System and method for providing user-definable audio indicators for multimedia channel selections

Abstract

A method includes providing a user interface to a set-top box. The user interface facilitates an association of an audio indicator with a channel selection action. The method includes receiving, via the user interface at the set-top box, a first user input indicating an association of a selected audio indicator with a selected channel selection action. The method also includes providing the selected audio indicator for audible output via the set-top box in response to receiving a second user input corresponding to the selected channel selection action.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a user interface to a set-top box, the user interface to facilitate an association of an audio indicator with a channel selection action;   receiving, via the user interface at the set-top box, a first user input indicating an association of a selected audio indicator with a selected channel selection action; and   providing the selected audio indicator for audible output via the set-top box in response to receiving a second user input corresponding to the selected channel selection action.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a plurality of audio indicators, wherein the first user input comprises a user selection of the selected audio indicator from the plurality of audio indicators, and wherein the selected audio indicator is associated with the channel selection action based on the first user input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a particular audio indicator of the plurality of audio indicators comprises audio recorded via a microphone of the set-top box. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the selected audio indicator comprises sending an audio signal associated with the selected audio indicator to a speaker of the set-top box. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the selected audio indicator comprises sending an audio signal associated with the selected audio indicator to a display device coupled to the set-top box. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected audio indicator relays an instruction to access a channel associated with the selected channel selection action. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel selection action includes activation of a previous channel button of a remote control device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel selection action includes activation of a channel up button of a remote control device or activation of a channel down button of the remote control device. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform operations including:
 receiving user input indicating a selection to display a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels;   determining an audio indicator associated with the first multimedia channel, wherein the audio indicator includes a first audio portion that identifies the first multimedia channel and a second audio portion associated with a characteristic of the first multimedia channel; and   providing the audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic includes a content rating level. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic includes a category of media content. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the first audio portion includes a channel number associated with the first multimedia channel. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the first audio portion includes a station affiliation identifier associated with the first multimedia channel. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the second audio portion is a request for a password and wherein access to the first multimedia channel is password restricted. 
     
     
         15 . A set-top box device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving user input indicating a selection to display a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display; 
 determining an audio indicator associated with the first multimedia channel, wherein the audio indicator includes a first audio portion that identifies the first multimedia channel and a second audio portion associated with a characteristic of the first multimedia channel; and 
 providing the audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel. 
   
     
     
         16 . The set-top box device of  claim 15 , wherein the audio indicator includes a third audio portion associated with selection of the first multimedia channel via a remote control device. 
     
     
         17 . The set-top box device of  claim 16 , wherein the third audio portion is a particular sound that is output in response to detecting a sequence of buttons of the remote control device actuated to select the first multimedia channel. 
     
     
         18 . The set-top box device of  claim 15 , wherein the audio indicator includes a third audio portion associated with a second characteristic of the first multimedia channel. 
     
     
         19 . The set-top box device of  claim 15 , further comprising a microphone, wherein the second audio portion is recorded via the microphone. 
     
     
         20 . The set-top box device of  claim 15 , further comprising a speaker, wherein providing the audio indicator comprises sending the audio indicator to the speaker.