Control device with language selectivity

• US 7,852,416 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US11/290,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/553, 348/462, 348/739, 348/14.03, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 725/153, 725/78
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/607 for more than one sound signal, e.g. stereo, multilanguages H04N5/602 takes precedence

Abstract

A control device that interacts with an entertainment system. The entertainment system drives a speaker device. The control device has a user interface that receives a user input identifying an audio selection and a language. At least one module of the control device transmits a control signal adapted to cause playing of audio information corresponding to the audio selection in the language identified by the user input on the entertainment system. The entertainment system may in addition drive a plurality of speaker devices. The control device may receive an additional language selection and cause playing of the audio information in a plurality of languages corresponding to the additional language selection on the plurality of speaker devices. Also for example, the control device may drive a second plurality of speaker devices. The control device may be adapted to receive media guide information and/or language guide information and present such information to a user.

Claims

1. A control system that interacts with a media source, where the media source services a first speaker device, the control system comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a remote control audio output;

a user input interface operable to receive a user input identifying a first language;

a communication interface; and

at least one module operable to;

transmit a control signal via the communication interface, where the control signal is adapted to trigger delivery of an audio element in the first language from the media source to the first speaker device;

receive, via the communication interface, the audio element in a second language; and

output the received audio element in the second language via the remote control audio output.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control audio output comprises a wireless audio output that operates to communicatively couple to a wireless audio device.

3. The control system according to claim 1, where:

the remote control device comprises a screen;

the at least one module operates to display a language guide on the screen, and

the user input identifying the first language is based on user selection of the first language from the language guide displayed on the screen.

4. The control system according to claim 1, where the remote control device is located at a first premises, and the first speaker device is located at a second premises different from the first premises.

5. A control system that interacts with an entertainment system, the entertainment system comprising a screen and at least one audio unit, the control system comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a remote control screen;

a communication interface;

a user input interface; and

at least one module operable to;

display a language guide on the remote control screen;

receive, via the user input interface, a user selection of a first language from the language guide displayed on the remote control screen; and

transmit a control signal that is adapted to trigger delivery of a video portion of a media element to the screen of the entertainment system and an audio portion of the media element in the selected first language to the at least one audio unit of the entertainment system.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one module operates to:

display a media selection guide on the remote control screen; and

receive, via the user input interface, a user media selection from the displayed media selection guide that identifies the media element from a plurality of media elements.

7. The control system according to claim 5, where the entertainment system comprises a second audio unit, and the at least one module of the remote control device is operable to transmit a second control signal that directs delivery of the audio portion of the media element in a second language to the second audio unit of the entertainment system, where both of the audio portion of the media element in the first language and the audio portion of the media element in the second language correspond to the video portion of the media element presently being displayed on the screen of the entertainment system.

8. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the user input interface of the remote control device operates to receive a language guide perusal request that prompts the at least one module of the remote control device to transmit a third control signal directing display of a language guide on the screen of the entertainment system.

9. The control system according to claim 8, wherein a second user input identifying a second language is based on the language guide displayed on the screen of the entertainment system.

10. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the remote control device comprises a speaker, and wherein the at least one module is operable to:

retrieve via the communication interface the audio portion of the media element in a third language; and

play the audio portion of the media element in the third language on the speaker of the remote control device.

11. A control system that interacts with an entertainment system having at least one audio unit, the control system comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a remote control screen;

a communication interface;

a user input interface; and

at least one module operable to;

receive, via the communication interface;

a list identifying a plurality of media elements and a plurality of languages in which the plurality of media elements are available;

display the received list on the remote control screen;

receive, via the user input interface, a media selection and a language selection from the displayed list; and

transmit a control signal via the communication interface that triggers delivery of a media element in a language to the at least one audio unit of the entertainment system, where the media element corresponds to the media selection and the language corresponds to the language selection.

12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein:

the at least one module is operable to receive, via the user input interface, a second media selection different from said media selection; and

display a second media element received via the communication interface and corresponding to the second media selection on the remote control screen.

13. The control system according to claim 11, wherein the remote control device comprises a memory that stores the received list.

14. A control system that interacts with a television located at a first premises and a second audio unit located at a second premises, the television having a first audio unit and a first video display, the control system comprising:

a remote control device comprising;

a user input interface that operates to receive a user input that identifies a media element, a first language for the media element and a second language for the media element;

a communication interface that operates to receive a video portion of the media element;

a second video display that operates to display the video portion of the media element; and

at least one module that operates to;

transmit a first control signal directing delivery of the video portion of the media element to the first video display and delivery of an audio portion of the media element in the first language to the first audio unit; and

transmit a second control signal triggering delivery of an audio portion of the media element in the second language to the second audio unit.

15. The control system according to claim 14, wherein the remote control device is located at the second premises.

16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein the remote control device operates to interact with the television via set top box circuitry located at the first premises.

17. A method performed by a control system through interaction with a media source, the media source servicing a first speaker device, the method comprising:

in a remote control device;

receiving a user input;

identifying a first language and a second language corresponding to the user input; and

responding to the user input by, at least;

transmitting a control signal via a communication interface of the remote control device, where the control signal is adapted to trigger delivery of an audio element in the first language from the media source to the first speaker device;

receiving, via a communication interface of the remote control device, said audio element in the second language; and

outputting said received audio element in the second language via an audio output of the remote control device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein outputting said audio element in the second language via an audio output of the remote control device comprises wirelessly outputting said audio element in the second language to a wireless audio device.

19. The method according to claim 17, comprising, in the remote control device:

displaying a language guide on a screen of the remote control device, the language guide revealing a plurality of selectable languages; and

receiving said user input via the displayed language guide.

20. A method performed by a control system through interaction with an entertainment system comprising a screen and at least one audio unit, the method comprising:

in a remote control device;

displaying a language guide on a screen of the remote control device;

receiving a user input via the displayed language guide;

identifying a first language corresponding to the user input; and

responding to the user input by transmitting a control signal triggering delivery of a video portion of a media element to the screen of the entertainment system and an audio portion of the media element in the selected first language to the at least one audio unit of the entertainment system.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

displaying a media selection guide on the screen of the remote control device;

receiving a media selection via the displayed media selection guide; and

identifying the media element from a plurality of media elements based on the received media selection.

22. A method performed by a control system through interaction with an entertainment system, the entertainment system comprising at least one audio unit, the method comprising:

in a remote control device;

receiving a list identifying a plurality of media elements and a plurality of languages in which the plurality of media elements are available;

displaying the received list on a screen housed with the remote control device;

receiving, via a user input interface, a media selection and a language selection from the displayed list;

identifying a media element from the plurality of media elements based on the media selection;

identifying a language from the plurality of languages based on the language selection; and

transmitting a control signal via a communication interface of the control device directing delivery of the identified media element in the identified language to the at least one audio unit of the entertainment system.

23. A method performed by a control system via interaction with a television located at a first premises and a second audio unit located at a second premises, the television comprising a first audio unit and a first video display, the method comprising:

in a remote control device;

receiving a user input that identifies a media element, a first language for the media element and a second language for the media element;

receiving a video portion of the media element through a first communication interface;

displaying the video portion of the media element on a second video display housed with the remote control device; and

responding to the user input by;

transmitting a first control signal directing delivery of the video portion of the media element to the first video display and delivery of an audio portion of the media element in the first language to the first audio unit; and

transmitting a second control signal triggering delivery of an audio portion of the media element in the second language to the second audio unit.