Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and distribution media

• US 6,459,735 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Masashi, Suito, Taro, Miyata, Katsunari
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Tung T.
• Application Number:
  US09/447,496
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: H04/B.766, H04/N.516, 375/240.01, 375/240.02, 375/240.03, 375/240.1, 375/240.11, 375/240.13, 375/240.18, 375/240.15, 386/46, 348/460, 348/907, 348/699, 358/908
• US Class Current: 375/240.15
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/22 Means responsive to presence or absence of recorded information signals
• 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: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A commercial candidate section detector detects a commercial candidate section on the basis of a quiet section and a scene change point. A commercial characteristic quantity detector judges whether the commercial candidate section has various characteristics of commercials, and adds a predetermined value to an commercial characteristic value on the basis of the judgment result. The commercial characteristic quantity detector compares the final commercial characteristic value with a predetermined threshold value, and judges on the basis of the comparison result whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial section.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes scene changes; and

the determining means includes a means for determining a frequency of the scene changes in the commercial candidate section.

2. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the determining means includes

a periodicity detecting means for detecting whether an audio signal in the commercial candidate section has a periodicity, and

a periodicity calculation means for calculating the periodicity detected by the periodicity detecting means.

3. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal with a periodicity, and

the determining means includes a means for determining a degree of continuity of the periodicity of the audio signal.

4. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes a video signal with a repetition, and

the determining means includes a means for determining the repetition of the video signal in the commercial candidate section.

5. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the determining means includes a means for determining whether a telop exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

6. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the determining means includes a means for determining whether a character exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

7. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the determining means includes a means for determining a quietness rate in the commercial candidate section.

8. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the television signal;

a detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a determining means for determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the determining means, wherein

the television signal includes quiet frames, and

the detecting means includes a means for detecting quiet frames of the television signal disposed between a program and the commercial candidate section.

9. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs, commercials and scene changes, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a television signal;

a commercial candidate section detecting means for detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a frequency determining means for determining a frequency of scene changes in the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if the frequency of scene changes is above a predetermined level;

a periodicity determining means for determining whether an audio signal in the commercial candidate section has a periodicity, for calculating a level of periodicity detected, and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if the calculated periodicity is above a predetermined level;

a continuity determining means for determining a level of continuity of the periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if the continuity is above a predetermined level;

a repetition determining means for determining a level of repetition of a video signal in the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if the repetition is above a predetermined level;

a telop detecting means for detecting a telop in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if a telop is detected;

a character detecting means for detecting a character in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if a character is detected;

a quietness rate determining means for determining a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section and for increasing a commercial characteristic value if the quietness rate is below a predetermined level; and

a judgement means for judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the commercial characteristic value resulting from the operations of the frequency determining means, the periodicity determining means, the continuity determining means, the repetition determining means, the telop determining means, the character determining means, and the quietness rate determining means.

10. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes scene changes, and

the second detector detects a frequency of the scene changes in the commercial candidate section.

11. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal having a periodicity; and

the second detector detects the periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section.

12. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal having a periodicity; and

the second detector detects a continuity of the periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section.

13. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes a video signal with repetition; and

the second detector detects repetition of the video signal in the commercial candidate section.

14. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the second detector determines whether a telop exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

15. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the second detector determines whether a character exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

16. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the second detector detects a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section.

17. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a first detector configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a second detector configured to detect a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

a judgment circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic detected by the second detector, wherein

the television signal includes quiet frames; and

the first detector detects quiet frames of the television signal disposed between a program and a commercial candidate section.

18. An apparatus for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs, commercials and scene changes, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the television signal;

a commercial candidate section detecting circuit configured to detect a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

a commercial characteristic value counter configured to store a previous commercial characteristic value, receive a commercial characteristic value signal and add a commercial characteristic value from the commercial characteristic value signal to the previous commercial characteristic value;

a frequency determining circuit configured to determine a frequency of scene changes in the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if the frequency of scene changes is above a predetermined level;

a periodicity determining circuit configured to detect whether an audio signal in the commercial candidate section has a periodicity, calculate a level of periodicity detected, and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if the calculated periodicity is above a predetermined level;

a continuity determining circuit configured to determine a level of continuity of the periodicity of an audio signal in the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if the continuity is above a predetermined level;

a repetition determining circuit configured to determine a level of repetition of the video signal in the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if the repetition is above a predetermined level;

a telop detecting circuit configured to detect a telop in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if a telop exists;

a character detecting circuit configured to detect a character in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if a character is detected;

a quietness rate determining circuit configured to determine a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section and send a commercial characteristic value signal to the commercial characteristic value counter if the quietness rate is below a predetermined level; and

a judgement circuit configured to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the commercial characteristic value in the commercial characteristic value counter.

19. An apparatus for processing a television signal, wherein the television signal comprises an audio portion, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving the television signal;

a quiet threshold value determining circuit for determining a quiet threshold value from the television signal;

a comparitor for making a comparison of the audio portion of the television signal and the quiet threshold value; and

a judging circuit for judging whether or not a portion of the television signal is a commercial candidate section according to the comparison.

20. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes scene changes; and

the determining step includes determining a frequency of the scene changes in the commercial candidate section.

21. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes

determining whether an audio signal in the commercial candidate section has a periodicity; and

calculating the periodicity.

22. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal having a periodicity; and

the determining step includes determining a continuity of the periodicity.

23. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes a video signal which has repetition; and

the determining step includes determining an amount of repetition of the video signal in the commercial candidate section.

24. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining whether a telop exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

25. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining whether a character exists in a video signal of the commercial candidate section.

26. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section.

27. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs and commercials, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the television signal includes quiet frames and

the detecting step includes detecting quiet frames of the television signal disposed between a program and a commercial candidate section.

28. A method for processing a television signal, the television signal including programs, commercials, and scene changes, comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a frequency of scene changes in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the frequency of scene changes is above a predetermined level;

determining a periodicity of an audio signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the periodicity is above a predetermined level;

determining a continuity of a periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the continuity is above a predetermined level;

detecting a repetition of a video signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the repetition is above a predetermined level;

searching for a telop in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if a telop is detected;

searching for a character in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if a characters is detected;

determining a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the quietness rate is below a predetermined level; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the commercial characteristic value after the preceding steps are performed.

29. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes scene changes; and

the determining step includes determining a frequency of the scene changes in the commercial candidate section.

30. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal having a periodicity; and

the determining step includes determining the periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section.

31. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes an audio signal having a periodicity; and

the determining step includes determining a level of continuity of the periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section.

32. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the commercial candidate section includes a video signal which has repetition; and

the determining step includes determining a level of repetition of the video signal in the commercial candidate section.

33. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining whether a telop exists in the video signal of

the commercial candidate section.

34. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining whether a character exists in the video signal of the commercial candidate section.

35. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the determining step includes determining a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section.

36. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a characteristic of the commercial candidate section; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the characteristic determined in the determining step, wherein

the television signal comprises quiet frames; and

the detecting step includes detecting quiet frames of the television signal between a program and a commercial candidate section.

37. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect a commercial in a television program, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving the television signal;

detecting a commercial candidate section in the television signal;

determining a frequency of scene changes in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the frequency of scene changes is above a predetermined level;

determining a periodicity of an audio signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the periodicity is above a predetermined level;

determining a continuity of a periodicity of the audio signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the continuity is above a predetermined level;

detecting a repetition of a video signal in the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the repetition is above a predetermined level;

searching for a telop in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if a telop is detected;

searching for a character in the video signal of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if a characters is detected;

determining a quietness rate of the commercial candidate section and increasing a commercial characteristic value if the quietness rate is below a predetermined level; and

judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial, based on the commercial characteristic value after the preceding steps are performed.

38. An information processing apparatus for detecting commercial messages contained in a television broadcast, comprising:

a soundless section detector operable to detect a soundless section of the television broadcast;

a scene change detector operable to detect a scene change of the television broadcast;

a commercial candidate section detector operable to detect a commercial candidate section in accordance with a detection result of said soundless section detector and said scene change detector; and

a commercial characteristic detector operable to detect a plurality of commercial characteristics in the commercial candidate section, wherein

the commercial characteristic detector is further operable to obtain an estimation value in accordance with at least one of the plurality of commercial characteristics so as to judge whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial message based on the estimation value.

39. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects a frequency of the scene change.

40. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects a periodicity of an audio signal.

41. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects a continuity of an audio signal and a video signal.

42. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects a reproducibility of a video signal.

43. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects characters on a picture.

44. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said commercial characteristic detector detects a soundless rate of an audio signal.

45. A method for detecting commercial messages contained in a television broadcast, comprising the steps of:

detecting a soundless section of the television broadcast;

detecting a scene change of the television broadcast;

detecting a commercial candidate section in accordance with a detection result of the detecting a soundless section step and the detecting a scene change step; and

detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics in the commercial candidate section, wherein

the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step includes obtaining an estimation value in accordance with at least one of the plurality of commercial characteristics, and judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial message based on the estimation value.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a frequency of the scene change.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a periodicity of an audio signal.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a continuity of an audio signal and a video signal.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a reproducibility of a video signal.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting characters on a picture.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a soundless rate of an audio signal.

54. The computer implemented process of claim 51, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a periodicity of an audio signal.

55. The computer implemented process of claim 51, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a continuity of an audio signal and a video signal.

56. The computer implemented process of claim 51, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a reproducibility of a video signal.

57. The computer implemented process of claim 51, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting characters on a picture.

58. The computer implemented process of claim 51, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a soundless rate of an audio signal.

52. A computer readable medium encoded with processor readable instructions that when executed by the processor implement a process to detect commercial messages contained in a television broadcast, the process comprising the steps of:

detecting a soundless section of the television broadcast;

detecting a scene change of the television broadcast;

detecting a commercial candidate section in accordance with a detection result of the detecting a soundless section step and the detecting a scene change step; and

detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics in the commercial candidate section, wherein

the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step includes obtaining an estimation value in accordance with at least one of the plurality of commercial characteristics, and judging whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial message based on the estimation value.

53. The computer implemented process of claim 52, wherein the detecting a plurality of commercial characteristics step comprises detecting a frequency of the scene change.