Abstract: A device for verifying the integrity of an item of data displayed on a display device controlled by a video controller, the video controller being connected to the display device by an appropriate connection and transmitting to it a video signal including an input interface which allows the device to be connected at a branch of the connection between the video controller and the display device, a reconstruction device which is capable, from the derived video signal, of reconstructing an image corresponding to the image displayed on the display device; an analysis device which is capable of extracting an item of reconstructed data from the reconstructed image, a comparison device which is capable of comparing the reconstructed data with a reference value of the item of data to be displayed and an alarm means which is capable of activating a malfunction alarm in accordance with the result at the output of the comparison device.

Abstract: A method and arrangements at a multimedia distribution network for estimating a present user constellation of a household are suggested. A sequence of textual descriptors that are associated with a multimedia sequence that is presently provided to the household is monitored. By acquiring a set of parameters of a statistical model that is based on textual descriptors that have previously been provided to the household, and by estimating a present user constellation by correlating the sequence of textual descriptors with the parameters of the statistical model, the estimated information may be used for customization of content that is provided to the household.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detecting new events in a video stream that yield improved detection efficiency in real time. For example, a method determines whether a given event is a new event in a video stream. The video stream includes a plurality of events. A first step extracts a first set of features (e.g., text features) from the given event. The first set of features is computationally less expensive to process as compared to a second set of features (e.g., image features) associated with the given event. A second step computes one or more first dissimilarity values between the given event and one or more previous events in the video stream using only the first set of features when one or more first dissimilarity criteria exist. A third step determines whether the given event is a new event based on the one or more computed first dissimilarity values.

Abstract: Systems, methods and/or techniques for synchronization of dial testing and audience response utilizing automatic content recognition (ACR) are described. Synchronized dial testing and audience response techniques may utilize a system that is operable to perform ACR and that may implement an abstraction layer. An ACR system may be operable to detect a desired portion (e.g., a frame or scene) of a program that is streaming or communicated over a live network or broadcast feed, to a smart TV for example. Synchronized dial testing and audience response techniques may be employed to initiate an interactive event or application that appears on a smart TV in response to a detected point or portion of a program, such that the content presented by the application is synchronized to the content of the live network or broadcast feed.

Abstract: A method of surveying watching image content, and a broadcast receiving apparatus and server employing the same are provided. The method includes displaying image contents on a screen; capturing and storing signature images of the image contents; and in response to receipt of a query, comprising a target image of image contents to be surveyed, from an external server, determining whether one of the stored signature images is identical to the target image, and transmitting a result of the determining to the external server.

Abstract: An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to identify, utilizing an ACR system, content in a presented program. An event category related to the identified content may be identified by the ACR-enabled connected device utilizing the ACR system. The ACR-enabled connected device may determine, utilizing the ACR system, whether to present an overlay associated with the event category, based on a user profile associated with the ACR-enabled connected device. The overlay for viewer interaction may be presented, based on the determination, by the ACR-enabled connected device utilizing the ACR system. The user profile may comprise information on categories of events that may be preferred by the viewer. The user profile may be determined based on input from the viewer. The user profile may also be determined based on viewing history and/or behavior associated with the ACR-enabled connected device.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.

Abstract: Provided is a reception device including a reception part configured to receive first content, a feature amount extraction part configured to extract a feature amount from data of the received first content, an identification result acquisition part configured to acquire an identification result for the first content identified using the extracted feature amount, a command acquisition part configured to acquire a command for controlling an operation of changing over between the first content and second content different from the first content depending on the acquired identification result, and a control part configured to control an operation of changing over from the first content to the second content in response to the acquired command.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify media content using temporal signal characteristics are disclosed. An example method to identify media content includes generating a first signature based on a media content signal, the first signature comprising a plurality of first normalized features, each normalized feature corresponding to a signal peak and located at a temporal location of the signal peak in the audio signal, correlating the first signature to a reference signature comprising second normalized features to obtain an index, and determining that the first signature represents the same media content as the reference signature when the index is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A multimedia system may include at least one audio comment input device configured to permit at least one commentator to generate audio comment data based upon viewing video data from a video source. Furthermore, a media processor may cooperate with the at least one audio comment input device and be configured to process video source data and audio comment data and generate therefrom audio trigger markers synchronized with the video source data for predetermined audio triggers in the audio comment data, and combine the video source data, the audio comment data, and the audio trigger markers into a media data stream.

Abstract: A tool is provided that may allow a user to create unique content for a media item such as a movie. A movie may be received. An indication of an object in the movie may be received from an author. Supplemental content for the object in the movie may be received as may be an interactivity data. The interactivity data may specify a manner by which a user may interact with the movie using a device such as a camera and/or a microphone. The movie may be encoded to include the interactivity data and/or supplemental content.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting a percentage of an advertisement played by a smart appliance is disclosed. The server receives data from a smart appliance. The server detects a marker in the data corresponding to a segment of an advertisement of a session played by the smart appliance. The server maps the marker to a percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance. The server reports the percentage played of the advertisement in the session by the smart appliance to at least one tracking element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing augmented broadcast content. The apparatus includes: a broadcast content receiving unit configured to receive broadcast content and a first reference signal from a broadcast content provider, the first reference signal including information used to recognize a target object in the broadcast content and composite the broadcast content and augmented content associated with the target object; an object identifying unit configured to identify the target object in the broadcast content by analyzing the broadcast content using an image or sound analysis algorithm with reference to the first reference signal; an augmented content acquiring unit configured to acquire the augmented content associated with the target object; and an augmented content compositing unit configured to composite the acquired augmented content into an augmentation region determined based on the first reference signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for attacking digital watermarks are provided. A system or apparatus may include at least one interface and at least one processing component. The at least one interface may be configured to receive digital content output by a service reception device. The service reception device may be configured to receive the digital content from a service provider prior to the receipt of the digital content by the at least one interface. The at least one processing component may be configured to attack a digital watermark incorporated into the digital content.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods and computer program products respond to real-time piracy of broadcast streams. One method includes receiving requests from a requesting device for a plurality segments of a real-time content, where at least one of the requested content segments differs from another segment of the plurality of segments in at least one characteristic. In response to the request, a particular version of the requested segments is transmitted to the requesting device such that a unique sequence of the transmitted segments identifies the requesting device or a user or a transaction. A communication network is then monitored to obtain a disseminated version of the real-time content, and based on the at least one characteristic of the obtained real-time content, it is determined if the real-time content includes the unique sequence of segments, and if so, one or more actions are initiated to thwart further dissemination of the real-time content.

Abstract: An audio/video monitoring system is disclosed, comprising a combination of one or more set-top boxes and application servers in a service provider's network. The set-top boxes and applications services are part of a multiple services operator's (MSO) network, such as that of a cable company. Cameras and/or microphones which are directly connected to a set-top box are the sources of media signals, which the set-top box transmits to an application server. The application server continually receives the media signals from one or more set-top boxes, and determines which subset of the received media signals to forward to a selected output device, such as a television connected to another set-top box or a cellular telephone. The application server then forwards media signals of interest to the output device, such as when motion or a loud noise is detected in a media signal received from the set-top box or boxes.

Abstract: A method for collecting advertisement viewer information includes receiving a signal carrying a television advertisement, reading viewing data associated with the advertisement from a computer readable storage medium, compiling a matrix code including the viewing data for inclusion in the advertisement and scanning by a viewer, and transmitting the advertisement with the matrix code to a presentation device for display. A system for including advertisement viewer information in a matrix code is also described.

