Abstract: When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

Abstract: A computing system that identifies a media stream that a media client is processing for presentation determines which frame format of the media stream the media client is processing for presentation. And the computing system uses that determined frame format as a basis to facilitate dynamic content modification. For instance, based on then determined frame format, the computing system could work to ensure that replacement or overlay content that the media client obtains to facilitate dynamic content modification of the media stream is of that determined frame format. Further or alternatively, based on the determined frame format, the computing system could work to ensure that the media client gets provisioned with reference fingerprints of that particular frame format of the media stream, for use to facilitate client-side fingerprint matching to confirm that the media stream continues to be identified media stream.

Abstract: When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media content matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match, a server or other entity will perform disambiguation based on a determination that a segment of the fingerprint data matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, such as a reference fingerprint representing commercial or news programming content specific to just the single channel. The server or other entity will thereby determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving, so as to facilitate taking channel-specific action.

Abstract: When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

Abstract: A computing system will compare various reference fingerprints each representing a reference media stream broadcast on a different respective known channel, and the computing system will determine that a plurality of the reference fingerprints match each other, thus defining a multi-match group of the matching reference fingerprints. Further, the computing system will determine that a query fingerprint representing a media stream being rendered by a media presentation device matches the multi-match group, thus raising a question of which channel is carrying the media stream that is being rendered by the media presentation device. By considering one or more attributes of the query fingerprint, the server may then disambiguate and thereby determine the channel at issue, and the server may in turn take channel-specific action.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where a video fingerprint of media content matches multiple reference video fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Given such a multi-match situation, an entity could disambiguate based on an audio component of the media content, such as by further determining that an audio fingerprint of the media content at issue matches an audio fingerprint of just one of the multiple channels, thereby establishing that that is the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media content matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match, a server or other entity will perform disambiguation based on a determination that a segment of the fingerprint data matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, such as a reference fingerprint representing commercial or news programming content specific to just the single channel. The server or other entity will thereby determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving, so as to facilitate taking channel-specific action.

Abstract: A computing system that identifies a media stream that a media client is processing for presentation determines which frame format of the media stream the media client is processing for presentation. And the computing system uses that determined frame format as a basis to facilitate dynamic content modification. For instance, based on then determined frame format, the computing system could work to ensure that replacement or overlay content that the media client obtains to facilitate dynamic content modification of the media stream is of that determined frame format. Further or alternatively, based on the determined frame format, the computing system could work to ensure that the media client gets provisioned with reference fingerprints of that particular frame format of the media stream, for use to facilitate client-side fingerprint matching to confirm that the media stream continues to be identified media stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media content matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match, a server or other entity will perform disambiguation based on a determination that a segment of the fingerprint data matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, such as a reference fingerprint representing commercial or news programming content specific to just the single channel. The server or other entity will thereby determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving, so as to facilitate taking channel-specific action.

Abstract: When a device is playing out a media stream, the device determines a target time at which the device is to start playing out replacement content in place of a portion of the media stream. However, the device then detects that a starting time when the device starts playout of the replacement content is delayed from the target time by a delay period of duration P. In response, the device then reduces its playout of the replacement content by duration P, to help playout of the replacement content end at a desired time. For instance, the device could seek forward in playout of the replacement content by duration P and/or could remove one or more other portions of the replacement content to total a reduction of duration P.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems involving location-based disambiguation of media channel identification, in a scenario where a fingerprint of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different media channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match situation, a server or other entity will use a location of the media presentation device as a basis to disambiguate between the matching reference fingerprints and thus to determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

Abstract: When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match, a server or other entity will perform disambiguation based at least in part on a comparison of time of broadcast of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device with time of broadcast of the media content represented by the reference fingerprints. The server or other entity will thereby determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving, so as to facilitate taking channel-specific action.

Abstract: When a device is playing out a first media stream, the device determines a target time for beginning playout of a second media stream in place of the first media stream. The device then starts a stream-transition process that is expected to take anywhere from a minimum expected transition duration to a maximum expected transition duration, and the device starts the transition process in advance of the determined target time by the maximum expected transition duration, to help ensure timely starting of playout of the second media stream. Further, for an uncertainty period that extends from the minimum expected transition duration after the starting to the maximum expected transition duration after the starting, the device generates and plays a sequence of transition frames to help mask transition from the first media stream to the second media stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where a video fingerprint of media content matches multiple reference video fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Given such a multi-match situation, an entity could disambiguate based on an audio component of the media content, such as by further determining that an audio fingerprint of the media content at issue matches an audio fingerprint of just one of the multiple channels, thereby establishing that that is the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where a video fingerprint of media content matches multiple reference video fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Given such a multi-match situation, an entity could disambiguate based on an audio component of the media content, such as by further determining that an audio fingerprint of the media content at issue matches an audio fingerprint of just one of the multiple channels, thereby establishing that that is the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems involving location-based disambiguation of media channel identification, in a scenario where a fingerprint of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different media channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match situation, a server or other entity will use a location of the media presentation device as a basis to disambiguate between the matching reference fingerprints and thus to determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help disambiguate channel identification in a scenario where fingerprint data of media content matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match, a server or other entity will perform disambiguation based on a determination that a segment of the fingerprint data matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, such as a reference fingerprint representing commercial or news programming content specific to just the single channel. The server or other entity will thereby determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving, so as to facilitate taking channel-specific action.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems involving location-based disambiguation of media channel identification, in a scenario where a fingerprint of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints corresponding respectively with multiple different media channels. Upon detecting such a multi-match situation, a server or other entity will use a location of the media presentation device as a basis to disambiguate between the matching reference fingerprints and thus to determine the channel on which the media content being rendered by the media presentation device is arriving.