Synchronizing multiple signals received through different transmission mediums

• US 6,710,815 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Billmaier, Brittany R., Billmaier, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/778,994
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 348/515, 348/485, 348/553, 348/738, 348/465, 348/462, 725/32, 725/109-111, 725/51, 725/61
• US Class Current: 348/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859

Abstract

Multiple signals received through different transmission mediums are synchronized within a set top box (STB) for subsequent mixing and presentation. For example, a video program transmitted via a cable network is synchronized with a secondary audio program, such as a radio program, received via the Internet. In another example, a video program transmitted via a cable network is synchronized with one or more programmed events, such as directives to display text or graphics or animation, play streaming media, direct a browser to a particular web page, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a radio signal received via the Internet.

2. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a data stream including at least one programmed event.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one programmed event is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying text;

displaying icons;

displaying graphics;

displaying animation;

playing streaming video;

playing streaming music;

playing streaming audio; and

directing a browser to a particular page.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein synchronizing comprises:

buffering the first signal for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal.

3. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein presenting comprises mixing the first signal with the second signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a radio signal, and wherein mixing comprises:

replacing an audio signal associated with the television signal with the radio signal.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein synchronizing comprises:

buffering the first signal for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal.

5. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein synchronizing comprises buffering the first signal in a storage device for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal; and

wherein the storage device comprises a personal video recorder (PVR) device.

6. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein synchronizing comprises determining the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals and buffering the first signal in a storage device for a period equal of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals; and

wherein the second signal comprises a time index, and wherein determining comprises comparing the time index from the second signal with an indication of a time at which the time index is received with the second signal.

7. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

intercepting a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

intercepting a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

synchronizing the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

presenting the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein synchronizing comprises determining the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals and buffering the first signal in a storage device for a period equal of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals; and

wherein determining comprises;

buffering the first signal in the storage device for a default buffering period;

presenting the first signal with the second signal;

adjusting the buffering period in response to user feedback; and

buffering the first signal in the storage device for the adjusted buffering period.

11. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a radio signal received via the Internet.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a buffering component configured to buffer the first signal for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal.

12. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay; and

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device;

wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a data stream including at least one programmed event.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one programmed event is selected from the group consisting of:

displaying text;

displaying icons;

displaying graphics;

displaying animation;

playing streaming video;

playing streaming music;

playing streaming audio; and

directing a browser to a particular page.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a buffering component configured to buffer the first signal for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal.

14. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay;

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device; and

a mixing component configured to mix the first signal with the second signal before presentation thereof by the presentation component.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first signal comprises a television signal and the second signal comprises a radio signal, and wherein the mixing component is further configured to replace an audio signal associated with the television signal with the radio signal.

16. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay;

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device; and

a buffering component configured to buffer the first signal in a storage device for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal;

wherein the storage device comprises a personal video recorder (PVR) device.

17. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay, wherein the synchronization component is further configured to determine the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals;

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device; and

a buffering component configured to buffer the first signal in a storage device for a period equal of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals;

wherein the second signal comprises a time index, and wherein the synchronization component is further configured to compare the time index from the second signal with an indication of a time at which the time index is received with the second signal.

18. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:

a first signal interception component configured to intercept a first signal received through a first transmission medium;

a second interception component configured to intercept a second signal received through a second transmission medium, wherein the second transmission medium has a higher latency than the first transmission medium resulting in a relative transmission delay between the second signal and the first signal;

a synchronization component configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal to compensate for the transmission delay, wherein the synchronization component is further configured to determine the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals;

a presentation component configured to present the first and second signals on a display device; and

a buffering component configured to buffer the first signal in a storage device for a period equal of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first and second signals;

wherein the buffering component is further configured to buffer the first signal in the storage device for a default buffering period;

wherein the presentation component is further configured to present the first signal with the second signal; and

wherein the synchronization component is further configured to adjust the buffering period in response to user feedback.