Media Stream Fingerprinting for Broadcast Content Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing viewer-selectable interactivity with still-image, audio, and video content in broadcast environments face challenges due to the lack of standardized signaling methods across different broadcast methodologies and variability in commercial content insertion, leading to difficulties in controlling actions during program content discontinuities and distinguishing between identical content sources.
Innovation Solution
The system creates reference fingerprints for media objects, associates unique identifiers with them, and uses a fingerprint database to identify and select appropriate actions based on the content of a media stream, allowing for consistent interactivity even when multiple sources have substantially identical content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing systems use standardized signaling content in broadcast streams, then viewer-selectable interactivity can be provided, but the systems fail to distinguish between multiple media objects with substantially identical content
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the media stream into discrete media objects and extracts distinctive features from each segment. By analyzing individual segments rather than relying on overall stream characteristics, the system can differentiate between media objects that appear identical at a macro level, thereby improving identification precision while maintaining adaptability across broadcast methodologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality analysis by examining specific local characteristics of media objects (such as visual patterns, audio signatures, or temporal patterns) rather than relying on global stream properties. This allows precise differentiation between media objects with substantially identical overall content by detecting subtle local variations.
2Reliability
If control signals are inserted specifically for each presentation of program content, then accurate content control is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to variability in commercial content insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the media stream itself to carry the information needed for content identification and control. Instead of requiring external control signals to be inserted at each presentation, the system extracts control information directly from the media content characteristics, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary feature extraction mechanism that bridges the media content and control functions. By extracting distinctive features as intermediaries, the system can reliably identify media objects and trigger appropriate actions without requiring complex direct control signal insertion for each presentation.
3Ease of operation
If existing systems rely on standardized signaling content, then ease of operation is improved, but the systems cannot handle variability in commercial content timing and duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the content monitoring approach adaptive rather than static. Instead of relying on fixed standardized signaling patterns, the system dynamically extracts and analyzes distinctive features from media objects in real-time, allowing it to handle variability in commercial content timing and duration while maintaining ease of operation through automated feature-based identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems, methods and apparatus for selecting an action when known content is detected in a media stream.