Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for playback of programs and other works recorded on random access storage media. One embodiment of the invention relates to random access storage media such as a DVD (“digital versatile disk” or “digital video disk”) used to distribute motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing secondary storage space of the storage media not used by the primary program being distributed to store secondary programs such as movie trailers and product advertisements, and to present the secondary programs to the user in a topical and interesting manner. In one embodiment, storage space of a random access storage medium such as a DVD is allocated to a number of variously sized programs or program portions called “chapters.” In one embodiment, each primary and secondary program constitutes a separate chapter.

Abstract: A system includes a cache, coupled to a receiver, to store received content and advertisements. An interface in the receiver detects the occurrence of an advantageous condition during the play of content retrieved from the cache. The receiver locates one or more advertisements in the cache, and enables the display of a user interface in place of the content so long as the advantageous condition is detected. The user interface includes selectable indicia of the located advertisements and an indicia of the content. The interface is adapted to locate one or more advertisements using markers that are inserted into the content by the interface, and pointers to the one or more advertisements associated with the markers, the pointers having a stored association to the markers.

Abstract: Recording television programs for future playback by enabling the user to record a plurality of programs that have sequential units of commercial content. There is sequential sensing for commercial content units. When a commercial content unit is reached, it is removed for separate storage. A determination is made as to whether the removed commercial content unit is the same as a previous commercial content unit that has been removed. Any previous commercial unit that has been removed has been stored in a file and a pointer to the file inserted in place of the commercial in the sequential stream of the television program being recorded. Thus, if the removed commercial unit has the same content, i.e. is a repeat of a previous commercial, the inserted pointer will point to the file of the previous commercial.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for an automated digital video editing system that can combine previously stored video advertising with just-in-time content video, such as breaking news, sports, traffic and weather. The system and method can deliver the combined video to mobile devices in accordance with demographic, geographic, or other criteria selected by the advertiser.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for performing actions with media information using a digital video recorder is provided. In one embodiment, a user may mark a media segment in media using a digital video recorder. Characteristics for the media segment are then determined. A second media segment in second media may then be determined. For example, the second media segment may have similar characteristics to the first media segment. In one example, an advertisement that is similar to the advertisement marked as the first media segment may be determined. An action may then be performed with the second media segment. For example, the second media segment may be removed from the second media.

Abstract: There is provided a recording and reproducing apparatus comprising, an extracting unit that extracts program data containing commercial message sections and main sections from a video signal, a recording unit that records the program data extracted by the extracting unit, an analyzing unit that analyzes the program data to identify the commercial message sections and the main sections and generates clip attribute information for the identified commercial message sections, a data processing unit that adds skip information indicating that skipping is requested to the clip attribute information based on a skip request signal input by a viewer; and a reproduction control unit that controls the reproduction of the commercial message sections depending on the skip information when reproducing the program data recorded in the recording unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a recording section configured to record a personal content created by an individual on a predetermined recording medium, a meta data generating section configured to generate meta data for the personal content by analyzing details of the personal content, an advertisement content obtaining section configured to obtain an advertisement content corresponding to the meta data from a predetermined advertisement content providing server, and a controller configured to control the personal content and the advertisement content to be recorded on the recording medium via the recording section.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for the identification of locations in a presentation stream based on metadata associated with the presentation stream. Locations within a presentation stream are identified using location information and/or signature data associated with the presentation stream. The identified locations within a presentation stream may be utilized to identify boundaries of segments within the presentation stream, such as segments of a show. The boundaries of the segments may then be utilized to change the volume of segments or playback a segment at a non-real time presentation rate.

Abstract: A method embeds product information in videos with product placements using an electronic device. The electronic device defines product information of one or more products that are embedded in a video, and embeds the product information in an image file having a file format that is compatible with the video, the embedding according to appearance times of the one or more products. During display of the video on the display device, the electronic device determines whether the image file includes product information about a product that is presented during display of the video. If the image file includes product information about the product, the electronic device displays a prompt on the display device concurrently with the product. After receiving a selection operation to select the prompt, the electronic device displays the product information on the display device.

