Character-Based Media Search Through Image Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional media discovery mechanisms are heavily text-focused, making it difficult for users to easily find media content featuring specific characters or entities beyond primary program elements.

Innovation Solution

Implement character- and entity-based search and discovery techniques that utilize image recognition and voice recognition algorithms to identify and tag media segments, allowing users to select images or entities to trigger immediate playback or search for relevant media content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If text-focused search mechanisms are used, then search functionality is provided, but user ability to find character-specific content is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of finding character-specific contentVSAvoidcharacter identification capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces character images as an intermediary between the user and media content. Instead of directly searching through text descriptions, users interact with character images that serve as visual mediators. The system processes these image inputs through recognition algorithms to identify and retrieve relevant media segments featuring the depicted characters, thereby resolving the limitation of text-focused search mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional text-based mechanical search operations with image-based recognition systems. Rather than requiring users to manually input text queries and navigate through text results, the system substitutes this mechanical text-processing approach with automated image recognition and character identification algorithms that can visually detect and search for character-specific content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional text-based program guides are used, then navigation to programs is enabled, but character-based discovery is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery capabilityVSAvoidsystem functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances the program guide system to perform multiple functions: traditional text-based navigation and new character-based discovery. The system maintains existing text search capabilities while adding image recognition and character identification functionalities. This multi-functionality allows the same system to serve both conventional program navigation and innovative character-specific content discovery without requiring separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the media content database by character entities, creating character-specific indexes and metadata structures alongside traditional program-based organization. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently retrieve content based on character identity rather than requiring full-text searches through all program descriptions, thereby enabling character-based discovery while maintaining the existing program guide structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If image recognition algorithms are implemented, then character-based search is enabled, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter identification accuracyVSAvoidalgorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically performs image recognition, character identification, and content matching without requiring manual intervention. Once character images are uploaded or captured, the system autonomously processes them through recognition algorithms, identifies relevant media segments, and presents results to users, thereby managing the increased processing complexity through automation rather than manual procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250280177A1Character based search and discovery of media content
Publication Date: 2025.09.04 ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC
  • US20250280177A1 patent drawing
  • US20250280177A1 patent drawing
  • US20250280177A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Mechanisms are provided for character-based and image-based media content search and discovery. Character images or entity images are mapped to corresponding media content. Selection of an image or a portion of an image may trigger or search for corresponding media content or begin playback of relevant media content. Character images or entity images need not correspond to a primary program character or object but may correspond to minor characters or tangential entities depicted periodically on particular programs.