METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VIDEO WITH EMBEDDED MEDIA

• US 20100183279A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: NeuroFocus Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Pradeep, Anantha, Knight, Robert T., Gurumoorthy, Ramachandran
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/278
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects

Abstract

A system modifies video by embedding portions of media, such as subsets of image pixels, in video frames. When the video is played at normal speed, the media is not discernible. However, when the video is played at an accelerated rate in the forward or reverse direction, the portions of images embedded in video frames coalesce into discernible media. The embedded media may be simple text, images, video, audio, or other media. The system may also evaluate base videos as well as insertion media using neuro-response measurements to determine how and what type of media to embed. The media may be embedded in real-time or near real-time into video for delivery to a user for playback on devices such as digital video recorders, computer systems, software and hardware players, cable boxes, etc.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

dividing media into a plurality of media portions including a first media portion, a second media portion, and a third media portion;

receiving a video including a plurality of frames including a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame;

blending the first media portion with the first frame, the second image media with the second frame, and the third media portion with the third frame;

wherein the media reaches a discernibility threshold when the video is played at a variety of accelerated rates and does not reach the discernibility threshold when the video is played at a normal speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media is discernible when played at an accelerated rate in the forward and reverse direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of media portions comprise a subset of the plurality of image pixels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of media portions corresponds to the multiple of the most common accelerated rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media is an image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein blending comprises adjusting the hue, saturation, and value of the plurality of media portions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein survey data is used to determine the discernibility threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein neuro-response data is used to determine the discernibibility threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of modalities are used to obtain neuro-response data, the plurality of modalities including electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hue, saturation, and value of the plurality of media portions are adjusted during blending.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame are intra-coded frames.

12. A system, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a video including a plurality of frames including a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame;

a processor operable to divide media into a plurality of media portions including a first media portion, a second media portion, and a third media portion and blend the first media portion with the first frame, the second image media with the second frame, and the third media portion with the third frame;

wherein the media reaches a discernibility threshold when the video is played at a variety of accelerated rates and does not reach the discernibility threshold when the video is played at a normal speed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the media is discernible when played at an accelerated rate in the forward and reverse direction.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of media portions comprise a subset of the plurality of image pixels.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the number of media portions corresponds to the multiple of the most common accelerated rate.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the media is an image.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein blending comprises adjusting the hue, saturation, and value of the plurality of media portions.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein survey and neuro-response data is used to determine the discernibility threshold.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of modalities are used to obtain neuro-response data, the plurality of modalities including electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG).

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for dividing media into a plurality of media portions including a first media portion, a second media portion, and a third media portion;

means for receiving a video including a plurality of frames including a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame;

means for blending the first media portion with the first frame, the second image media with the second frame, and the third media portion with the third frame;

wherein the media reaches a discernibility threshold when the video is played at a variety of accelerated rates and does not reach the discernibility threshold when the video is played at a normal speed.