System and method for providing a printing capability for a transcription service or multimedia presentation

Abstract

A system and method for providing a printing capability using peripheral or stand-alone devices are disclosed. In the system and method, portions of a multimedia presentation, transcribed text, or both are output to a printing device. In the preferred embodiment, transcribed text is output to a fax machine by means of a Real Time Transcription Fax Server, which can also interleave other material into the fax output, and/or synchronize the fax output with other devices, such as monitors and speakers.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A system for providing a printing capability for a multimedia presentation, comprising: 
 a printing means;    at least one display means for displaying a video signal from the multimedia presentation;    at least one speaker for playing an audio signal of the multimedia presentation; and    a real time multimedia (RTM) print server;    wherein said RTM print server receives data output from said multimedia presentation and translates it into a format compatible with said printing means.    
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the multimedia presentation is played back from a computer-readable medium.  
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the multimedia presentation is broadcast in real time.  
   
   
       21 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the RTM print server comprises: 
 an Input/Output (I/O) communication module for providing an interface with the multimedia presentation and the printing means;    a Fax Connection Module for maintaining an active connection with the printing means;    a Multimedia Integration Module (MIM) for integrating video, images, or graphics into output on the printing means;    a Multimedia Synchronization Module (MSM) for synchronizing multimedia signals with output on the printing means; and    a Control Module for controlling a printing process, for directing signals to either the MSM or MIM, for storing user preferences, and for storing information about at least one printing means.    
   
   
       22 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a transcription service for producing transcribed text is provided with the multimedia presentation, the RTM print server further comprising: 
 an Audio Fragment Management Module (FMM) for buffering transcribed text into fragments and sending said fragments to be printed on the printing means;    wherein said MIM integrates transcribed text into output on the printing means; and    wherein said MSM synchronizes transcribed text which is output on the printing means with other signals.    
   
   
       23 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the printing means is a fax machine, and the Fax Communication Module maintains an active communication link by sending delay frames to the fax machine.  
   
   
       24 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the MIM comprises: 
 a Continuous-to-Discrete (C/D) Translator for receiving a continuously streaming video signal, for creating still images based on C/D Translator criteria, and for outputting said still images to an Image Buffer;    the Image Buffer for receiving still images, graphics, or diagrams, for storing said still images, graphics, or diagrams, and for outputting said still images, graphics, or diagrams to the printing means when an Interleaver directs it to do so; and    the Interleaver for interleaving still images, graphics, or diagrams between transcribed text on the printing means by directing the Image Buffer when to send still images, graphics, or diagrams to the printing means and by receiving transmission information from the FMM;    wherein said C/D Translator criteria comprises at least one of a time interval between snapshots, a location to crop a smaller still image inside a video image, a resolution for the still image, and a printed size for the still image on output from the printing means.    
   
   
       25 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the MSM comprises: 
 a Signal Separator for separating out an audio and a video signal from a multimedia input signal; and    a Synchronizer for receiving said separated audio and video signals, for time-aligning, if necessary, said separated audio and video signals, and for synchronizing said separated audio and video signals with transcribed text output from the FMM.    
   
   
       26 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the granularity of fragments buffered by the FMM is adjustable, and ranges from words to complete sentences; and further wherein the FMM keeps each fragment whole on a single page.  
   
   
       27 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one display means comprises at least one of a computer monitor, a television screen, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) display, and a display in an embedded device.  
   
   
       28 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the output from said multimedia presentation, which is translated by the RTM print server into a format compatible with said printing means, comprises at least one of: 
 an image, graphic, or diagram accompanying the multimedia presentation;    a form to be filled out by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation;    a test to be taken by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation; and    material on which a user is to make notations in concert with the multimedia presentation.    
   
   
       29 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the Control Module has a Graphical User Interface (GUI) module which provides a graphical interface on a display, wherein the GUI allows a user to input control parameters and preferences concerning real-time transcription.  
   
   
       30 - 39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . A method for providing a printing capability for a multimedia presentation, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving information concerning at least one printing means;    receiving a user's instructions and parameters concerning a multimedia presentation;    receiving output from the multimedia presentation;    translating the output into a format compatible with the at least one printing means; and    maintaining an active connection with the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       41 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the multimedia presentation is broadcast in real time.  
   
   
       42 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the multimedia presentation is played back from a computer-readable medium.  
   
   
       43 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the translating step comprises the sub-step of: 
 integrating video, images, or graphics into with transcribed text output from a transcription service on the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       44 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the translating step comprising the sub-step of: 
 synchronizing multimedia signals with the multimedia output on the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       45 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the maintaining an active connection with the at least one printing means step comprises the sub-step of: 
 maintaining an active communication link by sending delay frames to the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       46 . The method as recited in  claim 43 , wherein the integrating sub-step comprises the steps of: 
 receiving a continuously streaming video signal;    creating still images from the continuously streaming video signal based on still image criteria;    outputting said still images to an Image Buffer;    storing still images, graphics, or diagrams in an Image Buffer;    interleaving stored still images, graphics, or diagrams between transcribed text as output on the at least one printing means;    wherein said still image criteria comprises at least one of a time interval between still images, a location to crop a smaller still image inside a video image, a resolution for the still image, and a printed size for the still image in output from the printing means.    
   
