System and method for providing user-definable audio indicators for multimedia channel selections

• US 8,751,931 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEFFINGTON, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US11/269,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20070107037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,137 Days
• Field of Search: 715/714, 715/710, 715/728, 715/729, 715/743, 715/859
• US Class Current: 715/710
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method includes receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display. The method further includes determining a first user-selected audio indicator associated with the first multimedia channel. The method additionally includes providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel. Another method includes providing a user interface to facilitate an association of one or more audio indicators with one or more corresponding channel selection actions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display;

determining a first audio indicator, wherein the first audio indicator represents a voice associated with a content rating level of the first multimedia channel, wherein different voices are associated with different content rating levels, and wherein the voice represents a voice of a child when the content rating level is associated with child type content; and

providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output before switching to the first multimedia channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output after switching to the first multimedia channel.

4. A method comprising:

receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display;

determining a first audio indicator, wherein the first audio indicator represents a voice associated with a content rating level of the first multimedia channel, wherein different voices are associated with different content rating levels, and wherein the voice represents a voice of a teenager when the content rating level is associated with teenage type content; and

providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output before switching to the first multimedia channel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output after switching to the first multimedia channel.

7. A method comprising:

receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display;

determining a first audio indicator, wherein the first audio indicator represents a voice associated with a content rating level of the first multimedia channel, wherein different voices are associated with different content rating levels, and wherein the voice represents a voice of an adult when the content rating level is associated with adult type content; and

providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output before switching to the first multimedia channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first audio indicator includes an instruction to enter a password to access the first multimedia channel.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output after switching to the first multimedia channel.

11. A method comprising:

receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display;

determining a first audio indicator, wherein the first audio indicator represents a voice associated with a content rating level of the first multimedia channel, and wherein different voices are associated with different content rating levels; and

providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator represents an audible description of the content rating level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the audible description of the content rating level represents a “

G,”

“

PG,”

“

PG-13,”

“

R,”

or “

NR”

content level for film.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the audible description of the content rating level represents a “

Y,”

“

Y7,”

“

PG,”

“

14,”

or “

MA”

content level for television.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a selection of a second multimedia channel;

determining a second audio indicator associated with a content rating level of the second multimedia channel; and

providing the second audio indicator for audible output in response to the user input indicating the selection of the second multimedia channel, wherein the second audio indicator represents the voice associated with the content rating level of the first multimedia channel when the content rating level of the second multimedia channel is the same as the content rating level of the first multimedia channel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first audio indicator represents a second voice different than the voice when the content rating level of the second multimedia channel is different than the content rating level of the first multimedia channel.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel comprises one of user input representative of a selection of a next multimedia channel in a sequence of multimedia channels, a selection of a previous multimedia channel in the sequence of multimedia channels, and a selection of a specific channel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the selection of a next multimedia channel in a sequence of multimedia channels includes a selection of a “

channel up button.”

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the selection of a previous multimedia channel in a sequence of multimedia channels includes a selection of a “

channel down button.”

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator is determined in response to the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator is determined prior to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator represents a warning based on the content rating level.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the warning identifies a restricted content rating level.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the warning identifies a parental guidance suggested content rating level.

25. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator relays instructions based on the content rating level.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the instructions include directions to enter a password when parental control is enabled.

27. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator includes a combination of audio indicators.

28. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output before switching to the first multimedia channel.

29. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output during switching to the first multimedia channel.

30. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio indicator is provided as audible output after switching to the first multimedia channel.