Providing audio signals using a network back-channel

Abstract

A method for providing audio portions of broadcast television signals is disclosed. A television signal is buffered by a multimedia client. In response to a user request, audio data may be obtained from a service provider and sent back to the multimedia client using a network back-channel. The obtained audio data may be synchronized with a video portion of the television signal and output to an audio device, while the television signal is output to a display device.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for presenting multimedia content, the method comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, from a broadcaster, a multimedia content signal including a broadcast video component and a broadcast audio component, wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster;   receiving, from a multimedia service provider via a wireline network, a re-transmission of the multimedia content signal, the re-transmission of the multimedia content signal including a wireline video component and a wireline audio component;   generating, by a multimedia client, a synchronized content signal by synchronizing the broadcast video component with the wireline audio component; and   outputting the synchronized content signal to a presentation device including an audio device and a display.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the wireline network is a packet-switched network. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the packet-switched network is an IP network. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 storing a portion of the broadcast video component as stored content in a buffer; and   outputting the stored content in synchronous alignment with the broadcast audio component.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the broadcaster and the multimedia service provider are different entities. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the multimedia content signal wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster is terrestrially broadcasted by the broadcaster. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the multimedia content signal wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster is satellite broadcasted by the broadcaster. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 decoding the synchronized content signal.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving a user request, issuing a server request to return replacement audio content suitable for replacing at least a portion of the broadcast audio component.   
     
     
         41 . A multimedia client device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium including stored, processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, from a broadcaster, a multimedia content signal including a broadcast video component and a broadcast audio component, wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster; 
 receiving, from a multimedia service provider via a wireline network, a re-transmission of the multimedia content signal, the re-transmission of the multimedia content signal including a wireline video component and a wireline audio component; 
 generating, by a multimedia client, a synchronized content signal by synchronizing the broadcast video component with the wireline audio component; and 
 outputting the synchronized content signal to a presentation device including an audio device and a display. 
   
     
     
         42 . The multimedia client device of  claim 41 , wherein the wireline network is a packet-switched network. 
     
     
         43 . The multimedia client device of  claim 42 , wherein the packet-switched network is an IP network. 
     
     
         44 . The multimedia client device of  claim 41 , wherein the operations include:
 storing a portion of the broadcast video component as stored content in a buffer; and   outputting the stored content in synchronous alignment with the broadcast audio component.   
     
     
         45 . The multimedia client device of  claim 41 , wherein the broadcaster and the multimedia service provider are different entities. 
     
     
         46 . The multimedia client device of  claim 41 , wherein the multimedia content signal wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster is terrestrially broadcasted by the broadcaster. 
     
     
         47 . The multimedia client device of  claim 41 , wherein the multimedia content signal wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster is satellite broadcasted by the broadcaster. 
     
     
         48 . A non-transitory computer readable medium, including processor executable program instructions that, when executable by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, from a broadcaster, a multimedia content signal including a broadcast video component and a broadcast audio component, wirelessly transmitted by the broadcaster;   receiving, from a multimedia service provider via a wireline network, a re-transmission of the multimedia content signal, the re-transmission of the multimedia content signal including a wireline video component and a wireline audio component;   generating, by a multimedia client, a synchronized content signal by synchronizing the broadcast video component with the wireline audio component; and   outputting the synchronized content signal to a presentation device including an audio device and a display.   
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 48 , wherein the wireline network is a packet-switched network. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the packet-switched network is an IP network. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 50 , wherein the operations include:
 storing a portion of the broadcast video component as stored content in a buffer; and   outputting the stored content in synchronous alignment with the broadcast audio component.