Modifying commercials for multi-speed playback

• US 20050076359A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Pierson, Andrew, Barton, James M., Seidel, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,032,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/44008 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 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4663 involving probabilistic networks, e.g. Bayesian networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 : comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A system for modifying commercials for multi-speed playback detects when a commercial break begins in a broadcast program content stream. If the viewer selects fast-forward playback mode during the commercial break, then the system selects the appropriate alternate content to be played to the viewer. The alternate content can include images, video, and/or audio content. The system is provided configuration information by the service provider or broadcaster to identify what alternate content will be played, when it will be played and any additional processing tasks required. A service provider can charge an advertiser or content provider a fee based on viewership of the alternate content. When the system detects that the commercial break has ended, it returns the viewer back to the program material.

Claims

1. A process for playing alternate content to a user during playing of commercials, comprising:

detecting the beginning of a commercial break during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

wherein the commercial break contains one or more commercials;

selecting appropriate alternate content for the commercial break; and

playing the alternate content to the user if the user changes playing speed through the commercial break.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the alternate content is selected for each specific commercial in the commercial break.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting step uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the commercial break.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving alternate content sets; and

storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

13. An apparatus for playing alternate content to a user during playing of commercials, comprising:

a module for detecting the beginning of a commercial break during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

wherein the commercial break contains one or more commercials;

a module for selecting appropriate alternate content for the commercial break; and

a module for playing the alternate content to the user if the user changes playing speed through the commercial break.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein alternate content is selected for each specific commercial in the commercial break.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting module uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the commercial break.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the selecting module selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for receiving alternate content sets; and

a module for storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

25. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for playing alternate content to a user during playing of commercials, comprising:

detecting the beginning of a commercial break during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

wherein the commercial break contains one or more commercials;

selecting appropriate alternate content for the commercial break; and

playing the alternate content to the user if the user changes playing speed through the commercial break.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the alternate content is selected for each specific commercial in the commercial break.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting step uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the commercial break.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving alternate content sets; and

storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

37. A process for playing alternate content to a user during playing of tagged multimedia program content, comprising:

detecting the beginning of a tagged section during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

selecting appropriate alternate content for the tagged section; and

playing the alternate content to the user through the tagged section.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

39. The process of claim 37, wherein playing of the multimedia program is delayed if the alternate content is longer than the tagged section.

40. The process of claim 37, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

41. The process of claim 40, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

42. The process of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting step uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

43. The process of claim 37, further comprising:

returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the tagged section.

44. The process of claim 37, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

45. The process of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving alternate content sets; and

storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

46. The process of claim 37, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

47. The process of claim 37, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

48. The process of claim 37, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

49. An apparatus for process for playing alternate content to a user during playing of tagged multimedia program content, comprising:

a module for detecting the beginning of a tagged section during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

a module for selecting appropriate alternate content for the tagged section; and

a module for playing the alternate content to the user through the tagged section.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein playing of the multimedia program is delayed if the alternate content is longer than the tagged section.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

a module for receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting module uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

55. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

a module for returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the tagged section.

56. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the selecting module selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

57. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

a module for receiving alternate content sets; and

a module for storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

58. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

59. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

60. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

61. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for process for playing alternate content to a user during playing of tagged multimedia program content, comprising:

detecting the beginning of a tagged section during playing of a multimedia program to the user;

selecting appropriate alternate content for the tagged section; and

playing the alternate content to the user through the tagged section.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the multimedia program is stored on a local storage device.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein playing of the multimedia program is delayed if the alternate content is longer than the tagged section.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the alternate content is any of:

audio, video, or image content.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the audio, video, or image content can be played to the user in any combination.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

receiving configuration information for determining when a set of alternate content is displayed to a user; and

wherein the selecting step uses the configuration information to select the appropriate alternate content.

67. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

returning the user back to the multimedia program upon detection of the end of the tagged section.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences.

69. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

receiving alternate content sets; and

storing the alternate content sets on a storage device.

70. The method of claim 61, wherein the alternate content is contained in the multimedia program, and wherein the alternate content is extracted from the multimedia program.

71. The method of claim 61, wherein a service provider charges an advertiser or content provider a fee based on user viewing of alternate content.

72. The method of claim 61, wherein the multimedia program is played as it is being received.

73. A method for determining a fee for playing alternate content to a user on a DVR during a broadcast or recorded program, comprising:

selecting appropriate alternate content for a commercial break in the program material;

wherein the commercial break contains one or more commercials;

wherein the alternate content is any of;

audio, video, or image content;

playing the alternate content to the user through the commercial break; and

charging an advertiser, content provider, or broadcaster a fee based on viewership of the alternate content.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences, and wherein the charging step charges the advertiser, content provider, or broadcaster a fee for targeting the alternate content to specific users.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the playing step plays the alternate content to the user if the user changes playing speed through the commercial break.

76. A method for determining a fee for playing alternate content to a user during a tagged section of program material, comprising:

selecting appropriate alternate content for a tagged section in the program material;

wherein the alternate content is any of;

audio, video, or image content;

playing the alternate content to the user through the tagged section; and

charging an advertiser, content provider, or broadcaster a fee based on viewership of the alternate content.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the selecting step selects the alternate content based on the user'"'"'s personal data and/or viewing preferences, and wherein the charging step charges the advertiser, content provider, or broadcaster a fee for targeting the alternate content to specific users.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the playing step plays the alternate content to the user if the user changes playing speed through the tagged section.