Use of multiple embedded messages in program signal streams
Methods of generating video streams including advertisement information sufficient to support advertisement countdown times and other functions such as advertisement auto pause functions are described. In accordance with various embodiments, advertisement duration is determined from one or more messages included in a video stream, e.g., prior to the corresponding advertising segment. A countdown timer is generated from the advertisement information and displayed along with the content of the advertisement segment. Restrictions for different subscribers may be indicated in the advertisement information messages, e.g., with some end users being permitted to fast forward or skip advertisements with other users being required to allow the full normal playback of one or more advertisement segments. The auto pause function, when activated, pauses an ad segment or set of ad segments at a predetermined time before output of the main program resumes thereby making sure none of the main program is missed.
1. A content playback method, the method comprising:
determining an end time of an advertisement segment;
receiving an automatic commercial pause signal from a user control device; and
in response to said automatic commercial pause signal, pausing output of said advertisement segment at a predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment, said predetermined point being a predetermined number of seconds before the end of said advertisement segment.
2. The content playback method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing broadcast encoded video stream content corresponding to a first broadcast encoded video stream following said predetermined point in said advertisement segment; and
in response to a command from said user control device received while said output of said advertisement segment was paused, outputting stored program content corresponding to said first broadcast encoded video stream.
3. The content playback method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a signal indicating one of an incoming telephone call, alert and incoming E-mail; and
in response to said signal, automatically pausing output of said advertisement segment.
4. The content playback method of claim 3 , wherein said advertisement segment is immediately paused in response to said received signal.
5. The content playback method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring for a presentation control signal while said advertisement segment is being output; and
determining if the user is authorized to skip or fast forward through said advertisement segment in response to detecting, while said advertisement segment is being output, input from a user control device indicating a skip or fast forward command.
6. The content playback method of claim 5 , wherein determining if the user is authorized to skip or fast forward through said advertisement segment includes checking to determine if the advertisement segment being output was previously output within a predetermined time of said detected input from a user control device indicating a skip or fast forward command.
7. The content playback method of claim 5 , wherein determining if the user is authorized to skip or fast forward through said advertisement segment includes checking advertisement presentation restriction information included in an advertisement information message which is associated with said advertisement segment.
8. The content playback method of claim 5 , wherein determining if the user is authorized to skip or fast forward through said advertisement segment includes comparing subscription information corresponding to said user to information in said advertisement segment used to identify subscribers who are authorized to skip or fast forward through said advertisement segment.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein pausing output of said advertisement segment at a predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment includes:
automatically pausing the output based on a time of an advertisement segment countdown timer.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the time of said advertisement segment countdown timer is based on when the advertisement segment ends.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a countdown timer indicating a time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment; and
prior to reaching said predetermined point, outputting said advertisement segment for display at a normal playback rate with an indicator indicating the time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
storing user setting information indicating if a commercial advertisement segment being output should be immediately paused in response to a network signal or paused at said predetermined point prior to the end of the said advertisement segment.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said network signal is one of an E-mail signal, telephone call signal or an alert signal.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said user control device is a remote control.
15. A content playback device, comprising:
a duration determination module for determining the duration of an advertisement segment from one or more messages included in a first broadcast encoded video stream prior to an advertisement segment;
a countdown generator module for generating a countdown timer indicating a time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment;
an output module for outputting said advertisement segment for display at a normal playback rate with an indicator indicating the time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment;
a receiver for receiving an automatic commercial pause signal from a user control device; and
an auto pause module responsive to the automatic commercial pause signal for pausing output of said advertisement segment at a predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment, said predetermined point being a predetermined number of seconds before the end of said advertisement segment.
16. The content playback device of claim 15 , wherein said duration determination module determines the duration from start and end times of said advertisement segment.
17. The content playback device of claim 15 , wherein said user control device is a remote control.
18. A content playback device, comprising:
a duration determination module for determining the duration of an advertisement segment from one or more messages included in a first broadcast encoded video stream prior to an advertisement segment;
a countdown generator module for generating a countdown timer indicating a time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment;
an output module for outputting said advertisement segment for display at a normal playback rate with an indicator indicating the time remaining until the end of the advertisement segment;
a receiver for receiving an automatic commercial pause signal from a user control device; and
an auto pause module responsive to the automatic commercial pause signal for pausing output of said advertisement segment at a predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment, wherein said predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment is a number of seconds specified by a user setting.
19. The content playback device of claim 18 , wherein said predetermined point is a predetermined number of seconds before the end of said advertisement segment.
20. A content playback method, the method comprising:
determining an end time of an advertisement segment;
receiving an automatic commercial pause signal from a user control device; and
in response to said automatic commercial pause signal, pausing at a content playback device, output of said advertisement segment at a predetermined point prior to the end of said advertisement segment, said predetermined point being a predetermined number of seconds before the end of said advertisement segment, wherein said predetermined number of seconds is specified by a user of said content playback device.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
storing in said content playback device user setting information indicating the predetermined number of seconds specified by said user.