# US 2014/0196077 A1 · Authorizing devices based on identifying content distributor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196077 A1 - Document ID: US20140196077A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/826,606 - Filed: 2013-03-14 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Gracenote, Inc. - Applicants: Gracenote, Inc. - Inventors: Donald F. Gordon; Markus K. Cremer; Peter Dunker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196077A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/23418: {involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics (television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59)} - H04N 21/2347: involving video stream encryption - H04N 21/2353: {specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata} - H04N 21/25816: {involving client authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/2743: Video hosting of uploaded data from client - H04N 21/44209: {Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network (arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896)} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/4627: Rights management {associated to the content (security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08)} - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N 21/8358: involving watermark {(protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: accessing at least a portion of video content playing at a client device; calculating one or more fingerprints of the video content playing at the client device; identifying a distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints; and performing an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content includes authorizing the client device to receive additional video content from the identified distributor of the video content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content includes authorizing a second client device associated with the client device to receive the video content from the identified distributor of the video content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content includes providing sponsored content that is associated with the identified distributor of the video content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content includes providing supplemental content associated with the video content to a second device associated with the client device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying an advertisement provided by the distributor and displayed by the video content by matching the one or more fingerprints to one or more reference fingerprints associated with the advertisement that are calculated from the video content playing at a watching station associated with the distributor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying within one or more frames of the video content a logo displayed with the video content that is associated with the distributor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving information associated with the client device that identifies a location of the client device; and wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying the distributor based on the one or more fingerprints and the received information identifying that identifies the location of the client device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying a multichannel distributor that receives the video content from a broadcaster and provides the video content to the client device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying at least one of a cable television system, a direct broadcast satellite system, or a wireline video provider of the video content. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints includes identifying an over-the-top content provider. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing of at least the portion of the video content playing at the client device includes accessing at least the portion of the video content directly at the client device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing of at least the portion of the video content playing at the client device includes accessing one or more images of the portion of video content. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a fingerprint module that is configured to calculate one or more fingerprints of video content playing at a client device; an identification module that is configured to identify a distributor of the video content based on the one or more fingerprints; and an action module that is configured to perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the action module is configured to authorize a second device associated with the client device to receive the video content from the identified distributor of the video content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: a device location module that is configured to identify a location of the client device based on receiving information associated with the client device that identifies a location of the client device; and wherein the identification module is configured to identify the distributor based on the one or more fingerprints and the received information that identifies the location of the client device. ### Claim at position 17 17-22. (canceled)