Methods and apparatus to identify media using image recognition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016119672-A1
Application number	US-201414523331-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Oct 24, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify media using image recognition. An example method to identify media includes capturing an image of a media presentation device in response to an input selection to a user control device, the input selection to cause the user control device to control the media presentation device. The example method also includes, in response to identifying an area of interest in the image, generating media identifying information representative of the media based on the identified area of interest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method to identify media comprising:
capturing an image of a media presentation device in response to an input selection to a user control device, the input selection to cause the user control device to control the media presentation device; and in response to identifying an area of interest in the image, generating media identifying information representative of the media based on the identified area of interest.

2 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the user control device is a remote control that controls the media presentation device

3 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein capturing the image includes capturing a stream of images.

4 . A method as described in claim 1 further comprises processing the image to identify the area of interest in the image by:
identifying a first shape in the image via image recognition; and
comparing the first shape to a second shape included in a library of shapes.

5 . A method as described in claim 4 further comprising identifying the first shape as the area of interest in the image when the first shape and the second shape satisfy a similarity threshold.

6 . A method as described in claim 4 further comprising:
determining a third shape in the image and a fourth shape in the library of shapes satisfy a similarity threshold; and
discarding the third shape as an area of non-interest based on the fourth shape.

7 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein generating the media identifying information comprises at least one of feature extraction or feature encryption of the area of interest.

8 . A method as described in claim 1 , wherein the input selection to control presentation of the media presentation device includes changing a channel, adjusting a volume level of the media presentation device or selecting an input of the media presentation device.

9 . A method as described in claim 1 , further comprising removing sensitive information from the image.

10 . A remote control comprising:
an image sensor to capture an image of a media presentation device in response to an input selection, the input selection to cause the remote control to control the media presentation device; an image processing engine to process the image to identify an area of interest in the image; and a media identifying information generator to generate media identifying information representative of media included in the image based on the identified area of interest.

11 . A remote control as described in claim 10 , wherein the image sensor is to capture the image by capturing a stream of images in a burst.

12 . A remote control as described in claim 10 , wherein the image processing engine is to process the image to identify an area of interest in the image by:
using image recognition to identify a first shape in the image; and comparing the first shape to a second shape included in a library of shapes.

13 . A remote control as described in claim 12 , wherein the image processing engine is to identify the first shape as the area of interest in the image when the first shape and the second shape satisfy a similarity threshold.

14 . A remote control as described in claim 12 , wherein the image processing engine is to:
determine a third shape in the image and a fourth shape in the library of shapes satisfy a similarity threshold; and discard the third shape as an area of non-interest based on the fourth shape.

15 . A remote control as described in claim 10 , wherein the media identifying information generator is to generate the media identifying information by at least one of feature extraction or feature encryption of the area of interest.

16 . A remote control as described in claim 10 , wherein the input selection to control presentation of the media presentation device includes changing a channel, adjusting a volume level of the media presentation device or selecting an input of the media presentation device.

17 . A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:
capture an image of a media presentation device in response to an input selection to a user control device, the input selection to cause the user control device to control the media presentation device; and generate media identifying information representative of media included in the image based on the identified area of interest.

18 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the user control device is a remote control that controls the media presentation device.

19 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to capture the image by capturing a stream of images.

20 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process the image to identify an area of interest in the image by:
using image recognition to identify a first shape in the image; and comparing the first shape to a second shape included in a library of shapes.

21 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to identify the first shape as the area of interest in the image when the first shape and the second shape satisfy a similarity threshold.

22 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
determine a third shape in the image and a fourth shape in the library of shapes satisfy a similarity threshold; and discard the third shape as an area of non-interest based on the fourth shape.

23 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate the media identifying information by at least one of feature extraction or feature encryption of the area of interest.

24 . A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the input selection to control presentation of the media presentation device includes changing a channel, adjusting a volume level of the media presentation device or selecting an input of the media presentation device.

Assignees

• Nielsen Co Us Llc

Inventors

• Alonso Rafael Eduardo
• Alperovich Mikhail
• Hage Chad A

Classifications

• H04N21/44008

  involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59) · CPC title

• H04N21/4728

  for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region · CPC title

• H04N21/44222 Primary

  Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programmes or purchase activity (monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33) · CPC title

• H04N21/42204

  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 title

• H04N21/4223

  Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) · CPC title