Media Segment Detection Using Timeline Context Across Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video matching systems struggle to accurately identify media content when multiple channels display the same content simultaneously, leading to ambiguity and inability to determine which channel a viewer is watching or provide contextually-related information.
Innovation Solution
A video matching system that utilizes timeline events and metadata from media content displayed before and after a common video segment to enhance identification accuracy, reducing the commercial confidence interval and enabling contextually targeted content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If video matching systems use content comparison to identify media being played, then identification can be performed in real-time, but accuracy deteriorates when multiple channels display the same content simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process into multiple components: extracting visual features from video frames, extracting audio features from audio streams, obtaining metadata from multiple sources, and comparing these segmented features against a database. This segmentation allows the system to use multiple identification cues simultaneously, maintaining real-time performance while improving accuracy by cross-referencing multiple data types rather than relying on a single comparison method
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds temporal and metadata dimensions to the identification process. By incorporating timeline events that track when specific content appears on different channels, and by adding metadata layers (program guides, electronic program information) to the basic video comparison, the system creates additional identification dimensions. This allows disambiguation of simultaneous content across channels through temporal sequencing and contextual metadata rather than relying solely on video frame matching
2Measurement precision
If the system examines media content from multiple channels to resolve ambiguity, then identification accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and storing metadata, program guide information, and timeline events in a database before they are needed for identification. Channels and their content schedules are pre-registered with the system, creating a ready-reference framework. When identification is needed, the system queries this pre-organized data rather than creating it in real-time, reducing computational complexity during the actual identification process while maintaining high accuracy through comprehensive data comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary database layer that stores and manages channel information, program metadata, and timeline events. This intermediary database acts as a mediator between the raw video/audio input and the identification logic, organizing complex multi-channel data into structured, queryable formats. The database intermediary simplifies the identification process by pre-organizing channel content schedules and metadata, reducing the computational burden on the real-time matching algorithms
3Adaptability or versatility
If contextually-related content is provided based on identified media, then viewer engagement improves, but content delivery accuracy deteriorates when media identification is ambiguous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic content delivery that adapts to the confidence level of media identification. When identification is highly confident (single channel match), the system delivers targeted contextual content with high precision. When identification is ambiguous (multiple channels showing same content), the system dynamically adjusts by providing more generic or multi-channel applicable content, or by using temporal information to determine which channel is currently active. This dynamic adaptation maintains viewer engagement through relevant content while accounting for identification uncertainty
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for identifying a media content stream when the media content stream is playing an unscheduled media segment. A computing device may receive a plurality of media content streams, where at least two of the plurality of media content streams concurrently includes a same unscheduled media segment. The computing device may determine that the media display device is playing the unscheduled media segment by examining the media content available at the current time in each of the plurality of media content streams. The computing device may determine identification information from the media content included in the media content stream. The computing device may determine contextually-related content, which may be disabled while the unscheduled media segment is being played by the media display device. The computing device may display the media content stream and the contextually-related content after the unscheduled media segment has been played.