Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to a phone-based system for targeted advertisement delivery by identifying broadcast audio advertisements, and methods of providing such a system. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a user-initiated telephone connection that includes an audio sample of an advertisement from a broadcast source, and identifying the audio advertisement sample. The method also includes retrieving a metadata associated with the identified audio advertisement sample, obtaining a targeted advertisement information that most closely corresponds to the retrieved metadata. The method further includes transmitting a message including the targeted advertisement information. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: Various aspects can be implemented to identify broadcast audio streams. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a plurality of broadcast streams, each from a corresponding broadcast source and generating a first broadcast audio identifier based on a first broadcast stream of the plurality of broadcast streams. The method also includes storing for a selected temporary period of time the first broadcast audio identifier. The method further includes receiving a user-initiated telephone connection; and generating a user audio identifier. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to a phone-based system for identifying broadcast audio streams, and methods of providing such a system. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a plurality of broadcast streams, each from a corresponding broadcast source and generating a first broadcast audio identifier based on a first broadcast stream of the plurality of broadcast streams. The method also includes storing for a selected temporary period of time the first broadcast audio identifier. The method further includes receiving a user-initiated telephone connection; and generating a user audio identifier. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for synchronizing segments in a signal stream having an audio component and a text component. In one aspect, a search is made in the text component for a marker text string consisting of at least one word, character or phrase; an audio pattern representative of the marker text string is generated; the audio pattern is located in the audio component; and, the audio and text components are aligned temporally. In another aspect, cue points delineating a start and/or end of a multimedia segment are found. In another aspect, a user can search for a multimedia segment and either read the text feed or listen to the audio feed.

Abstract: A method retrieves a multi-media segment from a signal stream having an audio component and a closed caption component. This includes separating the audio component and the closed caption text component from the signal stream, generating an audio pattern representative of the start of the multi-media segment, locating the audio pattern in the audio component, and temporally aligning the text from the closed caption text component with the audio pattern in the audio component. Locating the audio pattern in the audio component includes retrieving text from the closed caption text component; and comparing the text against one or more keywords delimiting the multi-media segment. Once located, the multi-media segment may be played on-demand. In addition, an apparatus retrieves a multi-media segment from a signal stream, the signal stream having an audio component and a closed caption text component.