Method and apparatus for including virtual ads in video presentations

A method for providing virtual alternative display regions in video presentations, comprising steps of.

• (a) providing a video presentation to a video integration apparatus;
• (b) sending a data set to the video integration apparatus, the data set identifying a sequence of video frames in the video presentation, an individual region appearing in each of the frames in the sequence of frames, and a pixel signature comprising an average of red, green, and blue (R,G,B) values over all of the pixels in the individual region, the pixel signature also comprising a specific deviation from the RGB average values;
• (c) providing an alternative video region conforming in a real extent to the individual region in the video presentation, the alternative video region comprising alternative pixel values for the pixels in the individual region;
• and
• (d) as each frame of the video presentation in the sequence of frames is received and processed, testing the pixel values for the individual region in the frame, and for pixel values tested that deviate from the RGB average values beyond the specific deviation, displaying the pixel values provided by the video presentation, and for pixel values tested that fall within the specific deviation from the average values, displaying the alternative pixels from the stored alternative video region.

A video integration system comprising:

• apparatus for receiving and integrating a video data stream;
• at least one data set identifying a sequence of video frames in the video presentation, an individual region appearing in each of the frames in the sequence of frames, and a pixel signature comprising an average of red, green, and blue (R,G,B) values over all of the pixels in the individual region, the pixel signature also comprising a specific deviation from the RGB average values;
• and
• at least one alternative video region conforming in areal extent to the individual region in the video presentation, the alternative video region comprising alternative pixel values for the pixels in the individual region;
• characterized in that the integration apparatus, as each frame of the video presentation is received and processed, tests the pixel values for the individual region in the frame, and for pixel values tested that deviate from the RGB average values beyond the specific deviation, displays the pixel values provided by the video presentation, and for pixel values tested that fall within the specific deviation from the average values, displays the alternative pixels from the stored alternative video region.

A method for presenting an alternative video region in a sequence of frames in a video presentation, comprising steps of:

• (a) receiving a video data stream by a video integration apparatus;
• (b) identifying an individual region in a sequence of frames in the video presentation, and a pixel signature comprising an average of red, green, and blue (R,G,B) values over all of the pixels in the individual region, the pixel signature also comprising a specific deviation from the RGB average value;
• (c) identifying at least one alternative video region conforming in areal extent to the individual region in the sequence of frames of the video presentation, the alternative video region comprising alternative pixel values for the pixels in the individual region;
• (d) testing the pixel values for the individual region in the sequence of frames;
• (e) for pixel values tested that deviate from the RGB average values beyond the specific deviation, displaying the pixel values provided by the video presentation;
• and
• (f) for pixel values tested that fall within the specific deviation from the average values, displaying the alternative pixels from the stored alternative video region.