Synchronizing filter metadata with a multimedia presentation

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for applying and synchronizing filter information with a multimedia presentation, such as a movie provided in a video-on-demand context, to suppress objectionable content. In one example, filter information, which includes an indicia of a portion of the multimedia presentation including objectionable content and a type of suppression action, is provided on either a set-top-box or a video-on-demand server. A user selects a particular video-on-demand presentation, and the selection is transmitted to the set-top-box. Filtering may take place at the set-top-box side such that the complete video-on-demand movie is transmitted to the set-top box and then content suppression, such as skipping, muting, cropping, and blurring, takes place at the set-top-box. Alternatively, some or all suppression may take place at the server such that some or all of the objectionable content is not transmitted to the set-top-box. Additionally, whether in a video-on-demand, DVD, or other environment it may be necessary to synchronize filter with the multimedia content so that the proper objectionable content is suppressed.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for suppressing some multimedia content of a multimedia content presentation supplied from a remote server to a client multimedia content playback device comprising:
 providing for selection of at least one multimedia content presentation from a plurality of multimedia content presentations;   
       providing for activation of at least one filter to apply to the at least one multimedia content presentation, the at least one filter configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content;
 providing for communication of the multimedia content presentation between the remote content server and the client device; and 
 providing for applying the at least one filter to the multimedia content presentation to suppress the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing for activation of at least one filter of a plurality of filters, each of the plurality of filters configured to identify a different portion of the at least one multimedia content presentation, each portion having the objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content related to each of the plurality of filters; and 
 transmitting to the remote content server an activation of the at least one filter of the plurality of filters; and 
 from the remote content server, receiving filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device, but not including inactive filters. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the remote content server, transmitting an indication of activation of the at least one filter to; and 
 receiving at the client device a stream of data for the at least one multimedia content presentation, wherein the stream of data suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 suppressing any remaining portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting an activation of the at least one filter to the content server; and 
 receiving a stream of data for the at least one multimedia content presentation, wherein the stream of data suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 suppressing any remaining portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method for applying and synchronizing multimedia content filter data with a multimedia content presentation comprising:
 receiving filter data comprising at least one filter configured to identify a portion of a multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content;   providing for presentation of the multimedia content presentation, the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content identified in the at least one filter; and   obtaining synchronization information to synchronize the at least one filter with the objectionable content when a location of the portion of the multimedia content presentation may vary.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the synchronization information comprises a time offset corresponding with a start of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content; and further comprising:
 tracking time as a function of the time offset; and 
 suppressing the objectionable content when the tracking time matches the start time indicator. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of a multimedia content presentation with synchronization data matching a non-time aspect of the multimedia content presentation; and further comprising:
 analyzing the multimedia content presentation to identify data that matches the synchronization data. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one filter is configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content by providing at least a start time indicator associated with a start time of the objectionable content; and further comprising:
 tracking time as a function of identification of data that matches the synchronization data; and 
 suppressing the objectionable content when the tracking time matches the start time indicator. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 suppressing the objectionable content upon identifying data that matches the synchronization data. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the synchronization data is at least one of image data, audio data, and close caption data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising obtaining synchronization information from the content server to synchronize the at least one content filter with the objectionable content when the portion of the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising providing for transmission of the multimedia content presentation from a remote content server to a client device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising providing for reading of the multimedia content presentation from a removable storage media. 
     
     
         17 . A method for suppressing some multimedia content of a multimedia content presentation supplied from a remote server to a client multimedia content playback device, comprising:
 receiving a selection of at least one multimedia content presentation from a plurality of multimedia content presentations;   transmitting filter metadata to the client device, the filter metadata including at least one filter configured to identify a portion of the multimedia content presentation having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content; and   transmitting the multimedia content presentation from the remote content server to the client device such that application of the filter metadata to the multimedia content presentation will suppress the objectionable content identified in the filter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 at the remote content server, storing an activation of the at least one filter; and 
 from the remote content server, transmitting filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 providing for activation of at least one filter of a plurality of filters, each of the plurality of filters configured to identify a different portion of the multimedia content presentation, each portion having objectionable content and further configured to implement content suppression of the objectionable content related to each of filter; and 
 at the remote content server, storing an activation of the at least one filter of the plurality of filters; and 
 from the remote content server, transmitting filter metadata comprising the at least one activated filter to the client device, but excluding inactive filters. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 at the remote content server, receiving an indication of activation of the at least one filter; and 
 transmitting a stream of data including the multimedia content presentation from the remote content server to the client device such that application of the filter metadata to the multimedia content presentation suppresses at least a portion of the objectionable content identified in the at least one filter.