Caption data delivery apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A system for distribution of multimedia content and associated closed-caption data over a packet-switched network, the system comprising:
- a content source adapted to generate content including associated closed-caption data;
a caption data extractor unit;
a caption data server in data communication with said extractor unit;
a streaming server in data communication with said caption data server; and
at least one client device in data communication with said streaming server and said data server, said at least one client device configured to receive said media content from said streaming server and said caption data from said caption data server, and display the media content and caption data in a substantially synchronized form.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for efficiently and flexibly providing caption data (e.g., closed captioning) to subscribers of a content-based network, such as for example Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscribers. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a server performing real-time extraction and encapsulation of caption data, transport of caption data to client devices over the network, and use of one or more applications running on the client devices to decode and display the caption data consistent with the multimedia (audio/video) content with which it is associated. In one variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to authenticate clients and receive and display the caption data via a separate transport process. Server and client-side apparatus adapted for caption data receipt, decoding and display are also disclosed.
311 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for distribution of multimedia content and associated closed-caption data over a packet-switched network, the system comprising:
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a content source adapted to generate content including associated closed-caption data;
a caption data extractor unit;
a caption data server in data communication with said extractor unit;
a streaming server in data communication with said caption data server; and
at least one client device in data communication with said streaming server and said data server, said at least one client device configured to receive said media content from said streaming server and said caption data from said caption data server, and display the media content and caption data in a substantially synchronized form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a packet-switched network comprising at least one multimedia server configured to send multimedia programs, at least one data server different from the said multimedia server configured to send caption data associated with one or more of said multimedia programs, and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication with said servers, a method of delivering said caption data to one or more of said client devices, the method comprising:
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extracting said caption data from said one or more multimedia programs;
buffering said caption data for a first duration;
formatting said caption data in a format suitable for transport over the network; and
delivering said caption data to said one or more client devices over said network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Consumer equipment adapted for use within an IPTV network, comprising:
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a multimedia content decoder and display unit;
a computer program configured to determine the availability of caption data associated with said multimedia content;
a computer program configured to receive and decode said caption data;
a computer program configured to display said decoded caption data; and
a computer program configured to substantially synchronize said caption data with said multimedia content. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Network server apparatus for use in an IPTV broadcast network having a plurality of client devices, the apparatus comprising:
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an extraction unit configured to remove caption data from incoming television signals;
a storage unit configured to buffer said removed caption data;
a formatting unit configured to process said removed caption data; and
a delivery unit configured to deliver said caption data on said IPTV network to said client devices.
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20. In a packet-switched network comprising at least one multimedia server configured to send multimedia programs, at least one data server configured to send caption data associated with one or more of said multimedia programs, and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication with said servers, a method of delivering said caption data to one or more of said client devices, the method comprising:
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extracting said caption data from said one or more multimedia programs;
formatting said caption data in a format suitable for transport over the network;
delivering said one or more multimedia programs to said one or more client devices over a first transport stream associated with a first process running on said one or more client devices; and
delivering said caption data to said one or more client devices over a second transport stream different from the first and associated with a second process running on the same ones of said one or more client devices on which said first process is running.
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21. A method of doing business within content-based network comprising at least one server and a plurality of consumer premises equipment (CPE) in direct or indirect signal communication therewith, the method comprising:
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providing caption data services to a plurality of subscribers associated with respective ones of said plurality of CPE;
causing each of said CPE to possess an identifying parameter;
identifying user-selected content to be delivered to one or more of said CPE;
delivering said selected content to said one or more CPE; and
selectively delivering caption data to said one or more CPE, said selective delivery based at least in part on said identifying parameter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of delivering media content and caption data to a client device over a content-based packet-switched network, comprising:
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allocating said media content to a first transport stream different than, but substantially synchronized with, a second transport stream to which said caption data is allocated; and
processing said first and second streams using first and second software applications within said client device, said first and second applications providing for substantial synchronization between said media content and caption data. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of delivering media content and caption data to a client device a content-based packet-switched network, comprising:
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allocating said media content to a first transport stream different than, but substantially synchronized with, a second transport stream to which said caption data is allocated; and
processing said first and second streams to display said media content and said caption data simultaneously on the same display, said synchronization being provided by selectively delaying at least one of said first and second streams.
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32. A method of operating a network having a plurality of client devices, and at least one server adapted to provide closed caption (CC) data, in order to optimize bandwidth usage, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of CC data via said server;
at least periodically evaluating the need to provide said CC data to one or more of said client devices; and
based at least in part on said act of evaluating, selectively providing said CC data to ones of said client devices. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification