Multi-lingual audio streaming

• US 9,756,376 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Sherisse, Osminer, Matthew, Cholas, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US15/209,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

Digital video data and digital multiple-audio data are extracted from a source, using a hardware processor in a content source device within a premises. The extracted digital video data is processed for display on a main display device in the premises; and the extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into a primary soundtrack in a primary language, to be listened to within the premises in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data. The primary soundtrack corresponds to the displayed extracted digital video data, in the primary language. The extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into at least one secondary audio asset, different than the primary soundtrack; and the at least one secondary audio asset is transmitted to a personal media device within the premises, for apprehension by a user of the personal media device in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

processing, by a content source device within a premises, digital video data for display on a main display device in said premises;

processing, by said content source device, digital multiple-audio data into a primary soundtrack in a primary language, to be listened to within said premises in synchronization with said digital video data displayed by said main display device, said primary soundtrack corresponding to said displayed digital video data, in said primary language;

introducing a delay in said digital video data for display on said main display device and in said primary soundtrack in said primary language, wherein said delay is controlled by said content source device using feedback received by said content source device from a personal media device;

processing said digital multiple-audio data into at least one secondary audio asset, different than said primary soundtrack; and

transmitting said at least one secondary audio asset to said personal media device within said premises, wherein said delay of said displayed digital video data and said primary soundtrack is synchronized to a playback of said at least one secondary audio asset by said personal media device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting as packets addressed to said personal media device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting said at least one secondary audio asset comprises transmitting non-compressed pulse code modulated audio wrapped in IP frames.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one secondary audio asset transmitted in said transmitting step comprises at least one of:

a secondary soundtrack in a secondary language, said secondary soundtrack corresponding to said displayed digital video data, in said secondary language; and

a descriptive audio track.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one secondary audio asset transmitted in said transmitting step comprises subtitles for display on said personal media device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein in said transmitting step, said subtitles transmitted for display on said personal media device comprise subtitles, in a language other than said primary language, corresponding to said displayed digital video data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, at said content source device, a menu selection from said personal media device, said menu selection specifying a chosen form of said second audio asset.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing, to said personal media device, from said content source device, a representation of a menu from which said menu selection can be made, said representation of said menu comprising data indicative of available forms of said second audio asset.