Authorizing devices based on identifying content distributor

Abstract

Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

1 . A method, comprising:
 accessing multiple video streams, each video stream being distributed by a different content distribution system among multiple content distribution systems, each video stream including same video content provided by a single content source to the multiple content distribution systems and including different distributor-specific content that is unique to the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream, a video stream of the multiple video streams being available from a content distribution system of the multiple content distribution systems to a client device.   for each of the multiple video streams:
 generating a set of reference fingerprints of the distributor-specific content included within the video stream accessed from the corresponding content distribution system, and 
 associating the set of reference fingerprints with the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream; 
   accessing a set of query fingerprints received from the client device, the set of query fingerprints being calculated from at least a portion of the distributor-specific content playing at the client device;   querying a reference database that includes the sets of reference fingerprints to identify a set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints:   identifying content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and associated with the set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints thereby to identify the content distribution system providing the video stream to the client device;   accessing information that identifies a location of the client device; and   performing an action dependent upon the identifying of the content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and the location of the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the action includes authorizing the client device to receive additional video content from the identified content distribution system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the client device is a first client device; and   the performing of the action includes authorizing a second client device associated with the first client device to receive the video stream from the identified content distribution system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the action includes providing sponsored content that is associated with the identified content distribution system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the client device is a first client device; and   the performing of the action includes providing supplemental content associated with the video stream to a second device associated with the first client device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the accessing of the information that identifies the location of the client device comprises receiving information that identifies the location of the client device; and   the identifying of the content distribution system is based on the received information that identifies the location of the client device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying a multichannel distributor that receives the video stream from the single content source and provides the video stream to the client device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying at least one of a cable television system, a direct broadcast satellite system, or a wireline video provider of the video stream. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying an over-the-top content provider. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a memory that stores instructions; and   one or more processors configured by the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 accessing multiple video streams, each video stream being distributed by a different content distribution system among multiple content distribution systems, each video stream including same video content provided by a single content source to the multiple content distribution systems and including different distributor-specific content that is unique to the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream, a video stream of the multiple video streams being available from a content distribution system of the multiple content distribution systems to a client device; 
 for each of the multiple video streams:
 generating a set of reference fingerprints of the distributor-specific content included within the video stream accessed from the corresponding content distribution system; and 
 associating the set of reference fingerprints with the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream; 
 
 accessing a set of query fingerprints received from the client device, the set of query fingerprints being calculated from at least a portion of the distributor-specific content playing at the client device; 
 querying a reference database that includes the sets of reference fingerprints to identify a set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints; 
 identifying the content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and associated with the set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints thereby to identify the content distribution system providing the video stream to the client device; 
 accessing information that identifies a location of the client device; and 
 performing an action dependent upon the identifying of the content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and the location of the client device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the performing of the action includes authorizing the client device to receive additional video content from the identified content distribution system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the client device is a first client device; and   the performing of the action includes authorizing a second client device associated with the first client device to receive the video stream from the identified content distribution system.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the performing of the action includes providing sponsored content that is associated with the identified content distribution system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the client device is a first client device; and   the performing of the action includes providing supplemental content associated with the video stream to a second device associated with the first client device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the accessing of the information that identifies the location of the client device comprises receiving information that identifies the location of the client device; and   the identifying of the content distribution system is based on the received information that identifies the location of the client device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying a multichannel distributor that receives the video stream from the single content source and provides the video stream to the client device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying at least one of a cable television system, a direct broadcast satellite system, or a wireline video provider of the video stream. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identifying of the content distribution system includes identifying an over-the-top content provider. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 accessing multiple video streams, each video stream being distributed by a different content distribution system among multiple content distribution systems, each video stream including same video content provided by a single content source to the multiple content distribution systems and including different distributor-specific content that is unique to the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream, a video stream of the multiple video streams being available from a content distribution system of the multiple content distribution systems to a client device;   for each of the multiple video streams:
 generating a set of reference fingerprints of the distributor-specific content included within the video stream accessed from the corresponding content distribution system; and 
 associating the set of reference fingerprints with the corresponding content distribution system that distributes the video stream; 
   accessing a set of query fingerprints received from the client device, the set of query fingerprints being calculated from at least a portion of the distributor-specific content playing at the client device;   querying a reference database that includes the sets of reference fingerprints to identify a set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints;   identifying the content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and associated with the set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprints thereby to identify the content distribution system providing the video stream to the client device;   accessing information that identifies a location of the client device; and   performing an action dependent upon the identifying of the content distribution system among the multiple content distribution systems and the location of the client device.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the performing of the action includes authorizing the client device to receive additional video content from the identified content distribution system.