Automated Identification of Viewed Content
An audio/video (A/V) hub that identifies A/V content is described. In particular, A/V hub may identify the A/V content based on an image associated with the A/V content in a user interface that was selected by a user. For example, the user interface may include, at different locations, images (such as thumbnail images) that are associated with different A/V content. When the user selects the A/V content associated with one of the images, the A/V hub may request the A/V content from a content provider. However, while the A/V content is indirectly requested based on the location (i.e., based on the user's actions or user-interface activity), the specific A/V content may be unknown to A/V hub. Consequently, the A/V hub may identify the A/V content by performing image analysis on the image based on predefined available A/V content from the content provider.
1 . An electronic device, comprising:
one or more antennas;
an interface circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas, wherein the electronic device is configured to:
receive, via the interface circuit, user-interface activity information associated with a portable electronic device that specifies a selection at a location in a user interface, wherein an image in a set of images is displayed proximate to the location, and wherein the image comprises a thumbnail image and the set of images comprise thumbnail images that are spatially arranged in a menu, and
wherein the image is associated with content, which is unknown to the electronic device, from a content provider, and a remainder of the set of images are associated with different content than the content;
provide, via the interface circuit, a request intended for the content provider with information that specifies the location;
receive, via the interface circuit, the content associated with the content provider in response to the request;
provide the content to intended for a display device; and
identify the content by performing image analysis on the image based at least in part on predefined available content from the content provider.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the identified content comprises one of: a broadcast-television program, a cable-television program, an entertainment event, and a movie.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the entertainment event comprises one of: a concert; and a sporting event.
4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the predefined available content comprises a schedule of the content provider.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the image analysis comprises identification of text in the image and the identification involves comparing the text to a set of titles associated with the predefined available content.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the image analysis corrects for an orientation of the image.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to identify the content by analyzing audio in the content.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to identify the content by analyzing video in the content.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the identification involves performing image analysis on the set of images, and the image analysis involves pattern matching.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises:
a processor; and
a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores program instructions, wherein, when executed by the processor, the program instructions causes the electronic device to perform one or more of: the receiving of the user-interface activity information, the providing of the request, the receiving of the content, the providing of the content, and the identifying the content.
11 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, identifies content by causing the electronic device to perform one or more operations comprising:
receiving, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, user-interface activity information associated with a portable electronic device that specifies a selection at a location in a user interface, wherein an image in a set of images is displayed proximate to the location, and wherein the image comprises a thumbnail image and the set of images comprise thumb nail images that are spatially arranged in a menu, and
wherein the image is associated with content, which is unknown to the electronic device, from a content provider, and a remainder of the set of images are associated with different content than the content;
provide, via the interface circuit, a request intended for the content provider with information that specifies the location;
receive, via the interface circuit, the content associated with the content provider in response to the request;
provide the content to intended for a display device; and
identifying the content by performing image analysis on the image based at least in part on predefined available content from the content provider.
12 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the identified content comprises one of: a broadcast-television program, a cable-television program, an entertainment event, and a movie.
13 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the entertainment event comprises one of: a concert; and a sporting event.
14 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the predefined available content comprises a schedule of the content provider.
15 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the image analysis comprises identification of text in the image and the identifying involves comparing the text to a set of titles associated with the predefined available content.
16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the image analysis corrects for an orientation of the image.
17 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the identifying the content involves analyzing audio in the content.
18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the identifying the content involves analyzing video in the content.
19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the identifying the content involves performing image analysis on the set of images, and the image analysis involves pattern matching.
20 . A method for identifying content, wherein the method comprises:
by an electronic device:
receiving, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, user-interface activity information associated with a portable electronic device that specifies a selection at a location in a user interface, wherein an image in a set of images is displayed proximate to the location, and wherein the image comprises a thumbnail image and the set of images comprise thumbnail images that are spatially arranged in a menu, and
wherein the image is associated with content, which is unknown to the electronic device, from a content provider, and a remainder of the set of images are associated with different content than the content;
providing, via the interface circuit, a request intended for the content provider with information that specifies the location;
receiving, via the interface circuit, the content associated with the content provider in response to the request;
providing the content intended for a display device; and
identifying the content by performing image analysis on the image based at least in part on predefined available content from the content provider.
21 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to identify the content by performing face recognition on an individual in the image.
22 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein identifying the content involves performing face recognition on an individual in the image.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein identifying the content involves performing face recognition on an individual in the image.