Audible Magic patents

Music cover identification with lyrics for search, compliance, and licensing

Patent #US 11,816,151 B2 Awarded November 14, 2023

Inventors: Erling Wold

Describes a system using lyrics and/or phonemes to identify covers or versions of musical compositions.

Music cover identification with lyrics for search, compliance, and licensing

Patent #US 11,294,954,B2 granted April 5, 2022, and EP 3,508,986 B1 granted April 26, 2023.

Inventors: Erling Wold, Jay Friedman, Richard Boulderstone

Describes a system for identifying covers of versions of musical compositions, which may or may not have metadata associated.

Media classification for media identification and licensing

Patent #EP 3,432,162 B1 granted September 7, 2022

Inventors: Erling Wold, Jay Friedman, Richard Boulderstone

Describes a system that uses an initial media classification algorithm to improve the process of media identification and licensing.

Aggregated media rights platform with media item identification across media sharing platforms

Patent #US 11,158,013 B2 granted October 26, 2021

Inventors: Vance Ikezoye, David Price Williams, Michael Thomas Edwards, Stephen John Grillos, John R. Williams, James E. McNeill, JR., Jay Friedman, Kuniyuki Takahash, iSergio Alberto, Orozco Ramos, Jesus Antonio Barajas Romero, Srinidhi Srinivasa Raghavan, Nancy Kang, Garen Levon Azizian, Edgar Escobar Baez

In one embodiment, a processing device receives a request to claim ownership of a first hosted media item on a first media sharing platform, wherein the request is received from a rights holder that holds one or more rights to a claimed media item that is incorporated into the first hosted media item. The processing device adds an indicator of the ownership of the rights holder to a first entry for the first hosted media item in a data store. The processing device determines that a second hosted media item having a threshold similarity to the first hosted media item is hosted by a second media sharing platform. The processing device automatically adds an indicator of the ownership of the rights holder to a second entry for the second hosted media item without receiving a separate request to claim ownership of the second hosted media item.

Aggregated media rights platform

Patent #US 11,544,806 B2 granted January 3, 2023

Inventors: Vance Ikezoye, David Price Williams, Michael Thomas Edwards, Stephen John Grillos, John R. Williams, James E. McNeill, JR., Jay Friedman, Kuniyuki Takahash, iSergio Alberto, Orozco Ramos, Jesus Antonio Barajas Romero, Srinidhi Srinivasa Raghavan, Nancy Kang, Garen Levon Azizian, Edgar Escobar Baez

In one embodiment, a processing device receives a first digital fingerprint of a media item along with a first content management rule. The processing device separately receives a second digital fingerprint of the media item along with a second content management rule. The processing device determines that the received digital fingerprints are for the same media item based upon a match between the first digital fingerprint and the second digital fingerprint. The processing device determines that all rights to the media item have been accounted for, and then determines a set of actions to be performed for hosted media items comprising the media item based at least in part upon the first content management rule and the second content management rule. Processing logic may also perform a conflict resolution process for conflicting rights claims to the media item.

Temporal fraction with use of content identification.

Patent #US 10,599,702 B2 Awarded March 24, 2020

Inventors: Vance Ikezoye, Jay Friedman, Erling Wold, Michael Thomas Edwards

A media item may be received by a computing device. One or more works may be identified in the media item. One or more ratios may be determined based on the length of the media item and/or lengths of one or more identified works in the media item. An output may be determined based on the one or more ratios.

Media stream cue point creation with automated content recognition.

Patent #US 10,476,925 B2 Awarded November 12, 2019

Inventors: Jim Schrempp, Rob Williams, Vance Ikezoye, Dave Avery, Erling Wold, Alan Edel

A media stream cue point creator receives a media stream comprising at least one of an audio portion or a video portion, wherein the media stream lacks at least one indicator of a content segment within the media stream. The media stream cue point creator identifies a first segment of the plurality of segments of the media stream, wherein the segment corresponds to a segment in a segment reference data store, and creates a cue point associated with the first segment, wherein the cue point identifies at least one of a beginning or an end of the first content segment in the media stream.

Method and apparatus for identifying media content presented on a media playing device.

