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The system 400 may also include a language assistant 414, which is in communication with the interactive option module 406. In one embodiment, the language assistant 414 includes, or is in communication with, one or more language modules 416. A language module 416 may be embodied as a collection of descriptions 422, in a particular language, of interactive options 408 and corresponding icons 404 in the icon repository 402. A description 422 may include a translation of text found on the corresponding icon 404 or button on the remote control 106, although this is not a requirement. For example, descriptions 422 may be provided where an icon 404 or button does not include text. |
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Those of skill in the art will recognize that a single language module 416 may store descriptions 422 in a plurality of languages. Alternatively, a separate language module 416 may be used to store descriptions 422 for each language. |
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In certain embodiments, a language module 416 may be implemented as a data structure that is loaded into memory 306 of the STB 102. Alternatively, one or more language modules 416 may be accessible at the head-end 110 or at various other locations in the network 101 or Internet 112. |
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In one embodiment, a user may specify a selected language 418 by means of a language selection module 420. The language selection module 420 may be implemented using any conventional user interface technique. For instance, a user may select from a menu (not shown) of possible languages. The selected language 418 may be the same as, or different than, the language associated with the remote control 106. |
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If the selected language 418 is different than that of the remote control 106, when an icon 404 is displayed in response to the availability of an interactive option 408, the language assistant 414 presents the corresponding description 422 in the selected language 418. The description 422 assists the user who speaks the selected language 418 in understanding what interactive option 408 is available by pressing the button of the remote control 106 indicated by the icon 404. As noted, descriptions 422 may include a translation of text markings that appear on the icon 404 or the button on the remote control 106. |
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In one configuration, the language assistant 414 retrieves the description 422 from the appropriate language module 416 and displays the description 422 on the television 104 (or other display device) in close proximity to the icon 404. The icon 404 and description 422 may be superimposed over the displayed programming 409 using a semitransparent graphical overlay. This prevents the icon 404 and/or description 422 from obscuring the programming 409. The icon display module 410 and language assistant 414 may include, or be in communication with, the A/V controller 308 of FIG. 3 in order to combine the display of the icon 404 and description 422 with the programming 409 using conventional techniques. |
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Displaying the icon 404 both notifies the user as to the availability of the interactive option 408 and instructs the user concerning the appearance (and possibly the location) of the corresponding button on the remote control 106. Hence, the icon 404 is sometimes referred to herein as an “instructional” icon for a user interface. |
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Displaying the description 422 provides meaning for the icon 404 to a user who speaks a language other than the language for which the remote control 106 was designed. Consequently, the user may desire to locate the button on the remote control 106 and activate the available option 408. Without the description 422, the icon 404 will be of little assistance to, and may actually annoy, a user who speaks a different language. |
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In addition, in certain embodiments, the description 422 conveys the meaning intended by text markings on an icon 404. When a description 422 provides a translation of text markings on an icon 404, the text markings of the icon 404 serve the foreign language user as graphical markings to assist in locating the corresponding button. For instance, Chinese text markings on a button displayed with a description 422 translating the text may provide effective visual cues to assist a user in locating the button on a Chinese remote control. |
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As an example, suppose the remote control 106 includes text markings in Italian, e.g. button 230 includes “Compra” in place of “Buy”. When a particular product is displayed, the programming 409 may include a trigger for an interactive option 408 enabling a user to purchase the displayed product by pressing the “Compra” button 230. |
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However, suppose a user has specified English as the selected language 418. In one implementation, the icon display module 410 retrieves and displays the icon 404a from the icon repository 402 corresponding to the “Compra” button 230. At essentially the same time, the language assistant 414 retrieves the corresponding description 422a, e.g. “Buy”, corresponding to the icon 404a from the English language module 416. In one embodiment, the language assistant 414 displays the description 422a on the television 104 in close proximity to the icon 404a. Broken lines in FIG. 4 indicate the relationship between the “Compra” button 230, the interactive option 408, the icon 404a and the description 422a. |
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As shown in FIG. 4, the icon 404a has the same shape as the “Compra” button 230, e.g. a squashed oval. Moreover, both the icon 404a and the “Compra” button 230 include similar text markings, e.g. the word “Compra.” Furthermore, the description 422a provides a direct translation of the Italian word “Compra” into its English equivalent, “Buy.” The similarity of the shape and textual markings of the icon 404a with the translation provided by the description 422a may assist the user in rapidly locating the “Compra” button 230 on the remote control 106. Additionally, the description 422a assists the user in deciding whether activating the “Buy” interactive option 408 is desirable. |
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In an alternative embodiment, the system 400 may include an audio component 424 in communication with the language assistant 414. As described in greater detail below, the audio component 424 allows the language assistant 414 to present audible descriptions 422 (in a user-preferred language) in addition to, or in lieu of, visual descriptions 422. For example, the audio component 424 may use a voice synthesis module 425 to output a spoken version of a description 422. Various text-to-speech voice synthesis systems are available from Lucent®, Creative Labs®, and others. |
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While the icon repository 402, the icon display module 410, the interactive option module 406, the audio component 424, and the language assistant 414 are illustrated as components of the STB 102, those skilled in the art will recognize that these components may be located within various physical locations within the system 100. For example, a single icon repository 402 may be implemented within a head-end 110 and provide icons 404 to a plurality of STBs 102. Additionally, a language assistant 414 may reside on a server (not shown) connected to the Internet 112. |
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In one embodiment, the language assistant 414 is configured to display the description 422 at various locations on the television 104 in relation to the icon 404. As shown in FIG. 5, the description 422 may be displayed above, below, to the left, or to the right of the icon 404. In one configuration, the language assistant 414 may actually replace text markings on the icon 404 with a translated description 422. |
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In certain configurations, the description 422 may be visually emphasized by highlighting, illuminating, pulsing, or otherwise emphasizing the description 422. In the depicted embodiment, description 422a is bolded to attract the userʼs attention. Visual emphasis may also be accomplished, for example, by cycling colors of the description 422a, changing the color of the display screen behind the description 422a, or other similar techniques. |
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As also shown in FIG. 5, the displayed description 422a may be larger than the text markings of the icon 404. This may be helpful to users who have impaired vision. Typically, at least some enlargement of text markings is necessary, since the low resolution of a television screen makes small text and graphics difficult to understand. |
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FIG. 5 also shows a language button 502, e.g. “Lingua” in Italian. In certain embodiments, the language button 502 may be used to change the selected language 418 discussed in relation to FIG. 4. In this manner, a foreign language user may quickly set the selected language 418 and receive descriptions 422 in the userʼs preferred language. |
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In one embodiment, when a user activates a button corresponding to a displayed icon 404, the system 400 produces an audible confirmation. The audible confirmation may be used to assure the user that the correct button was pressed on the remote control 106. The AN controller 308 of FIG. 3 may be configured to produce an audio signal when the correct button is activated. The audio signal may include, for example, a chime, a tone, a beep, or other suitable indicator. In one embodiment, the audio signal may include a spoken name of the button, in the selected language 418, which may be generated using conventional voice synthesis techniques. |
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FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a description 422a is presented both visually and audibly. The description 422a may include alternative audible messages 602, 604, 606 to assist the speaker of a language other than the default language of the remote control 106. These messages 602, 604, 606 may be played on a speaker associated with the television 104, the STB 102, or another suitable location. |
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