Set Top Box Text Service Display During Audio Muting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of digital set top boxes with analog TVs cannot display closed captioning text when muting a television program, as set top boxes do not react to volume muting commands and older TVs are not equipped to receive EIA-708 based text services, leading to a lack of text presentation during audio muting.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically matches and optimizes audio and video states between connected multimedia devices, allowing for the automatic display of text services during audio muting by transmitting control commands through a network interface, enabling seamless communication and operation between audio and video devices without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a digital set top box is used with an analog television to receive digital television signals, then cost is reduced, but the ability to display EIA-708 closed captioning text during audio muting is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network interface as an intermediary component that enables communication between the set top box and display device. This mediator transmits control commands and state information, allowing the analog television system to achieve EIA-708 text display capability during muting without requiring expensive HDTV hardware upgrades.
2Device complexity
If the set top box is designed as a fixed volume device, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect audio muting commands and trigger text service display is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the display device monitors its own audio output state and automatically adjusts text service display accordingly. When the display device detects that audio output has been muted, it automatically activates text service display without requiring complex volume control circuitry in the set top box.
3Adaptability or versatility
If audio and video devices are physically separated and networked together, then device versatility is improved, but communication about audio muting state and text service activation becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The network interface acts as a mediator that bridges physically separated audio and video devices. It transmits audio output state information from the display device to the set top box and relays text service control commands back, ensuring that muting state information is not lost despite physical separation of components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling two devices, separated from each other, during an audio muting mode operation. A control device causes an audio device to become muted during the audio muting mode. The control device also causes a video device to output a text service during the duration of the audio muting mode. Preferably, the text service corresponds to the audio portion of a media service.