Patent Publication Number: US-2006005218-A1

Title: Dynamic content filtering of broadcast media

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The application relates generally to data processing, and, more particularly, to control capabilities for broadcast media.  
     BACKGROUND  
      The demand for parental control capabilities for different types of broadcast media is soundly established in today&#39;s market. However, these control capabilities are typically limited for subscribers of digital broadband (such as cable or satellite). Such limited capabilities include password-enabled restrictions based on ratings (such as R, PG-13, etc.), “V-chip” content flags (such as “V” for violence, “L” for language, etc.), channel numbers and the time of day.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Embodiments of the invention may be best understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate such embodiments. The numbering scheme for the Figures included herein are such that the leading number for a given reference number in a Figure is associated with the number of the Figure. For example, a system  100  can be located in  FIG. 1 . However, reference numbers are the same for those elements that are the same across different Figures. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a system for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed block diagram of a media center for dynamic filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram for operations to identify and to flag filtered content for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram for operations to dynamically filter the content of broadcast media based on identified filtered content, according to some embodiments of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a computer system used in conjunction with some embodiments of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Methods, apparatus and systems for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media are described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. The term “media” as used herein refers to the type of content which may be broadcast to others such as mass “media” distribution of television pictures, audio, music, still pictures, etc., by any means.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a system for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  that includes a broadcast service  102 , a filter service provider  104  and a subscriber system  106 . The filter service provider  104  includes a filtered content determination logic  107 , a filtered content identification logic  108 , a filtered content storage  110 , a broadcast filter logic  112  and a subscriber management logic  114 . The subscriber system  106  includes a media center  116  and a media (display and/or record) device  118 .  
      The broadcast service  102  may broadcast different types of media (e.g., video, audio or a combination thereof). For example, the broadcast service  102  may be a cable television service, a satellite television service, etc. The filter service provider  104  and the subscriber system  116  may subscribe to receive the broadcast media from the broadcast service  102 . The filtered content determination logic  107  and the broadcast filter logic  112  are coupled to receive the broadcast media. The media center  116  is coupled to receive the broadcast media. The filter service provider  104  may communicate with the subscriber system  106 . In some embodiments, the communications between the filter service provider  104  and the subscriber system  106  is through an Internet connection (such as a broadband cable connection, a broadband Digital Subscribe Line (DSL) connection, etc.). In some embodiments, such communications may be different types of wireless communications (e.g., satellite communications, etc.). In some embodiments, such communications may be embedded within the original content signal.  
      The filtered content determination logic  107  may also receive a different stream of media  105 . For example, in some embodiments, the different stream of media  105  may be media that was previously broadcasted. The different stream of media  105  may also be commercials from different advertisers. For example, the different stream of media  105  may be commercials provided by the different advertisers prior to such media being aired by the broadcast service  102 .  
      An output of the filtered content determination logic  107  is coupled to an input of the filtered content identification logic  108  and an input of the broadcast filter logic  112 . An output of the filtered content identification logic  108  is coupled to an input of the filtered content storage  110 . An output of the filtered content storage  110  is coupled to an input of the broadcast filter logic  112 . Additionally, an output of the broadcast filter logic  112  is coupled to an input of the filtered content storage  110 . An output of the broadcast filter logic  112  is coupled to an input of the subscriber management logic  114 . An output of the subscriber management logic  114  is coupled to an input of the media center  116 . An output of the media center  116  is coupled to an input of the media device  118 . In some embodiments, the filtered content storage  110  may be volatile and/or non-volatile media (e.g., read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.). The operations of the filter service provider  104 , in accordance with some embodiments, are described in more detail below in conjunction with a flow diagram  300  in  FIG. 3 .  
