Advanced set top terminal having a program pause feature with voice-to-text conversion

• US 7,293,279 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Asmussen, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/609,285
• Time in Patent Office: 2,685 Days
• Field of Search: 725/102, 725/55, 725/100
• US Class Current: 725/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A system for automatically pausing a video program in response to detection of the occurrence of a audio communications event or triggering event. In response to an incoming phone call, message, web page, or other communications information, the system pauses the video program and displays an indication of the occurrence of the audio communications event. The system also buffers the video programming while paused, permitting a user to replay missed portions of the video programming. Alternatively, the system waits for a triggering event, which includes the user'"'"'s access to the audio communications event, in order to pause the video program. The audio (voice) portion of a phone call or voice mail message is converted to text for display to a recipient of the call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a video program;

outputting the video program for presentation to a user on a display device;

receiving a notification portion of an incoming audio communications event that originates remotely from the user, wherein the incoming audio communications event comprises the notification portion and an audio portion;

detecting by a processor the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event during the video program presentation;

pausing automatically the video program upon detecting the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event without any action by the user;

converting the audio portion of the incoming audio communications event to corresponding text for display; and

outputting a signal for displaying an indication of the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting step includes detecting an incoming phone call, an audio e-mail, a web page with an associated audio file, or a message with an associated audio file.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a telephone number associated with the incoming telephone call.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a text message associated with the telephone number.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a graphic associated with the telephone number.

6. The method of claim 2, further including:

receiving a voice mail message related to the telephone call;

converting the voice mail message to corresponding text; and

storing the text of the voice mail message.

7. The method of claim 6, further including storing the received voice mail message in audio form.

8. The method of claim 6, further including presenting the text of the voice mail message.

9. The method of claim 7, further including presenting the text and the audio form of the voice mail message.

10. The method of claim 1, further including displaying the corresponding text in a window overlayed on the paused video program.

11. The method of claim 2, further including initiating a call back of the telephone call.

12. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a play signal to restart the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the play signal, the video program for presentation on the display device starting at an approximate location where the video program was paused.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving a fast forward signal to increase a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the fast forward signal, video program at an increased rate for presentation of an increased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

14. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving a rewind signal to reverse a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the rewind signal, the video program at a reversed rate for presentation of a reversed rate of display of the video program on the display device.

15. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving a slow motion signal to decrease a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the slow motion signal, the video program at an decreased rate for presentation of a decreased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

16. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a frame forward signal to display a next frame of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the frame forward signal, a next frame of the video program for presentation of the next frame on the display device.

17. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a frame back signal to display a previous frame of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the frame back signal, a previous frame of the video program for presentation of the previous frame on the display device.

18. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving a jump signal to display the video program from a current point of transmission; and

transmitting, in response to the jump signal, the video program for presentation of the video program from the current point of transmission on the display device.

19. The method of claim 2, further including receiving information to associate with a particular phone number.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the receiving information step includes receiving textual information or graphical information.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the detecting step includes detecting occurrence of an incoming telephone call associated with the particular phone number; and

the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying the information associated with the particular phone number.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a module for receiving a video program and outputting the video program for presentation to a user on a display device;

a module for receiving a notification portion of an incoming audio communications event that originates remotely from the user, wherein the incoming audio communications event comprises the notification portion and an audio portion;

a detection module for detecting the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event during the video program presentation;

a pause module for pausing automatically the video program upon detecting the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event without any action by the user;

a conversion module for converting the audio portion of the incoming audio communications event to corresponding text for display; and

an output module for outputting a signal for displaying an indication of the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the detection module Includes a module for detecting an incoming phone call, an audio email, a web page with an associated audio file, or a message with an associated audio file.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the output module includes a module for outputting the signal for displaying a telephone number associated with the incoming telephone call.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the output module includes a module for outputting the signal for displaying a text message associated with the telephone number.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the output module includes a module for outputting the signal for displaying a graphic associated with the telephone number.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, further including:

a module for receiving a voice mail message related to the telephone call;

a module for converting the voice mail message to corresponding text; and

a module for storing the text of the voice mail message.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further including a module storing the received voice mail message in audio form.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further including a module for presenting the text of the voice mail message.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further including a module for presenting the text and the audio form of the voice mail message.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, further including a module for displaying the corresponding text in a window overlayed on the paused video program.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further including a module for initiating a call back of the telephone call.

