Methods employing topical subject criteria in video processing

• US 8,036,421 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F., Davis, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth; Manav
• Application Number:
  US12/858,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100310119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 382100-140, 382181-231, 348460-468, 369/47.1, 369/47.12, 346/150.1, 346/137, 346/138, 725 86- 90, 725/97, 725227-230
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking

Abstract

The picture information of video can be used in various ways to identify the video or its topical subject matter. This enables numerous novel arrangements in which particular video of interest to a particular consumer can be discerned. A variety of other embodiments and features are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data, from a first user device, corresponding to first information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a first consumer;

receiving data, from a second user device, corresponding to second information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a second consumer;

processing, using a processor, a collection of video content, wherein the collection of video content comprises first and second segmented video objects, and wherein the processing comprises analyzing data representing a first segmented video object to thereby recognize same, and analyzing data representing a second segmented video object to thereby recognize same;

checking the recognized first segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

checking the recognized second segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

sending information, to the first user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the first consumer; and

sending information, to the second user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the second consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of video comprises video from plural different broadcast sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises discerning identification data from the first and second objects.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing comprises discerning digital watermarks that encode the first and second objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video portion comprises an advertisement.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising inserting the video portion in a commercial slot.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein inserting the video portion in a commercial slot comprises replacing an advertisement.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a collection of video content, wherein the collection of video content comprises first and second segmented video objects; and

a processor operably coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive data, from a first user device, corresponding to first information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a first consumer;

receive data, from a second user device, corresponding to second information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a second consumer;

analyze data in the collection of video content representing a first segmented video object to thereby recognize same,

analyze data in the collection of video content representing a second segmented video object in the collection of video content to thereby recognize same;

check the recognized first segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

check the recognized second segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

send information, to the first user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the first consumer; and

send information, to the second user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the second consumer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the collection of video comprises video from plural different broadcast sources.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to discern identification data from the first and second objects.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to discern digital watermarks that encode the first and second objects.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the video portion comprises an advertisement.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to insert the video portion in a commercial slot.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to replace an advertisement in a commercial slot with the video portion.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive data, from a first user device, corresponding to first information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a first consumer;

instructions to receive data, from a second user device, corresponding to second information that identifies plural topical subjects of interest to a second consumer;

instructions to process a collection of video content, wherein the collection of video content comprises first and second segmented video objects, and wherein the instructions to process comprise instructions to analyze data representing a first segmented video object to thereby recognize same, and instructions to analyze data representing a second segmented video object to thereby recognize same;

instructions to check the recognized first segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

instructions to check the recognized second segmented video object to determine possible correspondence with a topical subject of interest to the first or second consumer, as indicated by the received first and second information;

instructions to send information, to the first user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the first consumer; and

instructions to send information, to the second user device, relating to a video portion in which the first object or the second object was recognized, based upon the first object or the second object corresponding with the plural topical subjects of interest of the second consumer.

16. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the collection of video comprises video from plural different broadcast sources.

17. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions to discern identification data from the first and second objects.

18. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, comprising instructions to discern digital watermarks that encode the first and second objects.

19. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the video portion comprises an advertisement.

20. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions to replace an advertisement in a commercial slot with the video portion.