      While  FIG. 1  illustrates a one-to-one relationship between the filter service provider  104  and the subscriber system  106 , embodiments of the invention are not so limited. For example, this relationship may be 1-to-N, N-to-1 and/or N-to-N. As further described below, in contrast to other parental control capabilities, at least some of the embodiments may filter content from commercials having content that is sexual, violent, etc. Additionally, embodiments of the invention do not censor what is being broadcast by the broadcast service  102 . Rather, some embodiments filter (after receipt) of the broadcast media from the broadcast service  102  based on filter categories selected by the owners of the media devices  118 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed block diagram of a media center for dynamic filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed block diagram of the media center  116 , according to some embodiments of the invention.  
      The media center  116  includes a buffer logic  202 , a filter communications logic  204 , a media storage  206  and a substitute media logic  208 , which are coupled together. The buffer logic  202  is coupled to receive the broadcast media from the broadcast service  102 . The filter communications logic  204  is coupled to communicate with the subscriber management logic  114 . The subscriber management logic  114  may communicate to the filter communications logic  204  filter flags, broadcast attributes and filter categories for content that is to be filtered within the broadcast media received by the media center  116 . Such filter flags may be indicators that a part of the broadcast media includes content that is to be filtered (filtered content).  
      The subscriber management logic  114  may also communicate alternative media to the filter communications logic  204 . As further described below, this alternative media may be substituted for the part of the broadcast media that is considered to be filtered content. In some embodiments, multiple streams of alternative media may be sent from the subscriber management logic  114  to the media center  116  to be stored locally for substitute display when needed without concerns regarding the receiving the alternative media because of high traffic/bandwidth limitations between the subscriber management logic  114  and the media center  116 . For example, a cached queue of a number of 30 second alternative commercials may be pre-stored on the media center  116 . Additionally, the subscriber management logic  114  may communicate a time delay to the filter communications logic  204 . This time delay is used to determine the amount of buffering to be performed within the media center  116  in order for the filtered content to be filtered. This time delay may depend on the computational power of the filter service provider  104 .  
      In particular, as further described below, logic within the filter service provider  104  is to determine and identify filtered content within the broadcast media being received by the broadcast service  102 . Additionally, logic within the filter service provider  104  is to perform a comparison between the identified filtered content and the broadcast media received from the broadcast service  102  to determine if the broadcast media includes identified filtered content. If the broadcast media includes identified filtered content, a filter flag for such content is transmitted to the media center  116  to allow such content to be filtered from the broadcast media received from the broadcast service  102 . Accordingly, such processing may require that the buffer logic  202  buffer the broadcast media in the media storage  206  so that the filtered content may be replaced prior to being received and subsequently displayed and/or recorded by the media device  118 . In some embodiments, the media storage  206  may be volatile and/or non-volatile media (e.g., random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.). For example, the media storage  206  may be any of a number of different types of volatile writeable memories, such as Random Access Memory (RAM) (e.g., Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), DRAM, DDR-SDRAM, etc.), etc.  
      The filter communications logic  204  may communicate the viewing habits with regard to the media device  118  to the subscriber management logic  114 . For example, the filter communications logic  204  may communicate the channels as well as the times of the media being received by the media device  118 . As further described below, the broadcast filter logic  112  may use these viewing habits to accelerate the matching operations with regard to the filtered content. Additionally, the broadcast filter logic  112  may use these viewing habits to determine whether to filter content for given channels at given times. The operations of the subscriber system  106 , in accordance with some embodiments, are described in more detail below in conjunction with a flow diagram  400  in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram for operations to identify and to flag filtered content for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, according to some embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 3  illustrates the operations of the filter service provider  104 , according to some embodiments of the invention.  
      In block  302  of the flow diagram  300 , a part of the broadcast media is received. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the filtered content determination logic  107  and the broadcast filter logic  112  may receive the part of the broadcast media. The broadcast service  102  may broadcast a stream of the broadcast media. The flow diagram  300  is described such that the operations are for a part of the incoming broadcast media. The flow diagram  300  may then continue processing of the subsequent part of the broadcast media. Accordingly, depending on the communication speed at which the broadcast media is received and the computational power of the filter service provider  104 , the filter service provider  104  may include a memory or other storage media (not shown) for temporary storage of the broadcast media until the logic therein may process such data. In some embodiments, the size of the part of the broadcast media may be one to N number of frames. Control continues at block  304  and block  310 . In particular, the operations in blocks  304  and  310  may occur at least simultaneous in part. The operations of the block  310  are described in more detail below.  
