Closed captioning language translation

Abstract

The present invention provides an architecture for translating closed captioning text originally provided with a video program from one language to another and presenting the translated closed captioning text with the video program to a viewer. As such, the viewers are able to receive the closed captioning text in languages other than that used for the closed captioning originally provided with the video program. The original closed captioning text may be translated from one language to another by a centralized closed captioning processor, such that the customer equipment for various subscribers can take advantage of centralized translation services. Once, the original closed captioning text is translated, the translated closed captioning text may be delivered to the customer equipment in different ways.

1 . A video display system, comprising:
 a user interface operable to receive a user input requesting information presentation in a user-specified format;   at least one communication interface operable to:
 in response to the user input, transmit a request for information presentation in the user-specified format over a communications network to a remote source of requested information; and 
 receive a video signal and at least one requested information signal over a communications network from at least one remote signal source, the at least one requested information signal comprising information in the user-specified format; 
   a video display; and   a control system operable to present the video signal and the at least one requested information signal in the user-specified format on the video display.   
     
     
         2 . The video display system of  claim 1 , wherein the requested information is textual information. 
     
     
         3 . The video display system of  claim 2 , wherein the textual information is closed captioning. 
     
     
         4 . The video display system of  claim 1 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language. 
     
     
         5 . The video display system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication interface comprises a video interface operable to receive the video signal from a remote video signal source. 
     
     
         6 . The video display system of  claim 5 , wherein the video interface is operable to receive the video signal and the at least one requested information signal from the remote video signal source. 
     
     
         7 . The video display system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one requested information signal is incorporated in the video signal. 
     
     
         8 . The video display system of  claim 6 , wherein the remote video signal source is the remote source of the requested information. 
     
     
         9 . The video display system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one communication interface further comprises at least one requested information signal interface operable to receive the at least one requested information signal from the remote source of the requested information, the at least one requested information signal comprising the requested information in the user-specified format. 
     
     
         10 . The video display system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable to synchronize the requested information in the user-specified format with video information from the video signal. 
     
     
         11 . The video display system of  claim 10 , wherein the control system is operable to use synchronization information in the at least one requested information signal to synchronize the requested information in the user-specified format with the video information. 
     
     
         12 . The video display system of  claim 10 , wherein the control system is operable to communicate with the remote source of the requested information over the at least one requested information signal interface to synchronize the requested information in the user-specified format with the video information. 
     
     
         13 . The video display system of  claim 10 , further comprising a video buffer controlled by the control system to synchronize the requested information with the video information. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a video display system, comprising:
 receiving a user input requesting information presentation in a user-specified format   in response to, the user input, transmitting a request for information presentation in the user-specified format over a communications network to a remote source of requested information; and   receiving a video signal and at least one requested information signal over a communications network from at least one remote signal source, the at least one requested information signal comprising information in the user-specified format;   presenting the video signal and the requested information in the user-specified format on a video display.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the requested information is textual information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the textual information is closed captioning. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising synchronizing the requested information in the user-specified format with video information from the video signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising using synchronization information in the at least one requested information signal to synchronize the requested information in the user-specified format with the video information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising communicating with the remote source of the requested information to synchronize the requested information in the user-specified format with the video information. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for providing requested information in a user-requested format system, comprising:
 at least one communication interface operable to receive a request for information presentation in a user-specified format over a communications network from a remote user video display system; and   a control system operable to provide a requested information signal comprising requested information in the user-specified format;   the at least one communication interface being further operable to transmit the requested information signal to the remote user video display system.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control system is operable to provide the requested information signal by generating the requested information signal in response to the received request. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the requested information is textual information. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the control system is operable to translate an information signal into the user-specified language in response to the request. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one communication interface is further operable to receive at least one video signal and to transmit at least one video signal to the remote user video display system. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to incorporate the requested information signal in an associated video signal, and the communication interface is operable to transmit the video signal with the incorporated requested information signal to the remote user video display system. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operable to provide the requested information signal by generating the requested information signal from a selected received video signal in response to the received request. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language, and the control system is operable to translate an information signal into the user-specified language in response to the request. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the requested information is textual information. 
     
     
         31 . A method of providing requested information in a user-requested format system from a central information source, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for information presentation in a user-specified format over a communications network from a remote user video display system;   generating a requested information signal comprising the requested information in the user-specified format; and   transmitting the requested information signal to the remote user video display system.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein generating the requested information signal comprises generating the requested information signal in response to the request. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the requested information is textual information. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein generating the requested information signal comprises translating an information signal into the user-specified language in response to the received request. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein further comprising receiving at least one video signal and transmitting at least one video signal to the remote user video display system. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising incorporating the requested information signal in an associated video signal, and transmitting the associated video signal with the incorporated requested information signal to the remote user video display system. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein generating the requested information signal comprises generating the requested information signal from a selected received video signal in response to the request. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the user-specified format is a user-specified language, and generating the requested information signal comprises translating an information signal into the user-specified language in response to the request. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the requested information is textual information.