Multi-Channel Audio Enhancement for Television

Abstract

A comprehensive mechanism is provided for broadcasting and accessing multiple audio sources in connection with the viewing of a television program. In the preferred embodiment, the first step in providing audio is collecting the audio through the use of standard audio capture techniques. Next, the audio is distributed by either of in-band via broadcast or out-of-band techniques. In-band audio is preferably provided via an MPEG stream associated with the current television program. Out-of-band (OOB) audio can be broadcast as well, although it is preferable to select which channel is distributed upstream first, rather than broadcast all channels downstream and consume bandwidth for unselected audio. Thus, it is preferred that only the desired audio channel(s) are sent over the OOB channel. The audio is preferably tagged with metadata, such that information describing the audio accompanies each audio channel. This allows, for example, a description of the audio to be provided to the viewer as part of a selection mechanism (see below), and/or provides control information that is used by the system, for example to configure the system for a particular type of audio processing, e.g. DTS; display accompanying graphic information; such as an ad; or engage a viewer authentication/billing mechanism, for example to provide upstream information concerning the viewer's selections. With either system, the viewer operates a set top box to select the appropriate audio channel(s) and route the television audio to a television or to a separate amplifier and speakers for reproduction.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 receive a multiplexed signal comprising a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata comprising rating information for each of the plurality of audio signals; 
 receive a selection of an audio signal of the plurality of audio signals; and 
 cause output of the video signal and the selected audio signal in response to a determination, based on the rating information, that the selected audio signal corresponds to an approved selection. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the metadata further comprises a description of audio content of each of the plurality of audio signals. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the description of audio content indicates that a first audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a first source and that a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a second source. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the audio signals comprise Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) encoded signals. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine preference information based on input information or on viewing preferences to assist a user in selecting the audio signal.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the preference information comprises information for prioritizing an order of titles of two or more of the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information for simultaneous presentation of the titles in the order. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 prioritize an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals based on the preference information; and   cause presentation of the audio signal list.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 modify, based on the preference information, an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals to generate a modified audio signal list; and   cause presentation of the modified audio signal list.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 receive content that comprises a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata associated with the plurality of audio signals, wherein the metadata comprises rating information; 
 determine, based on the metadata, a subset of the plurality of audio signals; 
 receive a selection of an audio signal of the subset of the plurality of audio signals; and 
 output the video signal and the selected audio signal. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 decode the content from a multiplexed signal.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the metadata further comprises at least one of a description of the audio signal, information identifying the audio signal, and control information for use in processing the audio signal. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the description of the audio signal comprises information for prioritizing an order of titles of two or more of the audio signals based on viewer preferences for simultaneous presentation of the titles in the order. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the audio signals comprise MPEG encoded signals. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine preference information based on at least one of input information and viewing preferences, wherein the subset of the plurality of audio signals is further determined based on the preference information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 modify, based on the preference information, an audio signal list comprising the plurality of audio signals to generate a modified audio signal list; and   cause presentation of the modified audio signal list.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 cause presentation of the subset of the plurality of audio signals.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 receive a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata, wherein each of the plurality of audio signals is associated with corresponding metadata; 
 determine, based on a user preference and the metadata, a subset of the plurality of audio signals; 
 cause output of a selectable audio feature comprising the subset of the plurality of audio signals; 
 receive a selection of an audio signal of the subset of the plurality of audio signals; and 
 cause output of the video signal and the selected audio signal. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the user preference based on user input received from a user input device. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the metadata comprises rating information and wherein the subset of the plurality of audio signals is further determined based on the rating information. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a first computing device configured to:
 generate content comprising a video signal, a plurality of audio signals, and metadata associated with the plurality of audio signals, wherein the metadata comprises rating information; and 
 cause output of the content; and 
   a second computing device configured to:
 receive the content that comprises the video signal, the plurality of audio signals, and the metadata associated with the plurality of audio signals; 
 determine, based on the metadata, a subset of the plurality of audio signals; 
 receive a selection of an audio signal of the subset of the plurality of audio signals; and 
 cause output of the video signal and the selected audio signal. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the metadata further comprises a description of audio content of each of the plurality of audio signals. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the description of audio content indicates that a first audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a first source and that a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals comprises audio commentary from a second source. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the subset of the plurality of audio signals is further determined based on the rating information.