Method and apparatus for selectively playing segments of a video recording

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.

1 . A video processing method comprising: 
 (a) detecting events within video information comprising a plurality of video segments;    (b) analyzing respective times of occurrence of a plurality of said detected events within the video information to classify video segments between events as being one of a first type and a second type; and    (c) playing only the video segments of the first type.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the video information is recorded on a recording medium.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disk.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the recording medium is an optical disk.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second type of video segments comprise commercial messages.  
     
     
         6 . A video processing system comprising: 
 (a) a video player having a play mode for presenting video information comprising a plurality of video segments;    (b) means for detecting events within the video information;    (c) means for analyzing respective times of occurrence of a plurality of said detected events within the video information to classify video segments between events as being one of a first type for retention during play and a second type for elimination during play; and    (d) means for playing only the first type of video segments.    
     
     
         7 . The video processing system of  claim 6  wherein the video information is recorded on a recording medium.  
     
     
         8 . The video processing system of  claim 6  wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disk.  
     
     
         9 . The video processing system of  claim 6  wherein the recording medium is an optical disk.  
     
     
         10 . The video processing system of  claim 6  wherein the second type of video segments comprise commercial messages.  
     
     
         11 . In a video device having at least a play mode, a method of cueing a recording medium having video information recorded thereon to a beginning of a recorded video segment comprising: 
 (a) detecting events within the video information;    (b) analyzing detected events to identify an event which has no following event within a predetermined period of time; and    (c) entering the play mode at said event which has no following event within a predetermined period of time.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disk.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the recording medium is an optical disk.  
     
     
         14 . A method of cueing a video recording medium having video information recorded thereon to a beginning of a recorded video segment comprising: 
 (a) detecting events within the video information;    (b) analyzing detected events to identify an event corresponding to a beginning of a video segment; and    (c) commencing play of the video information at said event corresponding to the beginning of the video segment.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the recording medium is a magnetic disk.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the recording medium is an optical disk.