Method and apparatus for automatically creating database for use in automated media recognition system

• US 20020161741A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shazam Entertainment Limited (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Dheeraj Shankar, Barton, Christopher Jacques Penrose, Inghelbrecht, Philip, Wang, Avery Li-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A method for automatically creating a database of parameters (e.g., fingerprints/landmarks) used in a media sample recognition system. The user places a media sample in his media player, e.g., a CD or DVD player in his personal computer. A software process installed on the user'"'"'s personal computer, to which is connected the CD/DVD player, extracts the constellation or “raw parameters” from the CD tracks as the CD plays, or under control of the software process. This extraction process may operate in the background. These raw parameters are then transmitted via the Internet (or other computer network) to a server coupled to a recognition database. The raw parameters are stored in the database. At some point in time, the raw parameters are processed into fingerprint/landmarks (e.g., using linkage) using another software process and then stored either back in the database or in random access memory (RAM) for use during a subsequent recognition process. The media sample can also be simultaneously identified during playback, which identity information is then sent to the server coupled to the recognition database.

Claims

1. A method for automatically creating a database of fingerprints/landmarks related to known media samples for use in an audio recognition system, comprising:

extracting a plurality of parameters from a media including a known media sample during a playing of the media by a user;

transmitting the plurality of parameters to a predetermined server on a communication network, which predetermined server is coupled to a recognition database;

storing the plurality of parameters in the recognition database along with an identity of the known media sample; and

processing the plurality of parameters into a plurality of fingerprints/landmarks used in a recognition process.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending, simultaneously with transmitting the plurality of parameters to the server, metadata used to identify the media sample to a second predetermined server; and

forwarding a resulting identification to the server coupled to the recognition database.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising returning the resulting identification to the user and then uploading the resulting identification with transmitting of the plurality of parameters.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the resulting identification is forwarded directly to the first predetermined server coupled to the recognition database.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a check prior to extracting the plurality of parameters to determine whether the recognition database currently holds a latest version of the media sample before extracting the plurality of parameters.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media includes a compact disk or digital video disk that is played on the user'"'"'s personal computer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media includes a streaming media sample being played on the user'"'"'s personal computer.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media includes a file stored on a memory device of the user'"'"'s personal computer.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the extracting process includes scanning the memory device to locate the file and extracting the plurality of parameters from the file.

10. A method for automatically creating a database of fingerprints/landmarks related to known media samples for use in an audio recognition system, comprising:

extracting a plurality of parameters from a media;

transmitting the plurality of parameters to a predetermined server on a communication network, which predetermined server is coupled to a recognition database;

storing the plurality of parameters in the recognition database; and

processing the plurality of parameters into a plurality of fingerprints/landmarks used in a recognition process.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

sending, simultaneously with transmitting the plurality of parameters to the server, metadata used to identify the media sample to a second predetermined server; and

forwarding a resulting identification to the server coupled to the recognition database.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising returning the resulting identification to the user and then uploading the resulting identification with transmitting of the plurality of parameters.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the resulting identification is forwarded directly to the first predetermined server coupled to the recognition database in association with the stored parameters for said media sample.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising performing a check prior to extracting the plurality of parameters to determine whether the recognition database currently holds a latest version of the media sample before extracting the plurality of parameters.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the media includes a compact disk or digital video disk.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the media includes a streaming media sample.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the media includes a file stored on a memory device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the extracting process includes scanning the memory device to locate the file and extracting the plurality of parameters from the file.