Method and system for remotely controlling consumer electronic device
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:
receiving usage data for a client device that is configured to present media content sequences;
based on the received usage data, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprints, a subset of reference fingerprints;
sending to the client device, the selected subset of reference fingerprints;
receiving from the client device, an indication that the client device has detected a match between (i) one of more of the selected subset of reference fingerprints, and (ii) one or more fingerprints generated by the client device; and
determining, based on the received indication from the client device, an identity of a media sequence being presented on the client device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage data indicates a state change of a content selector module of the client device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage data indicates information about one or more replacement media sequences sent to the client device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage data indicates that the client device is routinely tuned to a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, and wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises selecting a subset of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the subset of multiple channels.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises:
selecting, based on the received usage data, a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having corresponding reference fingerprints, and
selecting the subset of reference fingerprints that correspond to the selected subset of multiple channels.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is a television and the media content sequences are video content sequences.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing the recited operations in connection with each of multiple different client devices and wherein a different subset of reference fingerprints is sent to each of the multiple client devices.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the client device, a request for a replacement media content sequence, wherein the request was generated by the client device in response to the client device detecting the match between (i) the one or more reference fingerprints in the subset of reference fingerprints and (ii) the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device;
responsive to receiving the request from the client device, selecting a replacement media content sequence; and
performing an action that facilitates causing the client device to present the selected replacement media content sequence in place of an original media content sequence.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises an indication that the client device detected the match.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises sending the selected replacement media content sequence to the client device.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the original media content sequence is an original commercial and the replacement media content sequence is a replacement commercial.
13. A server device comprising one or more processors, wherein the server device is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving usage data for a client device that is configured to present media content sequences;
based on the received usage data, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprints, a subset of reference fingerprints;
sending to the client device, the selected subset of reference fingerprints;
receiving from the client device, an indication that the client device has detected a match between (i) one of more of the selected subset of reference fingerprints, and (ii) one or more fingerprints generated by the client device; and
determining, based on the received indication from the client device, an identity of a media sequence being presented on the client device.
14. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the usage data indicates a state change of a content selector module of the client device.
15. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the usage data indicates information about one or more replacement media sequences sent to the client device.
16. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the usage data indicates that the client device is routinely tuned to a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, and wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises selecting a subset of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the subset of multiple channels.
17. The server device of claim 13 , wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises:
selecting, based on the received usage data, a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having corresponding reference fingerprints, and
selecting the subset of reference fingerprints that correspond to the selected subset of multiple channels.
18. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the client device is a television and the media content sequences are video content sequences.
19. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise performing the recited operations in connection with each of multiple different client devices and wherein a different subset of reference fingerprints is sent to each of the multiple client devices.
20. The server device of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving from the client device, a request for a replacement media content sequence, wherein the request was generated by the client device in response to the client device detecting the match between (i) the one or more reference fingerprints in the subset of reference fingerprints and (ii) the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device;
responsive to receiving the request from the client device, selecting a replacement media content sequence; and
performing an action that facilitates causing the client device to present the selected replacement media content sequence in place of an original media content sequence.
21. The server device of claim 20 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device.
22. The server device of claim 20 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises an indication that the client device detected the match.
23. The server device of claim 20 , wherein the action comprises sending the selected replacement media content sequence to the client device.
24. The server device of claim 20 , wherein the original media content sequence is an original commercial and the replacement media content sequence is a replacement commercial.
25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a server device having one or more processors, cause the server device to perform operations comprising:
receiving usage data for a client device that is configured to present media content sequences;
based on the received usage data, selecting, from among a plurality of reference fingerprints, a subset of reference fingerprints;
sending to the client device, the selected subset of reference fingerprints;
receiving from the client device, an indication that the client device has detected a match between (i) one of more of the selected subset of reference fingerprints, and (ii) one or more fingerprints generated by the client device; and
determining, based on the received indication from the client device, an identity of a media sequence being presented on the client device.
26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the usage data indicates a state change of a content selector module of the client device.
27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the usage data indicates information about one or more replacement media sequences sent to the client device.
28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the usage data indicates that the client device is routinely tuned to a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, and wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises selecting a subset of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the subset of multiple channels.
29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein selecting the subset of reference fingerprints comprises:
selecting, based on the received usage data, a subset of multiple channels from among a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels having corresponding reference fingerprints, and
selecting the subset of reference fingerprints that correspond to the selected subset of multiple channels.
30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the client device is a television and the media content sequences are video content sequences.
31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise performing the recited operations in connection with each of multiple different client devices and wherein a different subset of reference fingerprints is sent to each of the multiple client devices.
32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving from the client device, a request for a replacement media content sequence, wherein the request was generated by the client device in response to the client device detecting the match between (i) the one or more reference fingerprints in the subset of reference fingerprints and (ii) the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device;
responsive to receiving the request from the client device, selecting a replacement media content sequence; and
performing an action that facilitates causing the client device to present the selected replacement media content sequence in place of an original media content sequence.
33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises the one or more fingerprints generated by the client device.
34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the request for the replacement media content sequence comprises an indication that the client device detected the match.
35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the action comprises sending the selected replacement media content sequence to the client device.
36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the original media content sequence is an original commercial and the replacement media content sequence is a replacement commercial.