Abstract: An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped; the ad is unskippable. This technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, it is moved to after the end of the skip. This technique is referred to as “slip-ad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing presentation of stream portions are disclosed. The systems and methods may involve receiving a first list of stream portions; determining a first set of high-priority stream portions; retrieving at least one portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions; storing the retrieved portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions; receiving a second list of stream portions; determining a second set of high-priority stream portions; determining whether any stream portions in the stored portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions are not in the second set of high-priority stream portions; deleting from the memory any stream portions in the stored portion of the first set of high-priority stream portions that are not in the second set of high-priority stream portions; and determining whether any stream portions in the second set of high-priority stream portions are not stored in memory.

Abstract: A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. The VR system may provide immersive VR experiences by replacing the view of the real world with virtual environments. Active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems may be integrated with the VR system to provide physical effects with the virtual experiences. The virtual environments may be altered to accommodate a passenger upon determining that the passenger is prone to or is exhibiting signs of motion sickness.

Abstract: A system and method enabling an upgraded digital recorder to detect, retrieve, decrypt, encrypt and securely store digital content retrieved from one or more legacy digital recorders. The legacy digital recorder is placed into a mode permitting access to stored digital content. An upgraded digital recorder then interfaces with the legacy digital recorder and mutual authentication is performed. Following successful authentication, the upgraded digital recorder disables most of the legacy digital recorder's functionality. Utilizing a digital key protecting the stored content from unauthorized access, the upgraded digital recorder retrieves and decrypts the digital content from the legacy digital recorder. The decrypted content is then analyzed and if needed converted to a format compatible with the upgraded digital recorder. The digital content is then indexed, encrypted and stored in the upgraded digital recorder.

Abstract: Improved technical functionality is provided to dynamically select and seamlessly play advertisements immediately before playing of a recorded program upon selection of the recorded program for playing, or upon other detected events and conditions associated with the set-top-box (STB) or user. In some embodiments, this is performed by using metadata which may be delivered to and stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) prior to recording the program, providing a technical solution to enable opportunities for additional advertisement impressions. Playing of the advertisement may also or instead occur upon the recorded program finishing playing. Thus, the technical solution provides the additional opportunity for the content creator and/or the satellite television or cable service provider to sell advertising spots in addition to those already sold for breaks within the recorded program.

Abstract: An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped; the ad is unskippable. This technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, it is moved to after the end of the skip. This technique is referred to as “slip-ad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for providing skipping of advertising content based on video recognition, the apparatus including a controller configured configured to control video recognition for providing skipping of advertising content of an advertising-based OTT receiving platform; a video recognition model executor configured to synchronize a target image with a video frame analyzer; the video frame analyzer configured to transmit information about the target image to a reception advertising controller; the reception advertising controller configured to generate a plurality of control signals according to a type of the target image and to transmit the plurality of control signals to a media playback unit or a media reception processing unit; the media playback unit configured to control a pop-up banner advertisement or media stream playback according to the control signal; and the media reception processing unit configured to control reception of the data according to the control signal.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, training of a neural network or other prediction model may be facilitated via live stream concept association. In some embodiments, a live video stream may be loaded on a user interface for presentation to a user. A user selection related to a frame of the live video stream may be received via the user interface during the presentation of the live video stream on the user interface, where the user selection indicates a presence of a concept in the frame of the live video stream. In response to the user selection related to the frame, an association of at least a portion of the frame of the live video stream and the concept may be generated, and the neural network or other prediction model may be trained based on the association of at least the portion of the frame with the concept.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for affiliate interrupt detection. An example method disclosed herein includes determining whether a first time period of a first audio signal corresponds to a first affiliate interrupt period based on whether (1) a first type of watermark is detected in the first time period of the first audio signal, and (2) a second type of watermark is detected in the first audio signal outside the first time period but not in the first time period of the first audio signal, and determining whether the first time period of the first audio signal corresponds to the first affiliate interrupt period when watermarks are not detected in the first time period of the first audio signal based on comparison of first signatures with second signatures representing a corresponding first time period of a reference audio signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating advertisements embedded in a media asset scheduled for download at a future time. The media guidance application may receive a request from a user to download a media asset at a future time, where the media asset includes a plurality of embedded advertisements. The media guidance application may determine whether to update an embedded advertisement in the plurality of embedded advertisements. After determining to update the embedded advertisement, the media guidance application may replace the embedded advertisement with an updated advertisement in the media asset.

