Method and system for outcome prediction utilizing automatic content recognition

1. A method, comprising:

in an automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device which is paired with or associated with a paired device utilizing a companion application running on said paired device, wherein:

said ACR-enabled connected TV device comprises an ACR module that communicates with an ACR system that is external to said automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device;

said ACR system comprises an abstraction layer that supports different video and audio fingerprint technologies from multiple vendors, wherein said abstraction layer enables said ACR system to assign same interactive event identifiers to different sets of video and audio fingerprints that are generated by said different video and audio fingerprint technologies from said multiple vendors based on timing of said assignment of said interactive event identifiers, and said interactive event identifiers are utilized to trigger one or more events;

said ACR module providing fingerprints to said ACR system for matching; and

said ACR module receiving information and/or content from the said ACR system based on said matching; and

said ACR-enabled connected device:

identifying by said ACR module based on at least one of said interactive event identifiers, an event that is to take place in a presented program associated with a network;

presenting by said ACR module, an overlay for a viewer to interact within a specific time window synchronized with said identified event, wherein said overlay comprises information on possible outcomes of said identified event, and said overlay is also presented on said paired device; and

identifying by said ACR module, a predicted outcome selected by said viewer, wherein said predicted outcome is selected by said viewer, via interaction with said overlay on said ACR-enabled connected device or on said paired device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising identifying by said ACR module, an actual outcome that actually takes place.

3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising presenting by said ACR module, a message indicating whether said viewer is correct or incorrect in said selection based on said identified actual outcome, wherein said message is also presented on said paired device.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising presenting by said ACR module, information on a reward or a prize when said viewer is correct in said selection, wherein said information on said reward or said prize is also presented on said paired device.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said overlay comprises information on options for said viewer to compete with one or more other viewers who also participate in said selection of said predicted outcome.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said overlay is presented by said ACR module, to each of said one or more other viewers, within said specific time window which is synchronized with said identified event in said program that is presented to each of said one or more other viewers.

7. The method according to claim 5 , comprising presenting by said ACR module, information on a reward or a prize based on a result of said selections of said predicted outcomes from said viewer and said one or more other viewers, wherein said information on said reward or said prize is also presented on said paired device.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said presented program comprise a sports program.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said identified event comprises a play in said sports program.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predicted outcome is selected by said viewer, within said specific time window, via said interaction with said overlay on said ACR-enabled connected device or on said paired device.

11. A system, comprising:

an automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device coupled to an ACR system, said ACR-enabled connected device being paired with or associated with a paired device utilizing a companion application running on said paired device, wherein:

said ACR-enabled connected TV device comprises an ACR module that communicates with an ACR system that is external to said automatic content recognition (ACR)-enabled connected TV device;

said ACR system comprises an abstraction layer that supports different video and audio fingerprint technologies from multiple vendors, wherein said abstraction layer enables said ACR system to assign same interactive event identifiers to different sets of video and audio fingerprints that are generated by said different video and audio fingerprint technologies from said multiple vendors based on timing of said assignment of said interactive event identifiers, and said interactive event identifiers are utilized to trigger one or more events;

said ACR module providing fingerprints to said ACR system for matching;

said ACR module receiving information and/or content from the said ACR system based on said matching; and

said ACR-enabled connected device being operable to:

identify by said ACR module based on at least one of said interactive event identifiers, an event that is to take place in a presented program associated with a network;

present by said ACR module, an overlay for a viewer to interact within a specific time window synchronized with said identified event, wherein said overlay comprises information on possible outcomes of said identified event, and said overlay is also presented on said paired device; and

identify by said ACR module, a predicted outcome selected by said viewer, wherein said predicted outcome is selected by said viewer, via interaction with said overlay on said ACR-enabled connected device or on said paired device.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said ACR-enabled connected device is operable to identify by said ACR module, an actual outcome that actually takes place.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said ACR-enabled connected device is operable to present by said ACR module, a message indicating whether said viewer is correct or incorrect in said selection based on said identified actual outcome, and said message is also presented on said paired device.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said ACR-enabled connected device is operable to present by said ACR module, information on a reward or a prize when said viewer is correct in said selection, and said information on said reward or said prize is also presented on said paired device.

15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said overlay comprises information on options for said viewer to compete with one or more other viewers who also participate in said selection of said predicted outcome.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said overlay is presented by said ACR module, to each of said one or more other viewers, within said specific time window which is synchronized with said identified event in said program that is presented to each of said one or more other viewers.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said ACR-enabled connected device is operable to present by said ACR module, information on a reward or a prize based on a result of said selections of said predicted outcomes from said viewer and said one or more other viewers, and said information on said reward or said prize is also presented on said paired device.

18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said presented program comprise a sports program.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said identified event comprises a play in said sports program.

20. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said predicted outcome is selected by said viewer, within said specific time window, via said interaction with said overlay on said ACR-enabled connected device or on said paired device.

21. A system, comprising:

an automatic content recognition (ACR) system comprising:

a fingerprint matching system;

a plurality real-time fingerprint servers;

wherein:

said finger print matching system is communicatively coupled to said plurality of real-time fingerprint servers; and

said ACR system comprises an abstraction layer that interfaces with said plurality real-time fingerprint servers to support different video and audio fingerprint technologies from multiple vendors, wherein said abstraction layer enables said ACR system to assign same interactive event identifiers to different sets of video and audio fingerprints that are generated by said different video and audio fingerprint technologies from said multiple vendors based on timing of said assignment of said interactive event identifiers, and said interactive event identifiers are utilized to trigger one or more events; and

an ACR-enabled connected TV device comprising an ACR module that communicates with said ACR system, wherein:

said ACR system is external to said ACR-enabled connected TV device; and

said ACR-enabled connected TV device is paired with or associated with a paired device utilizing a companion application running on said paired device;

wherein:

said ACR module provides fingerprints to said finger print matching system for matching; and

said ACR module receives information and/or content from said ACR system based on said matching; and

said ACR-enabled connected device is operable to:

identify, by said ACR module based on at least one of said interactive event identifiers, an event that is to take place in a presented program associated with a network;

present, by said ACR module, an overlay for a viewer to interact within a specific time window synchronized with said identified event, wherein said overlay comprises information on possible outcomes of said identified event, and said overlay is also presented on said paired device; and

identify, by said ACR module, a predicted outcome selected by said viewer, wherein said predicted outcome is selected by said viewer, via interaction with said overlay on said ACR-enabled connected device or on said paired device.