FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for allowing audio playback of channel name
during channel surfing in television. It relates to the field of television where channel
surfing i.e. quickly scanning through different channels is a common practice in order to
find something interesting to watch or listen to. Present invention speaks about
implementation of the concept of audio playback of channel name while switching
channels during channel surfing in television.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Document US 4,855,833 provides a television channel selection apparatus employing
multi picture display. It discloses an apparatus for selecting one of a number of
television channels which is operable to be set in a mode whereby an array of miniature
pictures corresponding to the respective channels is displayed, with each channel being
sequentially selected for a predetermined interval during which image data for the
selected channel are repetitively written into one of a set of regions (42 to 50) of a one-

field memory, with the entire memory contents being continuously and repetitively read
out, whereby the picture for the selected channel appears as a m oving picture while
those of the other channels are static.
US 6,263,505 provides a system and method for supplying supplemental information for
video programs. It reveals an apparatus, method, and program for providing
supplemental information related to video programs. Through a computer network
interface, a user can request and receive specific supplemental audio / video information
related to a video program. Alternatively, the supplemental audio / video information can
be retrieved from a CD-ROM, or similar storage device. The video program can be, for
example, a live broadcast television program or a time-shifted tape recording of a
television program. The supplemental information is synchronized to the video program
by using a time code which is integrated with the video program. This enables the
supplemental information to be viewed and / or listened to in harmony with the events or
action of the video program.
US 5,677,739 provides a system and method for providing described television services.
In this patent an apparatus for providing described television services includes a
computer for receiving and storing description data corresponding to an audiovisual
program; an encoder for encoding the description data into a program signal

corresponding to the audiovisual program; and a receiver which receives the encoded
program signal and extracting the description data from the encoded program signal. A
text-to-speech converter converts the description data into a speech signal corresponding
to the description data, and a speaker provides the speech signal to a viewer. Similarly,
a method for providing described television services includes the steps of generating
description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; encoding the description data
into a program signal of the audiovisual program; and decoding the encoded program
signal; whereby the description data is extracted from said encoded program signal.
US 6,209,028 discloses a system and method for supplying supplemental audio
information for broadcast. It reveals an apparatus, method, and program for providing
supplemental information related to a broadcast television program. Through a
telephone or electronic network interface, a caller can request specific supplemental
information related to one or more characters within the broadcast television program.
The supplemental information is synchronized to the audio component of the television
program so that there is no conflict, and is communicated to the caller via the network
interface.
US 5,900,868 relates to a method and apparatus for multiple channel display. Here, a
method and apparatus that automatically scales the channel display area (i.e. thumbnails

of the channels) based on the number of channels and displaying characteristics and that
provides the user with options to customize the plurality of channels displayed in the
multi-channel display is accomplished by determining whether all of the channels in the
user's customized list can be displayed within the given display area, which may be the
full screen or a portion thereof. If all of the channels can be displayed in the given
display area, another determination is made to determine the size of each of channel
display areas (i.e. thumbnail). Having made this determination, visual representations of
each channel in the user's customized list is displayed. While the multi-channel display is
being presented, the user can select one of them for customized editing.
WO/2007/130131 it teaches a method and system for announcing audio and video
content to a user of a mobile radio terminal. It has an electronic equipment for playing
audiovisual content to a user and announcing information associated with the audiovisual
content. The electronic equipment may include an audiovisual data player for playing
back audiovisual data; a synthesizer for converting text data associated with the
audiovisual data into a representation of the text data for audible playback of the text to
a user; and a controller that controls the synthesizer and the audiovisual data player to
play back the text data in association with playback of the audiovisual data to announce
the audiovisual data to the user.

US 5,726,702 A provides television signal receiving apparatus incorporating an
information retrieving and reproducing apparatus. It reveals a television signal receiving
apparatus, which can read program information relevant to a television program from an
optical disk medium, interlocked with the television program and can reproduce and
display the read program information. Program information (broadcasting information
including program names, broadcasting channel names and broadcasting dates and times
and appendance information relevant to the contents of the programs) relevant to the
television programs to be displayed by the television receiver / display is recorded in the

optical disk medium. When a user instructs a display of the program information by the
selection and decision input unit, the television control unit transmits the display request
and time information from the clock apparatus to the control unit of the optical disk unit.
The control unit makes the appendant information to be reproduced from the optical disk
medium, by using the broadcasting channel name and the time information as retrieval
information. The appendant information is sent to the television receiver / display
through the interface and is displayed in a picture and sound.
US 5,677,739 titled "System and method for providing described television services"
teaches an apparatus for providing described television services includes a computer for
receiving and storing description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; an
encoder for encoding the description data into a program signal corresponding to the

