Media channel identification with multi-match detection and disambiguation based on single-match

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processing unit to carry out operations comprising:

determining that a digital fingerprint of a first segment of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel;

after determining that the digital fingerprint of the first segment matches the multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel, performing disambiguation based at least in part on an earlier determination that a digital fingerprint of a second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, the disambiguation establishing that the media presentation device is receiving the media content on the single channel, wherein the first and second segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device are first and second respective time segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device, wherein the second time segment is before the first time segment, and

taking action based on the establishing that the media presentation device is receiving the media content on the single channel.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises content selected from the group consisting of commercial content and news programming.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the digital fingerprints of the first and second segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device are generated by the media presentation device, the operations further including:

receiving, from the media presentation device, the digital fingerprints of the first and second segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the multiple reference fingerprints are selected from a plurality of reference fingerprints in reference data, and wherein determining that the digital fingerprint of the first segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches the multiple reference fingerprints comprises:

comparing the digital fingerprint of the first segment of media content being rendered by the media presentation device with the plurality of reference fingerprints in the reference data, and

based on the comparing, determining that the digital fingerprint of the first segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches the multiple reference fingerprints.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further include detecting and flagging a multi-match group comprising the multiple reference fingerprints,

wherein determining that the digital fingerprint of the first segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches the multiple reference fingerprints comprises determining that the digital fingerprint of the first segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches the reference fingerprints of the flagged multi-match group.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further include making the determination that the digital fingerprint of the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just the single channel, wherein making the determination comprises:

comparing the digital fingerprint of the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device with at least each of reference fingerprint of the multiple reference fingerprints, and

based on the comparing, determining that the digital fingerprint of the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches just a single one of the multiple reference fingerprints.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the reference fingerprint corresponding with just the single channel comprises a reference fingerprint representing channel-distinguishing content specific to the single channel, the operations further including:

making the determination that the digital fingerprint of the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches the reference fingerprint corresponding with just the single channel, wherein making the determination comprises comparing the digital fingerprint of the second segment of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device with the reference fingerprint representing the channel-distinguishing content.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the media presentation device is receiving the media content on the single channel comprises causing supplemental channel-specific content to be presented in conjunction with the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the media presentation device is receiving the media content on the single channel comprises recording presentation of the single channel for use in a channel ratings system.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processing unit to carry out operations comprising:

comparing (i) query digital fingerprint data representing sequential time segments of media content being rendered by a media presentation device with (ii) reference fingerprint data respectively for each of a plurality of known channels of media content,

based on the comparing with respect to a first one or more of the time segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device, detecting a multi-match, where the media content rendered by the media presentation device matches multiple ones of the plurality of channels of media content,

based on the comparing with respect to a second one or more of the time segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device, detecting a single-match, where the media content rendered by the media presentation device matches just a single one of the multiple channels of media content, wherein each of the second one or more segments is before each of the first one or more time segments,

using the detected single-match to disambiguate the detected multi-match, establishing that the single channel of media content is the channel carrying the media content being rendered by the media presentation device, and

taking action based on the establishing that the single channel is the channel carrying the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the single-match is with respect to media content selected from the group consisting of commercial content and news programming.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the single channel is the channel carrying the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises causing supplemental channel-specific content to be presented in conjunction with the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the single channel is the channel carrying the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises recording presentation of the single channel for use in a channel ratings system.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the query digital fingerprint data representing sequential time segments of media content being rendered by a media presentation device is generated by the media presentation device, the operations further including:

receiving, from the media presentation device, the query digital fingerprint data.

15. A system comprising:

a network communication interface;

a processing unit;

non-transitory data storage; and

program instructions stored in the non-transitory data storage and executable by the processing unit to carry out operations including:

determining that first digital fingerprint data representing first one or more segments of media content being rendered by a media presentation device matches multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel;

after determining that the first digital fingerprint data matches the multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel, performing disambiguation based at least in part on an earlier determination that second digital fingerprint data representing second one or more segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device matches a reference fingerprint corresponding with just a single channel, the disambiguation establishing that the single channel carries the media content being rendered by the media presentation device; and

taking action based on the establishing that the single channel carries the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the multiple reference fingerprints are selected from a plurality of reference fingerprints in reference data, and wherein determining that the first digital fingerprint data matches the multiple reference fingerprints comprises:

comparing the first digital fingerprint data with the plurality of reference fingerprints in the reference data, and

based on the comparing, determining that the first digital fingerprint data matches the multiple reference fingerprints.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further include detecting and flagging a multi-match group comprising the multiple reference fingerprints,

wherein determining that the first digital fingerprint data matches multiple reference fingerprints each corresponding with a different respective channel comprises determining that the first digital fingerprint data matches the reference fingerprints of the flagged multi-match group.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second one or more segments of the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises media content selected from the group consisting of commercial content and news programming.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the single channel carries the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises causing supplemental channel-specific content to be presented in conjunction with the media content being rendered by the media presentation device.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein taking action based on the establishing that the single channel carries the media content being rendered by the media presentation device comprises recording presentation of the single channel for use in a channel ratings system.