Method and system for altering the presentation of broadcast content
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for altering a presentation of broadcast content. More specifically, embodiments provide an accurate and efficient mechanism for suppressing advertisements by using downloaded templates to identify advertisements before suppression for a duration indicated by information downloaded about the advertisement, where the suppression is effectuated by controlling a display or set-top box using remote-control functionality. In one embodiment, a digital signal comprising broadcast content is accessed. A plurality of templates are received and stored, wherein each template represents a known portion of the broadcast content. The digital signal is then compared against a portion of the plurality of stored templates. Upon a match, a control signal operable to alter a component of a presentation of the known portion of the broadcast content is generated.
1. A system comprising:
at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions executable by at least one processor to:
access a digital signal including audio video content:
access a plurality of test data structures;
compare, plural times, the digital signal with at least some of the test data structures; and
generate a control signal responsive to a match of at least a portion of the digital signal with at least a portion of the test data structures, wherein the control signal is operable to alter a component of a presentation of the portion of the broadcast content, wherein a length of an interval between comparisons of the digital signal to the test data structures is a first length for a first period commencing with a match of at least a portion of the digital signal with at least a portion of the test data structures, the first period ending at a first time, the length of the interval between comparisons of the digital signal to the test data structures being shortened to a second length shorter than the first length upon the elapse of the first period.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a test data structure comprises an intra-coded frame (I-frame) of the portion of the broadcast content.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a test data structure comprises an audio data segment of the portion of the broadcast content.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of test data structures are received over an Internet connection.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal causes a reduction in volume of playback audio of the audio video content.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal causes a display of supplemental content different from the audio video content.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the supplemental content comprises a blank frame.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a remote control signal.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is produced from an input signal of a camera capable of receiving a visual representation of the broadcast content.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal is produced from an input signal of a microphone capable of receiving an aural representation of the broadcast content.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein each portion of the broadcast content is an advertisement.