audiovisual program; and a receiver which receives the encoded program signal and
extracting the description data from the encoded program signal. A text-to-speech
converter converts the description data into a speech signal corresponding to the
description data, and a speaker provides the speech signal to a viewer. Similarly, a
method for providing described television services includes the steps of generating
description data corresponding to an audiovisual program; encoding the description data
into a program signal of the audiovisual program; and decoding the encoded program
signal, whereby the description data is extracted from said encoded program signal.
The prior art however has one drawback. It is not possible for a television viewer to
know the channel which has been freshly tuned without taking his / her eyes off the
television screen. There is nothing in the prior art to help a visually handicapped person
to ascertain the chosen channel. The present invention seeks to overcome this drawback
of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a user enabled option in television for
example, On / Off option in channel menu of television Graphical User Interface (GUI) to
allow audio playback of channel name during channel Up / Down key press. The channel

name string is retrieved from the channel or television database and its converted audio
output is played back during channel switching. This feature can also be extended to
direct channel selection from digit keys or in channel tuning feature like auto program,
manual search of television. It is very user friendly for viewer, as he need not
concentrate on television screen while surfing channels and minimizes his chances to
miss his desired channel while surfing and repeat the surf. Moreover, it is very beneficial
for handicapped (blind) viewers to select and listen to their desired channels
independently without any one's help.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an easy facility for television viewers to
have channel name audio playback feature while performing channel surf i.e. the user
can listen to the channel name to which he has switched, when he presses channel up or
channel down key for channel surfing in television. This feature will allow viewer to relax
and not concentrate on television screen to get tuned to his desired channel. As this
feature is user enabled, it will allow user to have both normal and playback enabled surf.
It is further the object of the invention to provide an easy channel surfing feature for
blind viewers, who can listen to the channel name audio while surfing and get tuned and
listen to their desired channels without anyone's help.

This method of audio playback of channel name can be further incorporated in other
channel tuning features of television like auto program or manual search, where user can
stop the search or auto program feature in between by listening to the channel name
audio. Also, while doing direct tuning through digit keys of remote control, channel name
audio can be played back for viewer's better awareness.
Thus in a preferred embodiment of the present invention it relates to a method for audio
playback of channel name during channel surfing in television (TV) comprising the steps
of: retrieving the switched channel name when channel up or down key events occur;
conversion of the channel name text to speech by text to speech converter characterized
in that the name of the switched channel is played back through the television speakers.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The invention can now be described in detail with the help of the figures of the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the method of television
channel selection in the prior art.

Figure 2 shows the flow diagram of the method according to the invention.
Figure 3 gives a visual representation of the method according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows the user interface window with the option of audio playback.
The invention will now be described in an exemplary embodiment with the help of the
accompanying drawings. There can however be a plurality of embodiments of the same
invention, all of which are deemed to be covered by this description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a convenient and user-friendly feature for television
viewer to tune to his desired channel while switching channels by channel up or down
key press. Currently, in all televisions, when a viewer is performing channel surf by
channel up or down key press, he has to concentrate on television screen program or
channel banner so that he does not miss out his desired channel.
It provides the user with a method where he can listen to audio playback of channel
name while performing channel surf with channel up or down key press. This feature can
be provided as an optional feature for viewer in channel menu of television GUI, where
he can enable it by switching on or off. This way he can have both normal and audio
playback enabled channel surf.

The method of providing audio playback of channel name during channel up or down key
press according to the present invention includes the steps of retrieving the channel
name string of the switched channel. If the switched channel is a digital channel then its
name is extracted from the program stream data. If, the switched channel is an analog
channel, then the user provided channel name in channel name edit menu of television is
fetched. Then this channel name text is converted to speech signal by text to speech
converter and then audio playback of channel name of switched channel is performed.
The method according to the present invention may also support multiple languages;
where in the channel name text is converted to its respective language as desired by
viewer.
This feature will be a boon for blind viewers who have to be dependent on others to tune
and listen to their desired channel. With this feature, they can hear channel name audio
while channel up or down key is pressed and stop the surf in between where they want
to tune.
Figure 1 shows the block diagram of channel selection in a television of the prior art. The
command signal for selection is given by the user through remote control. The signal is
received by the television receiver circuit, decoded at the television processor and
appropriate functions are decided by the television software to display the On Screen
Display (OSD) on television screen with the picture.