Patent #US 10,194,187 B2 Awarded January 29, 2019

Inventors: Vance E. Ikezoye, James B. Schrempp

A media device generates a digital fingerprint of perceptual features of a segment of a work. The segment is less than an entirety of the work and includes at least one of audio or video media content. The media device sends a query to a lookup server for data associated with the work, the query including said digital fingerprint. The media device receives the data associated with said work from said lookup server in response to said query, wherein the data was identified based on a comparison of the digital fingerprint to a collection of digital fingerprints of known works. The media device then processes the received data.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #US 10,181,015 B2 Awarded January 15, 2019

Inventors: Erling Wold

A processor receives a first list comprising a plurality of events from a portion of digital data of an unknown work and one or more metrics between each pair of adjacent events from the plurality of events. The processor compares the first list to a second list comprising events and metrics between events for a known work to determine a first quantity of hits and a second quantity of misses. The processor determines whether the first list matches the second list based on the first quantity of hits and the second quantity of misses. The processor determines that the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to determining that the first list matches the second list.

Media stream cue point creation with automated content recognition.

Patent #EP 3 146 446 B1 Awarded December 26, 2018

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Robert Williams, Vance E. Ikezoye, Dave Avery, Erling H. Wold, Alan Edel

A media stream cue point creator receives a media stream comprising at least one of an audio portion or a video portion, wherein the media stream lacks at least one indicator of a content segment within the media stream. The media stream cue point creator identifies a first segment of the plurality of segments of the media stream, wherein the segment corresponds to a segment in a segment reference data store, and creates a cue point associated with the first segment, wherein the cue point identifies at least one of a beginning or an end of the first content segment in the media stream.

Media stream cue point creation with automated content recognition.

Patent #US 10,091,263 B2 Awarded October 2, 2018

Inventors: Jim Schrempp, Rob Williams, Vance Ikezoye, Dave Avery, Erling Wold, Alan Edel

A media stream cue point creator receives a media stream comprising at least one of an audio portion or a video portion, wherein the media stream lacks at least one indicator of a content segment within the media stream. The media stream cue point creator identifies a first segment of the plurality of segments of the media stream, wherein the segment corresponds to a segment in a segment reference data store, and creates a cue point associated with the first segment, wherein the cue point identifies at least one of a beginning or an end of the first content segment in the media stream.

Play list generation method and apparatus.

Patent #US 10,025,841 B2 Awarded July 17, 2018

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling H. Wold, Thomas L. Blum, Douglas F. Keislar, James A . Wheaton

A method and system for play list generation is disclosed. In one aspect, the system may include at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an unknown work and generating a corresponding representation thereof, and at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the analysis modules and determining the identity of the unknown work.

Authentication for over the top broadcast streaming using automated content recognition.

Patent #US 10,009,342 B2 Awarded June 26, 2018

Inventors: Jim Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye

An authenticator in a second user device captures a media sample played on a first user device in proximity to the second user device. The media sample comprises at least one of an audio portion, a video portion or an image portion of a media stream received by the first user device from a remote media streaming source over a network. The authenticator sends at least a portion of the media sample from the second user device to an authentication server, the authentication server to compare the at least the portion of the media sample to a reference media stream received from the remote media streaming source to determine that the second user device is authenticated for viewing the media stream responsive to the portion of the media sample matching the reference media stream. The authenticator then receives an authentication decision from the authentication server at the second user device, the authentication decision indicating whether the second user device is authenticated.

Using digital fingerprints to associate data with a work.

Patent #EP 2 901 372 B1 Awarded June 20, 2018

Inventors: Vic Garside, Jay Friedman, James B. Schrempp, Robert Wiliams

A computing device, during sampling or playback of a work, receives a command to associate data with the work at a particular point in the work. The computing device generates a digital fingerprint of a segment of the work, wherein the segment corresponds to the particular point in the work. The computing device then associates the data with the digital fingerprint.

Authentication for over the top broadcast streaming using automated content recognition.