   
       47 . The method as recited in  claim 44 , wherein the synchronizing sub-step comprises the steps of: 
 separating out an audio and a video signal from a multimedia input signal;    time-aligning, if necessary, said separated audio and video signals; and    synchronizing said separated audio and video signals with transcribed text in output from the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       48 . The method as recited in  claim 43 , wherein a transcription service is provided with the multimedia presentation, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 buffering transcribed text into fragments; and    sending said fragments to be printed on the at least one printing means;    wherein said integrating step integrates transcribed text into output on the printing means.    
   
   
       49 . The method as recited in  claim 44 , wherein a transcription service is provided with the multimedia presentation, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 buffering transcribed text into fragments; and    sending said fragments to be printed on the at least one printing means;    wherein said synchronizing step synchronizes transcribed text with output on the printing means.    
   
   
       50 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a video signal from a multimedia presentation on at least one displaying means; and    playing an audio signal of the multimedia presentation on at least one speaker;    wherein the transcription is part of said multimedia presentation; and    wherein the at least one displaying means comprises at least one of a computer monitor, a television screen, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) display, and a display in an embedded device.    
   
   
       51 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the output from said multimedia presentation, which is translated into a form that is compatible with said printing means, comprises at least one of: 
 an image, graphic, or diagram accompanying the multimedia presentation;    a form to be filled out by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation;    a test to be taken by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation; and    material on which a user is to make notations in concert with the multimedia presentation.    
   
   
       52 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a display, said GUI allowing a user to input control parameters and preferences concerning the multimedia presentation.    
   
   
       53 - 62 . (canceled)  
   
   
       63 . A computer system for providing a printing capability for a multimedia presentation, the computer system comprising: 
 at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that receives information concerning at least one printing means;    code that receives a user's instructions and parameters concerning a multimedia presentation;    code that receives output from the multimedia presentation;    code that translates the output into a format compatible with the at least one printing means; and    code that maintains an active connection with the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       64 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the multimedia presentation is broadcast in real time.  
   
   
       65 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the multimedia presentation is played back from at least one computer-readable medium.  
   
   
       66 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the code that translates comprises: 
 code that integrates video, images, or graphics into the multimedia output on the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       67 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the code that translates comprises: 
 code that synchronizes multimedia signals with the multimedia output on the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       68 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the code that maintains an active connection with the at least one printing means step comprises: 
 code that maintains an active communication link by sending delay frames to the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       69 . The computer system as recited in  claim 66 , wherein the code that integrates comprises: 
 code that receives a continuously streaming video signal;    code that creates still images from the continuously streaming video signal based on still image criteria;    code that outputs said still images to an Image Buffer;    code that stores still images, graphics, or diagrams in an Image Buffer;    code that interleaves stored still images, graphics, or diagrams between transcribed text as output on the at least one printing means;    wherein said still image criteria comprises at least one of a time interval between still images, a location to crop a smaller still image inside a video image, a resolution for the still image, and a printed size for the still image in output from the printing means.    
   
   
       70 . The computer system as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the code that synchronizes comprises: 
 code that separates out an audio and a video signal from a multimedia input signal;    code that time-aligns, if necessary, said separated audio and video signals; and    code that synchronizes said separated audio and video signals with transcribed text in output from the at least one printing means.    
   
   
       71 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein a transcription service is provided with the multimedia presentation, further comprising: 
 at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that buffers transcribed text into fragments;    code that sends said fragments to be printed on the at least one printing means; and    code that receives a user's instructions and parameters concerning a multimedia presentation;    wherein said integrating code integrates transcribed text into output on the printing means.    
   
   
       72 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein a transcription service is provided with the multimedia presentation, further comprising: 
 at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that buffers transcribed text into fragments;    code that sends said fragments to be printed on the at least one printing means; and    code that receives a user's instructions and parameters concerning a multimedia presentation;    wherein said synchronizing code synchronizes transcribed text with output on the printing means.    
   
   
       73 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , further comprising: 
 at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that displays a video signal from a multimedia presentation on at least one display means; and    code that plays an audio signal of the multimedia presentation on at least one speaker;    wherein the at least one display means comprises at least one of a computer monitor, a television screen, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) display, and a display in an embedded device.    
   
   
       74 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the output from said multimedia presentation, which is translated into a form compatible with said printing means, comprises at least one of: 
 an image, graphic, or diagram accompanying the multimedia presentation;    a form to be filled out by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation;    a test to be taken by a user in concert with the multimedia presentation; and    material on which a user is to make notations in concert with the multimedia presentation.    
   
   
       75 . The computer system as recited in  claim 63 , further comprising: 
 at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a display, said GUI allowing a user to input control parameters and preferences concerning the multimedia presentation.    
   
   
       76 - 82 . (canceled)  
   
   
       83 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 at least one other printing means;    wherein the MSM synchronizes transcribed text to be output on the printing means and the at least one other printing means.    
   
   
       84 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a processor running fax software;    a display means operatively connected to said processor; and    a real time multimedia (RTM) presentation server;    wherein said RTM presentation server receives data output from said multimedia presentation and translates it into a format compatible with said fax emulation software.    
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising the steps of: 
 running fax emulation software on a processor;    receiving information concerning a display means, said display means operatively connected to said processor;    translating the output into a format compatible with the fax emulation software; and    maintaining an active connection with the fax emulation software.    
   
   
       86 . The computer system of  claim 63 , the computer system further comprising: 
 the at least one computer-readable medium including:    code that emulates a fax machine, said emulation including code that displays received fax data on a display means;    code that receives information concerning said display means;    code that translates the output into a format compatible with the code that emulates a fax machine; and    code that maintains an active connection with the code that emulates a fax machine.