Internet – Donald F. Gordon, Roku Inc

Abstract for “Methods and systems for adding content to a media system”

A media system receives a sequence of media contents for presentation to the system. The system then generates a comparison fingerprint from the sequence of media content. This comparison fingerprint can be used to compare with multiple reference fingerprints in order to identify the sequence of media content received. A request is sent by the media system to identify additional content. The comparison fingerprint is used at least partially to determine the basis of the request. The media system responds to the request with information that allows additional content to be displayed at the system. This is done based at minimum in part on the identification sequence of media contents received.

Background for “Methods and systems for adding content to a media system”

“In recent years, targeted television ads have become an important advertising tool. Television networks and content providers routinely insert generic ads into network TV content. A content provider, such as a national cable television network like ESPN, may provide a network feed that includes embedded interstitial ads to content distributors (e.g. a cable affiliate such as Comcast). Time Warner Cable These advertisements often include ads for national retailers, credit cards and other products that have broad appeal. An advertiser, content provider or content distributor may want to substitute the advertisement in the broadcast feed. Substituting an advertisement for local businesses such as a car dealer or real estate agent is not enough to target the ads. Even though the advertisement may be local, it could still not be relevant to a particular viewer. Traditional methods of replacing media content (e.g. inserting targeted ads) do not provide enough sophisticated or accurate targeting while keeping media systems simple. It would be more beneficial for advertisers and content providers to be in a position to insert highly targeted ads based on specific information about the viewer.

Producers and distributors of content are also looking for ways to add value and monetize their content. End-users will often find the added value and are more open to receiving additional information related to content displayed on a media platform. Traditional methods for identifying content displayed on a media system are not fast, accurate, or use excessive processing power. Producers and distributors of content would benefit from a method to quickly, accurately, and efficiently identify the content to be displayed at a multimedia system. They can also customize the content to offer additional value to end users and/or new impressions to advertisers to ensure that the content is likely to be viewed.

The disclosed system and method of presenting additional content to a media systems addresses the above shortcomings and other problems. According to one embodiment, the distribution method disclosed herein allows for the identification of content currently being displayed at a media platform and the identification of additional content that can be displayed in place or alongside the current content.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a multimedia system with one or multiple processors and memory storing one, more or all of the programs that can be executed by those processors, to perform the following: receiving a sequence of media content for presentation at the media systems and creating a comparison fingerprint of this sequence of media contents. The comparison fingerprint can be used to compare the received sequence with a number of reference fingerprints. The method also includes sending a request to identify additional content to a system. This request is based at most in part on a comparison fingerprint. A response to the request includes information that allows additional content to be displayed at the media system. Additional content is chosen based at minimum in part on identification of the received media content. The method also involves presenting a sequence of media contents at the media system. This sequence includes at least one portion of the received media content and at most one portion of any additional content.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a server platform having one or multiple processors and memory storing one, or more programs so that the method can be performed: receiving a comparison fingerprint generated at a media systems based on at most a portion an unknown sequence media content. Then, sending to the media system a second plurality of reference fingerprints for the identified reference sequence. Further, the method includes comparing the comparison fingerprint to a plurality reference fingerprints for a plurality reference sequences media content in order to identify the unknown media content as an identified media content reference sequence and then sending to the media system a second plurality reference fingerprints.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a computer system (e.g. a media server system or media system) having one to more processors and memory storing one of more programs so that the method can be performed: providing a plurality sample locations for sampling optical properties and, for each of a plurality respective units of reference sequences media content, creating a reference fingerprint. The generation includes the following: determining a set sample values, including a sample value for the optical property at each location of the respective media content reference unit and determining one or several statistical measures from the set of sample numbers. Further, the method includes the storage of a plurality the reference fingerprints as well as receiving a comparison fingerprint from an unknown unit of media content to be compared with the plurality. The comparison fingerprint contains a sample value for each sample location in the unknown unit media content and one or more statistical measurements of the set. This method includes comparing the comparison fingerprint with reference fingerprints in order to identify the unknown media content sequence as one of those reference sequences.

“In accordance to some embodiments, a computer (e.g., media system or server system) comprises one or multiple processors, memory and one or several programs. The one or two programs are stored in memory and are configured to be executed using the one/more processors. Instructions for performing the operations described above are included in the one/more programs. According to some embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium contain instructions that, when executed by one or several processors, cause a system (e.g. a media system, or a server) to perform the operations described above.

