Media processing methods and arrangements

• US 8,490,128 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Bruce L., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Application Number:
  US13/191,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20110283319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/167 Audio streaming, i.e. formatting and decoding of an encoded audio signal representation into a data stream for transmission or storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 : Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 : involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83 : Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). Some aspects of the technology allow users to easily transfer displayed content from cell phone screens onto a television screens for easier viewing, or vice versa for content portability. Others enable users to participate interactively in entertainment content, such as by submitting plot directions, audio input, character names, etc., yielding more engaging, immersive, user experiences. Still other aspects of the technology involve a program directory database, compiled automatically from information reported by network nodes that watch and identify content traffic passing into (and/or out of) networked computers. By identifying content resident at a number of different repositories (e.g., web sites, TV networks, P2P systems, etc.), such a directory allows cell phone users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtained—some available on a scheduled basis, others available on demand. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the user—serving to identify sources for desired content, from which application software can pick for content downloading, based, e.g., on context and stored profile data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

inferring identification of entertainment content being presented to a user using a processor configured to perform such act, the inferred identification being probabilistic, including a first probability that a first item of content is being presented to the user, and a lesser probability that a second item of content is being presented to the user;

determining plural items of auxiliary content to be proposed to the user for enjoyment with the entertainment content, wherein said determining takes into account said probabilities; and

presenting a menu from which the user can select from among the determined items of auxiliary content;

wherein the determining comprises determining N items of auxiliary content related to the first item of content, and M items of auxiliary content related to the second item of content, where N>

M, and at least one of M and N is two or more.

2. A method comprising:

making an initial inference about content to which a user presently is being exposed using a processor configured to perform such act, wherein said initial inference is based on stored history data;

collecting data useful in confirming or refuting the initial inference, said collected data being independent of stored history data, said collecting comprising sampling of sound or imagery of the content to which the user presently is being exposed, and processing same using a fingerprinting or digital watermarking technique to determine whether a fingerprint or watermark is consistent with the initial inference;

making a refined conclusion based on said initial inference and the collected data; and

providing ancillary content based on said refined conclusion.

3. A method comprising:

making an initial inference identifying content to which a user presently is being exposed using a processor configured to perform such act, wherein said initial inference about the identity of the content is based on position data about the user'"'"'s location;

collecting data useful in confirming or refuting the initial inference, said collecting comprising sampling of sound or imagery of the content to which the user presently is being exposed, and processing same using a fingerprinting or digital watermarking technique to determine whether a fingerprint or watermark is consistent with the initial inference;

making a refined conclusion based on said initial inference and the collected data; and

providing ancillary content based on said refined conclusion.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the position data additionally includes information about whether the user is stationary or in motion.

5. The method of claim 3 that includes making the initial inference about content to which a user presently is being exposed based both on data about the user'"'"'s location and on data about a location of a content source.

6. A system including one or more processors, a display, and one or more memories, said one or more memories containing software instructions that configure the system to perform acts including:

inferring identification of entertainment content being presented to a user, the inferred identification being probabilistic, including a first probability that a first item of content is being presented to the user, and a lesser probability that a second item of content is being presented to the user;

determining plural items of auxiliary content to be proposed to the user for enjoyment with the entertainment content, wherein said determining takes into account said probabilities; and

presenting a menu from which the user can select from among the determined items of auxiliary content;

wherein the determining comprises determining N items of auxiliary content related to the first item of content, and M items of auxiliary content related to the second item of content, where N>

M, and at least one of M and N is two or more.

7. A system including one or more processors, and one or more memories, said one or more memories containing software instructions that are operable to configure the system to perform acts including:

making an initial inference about content to which a user presently is being exposed, wherein said initial inference is based on stored history data or is based on position data about the user'"'"'s location;

collecting data useful in confirming or refuting the initial inference, said collecting comprising sampling of sound or imagery of the content to which the user presently is being exposed, and processing same using a fingerprinting or digital watermarking technique to determine whether a fingerprint or watermark is consistent with the initial inference;

making a refined conclusion based on said initial inference and the collected data; and

providing ancillary content based on said refined conclusion.

8. The system of claim 7 in which said software instructions are operable to configure the system to make said initial inference about content to which the user presently is being exposed, based on stored history data.

9. The system of claim 7 in which said software instructions are operable to configure the system to make said initial inference about content to which the user presently is being exposed, based on position data about the user'"'"'s location.