Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for retrieving information about television programs. This includes a website being connected to that includes information about a television program being watched. The information from the website is downloaded and then processed. Further, the information is then either displayed along with the television program being watched or stored for later playback.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for detecting a particular content in a stream of video data signals preferred by a user. Accordingly, the present invention obtains a user's profile or monitors a user's viewing history of various programs to determine the type of program content that is not watched or not liked by the user. Thereafter, incoming television programs are compared with the user's profile or the user's past viewing information to determine whether some portion of the incoming television programs are liked by the user. The portion of the program content liked by the user is collectively stored in a storage medium, then the user can subsequently view only the segments of the programs preferred by the user.

Abstract: There is disclosed, for use in video text analysis system, a video processing device for searching video streams for one or more user-selected image text attributes. The video processing device comprises an image processor capable detecting and extracting image text from video frames, determining attributes of the extracted image text, comparing the extracted image text attributes and the user-selected image text attributes, and, if a match occurs, modifying, transferring, and/or labeling at least a portion of the video stream in accordance with user commands.

Abstract: A method for providing name-face/voice-role association includes determining whether a closed captioned text accompanies a video sequence, providing one of text recognition and speech to text conversion to the video sequence to generate a role-name versus actor-name list from the video sequence, extracting face boxes from the video sequence and generating face models, searching a predetermined portion of text for an entry on the role-name versus actor-name list, searching video frames for face models/voice models that correspond to the text searched by using a time code so that the video frames correspond to portions of the text where role-names are detected, assigning an equal level of certainty for each of the face models found, using lip reading to eliminate face models found that pronounce a role-name corresponding to said entry on the role-name versus actor-name list, scanning a remaining portion of text provided and updating a level of certainty for said each of the face models previously found.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the performance of an algorithm for detecting predetermined content in a media information stream, and a program and apparatus that operate in accordance with the method. The algorithm is a function of a set of parameters. The method comprises the steps of performing the algorithm at least once to detect the predetermined content in the media information stream, while employing a respective set of parameters in the algorithm for each performance thereof, and automatically evolving at least one respective set of parameters employed in the algorithm to maximize the degree of accuracy at which the algorithm detects the predetermined content in the media information stream.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detecting commercials or other particular types of video content in a video signal. In an illustrative embodiment, color histograms are extracted from frames of the video signal. For each of at least a subset of the extracted color histograms, the extracted color histogram is compared to a family histogram. If the extracted color histogram falls within a specified range of the family histogram, the family histogram is updated to include the extracted color histogram as a new member. If the extracted color histogram does not fall within the specified range of the family histogram, the family histogram is considered complete and the extracted color histogram is utilized to generate a new family histogram for use in processing subsequent extracted color histograms. The resulting family histograms are utilized to detect commercials or other particular type of video content in the video signal.

Abstract: An information tracking device receives content data, such as a video or television signal from one or more information sources and analyzes the content data according to a query criteria to extract relevant stories. The query criteria utilizes a variety of information, such as but not limited to a user request, a user profile, and a knowledge base of known relationships. Using the query criteria, the information tracking device calculates a probability of a person or event occurring in the content data and spots and extracts stories accordingly. The results are index, ordered, and then displayed on a display device.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems for sensing similarity in monitored broadcast content streams and methods of operating the same. According to an exemplary embodiment, a monitoring system is introduced that is capable of identifying content similarity within a plurality of broadcast content streams, each of the plurality of broadcast content streams having detectable content attributes, the monitoring system operable to (i) monitor the plurality of broadcast content streams, and (ii) compare a first segment and a second segment of at least one broadcast content stream to identify select-similar broadcast content within the segments as a function of ones of the detectable content attributes.

Abstract: An information tracking device receives content data, such as a video or television signal from one or more information sources and analyzes the content data according to a query criteria to extract relevant stories. The query criteria utilizes a variety of information, such as but not limited to a user request, a user profile, and a knowledge base of known relationships. Using the query criteria, the information tracking device calculates a probability of a person or event occurring in the content data and spots and extracts stories accordingly. The results are index, ordered, and then displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering relevant information to recipients in a timely manner. Information from a plurality of sources is received through interface devices that permit a central processor to evaluate each information stream in light of the dynamic profiles that are stored in a subscriber database. A plurality of location sensors track and report the location of the various recipients. The processor determines the content that will be provided to the recipient and the delivery mode to be used for delivering the selected information to the subscriber.

