Sound bite augmentation

• US 6,721,015 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-Guide Inc.
• Inventors: Shalkey, Eric T, Yuen, Henry C., Leung, Elsie Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NATNAEL, PAULOS M
• Application Number:
  US10/202,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 348/460-462, 348/467, 348/468, 348/552-3, 348/589, 348/473-4, 348/478, 348/906, 348/722, 348/723, 348/569
• US Class Current: 348/460
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

An audio description of a television program, i.e., a sound bite, is reproduced simultaneously with the display of the program at a television receiver. Specifically, the sound bite is embedded in a television signal that contains audio component and a video component. The television signal is transmitted to a plurality of television receivers and intercepted at one of the receivers. The video component is displayed on a monitor and the audio component is reproduced. On command the sound bite is reproduced instead of the audio component. An audio description of a television program, i.e., a sound bite, is also reproduced simultaneously with the display of a program listing of the program at a television receiver. Specifically, when the program listing is marked with an on-screen cursor, the sound bite is reproduced.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting the viewing of a live telecast television program comprising:

embedding a sound bite component in a VBI of a television signal, the television signal including an audio component, and a video component in a television signal;

telecasting the television signal;

receiving the telecast television signal by a television;

displaying the video component on a television screen;

reproducing the audio component by the television;

displaying an icon indicating the presence of the sound bite component in the received telecast signal simultaneous with the displayed video component on the television screen;

activating the displayed icon by a television viewer;

extracting the sound bite from the received television signal responsive to activation of the displayed icon; and

reproducing the sound bite instead of the audio component by the television.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound bite is related to an advertisement.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the advertisement is related to the live telecast television program being viewed by the television viewer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound bite is related to a user profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the reproduced sound bite is customized according to the user profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound bite is tagged with codes identifying different themes for television programs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound bite is tagged with codes identifying different locations.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing at least part of the sound bite at the television before the sound bite is reproduced.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound bite is related to a single advertisement for a particular geographic location.

10. A system for augmenting the viewing of a live telecast television program comprising:

a data inserter to embed a sound bite component in a VBI of a television signal, the television signal including, an audio component, and a video component in a television signal;

a transmitter to telecast the television signal;

a television tuner to receive the telecast television signal;

a television screen to display the video component of the received telecast television signal;

a sound detector to reproduce the audio component at the television;

means for displaying an icon indicating the presence of the sound bite component in the received telecast signal simultaneous with the displayed video component on the television screen;

a user input device to activate the displayed icon by a television viewer;

a signal extractor to extract the sound bite from the received television signal responsive to activation of the displayed icon; and

a digital to analog converter to reproduce the sound bite instead of the audio component by the television.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sound bite is related to an advertisement.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is related to the live telecast television program being viewed by the television viewer.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the sound bite is related to a user profile.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for customizing the reproduced sound bite according to the user profile.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for tagging the sound bite with codes identifying different themes for television programs.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for tagging the sound bite with codes identifying different locations.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a memory to store at least part of the sound bite at the television before the sound bite is reproduced.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the sound bite is related to a single advertisement for a particular geographic location.

19. A method for transmitting a sound bite with a live telecast television program comprising:

embedding a sound bite component in a VBI of a television signal, the television signal including, an audio component, and a video component in a television signal;

receiving the telecast television signal by a television;

displaying the video component on a television screen;

reproducing the audio component by the television;

displaying an icon indicating the presence of the sound bite component in the received telecast signal simultaneous with the displayed video component on the television screen;

activating the displayed icon by a television viewer;

extracting the sound bite from the received television signal responsive to activation of the displayed icon; and

reproducing the sound bite in addition to the audio component by the television.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sound bite is related to an advertisement.