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Method and apparatus for automatically identifying and selectively altering segments of a television broadcast signal in real-time

  • US 6,597,405 B1
  • Filed: 11/30/1999
  • Issued: 07/22/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for identifying selected segment of a television signal comprising the steps of:

  • detecting a first event marker;

    detecting a signature pattern associated with the first event marker;

    comparing the signature pattern to stored signature patterns;

    if the signature pattern matches any of the stored signature patterns, identifying a pre-determined portion of the television signal following the first event marker as a selected segment;

    if the signature pattern does not match any of the stored signature patterns, analyzing signals following the first event marker to determine whether the signature pattern nevertheless corresponds to a selected segment and, if so, identifying a pre-determined portion of the television signal following the first event marker as a selected segment and storing said signature pattern of the selected segment along with the stored signatures;

    discarding selected stored signatures;

    wherein the method is performed by a television set either while the television signal is displayed for view by the television set or while the television set is otherwise not in use;

    wherein said step of storing said signature pattern of the selected segment along with the stored signatures includes the step of storing an in-use factor with the in-use factor being representative of whether the selected segment was encountered at any time while the television set was in use; and

    wherein the step of discarding selected stored signatures includes the step of identifying which signatures to discard based in part upon the in-use factor.

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