Synchronizing multiple signals received through different transmission mediums
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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2. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
buffering the first signal for a period of time equal to the relative transmission delay between the first signal and the second signal.
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3. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (4, 10)
replacing an audio signal associated with the television signal with the radio signal.
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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.
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5. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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6. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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7. A method for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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11. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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.
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12. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 20)
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.
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14. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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17. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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18. A system for synchronizing at least two signals sent to a receiving device through different transmission mediums, the method comprising:
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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.
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Specification