Abstract: An information signal is received, which includes a main information content signal carrying the contents of the information, a CM portion signal carrying commercial messages (CM) and an information mode discriminating signal used for discriminating information modes of the main information content signal and the CM signal from each other according to the contents. A video signal is encoded per plurality of several video frames, the video signal including the main information content signal and the CM portion signal. The encoded video signal is recorded in a storage medium. The video signal is reproduced, during the recording, from the storage medium while the CM portion signal is skipped. The received main information content signal and CM portion signal are recorded in the storage medium. The information mode discriminating signal is recorded in the storage medium or another temporary storage medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for identifying advertisement breaks in digital video files. Generally, an advertisement break identification module receives a digital video file and generates an edge response for each of one or more frames extracted from the video file. If one of the generated edge responses for a particular frame is less than a predefined threshold, then the module identifies the particular frame as the start of an advertisement break. The module then generates further edge responses for frames subsequent to the identified particular frame. Once an edge response is generated for a particular subsequent frame that is greater than the threshold, it is identified as the end of the advertisement break. The video file may then be manipulated or transformed, such as by associating metadata with the advertisement break for a variety of uses, removing the advertisement break from the video file, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and/or displaying personalized video content are provided. In some embodiments, a video asset made up of a set of frames, including a preliminary frame with an object region, is received at user equipment. A media element is identified and transmitted to a remote server, where it is processed to produce a modified version of the media element and then transmitted back to the user equipment. The video asset is displayed at the user equipment, except that a modified frame incorporating the modified version of the media element is displayed in place of the preliminary frame. The modified version of the media element is incorporated in an area of the modified frame corresponding to the object region of the preliminary frame.

Abstract: A personal video recorder (PVR) enabled set-top box (STB) may be operable to store an advertisement and associated playback control information received from a media provider into a storage device in the PVR enabled STB, schedule the stored advertisement for viewing based on the associated playback control information. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to insert the stored advertisement into media content for one or more times based on the scheduling. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement and the media content in different transport formats. At a forward/reverse playback position during a PVR playback, the PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement when a play count associated with the stored advertisement is less than a count threshold at the forward/reverse playback position.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an electronic device that includes video storage memory, a video signal receiver, and a video storage controller. The video signal receiver is configured to receive a video stream containing advertising content and program/movie content from a broadcast source. The video storage controller is configured to identify locations of advertising content interspersed among program/movie content in the received video stream, and to record addressable chapter marks for the identified locations of the advertising content and a video stream that is based on the received video stream into the memory. The addressable chapter marks may be displayed on a display and used by a viewer to jump playback of the video stream between the chapter marks.

Abstract: An entertainment system, having a capability to playback a stored digital video record that includes frames of video data received from a television broadcast system, approximates ranges of frames in a digital video record that are either commercials or non-commercials. The system also approximates frames that are either a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial. The system then associates as a commercial two of the approximated frames that are a beginning or an ending of a commercial or a non-commercial and one or more of the approximated ranges there between until a predetermined percentage of the playback time of the digital video record is taken up by the associated commercials.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for making sure a viewer watches commercial broadcast information contained in broadcast information. Concretely, a sequentially supplied series of broadcast data is stored in a storage unit linked with a supplied sequence. Also, based on predetermined identification information contained in this broadcast data, the commercial portions of the broadcast data are detected at a commercial detector. At the time of reproduction of the broadcast data, the detected commercial portions are first sequentially read from the storage unit and reproduced as images, audio, etc. at a reproduction unit. Then, after all detected commercial portions are reproduced, another series of broadcast data other than the commercial portions is read from the storage unit in sequence in accordance with the supplied sequence and reproduced at the reproduction unit.

Abstract: One object of example embodiment is to provide arrangements for enabling a user to willfully record a highlight position and highlight importance without having to perform any burdensome procedure during highlight scene shooting. When a highlight button acquisition information and weight information input from a user interface 103 are acquired in a situation where a system control section 101 retains a predetermined time-shift time, the system control section 101 calculates marker information that includes the weight information and the information about a position earlier by the time-shift time, and records the marker information on a recording medium 105 via a drive control section 104.

Abstract: A recording control unit records program data for a second time period, from the time point the second time period before the lapse of a first time period from the start of recording, not only under a first title but also at a start portion of a second title. A combining unit identifies identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under the first and second titles, connects the portion immediately preceding the start of the identified CM portion of the first title to the portion immediately succeeding the end of the identified CM portion of the second title, to form one title. An editing unit edits the program data to make shorter the length of the combined title, when the time of program data recorded under the combined title exceeds the first time period.

Abstract: Presented herein is a method of recording user-selected interstitial media content, such as a television commercial. In the method, a media content stream is presented to a user. The media content stream includes an interstitial segment within a media content segment, such as a television program. In a media content segment listing, such as an electronic program guide, the media content segment is listed, but the interstitial segment is not. While the media content stream is presented, the stream is buffered. During or after the interstitial segment is being presented to the user, a command is received from the user to record the interstitial segment. In response to the command, beginning and ending points of the buffered interstitial segment are identified. The buffered interstitial segment is stored as a persistent recording based on the starting and ending points, and the persistent recording is distinguished from the media content segment.

Abstract: A signal processing unit includes a feature quantity extracting unit, a segmentalizing unit, a clustering unit, an existence probability function deriving unit, an existence probability function similarity calculating unit, a cluster integrating unit and a cluster information output unit. The signal processing unit classifies the signal feature quantity which characterizes the content signal segmentalized into segments according to the similarity with respect to each other, obtains functions which indicate the existence probabilities for clusters of classified segments, and integrates the clusters whose obtained functions are at the high level of similarity.

Abstract: An advertisement-section detecting apparatus includes: a captioned-section acquisition unit (12) configured to acquire a captioned section including a caption generated by caption data, on the basis of a temporal position of the caption data; a non-captioned-section acquisition unit (13) configured to acquire a pattern of a non-captioned section that do not include the caption, on the basis of the captioned section; a memory (14) configured to store a broadcasting-program template which is a template corresponding to a broadcasting-program format including a main-section format and a peripheral-section format, and which is used for identifying a pattern of a non-captioned section format including the peripheral-section format; an identifying unit (15) configured to compare the pattern of the non-captioned section and the pattern of the non-captioned section format, and thus to identify the non-captioned section corresponding to the non-captioned section format; and a detector (16) configured to detect a secti

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon an event index. Includes generation and storage of an event index, as well as navigation based on events in the event index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that detects and stores black field and silent frame events for use in locating commercial groups. The commercial groups may be skipped or otherwise navigated based upon data pointers linking the stored events to corresponding locations in the video data file.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in an apparatus according to the present invention, an event detection module detects a section in which a specific feature is produced from video images. An event time information storage module stores therein a start time, and an end time of the detected event section, obtains an analysis time between the start time and the end time, and stores therein the obtained analysis time. A plural event section specification module specifies event sections adjacent to each other as event sections in a group, when an interval between two analysis times adjacent to each other satisfies a predetermined condition. And a video image type distinction module distinguishes first and second types of video image, the first type being sections in the group and the second type being other sections.

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 “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: A system and method are disclosed for modifying a television broadcast signal. In one embodiment, the system includes a memory that stores an alternate commercial signal, and a controller that is coupled to the memory and receives the broadcast signal. The broadcast signal includes a program signal and commercial signals. The controller substitutes the alternate commercial signal for one of the commercial signals upon determining that a first condition has been met, for example, upon the sensing two video/audio blank periods in the broadcast signal separated by a predetermined time period. In another embodiment, a broadcast signal including a series of screen signals alternating with a series of blanking signals is embedded, at an upstream location, with additional information relating to alternate commercials or commands during the blanking signals. At a downstream location, a controller processes the additional information and modifies the broadcast signal in response.

Abstract: A video player unit, system and method, and a video hierarchy. Included are at least one memory device, a plurality of communication access points for receiving at least one program play, an open application programming interface associated with the at least one memory device, wherein a plurality of applications correspondent to the open application programming interface allow a user to manipulate metadata associated with ones of the programs plays, wherein the metadata relates to interframe interactivity with detailed aspects of the ones of the program plays, and at least one correlation engine in communication with the open application programming interface, wherein the at least one correlation engine provides for correlation among at least the interframes of the program play to ones of the interframes of other ones of the program plays.

Abstract: A device for generating audiovisual display signals, including a first input terminal receiving content signals representative of an audiovisual event, the signals including insertion points indicating the output of an advertisement, a second input terminal receiving ad signals representative of an advertisement, a first buffer storing the ad signals, and a processor converting the content signals into display signals of the event and converting ad signals stored in the first buffer into display signals of an advertisement upon detection of an insertion point.

Abstract: A record/playback apparatus includes a recording unit that records a televised program being received by a receiving unit to a disk-shaped recording medium such as a DVD or HD. Also, a commercial message detecting unit detects a switch from main program to commercial message and a switch from commercial message to main program. The recording unit records the main program and commercial messages inserted in the main program to the recording medium under separate titles, based on a result of the detection by the commercial message detecting unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that records a televised program being received by a receiving unit to a disk-shaped recording medium. The recording apparatus also includes a commercial message detecting unit that detects a switch from main program to commercial message and a switch from commercial message to main program when the recording unit is recording the program. The recording unit records the program to the recording medium with chapter breaks set at first time intervals when commercial messages inserted in the main program are being received by the receiving unit, and set at second time intervals when the main program is being received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: A system and a method of recording a branch of a program being viewed on a primary viewing device coupled to a video recorder for playback of the branch on a secondary viewing device including the steps of creating a branch point in a program responsive to receiving a signal through an interface of the video recorder; recording a branch of the program from the branch point onward in the readable storage media; and sending the recorded branch to the secondary viewing device for viewing.

Abstract: An approach provides control of digital media. A stream of digital media that includes an advertisement is received. The stream is selectively skipped to avoid the advertisement. In addition, the amount of advertisement played back is tracked. Further, tracking information is generated based on the tracking.

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: Content streams may be segmented to provide automatic extraction and storage of content items without intervening commercials or other unrelated content. These content items may then be stored in a database and made accessible to subscribers through, for example, an on-demand service. Automatic segmentation may include the identification of program boundaries, segmentation of a content stream based on the boundaries and the subsequent classification of the segments into content types. For example, audio and video duplication detection may be used to identify commercials since commercials tend to repeat frequently over a relatively short amount of time. A system may further identify an end of program indicator in a video stream to determine when a program ends. Accordingly, if a program ends after a scheduled end time, a recording device (e.g., the program is being recorded) may automatically extend the recording time to capture the entire program.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video analyzer includes a still image detector, a characteristic detector, and a boundary position detector. The still image detector detects a still image in video frames of content including video and audio data, and create a still image group of substantially the same still images. The characteristic detector includes at least one of a monochrome detector that detects a monochrome video frame in the video frames of the content and a silence detector that detects a silent portion in which the sound volume of the audio data is lower than a predetermined threshold. The boundary position detector detects a position where the type of the content changes based on information on at least one of the monochrome video frame and the silent portion contained in a segment where the still image group is present and a segment where no still image group is present.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus, method and software for automatically controlling periodic play back of demo content. The apparatus comprises a memory, a radio detection logic and a processor. The radio detection logic is configured to detect a first radio frequency signal within a prescribed frequency range and to generate a control signal in response to detection of the first radio frequency signal. Coupled to the radio detection logic, the processor is configured to permit play back of a first type of content for a first time period upon receipt of the control signal where the first type of content is played back in lieu of playing back a second type of content that is normally processed for play back by the processor, to permit play back of the second type of content for a second time period after the first time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves an apparatus and method for controlling periodic play back of demo content by a display device. The method comprises monitoring for a triggering event by a presence sensor within the display device. The triggering event involves a detection of a non-moving or slow-moving object remaining in front of the display device for a predetermined period of time. In response to detecting the triggering event, the demo content is automatically played for a first period of time. Thereafter, play back of the demo content is halted after the first period of time has elapsed and play back the streaming advertising content is continued by the display device for a second period of time, and as an option, even if another triggering event is detected during the second period of time. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A reproducing method is disclosed, that comprises the steps of determining whether or not additional data has been read from data that had been read from a loaded record medium, and when the determined result represents that the additional data has been read from the data, performing a reproducing process for the data that had been read from the record medium corresponding to reward data contained in the additional data.

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 reproducing method is disclosed, that comprises the steps of determining whether or not additional data has been read from data that had been read from a loaded record medium, and when the determined result represents that the additional data has been read from the data, performing a reproducing process for the data that had been read from the record medium corresponding to reward data contained in the additional data.

Abstract: A signal processing device and a signal processing method can accurately detect CMs out of broadcast signals and also be used for storing, accessing, retrieving and viewing/listening to CMs. CM detecting section (202) detects CM sections out of a broadcast signal. CM extracting section (201) extracts the signal part for the CM section from the broadcast signal on the basis of the CM section detection signal (202a) of the CM detecting section (202) and CM characteristics extracting section (203) extracts the characteristic value of the CM. Then, CM recording section (205) records the signal of the CM section and the characteristic value. CM index generating section (206) generates CM index information by using the signal of the CM section and the characteristic value and characteristics comparing section (204) determines agreement/disagreement of CMs.

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 rule storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of specifying information each showing a feature of frames to be specified as start frames, and each corresponding to a different type of content. A program obtaining unit obtains a content of which start frames are to be specified. An information obtaining unit obtains type information showing the type of the obtained content. A selecting unit obtains, from the rule storage unit, apiece of specifying information corresponding to the obtained type information. A specifying unit specifies, as the start frames, frames in the obtained content having the feature shown by the obtained piece of specifying information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a boundary of a content item in a digital video stream. The method comprises the steps of determining (130) an average bit rate of the video stream over a period of time, and detecting (140) a change of the average bit rate indicating the boundary of the content item. A moving average of the bit rate may be determined. The method can be used for an encrypted digital video stream. The invention also relates to a device for detecting a boundary of a content item in a digital video stream. The invention further relates to a receiver for receiving at least one content item in a digital broadcast video stream, and a video recorder for recording at least one TV program.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method identifies an advertisement. Specifically, a user utilizes a microphone, preferably on a portable electronic device, to record at least a segment of an advertisement transmitted on television, radio, the Internet or other broadcast and/or audio sources. The advertisement is analyzed and identified, and functionality is provided based on the analysis and identification of the advertisement.

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 user interface for a digital video recorder (DVR) comprises a graphical button that is user-selectable to cause the DVR to skip to a particular point in a program recorded by the DVR. The particular point is at a particular time interval before an end of the program. If the particular point is untagged, the graphical button has a first label when a playback position of the DVR is at a beginning of the program and a second label when the playback position of the DVR is at the end of the program. The first label differs from the second label. If the particular point is tagged, e.g. by a content owner of the program, the graphical button has a third label that differs from the first and second labels.

Abstract: A solution is presented where a DVR user interface can be enhanced to record selected broadcasts in a networked data store remote from the local device. A link to remotely stored media files can be maintained by the local device, which is selectable by a user for playback via the DVR user interface. A user of the local device may be unaware of whether a selected recording is locally stored or is maintained in the networked data store. A user can access media recorded via the DVR user interface and stored in the networked data store from multiple different devices. The media in the networked data store can be optionally stored in different fidelities and formats, so that media transmissions from the networked data store are provided in a fidelity and format best suited for the receiving device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a recording section configured to record a personal content created by an individual on a predetermined recording medium, a meta data generating section configured to generate meta data for the personal content by analyzing details of the personal content, an advertisement content obtaining section configured to obtain an advertisement content corresponding to the meta data from a predetermined advertisement content providing server, and a controller configured to control the personal content and the advertisement content to be recorded on the recording medium via the recording section.

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: 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.