Systems and methods for reducing interference between content play and video recording among multiple devices located proximate to each other. Microphones of devices recording video are muted, or content play is interrupted, according to the actions of a majority of nearby devices. For example, if most devices are recording video, content play may be interrupted to prevent the video from unintentionally recording unwanted sounds from play of the content. Conversely, if most devices are not recording video, only those devices which are may have their microphones muted. Actions to reduce interference may be taken according to the current behavior of a majority of proximate devices.

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) presenting, by a playback device, first media content from a first source; (ii) encountering, by the playback device, a trigger to switch from presenting the first media content from the first source to presenting second media content from a second source; (iii) determining, by the playback device, that the playback device is presenting the first media content from the first source in a muted state; and (iv) responsive to encountering the trigger, and based on the determining that the playback device is presenting the first media content from the first source in a muted state, presenting, by the playback device, the second media content from the second source in the muted state.

A method for transmitting and receiving data using a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) performed by a source device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include connecting to a sink device through the HDMI; receiving Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) information from the sink device; parsing the received EDID information, and determining an operating parameter; and transmitting a message instructing to execute a video mute function to the sink device.

Signals from a remote control device may be received in a first viewing area and retransmitted to a second viewing area to control customer premises equipment (CPE) devices in the second viewing area. In some embodiments, signals are translated for compatibility with the CPE devices in the second viewing area. A repeater in the first viewing area may receive infrared signals encoded with a remote control command and retransmit the remote control command with an RF signal to a receiver in the second viewing area. The repeater may be incorporated into a multimedia processing resource such as a set-top box.

The present invention discloses a synchronized audio playing method, apparatus, and system for playing audio synchronously. By outputting designated data using a designated data buffer area before arrival of the starting time point of synchronous playing so as to make an audio link in a stable state, the method shuns from the impact of factors like system process scheduling interruption and system hardware on synchronous playing, thereby enhancing the precision of synchronous playing; moreover, upon arrival of the starting time point of synchronous playing, by computing a tuning amount of the audio data in the local synchronization buffer area, adjusting the audio data in the local synchronization buffer area according to the tuning amount, and meanwhile performing output playing on the tuned audio data, the method achieves audio synchronization play. Compared with the prior art, the present invention needn't add playing timestamp information to an audio data stream, and the playing terminal needn't process timestamp information during the entire playing procedure, thereby effectively increasing the flexibility of synchronous playing.

Apparatus and methods conforming to the present invention comprise a method of controlling playback of an audio signal through analysis of a corresponding close caption signal in conjunction with analysis of the corresponding audio signal. Objection text or other specified text in the close caption signal is identified through comparison with user identified objectionable text. Upon identification of the objectionable text, the audio signal is analyzed to identify the audio portion corresponding to the objectionable text. Upon identification of the audio portion, the audio signal may be controlled to mute the audible objectionable text.

In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a video display accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor and comprising instructions executable by the processor to present an indication on the video display of an importance of audio to video relative to effective user consumption.

In one aspect, a method includes receiving first content at a content-presentation device and presenting the first content, the first content comprising a first audio-content component. The content-presentation device may receive second content comprising a second audio-content component. The content-presentation device may determine a switch time at which to switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a first time interval prior to the switch time and ending at the switch time, the volume of the first audio-content component may be decreased to zero. At the switch time, the content-presentation device may switch from presenting the first content to presenting the second content. During a second time interval beginning at the switch time and ending at a second time after the switch time, the volume of the second audio-content component may be increased from zero to a non-zero volume level.

An electronic apparatus includes a communication interface; a memory storing a control code information of a content providing apparatus; and at least one processor configured to: based on repeatedly receiving, from a remote controller, a control signal for changing a volume value of the electronic apparatus more than a threshold number of times through the communication interface, obtain state information of the content providing apparatus, identify a current volume value of the content providing apparatus or a state of the content providing apparatus, based on the state information, and based on the current volume value of the content providing apparatus being less than or equal to a threshold value or the content providing apparatus being in a mute state, control the communication interface to transmit a control signal to change the volume value of the content providing apparatus to the remote controller based on the stored control code information .

Methods, systems, and devices for facilitating simultaneous execution of applications so that associated audio playback corresponds to user expectation.