Patent ID: 6597405
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for identifying selected segment of a television signal comprising the steps of:detecting a first event marker; detecting a signature pattern associated with the first event marker; comparing the signature pattern to stored signature patterns; if the signature pattern matches any of the stored signature patterns, identifying a pre-determined portion of the television signal following the first event marker as a selected segment; if the signature pattern does not match any of the stored signature patterns, analyzing signals following the first event marker to determine whether the signature pattern nevertheless corresponds to a selected segment and, if so, identifying a pre-determined portion of the television signal following the first event marker as a selected segment and storing said signature pattern of the selected segment along with the stored signatures; discarding selected stored signatures; wherein the method is performed by a television set either while the television signal is displayed for view by the television set or while the television set is otherwise not in use; wherein said step of storing said signature pattern of the selected segment along with the stored signatures includes the step of storing an in-use factor with the in-use factor being representative of whether the selected segment was encountered at any time while the television set was in use; and wherein the step of discarding selected stored signatures includes the step of identifying which signatures to discard based in part upon the in-use factor.