Abstract: Recorded audiovisual programs are aggregated for archival storage on another storage medium, such as a DVD. As related programs are temporarily recorded on a DVR, the lengths of the programs are summed and compared to the recording capacity of the DVD. When a sufficient number of programs have been temporarily recorded, a message is presented prompting the user to transfer the recordings to a DVD. Portions of the recorded programs, such as commercial messages, may be edited or deleted before transfer to the DVD. When programs are recorded onto a DVD, program information may also be recorded to assist in navigating among the recorded programs. The program information may also be used for the purpose of printing appropriate labels using a personal computer system.

Abstract: The method and apparatus operates in a video recorder and playback unit to identify selected broadcast segments, such as commercial advertisements, of a television signal in real-time for the purpose of either suspending recording or advancing playback of the television signal during each unwanted segment. A signature pattern associated with each segment of the television signal is detected and compared to stored signature patterns representative of selected segments such as commercial advertisement segments. If the signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns, the segment is thereby immediately identified as being one of the selected segments and is processed in real-time to control operation of the video recorder/player. If the signature pattern of the segment does not match any of the stored signature patterns, the segment is analyzed to determine whether the segment is nevertheless a selected segment and, if so, its signature pattern is stored along with the stored signature patterns.

Abstract: A video recording and playback device (10) incorporates a processor (114) for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors (102, 104) detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated (132) to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.

Abstract: The duration of a recording is automatically extended in the event that a televised program extends beyond the scheduled end of the television broadcast. Groups or “clusters” of commercial messages are detected. If no such group is found at the end of a scheduled broadcast, it is presumed that the broadcast has been extended and the recording is likewise extended. The invention again looks for a group of commercial messages at the next hour or half-hour. The recording is extended until such a group is found or until the recording has been extended by a predetermined maximum amount of time.