Dynamic video overlays

• US 10,136,183 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gracenote, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Cremer, Markus K., Dunker, Peter, Scherf, Steven D., Pearce, David Henry, Li, Sherman Ling Fung, Harron, Wilson, Dimitriou, Konstantinos Antonios, Lee, Dewey Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US15/381,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A client device accesses a video input stream from an intermediate device for display. The client device analyzes the video input stream to determine that the video input stream matches a template indicating a change of content source. The analysis is performed while the client device is generating a video output stream that replaces video content received from a content source via the intermediate device. Based on the video input stream matching the template, the client device ceases replacement of the video input stream. The client device continues to analyze the video input stream and determines that the video input stream matches a second template indicating a return to the original content source. Based on the video input stream matching the second template, the client device resumes replacement of the video input stream.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically providing a video overlay, the method comprising:

accessing, by one or more processors, a video input stream that includes first video content from a first content provider;

based on the first video content of the video input stream, selecting replacement video content for a video output stream, wherein the replacement video content of the video output stream is different from the first video content of the video input stream, wherein the replacement video content is selected in response to a video identification system receiving a query fingerprint from a query fingerprint generator of a client device and the video identification system identifying a match between the query fingerprint and at least one reference fingerprint generated by a reference fingerprint generator, wherein the query fingerprint is generated based on a frame of the first video content, and wherein the video identification system and the reference fingerprint generator are remote from the client device;

causing the replacement video content of the video output stream to be presented on a display of the client device;

while the display is presenting the replacement video content of the video output stream, determining, by the one or more processors, that a first change in the video input stream has occurred, wherein the first change indicates a change from the first content provider to a second content provider of the video input stream has occurred, wherein the video input stream includes second video content from the second content provider after the first change has occurred;

in response to determining the change from the first content provider to the second content provider has occurred, causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display instead of the replacement video content;

after causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display;

accessing, from a database, a template corresponding to a screen portion of the display for third video content generated by an intermediate device;

analyzing, by the one or more processors, the video input stream to determine that at least a portion of the third video content of a frame of the video input stream matches the template when the video input stream includes the first video content from the first content provider and the third video content generated by the intermediate device, wherein the third video content is configured to be presented on the display to indicate an identity of the first content provider;

based on the at least the portion of the third video content of the frame of the video input stream matching the template, determining that a second change in the video input stream indicates a return to the first content provider of the video input stream; and

in response to the determination that the first content provider of the video input stream has been returned to;

modifying the video output stream to include the replacement video content and the third video content, and

causing a presentation of the replacement video content and the third video content of the modified video output stream on the display, wherein the third video content is presented as the video overlay on the replacement video content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selecting of the video output stream comprises sending to a replacement video content server a request, which includes an indication of the first video content to be replaced.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending of the request comprises:

generating, by the one or more processors, a fingerprint of the video input stream; and

comparing the fingerprint of the video input stream to a fingerprint of content to be replaced.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the video input stream is received via a first communication network and the replacement video content is received via a second communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the change in the video input stream indicates the change from the first content provider to the second content provider of the video input stream comprises:

generating a sequence of fingerprints from the video input stream; and

comparing successive fingerprints of the sequence of fingerprints to successive fingerprints of content to be replaced.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content provider is a cable television station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing of the video input stream to determine that at least the portion of the third video content of the frame of the video input stream matches the template comprises:

downsampling the frame of the video input stream;

determining a cross-correlation between the downsampled frame and the template; and

comparing the cross-correlation to a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate device is a set-top box,

wherein accessing the video input stream comprises receiving, by one or more processors, the video input stream from the set-top box, and

wherein the third video content is configured to be presented on the display to indicate the identity of the first content provider responsive to a change in the video input stream from the second content provider to the first content provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein when the video input stream includes the first video content from the first content provider and the third video content generated by the intermediate device, the first video content is configured to be presented in a first screen portion of the display and the third video content is configured to be presented in a second screen portion of the display, and

wherein modifying the video output stream to include the replacement video content and the third video content comprising modifying the video output stream to include the replacement video content in first screen portion of the display and the third video content in the second screen portion of the display.

