Matrix code-based accessibility

• US 8,931,031 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Germar
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/034,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 61, 725131-134, 725139-142, 725 78- 82, 709217-232, 348/461, 348/465, 348/478, 348/552, 348/564, 348/734, 455/3.06, 4555561- 2
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• 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 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

A method of presenting a matrix code for providing accessibility content includes receiving, at a content receiver, a signal carrying accessibility content, generating, at the content receiver, a matrix code from the accessibility content, and transmitting the matrix code as part of a content presentation to a presentation device for display, wherein the content presentation includes at least one of audio and visual content and the accessibility content includes an alternative form of at least one of the audio and the visual content for allowing a user to more fully comprehend the content presentation. Systems for implementing the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a matrix code for providing accessibility content, comprising:

receiving, at a content receiver, a signal carrying the accessibility content;

generating, at the content receiver, a matrix code from the accessibility content;

receiving a user indication requesting the accessibility content; and

transmitting the matrix code as part of a content presentation to a presentation device for display in response to the user indication,

wherein;

the content presentation includes at least one of audio and visual content; and

the accessibility content includes an alternative form of at least one of the audio and the visual content for allowing a user to more fully comprehend the content presentation, wherein the accessibility content provides visual information regarding the content presentation, and wherein the visual information includes a narration of the visual aspects of the content presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal carrying accessibility content includes the content presentation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user indication includes a user-indicated configuration.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user-indicated configuration includes at least one of a size of the matrix code on the presentation device and a position of the matrix code on the presentation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual information is provided in a format for use with a Braille writer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessibility content provides audio information regarding the content presentation.

7. A system, comprising:

an input that receives a broadcast signal carrying accessibility content;

a processor that receives the broadcast signal, generates a matrix code that includes the accessibility content, and receives a user indication requesting the accessibility content wherein the accessibility content provides visual information regarding a content presentation, and wherein the visual information includes a narration of the visual aspects of the content presentation; and

an output that transmits the matrix code to a presentation device for display in response to receiving the user indication.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content receiver is a connected and integral part of the presentation device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor compiles the audiovisual content and matrix code visual stream to suitably display the matrix code visual stream together with the audiovisual content.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to read or decode the matrix codes from the broadcast signal and arrange the matrix codes relative to the audiovisual content.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to output the matrix codes in place of the visual aspect of the audiovisual content.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to develop matrix codes from a data stream including accessibility content and group portions of the accessibility content for the matrix codes.

13. A system, comprising:

an optical device configured to capture a matrix code presented with an audiovisual presentation;

a processor in communication with the optical device configured to receive the matrix code from the optical device and transform the matrix code into accessibility data readable by the accessibility device, wherein the accessibility data provides visual information regarding a content presentation, and wherein the visual information includes a narration of the visual aspects of the content presentation; and

an accessibility device interface component in communication with an accessibility device and the processor configured to output the accessibility data to the accessibility device, the accessibility device comprising a Braille writer and providing accessibility information comprising the narration of the visual aspects of the content presentation to a user based on the received accessibility data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical device captures the matrix code responsive to a user input.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical device captures a plurality of matrix codes, responsive to the user input, each of the matrix codes associated with a portion of the accessibility information related to the audiovisual content.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the accessibility device, the optical device and the accessibility device interface component are integrated into a single device.