Method and apparatus for control of closed captioning

An apparatus for enabling a user thereof to exert control of various closed caption display aspects of caption text contained in caption data, comprising:

• a first input for receiving the caption data;
• a user input component for generating a plurality of selectively operable control elements respectively representative of the closed caption display aspects;
• a component responsive to selective operation of any of the control elements for generating control data corresponding to at least one of the closed caption display aspects;
• a component responsive to the first input and to the control data generating component for incorporating the control data into the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and
• a first output for supplying the modified caption data.

An apparatus for implementing control of various closed caption display aspects of caption text contained in caption data by a person other than a captioner, comprising:

• a first input for receiving first control data apart from the caption data;
• a component responsive to the first input for incorporating the first control data received at the first input into the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and
• a first output for supplying the modified caption data.

A system for enabling a program director at a closed captioning encoding site to exert control of various closed caption display aspects of caption text created by a captioner and contained in caption data, the system comprising:

• a first apparatus located at the program origination site, the first apparatus comprising:
• a monitor;
• a plurality of selectively operable graphic control elements displayed on the monitor, the control elements being respectively representative of the closed caption display aspects and generating upon operation first control data corresponding to at least one of the closed caption display aspects;
• a first input;
• and
• a first output for supplying the first control data apart from the caption text;
• a second apparatus removed from the program origination site, the second apparatus comprising:
• a second input for receiving supplemental control data from the first output;
• a programmable processor responsive to the second input for incorporating the first control data received at the second input into the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and
• a second output for supplying the modified caption data to the first input;
• and
• a communications link coupling the first apparatus and the second apparatus;
• wherein the first apparatus further comprises a third output for supplying the modified caption data received at the first input.

A method for enabling a user thereof to exert control of various closed caption on text, comprising:

• generating a plurality of selectively operable control elements respectively representative of the closed caption display aspects;
• generating first control data corresponding to at least one of the closed caption aspects in response to a selective operation of any of the control elements;
• and
• supplying the first control data apart from the caption text.

A method for enabling a user thereof to exert control of various closed caption display aspects of caption text contained in caption data, comprising:

• receiving the caption data;
• generating a plurality of selectively operable control elements respectively representative of the closed caption display aspects;
• generating control data corresponding to at least one of the closed caption display aspects, in response to selective operation of any of the control elements;
• incorporating the control data into the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and supplying the modified caption data.

A method for implementing control of various closed caption display aspects of caption text contained in caption data by a person other than a captioner, comprising:

• receiving first control data apart from the caption data;
• incorporating the first control data into the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and
• supplying the modified caption data.

A method for processing caption data comprising:

• receiving caption data, the caption data including control data;
• removing the control data from the caption data to create modified caption data;
• and
• supplying the modified caption data.