Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device

1. A system for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor that, when executing computer-implemented instructions stored in the memory, is configured to:

detect a light variation in an environment of the display device;

determine whether the light variation is indicative of a presentation of media content; and

identify a media content identifier of the media content being presented on the display device in response to determining that the light variation is indicative of the presentation of the media content.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that is connected to the hardware processor and that detects light levels in the environment of the sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is further configured to generate a signal representing the detected light levels.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

detect an additional light variation based on a signal representing detected light levels in the environment of the display device; and

determine whether the additional light variation is indicative of a scene change subsequent to a scene in the media content.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to determine a media content source corresponding to the media content being presented on the display device in response to determining that the light variation is indicative of the presentation of the media content and in response to determining that the additional light variation is indicative of the scene change.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

detect a pattern of light level variations based on a signal representing detected light levels in the environment of the display device;

compare the detected pattern of light level variations to a plurality of known patterns of light level variations associated with a plurality of known media content items; and

identify one of the plurality of known media content items as being presented on the display device based on the comparison.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the hardware processor is configured to compare the detected pattern of light level variations to the plurality of known patterns of light level variations by at least determining a cross-correlation between the detected pattern of light level variations and each of the plurality of known patterns of light level variations.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to cause information relating to the identified media content item of the plurality of known media content items to be displayed.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to derive a parameter representative of the light variation.

10. A method for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device, the method comprising:

detecting, using a hardware processor, a light variation in an environment of the display device;

determining, using the hardware processor, whether the light variation is indicative of a presentation of media content; and

identifying, using the hardware processor, a media content identifier of the media content being presented on the display device in response to determining that the light variation is indicative of the presentation of the media content.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the environment of the light sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating a signal representing the detected light levels.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting an additional light variation based on a signal representing detected light levels in the environment of the display device; and

determining whether the additional light variation is indicative of a scene change subsequent to a scene in the media content.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a media content source corresponding to the media content being presented on the display device in response to determining that the light variation is indicative of the presentation of the media content and in response to determining that the additional light variation is indicative of the scene change.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting a pattern of light level variations based on a signal representing detected light levels in the environment of the display device;

comparing the detected pattern of light level variations to a plurality of known patterns of light level variations associated with a plurality of known media content items; and

identifying one of the plurality of known media content items as being presented on the display device based on the comparison.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising comparing the detected pattern of light level variations to the plurality of known patterns of light level variations by at least determining a cross-correlation between the detected pattern of light level variations and each of the plurality of known patterns of light level variations.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising causing information relating to the identified media content item of the plurality of known media content items to be displayed.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising deriving a parameter representative of the light variation.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to perform a method for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device, the method comprising:

detecting a light variation in an environment of the display device;

determining whether the light variation is indicative of a presentation of media content; and

identifying a media content identifier of the media content being presented on the display device in response to determining that the light variation is indicative of the presentation of the media content.