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 for use in connection with a client device and a sequence of media content that includes a first portion followed by a second portion, the method comprising:
presenting, by the client device, the first portion of the sequence of media content;
performing, by the client device, a content replacement operation, wherein performing the content replacement operation comprises presenting replacement media content instead of the second portion of the sequence of media content;
while performing the content replacement operation:
(i) extracting, by the client device, steganographic data included in the second portion of the sequence of media content,
(ii) sending, by the client device, the extracted steganographic data to a server device to facilitate the server device using the steganographic data to determine that the second portion of the sequence of media content was interrupted by interrupting media content, and
(iii) responsive to sending the extracted steganographic data to the server device, receiving an instruction to switch from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content instead; and
responsive to receiving the instruction, switching, by the client device, from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is a television.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises video content.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the sequence of media content is a portion of a non-targeted advertisement and wherein the replacement media content is a portion of a targeted advertisement.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content comprising an emergency alert received by the client device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content received by the client device in response to a channel change.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises an on-screen programming guide.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to switching from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content, generating usage data, by the client device, indicating an extent of the replacement media content presented by the client device; and
sending the generated usage data.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a client device, cause the client device to perform operations in connection with a sequence of media content that includes a first portion followed by a second portion, the operations comprising:
presenting the first portion of the sequence of media content;
performing a content replacement operation, wherein performing the content replacement operation comprises presenting replacement media content instead of the second portion of the sequence of media content;
while performing the content replacement operation:
(i) extracting steganographic data included in the second portion of the sequence of media content,
(ii) sending the extracted steganographic data to a server device to facilitate the server device using the steganographic data to determine that the second portion of the sequence of media content was interrupted by interrupting media content, and
(iii) responsive to sending the extracted steganographic data to the server device, receiving an instruction to switch from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content instead; and
responsive to receiving the instruction, switching from presenting the replacement media content to presenting interrupting media content.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the client device is a television.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the media content comprises video content.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the sequence of media content is a portion of a non-targeted advertisement and wherein the replacement media content is a portion of a targeted advertisement.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content comprising an emergency alert received by the client device.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content received by the client device in response to a channel change.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises an on-screen programming guide.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
responsive to switching from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content, generating usage data indicating an extent of the replacement media content presented on the client device; and
sending the generated usage data.
17. A client device comprising one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the client device to perform operations in connection with an original sequence of media content that includes a first portion followed by a second portion, the operations comprising:
presenting the first portion of the sequence of media content;
performing a content replacement operation, wherein performing the content replacement operation comprises presenting replacement media content instead of the second portion of the sequence of media content;
while performing the content replacement operation:
(i) extracting steganographic data included in the second portion of the sequence of media content,
(ii) sending the extracted steganographic data to a server device to facilitate the server device using the steganographic data to determine that the second portion of the sequence of media content was interrupted by interrupting media content, and
(iii) responsive to sending the extracted steganographic data to the server device, receiving an instruction to switch from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content instead; and
responsive to receiving the instruction, switching from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content.
18. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the client device is a television.
19. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the media content comprises video content.
20. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the sequence of media content is a portion of a non-targeted advertisement and wherein the replacement media content is a portion of a targeted advertisement.
21. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content comprising an emergency alert received by the client device.
22. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises media content received by the client device in response to a channel change.
23. The client device of claim 17 , wherein the interrupting media content comprises an on-screen programming guide.
24. The client device of claim 17 , the operations further comprising:
responsive to switching from presenting the replacement media content to presenting the interrupting media content, generating usage data indicating an extent of the replacement media content presented by the client device; and
sending the generated usage data.