Multi-channel audio enhancement for television

• US 9,560,304 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Seidel, Craig Howard, Sisson, Coleman Dale Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/242,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 725 28- 31, 725 37- 61, 725 87-118, 725136-139, 709217-232, 348/461, 348/462, 348/468, 348/569
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 for digital sound signals

Abstract

A comprehensive mechanism is provided for broadcasting and accessing multiple audio sources in connection with the viewing of a television program. Audio is collected through the use of standard audio capture techniques. Next, the audio is distributed by either of in-band via broadcast or out-of-band techniques. In-band audio is preferably provided via an MPEG stream associated with the current television program. Out-of-band (OOB) audio can be broadcast as well, although it is preferable to select which channel is distributed upstream first, rather than broadcast all channels downstream and consume bandwidth for unselected audio. The viewer operates a set top box to select the appropriate audio channel(s) for reproduction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a multiplexed signal comprising a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata comprising rating information, wherein each of the plurality of audio signals is associated with a corresponding rating of the rating information;

receiving a selection of an audio signal of the plurality of audio signals; and

causing output of the video signal and the selected audio signal in response to a determination that the selected audio signal corresponds to an approved selection, based on a rating associated with the selected audio signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the metadata to obtain a description of audio content of each of the plurality of audio signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the description of audio content indicates that a first audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a first person and that a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a second person.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of audio signals are encoded as MPEG signals.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting preference information based on input information or on viewing preferences to assist a user in selecting the audio signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preference information provides information for prioritizing an order of titles of two or more of the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information for simultaneous presentation of the titles in the order.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

prioritizing an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information; and

causing presentation of the audio signal list.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

culling an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information; and

causing presentation of the audio signal list.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, a content asset that comprises a video signal, that comprises a plurality of audio signals, and that comprises metadata comprising rating information, wherein each of the plurality of audio signals is associated with corresponding metadata of the metadata comprising rating information;

determining, based on the metadata, a subset of the plurality of audio signals;

receiving a selection of an audio signal of the subset of the plurality of audio signals; and

outputting, by a processor, the video signal and the selected audio signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

decoding, by a decoder, the content asset from a multiplexed signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata further comprises at least one of a description of the audio signal, information identifying the audio signal, and control information for use in processing the audio signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing the metadata to obtain a description of audio content of each of the plurality of audio signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the description provides information for prioritizing an order of titles of two or more of the audio signals based on viewer preferences for simultaneous presentation of the titles in the order.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio signals are encoded as MPEG signals.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

collecting preference information based on at least one of input information and viewing preferences, wherein the determining is further based on the preference information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

culling an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information; and

causing presentation of the audio signal list.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing presentation of the subset of the plurality of audio signals.

18. A method comprising:

receiving a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata, wherein each of the plurality of audio signals is associated with corresponding metadata;

determining, based on a user preference and the metadata, a subset of the plurality of audio signals;

causing output of a selectable audio feature comprising the subset of the plurality of audio signals;

receiving a selection of an audio signal of the subset of the plurality of audio signals; and

causing output of the video signal and the selected audio signal.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining the user preference based on user input received from a user input device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the metadata comprises rating information and wherein the determining the subset of the plurality of audio signals comprises determining the subset based on the ratings information.