METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT

• US 20100034396A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wollmershauser, Steven Michael, Sprague, William O. JR., Sprague, Jason B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/305 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic audio signals to reverberation of the listening space H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices, and adjust a time delay for audio signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box based at least in part on the request. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions for:

monitoring for a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices;

presenting potential time delays associated with audio signals presented by the plurality of media devices;

retrieving a selection of the potential time delays; and

adjusting a time delay for audio signals of at least one of the plurality of media devices based on the selection of potential time delays.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for communicating an adjustment signal representative of the selection from a first set top box to a second set top box, wherein the first set top box is operably coupled to one of the plurality of media devices, and wherein the second set top box is operably coupled to another of the plurality of media devices.

3. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the time delay is between 0.5 and 10 ms.

4. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for determining the potential time delays based on one or more physical parameters associated with the environment.

5. The storage medium of claim 4, wherein the one or more physical parameters comprise at least one of dimensions of the environment, number of media devices, and position of media devices.

6. The storage medium of claim 5, comprising computer instructions for sensing at least one of the one or more physical parameters.

7. The storage medium of claim 5, comprising computer instructions for receiving information associated with the one or more physical parameters that is inputted by a user.

8. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for determining the potential time delays based on media being presented by the plurality of media devices.

9. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for wirelessly communicating an adjustment signal representative of the selection from a first set top box to a second set top box.

10. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for receiving the request for reverberation at a first set top box and communicating the request to a second set top box.

11. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for determining the potential time delays based on a user profile.

12. A set top box comprising a controller to:

receive a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices; and

adjust a time delay for audio signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box based at least in part on the request.

13. The set top box of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to:

present potential time delays for the audio signals;

retrieve a selection of the potential time delays; and

adjust the time delay based at least in part on the selection.

14. The set top box of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to communicate an adjustment signal representative of the time delay to another set top box, wherein the another set top box is operably coupled to another media device of the plurality of media devices.

15. The set top box of claim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust a time delay for video signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box.

16. The set top box of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the time delay based on one or more physical parameters associated with the environment.

17. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the one or more physical parameters comprise at least one of dimensions of the environment, number of media devices, and position of media devices.

18. The set top box of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the time delay based on media being presented by the plurality of media devices.

19. A set top box comprising a controller to:

determine a time delay for audio signals presented by one of a plurality of media devices in an environment; and

communicate the time delay to another set top box operably coupled to the one of the plurality of media devices.

21. The set top box of claim 19, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the time delay based on physical parameters associated with the environment, wherein the one or more physical parameters comprise at least one of dimensions of the environment, number of media devices, and position of media devices.

20. The set top box of clam 19, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the time delay based on at least one of a selection by a user from potential time delays, physical parameters associated with the environment, and media being presented by the plurality of media devices.

22. A set top box comprising a controller to:

receive an adjustment signal from another set top box, the adjustment signal being associated with time delays for audio signals presented by a plurality of media devices in an environment; and

adjust a time delay for audio signals presented by one of the plurality of media devices operably coupled to the set top box based at least in part on the adjustment signal, wherein the time delay of the audio signals causes an echo in the environment.

23. The set top box of claim 22, wherein the controller is adapted to receive a request for the echo in the environment and communicate the request to another set top box.

24. A method, comprising:

monitoring for a request for reverberation in an environment having a plurality of media devices;

determining a time delay for audio signals of one of the plurality of media devices; and

communicating an adjustment signal representative of the time delay to a set top box operably coupled to the one of the plurality of media devices.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising determining the time delay based oil at least one of a selection by a user from potential time delays, physical parameters associated with the environment, and media being presented by the plurality of media devices.