Content replacement by PID mapping

• US 7,765,567 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant L., Pedlow, JR., Leo M., Garrett, Jon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Idowu, Olugbenga O
• Application Number:
  US10/319,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26606 for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43607 Interfacing a plurality of external cards, e.g. through a DVB Common Interface [DVB-CI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43853 involving multiplex stream decryption arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44055 by partially decrypting, e.g. decrypting a video stream that has been partially encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/167 Systems rendering the television signal unintelligible and subsequently intelligible
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

A method and apparatus for content substitution, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention involves receiving data representing content, the data having at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second portions of content. The content having the first PID is placed into a data stream. An initiation flag is received indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation. The content having the second PID is then mapped to the first PID and the mapped content is placed into the data stream. A termination flag is received indicating termination of the PID mapping operation at which point the process returns to placing content having the first PID into the data stream. The content substitution process can be used to replace advertisements, provide multiple plots, multiple endings, multiple views as well as other applications.

Claims

1. A method of content substitution, comprising:

receiving a structured stream of data representing content structured according to a first and a second substitutable portion, the data encoded using at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second substitutable portions of content, each encoded portion of said substitutable content being mapped to at least one of said PIDs;

receiving private signaling forming part of an adaptation layer of packets in the received structured stream of data, the private signaling establishing a parameter to be used to start and stop the content substitution, where the private signaling specifies a decoder operational mode that enables one of a plurality of content substitution modes of decoder operation, and where the private signaling further specifies switching among the content substitution modes of the decoder operation;

initiating processing of content having the first PID;

determining that a substitution criterion has been met;

substituting content having the second PID for content having the first PID wherein data encoded with said first and second PIDs are portions of the said received structured stream of data;

processing the substituted content for display or storage; and

wherein whenever packets are inserted or deleted, a continuity count for said first PID is preserved by adjusting the continuity count.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises one of streamed data, a data file and a packaged medium containing a data file.

3. The method according to claim 1, carried out in a decoder forming a part of a television Set-top box.

4. The method according to claim 1, carried out in at least one of a hardware state machine and a programmed processor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitution criterion is met as a result of an interactive operator input from an operator viewing said content.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitution criterion is met as a result of receipt of a flag.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitution criterion is met as a result of an operator input.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content is substituted on a packet for packet basis.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein multiple packets of content are substituted for a single packet.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing comprises playing the content.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to select a unit of content with the second PID and discarding a unit of content with the first PID.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to select a unit of content on the second PID while receiving content with the first PID.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to select multiple units of content with the second PID while discarding units of content with the first PID.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to select multiple units of content with a second PID while receiving units of content with the first PID.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to switch from a mode of selecting multiple units of content with the second PID while discarding units of content with the first PID to a mode of selecting multiple units of content with the second PID while receiving content with the first PID.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to switch from a mode of selecting multiple units of content with the second PID and receiving multiple units of content with the first PID to a mode of selecting multiple units of content with the second PID while discarding units of content with the first PID.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a unit of content with the second PID is sent before a corresponding unit of content with the first PID.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a unit of content with the second PID is sent after a corresponding unit of content with the first PID.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein substitution is initiated and terminated by private signaling forming part of an adaptation layer of packets in a data stream.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation layer is in a packet with the second PID.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation layer is in a packet with the first PID.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adaptation layer is in a packet that is neither the second nor the first PID.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing comprises playing back the content.

24. A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the content substitution method according to claim 1.

25. A method of content substitution, comprising;

receiving a structured stream of data representing content structured according to a first and a second substitutable portion, the data encoded using at least primary and secondary packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second substitutable portions of content respectively, each encoded portion of said substitutable content being mapped to at least one of said PIDs;

placing content having the primary PID into a data stream;

receiving private signaling forming part of an adaptation layer of packets in the received structured stream of data, the private signaling establishing a parameter to be used to start and stop the content substitution, where the private signaling specifies a decoder operational mode that enables one of a plurality of content substitution modes of decoder operation, and where the private signaling further specifies switching among the content substitution modes of the decoder operation;

