IP Library Granted Patent US 10,803,038
Granted Patent B2
US 10,803,038 · App. 15/703,684 · Granted Oct 13, 2020

Cold matching by automatic content recognition

Inventor: Juikun Chen (West Jordan, UT)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06F16/2246G06F16/217G06K9/00744H04N5/44591H04N21/235H04N21/44008H04N21/4667H04N21/812G06F16/40H04N21/44222
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,803,038
App. No.
15/703,684
Granted
Oct 13, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for cold matching by automatic content recognition includes receiving, at data processing hardware, broadcast fingerprints indicative of broadcast frames of a broadcast media stream. The method also includes receiving, at the data processing hardware, media device fingerprints indicative of media device frames of a media device stream at a corresponding media device. The method further includes determining, by the data processing hardware, that a search block comprising a plurality of media device fingerprints corresponding to sequential media device frames of the media device stream includes at least one media device fingerprint having a match correlation to at least one broadcast fingerprint. The match correlation is based on a Pearson correlation coefficient. The method also includes identifying, by the data processing hardware, the at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to the at least one broadcast fingerprint as corresponding to a match media device frame.

Claims (42)

1. A method of identifying media provided for viewing at a media device, the method comprising:

receiving, at data processing hardware, broadcast fingerprints indicative of sequential broadcast frames of a broadcast media stream, the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to a first time period of the broadcast media stream;

compiling, by the data processing hardware, a search block of media device fingerprints indicative of sequential media device frames of a media device stream provided for viewing at the media device, the sequential media device frames of the search block corresponding to a second time period of the media device stream, the second time period being shorter than the first time period;

comparing, by the data processing hardware, (i) the search block of the media device fingerprints indicative of the sequential media device frames corresponding with the second time period of the media device stream with (ii) the broadcast fingerprints indicative of the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to the first time period of the broadcast media stream;

establishing, by the data processing hardware, based on the comparing, a match correlation between at least one media device fingerprint of the search block and at least one of the broadcast fingerprints, wherein establishing the match correlation is based on a Pearson correlation coefficient, wherein the at least one media device fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the media device frames, and wherein the at least one broadcast fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the broadcast frames; and

determining, by the data processing hardware, based on the established match correlation, that the at least one media device frame has metadata corresponding with the at least one broadcast frame, the metadata comprising a broadcast channel identification and frame location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the data processing hardware, whether the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint; and

when the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint, (i) determining, by the data processing hardware, a set of broadcast fingerprints corresponding to the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block, each broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints being broadcast fingerprints of sequentially adjacent broadcast frames of the broadcast media stream and (ii) determining, by the data processing hardware, the match correlation as a Pearson correlation coefficient between the search block and the set of broadcast fingerprints.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining, by the data processing hardware, a match media device frame as the media device frame corresponding to the media device fingerprint of the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block having the greatest Pearson correlation coefficient with a match broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each fingerprint represents at least one pixel value of the frame of the corresponding media stream.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each fingerprint is an average pixel value representing a sum of a grayscale value of a corresponding frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each fingerprint represents more than one average pixel value of a sub-frame within a corresponding frame.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each fingerprint of the corresponding frame is represented as a sixteen integer vector corresponding to each average pixel value of sixteen sub-frames, the sixteen sub-frames defining a four by four array of the corresponding frame.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the search block of the media device fingerprints with the broadcast fingerprints comprises comparing the search block to a database structure defined by a plurality of broadcast fingerprints wherein the database structure is a binary search tree.

9. A system comprising:

data processing hardware; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations including:

receiving broadcast fingerprints indicative of sequential broadcast frames of a broadcast media stream, the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to a first time period of the broadcast media stream,

compiling a search block of media device fingerprints indicative of sequential media device frames of a media device stream provided for viewing at a media device, the sequential media device frames of the search block corresponding to a second time period of the media device stream, the second time period being shorter than the first time period,

comparing (i) the search block of the media device fingerprints indicative of the sequential media device frames corresponding with the second time period of the media device stream with (ii) the broadcast fingerprints indicative of the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to the first time period of the broadcast media stream,

