IP Library Granted Patent US 9,380,383
Granted Patent B2
US 9,380,383 · App. 14/020,420 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Modifying playback of content using pre-processed profile information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,380,383
App. No.
14/020,420
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and systems for modifying the playback of content using pre-processed profile information are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems may access a stream of content to be delivered to a playback device, identify a piece of content within the stream of content to be delivered to the playback device, determine a profile for the identified piece of content, and deliver the determined profile to the playback device. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems may receive a stream of content at a playback device, access profile information associated with the stream of content, and modify playback of the stream of content based on the accessed profile information.

Claims (45)

1. A method, comprising:

accessing, at a computer system, a stream of media content to be delivered via a communication network to a playback device configured to play the media content;

identifying, using the computer system, a digital fingerprint for a piece of media content within the stream of media content to be delivered to the playback device;

determining, using the computer system, profile information for the identified piece of media content, the profile information identifying playback frequency characteristics of the piece of media content; and

providing the digital fingerprint and the determined profile information to the playback device independently of the stream of media content, the digital fingerprint and the profile information to allow the playback device to identify the piece of media content and automatically modify the playback frequency characteristics during playback of the piece of media content based on the profile information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining one or more characteristics for an entire portion of the piece of media content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining a first set of one or more frequency characteristics for a first portion of the piece of media content and a second set of one or more frequency characteristics for a second portion of the piece of media content.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining a set of one or more characteristics for each block of frames of the piece of media content.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining a set of one or more characteristics for the piece of media content based on a category type applied to the piece of media content.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining a genre for the piece of media content.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining signal strength parameters for different frequencies of the piece of media content.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the piece of media content within the stream of media content to be communicated to the playback device includes identifying the piece of media content based on a comparison of a fingerprint associated with the piece of media content to a set of fingerprints associated with known media content.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piece of media content is a song, and wherein determining the profile information for the song includes determining a set of equalization settings to be used when playing the song via the playback device.

10. A system, comprising:

a content access module, executing on one or more hardware processors of the system, that is configured to access a stream of media content to be delivered to a playback device;

a content identification module executing on the one or more processors that is configured to identify a digital fingerprint of a piece of media content within the stream of media content to be communicated to the playback device; and

a profile module executing on the one or more hardware processors that is configured to determine profile information for the identified piece of media content and deliver the determined profile information to the playback device, the profile information identifying playback frequency characteristics of the piece of media content, the digital fingerprint and the determined profile information to the playback device independently of the stream of media content to allow the playback device to automatically modify the playback frequency characteristics during playback of the piece of media content based on the profile information.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the content access module accesses a stream of media content from a media content provider that is providing the stream of content to the playback device over a network.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the content access module accesses the stream of content from a media content provider that is locally stored by the playback device.

13. A method, comprising:

accessing a stream of media content at a playback device;

identifying using one or more hardware processors a digital fingerprint of a piece of media content within the stream of media content to be delivered to the playback device;

accessing, using the digital fingerprint, profile information associated with the piece of media content, the profile information identifying playback frequency characteristics of the piece of media content and being provided independently of the stream of media content; and

automatically modifying, using the one or more hard processors, playback of the stream of media content based on the accessed profile information, the modifying comprising adjusting the playback frequency characteristics during playback of the piece of media content based on the profile information.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein modifying playback of the piece of media content includes:

synchronizing the profile information to the piece of media content using fingerprints associated with the piece of media content; and

modifying playback of the piece of media content using the synchronized profile information for the piece of media content.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein modifying playback of the piece of media content includes:

synchronizing the profile information to the piece of media content using events within the stream of media content; and

modifying playback of the piece of media content using the synchronized profile information for the stream of media content.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein modifying playback of the piece of media content based on the accessed profile information includes modifying equalization settings associated with playback of the piece of media content.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein accessing profile information associated with the piece of media content includes accessing multiple sets of one or more characteristics corresponding to multiple portions of the piece of media content.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein accessing profile information associated with the piece of media content includes accessing a single set of one or more characteristics for the piece of media content.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the stream of media content is an audio stream, the playback device is a car stereo system, and wherein modifying playback of the piece of media content includes modifying playback settings of the car stereo system.

20. A system, comprising:

an adjustment module using one or more hardware processors that is configured to:

access, using a digital fingerprint of a piece of media content, profile information associated with a piece of media content, the profile information identifying playback frequency characteristics of the piece of media content and being provided independently of the piece of media content; and

automatically modify playback of the piece of media content based on the accessed profile information.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:

a synchronization module that is configured to synchronize the piece of media content to the profile information based on fingerprints associated with the piece of media content.

22. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:

a synchronization module that is configured to synchronize the piece of media content to the profile information based on acoustic events within the piece of media content.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the adjustment module is configured to access information identifying a genre assigned to the piece of media content and modify playback of the piece of media content by adjusting equalization settings of a playback device to settings associated with the identified genre.

24. The system of claim 20 , wherein the adjustment module is configured to access information identifying signal strength parameters for different frequencies of the piece of media content and modify playback of the piece of media content by adjusting equalization settings of a playback device to settings using the signal strength parameters.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the profile information for the identified piece of media content includes determining a mood for the piece of media content.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 042262 / FRAME 0601) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061748/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 13, 2017
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042262/0601 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 8, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV INC.; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041656/0804 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 12, 2016
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039667/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2014
From: BRENNER, VADIM; CREMER, MARKUS K; BECKER, MICHAEL
To: GRACENOTE, INC.
Reel/Frame 032849/0413 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: GRACENOTE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032480/0272 →