US5900908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for providing described television services
Assignee: National Captioning Institute Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-25
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Granted: 1999-05-04
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Expires: 2016-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for providing described television services includes a receiver for receiving description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; a text-to-speech converter for converting the description data into a speech signal corresponding to the description data; a memory device for receiving and storing the speech signal and a corresponding time code from the audiovisual program; a mixing circuit for retrieving the speech signal from the memory device and mixing the retrieved speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to produce a combined audio signal; and a transmitter for simultaneously providing the combined speech signal and the audiovisual program to a viewer. The apparatus provides the combined speech signal to the viewer via the SAP channel. The apparatus may also include a translator for translating the description data into a foreign language prior to converting the description data into the speech signal. A method for providing described television services includes the steps of generating description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; converting the description data to a speech signal corresponding to the description data; synchronizing the speech signal with the audiovisual program using a time code signal from the audiovisual program; mixing the synchronized speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to create a combined audio signal; and simultaneously transmitting the combined audio signal and the audiovisual program to the viewer.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Eric Kirkland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/006; H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/23614; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/432; H04N21/434; H04N21/4348; H04N21/435; H04N21/4355; H04N21/44; H04N21/4402; H04N21/440236; H04N21/47; H04N21/488; H04N21/4884; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8106; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/60; H04N7/00; H04N7/06; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N7/0885; H04N7/0887; H04N21/485; H04N21/4856; H04N5/04; H04N5/06; H04N5/067; H04N5/073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: description data receiving means for receiving description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; a translator for translating said description data into a foreign language; a text-to-speech converter for converting said description data into a speech signal corresponding to said description data; storage means for receiving and storing said speech signal and a corresponding time code signal from the audiovisual program; and a mixing circuit for mixing said retrieved speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program according to said time code signal to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: description data receiving means for receiving description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; a translator for translating said description data into a foreign language; a text-to-speech converter for converting said description data into a speech signal corresponding to said description data; storage means for receiving and storing said speech signal and a corresponding time code signal from the audiovisual program; and a mixing circuit for mixing said retrieved speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program according to said time code signal to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: a translator for translating description data into a foreign language; recording means for recording a speech signal corresponding to said description data for an audiovisual program; synchronizing means for synchronizing said speech signal with the audiovisual program using a time code signal from the audiovisual program; and a mixing circuit for mixing said synchronized speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: a translator for translating description data into a foreign language; recording means for recording a speech signal corresponding to said description data for an audiovisual program; synchronizing means for synchronizing said speech signal with the audiovisual program using a time code signal from the audiovisual program; and a mixing circuit for mixing said synchronized speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for providing described television services, comprising the steps of: generating description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; translating said description data into a foreign language; converting said description data to a speech signal corresponding to said description data; synchronizing said speech signal with the audiovisual program using a time code signal from the audiovisual program; and mixing said synchronized speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to create a combined audio signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for providing described television services, comprising the steps of: generating description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; translating said description data into a foreign language; converting said description data to a speech signal corresponding to said description data; synchronizing said speech signal with the audiovisual program using a time code signal from the audiovisual program; and mixing said synchronized speech signal with the audio track of the audiovisual program to create a combined audio signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for providing described television services comprising means for generating a description data signal, said description data signal representing descriptive data comprising auxiliary data transmitted for describing a non-verbal portion of an audiovisual program, means for marking said description data signal, means for inserting said marked description data signal into a channel for closed captioning data, and means for transmitting said closed captioning data channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for providing described television services comprising means for generating a description data signal, said description data signal representing descriptive data comprising auxiliary data transmitted for describing a non-verbal portion of an audiovisual program, means for marking said description data signal, means for inserting said marked description data signal into a channel for closed captioning data, and means for transmitting said closed captioning data channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said closed captioning data channel is simultaneously applied for closed captioning for the hearing-impaired.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said marking step comprises marking said description data differently from closed captioning data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said closed captioning data channel is a separate channel from one applied for closed captioning data for an audio portion of an audio-visual program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said description data receiving means is responsive to one of a marker for marking said description data or a separate channel from a closed caption data channel representing an audio portion of said audiovisual program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising one of a marking means for marking said descriptive data or receiving means responsive to a separate channel from a closed caption data channel representing an audio portion of said audiovisual program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of one of marking said description data or transmitting said description data on a separate channel from a closed caption data channel representing an audio portion of said audiovisual program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: a translator for translating description data for an audiovisual program into a foreign language, recording means for recording a speech signal corresponding to said translated description data for said audiovisual program, synchronizing means for synchronizing said speech signal with an audio track signal of said audiovisual program using a time code signal from said audiovisual program, and a mixing circuit for mixing said synchronized speech signal with said audio track signal of said audiovisual program to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for providing described television services, comprising: a translator for translating description data for an audiovisual program into a foreign language, recording means for recording a speech signal corresponding to said translated description data for said audiovisual program, synchronizing means for synchronizing said speech signal with an audio track signal of said audiovisual program using a time code signal from said audiovisual program, and a mixing circuit for mixing said synchronized speech signal with said audio track signal of said audiovisual program to produce a combined audio signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said description data comprises auxiliary data transmitted for describing the non-verbal portion of an audiovisual program.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-03 | 2002-11-02 | 2003-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-03 | 2006-11-02 | 2007-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-03 | 2010-11-02 | 2011-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |