ADVERTISEMENT SIGNATURE TRACKING

• US 20090320060A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Application Number:
  US12/143,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• 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 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Advertisement signature tracking is described. In embodiment(s), a video feed of television media content can be received for distribution to media devices, and the video feed can include advertisements. An advertisement can be detected in the video feed of the television media content, and a signature of the advertisement can be generated. Occurrences of the advertisement can then be detected and tracked by the signature of the advertisement when the advertisement is subsequently received via the video feed and/or broadcast for viewing.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a video feed of television media content for distribution to media devices, the video feed including advertisements;

detecting an advertisement in the video feed of the television media content;

generating a signature of the advertisement; and

detecting occurrences of the advertisement by the signature when the advertisement is subsequently received via the video feed.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising detecting the occurrences of the advertisement by the signature when the advertisement is subsequently broadcast for viewing.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a product or service that is advertised in the advertisement.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising generating an image representation of the advertisement that represents a product or service advertised in the advertisement.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the signature of the advertisement is generated based on the image representation of the advertisement.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising tracking the occurrences of the advertisement to compile distribution data corresponding to the advertisement.

6. A method as recited in 4, wherein the image representation of the advertisement includes an image of the product shown in the advertisement.

7. A method as recited in 4, wherein the image representation of the advertisement includes a text label of the product shown in the advertisement.

9. A content distributor, comprising:

a media content server configured to receive a video feed of television media content for distribution to media devices, the video feed including advertisements;

an advertisement tracking service configured to;

detect an advertisement in the video feed of the television media content;

generate a signature of the advertisement; and

detect occurrences of the advertisement by the signature when the advertisement is subsequently received via the video feed.

10. A content distributor as recited in claim 9, wherein the advertisement tracking service is further configured to detect the occurrences of the advertisement by the signature when the advertisement is subsequently broadcast for viewing.

11. A content distributor as recited in claim 9, wherein the advertisement tracking service is further configured to determine a product or service that is advertised in the advertisement.

12. A content distributor as recited in claim 9, wherein the advertisement tracking service is further configured to generate an image representation of the advertisement that represents a product or service advertised in the advertisement.

13. A content distributor as recited in claim 12, wherein the signature of the advertisement is generated based on the image representation of the advertisement.

14. A content distributor as recited in claim 12, wherein the image representation of the advertisement includes an image of the product shown in the advertisement.

15. A content distributor as recited in claim 12, wherein the image representation of the advertisement includes a text label of the product shown in the advertisement.

16. A content distributor as recited in claim 9, wherein the advertisement tracking service is further configured to track the occurrences of the advertisement to compile distribution data corresponding to the advertisement.

17. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a content distributor to:

receive a video feed of television media content for distribution to media devices, the video feed including advertisements;

detect an advertisement in the video feed of the television media content;

generate a signature of the advertisement; and

detect occurrences of the advertisement by the signature when the advertisement is subsequently received via the video feed.

18. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the content distributor to generate an image representation of the advertisement that represents a product or service advertised in the advertisement.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the content distributor to generate the signature of the advertisement based on the image representation of the advertisement.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the content distributor to track the occurrences of the advertisement to compile distribution data corresponding to the advertisement.