Commercial detection suppressor with inactive video modification

• US 20050120367A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Linzer, Elliot N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/01 Conversion of standards , e.g. involving analogue television standards or digital television standards processed at pixel level

Abstract

A method for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of (A) receiving the video signal comprising (i) a first segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a first signature and (ii) a second segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a second signature, (B) modifying each of the frames of the first segment from the first signature to a third signature and (C) modifying each of the frames of the second segment from the second signature to a fourth signature.

Claims

1. A method for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving said video signal comprising (i) a first segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a first signature and (ii) a second segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a second signature;

(B) modifying each of said frames of said first segment from said first signature to a third signature; and

(C) modifying each of said frames of said second segment from said second signature to a fourth signature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second signature is equal to said fourth signature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) said first segment comprises a non-commercial program, (ii) said second segment comprises a commercial program and (iii) said signature modification is performed to suppress the detection of commercials in said video signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein transitions between said first and second segments are not detectable.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying in steps (A) and (B) comprises:

cropping each of said frames to a first size, wherein said cropped frames comprise only said first region equaling a size of said frames prior to said modifying steps.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first size fills said active region.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said video signal comprises a digital video signal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first region comprises an active region.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said modifying in steps (A) and (B) comprises:

obscuring a start of an active video in at least one of said frames.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

step (C) comprises modifying said frames of said second segment from said second signature to said first signature.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said video signal comprises a digital video signal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said video signal comprises a digital video signal.

11. An apparatus for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of:

means for receiving said video signal comprising (i) a first segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a first signature and (ii) a second segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a second signature;

means for modifying each of said frames of said first segment from said first signature to a third signature; and

means for modifying each of said frames of said second segment from said second signature to a fourth signature.

13. An apparatus for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of:

a circuit configured to receive said video signal comprising (i) a first segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a first signature and (ii) a second segment having a series of frames each having a first region and a second region defining a second signature, wherein said circuit (i) modifies each of said frames of said first segment from said first signature to a third signature and (ii) modifies each of said frames of said second segment from said second signature to a fourth signature.