Patent ID: 6353632
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
A method of automatically altering the total running time of an original program signal in real time to generate a time-shortened program signal, the original program signal including an original video program signal that includes a plurality of video frames in sequence, each video frame signal having a predefined frame time associated therewith, the original program signal also including an original audio program signal, the original audio program signal including a plurality of audio signal segments, each audio signal segment having a predefined audio segment time associated therewith, each video frame signal having one or more corresponding audio segments associated therewith, the method comprising:(a) utilizing a video processor to analyze the original video program and to identify video frame signals of the original video program signal that meet a predefined video criterion; (b) utilizing the video processor to automatically delete from the original video program signal video frame signals identified by the video processor as meeting the predefined video criterion, thereby generating a time-shortened video program signal; (c) utilizing an audio processor to identify portions of the original audio program signal that meet a predefined audio criterion; (d) in response to receipt by the audio processor at a control signal indicating that a video frame signal has been deleted from the original video program signal, utilizing the audio processor to automatically delete one or more portions of the original audio program signal that and identified as meeting the predefined audio criterion, thereby generating a time-shortened audio program signal, a cumulative audio time period deleted from the original audio program signal being substantially the same as a total video time period deleted from the original video program signal as a result of deletion of said video frame signal; and; (e) providing the time-shortened program signal in real time, the time-shortened program signal including the time-shortened video program signal and the time-shortened audio program signal, whereby the time-shortened program signal may be broadcast substantially simultaneously with performances steps (a)-(e) above.