Patent ID: 6487721
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for inserting digital commercials into a digital audiovisual bitstream, comprising the steps of:processing a first analog audiovisual signal to determine whether analog cue tones are present therein; encoding said first analog audiovisual signal as a digital spliceable data stream; providing digital cue commands corresponding to said analog cue tones, if present, in said digital spliceable data stream; said digital cue commands being provided in the form of a digital message in said digital spliceable data stream and indicating splicing points for splicing a digital commercial into the digital spliceable data stream; and forwarding the digital spliceable data stream to a commercial inserter; wherein: said commercial inserter detects said digital cue commands and inserts a commercial into said digital spliceable data stream in response thereto at a splice point designated by a first detected digital cue command; and said commercial inserter monitors said digital spliceable data stream for a subsequent digital cue command to splice back from the inserted commercial to the digital spliceable data stream.