Program restart and commercial ending notification method and system

• US 7,872,691 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Strickland, Normi, Meadows, Vernon
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSTAK, VICTOR R
• Application Number:
  US11/637,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 348/700, 348/731, 348/732, 348/738, 348/569, 348/553, 358/908, 725/18, 725/22, 725/32, 386/52
• US Class Current: 348/731
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 348/908 Convertible circuits, e.g. y/c separation or noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/908 Pause control, i.e. "commercial killers"

Abstract

A method and system are provided for allowing channel surfing during the presentation of a commercial broadcast by returning the viewer to the desired program channel after the commercial broadcast has concluded. When a commercial broadcast is received that interrupts the presentation of a viewer'"'"'s desired programming, channel surfing is facilitated based on increased audio volume levels broadcast with the commercial broadcast. During channel surfing, the present audio level of the primary channel presenting the undesired commercial broadcast is monitored. If the audio volume level drops below the level of the commercial broadcast or returns to the level set by the viewer for the desired program prior to receipt of the commercial broadcast, the desired program channel may be reselected to return the viewer to her desired program channel. The viewer may be notified that the commercial broadcast has ended prior to reselection of the desired program channel. Notification may be in the form of a notification message displayed to the viewer.

Claims

1. A method for switching between channels, the method comprising:

presenting for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first audio volume level;

presenting for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;

selecting a second channel based on a received selection of the second channel;

monitoring a present audio volume level of the first channel;

comparing the present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel;

notifying a user that the second content has ended by displaying a notification message;

receiving a selection from the user to return to the first channel in response to the user receiving the notification message; and

returning to the first channel when the present audio volume level of the first channel drops to a level associated with the first audio volume level after notifying the user that the second content has ended and after receiving a selection from the user to return to the first channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the first audio volume level and the second audio volume level; and

storing in memory the first audio volume level and the second audio volume level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the selection of the second channel, initiating a channel surfing operation by receiving a selection of a channel surfing function for receiving the second channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein after returning to the first channel, when a third content is presented for display, resuming channel surfing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein resuming surfing further comprises reselecting a previous channel selected by the user during a previous channel surfing session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first content upon returning to the first channel.

7. A system for switching between channels, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

present for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first volume level;

present for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;

select a second channel based on a received selection of the second channel;

monitor a present audio volume level of the first channel;

compare the present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel;

notify the viewer that the second content has concluded when the present audio volume level is equal to the first audio volume level by displaying a notification message that the second content has concluded; and

receive a selection from the viewer to return to the first channel in response to the viewer receiving the notification message; and

return to the first channel when the present audio volume level of the first channel drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level after notifying the viewer that the second content has concluded and after receiving a selection from the viewer to return to the first channel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further operative to notify the viewer that the second content has concluded when the present audio volume level is less than the second audio volume level.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further operative to present for display the first content upon returning to the first channel.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for switching between channels, the method comprising:

presenting for display a first content on a first channel, the first content having a first audio volume level;

presenting for display a second content on the first channel, the second content having a second audio volume level;

receiving a selection of a second channel;

monitoring a present audio volume level of the first channel;

comparing the present audio volume level of the first channel with the first audio volume level on the first channel;

notifying a user that the second content has ended by displaying a notification message;

receiving a selection from the user to return to the first channel in response to the user receiving the notification message; and

returning to the first channel when the present audio volume level of the first channel drops to a level associated with the first audio volume level after notifying the user that the second content has ended and after receiving a selection from the user to return to the first channel.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising;

detecting the first audio volume level and the second audio volume level; and

storing in memory the first audio volume level and the second audio volume level.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein prior to receiving the selection of the second channel, further comprising beginning channel surfing by receiving a selection of a channel surfing function for receiving a second channel.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising if after returning to the first channel a third content is presented for display, resuming channel surfing.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the first content upon returning to the first channel.