Patent #US 9,800,576 B2 Awarded October 24, 2017

Inventors: Jim Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye

An authenticator in a second user device captures a media sample comprising at least one of an audio portion, a video portion or an image portion. The media sample is played on a first user device. The authenticator compares at least a portion of the media sample to a reference media stream to determine whether the portion of the media sample matches the reference media stream. If the portion of the media sample matches the reference media stream, the authenticator determines that the second user device is authenticated and requests a media stream from a media streaming source.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #US 9,785,757 B2 Awarded October 10, 2017

Inventors: Erling Wold

A processor receives a first list comprising a plurality of events from a portion of digital data of an unknown work and one or more metrics between each pair of adjacent events from the plurality of events. The processor compares the first list to a second list comprising events and metrics between events for a known work to determine a first quantity of hits and a second quantity of misses. The processor determines whether the first list matches the second list based on the first quantity of hits and the second quantity of misses. The processor determines that the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to determining that the first list matches the second list.

Using digital fingerprints to associate data with a work.

Patent #US 9,608,824 B2 Awarded March 28, 2017

Inventors: Vic Garside, Jay Friedman, James Schrempp, Robert Williams

A computing device, during sampling or playback of a work, receives a command to associate data with the work at a particular point in the work. The computing device generates a digital fingerprint of a segment of the work, wherein the segment corresponds to the particular point in the work. The computing device then associates the data with the digital fingerprint.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #US 9,589,141 B2 Awarded March 7, 2017

Inventors: Richard A. Schmelzer, Bryan L. Pellom

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #US 9,268,921 B2 Awarded February 23, 2016

Inventors: Erling Wold

A computing system selects a portion of data of an unknown work and detects each event in the portion of data of the unknown work. An event is a perceptual occurrence in a work successively positioned in time. The system determines an event metric between each successive event in the portion of data in the unknown work and generates a list of event metrics between the events for the unknown work. The system compares the list of event metrics for the unknown work to a list of event metrics for a known work and determines the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to a match between the list of event metrics of the unknown work and the list of event metrics for the known work.

Playlist generation method and apparatus.

Patent #EP 1 417 584 B1 Awarded September 2, 2015

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling H. Wold, Thomas L. Blum, Douglas F. Keislar, James A . Wheaton

A method and system for play list generation is disclosed. In one aspect, the system may include at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an unknown work and generating a corresponding representation thereof, and at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the analysis modules and determining the identity of the unknown work.

Using digital fingerprints to associate data with a work.

Patent #9,081,778 B2 Awarded July 14, 2015

Inventors: Vic Garside, Jay Friedman, James Schrempp, Robert Williams

A computing device during sampling or playback of a work received a command to associate data with the work at a particular point in the work. The computing device generates a digital fingerprint of a segment of the work, wherein the segment corresponds to the particular point in the work. The computing device then associates the data with the digital fingerprint.

A method and apparatus for identifying media content presented on a media playing device.

Patent #9,049,468 B2 Awarded June 2, 2015

Inventors: Vance E. Ikezoye, James B. Schrempp

A computing device executing a server engine received a digital fingerprint created from a segment being less than an entirety of the work, and the digital fingerprint being based on perceptual features of the segment. The computing device compare the digital fingerprint to a plurality of digital fingerprints from a plurality of unknown works to identify a knwon work of the plurality of known works that corresponds to the work. The computing device transmits content-related data associate with the known work to a client device.

Playlist Generation Method and Apparatus

Patent #8,972,481 B2 Awarded March 3, 2015

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling H. Wold, Thomas L. Blum, Douglas F. Keislar, James A. Wheaton.

A method and system for playlist generation is disclosed. In one aspect, the system may include at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an unknown work and generating a corresponding representation thereof, and at least on identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the analysis modules and determining the identify of the unknown work.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #8,775,317 B2 Awarded July 8, 2014

Inventors: Richard A. Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #EP1,490,767,B1 Awarded June 11, 2014

Inventors: Richard A. Schmelzer

A computing system selects a portion of data of an unknown work and detects each event in the portion of data of the unknown work. An event is a perceptual occurrence in a work successively positioned in time. The system determines an event metric between each successive event in the portion of data in the unknown work and generates a list of event metrics between the events for the unknown work. The system compares the list of event metrics for the unknown work to a list of event metrics for a known work and determines the unknown work is a copy of the known work responsive to a match between the list of event metrics of the unknown work and the list of event metrics for the known work.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #8,732,858 B2 Awarded May 20, 2014

Inventors: Erling Wold

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #8,645,279 B2 Awarded February 4, 2014

Inventors: Richard A. Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #8,484,691 B2 Awarded July 9, 2013

Inventors: Richard A. Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Method and apparatus to identify a work received by a processing system.

