Method and apparatus for eliminating television commercial messages

• US 5,696,866 A
• Filed: 09/12/1994
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Televentions LLC
• Original Assignee: SRT, Inc.
• Inventors: Iggulden, Jerry, Fields, Kyle, McFarland, Alan, Wu, Jung-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/304,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 358/908, 358/335, 360/14.1, 360/14.2, 360/14.3, 360/33.1, 360/69, 360/71, 360/74.5
• US Class Current: 386/249
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 by sensing recorded signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1816 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of operating tapes cooperating with rotating heads see provisional also G11B15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1875 adaptations for special effects or editing signal processing or indexing therefor G11B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/24 by sensing features on the record carrier other than the transducing track ; sensing signals or marks recorded by another method than the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3036 Time code signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/323 : Time code signal, e.g. on a cue track as SMPTE- or EBU-time code
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 : Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 : on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 : on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 : Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 : of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 : of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/142 : Detection of scene cut or scene change
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/179 : the unit being a scene or a shot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/87 : involving scene cut or scene change detection in combination with video compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 : the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 : for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 : Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/908 : Pause control, i.e. "commercial killers"

Abstract

During recording of a television signal on a VCR, data are accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data are stored. Subsequent to the recording process, the stored data are analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events as commercial or non-commercial. The video tape is then marked at the beginning and ending of each commercial group. During playback, the VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning of a commercial group. The VCR is then automatically commanded to return to the normal "play" mode when the tape reaches the ending time of that commercial group. Since all of the television signal is recorded on the tape, any or all of the signal may be viewed at the discretion of the viewer.

Claims

1. A method of eliminating commercial messages during playback of a television program recorded on a recording medium comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting events in a television signal carrying the television program as the television program is recorded;

(b) for an analyzed one of said detected events, looking for a neighboring detected event within a plurality of time windows;

(c) classifying a segment of the television signal adjacent to said analyzed detected event as commercial if said neighboring detected event is found within any one of said plurality of time windows, otherwise classifying said segment of the video signal as non-commercial;

(d) storing a classification result for said segment of the television signal together with data representative of a location of said segment of the television signal on the recording medium;

(e) replaying the recorded television program from the recording medium at a normal rate of play during segments of the television signal classified as noncommercial and at a higher than normal rate of play during segments of the television signal classified as commercial.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step, after step (d), of writing a mark on the recording medium proximate to said location of said segment of the television signal if said segment is classified as commercial.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the recording medium is a video tape and said mark is written on a control track of the video tape.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said mark comprises a first mark proximate to a beginning of said segment of the television signal.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of writing a second mark on the recording medium proximate to an ending of said segment of the television signal.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the recording medium is a video tape and said first and second marks are written on a control track of the video tape.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second marks each comprise a frame synchronization clock signal having respective first and second duty cycle patterns different from each other.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the control track normally has a frame synchronization clock signal having a third duty cycle pattern different from both of the first and second duty cycle patterns.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first duty cycle pattern is a repeating sequence of a first duty cycle D₁ and a second duty cycle D₂ of the form D₁ D₂ D₁ D₂ . . .

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second duty cycle pattern is a repeating sequence of D₁ and D₂ of the form D₁ D₂ D₂ D₁ D₂ D₂ . . .

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the third duty cycle pattern is a substantially constant duty cycle having a value approximately equal to one of D₁ and D₂.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mark begins substantially before the ending of said segment of the television signal.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the events comprise television frames in which a video component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the events comprise television frames in which an audio component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the events comprise television frames in which a video component of the television signal signal remains at a substantially constant level.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the events comprise a pair of video image changes in rapid succession.