receiving an initiation flag indicating initiation of a PID mapping operation, said initiation flag being indicative of a starting point for content substitution of the second portion for the first portion;

mapping the second portions of content having the secondary PID to the primary PID and placing the mapped content into the data stream as a substitute for the first portion of the content;

receiving a termination flag indicating termination of the PID mapping operation;

resuming placement of the first portion of the content having the primary PID into the data stream so that at least part of the first portion is replaced by the second portion of said structured stream of data representing content; and

wherein whenever packets are inserted or deleted, a continuity count for said first PID is preserved by adjusting the continuity count.

26. The method according to claim 25, carried out in a decoder forming a part of a television Set-top box.

27. The method according to claim 25, carried out in at least one of a hardware state machine and a programmed processor.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein receipt of the initiation flag is indicative of meeting a substitution criterion, such substitution criteria being met as a result of an interactive operator input from an operator viewing said content.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein receipt of the initiation flag is indicative of meeting a substitution criterion.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the substitution criterion is met as a result of an operator input.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the content is substituted on a packet for packet basis.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein multiple packets of content are substituted for a single packet.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein the substituting comprises using private signaling to select a unit of content with the secondary PID and discarding a unit of content with the primary PID.

34. The method according to claim 25, wherein a unit of content with the second PID is sent before a corresponding unit of content with the first PID.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein a unit of content with the second PID is sent after a corresponding unit of content with the first PID.

36. The method according to claim 25, wherein substitution is initiated and terminated by private signaling forming part of the adaptation layer of packets in a data stream.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the adaptation layer is in a packet with the one of the primary PID and the secondary PID.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the adaptation layer is in a packet that has neither the secondary nor the primary PID.

39. A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the content substitution method according to claim 25.

40. A content substitution encoder, comprising:

means for receiving input data representing main content comprising at least first and second substitutable portions;

means for receiving input data representing substitution content, such substitution content being for replacement of at least a portion of the main content;

a packet identifier (PID) mapper that assigns a primary PID to the main content and assigns a secondary PID to the substitution content;

a private data generator that generates user private data that identifies the main content by the primary PID and substitution content by the secondary PIDs and where the private signaling specifies a decoder operational mode that enables one of a plurality of content substitution modes of decoder operation, and where the private signaling further specifies switching among the content substitution modes of the decoder operation;

means for assembling the private data responsive to user input, the main content mapped to the primary PID comprising the first substitutable portion of said input data and the substitution content mapped to the secondary PID comprising the second substitutable portion of said input data into a single structured stream of data and wherein the private data are inserted into an adaptation layer of packets in the structured stream of data; and

wherein whenever packets are inserted or deleted, a continuity count for said first PID is preserved by adjusting the continuity count.

41. The content substitution encoder according to claim 40, implemented using a programmed computer.

42. A decoder, comprising:

a receiver receiving a structured stream of data that represents content structured in a first and a second substitutable portion, the data encoded using at least first and second packet identifiers (PIDs) associated with first and second substitutable portions of content;

the receiver receiving private signaling forming part of an adaptation layer of packets in the received structured stream of data, the private signaling establishing a parameter to be used to start and stop the content substitution, and where the private signaling specifies a decoder operational mode that enables one of a plurality of content substitution modes of decoder operation, and wherein the private signaling further specifies switching among the content substitution modes of the decoder operation;

a content decoder configured to play content having the first PID using the specified decoder operational mode;

a controller that determines that a substitution criterion has been met;

a PID mapper that maps content from said received data content having the second PID to said received data content having the first PID so that the received data content originally having the second PID is played; and

wherein whenever packets are inserted or deleted, a continuity count for said first PID is preserved by adjusting the continuity count.

43. The decoder according to claim 42, wherein the decoder resides in a television set-top box.

44. The decoder according to claim 42, wherein the substitution criterion comprises an interactive user selection to play the second portion.

45. The decoder according to claim 42, wherein the second portion of content represents one of an alternative advertisement, an alternative view, an alternative ending and an alternative plot.