New patents are issued by the USPTO on Tuesdays. Both of today's Spotlight Patents concern aspects of digital fingerprinting. Assigned to TCL Research of America, the first patent addresses techniques for video retrieval based on optimized selected fingerprints. Assigned to MUTR, Llc, the second patent addresses techniques for monitoring a program signal for certain content, and performing a set of tasks when target content is recognized.
9,740,775, "Video retrieval based on optimized selected fingerprints," assigned to TCL Research America Inc.
Abstract
A video retrieval method is provided. The method includes dividing video sequences stored in a video database into a plurality of video frames, extracting by a predetermined feature extracting algorithm a plurality of selected fingerprints from the plurality of video frames representing features having characteristic information specific to the plurality of video frames, and storing the plurality of extracted selected fingerprints in a fingerprint database. The method also includes receiving a query video sequence submitted by a user, extracting by the predetermined feature extracting algorithm at least one query fingerprint representing at least one query frame from the received query video sequence, and calculating similarity between the query fingerprint and the selected fingerprints from the fingerprint database to search for a match for the query fingerprint. Further, the method includes determining a matching fingerprint in the selected fingerprints by applying a fast dynamic programming algorithm and generating a matching result.
9,743,138, "Method for sound recognition task trigger," assigned to MUTR LLC.
Abstract
A system and method is described for monitoring a program signal for certain content, and performing a set of tasks when target content is recognized. Target content may be identified by using acoustic or video fingerprinting hardware or software to identify characteristic components of the program signal, and performing a lookup in a database of known content. When a match is made to known content, a task maybe performed such as muting the audio, blocking the video, or fast-forwarding past the content. A secondary action unit may be employed to receive control signals and rebroadcast the same to a media device. When the broadcast of the target media is determined to have completed, a corollary set of tasks are performed. In embodiments, the system may be implemented as one or more standalone hardware components, or in software.
