Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for eliminating television commercial messages

US5696866A · kind A · utility

149Cited by
46References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1994
Grant dateDec 9, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2014

Classification

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

Abstract

During recording of a television signal on a VCR, data are accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data are stored. Subsequent to the recording process, the stored data are analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events as commercial or non-commercial. The video tape is then marked at the beginning and ending of each commercial group. During playback, the VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning of a commercial group. The VCR is then automatically commanded to return to the normal "play" mode when the tape reaches the ending time of that commercial group. Since all of the television signal is recorded on the tape, any or all of the signal may be viewed at the discretion of the viewer.

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