The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 21, 2013
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Craig W. Fellenstein, Shelton, CT (US);
Rick A. Hamilton, Charlottesville, VA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method is disclosed for blocking specific television commercials from the viewer's television based upon the characteristics of the television commercial. In the method, characteristics from a first signal containing a television commercial received at a television are determined. The characteristics may include video and/or audio characteristics, and the characteristics may define a signature. Characteristics from a second signal, also containing the television commercial, are also received and are compared to the first signature. Upon recognizing the second signal, the television commercial is blocked.