Method and system for utilizing automatic content recognition for content tracking

A system, comprising:

• an automatic content recognition (ACR) enabled (ACR-enabled) connected TV device, wherein:
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device comprises an ACR module that communicates with an ACR system that is external to said ACR-enabled connected TV device, and said ACR system supports different video fingerprint technologies from multiple vendors;
• said ACR module providing fingerprints to said ACR system for matching;
• said ACR module receiving information and/or content from said ACR system based on said matching;
• said ACR system assigns same interactive event identifiers to different sets of video and audio fingerprints that are generated by said different video and audio fingerprint technologies from said multiple vendors based on timing of said assignment of said interactive event identifiers;
• and
• said interactive event identifiers are utilized in said ACR-enabled connected TV device to trigger events;
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device being operable to:
• collect, utilizing ACR, viewing data, wherein:
• said viewing data comprise viewer interaction information and/or content presentation information associated with said ACR-enabled connected TV device and/or a paired device;
• and
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device is paired with said paired device utilizing a companion application running on said paired device;
• store said collected viewing data in said ACR-enabled connected TV device;
• and
• communicate said stored viewing data to one or more network providers for determining customized services for said ACR-enabled connected TV device and/or said paired device.

A system comprising:

• an automatic content recognition (ACR) enabled (ACR-enabled) connected TV device, wherein:
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device comprises an ACR module that communicates with an ACR system that is external to said ACR-enabled connected TV device, and said ACR system comprises an abstraction layer that supports different video fingerprint technologies from multiple vendors;
• said ACR module providing fingerprints to said ACR system for matching;
• said ACR module receiving information and/or content from said ACR system based on said matching;
• said abstraction layer enables said ACR system to assign same interactive event identifiers to different sets of video and audio fingerprints that are generated by said different video and audio fingerprint technologies from said multiple vendors based on timing of said assignment of said interactive event identifiers;
• and
• said interactive event identifiers are utilized in said ACR-enabled connected TV device to trigger events;
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device being operable to:
• collect, utilizing ACR, viewing data, wherein:
• said viewing data comprise viewer interaction information and/or content presentation information associated with said ACR-enabled connected TV device and/or a paired device;
• and
• said ACR-enabled connected TV device is paired with said paired device utilizing a companion application running on said paired device;
• store said collected viewing data in said ACR-enabled connected TV device;
• and
• communicate said stored viewing data to one or more network providers for determining customized services for said ACR-enabled connected TV device and/or said paired device.