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Telecommunications

Patent Issued for Method and Apparatus for Multiple Audio Outputs

2012 AUG 22 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Telecommunications Weekly -- According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by VerticalNews journalists, a patent by the inventor Wadey, Robert (Bingley, GB), filed on September 5, 2008, was cleared and issued on August 7, 2012.

The assignee for this patent, patent number 8239897, is Eldon Technology Limited (Keighley, GB).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: "Many households often have multiple televisions may be located in a household. Sometimes, within the household, a first user may wish to view one program and a second user may wish to view a different program made available by a content provider and received by a set-top box connected to the television. In this case, the two users may watch their respective programs on two separate televisions, which may be located in two different or the same room. If two televisions are in the same room, the users may have to either lower the volume on both televisions such that both users may hear their respective programs, or one of the users may mute their respective television and view the images with no audio.

"In another example, one user may wish to view two programs that may air at overlapping times or two users may possess one television and still wish to view two programs airing at overlapping times. In either case, the user(s) may wish to employ picture-in-picture functionality that is available on some televisions. The picture-in-picture functionality allows one or more users to view one program on the main part of a television screen and a second program on a smaller inset overlapping the main screen. Although two programs may be viewed using picture-in-picture functionality, only one corresponding audio feed is typically available for listening. This audio feed is generally the one corresponding to the main video. Stated differently, the audio for one program may be available while the other program is muted or never initially decoded by the set-top box. Thus, a method of providing multiple audio outputs is desirable. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method of transmitting multiple audio outputs."

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent, VerticalNews editors also obtained the inventor's summary information for this patent: "One embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a device for transmitting an audio stream separately from a video stream. The device may include an input operative to receive a first signal and a second signal, a first tuner operative to receive the first signal from the input, where the first signal may include a first audio signal and a first video signal and a second tuner operative to receive the second signal from the input, where the second signal may include a second audio signal and a second video signal. The device may also include a first output operative to transmit the first audio signal and the first video signal, a second output operative to transmit the second video signal and a third output operative to transmit the second audio signal. Additionally, the device may include a first demodulator which may accept the first signal from the first tuner and which may be configured to generate a first audio signal and first video signal from the first signal and a second demodulator which may accept the second signal from the second tuner and which may be configured to generate the second signal into a second audio signal and second video signal. Further, the second audio signal may be a wireless signal. The device may also include a user input, the user input operative to change a frequency of at least the second audio signal.

"Another embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a method for transmitting at least a first and second audio signal. The method may include transmitting the first audio signal and a first video signal to a first device, where the first video signal may be associated with the first audio signal and transmitting a second audio signal to a second device and a second video signal to the first device, where the second video signal may be associated with the second audio signal. The method may also include stripping the second audio signal from the second video signal prior to transmitting either the second audio signal or the second video signal. Additionally, the method may include receiving a command to adjust the second video signal relative to the first video signal and in response to receiving the command, transmitting the second audio signal to the first device. The method may also include further in response to receiving the command, transmitting the first audio signal to the second device.

"Moreover, in this embodiment the method may display the first video signal on a first screen area of the first device and may display the second video signal on a second area of the first device. Furthermore, the first video signal may be switched to display on the second screen area of the first device and the second video signal may be switched to display on the first screen area of the first device. Additionally, the transmission of the first audio signal may be halted to the first device and the transmission of the second audio signal may be halted to the second device. The first audio signal may also be transmitted to the second device and the second audio signal may be transmitted to the first device.

"Continuing this embodiment, the first screen area may surround the second screen area. Additionally, the method may include wirelessly transmitting at least one of the first and second audio signals. Further, the second audio signal may not be perceived without the second device. Also in this embodiment all transmissions may be performed by a third device that may be a set-top box.

"Another embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a method for transmitting information. The method may include providing a first video signal for display on a first screen area of a first device, providing a second video signal for display on a second screen area of the first device, providing a first audio signal to the first device and providing a second audio signal to a second device. The method may also include generating the first video signal and the first audio signal and generating the second video signal and the second audio signal. Furthermore, the operation of separating the second set of information may include receiving the second set of information as a single signal including both the second video signal and second audio signal modulated together and demodulating the second video signal from the second audio signal. Additionally, the second audio signal may be converted from a first format to a second format and the second audio signal may be provided to the second device in the second format.

"These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure in its entirety."

For more information, see this patent: Wadey, Robert. Method and Apparatus for Multiple Audio Outputs. U.S. Patent Number 8239897, filed September 5, 2008, and issued August 7, 2012. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=11&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=518&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=20120807.PD.&OS=ISD/20120807&RS=ISD/20120807

Keywords for this news article include: Eldon Technology Limited.