Editing method and apparatus for commercials during video recording
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths or time intervals, to edit the commercials from the recording, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signal, for detecting dark picture breaks of intervals in the video signal having a length or duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length;
timer means, actuated by the picture break detector means, for measuring and identifying at least one standard commercial length after each detected picture break;
means to detect segments which correpond in length to those used by standard commericals, actuated by the picture break detector means and the timer means, for detecting and identifying the length of a standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commercial length measured and identified by the timer means after one detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break; and
rewind means, actuated by the commercial detector means, for initiating a video recorder operating sequence in which the recording operation is stopped, the recording is rewound for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and the recording operation is restarted.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including standard length commercials, to edit the commercials from the recording. The video signal is supplied to an automatically calibrated picture break detector, which detects dark picture breaks in the video signal having a length or duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length. An timer circuit, actuated by the picture break detector, measures and identifies a plurality of standard commercial lengths after each detected picture break. A commercial indicator circuit, actuated by the picture break detector and the timer circuit, detects and identifies the length of a standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commercial length measured by the timer circuit after one detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break. A rewind circuit is actuated by the commercial detecting circuit stops the recording operation, rewinds the recording for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and restarts the recording operation.
214 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths or time intervals, to edit the commercials from the recording, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signal, for detecting dark picture breaks of intervals in the video signal having a length or duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; timer means, actuated by the picture break detector means, for measuring and identifying at least one standard commercial length after each detected picture break; means to detect segments which correpond in length to those used by standard commericals, actuated by the picture break detector means and the timer means, for detecting and identifying the length of a standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commercial length measured and identified by the timer means after one detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break; and rewind means, actuated by the commercial detector means, for initiating a video recorder operating sequence in which the recording operation is stopped, the recording is rewound for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and the recording operation is restarted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 6)
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3. signal processing means, connected to receive the video signal, for processing the video signal to produce a first DC signal whose voltage is proportional to the video signal picture information;
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reference voltage generating means for generating a DC reference voltage which is slightly higher than the first signal voltage indicating a dark picture break in the video signal having a length corresponding to at least one complete frame or picture; and first comparator means, having a first output connected to receive the first signal and a second output connected to receive the reference voltage, for providing an output signal having a first voltage level when the first signal voltage is greater than the reference voltage and having a second voltage level when the first signal voltage is less than the reference voltage, whereby the second voltage output signal of the first comparator means provides indication of a dark picture break in the video signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths, to edit the commercial from the recording, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signals, for detector dark picture breaks in the video signal having a length greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; timer means, actuated by the picture break detector means, for measuring the time interval between the end of each detected picture break and the beginning of the next detected picture break; segment detector means, actuated by the timer means, for detecting and identifying segments having length of a stanaard length commercial whenever the time interval measured by the timing means is approximately equal to at least one standard commerical length; and rewind means, actuated by the segment detector means for initiating a video recorder operating sequence in which the recording operation is stopped, the recording is rewound for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commerical, and the recording operation is restarted.
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10. A method of controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths or time intervals, to edit these commercials from the recording, which comprises the steps of:
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detecting each dark picture break in the video signal having a length or duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; measuring the time interval between the end of each detected dark picture break and the beginning of the next subsequent detected picture break; providing indication of a standard length commercial whenever the measured time interval is essentially equal to a standard commercial length; initiating a video recorder operating sequence whenever a standard length commerical is indicated, said operating sequence comprising the steps of stopping the recording operation, rewinding the recording for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and restarting the recording operation.
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11. A method for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commericals having a standard length or duration, standard length commercials from the recording, which comprises the steps:
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detecting dark picture breaks in the video signal having a length greater than a predetermined minimum and less than a predetermined maximum length; measuring at least one standard commercial length after each detected picture break; detecting a standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commerical length measured after each detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break; and initiating a video recorder operating sequence whenever a standard length commercial is detected, wherein the operating sequence comprises the steps of stopping a recording operation, rewinding the recording for the length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and restarting the recording operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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12. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the reocrding of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths of time intervals, on a recording medium, to edit the commericals from the recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signal, for detecting dark picture breaks of intervals in the video signal having a length or duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; timer means actuated by the picture break detector means, for measuring and identifying at least one standard commercial length after each detected picture break; means to detect segments which correspond in length to those used by standard commercials, actuated by the picture break detector means and the timer means, for detecting and identifying the length of at least one standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commercial length measured and identified by the timer means after one detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break; and means, actuated by the segment detector means, for initiating a video recorder operating sequence in which the recording operation is stopped, the recording medium is moved backwards for a length corresponding substantially ot the length of the detected at least one standard length commercial, and the recording operation is restarted. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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19. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials of predetermined lengths, on a recording medium, to edit the commercial from the recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signal, for detector dark pictures breaks in the video signal having a length greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; timer means, actuated by the picture break detector means, for measuring the time interval between the end of each detected picture break and the beginning of the next detected picture break; segment detector means, actuated by the timer means, for detecting and identifying segments having length of a standard length commercial whenever the time interval measured by the timing means is approximately equal to at least one standard commercial length; and means, actuated by the segment detector means for initiating a video recorder operating sequence in which the recording operation is stopped, the recording medium is repositioned at substantially at the starting point thereon of the detected commercial, and the recording operation is restarted.
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20. A method of controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commericals of predetermined lengths of time intervals, to edit these commercials from the recording, which comprises the steps of:
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detecting each dark picture break in the video signal having a length of duration greater than a predetermined minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length; measuring the time interval between the end of each detected dark picture break and the beginning of the next subsequent detected picture break; providing indication of a standard length commercial whenever the measured time interval is essentially equal to a standard commercial length; initiating a video recorder operating sequence whenever a standard length commerical is indicated, said operating sequence comprising the steps of stopping the recording operation, moving backward the recording for a length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and restarting the recording operation.
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21. A method for controlling the operation of a video recorder during the recording of a video signal containing picture information, including commercials having a standard length or duration, standard length commercials from the recording, which comprises the steps;
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detecting dark picture breaks in the video signal having a length greater than a predetermined minimum and less than a predetermined maximum length; measuring at least one standard commercial length after each detected picture break; detecting a standard length commercial whenever the end of a standard commercial length measured after each detected picture break occurs during a subsequent detected picture break; and initiating a video recorder operating sequence whenever a standard length commercial is detected, wherein the operating sequence comprises the steps of stopping a recording operation, moving backwardly the recording for the length corresponding to the length of the detected commercial, and restarting the recording operation.
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22. In a video recorder which includes means for recording on a medium a video signal containing picture information, including commercial length or time intervals, an improvement comprising picture break detector means, connected to receive the video signal, for detecting dark picture breaks of intervals in the video signal having a predetermiend minimum length and less than a predetermined maximum length for producing output signals indicative of the picture breaks;
- and means responsive to output signals from the detector means for substantially eliminating commercials from the medium during recording of the video signal thereon.
Specification