Abstract: Provided are devices, computer-program products, and methods for removing redundant data associated with frames. For example, a method can include receiving an initial frame, determining initial cue data for the initial frame, and sending the initial cue data to a server. The method can further include receiving a new frame and determining new cue data for the new frame. The method can further include identifying a pixel value range. The method can further include determining a pixel value difference between an initial pixel data sample and a new pixel data sample. The method can further include determining the pixel value difference is within the pixel value range and updating the new cue data by removing the new pixel data sample from the new cue data when the pixel value difference is within the pixel value range. The method can further include sending the updated new cue data to the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a media segment of audio or video content are disclosed. The video segment is identified by deriving data from media content and comparing said data to a reference database in order to identify said video segment. Embodiments of the invention improve the speed and accuracy of the media identification process by advantageously partitioning the indexes in subdivisions where high value reference information is separated from the bulk information, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing resource utilization of an automated content recognition (ACR) system by delaying the identification of certain large quantities of media cue data are disclosed. The delayed identification of the media may be for the purpose of, for example, generating usage statistics or other non-time critical work flow, among other non-real-time uses. In addition, real-time identification of a certain subset of media cue data is performed for the purposes of video program substitution, interactive television opportunities or other time-specific events.

Abstract: Provided are devices, computer-program products, and methods for improved management of system resources in a matching system. For example, examples can increase the efficiency of system resource utilization by managing the duration that data related to video segments are retained based on data that takes into account an identified popularity of a video segment. The identified popularity can be determined by algorithms that take into account numbers of viewers who watched the video segment, ratings of the video segment, metrics derived from remote sources, or any other factor that can indicate likelihood that the video segment will be viewed.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for identifying unknown content. For example, a number of vectors out of a plurality of vectors projected from an origin point can be determined that are between a reference data point and an unknown data point. The number of vectors can be used to estimate an angle between a first vector (from the origin point to a reference data point) and a second vector (from the origin point to an unknown data point). A distance between the reference data point and the unknown data point can then be determined. Using the determined distance, candidate data points can be determined from a set of reference data points. The candidate data points can be analyzed to identify the unknown data point.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program utilize a distance associative hashing algorithmic means to provide a highly efficient means to rapidly address a large database. The indexing means can be readily subdivided into a plurality of independently-addressable segments where each such segment can address a portion of related data of the database where the sub-divided indexes of said portions reside entirely in the main memory of each of a multiplicity of server means. The resulting cluster of server means, each hosting an addressable sector of a larger database of searchable audio or video information, provides a significant improvement in the latency and scalability of an Automatic Content Recognition system, among other uses.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for identifying a video segment displayed on a screen of a remote television system, and providing an option to switch to an alternative or related version of the video program that includes the video segment. For example, video segments displayed on a screen of a television system can be identified, and contextually-targeted content or contextually-related alternative content can be provided to a television system based on the identification of a video segment. The alternative or related version of the video program can include the currently displayed program in an on-demand format that can be viewed off-line and can be started over from a beginning portion of the program.

Abstract: A real-time content identification and tracking system enabling monitoring of television programming consumption specific to an individual television or other viewing device. Metrics collected may include data regarding viewing of specific broadcast media, commercial messages, interactive on-screen information or other programming, as well as locally cached, time-shifted programming. Information about media consumption by such specific television sets or other viewing means may be returned to a commercial client of the system through a trusted third-party intermediary service and, in certain embodiments, encoded tokens may be used to manage the display of certain events as well as to enable robust auditing of each involved party's contractual performance.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program utilize a distance associative hashing algorithmic means to provide a highly efficient means to rapidly address a large database. The indexing means can be readily subdivided into a plurality of independently-addressable segments where each such segment can address a portion of related data of the database where the sub-divided indexes of said portions reside entirely in the main memory of each of a multiplicity of server means. The resulting cluster of server means, each hosting an addressable sector of a larger database of searchable audio or video information, provides a significant improvement in the latency and scalability of an Automatic Content Recognition system, among other uses.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for resolving false positives in a centralized, real-time automatic content recognition system that is ingesting, fingerprinting, and attempting to match for recognition purposes, multiple streams of broadcast content that are simultaneously arriving from a plurality of sources. In particular, the problem of identifying which specific broadcast of certain programming has been matched, including the episode of a series, as well as the channel, time zone and time of broadcast and whether the programming is being watched “live” as broadcast or from a DVR time-shifted source, is addressed. This system and method enables the processing means of any connected TV viewing means to synchronize with a regional automated content recognition (ACR) center with regard to displaying at the correct time certain supplemental information or other media that may be associated with certain programming.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for detecting locally-generated or other unknown graphics that are superimposed on a video program displayed on a television receiver or other like device. Devices external to a television receiver, such as a cable or satellite set-top box, can generate logos, electronic program guides, or other images that are then graphically overlaid on the television signal emanating from the device to the television's display. The system and method described herein provides a means to detect the presence of such on-screen graphics both to detect and identify graphical information and to also enable automated resolution of any interference among or between a plurality of video graphic sub-systems.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that improve the efficiency and performance of an Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system. Several approaches are described that may be used alone or in combination to reduce total system computational costs related to the manner in which such an ACR means takes samples, called “fingerprints,” of digital content being played by a television display device and transmits said fingerprints to a remote server to be compared to a database of fingerprints from known programming. Methods are described for implementing such system performance enhancement including varying sampling rates and other resolution metrics during the process of creating such fingerprints and transmitting them to the database server. The system and method disclosed also describes how to reduce the probability that, when compared to samples from already-identified programming, such fingerprints are incorrectly identified as being of programming other than that which they are in fact derived from.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program utilize a distance associative hashing algorithmic means to provide a highly efficient means to rapidly address a large database. The indexing means can be readily subdivided into a plurality of independently-addressable segments where each such segment can address a portion of related data of the database where the sub-divided indexes of said portions reside entirely in the main memory of each of a multiplicity of server means. The resulting cluster of server means, each hosting an addressable sector of a larger database of searchable audio or video information, provides a significant improvement in the latency and scalability of an Automatic Content Recognition system, among other uses.

