Determining Location Within Video Content for Presentation to a User

Abstract

By way of example, a method, apparatus, system, and software are described for using a previously-identified location within content, such as a splash screen indicating a transition between main program content and a commercial segment, to skip to a subsequent location in the content, such as a location at which a subsequent appearance of the splash screen is detected. This may allow for an at least partially automated recognition-based content skipping feature.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a first image at a first location within video content; 
 determine a second image that is within the video content and that corresponds to the first image; 
 determine a second location that is within the video content and that is associated with the second image; and 
 cause a device to output the video content beginning at the second location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the device, an indication that is associated with a video frame of the video content and that is based on a user command initiated during output of the video content; and   determine the first image based on the indication.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the first image by at least selecting the first image from a plurality of predetermined images within the video content. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the second image based on the first image by at least determining the second image as an image that matches the first image. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 compare the first image with the second image to determine a difference between the first image and the second image; and   determine the second image based on a comparison of the difference with a predetermined threshold difference.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 cause the device to output the video content, comprising the first image and beginning prior to the first location; and   determine the first image while the device is outputting the video content that comprises the first image.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user; and   generating the first image based on the third image and the fourth image.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the second image by at least:
 comparing the first image with each of a plurality of other images within the video content, wherein the plurality of other images comprises the second image; and   determining based on the comparing that the second image corresponds to the first image.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third location of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth location of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user;   determining the first location based on the third location and the fourth location; and   determining the first image based on the first location.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second image is associated with a video frame of the video content. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a computing device to:
 determine a first image at a first location within video content;   determine a second image that is within the video content and that corresponds to the first image;   determine a second location that is within the video content and that is associated with the second image; and   cause a device to output the video content beginning at the second location.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to:
 receive, from the device, an indication that is associated with a video frame of the video content and that is based on a user command initiated during output of the video content; and   determine the first image based on the indication.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the first image by at least selecting the first image from a plurality of predetermined images within the video content. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the second image based on the first image by at least determining the second image as an image that matches the first image. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to:
 compare the first image with the second image to determine a difference between the first image and the second image; and   determine the second image based on a comparison of the difference with a predetermined threshold difference.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to:
 cause the device to output the video content, comprising the first image and beginning prior to the first location; and   determine the first image while the device is outputting the video content that comprises the first image.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user; and   generating the first image based on the third image and the fourth image.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the second image by at least:
 comparing the first image with each of a plurality of other images within the video content, wherein the plurality of other images comprises the second image; and   determining based on the comparing that the second image corresponds to the first image.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third location of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth location of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user;   determining the first location based on the third location and the fourth location; and   determining the first image based on the first location.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second image is associated with a video frame of the video content. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a first computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory storing instructions; and 
   a second computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory storing instructions; and 
   wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, cause the first computing device to:
 determine a first image at a first location within video content; 
 determine a second image that is within the video content and that corresponds to the first image; 
 determine a second location that is within the video content and that is associated with the second image; and 
 send, to the second computing device, at least some the video content, and 
   wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the second computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the second computing device, cause the second computing device to:
 output the video content beginning at the second location. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:
 receive, from the second computing device, an indication that is associated with a video frame of the video content and that is based on a user command initiated during output of the video content; and   determine the first image based on the indication.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the first image by at least selecting the first image from a plurality of predetermined images within the video content. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the second image based on the first image by at least determining the second image as an image that matches the first image. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to:
 compare the first image with the second image to determine a difference between the first image and the second image; and   determine the second image based on a comparison of the difference with a predetermined threshold difference.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the instructions stored in the memory of the second computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the second computing device, further cause the second computing device to output the video content, comprising the first image and beginning prior to the first location; and   the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the first image while the second computing device is outputting the video content that comprises the first image.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user; and   generating the first image based on the third image and the fourth image.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the second image by at least:
 comparing the first image with each of a plurality of other images within the video content, wherein the plurality of other images comprises the second image; and   determining based on the comparing that the second image corresponds to the first image.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the first computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the first computing device, further cause the first computing device to determine the first image by at least:
 receiving an indication of a third location of a third image, within the video content, that was selected by a first user;   receiving an indication of a fourth location of a fourth image, within the video content, that was selected by a second user;   determining the first location based on the third location and the fourth location; and   determining the first image based on the first location.   
     
     
         30 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a first location, within video content, of a first image selected in accordance with first user input; 
 determine a second location, within the video content, of a second image selected in accordance with second user input; 
 determine, based on the first location and the second location, a third location within the video content; 
 determine a reference image that is at the third location within the video content; 
 determine, based on the reference image, a third image that is within the video content; and 
 cause a device to output the video content beginning at a location associated with the third image. 
   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the third image based on a difference between the third image and the first image being within a predetermined threshold image difference. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the first user input is user input received by the device and the second user input is user input received by another device. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the third location based on an average of the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, configure a computing device to:
 determine a first location, within video content, of a first image selected in accordance with first user input;   determine a second location, within the video content, of a second image selected in accordance with second user input;   determine, based on the first location and the second location, a third location within the video content;   determine a reference image that is at the third location within the video content;   determine, based on the reference image, a third image that is within the video content; and   cause a device to output the video content beginning at a location associated with the third image.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the third image based on a difference between the third image and the first image being within a predetermined threshold image difference. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the first user input is user input received by the device and the second user input is user input received by another device. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the computing device to determine the third location based on an average of the first location and the second location.