Method and apparatus for delivering programme-associated data to generate relevant visual displays for audio contents

A method of providing an audio signal with an associated video signal, comprising the steps of:

• decoding an encoded audio stream to provide an audio signal and audio description data;
• and
• providing an associated first video signal at least part of whose content is selected according to said audio description data,
• wherein said providing step comprises:
• using said audio description data to select visual description data appropriate to the content of said audio signal;
• constructing video content from said selected visual description data;
• and providing said first video signal including the constructed video content.

A method of delivering programme associated data to generate relevant visual display for audio contents, said method comprising the steps of:

• encoding an audio signal and audio description data associated therewith into an encoded audio stream;
• encoding visual description data;
• and combining said encoded audio stream and said visual description data;
• encoding a second video signal into an encoded video stream;
• combining said encoded video stream with said visual description data and said encoded audio stream into a transport stream;
• and
• further comprising transmitting said transport stream in a television signal.

Apparatus for providing an audio signal with an associated video signal, comprising:

• audio decoding means for decoding an encoded audio stream to provide an audio signal and audio description data;
• and
• first video signal means for providing an associated first video signal at least part of whose content is selected according to said audio description data,
• wherein said first signal means comprises:
• selecting means for using said audio description data to select visual description data appropriate to the content of said audio signal;
• constructing means for constructing video content from said selected visual description data;
• and
• means for providing said first video signal including the constructed video content.

A system for delivering programme associated data to generate relevant visual display for audio contents, comprising:

• audio encoding means for encoding an audio signal and audio description data associated therewith into an encoded audio stream;
• description data encoding means for encoding visual description data;
• and
• combining means for combining said encoded audio stream and said visual description data;
• video encoding means for encoding a second video signal into an encoded video stream;
• wherein said combining means is operable to combine said visual description data, said encoded audio stream and said encoded video stream into a transport stream;
• and
• wherein said combining means is operable to combine said visual description data with encoded video signal to which it does not relate, in the same transport stream.

A method of delivering programme-associated data to generate relevant visual display for audio contents, said method, comprising:

• encoding audio description data relevant to the audio contents in one or more audio elementary streams;
• and
• encoding visual description data created for audio contents for generating a visual display;
• wherein
• said visual description data is relevant to at least one of the groups comprising:
• a generic audio style, a generic audio theme, special events and specific objects.

A method of delivering Karaoke text and timing information to generate a Karaoke visual display for an audio song, said method comprising:

• encoding said audio song into an audio elementary stream;
• inserting clock references for use in synchronising decoding of said Karaoke text and timing information with said audio song in said audio elementary stream;
• inserting channel information of said audio song in said audio elementary stream;
• inserting said Karaoke text information for said audio song in said audio elementary stream;
• and
• inserting said Karaoke timing information for generating scrolling said Karaoke text in said audio elementary stream.

Apparatus for generating relevant visual display for audio contents, comprising:

• storing means for storing visual description data that generate the visual display;
• playing means for playing said audio contents carried in an audio elementary stream;
• extracting means for extracting audio description data for said audio contents from said audio elementary stream;
• selecting means for selecting preferred visual description data from said storing means using information from said audio description data;
• and
• executing means for executing said visual description data to generate said visual display.

A system for connecting audio and visual contents, comprising:

• downloading means for downloading audio elementary streams for said audio contents and for downloading visual description data;
• creating and editing means for creating and editing audio description data relevant to said audio contents carried in said audio elementary streams and for creating and editing visual description data for generating said visual contents;
• selecting means for selecting said visual description data that best fits the audio description data for generating a visual display;
• user operable means for modifying the behaviour of said selecting means;
• and processor means for executing said visual description data to generate the display.