Space-Shift Detector for Media Content Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audience measurement systems cannot accurately detect and monitor space-shifted media content, which is content recorded at one location and consumed at another, limiting the ability to determine how media is transferred and viewed within a household.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a household media system with metering devices and a space-shift detector that identify and track media content as it is transferred across locations within a network, using identifying data such as video or audio codes, and transmitting this information to a central server for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional audience measurement systems are used, then basic program consumption data can be collected, but space-shifted media content cannot be accurately detected or monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audience measurement function into multiple components: metering devices at individual viewing locations, a central space-shift detector, and a server for data analysis. Each component handles specific tasks (local content identification, transfer detection, centralized analysis) to achieve precise detection of space-shifted content while distributing system complexity across modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements including identifying data (watermarks, codes) embedded in media content, and intermediary devices (metering devices, space-shift detector) that mediate between the media content and the measurement system. These intermediaries enable precise detection of space-shifted content by providing traceable identifiers and detection mechanisms without requiring direct monitoring of all possible transfer paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If recording devices enable space-shifting capability, then media consumption flexibility is improved, but the ability to track and measure audience behavior is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding identifying data (watermarks, codes, metadata) into media content before distribution and recording. This pre-tagging enables automatic identification and tracking of space-shifted content throughout its lifecycle, preserving audience behavior information even as the content moves between locations and devices. The metering devices are pre-configured to detect these identifiers and report consumption patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example method for detecting space-shifted media content includes receiving media content at a first recording/playback device at a first viewing site at a monitored location, requesting data associated with the media content from a second device at the monitored location, and determining if the data associated with the media content indicates that the media content has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device.