Insertion of recorded secondary digital video content during playback of primary digital video content

Abstract

A method of operating a digital video service set top box system is provided. The set top box system accommodates playback of locally stored recorded secondary digital video content. The method begins by initiating playback of a primary digital video program. Insertion points associated with the primary digital video program are detected; these insertion points indicate frame-accurate transition points in the primary digital video program. During playback of the primary digital video program, the recorded secondary digital video program is inserted at any appropriate insertion point in a frame-accurate manner. The termination of the secondary digital video program is likewise marked and triggers a return to the primary digital video program, at the original insertion point or any other desired insertion point which may exist in the primary digital video program.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of operating a digital video service set top box system having digital video recorder functionality, the method comprising:
 receiving an insertion content file that includes secondary video content;   creating insertion content change records (CCRs) for the insertion content file based on detected splice marks in the insertion content file, the insertion CCRs each comprising a first indicator value of a first CCR that enables frame-accurate location of an initial video frame of the secondary video content and a second indicator value of a second CCR that enables frame-accurate location of a last video frame of the secondary video content;   during playback of a primary content file, determining a transition between a first video segment and a second video segment;   identifying a location of the initial video frame of the secondary video content based on the first CCR;   transitioning from an ending video frame of the first video segment to the initial video frame of the secondary video content indicated in the first CCR; and   initiating playback of the insertion content file, starting with the initial video frame of the secondary video content,   wherein the secondary video content replaces the second video segment of the primary content file, and wherein a duration of the secondary video content is different than a duration of the second video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary video content is inserted between the first video segment and the second video segment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first indicator value and the second indicator value each further comprise at least one indicator value selected from a group consisting of a file offset value and a presentation time stamp (PTS) value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring file offset values of the insertion content file;   detecting when a current file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring presentation time stamp values of the insertion content file;   detecting when a current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving the primary content file;   creating a primary CCR associated with the primary content file, the primary CCR comprising a primary indicator value, wherein the primary indicator value enables frame-accurate location of the transition between the first video segment of the primary content file and the second video segment of the primary content file;   storing the primary CCR associated with the primary content file; and   transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file including using the primary indicator value to locate the starting video frame of the other video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an insertion content file received for presentation playback with a primary content file includes selection criteria, the selection criteria including at least one of an insertion macro or a control instruction stored on the digital video service set top box system for use in selecting the insertion content file for presentation playback with a primary content file. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 one or more computers; and   one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations for operating a digital video service set top box system having digital video recorder functionality, the operations comprising:   receiving an insertion content file that includes secondary video content;   creating insertion content change records (CCRs) for the insertion content file based on detected splice marks in the insertion content file, the insertion CCRs each comprising a first indicator value of a first CCR that enables frame-accurate location of an initial video frame of the secondary video content and a second indicator value of a second CCR that enables frame-accurate location of a last video frame of the secondary video content;   during playback of a primary content file, determining a transition between a first video segment and a second video segment;   identifying a location of the initial video frame of the secondary video content based on the first CCR;   transitioning from an ending video frame of the first video segment to the initial video frame of the secondary video content indicated in the first CCR; and   initiating playback of the insertion content file, starting with the initial video frame of the secondary video content,   wherein the secondary video content replaces the second video segment of the primary content file, and wherein a duration of the secondary video content is different than a duration of the second video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary video content is inserted between the first video segment and the second video segment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the indicator values of the insertion CCR for the insertion content file further comprise at least one indicator value selected from a group consisting of a file offset value and a presentation time stamp (PTS) value. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring file offset values of the insertion content file;   detecting when a current file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring presentation time stamp values of the insertion content file;   detecting when a current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein an insertion content file received for presentation playback with a primary content file includes selection criteria, the selection criteria including at least one of an insertion macro or a control instruction stored on the digital video service set top box system for use in selecting the insertion content file for presentation playback with a primary content file. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving the primary content file;   creating a primary CCR associated with the primary content file, the primary CCR comprising a primary indicator value, wherein the primary indicator value enables frame-accurate location of the transition between the first video segment of the primary content file and the second video segment of the primary content file;   storing the primary CCR associated with the primary content file; and   transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to the starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file including using the primary indicator value to locate the starting video frame of the other video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations for operating a digital video service set top box system having digital video recorder functionality, the operations comprising:
 receiving an insertion content file that includes secondary video content;   creating insertion content change records (CCRs) for the insertion content file based on detected splice marks in the insertion content file, the insertion CCRs each comprising a first indicator value of a first CCR that enables frame-accurate location of an initial video frame of the secondary video content and a second indicator value of a second CCR that enables frame-accurate location of a last video frame of the secondary video content;   during playback of a primary content file, determining a transition between a first video segment and a second video segment;   identifying a location of the initial video frame of the secondary video content based on the first CCR;   transitioning from an ending video frame of the first video segment to the initial video frame of the secondary video content indicated in the first CCR; and   initiating playback of the insertion content file, starting with the initial video frame of the secondary video content,   wherein the secondary video content replaces the second video segment of the primary content file, and wherein a duration of the secondary video content is different than a duration of the second video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary video content is inserted between the first video segment and the second video segment. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the indicator values of the insertion CCR for the insertion content file further comprise at least one indicator value selected from a group consisting of a file offset value and a presentation time stamp (PTS) value. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring file offset values of the insertion content file;   detecting when a current file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the file offset value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 during playback of the insertion content file, monitoring presentation time stamp values of the insertion content file;   detecting when the current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies predetermined trigger criteria corresponding to the second indicator value; and   in response to detecting when the current presentation time stamp value of the insertion content file satisfies the predetermined trigger criteria, transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to a starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file.   
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving the primary content file;   creating a primary CCR associated with the primary content file, the primary CCR comprising a primary indicator value, wherein the primary indicator value enables frame-accurate location of the transition between the first video segment of the primary content file and the second video segment of the primary content file;   storing the primary CCR associated with the primary content file; and   transitioning from the last video frame of the secondary video content to the starting video frame of another video segment of the primary content file including using the primary indicator value to locate the starting video frame of the other video segment of the primary content file.