IP Library Granted Patent US 8,804,047
Granted Patent B2
US 8,804,047 · App. 11/795,962 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Method and apparatus for enabling the display of a text service upon audio muting

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,804,047
App. No.
11/795,962
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling two devices, separated from each other, during an audio muting mode operation. A control device causes an audio device to become muted during the audio muting mode. The control device also causes a video device to output a text service during the duration of the audio muting mode. Preferably, the text service corresponds to the audio portion of a media service.

Claims (13)

1. A method for displaying a text service during an audio muting operation comprising the steps of:

transmitting via an access point an audio muting command to an audio device;

automatically transmitting via said access point a text service enable command to a video device;

said audio muting command and text service enable commands are transmitted over a network to which said audio device and said video device are coupled;

the audio muting command and the text service enable command are performed in response to said received audio mute command received by said access point; and

said audio and video device are separate devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point additionally performs the steps of:

transmitting an audio media service to said audio device;

transmitting a video media service to said video device, wherein said audio media service and said video media service are the respective audio and video components of a received media service.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the text service is part of the received media service.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the media service is received by at least one of a communications network and terrestrially.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a remote control transmits the audio muting command and the text service command in response to a single mute command.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmission of the audio muting command and the text service command are selectable wherein in one mode both commands are transmitted and in a second mode only the audio muting command is transmitted.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2018
From: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
To: INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HOLDINGS
Reel/Frame 046763/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING
To: THOMSON LICENSING DTV
Reel/Frame 043302/0965 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
To: THOMSON LICENSING
Reel/Frame 042303/0268 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2007
From: MEARS, MARK GILMORE
To: THOMSON LICENSING S.A.
Reel/Frame 019652/0925 →