Abstract: Video information defining video content may be obtained. The video content may include video frames and may have a progress length. The video frames may be encoded into video packets, with the video packets being of particular sizes. One or more size criteria for detecting a given moment within the video content may be obtained. The sizes of the video packets may be compared with the one or more size criteria. One or more sets of the video packets that satisfy the one or more size criteria may be identified. One or more portions of the video content having video frames defined by the set(s) of video packets that satisfy the one or more size criteria may be identified as the given moment within the video content. Storage of the identification of the given moment within the video content in a storage medium may be effectuated.

Abstract: An augmented reality experience is provided to a user of a hand held device, such as a mobile phone, which incorporates an electronic processor, a camera and a display. In particular, images taken from video footage are displayed in a display of a hand held device together with a live camera view, to create the illusion that the subject of the video—ie the virtual moving image—is present in the field of view of the camera in real time. In this context the term “real world” image means an image taken from reality, such as a physical, real-world scenario using an electronic photo-capture technique, e.g. video recording. A camera 10 of a hand held device is aimed at a well-known object 12, which is recognisable to the device. A moving virtual image 14 of an actor playing the part of an historical figure, chosen because of its relevance to the object 12, is displayed.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting a content item with a media item are described. The techniques include receiving user input indicating a placement preference for a content item to be presented with a media item. The placement preference indicates a presentation preference of the content item relative to presentation of the media item. The placement preference is used to influence selection of a media item with which the content item is to be presented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which reduces or removes the effectiveness of commercial skip systems such as presently found in VCRs, PVRs, etc. which are designed to delete commercials from signal material upon playback of a previously recorded version of the signal material. In an embodiment, the effectiveness of the commercial skip system is reduced or removed by adding a flat field of selected signal level to active line portions of video lines of the signal material. Other embodiments modify the normal fade to black signal indicative of a commercial to provide a fade to non-black signal. In further embodiments, a fade to non-black signal is inserted in an overscan area of the signal picture. Still further embodiments modify audio signals or selected signals in the horizontal blanking interval which may be used in commercial skip systems to detect the presence of commercials.

Abstract: Methods and systems of modifying a media presentation are presented. In one example, a first media item including first audio data is played. During that time, a user indication is received. In response to the indication, detection data for a first audio segment of the first audio data is generated. A second media item including second audio data is then played. A second audio segment in the second audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the first audio segment is detected based on the detection data. Whether a location in the second audio segment corresponds to a location in the detection data associated with the user indication is determined. In response to the location in the second audio segment corresponding to the location in the detection data, the playing of the second media item is altered during at least a portion of the second audio segment.

Abstract: A computerized method for integrating media streams from a multiplicity of media systems over at least one network into a single media product at high media technical quality, the method comprising the steps of, at certain media systems from among the multiplicity thereof: a. Generating a low volume (LV) media stream representation from a high volume media stream, where the low volume stream's bit-rate is different from the high volume stream's bit-rate; b. streaming the low volume media stream to a content generation center via a data communication network; c. Maintaining high volume local data as a high volume media stream in a storage medium coupled to at least one of the media systems; and d. maintaining mapping information between the low volume stream and the high volume local data for enabling access to media portions in the high volume media stream storage, which correspond based on LV stream time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a sample of a media stream are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a sample of a media stream rendered by a media rendering source, and for matching media recordings from which the sample was obtained, the method also includes receiving a signature file including a temporally mapped collection of features describing content of the matching media recordings. Each received signature file may be stored in memory. In addition, a signature stream may be received that includes features extracted from the media stream, and a number of matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for at least one matching media recording can be determined. In one example, when substantially matching features between the signature stream of the media stream and the signature file for a matching media recording stop occurring, a discontinuity can be identified.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating search queries in response to obtaining audio samples on a client device. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of i) receiving audio data from a client device, ii) identifying specific content from captured media based on the received audio data, wherein the identified specific content is associated with the received audio data and the captured media includes at least one of audio media or audio-video media, iii) obtaining additional metadata associated with the identified content, iv) generating a search query based at least in part on the obtained additional metadata, and v) returning one or more search results to the client device, the one or more search results responsive to the search query and associated with the received audio data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which reduces or removes the effectiveness of commercial skip systems such as presently found in VCRs, PVRs, etc. which are designed to delete commercials from signal material upon playback of a previously recorded version of the signal material. In an embodiment, the effectiveness of the commercial skip system is reduced or removed by adding a flat field of selected signal level to active line portions of video lines of the signal material. Other embodiments modify the normal fade to black signal indicative of a commercial to provide a fade to non-black signal. In further embodiments, a fade to non-black signal is inserted in an overscan area of the signal picture. Still further embodiments modify audio signals or selected signals in the horizontal blanking interval which may be used in commercial skip systems to detect the presence of commercials.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computer device, may include obtaining a viewing history, associated with a customer, from a set-top box associated with the customer, wherein the viewing history relates a particular television channel to a duration time associated with the particular television channel. The method may further include determining a keyword, associated with the customer, based on the obtained viewing history; calculating a keyword score for the keyword based on the obtained viewing history; selecting an advertisement, associated with the keyword, based on the calculated keyword score; and providing the selected advertisement to the set-top box associated with the customer, based on selecting the advertisement.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including but not limited to reading at a multimedia processor end user device, a playback advertising identifier in an advertising video data associated with a trigger detected from a replacement advertising video data, the advertising identifier indicating particular advertising data; logging the advertising identifier with the trigger detected and time of day in an As Run Log at the end user device; and sending the As Run Log to a data distribution system server.

