Method and apparatus for selectively altering a television video signal in real-time

A method of operating a television receiver comprising:

• receiving a television signal in a television receiver;
• detecting a first event in the television signal;
• capturing a signature associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;
• comparing the captured signature to stored signatures;
• if the captured signature matches one of the stored signatures, controlling the television to alter a display of the television signal;
• if the captured signature does not match any of the stored signatures, storing the captured signature in a temporary storage location;
• monitoring a signal receiver for a user input signal;
• adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if the user input signal is received prior to detection of a next event in the television signal;
• if the user input signal is not received prior to detection of a next event in the television signal, adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if the next event is detected within a predetermined window of time following the first event;
• wherein the first event and the next event are each at least one of the group consisting of one or more black frames, low audio and a frame break.

A television set comprising:

• a television signal receiver;
• means for detecting a first event in the television signal;
• means for capturing a signature associated with a first segment of the television signal following the first event;
• means for comparing the captured signature to stored signatures;
• means for altering the display of the television signal if the captured signature matches one of the stored signatures;
• means for storing the captured signature in a temporary storage location if the captured signature does not match any of the stored signatures;
• means for adding the captured signature to the stored signatures if a second event in the television signal is detected within a predetermined window of time following the first event;
• wherein the first and second events are each at least one of the group consisting of one or more black frames, one or more colored frames, low audio and a frame break.