Method and apparatus for controlling a video recorder/player to selectively alter a video signal

Abstract

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

1 . A television signal playback unit comprising: 
 an event detector to detect events in a recorded television signal;    a first storage device to store a signature pattern associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;    a comparator to compare the captured signature pattern to stored signature patterns;    a controller to control the television signal playback unit to skip the first segment of the television signal if the captured signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns;    a second storage device to store the captured signature pattern in a temporary storage location if the captured signature pattern does not match any of the stored signature patterns;    a storage controller to add the captured signature pattern to the stored signature patterns if a second event in the television signal is detected within a predetermined window of time following the first event.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the television signal playback unit is combined with a television signal recording unit.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the combined television signal recording and playback unit comprises a digital recording medium.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the stored signature patterns are stored in response to a user request.  
   
   
       5 . A television signal playback unit comprising: 
 an event detector to detect events in a recorded television signal;    a first storage device to store a signature pattern associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;    a comparator to compare the captured signature pattern to stored signature patterns;    a controller to control the television signal playback unit to skip the first segment of the television signal if the captured signature pattern matches one of the stored signature patterns;    a second storage device to store the captured signature pattern in a temporary storage location if the captured signature pattern does not match any of the stored signature patterns;    a receiver for a user input signal;    a storage controller to add the captured signature pattern to the stored signature patterns if the user input signal is received prior to detection of a next event in the television signal.    
   
   
       6 . A method of operating a television receiver comprising: 
 receiving a television signal in a television receiver;    detecting a first event in the television signal;    capturing a signature associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;    comparing the captured signature to stored signatures;    if the captured signature matches one of the stored signatures, controlling the television receiver to alter a display of the television signal;    if the captured signature does not match any of the stored signatures, storing the captured signature in a temporary storage location;    adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if a second event in the television signal is detected within a predetermined window of time following the first event.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television signal comprises muting an audio portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television signal comprises muting a video portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television comprises providing an alternate video signal to replace the received television signal.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the received television signal is displayed in a window within a display of the alternate video signal.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein at least some of the stored signatures are stored in response to a user request.  
   
   
       12 . A method of operating a television receiver comprising: 
 receiving a television signal in a television receiver;    detecting a first event in the television signal;    capturing a signature associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;    comparing the captured signature to stored signatures;    if the captured signature matches one of the stored signatures, controlling the television to alter a display of the television signal;    if the captured signature does not match any of the stored signatures, storing the captured signature in a temporary storage location;    monitoring a signal receiver for a user input signal;    adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if the user input signal is received prior to detection of a next event in the television signal.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television signal comprises muting an audio portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television signal comprises muting a video portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein controlling the television receiver to alter the display of the television comprises providing an alternate video signal to replace the received television signal.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the received television signal is displayed in a window within a display of the alternate video signal.  
   
   
       17 . A television set comprising: 
 a television signal receiver;    means for detecting a first event in the television signal;    means for capturing a signature associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;    means for comparing the captured signature to stored signatures;    means for altering the display of the television signal if the captured signature matches one of the stored signatures;    means for storing the captured signature in a temporary storage location if the captured signature does not match any of the stored signatures;    means for adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if a second event in the television signal is detected within a predetermined window of time following the first event.    
   
   
       18 . The television set of  claim 17  wherein the means for altering the display of the television signal comprises means for muting an audio portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       19 . The television set of  claim 17  wherein the means for altering the display of the television signal comprises means for muting a video portion of the television signal.  
   
   
       20 . The television set of  claim 17  wherein the means for altering the display of the television signal comprises means for replacing the received television signal with an alternate video signal.  
   
   
       21 . The television set of  claim 20  further comprising a picture-in-picture processor to display the received television signal in a window within a display of the alternate video signal.  
   
   
       22 . The television set of  claim 17  further comprising a manually-operated user control to store at least some of the stored signatures.