Abstract: A text content summary is created from speech content. A focus more signal is issued by a user while receiving the speech content. The focus more signal is associated with a time window, and the time window is associated with a part of the speech content. It is determined whether to use the part of the speech content associated with the time window to generate a text content summary based on a number of the focus more signals that are associated with the time window. The user may express relative significance to different portions of speech content, so as to generate a personal text content summary.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to present media content at a presentation device as directed by a user, monitor the media content consumed by the user, detect a first behavioral pattern based on the media content consumed by the user, transmit the detected first behavioral pattern to a communication device of the user, receive from the communication device a second behavioral pattern, and identify media content correlating to the second behavioral pattern. The communication device can be adapted to adjust communication operations according to the detected first behavioral pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Automated acquisition of content including digital media for a device. A device such as a satellite radio can discover content from multiple data stream sources. The device then receives input from a user selecting or identifying specific content to acquire. The device, upon detecting an appropriate network that enables the device to communicate with a remote service or media repository, requests the content using a portion of the specific content such as metadata. The device then receives the content from the service or from the media repository. Often the received content is a higher quality version of the content whereas the portion of the content stored by the device may be lower quality. The user is notified after the content has been acquired.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products are provided to facilitate enhanced use and interaction with multimedia content using a variety of content identification techniques. After identifying a content that is being presented by a first device, the content identification information is used to retrieve and present a second content that would render at least a portion of the first content comprehensible to particular users or audience of the first content. The second content can be tailored to accommodate physical disabilities or special needs of a user or a group of users.

Abstract: A media system, receives a received sequence of media content, for presentation at the media system and generates a comparison fingerprint of the received sequence of media content. The comparison fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the received sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for identification of additional content to a server system. The request is based at least in part on the comparison fingerprint. The media system receives a response to the request, including information enabling additional content to be selected for display at the media system based at least in part on the identification of the received sequence of media content, and presents a displayed sequence of media content that includes at least a portion of the received sequence of media content and at least a portion of the additional content.

Abstract: An automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device may be operable to present, utilizing an ACR system, an overlay during presentation of content, based on one or more rules. The one or more rules may be implemented utilizing information provided by the ACR system. The presented overlay may be associated with a sponsor, and the one or more rules may comprise a timing rule, an advertisement separation rule, an advertisement conflict rule and/or an auto-scaling rule. An ad server coupled to the ACR system may determine whether the overlay associated with the sponsor may be appropriate for presentation. The presented overlay may comprise interactive content for viewer interaction, and the one or more rules may comprise a viewer interaction rule which ensures that, when the interactive overlay is presented, the presented content may be scaled so that the scaled presented content is not covered by the overlay.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving one or more transmitted frame identifiers that are mathematical representations of one or more transmitted video frames included within a multi-frame video. One or more video frames included within the multi-frame video are received, thus defining one or more received video frames. A mathematical representation of each of the one or more received video frames is generated, thus defining one or more received frame identifiers. The one or more received frame identifiers are compared to the one or more transmitted frame identifiers to determine a level of similarity between the one or more received video frames and the one or more transmitted video frames.

Abstract: A method for customizing a user communication experience is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a user communication input and determining one or more communication input characteristics. Thereafter, one or more advertisements are provided to the user in accordance with the user communication input and the one or more determined communication characteristics.

Abstract: Media monitoring using multiple types of signatures is disclosed. Example media monitoring methods disclosed herein include reporting media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device, the media signatures of the first type being generated by a device meter from a sensed signal. Disclosed example media monitoring methods also include, after receiving an indication that a first media signature of the first type is associated with first reference media, generating media signatures of a second type, different from the first type, from the sensed signal to continue monitoring the media presented by the media device. Disclosed example media monitoring methods further include, in response to detecting that a source of the media presented by the media device has changed, generating the media signatures of the first type to continue monitoring the media presented by the media device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including: receiving a broadcast media sequence; comparing broadcast media sequence and a reference media sequence; generating broadcast information related to the broadcast media sequence based on the comparison of the broadcast media sequence and the reference media sequence; and providing interactivity related to the broadcast media sequence to at least one viewer based on the broadcast information.

Abstract: A method for tracking user behavior includes providing multiple frames from a source to an electronic device, automatically capturing one of the multiple frames viewed on a display device connected to the electronic device based on an event, matching a pattern of the captured frame with a frame template by searching a plurality of frame templates, using the matched frame template to extract information from the captured frame, and storing the extracted information for tracking user behavior.

