Method and system for remotely controlling consumer electronic devices
View Patent ↗A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.
1. A method comprising:
accessing, by one or more processors of a media system operatively connected to a speaker device, a sequence of media content, wherein the sequence of media content is outputted by the speaker device of the media system;
accessing a fingerprint of a first portion of the sequence of media content;
comparing the fingerprint with a plurality of reference fingerprints stored in a database;
based on the comparison, identifying the sequence of media content and determining a position of the first portion within the sequence of media content;
accessing replacement media content at the media system, wherein the replacement media content is selected based at least in part on the identified sequence of media content;
determining, by the one or more processors, an offset position in the sequence of media content relative to the position of the first portion, the offset position corresponding to a second portion of the sequence of media content; and
causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device of the media system beginning at the determined offset position.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a request for the replacement media content.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, via one or more processors of the media system, the fingerprint of the first portion.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device:
accessing a fingerprint generated by the media system from the second portion of the sequence of media content;
comparing the generated fingerprint with a reference fingerprint for the second portion of the sequence of media content; and
determining that the accessed fingerprint matches the reference fingerprint for the second portion,
wherein causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device is responsive to the determining that the accessed fingerprint matches the reference fingerprint.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, while causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device, monitoring the sequence of media content.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the monitoring of the sequence of media content comprises monitoring at least one characteristic of the sequence selected from the group consisting of: a volume of the sequence of media content, a change of channel, an invocation of an emergency alert system, and an invocation of an on-screen program guide.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content consists essentially of an audio signal.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the media content comprises a radio signal.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of media content is received via a first communication network and the replacement media content is received via a second communication network.
10. A media system comprising:
a memory that stores instructions; and
one or more processors configured by the instructions to perform operations comprising:
accessing a sequence of media content, wherein the sequence of media content is outputted by a speaker device;
accessing a fingerprint of a first portion of the sequence of media content;
comparing the fingerprint with a plurality of reference fingerprints stored in a database;
based on the comparison, identifying the sequence of media content and determining a position of the first portion within the sequence of media content;
accessing replacement media content at the media system, wherein the replacement media content is selected based at least in part on the identified sequence of media content;
determining an offset position in the sequence of media content relative to the position of the first portion, the offset position corresponding to a second portion of the sequence of media content; and
causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device beginning at the determined offset position.
11. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a request for the replacement media content.
12. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise generating the fingerprint of the first portion.
13. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise, prior to causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device:
accessing a fingerprint generated by the media system from the second portion of the sequence of media content;
comparing the generated fingerprint with a reference fingerprint for the second portion of the sequence of media content; and
determining that the accessed fingerprint matches the reference fingerprint for the second portion,
wherein causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device is responsive to the determining that the accessed fingerprint matches the reference fingerprint.
14. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the media content consists essentially of an audio signal.
15. The media system of claim 14 , wherein the media content comprises a radio signal.
16. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
while causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device, monitoring the sequence of media content.
17. The media system of claim 16 , wherein the monitoring of the sequence of media content comprises monitoring at least one characteristic of the sequence selected from the group consisting of: a volume of the sequence of media content, a change of channel, an invocation of an emergency alert system, and an invocation of an on-screen program guide.
18. The media system of claim 10 , wherein the sequence of media content is received via a first communication network and the replacement media content is received via a second communication network.
19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors of a media system, cause the media system to perform operations comprising:
accessing a sequence of media content, wherein the sequence of media content is outputted by a speaker device;
accessing a fingerprint of a first portion of the sequence of media content;
comparing the fingerprint with a plurality of reference fingerprints stored in a database;
based on the comparison, identifying the sequence of media content and determining a position of the first portion within the sequence of media content;
accessing replacement media content at the media system, wherein the replacement media content is selected based at least in part on the identified sequence of media content;
determining an offset position in the sequence of media content relative to the position of the first portion, the offset position corresponding to a second portion of the sequence of media content; and
causing the replacement media content to be outputted by the speaker device beginning at the determined offset position.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
sending a request for the replacement media content.