System and method for identification of multimedia content elements

Abstract

A system and method for identifying multimedia content elements are presented. The method includes generating a signature for an unknown multimedia content element (MMCE), wherein the unknown MMCE is a portion of a multimedia content item; comparing a signature of the unknown MMCE to a signature cluster of at least one concept to determine whether each of the at least one concepts is proximate to the unknown MMCE; for each proximate concept, determining a probability that the at least one proximate concept identifies the unknown MMCE; and identifying the MMCE based on the determined probabilities of the at least one proximate concept.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for identifying multimedia content elements, comprising:
 generating a signature for an unknown multimedia content element (MMCE), wherein the unknown MMCE is a portion of a multimedia content item;   comparing a signature of the unknown MMCE to a signature cluster of at least one concept to determine whether each of the at least one concepts is proximate to the unknown MMCE;   for each proximate concept, determining a probability that the at least one proximate concept identifies the unknown MMCE; and   identifying the MMCE based on the determined probabilities of the at least one proximate concept.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether a highest probability of the determined probabilities is above an identification threshold; and   upon determining that the highest probability is above the identification threshold, identifying the MMCE as known.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the MMCE further comprises:
 determining a plurality of proximate concepts having the highest probabilities among the at least one proximate concept, wherein the MMCE is identified as potentially being related to each of the at least one proximate concept.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one proximate concept is determined respective of other known MMCEs included in the multimedia content item. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison yields a matching score, wherein the probability is equal to the matching score. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified MMCE is utilized to create a new concept. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia content item is any of: an image, a graphic, a video stream, a video clip, a video frame, an audio clip, and a photograph. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing at least one processing unit to execute the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for identifying multimedia content elements, comprising:
 generating a signature for an unknown multimedia content element (MMCE), wherein the unknown MMCE is at least a portion of a multimedia content item;   determining whether the unknown MMCE is identifiable by the signature;   upon determining that the unknown MMCE is identified by the signature, identifying the MMCE based on the signature; and   upon determining that the MMCE is not identified by the signature:
 comparing a signature of the unknown MMCE to a signature cluster of at least one concept to determine whether each concept is proximate to the unknown MMCE; 
 for each proximate concept, determining a probability that the at least one proximate concept identifies the MMCE; and 
 identifying the MMCE based on the determined probabilities of the at least one proximate concept. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein identifying the unknown MMCE further comprises:
 determining whether a highest probability among the determined probabilities is below a predefined identification threshold; and   upon determining that the highest probability is below the predefined identification threshold, identifying the MMCE as unknown.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein identifying the unknown MMCE further comprises:
 determining a plurality of proximate concepts having the highest probabilities among the at least one proximate concept, wherein the MMCE is identified as potentially being related to each of the plurality of proximate concepts.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each probability is determined to be equal to a proportion between the number of signatures of the proximate concept that match the signature of the MMCE and the total number of signatures of the proximate concept. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the multimedia content item is any of: image, a graphic, a video stream, a video clip, a video frame, and a photograph. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processing units to execute the method according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         15 . A system for identifying multimedia content elements, comprising:
 a processing unit;   a memory connected to the processing unit, the memory containing instructions that when executed by the processing unit, configure the system to:   generate a signature for an unknown multimedia content element (MMCE), wherein the unknown MMCE is a portion of a multimedia content item;   compare a signature of the unknown MMCE to a signature cluster of at least one concept to determine whether each of the at least one concepts is proximate to the unknown MMCE;   for each proximate concept, determine a probability that the at least one proximate concept identifies the unknown MMCE; and   identify the MMCE based on the determined probabilities of the at least one proximate concept.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to:
 determine whether a highest probability of the determined probabilities is above an identification threshold; and   upon determining that the highest probability is above the identification threshold, identify the MMCE as known.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein identifying the MMCE further comprises:
 determining a plurality of proximate concepts having the highest probabilities among the at least one proximate concept, wherein the MMCE is identified as potentially being related to each of the at least one proximate concept.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the at least one proximate concept is determined respective of other known MMCEs included in the multimedia content item. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the comparison yields a matching score, wherein the probability is equal to the matching score. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the identified MMCE is utilized to create a new concept. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the multimedia content item is any of: an image, a graphic, a video stream, a video clip, a video frame, an audio clip, and a photograph. 
     
     
         22 . A system for identifying multimedia content elements, comprising:
 a processing unit;   a memory connected to the processing unit, the memory containing instructions that when executed by the processing unit, configure the system to:   generate a signature for an unknown multimedia content element (MMCE), wherein the unknown MMCE is at least a portion of a multimedia content item;   determine whether the unknown MMCE is identifiable by the signature;   upon determining that the unknown MMCE is identified by the signature, identify the MMCE based on the signature; and   upon determining that the MMCE is not identified by the signature:
 compare a signature of the unknown MMCE to a signature cluster of at least one concept to determine whether each concept is proximate to the unknown MMCE; 
 for each proximate concept, determine a probability that the at least one proximate concept identifies the MMCE; and 
 identify the MMCE based on the determined probabilities of the at least one proximate concept. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein identifying the unknown MMCE further comprises:
 determining whether a highest probability among the determined probabilities is below a predefined identification threshold; and   upon determining that the highest probability is below the predefined identification threshold, identifying the MMCE as unknown.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein identifying the unknown MMCE further comprises:
 determining a plurality of proximate concepts having the highest probabilities among the at least one proximate concept, wherein the MMCE is identified as potentially being related to each of the plurality of proximate concepts.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein each probability is determined to be equal to a proportion between the number of signatures of the proximate concept that match the signature of the MMCE and the total number of signatures of the proximate concept. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the multimedia content item is any of: image, a graphic, a video stream, a video clip, a video frame, and a photograph.