Methods for audio capture and communication during television broadcasts

• US 6,944,880 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc K.
• Application Number:
  US09/707,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 725131-134, 725/109, 725111-113, 725/139, 725140-142, 725151-153, 348/734, 348/14.05, 348/14.01, 348/14.04, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/100.16, 379/100.17
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A remote control for an interactive television system includes an integrated microphone and a wireless transmitter for transmitting audio information generated by the microphone to the interactive television system. A set top box for the interactive television system includes a wireless receiver for receiving the audio information and a converter for transforming the audio information into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission to a network.

Claims

1. A method for audio capture and communication comprising:

generating an audio signal using a microphone integrated with a remote control for an interactive television system;

transmitting the audio signal using a wireless transmitter integrated with the remote control;

receiving the audio signal at a wireless receiver integrated with a first set top box for the interactive television system;

recording the audio signal in a digital format within the first set top box;

transmitting the recorded audio signal from the first set top box over a network to a second set top box; and

storing the audio signal within the second set top box device with other stored audio signals for later selective playback by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is generated in response to activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a visual indication on the remote control when the microphone is active.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises:

transforming the audio signal into a format compatible for transmission over the network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein recording further comprises:

recording the audio signal in a hard disk drive integrated with the set top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital format comprises an MP3 format.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the remote control an indication of the second set top box to receive the audio signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the audio signal within the receiving device further comprises:

recording the audio signal received from the network in a hard disk drive integrated with the receiving device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

playing back a selected one of the stored audio signals within the receiving device in response to a user command.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein playing back further comprises:

playing back the audio signal on a television coupled to the receiving device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein playing back further comprises:

playing back the audio signal on an internal speaker of the receiving device.

12. A method for audio capture and communication comprising:

in response to activation of a specifically-designated button on a remote control, generating an audio signal using an internal microphone integrated within a set top box for an interactive television system;

transforming the audio signal into an audio stream of a format compatible for transmission over a network;

transmitting the audio stream from the set top box to the network; and

switching from generating an audio signal using the internal microphone within the set top box to generating an audio signal using a remote microphone integrated within the remote control in response to a user command, wherein the user command is transmitted in response to activation of a specification-designated button on the remote control.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a visual indication on the remote control when the microphone within the set top box is active.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

recording the audio stream in a hard disk drive integrated with the set top box.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting the audio stream from the network to a second set top box.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving from the remote control an indication of the second set top box to receive the audio stream.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

recording the audio stream received from the network in a digital storage device integrated with the second set top box.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transforming the audio stream received from the network into an audio signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

playing the audio signal on a television coupled to the second set top box.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

playing the audio signal on a speaker coupled to the second set top box.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a visual indication on the set top box when the internal microphone is active.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the format of the audio stream comprises an MP3 format.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

switching from generating an audio signal using an internal microphone within the set top box to generating an audio signal using a remote microphone integrated with a remote control device in response to a user command.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user command is transmitted in response to activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device.