(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0020647 A1
`Vogel
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`US 20120020647A1
`
`(54) FILTERING REPEATED CONTENT
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(75) Inventor:
`
`Brian K. Vogel, Weidman, MI (US)
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`ROVITECHNOLOGES
`CORPORATION, Santa Clara, CA
`(US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/840,731
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 21, 2010
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04N 9/80
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................. 386/251: 386/E09.011
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A fingerprint generator generates at least one fingerprint
`based on a portion of an input content stream and communi
`cates the at least one fingerprint to a content recognizer. A
`content stream selector receives a media content identifier
`from the content recognizer corresponding to the at least one
`fingerprint and performs filtering on a portion of the input
`content stream containing a clip, the clip corresponding to the
`media content identifier.
`
`2
`
`O
`
`130
`
`Content
`Source(s)
`
`102
`
`112
`
`
`
`Network
`(e.g., Internet)
`
`122
`Communications
`M
`Interface
`
`120
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`132
`
`
`
`106e
`
`EX1061
`Roku V. Media Chain
`U.S. Patent No. 9,715,581
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Content Source(s)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`O4.
`
`interna
`Database of
`Fingerprints (FP),
`ProgDs, Media IDs, and
`Parameter Settings,
`Alternate Media Content,
`etc.
`
`
`
`
`
`106
`
`
`
`\ ^
`
`
`
`116
`
`
`
`
`
`NetWork
`(e.g., internet)
`
`External Database of
`Fingerprints (FP),
`Prog Ds, Media Ds,
`and Parameter
`Settings, Asternate
`Media Content, etc.
`
`114
`-
`Tditional Ch
`
`
`
`110
`
`Scheduled
`Listings
`Data
`
`FIGURE 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
`
`200
`
`130
`
`106a
`
`106b
`106C
`
`TV
`
`PC
`Gaming
`l Device
`
`106d
`
`DVR
`
`
`
`106e
`
`so 102
`
`112
`
`NetWork
`(e.g., Internet)
`
`122
`Communications
`Interface M
`
`120
`
`ROuter
`
`132
`
`FIGURE 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
`
`
`
`External
`Database of
`Fingerprints (FP),
`Prog. IDs, Media IDs,
`and Parameter Values,
`Alternate Media Content,
`etc.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`104
`
`
`
`Scheduled
`Listings
`Data
`
`Network
`
`(99-9 r114 Traditional
`Scheduled
`listings
`Data Path
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Output
`interface
`
`Communications
`interface
`
`
`
`|
`
`212
`
`214
`
`Processor
`
`Memory
`
`
`
`
`
`input
`interface
`
`Content Source(s)
`(With Audio)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Storage
`
`internal
`Database of
`Fingerprints (FP),
`ProgDs,
`Media Ds, and
`Parameter Walues,
`Alternate Media
`Content, etc.
`
`204
`
`
`
`Remote
`Contro
`
`108
`
`
`
`FIGURE 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 4 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Example with maximum repetition count = 2
`
`Count = 1 Count F 2
`
`Count F 2 Count = 3
`
`Count = 3
`
`S-C
`filte
`
`Input stream
`Count F 1
`
`time
`
`Output stream
`
`
`
`
`
`time
`
`
`
`FIGURE 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 5 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Example with maximum repetition count = 2
`
`Count F 1 Count = 2
`
`Count F 2 Count = 3
`
`Count = 3
`
`filter
`
`Input stream
`Count F 1
`
`time
`
`Output stream
`
`
`
`
`
`time
`
`
`
`
`
`= clip A
`
`- clip B
`
`
`
`
`
`= alternate content clip 1
`
`= alternate content clip 2
`
`FIGURE 5
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Z |
`
`· · ·
`
`> ?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 26, 2012 Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Processor
`Device
`
`710
`
`
`
`
`
`700
`
`Main
`Memory
`
`725
`
`BUS 705
`
`Mass
`Storage
`Device
`730
`
`Peripheral
`Device(s)
`
`740
`
`Input
`Control
`Device(s)
`780
`
`Portable
`Storage
`Medium Device
`750
`
`Graphics
`Subsystem
`
`760
`
`Output
`Display
`
`770
`
`FIGURE 7
`
`

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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`FILTERING REPEATED CONTENT
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`0001 1. Field
`0002 Example aspects of the invention generally relate to
`managing video, television programs, music and/or other
`media content.