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: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify companion media interaction. An example method includes identifying primary media corresponding to a primary media presentation generated by a primary media device of an environment. The example method also includes determining whether secondary media corresponding to secondary media device usage in the environment is related to the primary media.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to discriminate between linear and non-linear media are disclosed An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiving apparatus and a method for providing broadcasting signal relation information are provided. The broadcasting receiving apparatus, which accesses a server through a network, includes a broadcasting signal receiver which receives a broadcasting signal; a channel identifier which identifies a change of a channel of the broadcasting signal, generates a fingerprint corresponding to the broadcasting signal of the changed channel, and receives identification information of the changed channel from a matching server based on the generated fingerprint; and a relevant information provider which receives conditional information that indicates a condition for receiving relevant information of the broadcasting signal if the channel is changed, receives the relevant information based on the conditional information and displays the received relevant information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.

Abstract: Techniques are described to employ image recognition techniques to content. In an implementation, one or more images are identified in content using a signature derived from the one or more images. Metadata associated with the content is then supplemented based on the identified one or more images.

Abstract: A device that handles operations for automatic content recognition detects utilizing the automatic content recognition (ACR) operations, a conflict when a first overlay and a second overlay are concurrently presented on a channel on the device. The device may modify the presentation of the first overlay and/or the second overlay for the channel based on the detection. The device utilizes the ACR operations to determine an identity of the channel based on a unique identifier such as a channel logo. The device utilizes the ACR operations to determine a location where the first overlay and/or the second overlay is presented based on the channel identity and may relocate the first overlay and/or the second overlay from the determined location to a new location. If the conflict is detected, the device may be resize, defer or cancel presentation of one of the first overlay and/or the second overlay for the channel.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a transport stream, the transport stream including a content identifier associated with an instance of media content. The method further includes receiving a monitoring request that specifies at least one instance of media content. The method further includes determining if the specified instance of media content is currently being experienced by a user. If the specified instance of media content is currently being experienced by a user, then the method includes developing a set of interaction data by analyzing the user's interaction with the specified instance of media content in part by monitoring commands received from a control device, and providing the set of interaction data to another device.

Abstract: Media content quick speed presentation systems and methods are operable to present selected portions of a media content stream at a quick speed presentation rate. An exemplary embodiment receives the media content stream; identifies a normal speed scene in the received media content, wherein the normal speed scene is presented at a normal speed presentation rate; and identifies a quick speed scene in the received media content, wherein the quick speed scene is presented at a quick speed presentation rate.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a software agent, an electronic device, a display, and a content management system. The electronic device accesses the software agent and interprets it with a software application, such as a web browser. Embedded within the software agent is a playback system, which dictates content to be shown, and a monitoring system, which collects logging and status data. At least some of the content is stored on the electronic device prior to display, and at least some of the logging and status data is stored on the electronic device prior to being transferred to the content management system.

Abstract: A method and system for a synchronous event manager for automatic content recognition (ACR) are described. A display device, such as a connected television or mobile device, may be operable to perform ACR and may utilize a synchronous event manager comprising a software layer that may continuously be executed as a background process. The software layer may comprise a single framework or framework from which to execute one or more user-interaction applications. The software layer may monitor internal and external events and may detect an event trigger produced in response to a match resulting from the ACR. After receiving a user-interaction application corresponding to the detected event trigger, the software layer may launch or invoke the user-interaction application from the single framework. In some instances, multiple user-interaction applications may be launched concurrently from the single framework. These user-interaction applications may interface with each other through the single framework.

Abstract: System and method for automatically recognizing media contents comprise steps of capturing media content from the Internet and/or devices, extracting fingerprints from captured contents and transferring to the backend servers for identification, and backend servers processing the fingerprints and replying with identified result.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for locating and processing QR codes or other Scannable Icons (SI's) in video or television signals. A number of client elements (which may correspond to users) may be in communication of one or more control elements; the client elements may be found in user set top boxes, digital video recorders or other equipment employed to receive video or television signals. The control elements may be found in software in server platforms or such user equipment. The client elements may locate and decode SI's according to various areas of interest of users. The control elements may control which client elements monitor various video or television signals; receive information related to decoded SI's; and report information to client elements so that (among other things) users can be aware of SI's in far more video or television signals than their own client elements are able to monitor.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining regression coefficients that quantify a relationship between premises feedback and first network and premises performance indicators, obtaining second network performance indicators for the network elements, obtaining second premises performance indicators for the customer premises equipment, and predicting customer complaints by applying the obtained regression coefficients to at least the second network performance indicators and the second premises performance indicators. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for program information discovery is described. A method and a device for generating and inserting a watermark for such program information discovery into a program signal to be rendered are disclosed, along with the corresponding method and device for watermark detection and decoding from the rendered program signals. Watermark, which carries channel/program information, is encoded and embedded at the set top box where the program streams are received and decoded for rendering. Second screen devices are employed for watermark detection and decoding by capturing the render program signals which has the watermark embedded. The extracted watermark information may be sent to information servers for more detailed channel/program information.

