Fingerprint Matching with Broadcast Schedules for Content Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content distribution systems lack the ability to efficiently modify content, such as advertisements, in real-time to better target end-users based on their interests or demographics, leading to suboptimal viewer engagement.

Innovation Solution

A content-modification system that utilizes fingerprint matching and broadcast schedule data to identify opportunities for modifying content, such as replacing or overlaying advertisements, by integrating a fingerprint-matching server, content-distribution system, content-presentation device, and supplemental-content delivery system to facilitate targeted content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is distributed using traditional broadcast systems, then content delivery is simple and reliable, but content cannot be modified in real-time to target specific user demographics or interests

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent targeting capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments content into identifiable portions using fingerprinting technology, allowing specific segments (such as advertisements) to be targeted for modification while leaving the rest of the content unchanged. This enables precise content targeting without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A content modification system acts as an intermediary between the broadcast content delivery system and the user. This intermediary system includes fingerprint-matching servers, content presentation devices, and supplemental content delivery systems that work together to enable real-time content modification without disrupting the underlying simple broadcast infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If content modification systems are implemented, then real-time content customization is enabled, but system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent modification efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary fingerprinting of content segments and pre-identifies modification opportunities before actual content delivery. By pre-processing content to create fingerprint databases and identify targetable segments, the system reduces real-time processing requirements while maintaining high modification efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex real-time content analysis with fingerprint-matching technology, which uses pre-computed content signatures for rapid identification. This substitution of mechanical content analysis with fingerprint-based recognition significantly reduces processing complexity while maintaining high productivity in content modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If fingerprint matching is used to identify content segments, then precise content identification is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent identification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates fingerprint copies or representations of content segments that can be rapidly matched without processing the actual content. These fingerprint copies serve as simplified proxies that maintain identification accuracy while dramatically reducing processing time and computational resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Loss of information

If broadcast schedule data is integrated, then content modification opportunities are accurately identified, but data integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast schedule informationVSAvoiddata integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The content modification system is designed to work with multiple data sources including broadcast schedules, fingerprint databases, and content delivery systems through standardized interfaces. This multi-functional design allows the system to integrate broadcast schedule data without requiring separate specialized systems for each data type, reducing overall integration complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4005221B1Content-modification system with broadcast schedule utilization feature

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 ROKU INC

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AI summary

In one aspect, a method includes (i) receiving query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by a content-distribution system on a channel; (ii) comparing the received query fingerprint data with multiple reference fingerprint data sets, wherein each of the multiple reference fingerprint data sets corresponds with a different respective content segment; (iii) based on the comparing, detecting a respective match between the received query fingerprint data and reference fingerprint data in each of the multiple reference fingerprint data sets; (iv) accessing broadcast-schedule data associated with the channel; (v) using the accessed broadcast-schedule data to identify which one of the different respective content segments is being transmitted by the content-distribution system on the channel, thereby identifying a corresponding upcoming content modification opportunity on the channel; and (vi) performing an action to facilitate performing a content modification operation related to the identified upcoming content-modification opportunity on the channel.