Apparatus and method for preventing switching from a channel during an advertisement display

• US 20060070095A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Newton, Philip Steven, Kelly, Declan Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/538,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• 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 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

An apparatus (270) and method is disclosed for preventing a viewer from switching from a channel when an advertisement is being displayed on the channel. The apparatus (270) and method comprises an advertisement controller (270) in a video playback device (150) that (1) prevents a viewer of a direct (non-recorded) broadcast from switching channels when an advertisement is displayed, and (2) prevents a viewer of a recorded program from fast forwarding the recorded program in order to skip past advertisements that were recorded with the program. A viewer may either watch the advertisements or pay a fee in order to be able to change channels or fast forward when the advertisements are being displayed.

Claims

1. An apparatus in a video display system that is capable of displaying video programs with advertisements on a plurality of channels, wherein said apparatus is capable of preventing a viewer of a video program with advertisements from switching from a first channel to a second channel when an advertisement is displayed on said first channel.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said video display system is capable of displaying a recorded video program with advertisements and said apparatus is further capable of preventing a viewer of said recorded video program from fast forwarding said recorded video program to skip past advertisements in said recorded video program.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said apparatus comprises:

an advertisement controller;

a memory coupled to said advertisement controller;

advertisement control software within said memory;

wherein said advertisement controller is capable of executing said advertisement control software to take exclusive control of one of;

a channel switching function of said video display system and a fast forwarding function of said video display system.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a Multimedia Home Platform system and Multimedia Home Platform application manager; and

a first Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of receiving a first control signal, and in response to receiving said first control signal, taking exclusive control of one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function; and

said first Multimedia Home Platform application further capable of receiving a second control signal, and in response to receiving said second control signal, releasing exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a second application that is capable of preventing said first Multimedia Home Platform application from obtaining exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second application comprises one of:

Multimedia Home Platform software and a Multimedia Home Platform application.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a third Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of sending a payment authorization from said viewer to a program broadcaster to authorize said viewer to one of;

switch channels during a display of an advertisement in a broadcast video program and fast forward a recorded video program during a display of an advertisement in said recorded video program.

8. A video display system that is capable of displaying video programs with advertisements on a plurality of channels, said video display system comprising an apparatus that is capable of preventing a viewer of a video program with advertisements from switching from a first channel to a second channel when an advertisement is displayed on said first channel.

9. The video display system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said video display system is capable of displaying a recorded video program with advertisements and said apparatus is further capable of preventing a viewer of said recorded video program from fast forwarding said recorded video program to skip past advertisements in said recorded video program.

10. The video display system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said apparatus comprises:

an advertisement controller;

a memory coupled to said advertisement controller;

advertisement control software within said memory;

wherein said advertisement controller is capable of executing said advertisement control software to take exclusive control of one of;

a channel switching function of said video display system and a fast forwarding function of said video display system.

11. The video display system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a Multimedia Home Platform system and Multimedia Home Platform application manager; and

a first Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of receiving a first control signal, and in response to receiving said first control signal, taking exclusive control of one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function; and

said first Multimedia Home Platform application further capable of receiving a second control signal, and in response to receiving said second control signal, releasing exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

12. The video display system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a second application that is capable of preventing said first Multimedia Home Platform application from obtaining exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second application comprises one of:

Multimedia Home Platform software and a Multimedia Home Platform application.

14. The video display system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said advertisement control software comprises:

a third Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of sending a payment authorization from said viewer to a program broadcaster to authorize said viewer to one of;

switch channels during a display of an advertisement in a broadcast video program and fast forward a recorded video program during a display of an advertisement in said recorded video program.

15. A method for requiring a viewer of a video program to watch advertisements in said video program, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying video programs with advertisements on a plurality of channels in a video display system; and

preventing said viewer from switching from a first channel to a second channel when an advertisement is displayed on said first channel.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a recorded video program with advertisements on said video display system; and

preventing a viewer of said recorded video program from fast forwarding said recorded video program to skip past advertisements in said recorded video program.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

providing an advertisement controller in said video display system;

coupling a memory to said advertisement controller;

providing advertisement control software within said memory;

executing said advertisement control software with said advertisement controller to take exclusive control of one of;

a channel switching function of said video display system and a fast forwarding function of said video display system.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

providing a Multimedia Home Platform system and Multimedia Home Platform application manager in said advertisement control software; and

providing a first Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of receiving a first control signal and a second control signal;

in response to receiving said first control signal, causing said first Multimedia Home Platform application to take exclusive control of one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function; and

in response to receiving said second control signal, causing said first Multimedia Home Platform application to release said exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

providing a second application in said advertisement control software; and

causing said second application to prevent said first Multimedia Home Platform application from obtaining exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second application comprises one of:

Multimedia Home Platform software and a Multimedia Home Platform application.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

providing a third Multimedia Home Platform application in said advertisement control software; and

causing said third Multimedia Home Platform application to send a payment authorization from said viewer to a program broadcaster to authorize said viewer to one of;

switch channels during a display of an advertisement in a broadcast video program and fast forward a recorded video program during a display of an advertisement in said recorded video program.

22. Computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium for requiring a viewer of a video program to watch advertisements in said video program, said computer-executable instructions comprising the steps of:

displaying video programs with advertisements on a plurality of channels in a video display system; and

preventing said viewer from switching from a first channel to a second channel when an advertisement is displayed on said first channel.

23. The computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 22 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise the steps of:

displaying a recorded video program with advertisements on said video display system; and

preventing a viewer of said recorded video program from fast forwarding said recorded video program to skip past advertisements in said recorded video program.

24. The computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 23 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise the steps of:

accessing advertisement control software that is located within a memory coupled to an advertisement controller in said video display system; and

executing said advertisement control software with said advertisement controller to cause said advertisement controller to take exclusive control of one of;

a channel switching function of said video display system and a fast forwarding function of said video display system.

25. The computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 24 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise the steps of:

accessing a Multimedia Home Platform system and Multimedia Home Platform application manager in said advertisement control software; and

accessing a first Multimedia Home Platform application that is capable of receiving a first control signal and a second control signal;

in response to receiving said first control signal, causing said first Multimedia Home Platform application to take exclusive control of one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function; and

in response to receiving said second control signal, causing said first Multimedia Home Platform application to release said exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

26. The computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 25 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise the steps of:

accessing a second application in said advertisement control software; and

causing said second application to prevent said first Multimedia Home Platform application from obtaining exclusive control of said one of;

said channel switching function and said fast forwarding function.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said second application comprises one of:

Multimedia Home Platform software and a Multimedia Home Platform application.

28. The computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 23 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise the steps of:

accessing a third Multimedia Home Platform application in said advertisement control software; and

causing said third Multimedia Home Platform application to send a payment authorization from said viewer to a program broadcaster to authorize said viewer to one of;

switch channels during a display of an advertisement in a broadcast video program and fast forward a recorded video program during a display of an advertisement in said recorded video program.