Automatic identification of DVD title using internet technologies and fuzzy matching techniques
View Patent ↗An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.
1. A method of finding at least one record in a database corresponding to a digital versatile disc, comprising:
receiving unique information about the digital versatile disc, the unique information including at least one non-blank information field selected from a plurality of non-blank information fields, the plurality of non-blank information fields comprising a title of the digital versatile disc, a volume name of the digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the digital versatile disc; and
identifying one or more possibly matching records in a database of information about digital versatile discs using the unique information about the digital versatile disc, the identifying comprising:
generating a first search key based on the unique information,
generating a second search key based on at least one field from the plurality of non-blank information fields, the second search key being less specific with respect to the digital versatile disc than the first search key,
comparing the first search key with records in the database,
determining that the comparing does not produce a match, and
in response to the determining, comparing the second search key with records in the database to identify one or more possibly matching records.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising reading at least one of the volume name of the digital versatile disc and the time stamp information for creation of a master of the digital versatile disc from Universal Disk Format sectors of the digital versatile disc.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising reading at least one of the number of titles, the number of chapters per title, and the number of frames per chapter from Video Manager Information and Video Title Set Information data on the digital versatile disc.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first search key is based on at least two fields from the plurality of non-blank information fields.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second search key is based on at least two fields from the plurality of non-blank information fields.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second search key comprises as least a portion of the first search key.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the determining that the comparing does not produce a match comprises determining that the comparing does not produce an exact match.
8. A system for finding at least one record in a database corresponding to a digital versatile disc, comprising:
an input unit to obtain disc information comprising at least one non-blank information field value from the digital versatile disc, the at least one non-blank information field value being selected from a plurality of non-blank information fields, the plurality of non-blank information fields comprising a title of the digital versatile disc, a volume name of the digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the digital versatile disc;
a storage unit to store a database of information about digital versatile discs; and
a processor, coupled to said input unit and said storage unit, to identify one or more possibly matching records in the database of information about digital versatile discs using the at least one non-blank information field value, the processor to identify one or more matching records by:
generating a first search key based on the disc information,
generating a second search key based on at least one field from the plurality of non-blank information fields, search key being less specific with respect to the digital versatile disc than the first search key,
comparing the first search key with records in the database,
determining that the comparing does not produce a exact match, and
in response to the determining, comparing the second search key with records in the database to identify one or more possibly matching records.
9. A system as recited in claim 8 , wherein said processor, said storage unit and said input unit are connected locally.
10. A system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a connection to a computer network to provide communication between said processor and said storage unit disposed at remote locations.
11. A system for finding at least one record in a database corresponding to a digital versatile disc, the system comprising one or more processors configured to implement:
means for receiving unique information about the digital versatile disc, the unique information including at least one non-blank information field selected from a plurality of non-blank information fields, the plurality of non-blank information fields comprising a title of the digital versatile disc, a volume name of the digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the digital versatile disc;
means for generating a first search key based on the unique information;
means for generating a second search key based on at least one field from the plurality of non-blank information fields, the second search key being less specific with respect to the digital versatile disc than the first search key;
means for comparing the first search key with records in the database;
means for determining that the comparing does not produce a match; and
means for in response to the determining, comparing the second search key with records in the database to identify one or more possibly matching records.