Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance

• US 8,949,902 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ammann, Charles B., DeWeese, Toby, Fabian-Isaacs, Constance
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US13/191,621
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 725/40, 725/47, 725/52, 725/53
• US Class Current: 725/52
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance features are provided. A guidance application may provide listings displays having listings for audio-friendly content. The listings may be indicated as listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application may provide displays dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application provides audio-prompts describing display screens. The guidance application may determine a user'"'"'s identity from a voice command and provide personalized guidance features.

Claims

1. A method for providing audio-based guidance in a media guide, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of listings associated with a plurality of media items, the plurality of media items including at least one media item having audio-friendly characteristics that make the at least one media item desirable to users who have difficulties viewing or understanding the visual portion of such content, the plurality of media items including at least one media item not having the audio-friendly characteristics;

generating for display the plurality of listings associated with the plurality of media items;

receiving a user command to navigate to a listing associated with a first media item of the plurality of media items;

automatically determining whether the first media item has the audio-friendly characteristics; and

in response to receiving the user command, playing an audio notification when the first media item is determined to have the audio-friendly characteristics and not playing an audio notification when the first media item is determined not to have the audio-friendly characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying, if the first media item has audio-friendly characteristics, a graphical indicator that indicates that the first media item has audio-friendly characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user command is a voice command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of media items comprises one or more television-based programs; and

the audio characteristics of one or more television-based programs comprise audio tracks associated with the one or more television-based programs, wherein the audio tracks include audio information that describes visual portions of the one or more television-based programs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of media items comprises one or more Internet-delivered content items; and

the audio characteristics of the one or more Internet-delivered content items comprise audio clips or streams associated with the one or more Internet-delivered content items, wherein the audio clips or streams include audio information that describes visual portions of the one or more Internet-delivered content items.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio notification is a tone indicator or an audio prompt.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a user has enabled the media guide to provide the audio notification; and

providing the audio notification only when the user has enabled the media guide to provide the audio prompts.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the playing of the audio notification in response to a first voice command from the user; and

deactivating the playing of the audio notification in response to a second voice command from the user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user command to provide audio notifications at a reduced speed; and

providing the audio notifications at the reduced speed, in response to receiving the user-command to provide the audio notifications at the reduced speed.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user command to access the first media item; and

accessing the first media item in response to the user command to access the first media item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically determining whether the first media item has the audio-friendly characteristics, includes identifying an audio-friendly characteristics tag from data associated with the first media item.

12. A system for providing audio-based guidance in a media guide, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive a plurality of listings associated with a plurality of media items, the plurality of media items including at least one media item having audio-friendly characteristics that make the at least one media item desirable to users who have difficulties viewing or understanding the visual portion of such content, the plurality of media items including at least one media item not having the audio-friendly characteristics;

generate for display the plurality of listings associated with the plurality of media items;

receive a user command to navigate to a listing associated with a first media item of the plurality of media items;

automatically determine whether the first media item has the audio-friendly characteristic; and

in response to receiving the user command, play an audio notification when the first media item is determined to have the audio-friendly characteristics and not playing an audio notification when the first media item is determined not to have the audio-friendly characteristics.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display, if the first media item has audio-friendly characteristics, a graphical indicator that indicates that the first media item has audio-friendly characteristics.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein user command is a voice command.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of media items comprises one or more television-based programs; and

the audio characteristics of one or more television-based programs comprise audio tracks associated with the one or more television-based programs, wherein the audio tracks include audio information that describes visual portions of the one or more television-based programs.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of media items comprises one or more Internet-delivered content items; and

the audio characteristics of the one or more Internet-delivered content items comprise audio clips or streams associated with the one or more Internet-delivered content items, wherein the audio clips or streams include audio information that describes visual portions of the one or more Internet-delivered content items.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the audio notification is a tone indicator or an audio prompt.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether a user has enabled the media guide to provide the audio notification; and

provide the audio notification only when the user has enabled the media guide to provide the audio prompts.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to

activate the playing of the audio notification in response to a first voice command from the user;

and

deactivate the playing of the audio notification in response to a second voice command from the user.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user command to provide audio notifications at a reduced speed; and

provide the audio notifications at the reduced speed, in response to receiving the user-command to provide the audio notifications at the reduced speed.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user command to access the first media item; and

access the first media item in response to the user command to access the first media item.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify an audio-friendly characteristics tag from data associated with the first media item.