“The systems and methods described herein improve on conventional methods of providing additional information by quickly, accurately, and efficiently determining the content to be presented at a media platform and providing additional content for display (e.g. to replace or supplement at least some of the received media content).

Summary for “Methods and systems for adding content to a media system”

“In recent years, targeted television ads have become an important advertising tool. Television networks and content providers routinely insert generic ads into network TV content. A content provider, such as a national cable television network like ESPN, may provide a network feed that includes embedded interstitial ads to content distributors (e.g. a cable affiliate such as Comcast). Time Warner Cable These advertisements often include ads for national retailers, credit cards and other products that have broad appeal. An advertiser, content provider or content distributor may want to substitute the advertisement in the broadcast feed. Substituting an advertisement for local businesses such as a car dealer or real estate agent is not enough to target the ads. Even though the advertisement may be local, it could still not be relevant to a particular viewer. Traditional methods of replacing media content (e.g. inserting targeted ads) do not provide enough sophisticated or accurate targeting while keeping media systems simple. It would be more beneficial for advertisers and content providers to be in a position to insert highly targeted ads based on specific information about the viewer.

Producers and distributors of content are also looking for ways to add value and monetize their content. End-users will often find the added value and are more open to receiving additional information related to content displayed on a media platform. Traditional methods for identifying content displayed on a media system are not fast, accurate, or use excessive processing power. Producers and distributors of content would benefit from a method to quickly, accurately, and efficiently identify the content to be displayed at a multimedia system. They can also customize the content to offer additional value to end users and/or new impressions to advertisers to ensure that the content is likely to be viewed.

The disclosed system and method of presenting additional content to a media systems addresses the above shortcomings and other problems. According to one embodiment, the distribution method disclosed herein allows for the identification of content currently being displayed at a media platform and the identification of additional content that can be displayed in place or alongside the current content.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a multimedia system with one or multiple processors and memory storing one, more or all of the programs that can be executed by those processors, to perform the following: receiving a sequence of media content for presentation at the media systems and creating a comparison fingerprint of this sequence of media contents. The comparison fingerprint can be used to compare the received sequence with a number of reference fingerprints. The method also includes sending a request to identify additional content to a system. This request is based at most in part on a comparison fingerprint. A response to the request includes information that allows additional content to be displayed at the media system. Additional content is chosen based at minimum in part on identification of the received media content. The method also involves presenting a sequence of media contents at the media system. This sequence includes at least one portion of the received media content and at most one portion of any additional content.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a server platform having one or multiple processors and memory storing one, or more programs so that the method can be performed: receiving a comparison fingerprint generated at a media systems based on at most a portion an unknown sequence media content. Then, sending to the media system a second plurality of reference fingerprints for the identified reference sequence. Further, the method includes comparing the comparison fingerprint to a plurality reference fingerprints for a plurality reference sequences media content in order to identify the unknown media content as an identified media content reference sequence and then sending to the media system a second plurality reference fingerprints.

“Some embodiments offer a method of, at a computer system (e.g. a media server system or media system) having one to more processors and memory storing one of more programs so that the method can be performed: providing a plurality sample locations for sampling optical properties and, for each of a plurality respective units of reference sequences media content, creating a reference fingerprint. The generation includes the following: determining a set sample values, including a sample value for the optical property at each location of the respective media content reference unit and determining one or several statistical measures from the set of sample numbers. Further, the method includes the storage of a plurality the reference fingerprints as well as receiving a comparison fingerprint from an unknown unit of media content to be compared with the plurality. The comparison fingerprint contains a sample value for each sample location in the unknown unit media content and one or more statistical measurements of the set. This method includes comparing the comparison fingerprint with reference fingerprints in order to identify the unknown media content sequence as one of those reference sequences.

“In accordance to some embodiments, a computer (e.g., media system or server system) comprises one or multiple processors, memory and one or several programs. The one or two programs are stored in memory and are configured to be executed using the one/more processors. Instructions for performing the operations described above are included in the one/more programs. According to some embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium contain instructions that, when executed by one or several processors, cause a system (e.g. a media system, or a server) to perform the operations described above.

“The systems and methods described herein improve on conventional methods of providing additional information by quickly, accurately, and efficiently determining the content to be presented at a media platform and providing additional content for display (e.g. to replace or supplement at least some of the received media content).

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