said extracted CC signals and the corresponding program content signals for a subsequent retrieval; and
,a playback unit, coupled to said memory means, for selectively controlling a display of the program content signals based on a user'"'"'s request. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification