IP Library Granted Patent US 11,962,870
Granted Patent B2
US 11,962,870 · App. 17/345,664 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Content-modification system with quiet content detection feature

Inventor: Matthew Grover (Cardiff, GB)
Assignee: Roku, Inc.
H04N21/812H04N21/4394
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,962,870
App. No.
17/345,664
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a content-presentation device, a media-device loudness of content that is provided to the content-presentation device by a media device, with the content portion being provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity; (ii) determining, by the content-presentation device, that the media-device loudness is less than a threshold; (iii) based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the threshold, obtaining, by the content-presentation device, a reference loudness of the content portion; and (iv) using, by the content-presentation device, the reference loudness as a basis for determining whether or not to carry out a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

Claims (62)

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a content-presentation device, a media-device loudness of a content portion that is provided to the content-presentation device by a media device, wherein the content portion is provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity;

determining, by the content-presentation device, that the media-device loudness is less than a predetermined threshold level;

based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, obtaining, by the content-presentation device, a reference loudness of the content portion;

determining, by the content-presentation device, a device mute state based on a comparison result between the reference loudness and the predetermined threshold level; and

carrying out, by the content-presentation device based on the device mute state, a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, performing the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the content portion is part of media content, and

carrying out the content-modification operation comprises presenting a replacement content segment in place of a modifiable content-segment of the media content.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises overlaying supplemental content on a modifiable content-segment that is provided to the content-presentation device by the media device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level, forgoing performance of the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the media-device loudness comprises:

obtaining an audio signal corresponding to the content portion; and

processing the audio signal to determine the media-device loudness.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from a server, metadata corresponding to the content portion,

wherein obtaining the reference loudness comprises accessing the metadata corresponding to the content portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving, from the server, fingerprint data, wherein the metadata is associated with the fingerprint data.

9. 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 a media-device loudness of a content portion that is provided to a content-presentation device by a media device, wherein the content portion is provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity;

determining that the media-device loudness is less than a predetermined threshold level;

based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, obtaining a reference loudness of the content portion;

determining, by the content-presentation device, a device mute state based on a comparison result between the reference loudness and the predetermined threshold level; and

carrying out, based on the device mute state, a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, performing the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein:

the content portion is part of media content, and

carrying out the content-modification operation comprises presenting a replacement content segment in place of a modifiable content-segment of the media content.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises overlaying supplemental content on a modifiable content-segment that is provided to the content-presentation device by the media device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level, forgoing the performing of the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein determining the media-device loudness comprises:

obtaining an audio signal corresponding to the content portion; and

processing the audio signal to determine the media-device loudness.

15. 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 a media-device loudness of a content portion that is provided to a content-presentation device by a media device, wherein the content portion is provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity;

determining that the media-device loudness is less than a predetermined threshold level;

based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, obtaining a reference loudness of the content portion;

determining, by the content-presentation device, a device mute state based on a comparison result between the reference loudness and the predetermined threshold level; and

carrying out, based on the device mute state, a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is less than the predetermined threshold level, performing the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein:

the content portion is part of media content, and

carrying out the content-modification operation comprises presenting a replacement content segment in place of a modifiable content-segment of the media content.

18. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises overlaying supplemental content on a modifiable content-segment that is provided to the content-presentation device by the media device.

19. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein carrying out the content-modification operation comprises:

determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level; and

based on the determining that the reference loudness is not less than the predetermined threshold level, forgoing the performing of the content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.

20. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein determining the media-device loudness comprises:

obtaining an audio signal corresponding to the content portion; and

processing the audio signal to determine the media-device loudness.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2024
From: ROKU, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068982/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2024
From: GROVER, MATTHEW
To: ROKU, INC.
Reel/Frame 066467/0853 →