Patent · US Expired

Method and system for enabling television commerical monitoring using a marking signal superimposed over an audio signal

US4750053A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
21References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 1984
Grant dateJun 7, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S358/908
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and marking television commercials is provided. A first comparator is utilized for comparing the television video signal to an adjustable reference voltage and for generating a triggering signal when a video signal is not present at the comparator input. A second comparator compares the television audio signal to a second adjustable reference voltage to provide a triggering signal when an audio signal is not present at the comparator input. The outputs from the two comparators are supplied to a one-shot timer mechanism which is adapted to generate an output signal of a predetermined time period only upon the simultaneous absence of an audio and video signal, thus signifying a fade break in the television broadcast signal. The timed output signal from the timer mechanism is connected to a low frequency oscillator which generates a low frequency output signal upon being actuated by the output from the timer mechanism.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.