Method of selecting a digital closed captioning service

• US 6,320,621 B1
• Filed: 03/27/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fu, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/277,800
• Time in Patent Office: 969 Days
• Field of Search: 348/468, 348/465, 348/563, 348/569, 348/564, 345/327, 345/328, 725/51, 725/52
• US Class Current: 348/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles

Abstract

A method for providing selection from among closed caption services. An input is received that initiates a closed caption control. The presence of the closed caption services is then detected. The closed caption control is then activated to allow the viewer to select from all available closed caption services. In addition to the closed captioning services, auxiliary information for each service is also displayed, allowing the viewer to select the desired closed caption service.

Claims

1. A method for providing selection of digital television closed caption services, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a digital television input including digital closed captioning services, wherein the input initiates a closed caption control;

b) detecting available closed caption services provided in the digital television input;

c) activating the closed caption control, wherein the closed caption control allows a viewer to review only the available digital closed caption services, wherein all of the available digital closed caption services are contained in the digital television input; and

d) providing auxiliary information about each of the available closed caption services.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input further comprises pressing a dedicated button on a remote control.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input further comprises a selection from a menu presented to said user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary information further comprises a language in which said closed caption services is presented.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary information further comprises a reading level to which said closed caption service is directed.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary information further comprises a selection between text and icon.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of saving a selected closed caption service with a viewer identifier.