New pending patent applications are published by the USPTO on Thursdays. This week's Spotlight Applications concern aspects of digital fingerprinting and digital watermarking. Assigned to Facebook, the first application discloses techniques for evaluating content synchronization. Assigned to MyTeamCalls, the second application discloses techniques for replacing a portion of a broadcast content with a customized, live-streaming alternate media stream.
20180077445, "Systems and methods for evaluating content synchronization," assigned to Facebook.
Abstract
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can generate a first set of fingerprints that correspond to at least one media stream of a content item. A second set of fingerprints that correspond to at least one media stream of an encoded version of the content item are generated. A first curve is generated based at least in part on the first set of fingerprints. A second curve is generated based at least in part on the second set of fingerprints. A determination is made whether the encoded version of the content item is synchronized based at least in part on the first curve and the second curve.
20180077467, "Systems and methods for customized live-streaming commentary," assigned to MyTeamCalls, LLC
Abstract
Systems and methods for replacing a portion of a broadcast content with a customized, live-streaming alternate media stream are provided. Usable by applications developed for the Web, mobile devices, laptop or desktop computers, or broadcast television, the system includes a broadcast server to prepare customized media streams for a particular broadcast in communication with a client receiver capable of receiving a customized media stream and synching the stream with the particular broadcast of interest. Thus, the user may view the original broadcast with the alternative audio or video stream, in some cases in near real-time, and enjoy the alternative media stream seamlessly with the original broadcast. In order to provide the capabilities disclosed herein, a fingerprinting method is used to analyze the original broadcast and synchronize timing, without modifying the original broadcast data.