Abstract: There are disclosed systems for monitoring broadcast content and generating notification signals as a function of subscriber profiles and methods of operating the same. According to an exemplary embodiment, a monitoring system is introduced that is capable of identifying special event content within a plurality of broadcast content streams, each of the plurality of broadcast content streams having detectable content attributes. The monitoring system is operable to (i) sense a content change within at least one of the plurality of broadcast content streams as a function of the detectable content attributes, (ii) detect the special event content broadcast within the at least one of the plurality of broadcast content streams as a function of the sensed content change, and (iii) selectively generate a notification signal as a function of the detected special event content and a subscriber profile.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting, analyzing, and using sensory reactions and involuntary or spontaneous movements by members of a television viewing (or listening) audience. While known programming is displayed on a television receiver, a plurality of sensors monitor the viewer or viewers for recognizable evidence of an emotional response that can be associated with a discrete program segment. Where positive (or negative) responses can be associated with a certain type of program content, the system monitors subsequent programs for the opportunity to notify the viewer or simply present (or avoid presenting) the program automatically.

Abstract: A multiple viewing program recommendation system employing a commercial detection module and a multiple viewing module is disclosed. In response to a generation of viewing recommendations of two or more program during the same time slot, the multiple viewing module controls a display of a recommended program having the highest viewing priority on a television screen while the recommended program is being aired on one of the television channels until the commercial detection module detects a commercial being aired on the television channel. In response to the detection of the commercial by the commercial detection module (37), the multiple viewing module controls a display of an additional recommended program having the next highest viewing priority on the television screen while the additional recommended program is being aired on another one of the television channels.

Abstract: A multi-lingual transcription system for processing a synchronized audio/video signal containing an auxiliary information component from an original language to a target language is provided. The system filters text data from the auxiliary information component, translates the text data into the target language and displays the translated text data while simultaneously playing an audio and video component of the synchronized signal. The system additionally provides a memory for storing a plurality of language databases which include a metaphor interpreter and thesaurus and may optionally include a parser for identifying parts of speech of the translated text. The auxiliary information component can be any language text associated with an audio/video signal, i.e., video text, text generated by speech recognition software, program transcripts, electronic program guide information, closed caption text, etc.

Abstract: Advertisers want to deliver their message in a relatively short period of time. This leads to the product name, company name and other identifying features being repeated frequently during a commercial broadcast. Transcript information can be used to detect commercials by detecting frequently occurring words in the commercials. This can also be used to identify an individual commercial from other commercials. Once the individual commercials have been identified, the transcript information corresponding to each commercial can be stored in a database to identify the commercial in subsequent broadcasts, or to provide a search mechanism for searching a particular commercial in the database.

Abstract: A method of and system for detecting a cartoon in a video stream are provided. The system comprises a storage device for storing the encoded signal and a processor for processing low parameter information extracted from the encoded video signal. The information is extracted based on the predetermined characteristics of a typical cartoon. At least one value is computed based on the low parameter information and it is compared to the predetermined values for natural video. Based on the comparison the determination is made whether the video sequence contains a cartoon.

Abstract: For use in a system capable of creating visual summaries of video material, there is disclosed an improved apparatus and method for creating a compact visual summary of video material. In one advantageous embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a visual summary controller that is capable of receiving keyframes of video material, and capable of extracting frame signatures from the keyframes, and capable of using the frame signatures to create superhistograms from the keyframes, and capable of using the frame signatures and the superhistograms to create a compact visual summary of the video material. The visual summary controller uses the superhistograms to filter and cluster the keyframes, and adds representative keyframes from the clustered keyframes to the compact visual summary. A visual summary retrieval module retrieves and displays a compact visual summary in response to a user request.

Abstract: A method of processing a catalog of electronic programming information, in which the catalog contains information for a program, including a start time and end time of the program, and in which the program is represented by characteristics data gathered from the program, where the processing includes monitoring a programming video input for the characteristics data from the start and/or end times of a program to control the display and/or recording of the program.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video playback device comprising: 1) a disk storage device for storing television programs received from an external source; 2) a first controller for receiving a first program recording command, wherein the first program recording command is operable to cause the first controller to store a first television program on the disk storage device during a first time slot; and 3) a second controller for determining if sufficient space is available on the disk storage device to store the first television program. The disk storage device, in response to a determination that sufficient space is not available on the disk storage device, identifies in an external communication network a second remote video playback device capable of recording the first television program and transmits a recording task request to the second remote video playback device. The recording task request causes the second remote video playback device to record the first television program during the first time slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically selecting an alternate item based on user behavior. The disclosed television programming recommender monitors user behavior and automatically selects an alternate program when the viewer does not sufficiently like the current program selection. Detected predefined negative behavior includes, for example, (i) auditory commands, (ii) gestural commands, (iii) facial expressions, or (iv) other predefined behavior suggesting that the viewer dislikes the program. A flexible mechanism is provided for providing an alternate program selection.