Patent #8,332,326 Awarded December 11, 2012

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Alan Edel, Vance Ikezoye

A method and system for identifying a work in a data transfer. In accordance with this invention, a data transfer is received. The media content of a work is then read from the data transfer. The media content is then used to generate a fingerprint of the work. The fingerprint is then used to identify the work. A report including the identity of the work is then generated.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #GB2,464,049B Awarded December 5, 2012

Inventors: Erling Wold

Method and system for modifying communication flows at a port level.

Patent #8,199,651 Awarded June 12, 2012

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Erling H. Wold

A flow management system for modifying a communication flow from a port at a source IP address to a port at a destination IP address, the modifying being independent of communication flows at other ports at the source IP address and communication flows at other ports at the destination IP address. The system monitors a communication flow between a source port at a source IP address to a destination port at a destination IP address and determines whether a source IP address and destination IP address are participating in a media provider service. The system analyzes the communication flow content and modifies the communication flow from a specific source port to a specific destination port based on the content and whether the source and destination IP addresses are part of a media provider service.

Method and apparatus for identifying new media content.

Patent #EP1449103B1 Awarded March 28, 2012

Inventors: James B. Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling H. Wold, Louis Kvitek

A new media identification system is disclosed. In one aspect, a system may comprise at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing an received work and generating a corresponding representation thereof; at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from the at least one analysis module and generating a list of unidentifiable received works. A method for identifying new media is disclosed. In one aspect, a method may comprise receiving an unidentified segment; determining whether the unidentified segment is similar to previously received unidentified segments; and sequentially arranging similar unidentified segments in a single super segment.

System for distributing decoy content in a peer to peer network.

Patent #8,130,746 Awarded March 6, 2012

Inventors: James B. Schrempp

A system for generating and distributing decoy data for a work in a Peer to Peer network. The system is included in software providing a Peer to Peer connection for a processing system. The processing system receives data for a work over a Peer to Peer connection. The system then determines whether, the work is a protected work. If the work is a protected work, the system insert decoy data into the data of the work and stores the data of the work including the decoy data in memory. The data of the work including the decoy data is then made available for transfer over the Peer to Peer network by the processing system.

System for distributing decoy content in a peer to peer network.

Patent #EP1771791B1 Awarded February 22, 2012

Inventors: James B. Schrempp

A system for generating and distributing decoy data for a work in a Peer to Peer network. The system is included in software providing a Peer to Peer connection for a processing system. The processing system receives data for a work over a Peer to Peer connection. The system then determines whether, the work is a protected work. If the work is a protected work, the system insert decoy data into the data of the work and stores the data of the work including the decoy data in memory. The data of the work including the decoy data is then made available for transfer over the Peer to Peer network by the processing system.

System for identifying content of digital data.

Patent #8,112,818 Awarded February 7, 2012

Inventors: Erling Wold

A system for identifying a work represented by digital data. This system detects events in data of the content of an unknown work and measures a metric between the events. The system then compares the detected events and metrics from an unknown work with the events and metrics of a known work. If the events and metrics match, the unknown work is identified as a copy of the known work.

Method and apparatus for creating a unique audio signature.

Patent #8,086,445 Awarded December 27, 2011

Inventors: Erling Wold, Thomas Blum, Douglas Keislar, James Wheaton

A method and apparatus for creating a signature of a sampled work in real-time is disclosed herein. Unique signatures of an unknown audio work are created by segmenting a file into segments having predetermined segment and hop sizes. The signature then may be compared against reference signatures. One aspect may be characterized in that the hop size of the sampled work signature is less than the hop size of the reference signatures. A method for identifying an unknown audio work is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for identifying an unknown work.

Patent #8,082,150 Awarded December 20, 2011

Inventors: Erling Wold

A system for determining an identify of a received work. The system receives audio data for an unknown work. The audio is divided into segments. The system generates a signature of the unknown work from each of the segments. Reduced dimension signatures are then generated at least a portion of signatures. The reduced dimension signatures are then compared to reduced dimension signatures of known works that are stored in a database. A list of candidates of known works is generated from the comparison. The signatures of the unknowns works are then compared to the signatures of the known works in the list of candidates. The unknown work is then identified as the known work having signatures matching within a threshold.

