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. 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for applying multimedia content filter data with a multimedia content presentation comprising:
 receiving filter data comprising:
 at least one filter identifying a portion of a multimedia content presentation having, the at least one filter associated with a type of content suppression of the portion of the multimedia content presentation; and 
 synchronization information comprising an identifier of a position within the multimedia content presentation; 
   matching an attribute of the multimedia content presentation with the identifier of the synchronization information;   determining, based on the matched attribute with the identifier, a position of the portion of the multimedia content presentation; and   suppressing, based on the at least one filter, a presentation of the portion of the multimedia content presentation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier of the synchronization information is at least one of image data, audio data, and close caption data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier of the synchronization information is at least two of image data, audio data, and close caption data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 obtaining the synchronization information from a content server to synchronize the at least one filter with the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing for transmission of the multimedia content presentation from a remote content server to a client device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing for reading of the multimedia content presentation from a removable storage media. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier comprises compressed data corresponding to the attribute of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 decoding an encoded portion of the multimedia content presentation prior to matching the attribute of the multimedia content presentation with the identifier of the synchronization information. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the position of the portion of the multimedia content presentation comprises:
 determining a time lapse between a position of the matched attribute of the multimedia content presentation to the portion of a multimedia content presentation of the filter data. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a plurality of pixels of a frame of the multimedia content presentation, a row of pixels of the frame of the multimedia content presentation, or the entirety of the pixels of the frame of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the multimedia content comprises objectionable content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the multimedia content comprises a commercial. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein suppressing the presentation of the portion of the multimedia content presentation comprises at least one of a skipping, blurring, and muting action of the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         14 . A system for applying multimedia content filter data with a multimedia content presentation, the system comprising:
 a processing device; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to perform the operations of:
 receiving filter data comprising at least one filter identifying a portion of a multimedia content presentation, the at least one filter associated with a type of content suppression of the portion of the multimedia content presentation and synchronization information comprising an identifier of a position within the multimedia content presentation; 
 matching an attribute of the multimedia content presentation with the identifier of the synchronization information; 
 determining, based on the matched attribute with the identifier, a position of the portion of the multimedia content presentation; and 
 suppressing, based on the at least one filter, a presentation of the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the identifier of the synchronization information is at least one of image data, audio data, and close caption data. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the identifier of the synchronization information is at least two of image data, audio data, and close caption data. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to perform the operation of:
 obtaining the synchronization information from a content server to synchronize the at least one filter with the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to perform the operation of:
 providing for transmission of the multimedia content presentation from a remote content server to a client device. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to perform the operation of:
 providing for reading of the multimedia content presentation from a removable storage media. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the identifier comprises compressed data corresponding to the attribute of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to perform the operation of:
 decoding an encoded portion of the multimedia content presentation prior to matching the attribute of the multimedia content presentation with the identifier of the synchronization information. 
 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14  wherein determining the position of the portion of the multimedia content presentation comprises:
 determining a time lapse between a position of the matched attribute of the multimedia content presentation to the portion of the multimedia content presentation. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the identifier comprises at least one of a plurality of pixels of a frame of the multimedia content presentation, a row of pixels of the frame of the multimedia content presentation, or the entirety of the pixels of the frame of the multimedia content presentation. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the portion of the multimedia content comprises objectionable content. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the portion of the multimedia content comprises a commercial. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  wherein suppressing the presentation of the portion of the multimedia content presentation comprises at least one of a skipping, blurring, and muting action of the portion of the multimedia content presentation.