Computerized, copy detection and discrimination apparatus and method

A method to analyze digital data streams retrieved from a digital network, the method comprising, by one or more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more memory devices operably coupled to the one or more CPUs, performing:

• receiving, by a first data stream processor, a first data stream consisting of network digital traffic and a second data stream consisting of other network digital traffic;
• selecting the first data stream from first digital traffic traveling on the first digital network;
• selecting the second data stream from second digital traffic selected from data on one of the first digital network and a second digital network, distinct from the first digital network;
• executing, by the data stream processor, at least one method to identify first and second samples selected from the first and second data streams, respectively, by using addresses of digital data in the first and second data streams;
• characterizing commonality between the first and second data streams, by the data stream processor generating first and second processed results by executing the first and second samples, respectively, whereby a first commonality reflects a first mathematically recognized pattern characterizing a relation between the first and second samples and is less than a second commonality reflecting a second mathematically recognized pattern characterizing a relation between the first and second processed results;
• and
• identifying, by a comparator functioning independently from sampling rate, segments common to both the first and second samples by comparing directly corresponding segments from the first and second processed results.

An article constituted by one or more non-transitory, computer-readable memory devices storing modules executable by one or more CPUs, the modules comprising:

• a data stream processor module programmed to receive a first data stream consisting of first digital traffic on a network;
• the data stream processor module further programmed to receive a second data stream consisting of second digital traffic on a network;
• the data stream processor module further programmed to translate the first and second data streams to generate respective first and second processed data streams, commonality between the first and second processed data streams being greater than the commonality between the first and second data streams;
• the data stream processor module, further programmed to execute at least one method to identify first and second samples based on content of, and using addresses of digital data in, the first and second data streams, respectively;
• the data stream processor module further programmed to translate the first and second samples to generate the first and second data streams as processed samples;
• and
• a comparator module programmed to compare the first and second processed samples and identify segments common to both the first and second processed samples.