Abstract: A local media player in network communication with a remote storage system stores a portion of content. It then compares the portion of content stored on the local media player with content stored on the remote storage system to determine if the portion of content is duplicated on the remote storage system. If so, the portion of content stored on the local media player is replaced with a pointer to a duplicate portion of content stored on the remote storage system. The portion of content is played back by the local media player at least in part by receiving the duplicate portion of content from the remote storage system if the portion of content has been replaced by a pointer, or by accessing the portion of content stored on the local media player if the portion of content has not been replaced by a pointer.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining if a commercial contains one of metadata, close captioning information, recognizable speech in an audio component of the commercial, or a combination thereof. In response to determining that the commercial does not contain metadata, but does contain close captioning information, an advertised show is identified based on the close captioning information. Likewise, in response to determining that the commercial contains neither metadata, nor close captioning information, but does contain recognizable speech in an audio component of the commercial, the advertised show is identified based on the recognizable speech. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.

Abstract: A method of playing back, by an electronic device, a recorded program without a first commercial, the recorded program recorded from a first program having the first commercial inserted therein is disclosed. The method comprises steps of obtaining location information of the first commercial in the first program responsive to a command to play back the recorded program; inserting a second commercial at a first location according to the location information of the first commercial; and playing back the recorded program with the inserted second commercial.

Abstract: Systems which allow for the insertion of targeted advertisements or other messages into programming content, e.g., using Digital Video Recording (DVR) technology are disclosed. Systems use storage to pre-load advertisements, record content with commercials breaks, and merge the advertisements into the recorded content in the background, so that they are available when the content is viewed in time-shifted mode.

Abstract: A program information display device includes: an identification unit which obtains identification information for identifying a video program and a video program scene included in the video program which are being displayed in a television; a program information obtainment unit which obtains program information including first program information and second program information which are relevant to the video program identified by the identification information and are different in content from each other; a display unit which displays the program information obtained by the program information obtainment unit; and a control unit which, in the case where the video program scene identified by the identification information transitions from a non-CM scene to a CM scene, switch the program information being displayed in the display unit, from the first program information to the second program information according to the transition from the non-CM scene to the CM scene.

Abstract: Presently described are systems and methods for identifying a black/non-black attribute of a current frame. One example embodiment takes the form of a method including the steps of (i) receiving the current frame, (ii) defining a region of the current frame, the region having a plurality of lumas, (iii) calculating a non-black luma percentage of the region based on the lumas, (iv) calculating a white luma percentage of the region based on the lumas, (v) calculating an average luma of the region based on the lumas, and (vi) identifying the current frame as having a black attribute responsive to three conditions being satisfied: the average luma being less than a max-black luma threshold, the non-black luma percentage being less than a non-black luma percentage threshold, and the white luma percentage being less than a white luma percentage threshold.

Abstract: There are provided with a video recording apparatus and a scene change extraction method, by which a scene change can be extracted from a video while recording the video. The video recording apparatus 100 includes an encoder 101 for encoding video data PIN, an HDD 105 for storing an encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101, a stream controller 103 for transferring the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 to the HDD 105, a scene change extractor 110 for decoding the encoded stream outputted from the encoder 101 and extracting a scene change in the decoded video data, and a recording controller 102 for receiving an encoding-completion notification IEN on a unit-of-encoding basis of the encoded stream from the encoder 101 and outputting a scene change extraction instruction CSC to the scene change extractor 110.