Abstract: A system and method for the identification of specific video segments in a video program, such as certain TV commercials, is presented. A means is described for an accelerated identification of the video segment of interest in conjunction with a means to communicate said information to a process in a remote television system such that the remote television system can anticipate the future start of said video segment of interest and display contextually related material in close proximity to the start of said video segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying which video segment is being displayed on a screen of a television system. The video segment is identified by deriving date from the television signals, the derived data being indicative of the video segment being displayed on file screen. This feature can be used to extract a viewer's reaction (such as changing the channel) to a specific video segment (such as an advertisement) and reporting the extracted information as metrics. The systems and methods may further provide contextually targeted content to the television system. The contextual targeting is based on not only identification of the video segment being displayed, hut also a determination concerning the playing time or offset time of the particular portion of the video segment being currently displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for the automated real-time detection and processing of commercial messages, public service announcements or similar short-duration, repeated TV programming segments occurring in one or more broadcast video steams is described. A process is utilized that identifies possible commercial segments by identifying discrete video segments that have specific short durations among other attributes. Video segments that appear to have these characteristics are considered likely to be television commercials, promotions, or public service announcements and are stored in a TV Ad database which is separate from the primary television content database. Incoming video from a plurality of television programming sources is process into fingerprints and placed in a master TV content database. At the same time, said incoming programming is tested for matches in a TV ad database. If a match is found, then the presumed TV ad is removed from the master content database.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying which video segment is being displayed on a screen of a television system. The video segment is identified by deriving data from the television signals, the derived data being indicative of the video segment being displayed on the screen. This feature can be used to extract a viewer's reaction (such as changing the channel) to a specific video segment (such as an advertisement) and reporting the extracted information as metrics. The systems and methods may further provide contextually targeted content to the television system. The contextual targeting is based on not only identification of the video segment being displayed, but also a determination concerning the playing time or offset time of the particular portion of the video segment being currently displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for the automated real-time detection and processing of commercial messages, public service announcements or similar short-duration, repeated TV programming segments occurring in one or more broadcast video steams is described. A process is utilized that identifies possible commercial segments by identifying discrete video segments that have specific short durations among other attributes. Video segments that appear to have these characteristics are considered likely to be television commercials, promotions, or public service announcements and are stored in a TV Ad database which is separate from the primary television content database. Incoming video from a plurality of television programming sources is process into fingerprints and placed in a master TV content database. At the same time, said incoming programming is tested for matches in a TV ad database. If a match is found, then the presumed TV ad is removed from the master content database.

Abstract: A system and method for the identification of specific video segments in a video program, such as certain TV commercials, is presented. A means is described for an accelerated identification of the video segment of interest in conjunction with a means to communicate said information to a process in a remote television system such that the remote television system can anticipate the future start of said video segment of interest and display contextually related material in close proximity to the start of said video segment.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for detecting locally-generated or other unknown graphics that are superimposed on a video program displayed on a television receiver or other like device. Devices external to a television receiver, such as a cable or satellite set-top box, can generate logos, electronic program guides, or other images that are then graphically overlaid on the television signal emanating from the device to the television's display. The system and method described herein provides a means to detect the presence of such on-screen graphics both to detect and identify graphical information and to also enable automated resolution of any interference among or between a plurality of video graphic sub-systems.