      In block  304 , a determination is made of whether the part of the broadcast media is defined as filtered content. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the filtered content determination logic  107  may make this determination. In some embodiments, this determination may be based on a pre-determined filtering criteria. This pre-determined filtering criteria may be provided by a separate entity (such as a filtering service) (not shown). The filter service provider  104  may be periodically updated with such criteria.  
      In some embodiments, the filtered content determination logic  107  may make this determination based on input from one or more operators (persons). For example, these persons may review the broadcast media as it is being broadcasted by the broadcast service  102 . In some embodiments, such persons may review all of the broadcast media being broadcast by the broadcast service. In some embodiments, such persons may review less than all of such broadcast media. For example, the operators may review channels that typically broadcast a first time airing (such as a live broadcast) of a media, while not always reviewing other types of channels. To further illustrate, the operators may review certain times of days for given channels (prime time), while not reviewing other times of day (early morning). As further described below, the subscriber management logic  114  receives feedback regarding the viewing habits of the owners of the media device  118 . Accordingly, the operators may selectively review certain channels and times of day based on such feedback.  
      Additionally, one or more operators may review the different stream of media  105  to make this determination. For example, the one or more operators may review the broadcast media (such as the commercials) for certain content that is to be filtered. Such operators may review for one or more filter categories (such as violence, language, adult content, etc.). In some embodiments, the operators may make this determination based on customer feedback. For example, if a number of customers complain about a given commercial, the operators may review the broadcast media from the different stream of media  105  to locate this commercial. In alternative embodiments, the filtered content determination logic  107  may make this determination based on matching operations (such as image and/or audio matching). For example, the pre-determined filtering criteria may be based on image matching within the video frames. For example, the image matching may relate to certain sexual or violent images. The pre-determined filtering criteria may also be based on the audio and/or closed captioning content within the broadcast media. In particular, the filtering criteria may include certain words or language, etc.  
      This determination may be performed on a frame-by-frame basis. In some embodiments, if at least one frame in the part of the broadcast media is defined as filtered content, all of the frames in the part of the broadcast media are defined as filtered content. In some embodiments, if a pre-determined number of frames or a percentage of frames in the part of the broadcast media are defined as filtered content, all of the frames of the part of the broadcast media are defined as filtered content. Upon determining that the part of the broadcast media is not defined as filtered content, control continues at block  302 , where another part of the broadcast media is received.  
      In block  306 , upon determining that the part of the broadcast media is defined as filtered content, a digital signature of the part of the broadcast media is generated. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the filtered content identification logic  108  may generate this digital signature. The filtered content identification logic  108  may receive the part of the broadcast media along with the time and the duration of this part of the broadcast media from the filtered content determination logic  107 . The digital signature may be based on one to a number of key frames in the part of the broadcast media. The key frames may include those frames at the beginning of a scene change, the first and last frames, every other frame, every fifth frame, etc. in the part of the broadcast media. The digital signature may also include at least a part of the closed captioning content in the part of the broadcast media. For example, the part of the closed captioning content may include that content in the key frames. The digital signature may include the duration of the part of the broadcast media. For example, the digital signature may include the number of frames in the part of the broadcast media. The filtered content identification logic  108  may generate the digital signature based on an encrypted or a concatenated value of the key frames, the closed captioning content and the duration.  
      In some embodiments, one part of the broadcast media may be very similar to a second part of the broadcast media. For example, an advertiser may create two different commercials with a number of similarities. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the filtered content identification logic  108  may have to redefine a digital signature that is currently stored in the filtered content storage  110  if this digital signature is the same or approximately the same as another digital signature. Therefore, in some embodiments, the filtered content identification logic  108  may compare a digital signature that was generated to those digital signatures stored in the filtered content storage  110 . If the generated digital signature is the same or approximately the same as another digital signature stored in the filtered content storage  110 , the filtered content identification logic  108  may redefine (based on a finer granularity (e.g., more key frames)) one and/or both the digital signatures that are the same or approximately the same. Control continues at block  308 .  
