Method and apparatus for multiple audio outputs

• US 8,239,897 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eldon Technology Limited (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Wadey, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/205,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 725 78- 85, 348563-565, 348731-738, 348/906
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/607 for more than one sound signal, e.g. stereo, multilanguages H04N5/602 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method for transmitting audio signals. The method of transmitting audio signals may include separately transmitting a video signal and an audio signal. Further, the method of transmitting audio signals may include transmitting a first video signal and a first audio signal to one component, transmitting a second video signal to the same component and separately transmitting a second audio signal to a second component.

Claims

1. A device for transmitting an audio stream separately from a video stream, comprising:

an input operative to receive a service provider signal;

a first tuner operative to receive the service provider signal from the input and configured to generate a first signal;

a first demodulator accepting the first signal from the first tuner and configured to generate a first audio signal and first video signal from the first signal;

a second tuner operative to receive the service provider signal from the input and configured to generate a second signal;

a second demodulator accepting the second signal from the second tuner and configured to generate a second audio signal and second video signal from the second signal;

an enclosure surrounding at least the first tuner, second tuner, the first demodulator, and the second demodulator;

a first output from the enclosure, the first output operative to transmit the first audio signal and the first video signal;

a second output from the enclosure, the second output operative to transmit the second video signal;

third output from the enclosure, the third output operative to transmit the second audio signal; and

a module located externally of the enclosure and connected to the third output, the module operative to receive the second audio signal and to convert the second audio signal into a wireless signal.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a user input, the user input operative to change a frequency of at least the second audio signal.

3. A method for transmitting at least a first and second audio signal, comprising:

transmitting the first audio signal to a first device;

transmitting a first video signal to the first device, the first video signal associated with the first audio signal;

transmitting the second audio signal to a second device;

transmitting a second video signal to the first device, the second video signal associated with the second audio signal;

receiving a command to adjust the second video signal relative to the first video signal;

in response to receiving the command, transmitting the second audio signal to the first device; and

further in response to receiving the command, transmitting the first audio signal to the second device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising stripping the second audio signal from the second video signal prior to transmitting either the second audio signal or the second video signal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein prior to receiving the command to adjust the second video signal relative to the first video signal, the method further comprising:

displaying the first video signal on a first screen area of the first device; and

displaying the second video signal on a second screen area of the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein in response to receiving the command to adjust the second video signal relative to the first video signal, the method further comprising:

switching the first video signal to display on the second screen area of the first device; and

switching the second video signal to display on the first screen area of the first device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first screen area surrounds the second screen area.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second audio signals are wirelessly transmitted.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the second audio signal cannot be perceived without the second device.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein all transmissions are performed by a third device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third device is a set-top box.

12. A method for transmitting information, comprising:

providing a first video signal for display on a first screen area of a first device;

providing a second video signal for display on a second screen area of the first device;

providing a first audio signal to the first device;

providing a second audio signal to a second device;

receiving an audio toggle command;

in response to receiving the audio toggle command, providing the second audio signal to the first device; and

further in response to receiving the audio toggle command, providing the first audio signal to the second device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating the first video signal and the first audio signal; and

generating the second video signal and the second audio signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the operation of separating the second set of information comprises:

receiving the second set of information as a single signal including both the second video signal and second audio signal modulated together; and

demodulating the second video signal from the second audio signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second format is a radio frequency.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the second audio signal is converted from a first format to a second format; and

the second audio signal is provided to the second device in the second format.