17. In combination with a video cassette recorder for recording a television signal on a video tape, said television signal carrying a television program, and for replaying the television program from the recorded video tape, a device for eliminating commercial messages during replay of the television program comprising:

means for detecting an event in the television signal as the television program is recorded;

means for storing data representative of a tape location for said detected event;

means for analyzing said detected event to classify a segment of the television signal adjacent to said detected event as one of commercial and non-commercial;

means for automatically marking the video tape with a signal to identify segments of the television signal classified as commercial;

means for rapidly advancing the video tape through the segments of the television signal classified as commercial when the television program is replayed.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the means for detecting events comprises a circuit for detecting frames of the television signal in which a video component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the means for detecting events comprises a circuit for detecting frames of the television signal in which an audio component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the means for analyzing the detected events comprises means for determining if a first detected event has a neighboring second detected event within one of a plurality of time windows.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein the means for automatically marking the video tape comprises a head for magnetically encoding a control track of the video tape.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the means for automatically marking the video tape further comprises a circuit for modifying a frame synchronization clock signal on the control track to have a selectable one of a plurality of duty cycle patterns.

23. A method of eliminating commercial messages during playback of a television program recorded on a recording medium comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an event in the television signal as the television program is recorded;

(b) storing data representative of a tape location for said detected event;

(c) analyzing said detected event to classify a segment of the television signal adjacent to said detected event as one of commercial and non-commercial;

(d) marking the recording medium with a signal to identify said segment of the television signal if it is classified as commercial;

(e) replaying the recorded television program such that said segment is replayed at a normal rate if it is classified as non-commercial and is replayed at a higher than normal rate if it is classified as commercial.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the recording medium is a video tape and said marking step comprises writing a mark on a control track of the video tape.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said mark comprises a first mark proximate to a beginning of said segment of the television signal.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of writing a second mark on the recording medium proximate to an ending of said segment of the television signal.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first and second marks each comprise a frame synchronization clock signal having respective first and second duty cycle patterns different from each other.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the control track normally has a frame synchronization clock signal having a third duty cycle pattern different from both of the first and second duty cycle patterns.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first duty cycle pattern is a repeating sequence of a first duty cycle D₁ and a second duty cycle D₂ of the form D₁ D₂ D₁ D₂ . . .

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the second duty cycle pattern is a repeating sequence of D₁ and D₂ of the form D₁ D₂ D₂ D₁ D₂ D₂ . . .

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the third duty cycle pattern is a substantially constant duty cycle having a value approximately equal to one of D₁ and D₂.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the second mark begins substantially before the ending of said segment of the television signal.

33. The method of claim 23 wherein the event comprises a television frame in which a video component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

34. The method of claim 23 wherein the event comprises a television frame in which an audio component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

35. The method of claim 23 wherein the event comprises a television frame in which a video component of the television signal signal remains at a substantially constant level.

36. The method of claim 23 wherein the event comprises a pair of video image changes in rapid succession.

37. A device for recording a television signal on a recording medium, said television signal carrying a television program, and for replaying the television program from the recording medium, said device comprising:

means for detecting events in the television signal as the television program is recorded;

means for analyzing one of said detected events by looking for a neighboring detected event within a plurality of time windows;

means for classifying a segment of the television signal adjacent to said one detected event as commercial if said neighboring detected event is found within any one of said plurality of time windows and for otherwise classifying said segment of the video signal as non-commercial;

means for storing a classification result for said segment of the television signal together with data representative of a location of said segment of the television signal on the recording medium;

means for replaying the recorded television program from the recording medium at a normal rate of play during segments of the television signal classified as non-commercial and for replaying the recorded television program at a higher than normal rate of play during segments of the television classified as commercial.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the means for detecting events comprises a circuit for detecting frames of the television signal in which a video component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

39. The device of claim 37 wherein the means for detecting events comprises a circuit for detecting frames of the television signal in which an audio component of the television signal remains below a predetermined threshold.

40. The device of claim 37 wherein the means for analyzing the detected events comprises means for determining if a first detected event has a neighboring second detected event within one of a plurality of time windows.

41. The device of claim 37 wherein the recording medium is a video tape and the means for automatically marking the video tape comprises a head for magnetically encoding a control track of the video tape.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the means for automatically marking the video tape further comprises a circuit for modifying a frame synchronization clock signal on the control track to have a selectable one of a plurality of duty cycle patterns.