      In block  308 , the digital signature, the filter category and the broadcast attributes of the filtered content are stored. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the filtered content identification logic  108  may store the digital signature, the filter category and the broadcast attributes of the filtered content into the filtered content storage  110 . The filtered content may be associated with one or more filter categories. For example, filter categories may be related to violence, language, adult content (e.g., sex), etc. The broadcast attributes may include the channels and times on which the filtered content has recently aired. In some embodiments, all of the frames of the broadcast media are stored in the filtered content storage  110 . Control continues at block  302 , where another part of the broadcast media is received.  
      In block  310 , a determination is made of whether the part of the broadcast media matches the filtered content. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the broadcast filter logic  112  may make this determination. In some embodiments, after receiving a first part of the broadcast media, the operations of the flow diagram  300  may include an initial delay prior to execution of the operations in block  310  to allow for the execution of the operations in the blocks  306  and  308 . For example, if the filter service provider  104  is attempting to filter the broadcast media as such media is being received, an initial delay may be introduced prior to execution of the operations in block  310  to perform the operations in blocks  304 - 308 . Such a delay allows for the storage of the digital signature, etc. of the filtered content into the filtered content storage  110  prior to this determination. Accordingly, the filter service provider  104  may filter the broadcast media as such media is being received. In some embodiments, the filtered content determination logic  107  may transmit the part of the broadcast media along with the time and the duration of this part of the broadcast media directly to the broadcast filter logic  112 . In such embodiments, the broadcast filter logic  112  may filter the broadcast media based on this data received from the filtered content determination logic  107 .  
      As part of the determination, the broadcast filter logic  112  may compare at least a part of the digital signatures of the filtered content stored in the filtered content storage  110  to the part of the broadcast media. For example, the broadcast filter logic  112  may compare the key frames of the digital signatures of the filtered content to the same frames in the part of the broadcast media. In some embodiments, the broadcast filter logic  112  may attempt to match the closed captioning content first prior to attempting to match the video and/or audio frames. Upon determining that the part of the broadcast media does not match the filtered content, control continues at block  302 , where another part of the broadcast media is received.  
      In block  312 , upon determining that the part of the broadcast media does match the filtered content, a filter flag, a filter category and broadcast attributes (for this part of the broadcast media) are transmitted to a media center of a subscriber that is to filter the filtered content. With reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the subscriber management logic  114  transmits the filter flag, the filter category and the broadcast attributes to the media center  116 .  
      Additionally, the broadcast filter logic  112  may store in the entry of the filtered content (which was matched) in the filtered content storage  110  the time and/or channel on which the matching part of the broadcast media was being received from the broadcast service  102 . This storage of the time and/or channel may allow subsequent matching operations to be performed faster. For example, the broadcast filter logic  112  may first search the filtered content most recently matched in the filtered content storage  110  during the matching operation in block  310 . Moreover, the filtered content storage  110  may be periodically updated based on such entries. For example, if a digital signature stored therein does not have a match for a given time period (e.g., one year), such signature is deleted from the filtered content storage  110 . Such cleanup operations provides may allow for faster match operations as the broadcast filter logic  112  has less digital signatures to compare against. Control continues at block  302 , where another part of the broadcast media is received.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram for operations to dynamically filter the content of broadcast media based on identified filtered content, according to some embodiments of the invention. In particular,  FIG. 4  illustrates the operations of the subscriber system  106 , according to some embodiments of the invention.  
      In block  402  of the flow diagram  400 , broadcast media is received. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the buffer logic  202  may receive the broadcast media. In some embodiments, the broadcast media (transmitted by the broadcast service  102 ) received by the filter service provider  104  is also received by the buffer logic  202 . Control continues at block  404 .  
