Output of broadcast content with portions skipped

Abstract

Various arrangements are described for skipping portions of content, such as commercials, from a broadcast television program. The programming content is presented at a reduced presentation rate with the broadcast content being buffered as received. The reduced presentation rate may be less than a broadcast rate at which the content was originally intended to be output for presentation. One or more undesired portions of content may be skipped due to the reduced presentation rate. Commercials may be tagged by a television service provider.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for outputting broadcast content for presentation with a segment of the broadcast content skipped at an accelerated rate, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a television receiver, the broadcast content, wherein:
 the broadcast content comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment; and 
 the broadcast content being created for presentation at a broadcast rate; 
   as the broadcast content is received, storing, by the television receiver, the broadcast content such that at least the first segment and the third segment are stored;   identifying, by the television receiver, the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output;   determining that the presentation rate for outputting the first segment and the third segment, wherein the presentation rate is a faster rate than the broadcast rate;   adjusting, by the television receiver, a pitch of audio of the first segment and the third segment such that audio output at the presentation rate is normalized; and   consecutively outputting, by the television receiver to a presentation device, the first segment and the third segment at the presentation rate with the adjusted pitch of audio.   
     
     
         3 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein the broadcast content comprises a television program having a commercial break, and the second segment comprises the commercial break. 
     
     
         4 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output is based on one or more metadata tags received via a tuner of the television receiver from a television service provider. 
     
     
         5 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output comprises identifying a start of the second segment based on a presence of a string of characters in closed captioning data of the broadcast content. 
     
     
         6 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein determining the presentation rate comprises receiving, from a television service provider, via a tuner of the television receiver, an indication of the presentation rate. 
     
     
         7 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein determining the presentation rate comprises calculating, by the television receiver, the presentation rate. 
     
     
         8 . The method for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 2 , wherein output of the first segment and the third segment commences while the broadcast content is being received and output of the first and third segment completes after the broadcast content has been received. 
     
     
         9 . A television receiver configured to output broadcast content for presentation with a segment of the broadcast content skipped, the television receiver comprising:
 a tuner configured to receive the broadcast content from a television service provider;   a buffer configured to store at least a portion of the broadcast content, the broadcast content being created for presentation at a broadcast rate;   one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive the broadcast content, wherein:
 the broadcast content comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment; and 
 the broadcast content being created for presentation at a broadcast rate; 
 
 as the broadcast content is received, store the broadcast content such that at least the first segment and the third segment are stored; 
 identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output; 
 determine that the presentation rate for outputting the first segment and the third segment, wherein the presentation rate is a faster rate than the broadcast rate; 
 adjust a pitch of audio of the first segment and the third segment such that audio output at the presentation rate is normalized; and 
 consecutively output, to a presentation device, the first segment and the third segment at the presentation rate with the adjusted pitch of audio. 
   
     
     
         10 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein the broadcast content comprises a television program having a commercial break, and the second segment comprises the commercial break. 
     
     
         11 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output use one or more metadata tags received via a tuner of the television receiver from a television service provider. 
     
     
         12 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output identify a start of the second segment based on a presence of a string of characters in closed captioning data of the broadcast content. 
     
     
         13 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the presentation rate comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive, from a television service provider, via a tuner of the television receiver, an indication of the presentation rate. 
     
     
         14 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the presentation rate comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to calculate the presentation rate. 
     
     
         15 . The television receiver configured to output the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 9 , wherein output of the first segment and the third segment commences while the broadcast content is being received and output of the first and third segment completes after the broadcast content has been received. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting broadcast content for presentation with a segment of the broadcast content skipped comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
 receive, via a tuner, the broadcast content, wherein:
 the broadcast content comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment; and 
 the broadcast content being created for presentation at a broadcast rate; 
   as the broadcast content is received, store the broadcast content such that at least the first segment and the third segment are stored;   identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output;   determine that the presentation rate for outputting the first segment and the third segment, wherein the presentation rate is a faster rate than the broadcast rate;   adjust a pitch of audio of the first segment and the third segment such that audio output at the presentation rate is normalized; and   consecutively output, to a presentation device, the first segment and the third segment at the presentation rate with the adjusted pitch of audio.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 16 , wherein the broadcast content comprises a television program having a commercial break, and the second segment comprises the commercial break. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output use one or more metadata tags received via a tuner of the television receiver from a television service provider. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the second segment of the broadcast content as the segment to be skipped from being output identify a start of the second segment based on a presence of a string of characters in closed captioning data of the broadcast content. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the presentation rate comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive, from a television service provider, via a tuner of the television receiver, an indication of the presentation rate. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory processor-readable medium for outputting the broadcast content for presentation with the segment of the broadcast content removed of claim  16 , wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the presentation rate comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to calculate the presentation rate.