Abstract: Methods and products to deliver at least a portion of an advertisement to a viewer at normal playback speeds after receiving a command from the viewer to fast-forward through an advertisement faster than normal playback speeds is described. In certain embodiments, the invention delivers a portion of the advertisement to be played at normal playback speeds to the viewer; and delivers the remaining portion of the advertisement to be played at a playback speed that is faster than the specified playback speed so that the combination of the portions delivered at normal and faster playback speeds is delivered to the user at the specified playback speed. In some other embodiments, the invention delivers at least a portion of the first advertisement to the viewer at normal playback speeds; and delivers one or more other advertisements to the viewer simultaneously with the first advertisement with the audio information muted based on the specified playback speed.

Abstract: A system is provided that facilitates achieving a goal associated with a particular video asset. The system may provide an interface through which a user may specify control parameters that are to be the targets of testing, and a goal or combination of goals. The system may control a controller that performs experiments in an attempt to identify optimal values, relative to the specified goals, for the control parameters. The optimal values may be determined and tested on a per-individual-video asset basis. Further, the controller may generate multiple sets of optimal values for a given video, where each set is associated with a different combination of request attributes. To estimate the optimal parameter values for one video, the controller may use usage information collected for that video, as well as usage information collected for similar videos.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data such as content are disclosed. A method can comprise receiving content, randomly shifting the received content, and providing the randomly shifted received content to a computing device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided, which includes: a parameter setting section for setting a parameter of a delimitation detecting method with respect to a service that receives content by an operation of an input device; and a delimitation detecting section for detecting delimitation of the received content by the set parameter.

Abstract: An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer of the movie wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, then only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped, that is, the ad is unskippable; this technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, then the ad is moved to after the end of the skip; this technique is referred to as “slipad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Abstract: A system for and method of storing sneak peeks of upcoming viewing content is presented. The system and method provides that the sneak peek clips may be recorded and stored onto a subscriber's digital video recorder (DVR) in response to a determination of the viewing preferences of the subscriber. The sneak peek clips may also be recorded and stored onto the subscriber's DVR in response to a user selection of content. The user may select content by browsing through a graphical user interface and indicating selections. The user may also select content when viewing a program by selecting an advertisement for an upcoming movie or series that the subscriber may be interested in viewing. The clips may be recorded and stored on the subscriber's DVR, and then later retrieved and viewed by using an interface to navigate and select the stored sneak peek clips. After viewing the sneak peek clips, the user may be provided with the option of viewing the content in full.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including but not limited to, receiving a video data stream at a multimedia processor end user device; storing the video data stream at a digital video recorder; monitoring a playback of the stored video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; detecting an advertising trigger in the playback of the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; logging a time for the trigger detected in the video data stream in a trigger log at the multimedia processor end user device; sending the trigger log including data to an advertising server so that the advertising verification system can correlate the time the trigger occurred with an advertising schedule; receiving a replacement advertising data stream from the advertising server based on the advertising trigger; and receiving a replacement advertising data stream during the playback of the video data.

Abstract: A method for interpreting messages, user-defined alert conditions, voice commands and performing an action in response is described. A method for annotating media content is described. A method for presenting additional content associated with media content identified based on a fingerprint is described. A method for identifying that an advertisement portion of media content is being played based on a fingerprint derived from the media content is described. A method of one media device recording particular media content automatically in response to another media device recording the particular media content is described. A method of concurrently playing media content on multiple devices is described. A method of publishing information associated with recording of media content is described. A method of deriving fingerprints by media devices that meet an idleness criteria is described. A method of loading, modifying, and displaying a high definition frame from a frame buffer is described.

Abstract: A closed caption tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream prior to or at the time of transmission. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer from the storage device. Tags indicate the start and end points of a program segment. Program segments such as commercials are automatically replaced by the receiver with new program segments that are selected based on various criteria.

