User Interface Fingerprinting for OTT Device Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Over-the-top (OTT) media applications lack effective tracking mechanisms for user interfaces and devices, making it difficult to monitor media consumption and device usage patterns.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods that capture and analyze fingerprints of user interfaces to identify the corresponding services or devices, utilizing a database of known fingerprints and a knowledge graph to determine matches or partial matches, and update the database with new information to improve tracking capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional video consumption tracking methods are used, then tracking accuracy is maintained for set-top boxes and cable television, but tracking capability is lost for OTT media applications and devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual fingerprints by capturing and analyzing graphical user interface elements, logos, and visual characteristics of OTT applications. This copying approach allows the system to identify and track OTT devices without requiring direct integration or authentication with each service provider, thereby maintaining tracking accuracy while adapting to diverse OTT platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a universal tracking system that can identify multiple types of devices (set-top boxes, cable television, OTT applications) through a single fingerprinting mechanism. The system analyzes visual elements across different platforms and services, creating a multi-functional tracking capability that works across traditional and emerging media consumption devices
2Measurement precision
If visual fingerprinting of user interfaces is implemented, then device identification capability is improved for OTT applications, but system complexity increases due to image capture and analysis requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts specific visual features from captured screenshots, such as logos, interface elements, and graphical characteristics. By isolating and analyzing only the relevant visual fingerprint elements rather than processing entire images, the system achieves accurate device identification while reducing computational complexity and resource requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the user interface into distinct visual components and analyzes specific segments (logos, buttons, graphical elements) to create device identifiers. This segmentation approach allows the system to focus on distinctive features that reliably identify devices without being overwhelmed by the complexity of analyzing entire interface screenshots
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive database of fingerprint characteristics is maintained, then matching accuracy is improved for known services, but data storage requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compares only the extracted visual fingerprint features (logos, key interface elements) against the database of known service characteristics, rather than performing exhaustive full-interface comparisons. This partial action approach maintains high matching accuracy by focusing on distinctive features while significantly reducing processing time and computational resources required
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided herein for using fingerprinting techniques on user interfaces, such as source indicators, application indicators, and the like, to determine the source of any given user interface. For example, a source of a user interface may be determined to be a particular console, such as an XBOX console, or a particular application, such as Netflix, a video streaming application. The use of various user interfaces tracked over time may indicate a loss or gain of popularity of a given source corresponding to a given user interface.