`0003 2. Related Art
`0004 Commercial skipping is a feature that makes it pos
`sible to skip commercials in recorded programs. Some video
`recorders skip advertisements by detecting specific audio
`tracks provided for many programs. Such as a brief period of
`silence or other predetermined audio or video segments. Oth
`ers permit users to skip or fast forward through a segment a
`predetermined interval of time.
`0005. In response to consumer complaints that personal
`(or digital) video recording (PVR or DVR, respectively) soft
`ware causes recorded files to take up too much hard disk
`space, some independent developers have developed soft
`ware that causes the commercial segments to be skipped or
`permanently removed from the recorded video files.
`0006. One technical challenge in developing a robust con
`tent filter is to remove only content other than the show while
`leaving the show intact. Another technical challenge involves
`providing the user with the ability to adjust parameters that
`specify whether and to what extent content is filtered before
`the actual filtering is performed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION
`
`0007. The example embodiments described herein meet
`the above-identified needs by providing methods, systems
`and computer readable-medium for filtering a content stream.
`0008. In one embodiment, a fingerprint generator gener
`ates at least one fingerprint based on a portion of an input
`content stream and communicates the at least one fingerprint
`to a content recognizer. A content stream selector receives a
`media content identifier from the content recognizer corre
`sponding to the at least one fingerprint and performs filtering
`on a portion of the input content stream containing a clip, the
`clip corresponding to the media content identifier.
`0009. In another embodiment, a content stream is per
`formed by generating at least one fingerprint based on a
`portion of an input content stream; communicating the at least
`one fingerprint to a content recognizer, receiving a media
`content identifier from the content recognizer corresponding
`to the at least one fingerprint; and filtering a portion of the
`input content stream containing a clip, the clip corresponding
`to the media content identifier. In yet another embodiment,
`these steps are stored as instructions in a non-transitory com
`puter-readable medium, which when executed by a processor
`perform the content stream filtering.
`0010 Further features and advantages, as well as the struc
`ture and operation, of various example embodiments of the
`invention are described in detail below with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`0011. The features and advantages of the example
`embodiments of the invention presented herein will become
`more apparent from the detailed description set forth below
`when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
`
`0012 FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an exemplary content
`removal system in which some embodiments are imple
`mented.
`0013 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example home
`network in which some embodiments are implemented.
`0014 FIG. 3 illustrates a content removal system and pro
`vides a more detailed diagram of a filter in accordance with
`Some embodiments.
`0015 FIG. 4 is a timing diagram showing an input stream
`being filtered in accordance with an example embodiment.
`0016 FIG. 5 is another timing diagram showing an input
`stream being filtered in accordance with an example embodi
`ment.
`0017 FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram for a content filtering
`system that can be used to perform filtering methods.
`0018 FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a general and/or special
`purpose computer, in accordance with some embodiments.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`I. Overview
`0019. The example embodiments of the invention pre
`sented herein are directed to methods, systems and computer
`program products for removing repeated content, which are
`described in terms of an example consumer device which
`filters content streams by using audio recognition. This
`description is not intended to limit the application of the
`example embodiments presented herein. In fact, after reading
`the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in
`the relevant art(s) how to implement the following example
`embodiments in alternative embodiments, such as a service
`hosting or providing media content streaming. Similarly, rec
`ognition may be accomplished by using video recognition or
`other type of media content recognition.
`0020. In one embodiment, previously played content is
`removed from a content stream. The user can adjust param
`eters that specify the maximum repetition count, Such as the
`length or duration of the time window over which the system
`keeps track of the previously viewed content. Content that has
`been previously played a predetermined number of times can
`be filtered by either removing or replacing it with other con
`tent based on the parameter settings. It should be understood
`that the type of filtering performed on the data stream can
`vary. Filtering can be removing a portion of the content
`stream, replacing the original data stream, processing the
`content stream to produce a derivative of the original data
`stream, and the like.
`0021. In an exemplary use case for video, a TV program
`that has been recorded for later viewing using a DVR can be
`filtered. Typical TV programs contain a number of short
`repeating video clips, such as commercials. By automatically
`filtering out the clips that have already been played a prede
`termined number of times, a user need not waste time watch
`ing and manually skipping over them.
`0022. In another exemplary use case for Internet, analog,
`and satellite radio stations that air the same content Such as
`Songs, commercials, and announcements, several times
`within a predetermined period can be filtered. A theme song
`that has been played a predetermined number of times within
`a given time period, for example, can also be filtered by taking
`the theme song out or replacing it with alternate content.
`0023. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a
`device is programmed to receive content streams from one or
`more predetermined stations, identify pre-selected content
`
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`clips such as Songs and/or commercials that occur more than
`the preset repetition count in the stream, and removes Subse
`quent occurrences of those pre-selected content clips. The
`output of the system is a content stream Such that the pre
`selected content clips (e.g., Songs, commercials, and
`announcements) now occur at most a predetermined number
`of times.
`
`II. Definitions
`Album' means a collection of tracks. An album is
`0024
`typically originally published by an established entity, Such as
`a record label (e.g., a recording company Such as Warner
`Brothers and Universal Music).
`0025
`Audio Fingerprint” and "acoustic fingerprint”
`mean a measure of certain acoustic properties that is deter
`ministically generated from an audio signal that can be used
`to identify an audio sample and/or quickly locate similar
`items in an audio database. An audio fingerprint typically
`operates as a unique identifier for a particular item, such as,
`for example, a CD, a DVD and/or a Blu-ray Disc. An audio
`fingerprint is an independent piece of data that is not affected
`by metadata. RoviTM Corporation has databases that store
`over 25 million uniquefingerprints for various audio samples.
`Practical uses of audio fingerprints include without limitation
`identifying Songs, identifying records, identifying melodies,
`identifying tunes, identifying advertisements, monitoring
`radio broadcasts, monitoring multipoint and/or peer-to-peer
`networks, managing Sound effects libraries and identifying
`video files.
`0026
`Audio Fingerprinting” is the process of generating
`an audio fingerprint. U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,766, entitled
`“Method and System for Analyzing Digital Audio Files'.
`which is herein incorporated by reference, provides an
`example of an apparatus for audio fingerprinting an audio
`waveform. U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,078, entitled “Methods and
`Apparatus for Identifying Media Objects', which is herein
`incorporated by reference, provides an example of an appa
`ratus for generating an audio fingerprint of an audio record
`ing. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/686,779, entitled
`“Rolling Audio Recognition, which is herein incorporated
`by reference, provides an example of an apparatus for per
`forming rolling audio recognition of recordings. U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 12/686,804, entitled “Multi-Stage
`Lookup For Rolling Audio Recognition provides an
`example of performing a multi-stage lookup for rolling audio
`recognition, both of which are herein incorporated by refer
`CCC.
`0027) “Blu-ray” and “Blu-ray Disc' mean a disc format
`jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association and per
`Sonal computer and media manufacturers including Apple,
`Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer,
`Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson. The for
`mat was developed to enable recording, rewriting and play
`back of high-definition (HD) video, as well as storing large
`amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the
`storage capacity of conventional DVDs and can hold 25 GB
`on a single-layer disc and 800 GB on a 20-layer disc. More
`layers and more storage capacity may be feasible as well. This
`extra capacity combined with the use of advanced audio and/
`or video codecs offers consumers an unprecedented HD expe
`rience. While current disc technologies, such as CD and
`DVD, rely on a red laser to read and write data, the Blu-ray
`format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu
`ray. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (about 405 nm) is
`
`that it has a shorter wavelength than a red or infrared laser
`(about 650–780 nm). A shorter wavelength makes it possible
`to focus the laser spot with greater precision. This added
`precision allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in
`less space. Thus, it is possible to fit Substantially more data on
`a Blu-ray Disc even though a Blu-ray Disc may have substan
`tially similar physical dimensions as a traditional CD or
`DVD.
