Digital video signature apparatus and methods for use with video program identification systems

1. A method of identifying a video program, comprising:

receiving a sequence of signatures, wherein each of the signatures includes a set of centroids, wherein each set of centroids is derived from a corresponding one of a plurality of frames of the video program, and wherein each of the corresponding frames is selected based on a number or proportion of intra-coded blocks composing the frame;

comparing the sequence of signatures to a set of reference sequences of signatures; and

identifying the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with image components.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the image components are associated with a color model.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with a plurality of areas within its corresponding one of the plurality of frames.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein comparing the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures includes comparing the sequence of signatures to each reference sequence of signatures.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein comparing the sequence of signatures to each reference sequence of signatures includes sequentially comparing each signature within the sequence of signatures to each of the signatures within at least one of the reference sequences of signatures.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein identifying the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures includes identifying the video program in response to identifying a matching sequence within the set of reference sequences of signatures.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein identifying the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures includes providing textual information describing the video program.

9. A method of identifying a video program, comprising:

receiving a sequence of signatures, wherein each of the signatures includes a set of centroids corresponding to one of a plurality of substantially intra-coded frames of the video program;

comparing the sequence of signatures to a set of reference sequences of signatures; and

identifying the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures,

wherein identifying the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures includes manually identifying the video program in response to a failure to identify a matching sequence within the set of reference sequences of signatures.

10. A method as described in claim 9 , further comprising adjusting at least one reference sequence of signatures from the set of reference sequences of signatures in response to different encoding methods.

11. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein video program is one of a television commercial and a television show.

12. A system for identifying a video program, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to:

receive a sequence of signatures, wherein each of the signatures includes a set of centroids, wherein each set of centroids is derived from a corresponding one of a plurality of frames of the video program, and wherein each of the corresponding frames is selected based on a number or proportion of intra-coded blocks composing the frame;

compare the sequence of signatures to a set of reference sequences of signatures; and

identify the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures.

13. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with image components.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the image components are associated with a color model.

15. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with a plurality of areas within its corresponding one of the plurality of frames.

16. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the processor is programmed to compare the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures by comparing the sequence of signatures to each reference sequence of signatures.

17. A system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the processor is programmed to compare the sequence of signatures to each reference sequence of signatures by sequentially comparing each signature within the sequence of signatures to each of the signatures within at least one of the reference sequences of signatures.

18. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the processor is programmed to identify the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures by identifying the video program in response to identifying a matching sequence within the set of reference sequences of signatures.

19. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a sequence of signatures, wherein each of the signatures includes a set of centroids, wherein each set of centroids is derived from a corresponding one of a plurality of frames of a video program, and wherein each of the corresponding frames is selected based on a number or proportion of intra-coded blocks composing the frame;

compare the sequence of signatures to a set of reference sequences of signatures; and

identify the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures.

20. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with image components.

21. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein each of the sets of centroids includes centroids associated with a plurality of areas within its corresponding one of the plurality of frames.

22. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the frames are selected by scanning the plurality of frames for substantially intra-coded frames.

23. A method as defined in claim 22 , wherein the scanning the plurality of frames comprises determining the extent to which the frames are intra-coded.