For use in a video signal processor, there is disclosed a system and method
for locating program boundaries and commercial boundaries using audio
categories. The system comprises an audio classifier controller that
obtains information concerning the audio categories of the segments of an
audio signal. Audio categories include such categories as silence, music,
noise and speech. The audio classifier controller determines the rates of
change of the audio categories. The audio classifier controller then
compares each rate of change of the audio categories with a threshold
value to locate the boundaries of the programs and commercials. The audio
classifier controller is also capable of classifying at least one feature
of an audio category change rate using a multifeature classifier to locate
the boundaries of the programs and commercials.
