Systems and methods for monitoring content distribution

A method for verifying broadcast transmissions, the method comprising:

• transmitting, using a source device, a video stream to a node, the video stream comprising a plurality of video frames, wherein the node is configured to redistribute the video stream toward an end user device, and wherein the source device is distinct from the node;
• receiving, at the source device and from the node, a portion of a first video frame of the plurality of video frames, wherein the first video frame was redistributed by the node, and a first timestamp indicating a first transmission time of the node redistributing the first video frame;
• sampling the portion of the first video frame;
• determining, based on the sampling, one or more unique characteristics of the first video frame, wherein the one or more unique characteristics comprise a watermark in the sampled portion of the first video frame that uniquely identifies the first video frame from any other video frame;
• generating, using the watermark that uniquely identifies the first video frame from the one or more unique characteristics determined based on the sampling the portion of the first video frame, a first fingerprint of the first video frame;
• accessing, using the source device, a database comprising a plurality of entries that corresponds to the plurality of video frames, wherein each entry of the plurality of entries comprises:
• (i) a fingerprint that was generated using a video frame of the plurality of video frames;
• and
• (ii) a timestamp corresponding to the fingerprint, wherein the timestamp comprises a transmission time indicative of a time when the video frame used to generate the fingerprint was transmitted to the node;
• identifying, using the source device and from the plurality of entries, a matching entry comprising a fingerprint that matches the first fingerprint;
• retrieving, using the source device and from the matching entry, a second timestamp comprising a second transmission time indicative of a time when the first video frame was transmitted to the node;
• determining, using the source device and based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp, a time offset between the first transmission time and the second transmission time;
• transmitting, using the source device and to the node, an instruction that is configured to cause the node to generate a second fingerprint of a second video frame of the plurality of video frames at a scheduled time calculated by adding the time offset to a third transmission time indicative of the time when the second video frame was transmitted to the node;
• based at least in part on transmitting the instruction, receiving from the node, the second fingerprint of the second video frame at the scheduled time;
• based at least in part on receiving the second fingerprint of the second video frame at the scheduled time, determining whether the second fingerprint matches a third fingerprint generated from a third video frame transmitted to the node at the second transmission time;
• based at least in part on determining that the second fingerprint matches the first fingerprint, generating a first alert indicating that the node has successfully redistributed the video stream;
• and
• based at least in part on determining that the second fingerprint does not match the first fingerprint, generating a second alert indicating that the node failed to redistribute the video stream.

A system for verifying broadcast transmissions, the system comprising:

• communications circuitry at a source device;
• storage circuitry;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• transmit, using the communications circuitry, a video stream to a node, the video stream comprising a plurality of video frames, wherein the node is configured to redistribute the video stream toward an end user device, and wherein the source device is distinct from the node;
• receive, using the communications circuitry and from the node, a portion of a first video frame of the plurality of video frames, wherein the first video frame was redistributed by the node, and a first timestamp indicating a first transmission time of the node redistributing the first video frame;
• sample the portion of the first video frame;
• determine, based on the sampling, one or more unique characteristics of the first video frame, wherein the one or more unique characteristics comprise a watermark in the sampled portion of the first video frame that uniquely identifies the first video frame from any other video frame;
• generate, using the watermark that uniquely identifies the first video frame from the one or more unique characteristics determined based on the sampling the portion of the first video frame, a first fingerprint of the first video frame;
• access a database comprising a plurality of entries that corresponds to the plurality of video frames, wherein each entry of the plurality of entries comprises:
• (i) a fingerprint that was generated using a video frame of the plurality of video frames;
• and
• (ii) a timestamp corresponding to the fingerprint, wherein the timestamp comprises a transmission time indicative of a time when the video frame used to generate the fingerprint was transmitted to the node;
• identify, from the plurality of entries, a matching entry comprising a fingerprint that matches the first fingerprint;
• retrieve, from the matching entry, a second timestamp comprising a second transmission time indicative of a time when the first video frame was transmitted to the node;
• determine, based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp, a time offset between the first transmission time and the second transmission time;
• transmit, using the communications circuitry and to the node, an instruction that is configured to cause the node to generate a second fingerprint of a second video frame of the plurality of video frames at a scheduled time calculated by adding the time offset to a third transmission time indicative of the time when the second video frame was transmitted to the node;
• based at least in part on transmitting the instruction, receive, using the communications circuitry and from the node, the second fingerprint of the second video frame at the scheduled time;
• based at least in part on receiving the second fingerprint of the second video frame at the scheduled time, determine whether the second fingerprint matches a third fingerprint generated from a third video frame transmitted to the node at the second transmission time;
• based at least in part on determining that the second fingerprint matches the first fingerprint, generate a first alert indicating that the node has successfully redistributed the video stream;
• and
• based at least in part on determining that the second fingerprint does not match the first fingerprint, generate a second alert indicating that the node failed to redistribute the video stream.