Content-modification system with feature for detecting and responding to a content modification by a tuner device

1. A method performed by a computing system that is in communication with a content-presentation device, wherein the content-presentation device is scheduled to perform, at a modification start-time, a content-modification operation that comprises modifying a modifiable content-segment that the content-presentation device is scheduled to receive, the method comprising:

determining that the content-presentation device has detected, within a predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, a mismatch between reference fingerprint data representing the modifiable content-segment and query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device from a tuner device connected to the content-presentation device;

in response to determining that the content-presentation device has detected the mismatch within the predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time; and

in response to determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time, performing an action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing system and the content-presentation device are part of a content-modification system, and

wherein the tuner device is a set-top box (STB) that is not part of the content-modification system and that is associated with a multi-channel video program distributor (MVPD).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined time period is a value in a range of 1 to 4 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a list of modifiable content-segments that have been made available to a content distributor; and

determining that the list of modifiable content-segments includes the modifiable content-segment,

wherein performing the action is performed further in response to determining that the list of modifiable content-segments includes the modifiable content-segment.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the action comprises storing an indication that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment responsive to an instruction from a content distributor.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a content-modification opportunity on a channel to which the content-presentation device is tuned,

wherein the content-modification operation is scheduled to be performed relative to the identified content-modification opportunity, and

wherein performing the action comprises updating historical content consumption data associated with the content-presentation device to indicate that the content-presentation device is receiving content on the channel and has not changed channels.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the action comprises one or more of:

updating a counter representing a total number of content-presentation devices that are connected to tuner devices, or

adding a device identifier associated with the content-presentation device to a list of the total number of content-presentation devices that are connected to tuner devices.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the action comprises performing an action that facilitates the content-presentation device continuing performance of the content-modification operation until the content-modification operation is complete.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the action comprises performing an action that facilitates the content-presentation device aborting performance of the content-modification operation before the content-modification operation is complete.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content-modification operation is a content-replacement operation that comprises replacing the modifiable content-segment with first supplemental content, and

wherein the query fingerprint data represents second supplemental content with which the tuner device replaced the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined time period after the modification start-time represents a time period during which a detected mismatch between reference fingerprint data and query fingerprint data is expected to be caused by the tuner device having already modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time.

12. 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 comprising:

determining that a content-presentation device has detected, within a predefined time period after a scheduled modification start-time of a content-modification operation and during performance of the content-modification operation, a mismatch between reference fingerprint data representing a modifiable content-segment that the content-presentation device is scheduled to receive and query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device from a tuner device connected to the content-presentation device, wherein the content-modification operation comprises modifying the modifiable content-segment;

in response to determining that the content-presentation device has detected the mismatch within the predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time; and

in response to determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time, performing an action.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the computing system and the content-presentation device are part of a content-modification system, and

wherein the tuner device is a set-top box (STB) that is not part of the content-modification system and that is associated with a multi-channel video program distributor (MVPD).

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the set of operations further comprising:

receiving a list of modifiable content-segments that have been made available to a content distributor; and

determining that the list of modifiable content-segments includes the modifiable content-segment,

wherein performing the action is performed further in response to determining that the list of modifiable content-segments includes the modifiable content-segment.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein performing the action comprises storing an indication that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment responsive to an instruction from a content distributor.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , the set of operations further comprising:

identifying a content-modification opportunity on a channel to which the content-presentation device is tuned,

wherein the content-modification operation is scheduled to be performed relative to the identified content-modification opportunity, and

wherein performing the action comprises updating historical content consumption data associated with the content-presentation device to indicate that the content-presentation device is receiving content on the channel and has not changed channels.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein performing the action comprises performing an action that facilitates the content-presentation device continuing performance of the content-modification operation until the content-modification operation is complete.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein performing the action comprises performing an action that facilitates the content-presentation device aborting performance of the content-modification operation before the content-modification operation is complete.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the content-modification operation is a content-replacement operation that comprises replacing the modifiable content-segment with first supplemental content, and

wherein the query fingerprint data represents second supplemental content with which the tuner device replaced the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time.

20. A 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:

determining that a content-presentation device has detected, within a predefined time period after a scheduled modification start-time of a content-modification operation and during performance of the content-modification operation, a mismatch between reference fingerprint data representing a modifiable content-segment that the content-presentation device is scheduled to receive and query fingerprint data representing content received by the content-presentation device from a tuner device connected to the content-presentation device, wherein the content-modification operation comprises modifying the modifiable content-segment;

in response to determining that the content-presentation device has detected the mismatch within the predefined time period after the modification start-time and during performance of the content-modification operation, determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time; and

in response to determining that the mismatch is due to the tuner device having modified the modifiable content-segment before the modification start-time, performing an action.