TiVo wins DVR closed captioning patent

DVR device maker and service provider TiVo has filed for a patent with the USPTO for displaying closed caption information to DVR customers. The technique would use existing closed caption and Enhanced Television (ETV) signaling data for delivering the service. At the same time, TiVo could also give viewers software that automatically removes commercials from time-shifted programs.

ETV is metadata that cable providers recently began integrating into their broadcasts, and the TiVo patent will allow the company to sync both this as well as closed caption information and display it in an interactive method. This includes closed captioning text, a menu or digital video and sound effects. TiVo also promises more advanced uses thanks to this type of technology, such as marking sections of a program they find particularly interesting and then sharing them with friends who also have a TiVo DVR.

Prior to the patent award on February 9th, TiVo already offered ways for customers to view closed caption data, and viewers can also subscribe to a show or order more product information when watching a commercial.

The hash tagging would let users manually edit commercials out of their recorded programs. Despite being at odds with some providers' goals, this could also work to the benefit of advertisers, who could replace old commercials in a recorded program with more recent material. [via Davis Freeberg's Digital Connection]

By Electronista Staff