`0028 “Chapter” means an audio and/or video data block
`on a disc, such as a Blu-ray Disc, a CD or a DVD. A chapter
`stores at least a portion of an audio and/or video recording.
`0029. “Compact Disc (CD) means a disc used to store
`digital data. The CD was originally developed for storing
`digital audio. Standard CDs have a diameter of 740 mm and
`can typically hold up to 80 minutes of audio. There is also the
`mini-CD, with diameters ranging from 60 to 80 mm Mini
`CDs are sometimes used for CD singles and typically store up
`to 24 minutes of audio. CD technology has been adapted and
`expanded to include, without limitation, data storage CD
`ROM, write-once audio and data storage CD-R, rewritable
`media CD-RW, Super Audio CD (SACD), Video Compact
`Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), Photo
`CD, Picture CD, Compact Disc Interactive (CD-i), and
`Enhanced CD. The wavelength used by standard CD lasers is
`about 650–780 nm, and thus the light of a standard CD laser
`typically has a red color.
`0030. The terms “content,” “media content,” “multimedia
`content,” “program.” “multimedia program.” “show,” and the
`like, generally mean information that is delivered via a
`medium for a user to experience visually and/or aurally.
`Examples of content include audio content, image content,
`Video content, and digital recordings, such as photographs,
`television programming, movies, music, spoken audio,
`games, special features, scheduled media, on demand and/or
`pay per view content, broadcast content, multicast content,
`downloaded content, streamed content, and/or content deliv
`ered by another means.
`0031 “Content source” means an originator, provider,
`publisher, distributor and/or broadcaster of content. Example
`content sources include television broadcasters, radio broad
`casters, Web sites, printed media publishers, magnetic or
`optical media publishers, and the like.
`0032 “Content stream.” “data stream.” “audio stream.”
`“video stream,” “multimedia stream” and the like means data
`that is transferred at a rate Sufficient to support such applica
`tions that play multimedia content. “Content streaming.”
`"data streaming.” “audio streaming.” “video streaming.”
`“multimedia streaming.” and the like mean the continuous
`transfer of data across a network. The content stream can
`include any form of content Such as broadcast, cable, Internet
`or satellite radio and television, audio files, video files.
`0033) “Database' means a collection of data organized in
`Such a way that a computer program may quickly select
`desired pieces of the data. A database is an electronic filing
`system. In some implementations, the term “database' may
`be used as shorthand for "database management system’.
`0034 “Device” means software, hardware, or a combina
`tion thereof. A device may sometimes be referred to as an
`apparatus. Examples of a device include without limitation a
`software application such as Microsoft WordTM, a laptop
`computer, a database, a server, a display, a computer mouse,
`and a hard disk.
`0035 “DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a
`standard used by manufacturers of consumer electronics to
`
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`allow entertainment devices within the home to share their
`content with each other across a home network. A network
`may be a DLNA-compliant network.
`0036 “Digital Video Disc' (DVD) means a disc used to
`store digital data. The DVD was originally developed for
`storing digital video and digital audio data. Most DVDs have
`Substantially similar physical dimensions as compact discs
`(CDs), but DVDs store more than six times as much data.
`There is also the mini-DVD, with diameters ranging from 60
`to 80 mm DVD technology has been adapted and expanded to
`include DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+
`RW and DVD-RAM. The wavelength used by standard DVD
`lasers is about 605-650 nm, and thus the light of a standard
`DVD laser typically has a red color.
`0037 “Electronic program guide” or “EPG data provides
`a guide for Scheduled broadcast television. A guide may be
`displayed on-screen and can be used to allow a viewer to
`navigate, select, and discover content by time, title, channel,
`genre, etc. by use of a remote control, a keyboard, or other
`similar input devices. In addition, EPG data can be used to
`schedule future recording by a digital video recorder (DVR)
`or personal video recorder (PVR).
`0038 “Fuzzy search.” “fuzzy string search' and “approxi
`mate string search' mean a search for text strings that
`approximately or Substantially match a given text string pat
`tern. FuZZy searching may also be known as approximate or
`inexact matching. An exact match may inadvertently occur
`while performing a fuzzy search.
`0039) “Link' means an association with an object or an
`element in a memory. A link is typically a pointer. A pointer
`is a variable that contains the address of a location in memory.
`The location is the starting point of an allocated object, Such
`as an object or value type, or the element of an array. The
`memory may be located on a database or a database system.
`"Linking' means associating with, or pointing to, an object in
`memory.
`0040 “Media item” means an item of media content.
`0041. “Media item attribute’ means a metadata item cor
`responding to particular characteristics of a media item. Each
`media item attribute falls under a particular media item
`attribute category. Examples of media item attribute catego
`ries and associated media item attributes for music include
`cognitive attributes (e.g., simplicity, storytelling quality,
`melodic emphasis, Vocal emphasis, speech like quality,
`strong beat, good groove, fast pace), emotional attributes
`(e.g., intensity, upbeatness, aggressiveness, relaxing, mel
`lowness, sadness, romance, brokenheart), aesthetic attributes
`(e.g., Smooth Vocals, Soulful vocals, high Vocals, sexy vocals,
`powerful vocals, great Vocals), Social behavioral attributes
`(e.g., easy listening, wild dance party, slow dancing, workout,
`shopping mall), genre attributes (e.g., alternative, blues,
`country, electronic/dance, folk, gospel, jazz, Latin, new age,
`R&B/soul, rap/hip hop, reggae, rock), Sub genre attributes
`(e.g., blues, gospel, motown, Stax/memphis, philly, doo wop,
`funk, disco, old School, blue eyed Soul, adult contemporary,
`quiet storm, crossover, dance/techno, electro/synth, new jack
`Swing, retrofalternative, hip hop, rap), instrumental/vocal
`attributes (e.g., instrumental, Vocal, female Vocalist, male
`Vocalist), backup Vocal attributes (e.g., female Vocalist, male
`Vocalist), instrument attributes (e.g., most important instru
`ment, second most important instrument), etc.
`0042 Examples of media item attribute categories and
`associated attributes for content include genre (e.g., action,
`animation, children and family, classics, comedy, documen
`
`tary, drama, faith and spirituality, foreign, high definition,
`horror, independent, musicals, romance, Science fiction, tele
`vision, thrillers), release date (e.g., within past six months,
`within past year, 1980s), etc.
`0043. Other media item attribute categories and media
`item attributes are contemplated and are within the scope of
`the embodiments described herein.
`0044) “Media item fingerprint”, “fingerprint”, “digital fin
`gerprint, and 'signature” mean a measure of certain physical
`properties that is deterministically generated from a digital
`signal that can be used to identify a sample of a media item,
`and/or quickly locate similar media items in a database.
`Example media item fingerprints include an audio finger
`print, a video fingerprint, and/or a digital signature of any
`other digital media object. A fingerprint may also be a water
`mark or other identifier, such as text from the media item or
`associated file or record that can be used to identify the media
`item. Examples of a signature include without limitation the
`following in a computer-readable format: an audio finger
`print, a portion of an audio fingerprint, a signature derived
`from an audio fingerprint, an audio signature, a video signa
`ture, a disc signature, a CD signature, a DVD signature, a
`Blu-ray Disc signature, a media signature, a high definition
`media signature, a human fingerprint, a human footprint, an
`animal fingerprint, an animal footprint, a handwritten signa
`ture, an eye print, a biometric signature, a retinal signature, a
`retinal Scan, a DNA signature, a DNA profile, a genetic sig
`nature and/or a genetic profile, among other signatures. A
`signature may be any computer-readable string of characters
`that comports with any coding standard in any language.
`Examples of a coding standard include without limitation
`alphabet, alphanumeric, decimal, hexadecimal, binary,
`American Standard Code for Information Interchange
`(ASCII), Unicode and/or Universal Character Set (UCS).
`Certain signatures may not initially be computer-readable.
`For example, latent human fingerprints may be printed on a
`doorknob in the physical world. A signature that is initially
`not computer-readable may be converted into a computer
`readable signature by using any appropriate conversion tech
`nique. For example, a conversion technique for converting a
`latent human fingerprint into a computer-readable signature
`may include a ridge characteristics analysis.
`004.5 "Metadata,” “media content metadata” and “content
`information generally mean data that describes data. More
`particularly, metadata refers to information associated with or
`related to one or more items of media content and may include
`information used to access the media content. The metadata
`provided and/or delivered by various embodiments is
`designed to meet the needs of the user in providing a rich
`media metadata browsing experience. Such metadata may
`include, for example, a track name, a song name, artist infor
`mation (e.g., name, birth date, discography), album informa
`tion (e.g., album title, review, track listing, Sound samples),
`relational information (e.g., similar artists and albums,
`genre), and/or other types of Supplemental information Such
`as advertisements, links or programs (e.g., Software applica
`tions), and related images. Metadata may also include a pro
`gram guide listing of the Songs or other audio content asso
`ciated with multimedia content. Conventional optical discs
`(e.g., CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs) do not typically contain
`metadata. Metadata may be associated with content (e.g., a
`Song, an album, a movie or a video) after the content has been
`ripped from an optical disc, converted to another digital audio
`
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`US 2012/0020647 A1
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`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`format, and stored on a hard drive. Metadata may be stored
`together with, or separately from, the underlying content that
`is described by the metadata.
`0046 “Network” means a connection between any two or
`more computers, which permits the transmission of data. A
`network may be any combination of networks, including
`without limitation the Internet, a network of networks, a local
`area network (e.g., home network, intranet), a wide area net
`work, a wireless network, and a cellular network.
`0047. “Occurrence” means a copy of a recording. An
`occurrence is preferably an exact copy of a recording. For
`example, different occurrences of a same pressing are typi
`cally exact copies. However, an occurrence is not necessarily
`an exact copy of a recording, and may be a Substantially
`similar copy. A recording may be an inexact copy for a num
`ber of reasons, including without limitation an imperfection
`in the copying process, different pressings having different
`settings, different copies having different encodings, and
`other reasons. Accordingly, a recording may be the source of
`multiple occurrences that may be exact copies or Substan
`tially similar copies. Different occurrences may be located on
`different devices, including without limitation different user
`devices, different MP3 players, different databases, different
`laptops, and so on. Each occurrence of a recording may be
`located on any appropriate storage medium, including with
`out limitation floppy disk, mini disk, optical disc, Blu-ray
`Disc, DVD, CD-ROM, micro-drive, magneto-optical disk,
`ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, DRAM, VRAM, flash
`memory, flash card, magnetic card, optical card, nanosys
`tems, molecular memory integrated circuit, RAID, remote
`data storage/archive/warehousing, and/or any other type of
`storage device. Occurrences may be compiled, such as in a
`database or in a listing.
`0048 “Pressing (e.g., “disc pressing) means producing
`a disc in a disc press from a master. The disc press preferably
`produces a disc for a reader that utilizes a laser beam having
`a wavelength of about 650-780 nm for CD, about 605-650 nm
`for DVD, about 405 nm for Blu-ray Disc or another wave
`length as may be appropriate.
`0049) “Recording' means media data for playback. A
`recording is preferably a computer readable recording and
`may be, for example, an audio track, a video track, a song, a
`chapter, a CD recording, a DVD recording and/or a Blu-ray
`Disc recording, among other things.
`0050 “Server” means a software application that provides
`services to other computer programs (and their users), in the
`same or another computer. A server may also refer to the
`physical computer that has been set aside to run a specific
`server application. For example, when the Software Apache
`HTTP Server is used as the web server for a company’s
`website, the computer running Apache is also called the web
`server. Server applications can be divided among server com
`puters over an extreme range, depending upon the workload.
`0051. “Software' and “application” mean a computer pro
`gram that is written in a programming language that may be
`used by one of ordinary skill in the art. The programming
`language chosen should be compatible with the computer by
`which the Software application is to be executed and, in par
`ticular, with the operating system of that computer. Examples
`of Suitable programming languages include without limita
`tion Object Pascal, C, C++, and Java. Further, the functions of
`Some embodiments, when described as a series of steps for a
`method, could be implemented as a series of software instruc
`tions for being operated by a processor, Such that the embodi
`
`ments could be implemented as Software, hardware, or a
`combination thereof. Computer readable media are discussed
`in more detail in a separate section below.
`0.052 “Song” means a musical composition. A song is
`typically recorded onto a track by a record label (e.g., record
`ing company). A song may have many different versions, for
`example, a radio version and an extended version.
`0053 “System’ means a device or multiple coupled
`devices. A device is defined above.
`0054 “Theme song means any audio content that is a
`portion of a multimedia program, Such as a television pro
`gram, and that recurs across multiple occurrences, or epi
`sodes, of the multimedia program. A theme song may be a
`signature tune, Song, and/or other audio content, and may
`include music, lyrics, and/or sound effects. A theme song may
`occur at any time during the multimedia program transmis
`Sion, but typically plays during a title sequence and/or during
`the end credits.
`0055 “Track’ means an audio/video data block. A track
`may be on a disc, such as, for example, a Blu-ray Disc, a CD
`or a DVD.
`0056 “User’ means a consumer, client, and/or client
`device in a marketplace of products and/or services.
`0057. “User device” (e.g., “client”, “client device”, “user
`computer) is a hardware system, a software operating sys
`tem, and/or one or more Software application programs. A
`user device may refer to a single computer or to a network of
`interacting computers. A user device may be the client part of
`a client server architecture. A user device typically relies on a
`server to perform some operations. Examples of a user device
`include without limitation a television (TV), a CD player, a
`DVD player, a Blu-ray Disc player, a personal media device,
`a portable media player, an iPodTM, a Zoom Player, a laptop
`computer, a palmtop computer, a Smartphone, a cellphone, a
`mobile phone, an MP3 player, a digital audio recorder, a
`digital video recorder (DVR), a set top box (STB), a network
`attached storage (NAS) device, a gaming device, an IBM
`type personal computer (PC) having an operating system
`such as Microsoft WindowsTM, an AppleTM computer having
`an operating system such as MAC-OS, hardware having a
`JAVA-OS operating system, and a Sun Microsystems Work
`station having a UNIX operating system.
`0.058 “Web browser means any software program which
`can display text, graphics, or both, from Web pages on Web
`sites. Examples of a Web browser include without limitation
`Mozilla FirefoxTM and Microsoft Internet ExplorerTM.
`0059) “Web page” means any documents written in a
`mark-up language including without limitation HTML (hy
`pertext mark-up language) or VRML (virtual reality model
`ing language), dynamic HTML, XML (eXtensible mark-up
`language) or related computer languages thereof, any collec
`tion of such documents reachable through one specific Inter
`net address or at one specific Web site, or any document
`obtainable through a particular URL (Uniform Resource
`Locator).
`0060 “Web server” refers to a computer or other elec
`tronic device which is capable of serving at least one Web
`page to a Web browser. An example of a Web server is a
`Yahoo TM Web Server.
`0061 “Web site' means at least one Web page, and more
`commonly a plurality of Web pages, virtually coupled to form
`a coherent group.
`III. System Architecture and Processes
`0062 FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an exemplary content
`removal system 100 in which some embodiments are imple
`
`

`

`US 2012/0020647 A1
`
`Jan. 26, 2012
`
`mented. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes at least
`one content source 102 that provides multimedia content,
`Such as a television program or other program containing
`video and/or audio content, to a filter 104. The content source
`102 may include several different types such as, for example,
`cable, satellite, terrestrial, free-to-air, network and/or Inter
`net, each of which is capable of providing media content in
`the form of a content stream.
`0063 Generally, filter 104 filters conte