Program and syndicated content detection
Content from multiple different stations can be divided into segments based on time. Matched segments associated with each station can be identified by comparing content included in a first segment associated with a first station, to content included in a second segment associated with a second station. Syndicated content can be identified and tagged based, at least in part, on a relationship between sequences of matched segments on different stations. Various embodiments also include identifying main sequences associated with each station under consideration, removing some of the main sequences, and consolidating remaining main sequences based on various threshold criteria.
1. A method for use in a syndicated content recognition system, the method comprising:
retrieving station-specific played media content broadcasts by a plurality of media broadcast stations from at least one database used by an automated radio broadcasting system, wherein each of the plurality of media broadcast stations is different from one another;
dividing the station-specific media content associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations into sequences of buckets having equal time durations, wherein each bucket included in the sequences of buckets includes at least one portion of a plurality of media broadcasts being currently aired on the plurality of media broadcast stations;
identifying a main sequence associated with a first media broadcast station included in the plurality of media broadcast stations, the main sequence including a first contiguous sequence of buckets that matches corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
identifying secondary sequences associated with the other media broadcast stations, the secondary sequences including contiguous sequences of buckets that match the corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with the at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
comparing the main sequence to the secondary sequences to determine whether the main sequence includes at least a threshold amount of content in common with the secondary sequences; and
identifying syndicated content based, at least in part, on the comparing, wherein the syndicated content indicates at least a played media broadcast of the first media broadcast station being controlled by at least another media broadcast station of the plurality of media broadcast stations.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
matching buckets associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations, wherein a tested bucket associated with a particular media broadcast station is designated as a matched bucket in response to determining that the tested bucket includes the at least threshold amount of content in common with a compared bucket associated with at least one other station; and
including only the matched buckets in the contiguous sequences of buckets of the main and secondary sequences.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing a secondary sequence from consideration if an amount of media content common to both the main sequence and the secondary sequence is less than the at least threshold amount.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
after removing the secondary sequence from consideration, generating a consolidated main sequence in response to determining that the main sequence matches the secondary sequences on the at least threshold number or percentage of the other media broadcast stations.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the identifying syndicated content further comprises:
comparing the consolidated main sequence to known syndicated content.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
tagging content identified as the syndicated content based, at least in part, on historical data and a station count.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one database includes a plurality of played content logs.
8. A system comprising:
at least one database used by an automated radio broadcasting system to store information about played media content broadcasts associated with a plurality of media broadcast stations, wherein each of the plurality of media broadcast stations is different from one another;
a content recognition system, implemented at least partially by hardware, and associated memory configured to:
obtain the information about the played media content broadcasts from the at least one database;
obtain station-specific media content broadcasts by the plurality of media broadcast stations based on the information;
divide the station-specific media content associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations into sequences of buckets having equal time durations, wherein each bucket included in the sequences of buckets includes at least one portion of a plurality of media broadcasts being currently aired on the plurality of media broadcast stations;
identify a main sequence associated with a first media broadcast station included in the plurality of media broadcast stations, the main sequence including a first contiguous sequence of buckets that matches corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
identify secondary sequences associated with the other media broadcast stations, the secondary sequences including contiguous sequences of buckets that match the corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with the at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
compare the main sequence to the secondary sequences to determine whether the main sequence includes at least a threshold amount of content in common with the secondary sequences; and
identify syndicated content based, at least in part, on the comparison, wherein the syndicated content indicates at least a played media broadcast of the first media broadcast station being controlled by at least another media broadcast station of the plurality of media broadcast stations.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
matching buckets associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations, wherein a tested bucket associated with a particular media broadcast station is designated as a matched bucket in response to determining that the tested bucket includes the at least threshold amount of content in common with a compared bucket associated with at least one other station; and
including only the matched buckets in the contiguous sequences of buckets of the main and secondary sequences.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
removing a secondary sequence from consideration if an amount of media content common to both the main sequence and the secondary sequence is less than the at least threshold amount.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
after removing the secondary sequence from consideration, generating a consolidated main sequence in response to determining that the main sequence matches the secondary sequences on the at least threshold number or percentage of the other media broadcast stations.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying syndicated content further comprises:
comparing the consolidated main sequence to known syndicated content.
13. The content recognition system of claim 12 , further comprising:
tagging content identified as the syndicated content based, at least in part, on historical data and a station count.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one database includes a database of played content logs.
15. A content recognition system, comprising:
a hardware processor;
memory operably associated with the hardware processor and storing a program of instructions configured to be executed by the hardware processor, the program of instructions including:
at least one instruction to retrieve information indicating station-specific played media content broadcasts by a plurality of media broadcast stations from a database included in a third party media broadcast monitoring system, wherein each of the plurality of media broadcast stations is different from one another;
at least one instruction to divide the station-specific media content associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations into sequences of buckets having equal time durations, wherein each bucket included in the sequences of buckets includes at least one portion of a plurality of media broadcasts that being currently aired on the plurality of media broadcast stations;
at least one instruction to identify a main sequence associated with a first media broadcast station included in the plurality of media broadcast stations, the main sequence including a first contiguous sequence of buckets that matches corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
at least one instruction to identify secondary sequences associated with the other media broadcast stations, the secondary sequences including contiguous sequences of buckets that match the corresponding contiguous sequences of buckets associated with the at least two of the plurality of media broadcast stations;
compare the main sequence to the secondary sequences to determine whether the main sequence includes at least a threshold amount of content in common with the secondary sequences; and
at least one instruction to identify syndicated content based, at least in part, on the comparison, wherein the syndicated content indicates at least a played media broadcast of the first media broadcast station being controlled by at least another media broadcast station of the plurality of media broadcast stations.
16. The system of claim 15 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to match buckets associated with the plurality of media broadcast stations, wherein a tested bucket associated with a particular media broadcast station is designated as a matched bucket in response to determining that the tested bucket includes the at least threshold amount of content in common with a compared bucket associated with at least one other station; and
at least one instruction to include only the matched buckets in the contiguous sequences of buckets of the main and secondary sequences.
17. The system of claim 15 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to remove a secondary sequence from consideration if an amount of media content common to both the main sequence and the secondary sequence is less than the at least threshold amount.
18. The system of claim 17 , the program of instructions further comprising:
at least one instruction to generating a consolidated main sequence in response to determining that the main sequence matches the secondary sequences on the at least threshold number or percentage of the other media broadcast stations.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one instruction to identify syndicated content includes:
at least one instruction to compare the consolidated main sequence to known syndicated content.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one instruction to identify the main sequence includes:
at least one instruction to determine that a potential main sequence is part of an overall sequence that satisfies a minimum time duration requirement.