Closed Captioning Mute Synchronization via Viewer Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital television systems lack flexibility in closed captioning and audio mute control, offering only global modes that do not accommodate individual viewer preferences, limiting user customization and interaction.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a viewer profile database with customizable attributes for closed captioning and audio mute settings, allowing users to choose from various modes and interactions, including prompts for activating or deactivating closed captioning when muting or unmuting the audio, and enabling language translation, among others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If global closed captioning modes (always on, always off, or toggled with mute) are used, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot accommodate individual viewer preferences or provide customization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the global closed captioning control into individual viewer-specific profiles. Each viewer can have their own preferences stored in a database, allowing customized control of closed captioning and audio mute settings. This segmentation enables adaptability to individual preferences while maintaining a unified system architecture that manages multiple profiles efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different closed captioning modes based on viewer profile selections and real-time interactions. When a viewer selects a profile, the system dynamically applies that profile's preferred settings for closed captioning and audio mute synchronization, allowing the behavior to adapt dynamically to different users without requiring complex manual configuration each time.
2Ease of operation
If closed captioning is automatically invoked when audio is muted, then the synchronization between captioning and mute is simplified, but it does not allow viewer interaction or choice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces feedback mechanisms where the system presents dialog prompts to viewers when audio mute status changes. Instead of automatically invoking or disabling closed captioning, the system asks the viewer for their preference and uses that feedback to determine the subsequent action. This maintains ease of operation through automatic detection of mute status while adding viewer interaction and choice through the feedback loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting audio mute status changes and proactively presenting dialog prompts to viewers before automatically invoking or disabling closed captioning. This preliminary interaction allows viewers to express their preferences in advance, combining automatic synchronization with viewer choice by preparing the action based on detected state changes while awaiting user confirmation or selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dialog prompt is presented to the viewer for activating closed captioning on mute, then viewer choice and interaction are enabled, but the operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by presenting dialog prompts selectively rather than in all situations. The prompts are triggered only under specific conditions (e.g., when audio mute status changes and the viewer has interaction enabled in their profile), allowing viewer choice and interaction where needed while maintaining operational simplicity in other cases. This partial application of the dialog mechanism balances adaptability with ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention addresses the problem of causing closed captioning to be launched or not launched automatically when a viewer mutes the audio on a digital television. The current invention allows for individualized options associated with a particular viewer. These options can be selected from a plurality of options either manually or automatically as determined by the viewer settings or viewer behavior.