      In block  404 , the broadcast media is buffered based on the time delay needed because of the computational power of the filter service provider. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the buffer logic  202  may buffer the broadcast media based on the time delay needed because of the computational power of the filter service provider  104 . In particular, in some embodiments, the media center  116  may delay transmission of the broadcast media to the media device  118  until the filter service provider  104  has processed the broadcast media to determine if such media included content that needs to be filtered (as described above). Control continues at block  406 .  
      In block  406 , a determination is made of whether the broadcast media tuned to be received by the media device is to be filtered. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the substitute media logic  208  may make this determination. The media device  118  may be a television, a computer, a video cassette recorder, a digital video recorder, etc. If the media device  118  is a television or computer, the media device  118  may be tuned to receive the broadcast media for viewing thereon. If the media device  118  is a video cassette recorder or a digital video recorder, the media device  118  may be tuned to receive the broadcast media for recording thereon. In some embodiments, the tuner(s) for the media device  118  may be part of the media center  116 . In some embodiments, the tuner(s) for the media device  118  may be part of the media device  118 .  
      The substitute media logic  208  may query the tuner(s) to determine the channel of the broadcast media that is set. The substitute media logic  208  may determine whether the time and channel of the broadcast media to be transmitted to the media device  118  matches one or more of the filter flags (for the filtered content) based on the broadcast attributes. Accordingly, the substitute media logic  208  may make this determination based on the filter flag and broadcast attributes of the broadcast media (based on time and channel). Upon determining that the broadcast media tuned to be received by the media device is not be to be filtered, control continues at block  412 , which is described in more detail below.  
      In block  408 , upon determining that the broadcast media, which is tuned to be received by the media device, is to be filtered, alternative media is substituted for this broadcast media. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the substitute media logic  208  may substitute the alternative media for the broadcast media to be filtered. The alternative media could be a number of different type of media. For example, the alternative media may be a slide show of images stored in the media center  116  and/or commercials (e.g., static images, audio, and/or video) sold by the filter service provider  104  to companies. For example, the companies may include those that are interested in targeting consumers interested in such filtering services. The alternative media may be a blank screen, a screen with a message indicating that the current broadcast media has been filtered, etc. In some embodiments, the subscriber management logic  114  may transmit the alternative media to the media center  116 .  
      The costs of services provided by the filter service provider  104  to a subscriber may be dependent on the type of alternative media that is to be substituted. For example, the costs may be less if the alternative media is a commercial provided by the filter service provider  104  in comparison to if the alternative media are a slide show of images stored in the media center  116 . Furthermore, the substitute media logic  108  may substitute for less than all of the part of the broadcast media. For example, if only the audio is within a filter category, only the audio is substituted. Control continues at block  410 .  
      In block  410 , the alternative media is transmitted to the media device. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the substitute media logic  208  may transmit the alternative media to the media device  118 . Control continues at block  402 , where additional broadcast media is received.  
      In block  412 , the broadcast media, which is tuned to be received by the media device, is transmitted to the media device. With reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the substitute media logic  208  may transmit the broadcast media, which is tuned to be received by the media device  118 , to the media device  118 . Control continues at block  402 , where additional broadcast media is received. Accordingly, as described, at least some of the embodiments of the invention may dynamically filter broadcast media as such media (marked as inappropriate) is being aired.  
      This section provides an overview of hardware and the operating environment in which some embodiments of the invention can be practiced.  FIG. 5  illustrates a computer system used in conjunction with some embodiments of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a computer system  500  comprises processor(s)  02 . The computer system  500  also may include a memory unit  530 , a processor bus  522 , and an Input/Output controller hub (ICH)  524 . The processor(s)  502 , the memory unit  530 , and the ICH  524  are coupled to the processor bus  522 . The processor(s)  502  may comprise any suitable processor architecture. The computer system  500  may comprise one, two, three, or more processors, any of which may execute a set of instructions in accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention.  
      In one embodiment, the computer system  500  includes a machine-readable medium that stores a set of instructions (e.g., software) embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media. For example, the filtered content determination logic  107 , the filtered content identification logic  108 , the broadcast filter logic  112 , the subscriber management logic  114 , the buffer logic  202 , the filter communications logic  204  and/or the substitute media logic  208  may be software.  