33. The apparatus of claim 22, further including:

a module for receiving a play signal to restart the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the play signal, the video program for presentation on the display device starting at an approximate location where the video program was paused.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further including:

a module for receiving a fast forward signal to increase a rate of transmission of the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the fast forward signal, video program at an increased rate for presentation of an increased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further including:

a module for receiving a rewind signal to reverse a rate of transmission of the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the rewind signal, the video program at a reversed rate for presentation of a reversed rate of display of the video program on the display device.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, further including:

a module for receiving a slow motion signal to decrease a rate of transmission of the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the slow motion signal, the video program at an decreased rate for presentation of a decreased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

37. The apparatus of claim 22, further including:

a module for receiving a frame forward signal to display a next frame of the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the frame forward signal, a next frame of the video program for presentation of the next frame on the display device.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, further including:

a module for receiving a frame back signal to display a previous frame of the video program; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the frame back signal, a previous frame of the video program for presentation of the previous frame on the display device.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, further including;

a module for receiving a jump signal to display the video program from a current point of transmission; and

a module for transmitting, in response to the jump signal, the video program for presentation of the video program from the current point of transmission on the display device.

40. The apparatus of claim 23, further including a module for receiving information to associate with a particular phone number.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the module for receiving information includes a module for receiving textual information or graphical information.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein:

the detection module includes a module for detecting occurrence of an incoming telephone call associated with the particular phone number; and

the output module includes a module for outputting the signal for displaying the information associated with the particular phone number.

43. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method including;

receiving a video program;

outputting the video program for presentation to a user on a display device;

receiving a notification portion of an incoming audio communications event that originates remotely from the user, wherein the incoming audio communications event comprises the notification portion and an audio portion;

detecting by the computer system the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event during the video program presentation;

pausing automatically the video program upon detecting the receiving of the notification portion of the audio communications event without any action by the user;

converting the audio portion of the incoming audio communications event to corresponding text for display; and

outputting a signal for displaying an indication of the receiving of the notification portion of the incoming audio communications event.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the detecting step includes detecting an incoming phone call, an audio e-mail, a web page with an associated audio file, or a message with an associated audio file.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a telephone number associated with the incoming telephone call.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a text message associated with the telephone number.

47. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying a graphic associated with the telephone number.

48. The computer program product of claim 44, further including;

receiving a voice mail message related to the telephone call;

converting the voice mail message to corresponding text; and

storing the text of the voice mail message.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, further including storing the received voice mail message in audio form.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, further including presenting the text of the voice mail message.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, further including presenting the text and the audio form of the voice mail message.

52. The computer program product of claim 43, further including displaying the corresponding text in a window overlayed on the paused video program.

53. The computer program product of claim 43, further including initiating a call back of the telephone call.

54. The computer program product of claim 43, further including:

receiving a play signal to restart the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the play signal, the video program for presentation on the display device starting at an approximate location where the video program was paused.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, further including:

receiving a fast forward signal to increase a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the fast forward signal, video program at an increased rate for presentation of an increased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, further including:

receiving a rewind signal to reverse a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the rewind signal, the video program at a reversed rate for presentation of a reversed rate of display of the video program on the display device.

57. The computer program product of claim 54, further including:

receiving a slow motion signal to decrease a rate of transmission of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the slow motion signal, the video program at an decreased rate for presentation of a decreased rate of display of the video program on the display device.

58. The computer program product of claim 43, further including:

receiving a frame forward signal to display a next frame of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the frame forward signal, a next frame of the video program for presentation of the next frame on the display device.

59. The computer program product of claim 43, further including:

receiving a frame back signal to display a previous frame of the video program; and

transmitting, in response to the frame back signal, a previous frame of the video program for presentation of the previous frame on the display device.

60. The computer program product of claim 54, further including:

receiving a jump signal to display the video program from a current point of transmission; and

transmitting, in response to the jump signal, the video program for presentation of the video program from the current point of transmission on the display device.

61. The computer program product of claim 44, further including receiving information to associate with a particular phone number.

62. The computer program product of claim 61 wherein the receiving information step includes receiving textual information or graphical information.

63. The computer program product of claim 61 wherein:

the detecting step includes detecting occurrence of an incoming telephone call associated with the particular phone number; and

the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying the information associated with the particular phone number.