Method for sound recognition task trigger

Abstract

A system and method is described for monitoring a program signal for certain content, and performing a set of tasks when target content is recognized. Target content may be identified by using acoustic or video fingerprinting hardware or software to identify characteristic components of the program signal, and performing a lookup in a database of known content. When a match is made to known content, a task maybe performed such as muting the audio, blocking the video, or fast-forwarding past the content. A secondary action unit may be employed to receive control signals and rebroadcast the same to a media device. When the broadcast of the target media is determined to have completed, a corollary set of tasks are performed. In embodiments, the system may be implemented as one or more standalone hardware components, or in software.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a housing including a connector and a logic,
 wherein the connector is configured to connect to a port of a media source such that the logic is able to access an audio content from the media source via the port, and 
 wherein the logic is configured to segment the audio content into a plurality of segments, to generate a plurality of first identifiers based on the segments, to compare the first identifiers against a set of second identifiers, to identify a plurality of matches between the first identifiers and the second identifiers, to evaluate the matches, and to take an action. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second identifiers are stored local to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second identifiers are stored remote to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes requesting a transmission of a signal to a remote control such that the remote control can act based on the signal. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the transmission is wireless. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the audio content is from a first content sourced via the media source, wherein the signal requests the remote control to at least one of lower a volume of the first content or switch to a second content sourced via the media source. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes requesting a transmission of a signal to the media source such that the media source can act based on the signal. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the transmission is wireless. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the audio content is from a first content sourced via the media source, wherein the signal requests the media source to at least one of lower a volume of first content or switch to a second content sourced via the media source. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the logic includes a system-on-a-chip (SOC). 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is configured to utilize a Fourier transform to generate a plurality of values corresponding to the segments. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a media source including a port configured for connection to a connector included in a housing, wherein the housing includes a logic, wherein the media source is configured to take an action in response to a request received from the logic, and wherein the logic is configured to send the request to the media source based on:   accessing, by the logic, an audio content from the media source via the port,   segmenting, by the logic, the audio content into a plurality of segments,   generating, by the logic, a plurality of first identifiers based on the segments,   comparing, by the logic, the first identifiers against a set of second identifiers,   identifying, by the logic, a plurality of matches between the first identifiers and the second identifiers,   evaluating, by the logic, the matches, and   generating, by the logic, the request.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second identifiers are stored local to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the second identifiers are stored remote to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the media source is configured to receive the request indirectly from the logic. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the audio content is from a first content sourced via the media source, wherein the action includes at least one of lowering a volume of the first content or switching to a second content sourced via the media source. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the logic includes a SOC. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the logic is configured to utilize a Fourier transform to generate a plurality of values corresponding to the segments. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 interfacing, by a logic, with a media source based on a connector mating with a port of the media source, wherein the connector is included in a housing, wherein the housing includes the logic; and   accessing, by the logic, an audio content sourced from the media source such that the logic is able to segment the audio content into a plurality of segments, to generate a plurality of first identifiers based on the segments, to compare the first identifiers against a set of second identifiers, to identify a plurality of matches between the first identifiers and the second identifiers, to evaluate the matches, and to take an action.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the action includes communicating with the media source indirectly.