Method and apparatus for performing real-time subtitles translation
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus is disclosed for presenting information to a user of an audiovisual appliance such as a television receiver, a set top box, or a DVD or a VCR player. The method includes extracting source text from a graphical representation of the source text in an associated audiovisual program; translating the extracted source text into a target text in a language different than a language of the source text; and presenting the target text in a human perceptible format in a synchronized manner with the associated audiovisual program. Translating the extracted source text may include an initial step of identifying the source language.
1. A method for presenting information to a user of an audiovisual appliance, comprising:
extracting source text from a graphical representation of the source text in an associated streaming audiovisual program;
automatically translating the extracted source text into a target text in a language different than a language of the source text; and
presenting the target text in a human perceptible format in a synchronized manner with the associated streaming audiovisual program.
2. The method of claim 1 , where translating the extracted source text comprises an initial step of identifying the source language.
3. The method of claim 1 , where presenting the target text includes displaying the target text on a display screen.
4. The method of claim 1 , where presenting the target text includes displaying the target text on a television screen.
5. The method of claim 1 , where presenting the target text includes synthesizing speech for enunciating the target text to a viewer of the audiovisual program.
6. The method of claim 1 , where said method is provided as a service by a service provider.
7. The method of claim 1 , where said method is provided as a service by a service provider and is enabled upon command of the viewer.
8. The method of claim 1 , where said method is provided as a service by a service provider and software required to execute the method is downloaded from the service provider.
9. The method of claim 1 , where the audiovisual program is embodied in a television signal, and where the steps of extracting, translating and presenting occur in substantially real time as the television signal is received.
10. The method of claim 1 , where the audiovisual program is embodied in a recorded television signal, and where the steps of extracting, translating and presenting occur in substantially real time as the recorded television signal is played back.
11. The method of claim 1 , where the source text comprises a graphical subtitle.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the source text comprises a graphical subtitle.
13. Apparatus for presenting information to a user of an audiovisual appliance, comprising:
means for extracting source text from a graphical representation of the source text in an associated streaming audiovisual program;
means for automatically translating the extracted source text into a target text in a language different than a language of the source text; and
means for presenting the target text in a human perceptible format in a synchronized manner with the associated streaming audiovisual program.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said means for translating the extracted source text comprises means for identifying the source language.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said means for presenting the target text comprises means for displaying the target text on a display screen.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said means for presenting the target text comprises means for displaying the target text on a television screen.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said means for presenting the target text comprises means for synthesizing speech for enunciating the target text to a viewer of the audiovisual program.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said apparatus is operated as a service by a service provider.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said apparatus is operated as a service by a service provider and is enabled upon command of the viewer.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 , where said apparatus is operated as a service by a service provider and software required to operate said apparatus is downloaded from the service provider.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 , where the audiovisual program is embodied in a television signal, and where the steps of extracting, translating and presenting occur in substantially real time as the television signal is received.
22. The apparatus of claim 13 , where the audiovisual program is embodied in a recorded television signal, and where the steps of extracting, translating and presenting occur in substantially real time as the recorded television signal is played back.
23. A computer readable data storage media containing a program the execution of which implements a method for presenting information to a user of an audiovisual appliance, comprising extracting source text from a graphical representation of the source text in an associated streaming audiovisual program; automatically translating the extracted source text into a target text in a language different than a language of the source text; and presenting the target text in a human perceptible format in a synchronized manner with the associated streaming audiovisual program.
24. The computer readable data storage media of claim 23 , where translating the extracted source text comprises an initial step of identifying the source language.