Patent ID: 8397255
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for use with a transmission system, said transmission system comprising: a headend for transmitting program material including full-length commercials, and a multiplicity of user locations, the method comprising: receiving at a user location the program material being transmitted from the headend; receiving at the user location a set of parameters associated with a particular full-length commercial that is included in the program material; the set of parameters comprising a tag that, at least unless certain predetermined conditions exist, disables at least one of a fast-forward mode and a fast-backward mode; in response to a user requesting one of the fast-forward mode and the fast-backward mode during a portion of the program material, determining whether the tag is associated with the portion of the program material and, if the tag is associated with the portion of the program material, whether the requested mode is disabled; and if the determining step indicates that the requested mode is not disabled, rendering for display a specially prepared meaningful shortened version of a full-length commercial regardless of whether the portion of the program material is a commercial.