10. A system for dynamically providing a video overlay, the system comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

one or more processors configured by the instructions to perform operations comprising;

accessing a video input stream that includes first video content from a first content provider;

based on the first video content of the video input stream, selecting replacement video content for a video output stream, wherein the replacement video content of the video output stream is different from the first video content of the video input stream, wherein the replacement video content is selected in response to a video identification system receiving a query fingerprint from a query fingerprint generator of a client device and the video identification system identifying a match between the query fingerprint and at least one reference fingerprint generated by a reference fingerprint generator, wherein the query fingerprint is generated based on a frame of the first video content, and wherein the video identification system and the reference fingerprint generator are remote from the client device;

causing the replacement video content of the video output stream to be presented on a display of the client device;

while the display is presenting the replacement video content of the video output stream, determining, by the one or more processors, that a first change in the video input stream has occurred, wherein the first change indicates a change from the first content provider to a second content provider of the video input stream has occurred, wherein the video input stream includes second video content from the second content provider after the first change has occurred;

in response to determining the change from the first content provider to the second content provider has occurred, causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display instead of the replacement video content;

after causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display;

accessing, from a database, a template corresponding to a screen portion of the display for third video content generated by an intermediate device;

analyzing the video input stream to determine that at least a portion of the third video content of a frame of the video input stream matches the template when the video input stream includes the first video content from the first content provider and the third video content generated by the intermediate device, wherein the third video content is configured to be presented on the display to indicate an identity of the first content provider;

based on the at least the portion of the third video content of the frame of the video input stream matching the template, determining that a second change in the video input stream indicates a return to the first content provider of the video input stream; and

in response to the determination that the first content provider of the video input stream has been returned to;

modifying the video output stream to include the replacement video content and the third video content, and

causing a presentation of the replacement video content and the third video content of the modified video output stream on the display, wherein the third video content is presented as the video overlay on the replacement video content.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the selecting of the video output stream comprises sending to a replacement content server a request, which includes an indication of the first video content to be replaced.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sending of the request comprises:

generating a fingerprint of the video input stream; and

comparing the fingerprint of the video input stream to a fingerprint of content to be replaced.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the video input stream is received via a first communication network and the replacement video content is received via a second communication network.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the determining that the change in the video input stream indicates the change from the first content provider to the second content provider of the video input stream comprises:

generating a sequence of fingerprints from the video input stream; and

comparing successive fingerprints of the sequence of fingerprints to successive fingerprints of content to be replaced.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first content provider is a cable television station.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the analyzing of the video input stream to determine that at least the portion of the third video content of the frame of the video input stream matches the template comprises:

downsampling the frame of the video input stream;

determining a cross-correlation between the downsampled frame and the template; and

comparing the cross-correlation to a threshold.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

accessing a video input stream that includes first video content from a first content provider;

based on the first video content of the video input stream, selecting replacement video content for a video output stream, wherein the replacement video content of the video output stream is different from the first video content of the video input stream, wherein the replacement video content is selected in response to a video identification system receiving a query fingerprint from a query fingerprint generator of a client device and the video identification system identifying a match between the query fingerprint and at least one reference fingerprint generated by a reference fingerprint generator, wherein the query fingerprint is generated based on a frame of the first video content, and wherein the video identification system and the reference fingerprint generator are remote from the client device;

causing the replacement video content of the video output stream to be presented on a display of the client device;

while the display is presenting the replacement video content of the video output stream, determining, by the one or more processors, that a first change in the video input stream has occurred, wherein the first change indicates a change from the first content provider to a second content provider of the video input stream has occurred, wherein the video input stream includes second video content from the second content provider after the first change has occurred;

in response to determining the first change from the first content provider to the second content provider has occurred, causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display instead of the replacement video content;

after causing the second video content of the video input stream to be presented on the display;

accessing, from a database, a template corresponding to a screen portion of the display for third video content generated by an intermediate device;

analyzing the video input stream to determine that at least a portion of the third video content of a frame of the video input stream matches the template when the video input stream includes the first video content from the first content provider and the third video content generated by the intermediate device, wherein the third video content is configured to be presented on the display to indicate an identity of the first content provider;

based on the at least the portion of the third video content of the frame of the video input stream matching the template, determining that a second change in the video input stream indicates a return to the first content provider of the video input stream; and

in response to the determination that the first content provider of the video input stream has been returned to;

modifying the video output stream to include the replacement video content and the third video content, and

causing a presentation of the replacement video content and the third video content of the modified video output stream on the display, wherein the third video content is presented as a video overlay on the replacement video content.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein:

the selecting of the video output stream comprises sending to a replacement content server a request, which includes an indication of the first video content to be replaced.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the sending of the request comprises:

generating a fingerprint of the video input stream; and

comparing the fingerprint of the video input stream to a fingerprint of content to be replaced.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the determining that the change in the video input stream indicates the change from the first content provider to the second content provider of the video input stream comprises:

generating a sequence of fingerprints from the video input stream; and

comparing successive fingerprints of the sequence of fingerprints to successive fingerprints of content to be replaced.