Synchronous and Multi-Sourced Audio and Video Broadcast

Abstract

Embodiments provide for outputting video and allowing a user to switch between different audio steams in a synchronous manner without impacting the timeline of the audio presentation. The audio and video streams may be directed to a single sporting event. For example, a user can view video associated with a national television broadcast of a baseball game, and switch between the audio from the national broadcast and the audio from the radio broadcast. Similarly, the user can view video associated with a local television broadcast, and switch between the audio from the national, regional, and/or radio broadcast. As any sport fan would appreciate, such flexibility enables users to watch the video with, e.g., the best quality and camera angle, while at the same time listening to the audio or broadcaster they find the most appealing.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data segments including at least one video feed and a plurality of audio feeds, wherein the at least one video feed and the plurality of audio feeds correspond to a broadcast of an event;   combining the plurality of data segments to generate a single bit stream; and   filtering the single bit stream to provide to a media player a first video feed of the at least one video feed and a first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to change the first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds to a second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds; and   filtering the single bitstream to provide to the media player the first video feed of the at least one video feed and the second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds based on the request.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein filtering the single bitstream based on the request includes discontinuing the first audio feed from being provided to the media player while continuing to provide the first video feed to the media player and synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feed prior to providing the second audio feed to the media player. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feed comprises:
 determining a difference between a time signature associated with the second audio feed and a time signature associated with the first video.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining a number of packets in the second audio feed to be discarded based on the difference; and   discarding at least one packet in the second audio feed based on the determined number of packets in the second audio feed to be discarded.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining a number of packets in the second audio feed to be buffered based on the difference; and   buffering at least one packet in the second audio feed based on the determined number of packets in the second audio feed to be discarded.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a time signature is added to each packet of the at least one video feed and each packet of the plurality of audio feeds at a media center prior to reception. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a program identifier is associated with each of the at least one video feed and the plurality of audio feeds at a media center prior to reception. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the filtering is performed by a media player plug-in module. 
     
     
         37 . A device comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive a plurality of data segments including at least one video feed and a plurality of audio feeds, wherein the at least one video feed and the plurality of audio feeds correspond to a broadcast of an event; and   a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
 combining the plurality of data segments to generate a single bit stream; and 
 filtering the single bit stream to provide to a media player a first video feed of the at least one video feed and a first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds. 
   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of data segments are transmitted to the device from a media center. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a user request to change the first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds to a second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds; and   filtering the single bitstream to provide to the media player the first video feed of the at least one video feed and the second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds based on the request, wherein filtering the single bitstream based on the request includes discontinuing the first audio feed from being provided to the media player while continuing to provide the first video feed to the media player and synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feed prior to providing the second audio feed to the media player.   
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feeds includes determining whether a time signature associated with the second audio feed is before or after a time signature associated with the first video feed. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , when the time signature associated with the second audio feed is before the time signature associated with the first video feed, determining a number of packets in the second audio feed to be discarded. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , the operations further comprising:
 discarding at least one packet in the second audio feed based on the determined number of packets in the second audio feed to be discarded.   
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 40 , when the time signature associated with the second audio feed is after the time signature associated with the first video feed, determining a number of packets in the second audio feed to be buffered. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , the operations further comprising:
 buffering at least one packet in the second audio feed based on the determined number of packets in the second audio feed to be buffered.   
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprising, executing the operation of a media player plug-in module, wherein the media player plug-in module performs the filtering. 
     
     
         46 . A processor, configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data segments including at least one video feed and a plurality of audio feeds, wherein the at least one video feed and the plurality of audio feeds correspond to a broadcast of an event;   combining the plurality of data segments to generate a single bit stream; and   filtering the single bit stream to provide to a media player a first video feed of the at least one video feed and a first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds.   
     
     
         47 . The processor of  claim 46 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving a user request to change the first audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds to a second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds; and   filtering the single bitstream to provide to the media player the first video feed of the at least one video feed and the second audio feed of the plurality of audio feeds based on the request, wherein filtering the single bitstream based on the request includes discontinuing the first audio feed from being provided to the media player while continuing to provide the first video feed to the media player and synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feed prior to providing the second audio feed to the media player, wherein synchronizing the second audio feed with the first video feeds includes determining whether a time signature associated with the second audio feed is before or after a time signature associated with the first video feed.