IP Library Granted Patent US 11,570,526
Granted Patent B2
US 11,570,526 · App. 16/872,073 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Content-modification system with responsive transmission of reference fingerprint data feature

Inventors: Andrew Laurence Ashbacher (Aptos, CA); John L. Haynes, III (Sandy, UT); Stefanos Christakis Liassides (Cardiff, GB)
Assignee: ROKU, INC.
H04N21/84H04N21/812H04N21/8456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,570,526
App. No.
16/872,073
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a method is for use in connection with a content-modification system that includes a content-distribution system and a content-presentation device. The method includes (i) identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, wherein the identifying is based on detecting a match between first reference fingerprint data representing an initial portion of a first modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by the content-distribution system to the content-presentation device; and (ii) responsively: (a) using the first reference fingerprint data as a basis to select second reference fingerprint data representing more than an initial portion of a second modifiable content-segment, and (b) transmitting to the content-presentation device, third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the second reference fingerprint data, to facilitate the content-presentation device to, at a later time, perform an action.

Claims (45)

1. A method for use in connection with a content-modification system that includes a content-distribution system and a content-presentation device, the method comprising:

identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, wherein the identifying is based on detecting a match between first reference fingerprint data representing an initial portion of a first modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by the content-distribution system to the content-presentation device; and

responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity:

(i) using the first reference fingerprint data as a basis to select second reference fingerprint data representing more than an initial portion of a second modifiable content-segment, wherein the selection is further based on the second modifiable content-segment and the first modifiable content-segment having a common initial portion, and

(ii) transmitting, to the content-presentation device, third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the selected second reference fingerprint data to facilitate the content-presentation device to, at a later time, continue performing a content-modification operation related to the identified content modification opportunity, wherein the first reference fingerprint data representing the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment were both generated from a common entity that received the first modifiable content-segment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third reference fingerprint data represents the entire first modifiable content-segment, and wherein the second reference fingerprint data represents the entire second modifiable content-segment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data occurs while supplemental content is being transmitted to the content-presentation device for use in connection with the content-presentation device performing the content-modification operation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data before the content represented by the third reference fingerprint data is being channeled through any portion of the content-distribution system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the identified channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the identified channel, and wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the content-presentation device comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the identified content-presentation device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the query fingerprint data is first query fingerprint data, and wherein the content-presentation device is configured to perform a set of acts comprising:

receiving the transmitted third reference fingerprint data and the transmitted second reference fingerprint data;

detecting a match between at least a portion of second query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device and (i) at least a portion of the received third reference fingerprint data or (ii) at least a portion of the received second reference fingerprint data; and

responsive to detecting the match, continuing to perform the content-modification operation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content-modification operation is a content replacement operation.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations for use in connection with a content-modification system that includes a content-distribution system and a content-presentation device, the set of operations comprising:

identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, wherein the identifying is based on detecting a match between first reference fingerprint data representing an initial portion of a first modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by the content-distribution system to the content-presentation device; and

responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity:

(i) using the first reference fingerprint data as a basis to select second reference fingerprint data representing more than an initial portion of a second modifiable content-segment, wherein the selection is further based on the second modifiable content-segment and the first modifiable content-segment having a common initial portion, and

(ii) transmitting, to the content-presentation device, third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the selected second reference fingerprint data to facilitate the content-presentation device to, at a later time, continue performing a content-modification operation related to the identified content modification opportunity, wherein the first reference fingerprint data representing the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment were both generated from a common entity that received the first modifiable content-segment.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the third reference fingerprint data represents the entire first modifiable content-segment, and wherein the second reference fingerprint data represents the entire second modifiable content-segment.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data occurs while supplemental content is being transmitted to the content-presentation device for use in connection with the content-presentation device performing the content-modification operation.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data before the content represented by the third reference fingerprint data is being channeled through any portion of the content-distribution system.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , the set of operations further comprising responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the identified channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the identified channel, and wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the content-presentation device comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the identified content-presentation device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the query fingerprint data is first query fingerprint data, and wherein the content-presentation device is configured to perform a set of acts comprising:

receiving the transmitted third reference fingerprint data and the transmitted second reference fingerprint data;

detecting a match between at least a portion of second query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device and (i) at least a portion of the received third reference fingerprint data or (ii) at least a portion of the received second reference fingerprint data; and

responsive to detecting the match, continuing to perform the content-modification operation.

14. A computing system for use in connection with a content-modification system that includes a content-distribution system and a content-presentation device, the computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

identifying an upcoming content modification opportunity on an identified channel, wherein the identifying is based on detecting a match between first reference fingerprint data representing an initial portion of a first modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content transmitted by the content-distribution system to the content-presentation device; and

responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity:

(i) using the first reference fingerprint data as a basis to select second reference fingerprint data representing more than an initial portion of a second modifiable content-segment, wherein the selection is further based on the second modifiable content-segment and the first modifiable content-segment having a common initial portion, and

(ii) transmitting, to the content-presentation device, third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the selected second reference fingerprint data to facilitate the content-presentation device to, at a later time, continue performing a content-modification operation related to the identified content modification opportunity, wherein the first reference fingerprint data representing the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment and the third reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment were both generated from a common entity that received the first modifiable content-segment.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the third reference fingerprint data represents the entire first modifiable content-segment, and wherein the second reference fingerprint data represents the entire second modifiable content-segment.

16. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data occurs while supplemental content is being transmitted to the content-presentation device for use in connection with the content-presentation device performing the content-modification operation.

17. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data before the content represented by the third reference fingerprint data is being channeled through any portion of the content-distribution system.

18. The computing system of claim 14 , the set of operations further comprising responsive to identifying the upcoming content modification opportunity on the identified channel, identifying a content-presentation device tuned to the identified channel, and wherein transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the content-presentation device comprises transmitting the third reference fingerprint data and the second reference fingerprint data to the identified content-presentation device.

19. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the query fingerprint data is first query fingerprint data, and wherein the content-presentation device is configured to perform a set of acts comprising:

receiving the transmitted third reference fingerprint data and the transmitted second reference fingerprint data;

detecting a match between at least a portion of second query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device and (i) at least a portion of the received third reference fingerprint data or (ii) at least a portion of the received second reference fingerprint data; and

responsive to detecting the match, continuing to perform the content-modification operation.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the first reference fingerprint data as the basis to select the second reference fingerprint data representing more than the initial portion of the second modifiable content-segment comprises:

using mapping data that maps the first reference fingerprint data representing the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment to corresponding fingerprint data for a group of other modifiable content-segments, including the second modifiable content-segment, having respective initial portions that are the same as the initial portion of the first modifiable content-segment to select the second reference fingerprint data,

wherein the corresponding fingerprint data comprises the second reference fingerprint data.

Assignments (10)
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 May 19, 2020
From: ASHBACHER, ANDREW LAURENCE; HAYNES, JOHN L., III; LIASSIDES, STEFANOS CHRISTAKIS
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 052703/0026 →