establishing, based on the comparing, a match correlation between at least one media device fingerprint of the search block and at least one of the broadcast fingerprints, wherein establishing the match correlation is based on a Pearson correlation coefficient, wherein the at least one media device fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the media device frames, and wherein the at least one broadcast fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the broadcast frames, and

determining, based on the established match correlation, that the at least one media device frame has metadata corresponding with the at least one broadcast frame, the metadata comprising a broadcast channel identification and frame location.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

determining whether the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint, and

when the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint, (i) determining a set of broadcast fingerprints corresponding to the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block, each broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints being broadcast fingerprints of sequentially adjacent broadcast frames of the broadcast media stream and (ii) determining the match correlation as a Pearson correlation coefficient between the search block and the set of broadcast fingerprints.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include determining a match media device frame as the media device frame corresponding to the media device fingerprint of the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block having the greatest Pearson correlation coefficient with a match broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein each fingerprint represents at least one pixel value of the frame of the corresponding media stream.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein each fingerprint represents more than one average pixel value of a sub-frame within a corresponding frame.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each fingerprint of the corresponding frame is represented as a sixteen integer vector corresponding to each average pixel value of sixteen sub-frames, the sixteen sub-frames defining a four by four array of the corresponding frame.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein comparing the search block of the media device fingerprints with the broadcast fingerprints comprises comparing the search block to a database structure defined by a plurality of broadcast fingerprints wherein the database structure is a binary search tree.

16. A non-transitory memory storing program instructions executable by a processor to carry out operations including:

receiving broadcast fingerprints indicative of sequential broadcast frames of a broadcast media stream, the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to a first time period of the broadcast media stream,

compiling a search block of media device fingerprints indicative of sequential media device frames of a media device stream provided for viewing at a media device, the sequential media device frames of the search block corresponding to a second time period of the media device stream, the second time period being shorter than the first time period,

comparing (i) the search block of the media device fingerprints indicative of the sequential media device frames corresponding with the second time period of the media device stream with (ii) the broadcast fingerprints indicative of the sequential broadcast frames corresponding to the first time period of the broadcast media stream,

establishing, based on the comparing, a match correlation between at least one media device fingerprint of the search block and at least one of the broadcast fingerprints, wherein establishing the match correlation is based on a Pearson correlation coefficient, wherein the at least one media device fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the media device frames, and wherein the at least one broadcast fingerprint corresponds with at least one of the broadcast frames, and

determining, based on the established match correlation, that the at least one media device frame has metadata corresponding with the at least one broadcast frame, the metadata comprising a broadcast channel identification and frame location.

17. The non-transitory memory of claim 16 , wherein the operations further include:

determining whether the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint, and

when the search block includes at least one media device fingerprint having the match correlation to more than one broadcast fingerprint, (i) determining a set of broadcast fingerprints corresponding to the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block, each broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints being broadcast fingerprints of sequentially adjacent broadcast frames of the broadcast media stream and (ii) determining the match correlation as a Pearson correlation coefficient between the search block and the set of broadcast fingerprints.

18. The non-transitory memory of claim 16 , wherein the operations further include determining a match media device frame as the media device frame corresponding to the media device fingerprint of the at least one media device fingerprint of the search block having the greatest Pearson correlation coefficient with a match broadcast fingerprint of the set of broadcast fingerprints.

19. The non-transitory memory of claim 16 , wherein comparing the search block of the media device fingerprints with the broadcast fingerprints comprises comparing the search block to a database structure defined by a plurality of broadcast fingerprints wherein the database structure is a binary search tree.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2024
From: ROKU, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068982/0377 →
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 →
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 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (REEL/FRAME 056982/0194) Recorded Feb 22, 2023
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROKU, INC.; ROKU DX HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062826/0664 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jun 29, 2021
From: ROKU, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 056982/0194 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2021
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ROKU, INC.
Reel/Frame 056106/0376 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2021
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.
Reel/Frame 056973/0280 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2019
From: SORENSON MEDIA, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 048355/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2018
From: CHEN, JUIKUN
To: SORENSON MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 045162/0485 →
Continuity (1)
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