Patents Assigned to Shazam Investments Limited
  • Patent number: 9899030
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that matches the sample from a database indexing original recordings. Each indexed file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints, and the fingerprints are invariant with respect to time stretching of the sample. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Julius O. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 9721287
    Abstract: A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Jacques Penrose Barton, Philip Georges Inghelbrecht, Dheeraj Shankar Mukherjee, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 9401154
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Julius O. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 9225444
    Abstract: A user (102) hears an audio program being broadcast and can record a sample of the audio. The sample is then conveyed to an analyzing means (106) to determine to which broadcast station the user is listening. The analyzing means monitors many broadcast channels. Thus, characteristics of the audio sample and samples taken from the broadcast channels can be compared to find a match. Broadcast information pertaining to the broadcast channel from which the match was found may then be reported back to the user, combined with an advertisement of a promotion, prize notification, discount offers, and other information specific for a certain radio station for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventor: Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 9092518
    Abstract: A system and method are described for recognizing repeated audio material within at least one media stream without prior knowledge of the nature of the repeated material. The system and method are able to create a screening database from the media stream or streams. An unknown sample audio fragment is taken from the media stream and compared against the screening database to find if there are matching fragments within the media streams by determining if the unknown sample matches any samples in the screening database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: David L. DeBusk, Darren P. Briggs, Michael Karliner, Richard W. Cheong Tang, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 9071371
    Abstract: A user (102) hears an audio program being broadcast and can record a sample of the audio. The sample is then conveyed to an analyzing means (106) to determine to which broadcast station the user is listening. The analyzing means monitors many broadcast channels. Thus, characteristics of the audio sample and samples taken from the broadcast channels can be compared to find a match. Broadcast information pertaining to the broadcast channel from which the match was found may then be reported back to the user, combined with an advertisement of a promotion, prize notification, discount offers, and other information specific for a certain radio station for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventor: Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140280233
    Abstract: Methods and systems for arranging and searching a database of media content recordings are provided. In one example, a method is provided that comprises receiving a sample of media content, and performing, by a computing device, a content recognition of the sample of media content using a data file including a concatenation of representations for each of a plurality of media content recordings. In other examples, another method is provided that comprises receiving media content recordings, determining a representation for each media content recording, concatenating by a computing device the representation for each media content recording as a data file, and storing by the computing device a mapping between an identifier for a respective media content recording and a global position in the data file that corresponds to the representation of the respective media content recording.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Shazam Investments Limited
  • Publication number: 20140278845
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying target media content and determining supplemental information about the target media content are provided. In one example, a method includes determining target media content within a media stream, and determining whether the target media content has been previously identified and indexed within a database. The method also includes based on the target media content being unindexed within the database, determining semantic data associated with content of the target media content. The method also includes retrieving from one or more sources supplemental information about the target media content using the semantic data, annotating the target media content with the retrieved information, and storing in the database the annotated target media content associated with the retrieved information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20140280127
    Abstract: Methods and systems for arranging and searching a database of media content recordings are provided. In one example, a method is provided that comprises receiving a sample of media content, and performing, by a computing device, a content recognition of the sample of media content using a data file including a concatenation of representations for each of a plurality of media content recordings. In other examples, another method is provided that comprises receiving media content recordings, determining a representation for each media content recording, concatenating by a computing device the representation for each media content recording as a data file, and storing by the computing device a mapping between an identifier for a respective media content recording and a global position in the data file that corresponds to the representation of the respective media content recording.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8811885
    Abstract: A user (102) hears an audio program being broadcast and can record a sample of the audio. The sample is then conveyed to an analyzing means (106) to determine to which broadcast station the user is listening. The analyzing means monitors many broadcast channels. Thus, characteristics of the audio sample and samples taken from the broadcast channels can be compared to find a match. Broadcast information pertaining to the broadcast channel from which the match was found may then be reported back to the user, combined with an advertisement of a promotion, prize notification, discount offers, and other information specific for a certain radio station for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventor: Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140214532
    Abstract: A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Jacques Penrose Barton, Philip Georges Inghelbrecht, Dheeraj Shankar Mukherjee, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140214190
    Abstract: A method and system for content sampling and identification is presented. A data stream is recorded, and samples of the stream are identified. Samples can be initially taken at random for identification. Once a sample is identified and segmented within the data stream, the next time to sample may be calculated to be outside the time frame of the identified sample. Thus, the sampling period can be adaptively adjusted to be at times after identified tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventor: Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 8725829
    Abstract: A method and system is described which allows users to identify (pre-recorded) sounds such as music, radio broadcast, commercials, and other audio signals in almost any environment. The audio signal (or sound) must be a recording represented in a database of recordings. The service can quickly identify the signal from just a few seconds of excerption, while tolerating high noise and distortion. Once the signal is identified to the user, the user may perform transactions interactively in real-time or offline using the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Christopher Jacques Penrose Barton, Dheeraj Shankar Mukherjee, Philip Inghelbrecht
  • Patent number: 8700407
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Julius O. Smith
  • Patent number: 8688248
    Abstract: A method and system for content sampling (106) and identification is presented. A data stream is recorded, and samples of the stream are identified. Samples (106) can be initially taken at random for identification. Once a sample (106) is identified and segmented within the data stream, the next time to sample (106) may be calculated to be outside the time frame of the identified sample (106). Thus, the sampling period can be adaptively adjusted to be at times after identified tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventor: Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 8688600
    Abstract: A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Christopher J. Penrose Barton, Philip Inghelbrecht, Dheeraj Shankar Mukherjee, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140052284
    Abstract: A system and method are described for recognizing repeated audio material within at least one media stream without prior knowledge of the nature of the repeated material. The system and method are able to create a screening database from the media stream or streams. An unknown sample audio fragment is taken from the media stream and compared against the screening database to find if there are matching fragments within the media streams by determining if the unknown sample matches any samples in the screening database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: David L. DeBusk, Darren P. Briggs, Michael Karliner, Richard W. Cheong Tang, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 8571864
    Abstract: A system and method are described for recognizing repeated audio material within at least one media stream without prior knowledge of the nature of the repeated material. The system and method are able to create a screening database from the media stream or streams. An unknown sample audio fragment is taken from the media stream and compared against the screening database to find if there are matching fragments within the media streams by determining if the unknown sample matches any samples in the screening database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: David L. DeBusk, Darren P. Briggs, Michael Karliner, Richard W. Cheong Tang, Avery Li-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20130138442
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: SHAZAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8386258
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Shazam Investments Limited
    Inventors: Avery Li-Chun Wang, Julius O. Smith, III