Method and apparatus for generating commercial viewing/listening information

• US 7,058,963 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Kendall, Scott Allan, Nicoson, David Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc
• Application Number:
  US10/164,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/21, 725/133, 725/141, 725/88, 725/102, 725/153, 725/20, 725/22, 386/46, 348/907, 358/908
• US Class Current: 725/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums

Abstract

A method for generating commercial information using a data recording device can provide commercial sponsors with feedback regarding the effectiveness of their commercials. According to the method, program data including a commercial is recorded. The recorded program data including the commercial is played back. A trigger event for the commercial is detected during playback. Information identifying the commercial is stored in response to detection of the trigger event.

Claims

1. A method for generating commercial information using a data recording device, the method comprising steps of:

recording program data including at least one commercial;

playing back the recorded program data including the at least one commercial;

detecting a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback;

wherein the trigger event for the at least one commercial is detected in response to steps comprising;

detecting a first user input before a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a fast forward command and a skip command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial, the second user input comprising a play command;

detecting playback of the at least one commercial through at least a second predetermined time period before an ending point of the at least one commercial; and

storing information identifying the at least one commercial in response to detection of the trigger event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting information identifying the at least one commercial to a predetermined location.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising steps of:

receiving the information identifying the at least one commercial at the predetermined location; and

distributing the information identifying the at least one commercial to at least one sponsors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the program data comprises video data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the program data comprises audio data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the at least one commercial comprises a digital code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the digital code comprises a time stamp indicating when the at least one commercial was transmitted from a data transmission source.

8. A method for generating commercial information using a data recording device, the method comprising steps of:

recording program data including at least one commercial;

playing back the recorded program data including the at least one commercial;

detecting a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback;

wherein the trigger event for the at least one commercial is detected in response to steps comprising;

detecting a first user input after a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a reverse command and a replay command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial, the second user input comprising a play command; and

detecting playback of the at least one commercial through at least a second predetermined time period before an ending point of the at least one commercial; and

storing information identifying the at least one commercial in response to detection of the trigger event.

9. An apparatus comprising:

means for recording program data including at least one commercial;

means for enabling playback of the recorded program data including the at least one commercial;

means for detecting a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback, and for enabling information identifying the at least one commercial to be stored in response to detection of the trigger event;

wherein the detecting means detects the trigger event for the at least one commercial by;

detecting a first user input before a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a fast forward command and a skip command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial, the second user input comprising a play command; and

detecting playback of the at least one commercial through at least a second predetermined time period before an ending point of the at least one commercial.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for enabling transmission of information identifying the at least one commercial to a predetermined location.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program data comprises video data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the program data comprises audio data.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the information identifying the at least one commercial comprises a digital code.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the digital code comprises a time stamp indicating when the at least one commercial was transmitted from a data transmission source.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for recording program data including at least one commercial;

means for enabling playback of the recorded program data including the at least one commercial;

means for detecting a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback, and for enabling information identifying the at least one commercial to be stored in response to detection of the trigger event;

wherein the detecting means detects the trigger event for the at least one commercial by;

detecting a first user input after a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a reverse command and a replay command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial.

16. A data recording device comprising:

a storage medium operative to record program data including at least one commercial;

a decoder operative to enable playback of the recorded program data including the at least one commercial; and

a processor operative to detect a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback, and enable information identifying the at least one commercial to be stored in response to detection of the trigger event;

wherein the processor detects the trigger event for the at least one commercial by detecting a first user input before a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a fast forward command and a skip command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial, the second user input comprising a play command; and

detecting playback of the at least one commercial through at least a second predetermined time period before an ending point of the at least one commercial.

17. The data recording device of claim 16, further comprising an interface operative to enable transmission of information identifying the at least one commercial to a predetermined location.

18. The data recording device of claim 16, wherein the program data comprises video data.

19. The data recording device of claim 16, wherein the program data comprises audio data.

20. The data recording device of claim 16, wherein the information identifying the at least one commercial comprises a digital code.

21. The data recording device of claim 20, wherein the digital code comprises a time stamp indicating when the at least one commercial was transmitted from a data transmission source.

22. A data recording device comprising:

a storage medium operative to record program data including at least one commercial;

a decoder operative to enable playback of the recorded program data including the at least one commercial; and

a processor operative to detect a trigger event for the at least one commercial during playback, and enable information identifying the at least one commercial to be stored in response to detection of the trigger event;

wherein the processor detects the trigger event for the at least one commercial by;

detecting a first user input after a starting point of the at least one commercial, the first user input comprising one of a reverse command and a replay command;

detecting a second user input within a first predetermined time period before or after the starting point of the at least one commercial, the second user input comprising a play command; and

detecting playback of the at least one commercial through at least a second predetermined time period before an ending point of the at least one commercial.