      The memory unit  530  stores data and/or instructions, and may comprise any suitable memory, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), for example. The computer system  500  also may include IDE drive(s)  508  and/or other suitable storage devices. Although not shown, the memory unit  530 , the processor(s)  502  and/or the IDE drive(s)  508  may include at least a part of the filtered content determination logic  107 , the filtered content identification logic  108 , the broadcast filter logic  112 , the subscriber management logic  114 , the buffer logic  202 , the filter communications logic  204  and/or the substitute media logic  208 . Additionally, the memory unit  530 , the processor(s)  502  and/or the IDE drive(s)  508  may include the filtered content storage  110  and/or the media storage  206 . A graphics controller  504  controls the display of information on a display device  506 , according to some embodiments of the invention.  
      The input/output controller hub (ICH)  524  provides an interface to I/O devices or peripheral components for the computer system  500 . The ICH  524  may comprise any suitable interface controller to provide for any suitable communication link to the processor(s)  502 , the memory unit  530  and/or to any suitable device or component in communication with the ICH  524 . For one embodiment, the ICH  524  provides suitable arbitration and buffering for each interface.  
      For some embodiments, the ICH  524  provides an interface to one or more suitable integrated drive electronics (IDE) drives  508 , such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or compact disc read only memory (CD ROM) drive, or to suitable universal serial bus (USB) devices through one or more USB ports  510 . For some embodiments, the ICH  524  also provides an interface to a keyboard  512 , a mouse  514 , a CD-ROM drive  518 , one or more suitable devices through one or more firewire ports  516 . For one embodiment, the ICH  524  also provides a network interface 1320 though which the computer system  500  can communicate with other computers and/or devices.  
      In the description, numerous specific details such as logic implementations, opcodes, means to specify operands, resource partitioning/sharing/duplication implementations, types and interrelationships of system components, and logic partitioning/integration choices are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, control structures, gate level circuits and full software instruction sequences have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the included descriptions will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation.  
      References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.  
      Embodiments of the invention include features, methods or processes that may be embodied within machine-executable instructions provided by a machine-readable medium. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism which provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, a network device, a personal digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one or more processors, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, a machine-readable medium includes volatile and/or non-volatile media (e.g., read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, etc.), as well as electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.)).  
      Such instructions are utilized to cause a general or special purpose processor, programmed with the instructions, to perform methods or processes of the embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, the features or operations of embodiments of the invention are performed by specific hardware components that contain hard-wired logic for performing the operations, or by any combination of programmed data processing components and specific hardware components. Embodiments of the invention include software, data processing hardware, data processing system-implemented methods, and various processing operations, further described herein.  
      A number of figures show block diagrams of systems and apparatus for dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. A number of figures show flow diagrams illustrating dynamic content filtering of broadcast media, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The operations of the flow diagrams will be described with references to the systems/apparatus shown in the block diagrams. However, it should be understood that the operations of the flow diagrams could be performed by embodiments of systems and apparatus other than those discussed with reference to the block diagrams, and embodiments discussed with reference to the systems/apparatus could perform operations different than those discussed with reference to the flow diagrams.  
      In view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, while the system  100  is illustrated such that the media center  116  is separate from the media device  118 , in some embodiments, the media center  116  may be incorporated into the media device  118 . Additionally, while the system  100  is illustrated such that the components of the filter service provider  104  are separate from the subscriber system  106 , in some embodiments, at least a part of the filter service provider  104  is incorporated into the subscriber system  106 . For example, the operations of the broadcast filter logic  112  and the operations of the subscriber management logic  114  may be incorporated into the media center  116 . Furthermore, while described such that an alternative media may be substituted for a part of the broadcast media, embodiments of the invention are not so limited. In some embodiments, the part of the broadcast media may be removed. Further, embodiments of the invention may include different types of media, including both standard definition and high definition video signals. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto. Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.