Abstract: Example methods disclosed herein to identify media sources include determining whether a first time difference between a first meter signature and a second meter signature associated with presented media is equivalent to a second time difference between a first reference signature determined to match the first meter signature and a second reference signature determined to match the second meter signature, the first and second reference signatures being associated with a first one of a plurality of media sources. Such example methods also include, in response to determining that the first time difference and the second time difference are equivalent, appending the second reference signature to a first tracking segment associated with the first one of the media sources to cause a first time length associated with the first tracking segment to be increased based on at least a respective timestamp associated with the second reference signature.

Abstract: A system and a method for playing a photograph-based game are provided. The method includes establishing a communication link between a game playing system and one or more game playing devices, each of which is operated by a respective player. Game rules are presented to the player(s) on the respective game playing device(s). The game rules include at least one task for the submission of at least one photographic image. Provision is made for receiving a photographic image in the game playing system which has been submitted via the established link from the game playing device in response to the presented task. An image signature is computed for the submitted photographic image based on visual features extracted from the image and a relevance to the task is computed, based on the computed image signature. A score for the game is output for each player, based on the computed relevance of the submitted images for each of the tasks.

Abstract: A method for interpreting messages, user-defined alert conditions, voice commands and performing an action in response is described. A method for annotating media content is described. A method for presenting additional content associated with media content identified based on a fingerprint is described. A method for identifying that an advertisement portion of media content is being played based on a fingerprint derived from the media content is described. A method of one media device recording particular media content automatically in response to another media device recording the particular media content is described. A method of concurrently playing media content on multiple devices is described. A method of publishing information associated with recording of media content is described. A method of deriving fingerprints by media devices that meet an idleness criteria is described. A method of loading, modifying, and displaying a high definition frame from a frame buffer is described.

Abstract: Technologies are disclosed for enabling users to comprehensively determine their exposures to media and to receive services based thereon. For example, an application can be executed on a computing device associated with a user. The application can continuously monitor audio data that the computing device is exposed to and can generate digital signatures thereof. The digital signatures can be transmitted to a server that comprises a database of reference digital signatures and circuitry configured to compare and match the received digital signatures and the reference digital signatures. When a match is found, the server retrieves information associated with the matched reference digital signature and returns, to the device, the retrieved information. The server can also concatenate matches associated with data received from a plurality of computing devices and provide the concatenated data to a third party, who in turn, returns services to the users based on the received data.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system for synchronizing an advertisement stream on a mobile device with the contents of a video source that includes audio data. In one example, the method includes receiving a mobile device identifier of a mobile device of the at least one user; receiving a television event identifier from the television platform, wherein the television event identifier is associated with a television event included in the television program content; selecting marketing information associated with the television event based on the television event identifier, wherein the television event identifier and the mobile device identifier are usable by the network server to determine that the television program content is provided to the at least one user associated with the mobile device; and transmitting a message that includes the marketing information from the network server to the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enforce a power off state of an audience measurement device during shipping of the device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing, a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data, and a packaging sensor to receive an audio signal. A packaging detector generates a frequency spectrum of the detected audio signal, determines an energy of a first frequency associated with the generated frequency spectrum, determines an energy of a second frequency higher than the first frequency and associated with the generated frequency spectrum, and compares the difference between the energy of the first frequency and the second frequency to a muffling threshold to determine whether the device is located within a package.

Abstract: A data driven test system for web service or other service dependent on message exchange between service points or other communicating entities is contemplated. The testing system may be configured as a multi-stage tester having capabilities to conduct sequence, structure, and content test in order to narrowly identify errors of service points while subjected to a test protocol.