System for identifying content of digital data

Patent #8,006,314 Awarded August 23, 2011

Inventors: Erling Wold

A system for identifying a work represented by digital data. This system detects events in data of the content of an unknown work and measures a metric between events. The system then compares the detected events and metrics from an unknown work with the events and metrics of a known work. If the events and metrics match, the unknown work is identified as a copy of the known work.

Method and apparatus for identifying media content presented on a media playing device.

Patent #7,917,645 Awarded March 29, 2011

Inventors: James Schrempp and Vance Ikezoye

A system and method for identifying media content presented over a media playing device. The media content, such as audio and/or video, is either available digitally or digitally sampled. The media content is sampled to generate a media sample or analytical representation of the media content. The media sample is compared to a collection of sampled (or represented) media content to identify it and to ascertain information related to the sample. This media-content-related information is then presented to the user via a display on the media player. The media player then presents the user-specific and related actions that are based upon the information presented and allow users to directly execute their choice of actions.

Method and apparatus for identifying new media content.

Patent #7,877,438 B2 Awarded January 25, 2011

Inventors: James Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling Wold, Louis Kvitek

A new media identification system is disclosed. In one aspect, a system may comprise at least one analysis module for receiving and analyzing a received work and then generating a corresponding representation of it. In addition, it may comprise at least one identification (ID) server for receiving the representation from at least one analysis module and generating a list of unidentifiable received works. A method for identifying new media is also disclosed. In one aspect, this method may comprise receiving an unidentified segment, determining whether the unidentified segment is similar to previously received unidentified segments, and sequentially arranging similar unidentified segments into a single super segment.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #7,797,249 B2 Awarded September 14, 2010

Inventors: Richard Schmelzer and Bryan Pellom

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #7,711,652 B2 Awarded May 4, 2010

Inventor: Richard Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #7,707,088 B2 Awarded April 27, 2010

Inventor: Richard Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Method and apparatus for cache promotion.

Patent #EP 1 485 815 B1, Awarded October 7, 2009

Inventors: James Schrempp, Vance Ikezoye, Erling Wold, Louis Kvitek

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #7,565,327 B2, Awarded July 21, 2009

Inventor: Richard Schmelzer

A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Method and apparatus for creating a unique audio signature.

Patent # 7,562,012 B1, Awarded July 14, 2009

Inventors: Erling Wold, Thomas Blum, Douglas Keislar, and James Wheaton

A method and apparatus for creating a signature of a sampled work in real-time is disclosed herein. Unique signatures of an unknown audio work are created by segmenting a file into segments having predetermined segment and hop sizes. The signature then may be compared against reference signatures. One aspect may be characterized in that the hop size of the sampled work signature is less than the hop size of reference signatures. A method for identifying an unknown audio work is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for identifying an unknown work.

Patent# 7,529,659 B2, Awarded May 5, 2009

Inventor: Erling Wold

A system for determining an identity of a received work. The system receives audio data for an unknown work. The audio data is divided into segments. The system generates a signature of the unknown work from each of the segments. Reduced dimension signatures are then generated at least a portion of the signatures. The reduced dimension signatures are then compared to reduced dimensions signatures of known works that are stored in a database. A list of candidates of known works is generated from the comparison. The signatures of the unknown works are then compared to the signatures of the known works in the list of candidates. The unknown work is then identified as the known work having signatures matching within a threshold.

Method and apparatus for identifying media content presented on a media playing device.

Patent# 7,500,007 B2, Awarded March 3, 2009

Iventors: Vance Ikezoye and Jim Schrempp

A system and method for identifying media content presented over a media playing device. The media content, such as audio and/or video, is either available digitally or digitally sampled. The media content is sampled to generate a media sample or analytical representation of the media content. The media sample is compared to a collection of sampled (or represented) media content to identify it and to ascertain information related to the sample. This media content-related information is then displayed by the media player. The media player then presents the user specific and related actions that are based upon the information presented and allows the user to directly execute their choice of actions.

Copyright detection and protection system and method.

Patent #US 7,363,278 B2, Awarded Apr. 22, 2008

Inventors: Richard Schmelzer and Bryan Pellom

Abstract: A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Method and apparatus for creating a unique audio signature.

