Automatic identification of DVD title using internet technologies and fuzzy matching techniques

• US 20050019008A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gracenote, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Commons, Christopher, Madar, Piero
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia

Abstract

An iterative search technique is used to quickly and accurately locate information in a database, such as one storing information about digital versatile discs (DVDs). First, a presumably unique search key is generated for an unidentified DVD and compared with corresponding keys in a database. If no match is found progressively less specific information is used to generate a series of search keys that are similarly compared with corresponding keys in the database. If at least one possibly matching record is found, it is determined whether the best matching record can be considered a match, otherwise, less specific information is used to search for a match until predefined least specific information is used.

Claims

1. A method of finding at least one record in a database corresponding to an unidentified digital versatile disc, comprising:

receiving unique information about the unidentified digital versatile disc, the unique information including at least one non-blank information field selected from a title of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a volume name of the unidentified digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the unidentified digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the unidentified digital versatile disc; and

identifying possibly matching records in a database of information about digital versatile discs using the unique information about the unidentified digital versatile disc.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising reading at least one of the volume name of the unidentified digital versatile disc and the time stamp information for creation of a master of the unidentified digital versatile disc from Universal Disk Format sectors of the unidentified digital versatile disc.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising reading at least one of the number of titles, the number of chapters per title, and the number of frames per chapter from Video Manager Information and Video Title Set Information data on the unidentified digital versatile disc.

4-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for finding at least one record in a database corresponding to an unidentified digital versatile disc, comprising:

an input unit to obtain at least one non-blank information field from the unidentified digital versatile disc, the at least one non-blank information field being selected from a title of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a volume name of the unidentified digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the unidentified digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the unidentified digital versatile disc;

a storage unit to store a database of information about digital versatile discs; and

a processor, coupled to said input unit and said storage unit, to identify possibly matching records in the database of information about digital versatile discs using the at least one non-blank information field from the unidentified digital versatile disc.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said processor, said storage unit and said input unit are connected locally.

23. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a connection to a computer network to provide communication between said processor and said storage unit disposed at remote locations.

24. A system for finding at least one record in a database corresponding to an unidentified digital versatile disc, comprising:

means for receiving unique information about the unidentified digital versatile disc, the unique information including at least one non-blank information field selected from a title of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a volume name of the unidentified digital versatile disc, time stamp information for creation of a master of the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of titles on the unidentified digital versatile disc, a number of chapters per title on the unidentified digital versatile disc, and a number of frames per chapter on the unidentified digital versatile disc; and

means for identifying possibly matching records in a database of information about digital versatile discs using the unique information from the unidentified digital versatile disc.