Program restart and commercial ending notification method and system

A method of notifying a television viewer of the conclusion of an unwanted programming broadcast in a television system, comprising:

• receiving selection of a first channel for viewing a desired program;
• receiving selection of a first audio volume level for the desired program;
• receiving on the first channel an undesired broadcast having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the undesired broadcast;
• receiving a second channel selection;
• determining the present audio volume level of the first channel;
• comparing the present audio volume level with the first audio volume level;
• and
• notifying the viewer that the unwanted programming broadcast has concluded when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the undesired broadcast.

A system for returning to a preferred programming channel after conclusion of an unwanted programming broadcast in a television system, comprising:

• a tuner control operative:
• to receive a first channel for viewing a desired program, the desired program having a first audio volume level;
• to receive an undesired broadcast on the first channel having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the undesired broadcast;
• to select a second channel to begin channel surfing;
• a computer processor operative;
• to store the first and second audio volume levels;
• to monitor a present audio volume level of the first channel;
• a volume comparison module operative;
• to compare the present audio volume level with the second audio volume level;
• and
• to cause the computer processor to notify a viewer that the unwanted programming broadcast has concluded when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the undesired broadcast.

A method of channel surfing and returning to a preferred programming channel after conclusion of a commercial broadcast in a television system, comprising:

• receiving selection of a first channel for viewing a preferred program;
• receiving selection of a first audio volume level for the preferred program;
• receiving on the first channel a commercial broadcast having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the commercial broadcast;
• beginning channel surfing by receiving selection of a channel surfing function for receiving a second channel selection;
• receiving a second channel selection;
• monitoring the present audio volume level of the first channel;
• comparing the present audio volume level with the first audio volume level;
• and
• when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the commercial broadcast, notifying a viewer that the commercial broadcast has ended, and reselecting the first channel.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method of returning to a preferred programming channel after conclusion of an unwanted programming broadcast in a television system, the method comprising:

• receiving selection of a first channel for viewing a preferred program;
• receiving selection of a first audio volume level for the preferred program;
• receiving on the first channel an undesired broadcast having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the undesired broadcast;
• receiving a second channel selection;
• monitoring the present audio volume level of the first channel;
• comparing the present audio volume level with the first audio volume level;
• and
• reselecting the first channel when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the undesired broadcast.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method of notifying a television viewer of the conclusion of an unwanted programming broadcast in a television system, the method comprising:

• receiving selection of a first channel for viewing a desired program;
• receiving selection of a first audio volume level for the desired program;
• receiving on the first channel an undesired broadcast having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the undesired broadcast;
• receiving a second channel selection;
• determining the present audio volume level of the first channel;
• comparing the present audio volume level with the first audio volume level;
• and
• notifying the viewer that the unwanted programming broadcast has concluded when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the undesired broadcast.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method of channel surfing and returning to a preferred programming channel after conclusion of a commercial broadcast in a television system, the method comprising:

• receiving selection of a first channel for viewing a preferred program;
• receiving selection of a first audio volume level for the preferred program;
• receiving on the first channel a commercial broadcast having a second audio volume level, the second audio volume level being configured by a broadcaster to be presented to a user at a higher level than the first audio volume level for a duration of the commercial broadcast;
• beginning channel surfing by receiving selection of a channel surfing function for receiving a second channel selection;
• receiving a second channel selection;
• monitoring the present audio volume level of the first channel;
• comparing the present audio volume level with the first audio volume level;
• and
• when the broadcaster causes the monitored present audio volume level to drop to a level associated with the first audio volume level at the conclusion of the commercial broadcast, notifying a viewer that the commercial broadcast has ended, and reselecting the first channel.