# US 2014/0196070 A1 · System and method for automated broadcast media identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196070 A1 - Document ID: US20140196070A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,968 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Smrtv, Inc. - Applicants: Smrtv, Inc. - Inventors: Alan Moskowitz; Randall Cook; Joe Addalia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196070A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/44008: {involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59)} - H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content - H04N 21/6582: {Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number (arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38)} - H04N 21/8352: involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID] - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An media identification system, operable by a network entity, receives media data for broadcast program segments including at least one of video data or audio data. The media identification system encodes a reference fingerprint based on the media data and receives a program log associated with the media data, the program log including segment names and broadcast times for the broadcast program segments. The media identification system associates the reference fingerprint with a segment name for a program segment based at least in part on the program log. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for automated broadcast media identification, operable by a network entity, comprising: receiving media data for broadcast program segments comprising video data or audio data; encoding a reference fingerprint based on the media data; recording a timestamp for the reference fingerprint; receiving a program log comprising segment names and broadcast times for the broadcast program segments, wherein each segment name corresponds to a broadcast time; and determining a matching segment name from the program log for the reference fingerprint based at least in part on matching the timestamp to the broadcast times. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the reference fingerprint in a reference database. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising searching for a repeated reference fingerprint in the reference database, wherein the repeated reference fingerprint matches a previously encoded reference fingerprint and indicates a repeated program segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving a query fingerprint; and searching the reference database for a given reference fingerprint that matches the query fingerprint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting targeted content to a given user based at least in part on a given segment name for the given reference fingerprint. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting generalized content to a given user based at least in part on a segment name for a currently broadcasted program segment. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media data comprises a plurality of discrete broadcast programs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the program log comprises a segment name and a broadcast time for each of the plurality of discrete broadcast programs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of discrete broadcast programs are broadcasted before the receiving of the program log. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of discrete broadcast programs are broadcasted after the receiving of the program log. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding of the reference fingerprint based on the media data is continuous. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the media data comprises receiving the media data from a plurality of channels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reference fingerprint is encoded based at least in part on a video frame of the media data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reference fingerprint is encoded based at least in part on an audio segment of the media data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the program log comprises a segment metadata for each of the segment names. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises at least one of a broadcast reception server or a fingerprint comparison server. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the broadcast reception server receives the media data and encodes the reference fingerprint. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint comparison server receives the program log and matches the reference fingerprint with a segment name. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the broadcast reception server or the fingerprint comparison server is located at a broadcast station. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the broadcast reception server and the fingerprint comparison server is located at a remote station. ### Claim 22 An apparatus, comprising: a receiver configured to: receive media data comprising at least one of video data or audio data; and receive a program log comprising segment names and broadcast times for program segments, wherein each segment name corresponds to a broadcast time; and at least one processor configured to: record a timestamp for the reference fingerprint; encode a reference fingerprint for a program segment based on the media data; and determining a matching segment name from the program log for the reference fingerprint based at least in part on matching the timestamp to the broadcast times; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data. ### Claim 23 An apparatus, comprising: means for receiving media data comprising at least one of video data or audio data; means for encoding a reference fingerprint for a program segment based on the media data; means for recording a timestamp for the reference fingerprint; means for receiving a program log comprising segment names and broadcast times for program segments, wherein each segment name corresponds to a broadcast time; and. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for storing the reference fingerprint in a reference database. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for searching for a repeated reference fingerprint in the reference database, wherein the repeated reference fingerprint matches a previously encoded reference fingerprint and indicates a repeated program segment. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising: means for receiving a query fingerprint; and means for searching the reference database for a given reference fingerprint that matches the query fingerprint. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for transmitting targeted content to a given user based at least in part on a given segment name for the given reference fingerprint. ### Claim 28 A computer program product, comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing at least one computer to: receive media data comprising at least one of video data or audio data; encode a reference fingerprint for a program segment based on the media data; record a timestamp for the reference fingerprint; receive a program log comprising segment names and broadcast times for program segments, wherein each segment name corresponds to a broadcast time; and determining a matching segment name from the program log for the reference fingerprint based at least in part on matching the timestamp to the broadcast times. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for storing the reference fingerprint in a reference database. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for searching for a repeated reference fingerprint in the reference database, wherein the repeated reference fingerprint matches a previously encoded reference fingerprint and indicates a repeated program segment. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises: code for receiving a query fingerprint; and code for searching the reference database for a given reference fingerprint that matches the query fingerprint. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for transmitting targeted content to a given user based at least in part on a given segment name associated with for the given reference fingerprint.