Insertion of recorded secondary digital video content during playback of primary digital video content

A system comprising:

• one or more computers;
• and
• one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations for operating a digital video service set top box system having digital video recorder functionality, the operations comprising:
• receiving an insertion content file that includes secondary video content;
• creating insertion content change records (CCRs) associated with the insertion content file based on detected splice marks in the insertion content file, the insertion CCRs each comprising at least one indicator value selected from a group consisting of a file offset value and a presentation time stamp (PTS) value, wherein a first indicator value of a first CCR enables frame-accurate location of an initial video frame of the secondary video content and a second indicator value of a second CCR enables frame-accurate location of a last video frame of the secondary video content;
• storing the insertion CCRs associated with the insertion content file;
• initiating playback of a primary content file that includes at least a first video segment and a second video segment;
• during playback of the primary content file, determining a transition between the first video segment and the second video segment;
• in response to the determining step, using the first indicator value of the first CCR to locate the initial video frame of the secondary video content, and transitioning from an ending video frame of the first video segment to the initial video frame of the secondary video content indicated in the first CCR;
• and
• initiating playback of the insertion content file, starting with the initial video frame of the secondary video content,
• wherein the secondary video content replaces the second video segment of the primary content file, and wherein the duration of the secondary video content is different than the duration of the second video segment of the primary content file.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations for operating a digital video service set top box system having digital video recorder functionality, the operations comprising:

• receiving an insertion content file that includes secondary video content;
• creating insertion content change records (CCRs) associated with the insertion content file based on detected splice marks in the insertion content file, the insertion CCRs each comprising at least one indicator value selected from a group consisting of a file offset value and a presentation time stamp (PTS) value, wherein a first indicator value of a first CCR enables frame-accurate location of an initial video frame of the secondary video content and a second indicator value of a second CCR enables frame-accurate location of a last video frame of the secondary video content;
• storing the insertion CCRs associated with the insertion content file;
• initiating playback of a primary content file that includes at least a first video segment and a second video segment;
• during playback of the primary content file, determining a transition between the first video segment and the second video segment;
• in response to the determining step, using the first indicator value of the first CCR to locate the initial video frame of the secondary video content, and transitioning from an ending video frame of the first video segment to the initial video frame of the secondary video content indicated in the first CCR;
• and
• initiating playback of the insertion content file, starting with the initial video frame of the secondary video content,
• wherein the secondary video content replaces the second video segment of the primary content file, and wherein the duration of the secondary video content is different than the duration of the second video segment of the primary content file.