SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED LOCAL CONTENT IDENTIFICATION

• US 20100131986A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ramsdell, Blake C., Dickinson, Robert D. III, Sievert, Michael, Locker, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods to identify local market media content utilizing a disturbed system and to determine what additional content is relevant in a self-aware, automatic way. A central location stores identification information and related content so in the future it is available if and when another user watches the same content. Therefore, the next time local market media content is played, it can be identified and additional related content can be quickly (e.g. in real time) made available.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions that when executed by the one or more processors enables the apparatus to;

receive information necessary for identification of local market media content from one or more remote devices; and

provide related content to the one or more remote devices based on the identification of local market media content.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tangible database having the related content stored therein.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the program of instructions further enables the apparatus to determine one or more local media markets for which the related content is lacking in said tangible database.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program of instructions further enables the apparatus to instruct one or more remote devices to enter an information-gathering mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program of instructions further enables the apparatus to perform an identification of the local market media based upon the received information and consultation of an Internet program guide.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program of instructions further enables the apparatus to automatically obtain the related content based upon the received information and an Internet query.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the received information comprises a watermark.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the received information comprises one or more of audio data and closed caption data.

9. A method comprising:

receiving at an electronic device information necessary for identification of local market media content from one or more remote devices; and

provide related content to the one or more remote devices based on the identification of local market media content.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing the related content in a tangible database.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising determining one or more local media markets for which the related content is lacking in said tangible database.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising instructing one or more remote devices to enter an information-gathering mode.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising performing an identification of the local market media based upon the received information and consultation of an Internet program guide.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising automatically obtaining the related content based upon the received information and an Internet query.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the received information comprises a watermark.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the received information comprises one or more of audio data and closed caption data.

17. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions that when executed by the one or more processors enables the apparatus to;

capture information necessary for identification of local market media content from a component media source;

provide the information necessary for identification of local market media content to a remote device; and

receive related content from the remote device based on the identification of local market media content.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information comprises one or more of a watermark, audio data and closed caption data.

19. A tangible program storage device, readable by machine, embodying a program of instructions that when executed by a processor of the machine enable the machine to:

capture information necessary for identification of local market media content from a component media source;

provide the information necessary for identification of local market media content to a remote device; and

receive related content from the remote device based on the identification of local market media content.

20. The tangible program storage device according to claim 19, wherein the information comprises one or more of a watermark, audio data and closed caption data.