Method and system for recognition of broadcast segments

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment from a video signal of said monitored broadcast segment;
• comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• evaluating the validity of the match of the monitored broadcast segment by determining whether the monitored broadcast segment is temporally bounded by predetermined signal events including determining whether the video signal of the monitored broadcast segment includes a fade-to-black at at least one boundary thereof.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signature;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• evaluating the validity of the match by determining whether the monitored broadcast segment overlaps another monitored broadcast segment for which a match has been accepted in accordance with predetermined criteria.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• evaluating the validity of the match by determining whether the match conforms with a predetermined profile of false matching segments.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• means for evaluating the validity of the match of the monitored broadcast segment by carrying out at least one of:
• (a) determining whether the monitored broadcast segment is temporally bounded by predetermined signal events;
• (b) determining whether the monitored broadcast segment overlaps another monitored broadcast segment for which a match has been accepted in accordance with predetermined criteria;
• (c) determining whether the match conforms with a predetermined profile of false matching segments;
• and
• (d) determining whether the monitored broadcast segment is temporally bounded on at least one boundary of the monitored broadcast segment by a predetermined signal event.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with each of a plurality of broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween in accordance with a first error tolerance level;
• evaluating whether the match falls within a class of questionably acceptable matches based upon predetermined evaluation criteria;
• and
• if the match falls within said class of questionably acceptable matches, comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with the matching broadcast segment signature of the database utilizing a second error tolerance level accepting matches having relatively higher error levels than matches acceptable in accordance with the first error tolerance level.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with each of a plurality of broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween in accordance with a first error tolerance level;
• and
• means for evaluating whether the match falls within a class of questionably acceptable matches based upon predetermined evaluation criteria, and if so, for comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with the matching broadcast segment signature of the database utilizing a second error tolerance level accepting matches having relatively higher error levels than matches acceptable in accordance with the first error tolerance level.

A method of producing signatures characterizing respective intervals of a broadcast signal exhibiting correlation between at least some of said respective intervals for use in broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a difference vector for each respective interval of said broadcast signal having a plurality of elements each representing differences between respective predetermined portions of said each respective interval and exhibiting correlation therebetween;
• carrying out a vector transformation of said difference vector of each respective interval to produce a transformed difference vector having a plurality of elements for each respective interval of said broadcast signal such that the correlation between the plurality of elements thereof is less than the correlation between the plurality of elements of said difference vector;
• and
• producing a signature for each respective interval of said broadcast signal based on the corresponding transformed difference vector.

A system for producing signatures characterizing respective intervals of a broadcast signal exhibiting correlation between at least some of said respective intervals for use in broadcast segment recognition, comprising:

• means for producing a difference vector for each respective interval of said broadcast signal having a plurality of elements each representing differences between respective predetermined portions of said each respective interval and exhibiting correlation therebetween;
• means for carrying out a vector transformation of said difference vector of each respective interval to produce a transformed difference vector having a plurality of elements for each respective interval of said broadcast signal such that correlation between the plurality of elements thereof is less than the correlation between the plurality of elements of said difference vector;
• and
• means for producing a signature for each respective interval of said broadcast signal based on the corresponding transformed difference vector.

A method for updating a broadcast segment recognition database storing signatures for use in recognizing broadcast segments of interest, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring a broadcast signal to detect predetermined signal events indicating possible broadcast segments of interest corresponding with respective monitored broadcast signal intervals;
• determining whether at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest are detected for a monitored broadcast signal interval;
• assigning priority to one of said at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest based upon predetermined criteria;
• and
• storing a signature in the database corresponding with the one of said at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest assigned priority.

A system for updating a broadcast segment recognition database storing signatures for use in recogizing broadcast segments of interest, comprising:

• means for monitoring a broadcast signal to detect predetermined signal events indicating possible broadcast segments of interest corresponding with respective monitored broadcast signal intervals;
• determining whether at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest are detected for a monitored broadcast signal interval;
• means for assigning priority to one of said at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest based upon predetermined criteria;
• and
• means for storing a signature in the database corresponding with the one of said at least two alternative possible broadcast segments of interest assigned priority.

A method of producing a signature characterizing a broadcast signal interval for use in broadcast segment recognition having a signature database, the signature including a plurality of digital words each characterizing a respective sub-interval of said broadcast signal interval, comprising the steps of:

• dividing the broadcast signal interval into a plurality of sub-intervals;
• forming a plurality of digital words characterizing each of said plurality of sub-intervals;
• and
• selecting at least one of the plurality of digital words characterizing each sub-interval based on at least one of the following factors:
• (a) a distribution of previously generated digital words characterizing broadcast signals;
• (b) a distribution of digital words of previously generated signatures stored in the signature database;
• (c) a probability that the at least one of the plurality of digital words will match a digital word characterizing a corresponding sub-interval upon rebroadcast of the sub-interval;
• and
• (d) a degree of signal difference between the subinterval corresponding with the at least one of the plurality of digital words and adjacent portions of the broadcast signal interval.

A system for producing a signature characterizing a broadcast signal interval for use in broadcast segment recognition having a signature database, the signature including a plurality of digital words each characterizing a respective sub-interval of said broadcast signal interval, comprising;

• means for dividing the broadcast signal interval into a plurality of sub-intervals;
• means for forming a plurality of digital words characterizing each of said plurality of sub-intervals;
• and
• means for selecting at least one of the plurality of digital words characterizing each sub-interval based on at least one of the following factors:
• (a) a distribution of previously generated digital words characterizing broadcast signals;
• (b) a distribution of digital words of previously generated signatures stored in the signature database;
• (c) a probability that the at least one of the plurality of digital words will match a digital word characterizing a corresponding sub-interval upon rebroadcast of the sub-interval;
• and
• (d) a degree of signal difference between the subinterval corresponding with the at least one of the plurality of digital words and adjacent portions of the broadcast signal interval.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• for each produced signature, determining a probability that such produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment;
• producing a further signature for said each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized when said probability that said produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment is less than a predetermined value;
• storing each produced signature to form a database;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• and
• comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one signature stored in the database.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for determining a probability that each produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment;
• means for producing a further signature for said each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized when said probability that said produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment is less than a predetermined value;
• means for storing each produced signature to form a database;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• and
• means for comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one signature stored in the database.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a digital signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized, each said digital signature including a plurality of bit values characterizing a corresponding one of said plurality of broadcast segments;
• for each produced digital signature, determining a probable number of bit values thereof that will match with the bit values of a digital signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment and producing a corresponding probability based match value for use in determining whether said each produced digital signature matches a digital signature of a subsequently received broadcast segment;
• storing each produced signature and its corresponding probability based match value to form a database;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming a digital signature having a plurality of bit values representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• comparing the digital signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one digital signature stored in the database;
• and
• determining whether the digital signature representing the monitored broadcast segment matches the at least one digital signature utilizing the corresponding probability based match value.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a digital signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized, each said digital signature including a plurality of bit values characterizing a corresponding one of said plurality of broadcast segments;
• means for determining a probable number of bit values of each produced digital signature that will match with the bit values of a digital signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment and producing a corresponding probability based match value for use in determining whether said each produced digital signature matches a digital signature of a subsequently received broadcast segment;
• means for storing each produced signature and its corresponding probability based match value to form a database;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming a digital signature having a plurality of bit values representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means comparing the digital signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one digital signature stored in the database;
• and
• means for determining whether the digital signature representing the monitored broadcast segment matches the at least one digital signature utilizing the corresponding probability based match value.

A method of broadcast segment recognition, comprising the steps of:

• producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• for each produced signature, determining a probability that such produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment;
• producing a further signature for said each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized when said probability that said produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment is less than a predetermined value;
• storing each produced signature to form a database;
• monitoring a broadcast segment;
• forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• and
• comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one signature stored in the database.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for determining a probability that each produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment;
• means for producing a further signature for said each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized when said probability that said produced signature will match with a signature produced upon rebroadcast of the corresponding broadcast segment is less than a predetermined value;
• means for storing each produced signature to form a database;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming a signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one signature stored in the database.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising:

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment from a video signal of the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• means for evaluating the validity of the match of the monitored broadcast segment by determining whether the monitored broadcast segment is temporally bounded by predetermined signal events including determining whether the video signal of the monitored broadcast segment includes a fade-to-black at at least one boundary thereof.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising;

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• means for evaluating the validity of the match of the monitored broadcast segment by determining whether the monitored broadcast segment overlaps another broadcast segment for which a match has been accepted in accordance with predetermined criteria.

A broadcast segment recognition system, comprising;

• means for producing a signature for each of a plurality of broadcast segments to be recognized;
• means for storing each said signature to form a database of broadcast segment signatures;
• means for monitoring a broadcast segment;
• means for forming another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment;
• means for comparing the another signature representing the monitored broadcast segment with at least one of the broadcast segment signatures of the database to determine whether a match exists therebetween;
• and
• means for evaluating the validity of the match of the monitored broadcast segment by determining whether the match conforms with a predetermined profile of false matching segments.