The method of television channel selection in accordance with the invention is shown in
Figure 2. This flow chart represents a method, which optionally allows audio playback of
channel name while switching channels by channel Up or Down keys (2.02).
Television program is received by the television receiver (2.01) and in the television
software, user pressed input key events are checked (2.03). If the key press event is
channel Up or Down key press, then it is further checked whether the next channel is
analog or digital (2.05). If it is a digital channel then the channel name string is retrieved
from the program stream (2.09). If it is an analog channel then the channel name that
user has created in channel name edit menu of television, is fetched (2.06). A television
database for all tuned channels and their names in the form of channel list is also
maintained in television software. Now, this channel name text is given as an input for
text to speech converter (2.07, 2.10) which converts the switched channel name to
speech signal and hence, this speech signal audio is played back on television speaker for
user.
Figure 3 shows the operation of the method in accordance with the invention, while
Figure 4 shows the pop-up box that appears on a television screen offering the option of
audio feedback of channel name.

This invention can be further incorporated in following television features:
1. Auto Program - The method in the present invention can be applied to auto
program feature of television, where channel name audio can be played back
when auto program is in progress, after each channel is being tuned and stored in
television channel table.
2. Manual Search - This method can be extended to allow audio playback in manual
search feature of television. This will help the user to stop the search for channel
in between once he hears the desired channel name.
3. Digit key's tune - This method can also be applied to direct channel tuning
through digit keys of remote control where when each channel gets tuned by digit
keys, its channel name can be played back.
The method in accordance with the invention has the following main steps:
Retrieving the switched channel name (2.06, 2.09) string when channel up or down
key events occur (2.02).

If the switched channel is digital, then channel name is retrieved from the stream
itself (2.09).
For analog channels, the user stored channel name list in television database is
retrieved (2.06).
Conversion of the channel name text to speech by text to speech converter (2.07,
2.10).
Playback of switched channel name audio through television speakers (2.08, 2.11).
An important feature of the invention is to have channel name audio playback of the
switched channel name in different languages. The user has a choice of languages
from which he / she will choose one, which will be used by the television software
during the convert channel name text to speech (2.07, 2.10) step.
This method is applicable also when the selected channel is directly tuned through the
digit keys of a remote control.
It is also applicable when channel scanning in auto programme is performed, whereby
each channel name is played back once it gets tuned or added to the channel table.
During manual searching or tuning of channels too, the audio playback of channel
name can be activated.

The invention offers the following advantages over its prior art.
Easy Surfing - The present invention provides an easy channel surfing feature, where
in user can hear audio playback of channel name while surfing and can enjoy channel
surf at ease without concentrating on television screen.
Blind Viewers - This invention is a boon for blind viewers as now they will be able to
tune and listen to their desired channels on their own independently. On remote
control key press events of channel up and down button, the switched channel name
will be played back and blind viewers can easily stop and get tuned there.
Avoid channel missing - With the help of this feature, there will be less chance to
miss channels while performing fast channel surfing by channel up or down key press.
So, now the user will be able to hear channel name of switched channel and will not
miss his desired channel and will not have to repeat the surf.
Multiple Language support - The channel name audio playback in multiple languages
will enable user to have better flexibility in this feature where he can choose his
language in television and can hear playback of channel name in his selected
language.
Easy extension - This feature can be also implemented in case of direct channel
tuning through digit keys or in auto program or manual search feature of television.

WE CLAIM
1. A method for audio playback of channel name during channel surfing in television
(TV) comprising the steps of:
retrieving the switched channel name (2.06, 2.09) when channel up or
down key events occur (2.02);
conversion of the channel name text to speech by text to speech converter
(2.07, 2.10);
characterized in that
- the name of the switched channel is played back (2.08, 2.11) through the
television speakers.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein retrieving of the channel name is done
from the stream itself (2.09) if the switched channel is digital, or from the user
stored channel name list in television database (2.06) if the switched channel is
analog.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user can selectively switch on or off
the audio playback of the channel name.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user can have audio playback of the
switched channel name in a plurality of languages.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio playback of channel name is
available for channel surfing, channel scanning in auto program or manual
searching / tuning operation.
6. A method as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the audio playback of the switched
channel name is available if the channel is directly tuned through the digit keys of
a remote control or channel scanning in auto programme.

A method for audio playback of channel name during channel surfing in television (TV)
comprising the steps of: retrieving the switched channel name (2.06, 2.09) when channel
up or down key events occur (2.02); conversion of the channel name text to speech by
text to speech converter (2.07, 2.10); characterized in that the name of the switched
channel is played back (2.08, 2.11) through the television speakers.