Carrier-Based Active Text Enhancement for Broadcast Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content enhancement techniques for broadcast television, such as closed captioning standards, are limited in supporting rich content applications, video content, software applications, and second screen integration, failing to provide a comprehensive and flexible user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of carrier-based active text enhancement (CATE) signals embedded within timed text streams, which can activate auxiliary content like video clips, interactive features, and software applications on primary and secondary displays, leveraging SMPTE-TT format and XML-like structures for enhanced flexibility and data representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional closed captioning standards are used for content enhancement, then basic text display is achieved, but support for rich content applications, video content, and interactive features is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The timed text system is enhanced to serve multiple functions beyond basic captioning. The CATE signals embedded within timed text streams enable the system to activate auxiliary content, trigger software applications, reference video clips, and provide interactive features while maintaining backward compatibility with traditional closed captioning standards. This multi-functional approach allows a single infrastructure to support diverse content types including text, video, audio, and interactive elements.
2Quantity of substance
If legacy enhancement systems are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but the amount and type of content that can be supported is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Carrier-based active text enhancement (CATE) signals are nested within existing timed text streams, which themselves are embedded in broadcast television signals. This nested structure allows the system to carry multiple layers of information - from basic captioning to rich interactive content - without requiring separate transmission channels. The CATE signals are embedded as elements within the timed text markup language structure, enabling compact encoding of complex content enhancement capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If timed text with CATE signals is implemented, then flexible content referencing and rich user experience are achieved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by embedding CATE signals within timed text streams during content production and transmission. Set-top boxes and receivers are pre-configured with the necessary software applications and content reference data. When CATE signals are received, the processing is simplified because the heavy lifting of content preparation and application loading has already been done in advance, allowing for faster and more efficient real-time activation of auxiliary content.
Data Source
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AI summary
Auxiliary or enhanced features associated with broadcast television programs are activated using carrier-based active text enhancement (CATE) signals embedded within timed text (TT) associated with the broadcast program. The active text enhancements can be interpreted by the viewer's set top box (STB) or other receiver to activate software applications, video clips, imagery, uniform resource locators (URLs), interactive interface features or the like on either or both of primary or secondary displays. Timed text enhancements can flexibly reference different types of content to provide richer and more powerful viewer experiences for the viewer.