Program restart and commercial ending notification method and system
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for allowing channel surfing during the presentation of a commercial broadcast by returning the viewer to the desired program channel after the commercial broadcast has concluded. When a commercial broadcast is received that interrupts the presentation of a viewer'"'"'s desired programming, channel surfing is facilitated based on increased audio volume levels broadcast with the commercial broadcast. During channel surfing, the present audio level of the primary channel presenting the undesired commercial broadcast is monitored. If the audio volume level drops below the level of the commercial broadcast or returns to the level set by the viewer for the desired program prior to receipt of the commercial broadcast, the desired program channel may be reselected to return the viewer to her desired program channel. The viewer may be notified that the commercial broadcast has ended prior to reselection of the desired program channel. Notification may be in the form of a notification message displayed to the viewer.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
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23. A method for switching between channels, the method comprising:
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presenting for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first audio volume level;
presenting for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;
selecting a second channel based on a received selection of the second channel;
comparing a present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel; and
returning to the first channel when the present audio volume level of the first channel drops to a level associated with the first audio volume level. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for switching between channels, the system comprising:
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a memory storage; and
a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;
present for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first audio volume level;
present for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;
select a second channel based on a received a selection of the second channel;
compare a present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel; and
return to the first channel when the present audio volume level of the first channel drops to a level associated with the first audio volume level. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for switching between channels, the method comprising:
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presenting for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first audio volume level;
presenting for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;
receiving a selection of a second channel;
monitoring a present audio volume level of the first channel;
comparing the present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel; and
returning to the first channel when the monitored present audio volume level of the first channel drops to a level associated with the first audio volume level. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification