Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An advertisement detection device comprising input means for receiving a demodulated video signal from a video tuner, means for detecting the commencement of a commercial break transmitted as part of said video signal, last blank period detection means adapted to detect a blank period between the last commercial of a commercial break and the recommencement of the program, said last blank period detection means being adapted to distinguish between blank periods of short duration and a rapid transition to the blank period from blank periods having a slow transition to the blank period, and also being adapted to distinguish said short blank periods with a rapid transition from blank periods of long duration, and output signal generating means responsive to said commercial blank detection means and said last blank detection means to generate a video recorder pause signal during commercial breaks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An advertisement detection device comprising input means for receiving a demodulated video signal from a video tuner, means for detecting the commencement of a commercial break transmitted as part of said video signal, last blank period detection means adapted to detect a blank period between the last commercial of a commercial break and the recommencement of the program, said last blank period detection means being adapted to distinguish between blank periods of short duration and a rapid transition to the blank period from blank periods having a slow transition to the blank period, and also being adapted to distinguish said short blank periods with a rapid transition from blank periods of long duration, and output signal generating means responsive to said commercial blank detection means and said last blank detection means to generate a video recorder pause signal during commercial breaks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The detection device according to claim 1 wherein said means for detecting the commencement of a commercial break includes means for detecting a blank period inserted between the program and the first commercial of the commercial break.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The detection means according to claim 2 wherein the means for detecting said commencement of a commercial break includes means for detecting the absence or presence of a signal inserted upon an otherwise unused line of a-vertical blanking period of the video signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The detection means according to claim 3 wherein a switch is provided to select between said blank period detection means and said inserted signal detection means as the means of detecting the commencement of a commercial break.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
The detection means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the last blank detection means comprises low pass filter means having an output signal which is substantially limited to a predetermined maximum rate of change and level detection means connected to indicate when said filter output signal reaches a predetermined level related to the blank level of said video signal, wherein the low pass filter has a time constant which is sufficiently long to prevent the filter output signal from reaching the predetermined level during a short blank period inserted at the commencement of commercials and between commercials of a commercial break and the time constant being sufficiently short to allow detection of longer blank periods and slow transitions to blank the blank level which occur after the last commercial of a commercial break.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inhibit circuit is provided to inhibit transitions of the pause signal to the pause state for a first period of time after the end of a commercial break has been detected, said period being determined by the overall length of the commercial break.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The detection device according to claim 6 wherein said inhibit circuit also inhibits transitions of the pause signal from the pause state to the quiescent state for a second predetermined period of time after the detection of the commencement of a commercial break.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a timing circuit is provided to indicate when the pause signal remains in the pause state for greater than a third predetermined period, the output signal generating means being responsive to said timing circuit to alter the pause signal to the quiescent state if said third predetermined period is exceeded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
The detection device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a timing circuit is provided to indicate when the pause signal remains in the pause state for greater than a third predetermined period, the output signal generating means being responsive to said timing circuit to alter the pause signal to the quiescent state if said third predetermined period is exceeded and wherein said first period of time is equal to the third predetermined period of time minus the duration of the commercial break.