Method and apparatus for detecting media content

• US 20040226035A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David L. Hauser Jr
• Original Assignee: David L. Hauser Jr
• Inventors: Hauser, David L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/839,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 on recording information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/20 on secondary editing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

A central database provides a location for creating and storing samples of known television commercials. The database of commercial samples is downloaded to a set-top box via a communicate link. The set-top box incorporates a processor for comparing a television signal with the database of known commercial messages to detect the presence of commercial messages. The set-top box may be used to control a recording unit to stop recording for the duration of the commercial message or flag the commercial message for muting or manual skipping during playback. Using this system, the user has the ability to positively detect commercial messages and eliminate the commercials from viewing if desired.

Claims

1. A system for use with a television set for detecting television program material, comprising:

a local memory unit for collecting and storing a portion of a television program; and

a comparison device for comparing said portion of a television program with an incoming television signal for detecting when said portion is received.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote database wherein said portion is stored and a communication link for downloading said portion to said local memory unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a user may manually flag said portion such that said portion is stored in said local memory unit.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a video recorder and wherein said comparison device is capable of controlling said video recorder such that said video recorder may be commanded to stop recording during said portion of a television program.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for automatically flagging said portion of a television program for manual skipping at a later time.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising a recording device and stopping the recording device from recording the television broadcast for the duration of the commercial message.

6. A method of detecting television commercials during a television broadcast;

comprising;

compiling a database of known television commercials;

downloading said database of known television commercials to a set-top box that is connected to a television;

comparing the television broadcast with said database of known television commercials to detect when a commercial message is being shown.