Text-Based Assistive Program Descriptions for Television
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for providing media content to the aurally or visually impaired, such as closed captioning and audio-based video descriptions, are time-consuming, expensive, and bandwidth-intensive, leading to inefficiencies and limitations in accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating and distributing text-based assistive program descriptions that synchronizes stage directions with closed captioning streams, using script-based parsing and synchronizing algorithms, and converting audio descriptions to text using voice recognition, to provide time-synchronous and accurate content with reduced bandwidth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio-based video description services are used to provide complete media content to visually impaired users, then accessibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts audio-based video descriptions into text-based descriptions, fundamentally changing the parameter of the assistive content from auditory to textual form. This parameter change enables the content to be transmitted through existing closed captioning infrastructure, dramatically reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining accessibility for visually impaired users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the closed captioning system multi-functional by enabling it to carry both traditional closed captioning content and video description content simultaneously. This universality allows the same transmission channel to serve multiple purposes, eliminating the need for separate bandwidth allocation for video descriptions.
2Manufacturing precision
If narrators record audio tracks during live production to provide video descriptions, then detail and accuracy are improved, but production complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of live narration recording with an automated text-based system. Instead of requiring narrators to speak in real-time, the system automatically generates and transmits text descriptions, eliminating the complexity of coordinating live narration with video playback while maintaining accuracy through structured text generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing video descriptions to be generated and transmitted automatically without requiring human narrators during live production. The text-based system serves itself by utilizing existing script data and automated processing to create accurate descriptions.
3Manufacturing precision
If narrators view entire productions and record audio tracks to create video descriptions, then accuracy is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing text-based video descriptions in advance using automated processes, rather than requiring narrators to view and record during or after production. The system pre-processes script data to generate accurate text descriptions before the actual video broadcast, significantly reducing production time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the time-consuming mechanical process of narrators viewing entire productions and recording audio tracks with an automated text generation system. This substitution eliminates the need for manual narration recording while preserving accuracy through structured text processing of script data.
4Quantity of substance
If text-based descriptions are transmitted through closed captioning channels, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but system compatibility challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the universality of the closed captioning system by enabling it to handle both traditional closed captioning content and video description content through the same channel. This multi-functionality resolves compatibility issues by making the existing infrastructure adaptable to the new text-based video description format without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the closed captioning system flexible and adaptable to carry different types of content (traditional captions and video descriptions) interchangeably. The system can dynamically switch between or combine different content types, enhancing compatibility across various platforms and devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a system and method of producing time-synchronous textual descriptions of stage directions in live or pre-recorded productions to provide assistive program descriptions to visually-impaired consumers, a processor may parse stage directions from a production script and synchronize the parsed stage directions with closed captioning streams. The method may include viewing a live or pre-recorded production, creating textual descriptions of the stage directions using a stenography system, and outputting the textual descriptions to a separate output stream than that of dialogue descriptions. In addition, the method may include creating audio descriptions of the stage directions, and converting the audio descriptions to textual descriptions of the stage directions using a voice-recognition system. Further, the method may include distributing the synchronized stage directions, and receiving and decoding the synchronized stage directions using a text-based system.