Patent #EP 1 354 276 B1, Awarded Dec. 12, 2007

Inventors: Erling Wold, Thomas Blum, Douglas Keislar, James Wheaton

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an identity of a media work. A sample of an unknown media work is divided into segments having predetermined segment and hop sizes. A signature is then created based upon these segments. The signature then may be compared against reference signatures to determine an identity for the unknown media work. One aspect may be characterized that the hop size of the sampled work signature is less than the hop size of reference signatures.

Method and apparatus for identifying an unknown work.

Patent #US 6,968,337 B2, Awarded Nov. 22, 2005

Inventor: Erling Wold

Abstract: A system for determining an identity of a received work. The system receives audio data for an unknown work. The audio data is divided into segments. The system generates a signature of unknown work from each of the segments. Reduced dimension signatures are then generated for at least a portion of the signatures. The reduced dimension signatures are then compared to reduced dimensions signatures of known works that are stored in a database. A list of candidates of know works is generated from the comparison. The signatures of the unknown works are then compared to the signatures of the known works in the list of candidates. The unknown work is then identified as the known work having signature matching within a threshold.

Method and apparatus for identifying media content presented on a media playing device.

Patent #US 6,834,308 B1, Awarded Dec. 21, 2004

Inventors: Vance Ikezoye and James Schrempp

Abstract: A system and method for identifying media content presented over a media playing device. The media content, such as audio and/or video, is either available digitally or digitally sampled. The media content is sampled to generate a media sample or analytical representation of the media content. The media sample is compared to a collection of sampled (or represented) media content to identify it and to ascertain information related to the sample. This media content-related information is then presented to the user via a display means on the media player. The media play then presents the user specific and related actions that are based upon the information presented and allows the user to directly execute their choice of actions.

Method and article of manufacture for content-based analysis, storage retrieval, and segmentation of audio information.

Patent #US 5,918,223, Awarded Jun. 29, 1999

Inventors: Thomas Blum, Douglas Keislar, James Wheaton, Erling Wold

Abstract: A system that performs analysis and comparison of audio data files based upon the content of the data files is presented. The analysis of the audio data produces a set of numeric values (a feature vector) that can be used to classify and rank the similarity between individual audio files typically stored in a multimedia database or on the World Wide Web. The analysis also facilitates the description of user-defined classes of audio files, based on an analysis of a set of audio files that are members of a user-defined class. The system can find sounds within a longer sound, allowing an audio recording to be automatically segmented into a series of shorter audio segments.

Data Processing System Using Substantially Unique Identifiers to Identify Data Items, Whereby Identical Data Items Have the Same Identifiers

Patent #US 5,978,791

In a data processing system, a mechanism identifies data items by substantially unique identifiers which depend on all of the data in the data items and only on the data in the data items. The system also determines whether a particular data item is present in the database by examining the identifiers of the plurality of data items.

Identifying and requesting data in network using identifiers which are based on contents of data.

Patent #US 6,415,280

In a system in which a set of data items are distributed across a network of servers, at least some of the data items being cached versions of data items from a source server, a content delivery method includes determining a data identifier for a particular data item, the data identifier being determined using a given function of the data comprising the particular data item; and responsive to a request for the particular data item, the request including at least the data identifier of the particular data item, providing the particular data item from a given one of the servers of the network of servers. The request for the particular data item may be resolved based on a measure of availability of at least one of the servers, where the measure of availability may be a measurement of bandwidth to the server; a measurement of a cost of a connection to the server, and/or a measurement of a reliability of a connection to the server. The function used to determine the identifier may be a message digest function or a hash function.

Enforcement and policing of licensed content using content-based identifiers.

Patent #US 6,928,442

Data files are distributed across a plurality of computers. The computers may form a network such as a content delivery network (CDN) or a peer-to-peer network. The network may operate as a TCP/IP network such as the Internet. Data files may represent may represent digital messages, images, videos or audio signals. For content–data items or files in the system–a name is obtained (or determined), where the name is based, at least in part, on a given function of the data in a data item or file. The given function may be a message digest or hash function, and it may be MD4, MD5, and SHA. A copy of a requested file is only provided to licensed (or authorized) parties. The system may check one or more computers for unauthorized or unlicensed content. Content is served based on a measure of availability of servers.