Systems and methods for filtering objectionable content

Abstract

Systems and methods for filtering media containing objectionable content are described. Marker files that list the times objectionable content occurs in audio content (such as a song, podcast, audio associated with a video or television program, or the like) can be stored in a user device. When a user plays audio content for which a marker file exists, the system can automatically filter out the objectionable content marked in the marker file from playback of the audio content. The system may also provide functionality for the user to specify a level of filtering to be applied or even specific words to be filtered from audio content.

1 . A system for filtering objectionable content from audio, the system comprising:
 a preferences module configured to output a user interface comprising functionality for a user to specify first objectionable terms to filter out from audio playback; and   a language filtering client implemented at least in part by a hardware processor, the language filtering client configured to:
 receive a user selection of an audio content item to be played; 
 access a marker file associated with the audio content item, the marker file comprising an indication of second objectionable terms used in the audio content item, the second objectionable terms comprising one or more of the first objectionable terms; and 
 cause playback of the audio content item to occur while filtering out the one or more first objectionable terms from the audio content item based on timing information associated with the second objectionable terms stored in the marker file. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises functionality for the user to specify the first objectionable terms by selecting a filter level. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the filter level comprises one or more of the following: a PG filtering level, a PG-13 filtering level, and an R filtering level. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises functionality for the user to specify the first objectionable terms by providing a text box in which the user can enter the first objectionable terms. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the marker file comprises data representing start and stop times corresponding to the second objectionable terms in the audio content item. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the marker file comprises data representing start times and duration times corresponding to the second objectionable terms in the audio content item. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the language filtering content does not filter out selected ones of the second objectionable terms from the audio content item that are not in the first objectionable terms specified by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the language filtering module is further configured to access the marker file remotely from a server in response to receiving the user selection of the audio content item to be played. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio content item comprises a song. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio content item comprises audio from a video. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio content item comprises a streaming audio file. 
     
     
         12 . Non-transitory physical computer storage comprising instructions stored thereon that, when implemented by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to implement a system for filtering objectionable content from audio, the system configured to:
 output a user interface comprising functionality for a user to specify first objectionable terms to filter out from audio playback;   receive a user selection of an audio content item to be played back;   access a marker file associated with the audio content item, the marker file comprising an indication of second objectionable terms used in the audio content item, the second objectionable terms comprising one or more of the first objectionable terms; and   cause playback of the audio content item to occur while filtering out the one or more first objectionable terms from the audio content item based on timing information associated with the second objectionable terms stored in the marker file.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface further comprises functionality for the user to specify the first objectionable terms by selecting a filter level. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface further comprises functionality for the user to specify the first objectionable terms by providing a text box in which the user can enter the first objectionable terms. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the language filtering content does not filter out selected ones of the second objectionable terms from the audio content item that are not in the first objectionable terms specified by the user. 
     
     
         16 . A method of filtering objectionable content from audio, the method comprising:
 under control of a physical computing device comprising digital logic circuitry:
 receiving an identification of user-specified objectionable content to be filtered from media playback; 
 receiving a user selection of audio content for playback; 
 identifying whether a marker file is associated with the audio content; 
 in response to determining that the marker file is not associated with the audio content, performing one or both of outputting an indication to the user and preventing playback of the song; and 
 in response to determining that the marker file is associated with the audio content, playing back the song while filtering the user-specified objectionable content from the song responsive to data stored in the marker file. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said receiving the identification of user-specified objectionable content to be filtered from media playback comprises receiving a user-specified level of filtering to be applied. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said receiving the identification of user-specified objectionable content to be filtered from media playback comprises receiving specific terms from the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising accessing the marker file remotely from a server in response to receiving the user selection of the audio content for playback. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising receiving the audio content as streaming content and buffering the audio content at least until the marker file is received from the server.