Abstract: A device including a module to receive a stream including an insertion content item and first timecodes, a module to record the stream, a module to receive a live stream including a timeslot and second and third timecodes, a clock to provide a clock reading updated based on at least some of the third timecodes, a module to retrieve the recorded stream so that the insertion content item can be at least partially rendered during at least part of the timeslot, a module to calculate a desired timecode of the first timecodes from which to start rendering the recorded stream for output at real-time speed based one of the first timecodes, second timecodes, and third timecodes or the clock reading, and a module to render the recorded stream for output at real-time speed from the desired timecode. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A set top box includes a processor configured to detect a commercial and analyze the commercial to identify an advertised video content. The processor is further configured to search an electronic programming guide for availability of the video content and record the video content in response to a user input.

Abstract: It is provided a video distribution system including a video distribution module, a control module, and a bookmark management module. The bookmark management module manages a first type bookmark whose status is not changed by viewing of the video and a second type bookmark whose status is changeable after the viewing of the video. The control module generates screen data that enables one of the first type bookmark and the second type bookmark to be selected with regard to the video stored in the library, transmits the generated screen data to the one of the receiving terminals, and sets one of the first type bookmark and the second type bookmark, which is selected by a user using the one of the receiving terminals, for the video and record the one of the first type bookmark and the second type bookmark in the bookmark management module.

Abstract: A system and method of incorporating additional video objects into source video data to produce output video data. A method includes identifying segments of the source video data, selecting identified segments for the inclusion of additional video objects, creating an intermediate working version of the source video data including video material corresponding to the selected segments, creating metadata which identifies at least one frame within the source video data which corresponds to the selected segments, transmitting the intermediate working version to a remote system for the creation of additional video data including additional video objects to be included in the output video data, receiving video file data associated with the additional video data, obtaining the additional video data based on the video file data, retrieving metadata and incorporating the additional video data with the source video data on the basis of the retrieved metadata to produce the output video data.

Abstract: An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer of the movie wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, then only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped, that is, the ad is unskippable; this technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, then the ad is moved to after the end of the skip; this technique is referred to as “slipad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Abstract: Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.

Abstract: Systems and methods to modify playout/playback include responding to a trick mode request (e.g., fast forward, rewind). First, the system generates a transmission that includes primary content and a secondary information identifier. Next, the system communicates the transmission to a receiving device that stores the transmission in a local storage device. Next, the receiving device retrieves the transmission from the local storage device and utilizes the secondary information identifier to associate the primary content with a secondary content. Next, the receiving device to renders the secondary content, instead of the primary content, to an output device, at the receiving device, responsive to receipt of a request to render the primary content to the output device at an accelerated speed of the primary content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing data such as content are disclosed. A method can comprise receiving content, randomly shifting the received content, and providing the randomly shifted received content to a computing device.

Abstract: A data recording device is provided to record and redistribute stream data such as TV programs without imposing loads proportional to the number of users. Stream data of a distributed program is collated by a recording range judging section 4 with data already recorded of a stream data recording section 6 and, based on results from the collation, only newly distributed data is appended to the stream data recording section. Recording demand information representing a range of stream data of a program that a user makes a request for recording is recorded in a range recording section 5 and a user identifier to identify the user is recorded in a manner to be associated with the above recording demand range information. Stream data only in a range corresponding to the above recording demand range information of the user recorded by the above demand range recording processing is read out by a redistributing section 7 from the stream data recording section 6 and is redistributed to the user.

Abstract: Speed of commercial playing is detected and used for determining whether program information can be played.

Abstract: A method and system for altering a presentation of broadcast content is disclosed. Embodiments provide an accurate and efficient mechanism for suppressing advertisements by using downloaded templates to identify advertisements before suppression for a duration indicated by information downloaded about the advertisement, where the suppression is effectuated by controlling a display or set-top box using remote-control functionality. In one embodiment, a digital signal comprising broadcast content is accessed. A plurality of templates are received and stored, wherein each template represents a known portion of the broadcast content. The digital signal is then compared against a portion of the plurality of stored templates. Upon a match, a control signal operable to alter a component of a presentation of the known portion of the broadcast content is generated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for altering a presentation of recorded content. More specifically, embodiments provide an accurate and efficient mechanism for suppressing advertisements by using downloaded templates to identify advertisements before suppression for a duration indicated by information downloaded about the advertisement, where the suppression is effectuated by controlling a display, set-top box or personal video recorder using remote-control functionality. In one embodiment, a digital signal representing the recorded content is accessed. Thereafter, a plurality of templates are received and stored, wherein each template represents a known portion of the recorded content. The digital signal is then compared against a portion of the plurality of stored templates. Upon a match, a control signal operable to alter a component of a presentation of the recorded content is generated.