Synchronizing filter metadata with a multimedia presentation

• US 9,015,571 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearplay Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clearplay Incorporated
• Inventors: Jarman, Matthew T., Venn, Christopher, Iverson, Brent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queler, Adam M
• Application Number:
  US11/669,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,003 Days
• Field of Search: 715/202, 715/203, 725/28, 725/29
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for applying and synchronizing filter information with a multimedia presentation, such as a movie provided in a video-on-demand context, to suppress objectionable content. In one example, filter information, which includes an indicia of a portion of the multimedia presentation including objectionable content and a type of suppression action, is provided on either a set-top-box or a video-on-demand server. A user selects a particular video-on-demand presentation, and the selection is transmitted to the set-top-box. Filtering may take place at the set-top-box side such that the complete video-on-demand movie is transmitted to the set-top box and then content suppression, such as skipping, muting, cropping, and blurring, takes place at the set-top-box. Alternatively, some or all suppression may take place at the server such that some or all of the objectionable content is not transmitted to the set-top-box. Additionally, whether in a video-on-demand, DVD, or other environment it may be necessary to synchronize filter with the multimedia content so that the proper objectionable content is suppressed.

Claims

1. A method for suppressing some multimedia content of a multimedia content presentation supplied from a remote server to a client multimedia content playback device comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for selection of at least one multimedia content presentation from a plurality of selectable multimedia content presentations;

providing for activation of at least one filter to apply to the at least one multimedia content presentation, the at least one filter configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content, the at least one filter further configured to identify a portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

providing synchronization information to synchronize a specific portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation with the start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

providing for communication of the multimedia content presentation between the remote content server and the client device;

providing for receiving at the client device a stream of data for the at least one multimedia content presentation, wherein the stream of data suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter; and

providing for applying the at least one filter to the multimedia content presentation at the client multimedia content playback device to suppress any remaining portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

from the remote content server, receiving filter metadata comprising the at least one filter at the client device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting an activation of the at least one filter to the content server for storage; and

from the remote content server, receiving filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing for activation of at least one filter of a plurality of filters, each of the plurality of filters configured to identify a different portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation, each portion having the objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content related to each of the plurality of filters; and

transmitting to the remote content server an activation of the at least one filter of the plurality of filters; and

from the remote content server, receiving filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device, but not including inactive filters.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

to the remote content server, transmitting an indication of activation of the at least one filter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the stream of data is a stream of MPEG Groups of Pictures and wherein the multimedia content presentation is a video-on-demand movie.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting an activation of the at least one filter to the content server; and

from the remote content server, receiving the stream of data for the at least one

multimedia content presentation, wherein the remote content server suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting an indication of activation of the at least one filter to the remote content server; and

transmitting to the client device a stream of data for the at least one multimedia content presentation, wherein the stream of data suppresses all of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing for applying the at least one filter to the multimedia content presentation to suppress the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter as a function of a user identification.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote content server is a video-on-demand server and related storage and processing infrastructure.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote content server is a pay-per-view server and related storage and processing infrastructure.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote content server is a part of a satellite content distribution system.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote content server is a part of a cable provider system.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia content presentation is a movie provided from a video-on-demand system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device is a set-top-box.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the set-top-box is configured for one of cable or satellite reception.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein suppression of the objectionable content includes skipping.

18. A method for applying and synchronizing multimedia content filter data with a multimedia content presentation comprising:

receiving filter data comprising at least one filter configured to identify a portion of a multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content;

obtaining synchronization information to synchronize the at least one filter with the objectionable content when a location of the portion of the multimedia content presentation may vary, the synchronization information identifying at least one particular location in the multimedia content presentation to align the filter;

receiving the multimedia content presentation wherein some of the objectionable content is suppressed; and

presenting the multimedia content presentation at a client device including suppressing any remaining objectionable content based on the synchronization information and the filter data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the synchronization information comprises a time offset corresponding with a start of the multimedia content presentation.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

and further comprising;

tracking time as a function of the time offset; and

suppressing the objectionable content when the tracking time matches the start time indicator.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of a multimedia content presentation with synchronization data matching a non-time aspect of the multimedia content presentation;

and further comprising;

analyzing the multimedia content presentation to identify data that matches the synchronization data.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

and further comprising;

tracking time as a function of identification of data that matches the synchronization data; and

suppressing the objectionable content when the tracking time matches the start time indicator.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the synchronization data is at least one of image data, audio data, and close caption data.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

suppressing the objectionable content upon identifying data that matches the synchronization data.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising obtaining synchronization information from the content server to synchronize the at least one content filter with the objectionable content when the portion of the portion of the multimedia content presentation.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing for transmission of the multimedia content presentation from a remote content server to the client device.

27. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing for reading of the multimedia content presentation from a removable storage media.

28. A method for suppressing some multimedia content of a multimedia content presentation supplied from a remote server to a client multimedia content playback device, comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one multimedia content presentation from a plurality of multimedia content presentations displayed at a graphical user interface associated with the client device;

transmitting filter metadata to the client device, the filter metadata including at least one filter configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content;

transmitting filter synchronization data to the client device, the synchronization data identifying at least one particular location in the multimedia content presentation from which the filter metadata is synchronized so that the objectionable content identified in the filter is properly aligned with actual objectionable content in the multimedia content presentation; and

transmitting the multimedia content presentation from the remote content server to a client device such that application of the filter metadata to the multimedia content presentation will suppress at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the filter before transmitting the multimedia content presentation to a client device and any remaining objectionable content identified in the filter metadata after transmitting the multimedia content presentation.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

at the remote content server, storing an activation of the at least one filter; and

from the remote content server, transmitting filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising transmitting synchronization information to the client device to synchronize the at least one content filter with the objectionable content when a location of the portion of the multimedia content presentation may vary.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

providing for activation of at least one filter of a plurality of filters, each of the plurality of filters configured to identify a different portion of the multimedia content presentation, each portion having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content related to each of filter; and

at the remote content server, storing an activation of the at least one filter of the plurality of filters; and

from the remote content server, transmitting filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device, but excluding inactive filters.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

at the remote content server, receiving an indication of activation of the at least one filter; and

from the remote content server, transmitting a stream of data including the multimedia content presentation from the remote content server to the client device such that application of the filter metadata to the multimedia content presentation suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising transmitting a stream of data including the multimedia content presentation from the remote content server to the client device such that application of the filter metadata to the multimedia content presentation suppresses all of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the stream of data is a stream of MPEG Groups of Pictures and wherein the multimedia content presentation is a video-on-demand movie.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the remote content server is a video-on-demand server and related storage and processing infrastructure.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein the remote content server is a part of a satellite content distribution system.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein the remote content server is a part of a cable provider system.

38. The method of claim 28 wherein the multimedia content presentation is a movie provided from a video-on-demand system.

39. The method of claim 28 wherein suppression of the objectionable content includes skipping.

40. A method for suppressing some multimedia content of a multimedia content presentation supplied from a remote server to a client multimedia content playback device comprising:

at a graphical user interface, receiving a selection of at least one multimedia content presentation from a plurality of selectable multimedia content presentations;

receiving an activation of at least one filter to apply to the at least one multimedia content presentation, the at least one filter configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content, the at least one filter further configured to identify a portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

synchronizing a specific portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation with the start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content;

receiving a stream of data for the at least one multimedia content presentation, wherein the stream of data suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter; and

applying the at least one filter to the multimedia content presentation to suppress any remaining portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.