Method and system for providing alternative, less-intrusive advertising that appears during fast forward playback of a recorded video program

• US 6,909,837 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Unger, Robert Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCCIO, VINCENT F
• Application Number:
  US09/711,448
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.5/91, 386/46, 386/68, 386/69, 386/70, 386/95, 386/94, 386125-126
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A digital video recorder can be used to allow users to fast forward through segments of a recorded video signal, such as commercial breaks, while still allowing the advertiser a limited opportunity to present an advertising message. Frames from the commercial recorded with the video signal are electronically tagged. When the processor of the digital video recorder finds a tagged frame or frames during a fast forward operation, the processor may display the tagged frame as a static image during the fast forward operation or may play the series of tagged frames at normal speed as a condensed video clip during the fast forward operation. Thus, through a static image or a condensed video clip, an advertiser can present an advertising message, while the user may still skip the full-length commercials as quickly as before.

Claims

1. A video recorder and playback unit receiving a video signal, the recorder comprising:

a processor;

a digital data storage device in which said video signal is recorded; and

a user input device for issuing playback and fast forward commands to the recorder to control playback of said recorded video signal;

wherein, during execution of said fast forward command, said processor identifies electronically tagged frames in said recorded video signal and uses said tagged frame or frames to provide an alternative display during execution of said fast forward command.

2. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said tagged frame is output by said recorder as a static image during said execution of said fast forward command.

3. The recorder of claim 2, wherein said static image comprises an advertising message.

4. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said tagged frames are interspersed throughout untagged frames of said recorded video signal and comprise a condensed video clip which is output at a normal speed by said recorder during said execution of said fast forward command.

5. The recorder of claim 4, wherein said condensed video clip comprises an advertising message.

6. A method of providing an advertising message with a video recorder and playback unit that is playing back a recorded video signal, the method comprising, during execution of a fast forward command, identifying electronically tagged frames in said recorded video signal and using said tagged frame or frames to provide an alternative display during execution of said fast forward command.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising outputting said tagged frame with said recorder as a static image during said execution of said fast forward command.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an advertising message as said static image.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

composing a condensed video clip of said tagged frames which are interspersed throughout untagged frames of said recorded video signal; and

outputting said condensed video clip at a normal speed with said recorder during said execution of said fast forward command.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising including an advertising message in said condensed video clip.

11. A video recorder and playback unit receiving a video signal, the recorder comprising:

a processor means;

a digital data storage means in which said video signal is recorded; and

a user input means for issuing playback and fast forward commands to the recorder to control playback of said recorded video signal;

wherein said recorded video comprises one or more frames having an electronic tagging means and, during execution of said fast forward command, said processor means identifies electronically tagged frames in said recorded video signal and uses said tagged frame or frames to provide an alternative display during execution of said fast forward command.

12. The recorder of claim 11, wherein said tagged frame is output by said recorder as a static image during said execution of said fast forward command.

13. The recorder of claim 12, wherein said static image comprises an advertising message.

14. The recorder of claim 11, wherein said tagged frames are interspersed throughout untagged frames of said recorded video signal and comprise a condensed video clip which is output at a normal speed by said recorder during said execution of said fast forward command.

15. The recorder of claim 14, wherein said condensed video clip comprises an advertising message.

16. Computer-readable instructions recorded on a medium for storing computer-readable instructions, said instructions causing a processor of a video recorder and playback unit that is playing back a recorded video signal to, during execution of a fast forward command, identify electronically tagged frames in said recorded video signal and use said tagged frame or frames to provide an alternative display during execution of said fast forward command.

17. The instructions of claim 16, wherein said instructions further cause said processor to output said tagged frame from said recorder as a static image during said execution of said fast forward command.

18. The instructions of claim 17, wherein said static image comprises an advertising message.

19. The instructions of claim 16, wherein said tagged frames are interspersed throughout untagged frames of said recorded video signal and comprise a condensed video clip, said instructions causing said processor to output said condensed video clip at a normal speed from said recorder during said execution of said fast forward command.

20. The instructions of claim 19, wherein said condensed video clip comprises an advertising message.