Television system

• US 20060250522A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wood, Kevin, Belford, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

A method is provided for synchronising visual and audio data for a television system. The television system includes display means for displaying visual data thereon and audio means for allowing audio data to be sounded via said system. The method includes the steps of undertaking one of displaying a visual indicator on said display means or sounding an audio indicator via said audio means and, after a time delay or period of time, undertaking the other of displaying the visual indicator or sounding the audio indicator, the period of time between the display of said visual indicator and the sounding of said audio indicator being adjustable by a user of said television system using synchronisation means.

Claims

1. A method of synchronising visual and audio data for a television system, said television system including display means for displaying visual data thereon and audio means for allowing audio data to be sounded via said system, and wherein said method includes the steps of undertaking one of displaying a visual indicator on said display means or sounding an audio indicator via said audio means and, after a time delay or period of time, undertaking the other of displaying the visual indicator or sounding the audio indicator, the period of time between the display of said visual indicator and the sounding of said audio indicator being adjustable by a user of said television system using synchronisation means.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visual and audio indicators allowing synchronisation are independent of the video and audio data being received by said television system from a remote source.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the visual and audio indicators are stored in memory forming part of or associated with the television system.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the synchronisation means includes one or more user selectable on-screen display options.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the one or more user selectable on-screen display options allow a user to undertake any or any combination of increase the time period, decrease the time period, set the time period and/or cancel the time period already set.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein a visual icon or graphics is provided on the display screen on selection of the synchronisation method to indicate to the user what level of adjustment of the time period has been made or can still be achieved.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the visual icon or graphics includes a time bar with marker means provided thereon, the ends of the time bar representing the upper and lower limits of adjustment of the time period.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the marker means is movable by a user between the upper and lower limits.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment means are adjusted by a user using user input means including any or any combination of a keyboard, joystick, mouse, remote control, one or more cursor keys and/or touch screen display.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the user selects initiation of the synchronisation method from a set up screen option on a menu display.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display means is in the form of a plasma display screen or LCD screen.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the audio indicator is in the form of one or more sounds which are audible and recognisable to a user.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the audio indicator is in the form of a bang sound.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the visual indicator is in the form of a flash of light or colour on the display screen.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the start and end points of the visual and audio indicators are substantially simultaneous, thereby providing a clear point in time which can allows a user to synchronise the audio and visual indicators together.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein display and sounding of the visual and audio indicators respectively are repeated at pre-determined time intervals once the synchronisation method is initiated until a user saves the selected time period of synchronisation or synchronisation has been achieved.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the time period available for adjustment of the audio and visual indicators is set between −

300 ms and +300 ms.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the television system includes a broadcast data receiver for receiving and processing digital data from a broadcaster at a remote location, the broadcast data receiver including processing means for processing the commands relating to the synchronisation method and/or controlling the synchronisation method.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the time delay or time period can initially be substantially zero seconds and the adjustment increases the separation of the audio and visual indicators in time.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein following adjustment of the audio and visual indicators, the data relating to this adjustment is used as a presentation time stamp of a data stream, to reset and/or override an existing presentation time stamp of an incoming data stream or stored data stream of said television system.

21. A television system, said television system including display means for displaying visual data thereon and audio means for allowing audio data to be sounded via said system, and wherein said system includes synchronisation means for allowing a user to adjust one of a visual indicator displayed on said display means or an audio indicator sounded via said audio means relative to the other of said visual or audio indicator.

22. A television system according to claim 21 wherein the visual and audio indicators are separated by a time delay or time period prior to adjustment using said synchronisation means.

23. A broadcast data receiver, said broadcast data receiver including means for receiving and processing digital data to provide audio, video and/or auxiliary data, said receiver connectable to or including display means for the display of video data thereon and audio means for the sounding of audio data, and wherein said receiver includes synchronisation means for allowing a user to adjust one of a visual indicator displayable on said display means or an audio indicator soundable via said audio means relative to the other of said visual or audio indicator.

24. A broadcast data receiver according to claim 23 wherein the visual and audio indicators are separated by a time delay or time period prior to adjustment using said synchronisation means.