Method and System for Remotely Controlling Consumer Electronic Devices

Abstract

A media system replaces content in a first sequence of media content. The media system presents the first sequence of media content to an end-user and generates a fingerprint of the sequence of media content. The fingerprint is for comparison with a plurality of reference fingerprints so as to identify the first sequence of media content and determine a reference position within the first sequence of media content. The media system sends a request for a replacement sequence of content to a content replacement system, and receives replacement media content selected based on the identified first sequence of media content. The media system presents the replacement media content to the end-user instead of the first sequence of media content. Presenting the replacement media content begins at a position in the first sequence of media content that is determined based on the reference position.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a media system, a sequence of media content from a media content distributor over a communication network, the sequence of media content including steganographic data;   outputting, by the media system, the sequence of media content for presentation; and   while outputting the sequence of media content for presentation, (i) detecting, by the media system, the steganographic data in the sequence of media content and (ii) responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking, by the media system, an application on the media system,   wherein detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises detecting an adjusted chrominance of a pixel of the sequence of media content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, the media system beginning to record a program on a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, beginning to record the sequence of media content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking an interactive program. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, causing presentation on a display of the media system of an interactive element in conjunction with presentation of the sequence of media content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the interactive element comprises a selectable object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein presentation of the interactive element comprises causing presentation of an overlay. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises invoking the application based on presence of the detected steganographic data in the sequence of media content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extracting the steganographic data from the sequence of media content, wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises invoking the application based on content of the detected steganographic data in the sequence of media content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steganographic data is encoded inside of a transport layer. 
     
     
         11 . A media system comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory;   a display; and   instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to cause the media system to carry out operations including:
 receiving a sequence of media content from a media content distributor over a communication network, the sequence of media content including steganographic data, 
 outputting the sequence of media content for presentation on the display, and 
 while outputting the sequence of media content for presentation on the display, (i) detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content and (ii) responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking an application on the media system, 
 wherein detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises detecting an adjusted chrominance of a pixel of the sequence of media content. 
   
     
     
         12 . The media system of  claim 11 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, beginning to record a program on a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         13 . The media system of  claim 11 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking an interactive program. 
     
     
         14 . The media system of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further include extracting the steganographic data from the sequence of media content, and wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises invoking the application based on content of the extracted steganographic data. 
     
     
         15 . The media system of  claim 11 , wherein the steganographic data is encoded inside of a transport layer. 
     
     
         16 . The media system of  claim 11 , wherein the steganographic data is encrypted, and wherein the operations further comprise decrypting the steganographic data. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a media system, cause the media system to carry out operations comprising:
 receiving a sequence of media content from a media content distributor over a communication network, the sequence of media content including steganographic data,   outputting the sequence of media content for presentation on the display, and   while outputting the sequence of media content for presentation on the display, (i) detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content and (ii) responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking an application on the media system,   wherein detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises detecting an adjusted chrominance of a pixel of the sequence of media content.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, beginning to record a program on a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises, in response to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content, invoking an interactive program. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further include extracting the steganographic data from the sequence of media content, and wherein invoking the application on the media system responsive to detecting the steganographic data in the sequence of media content comprises invoking the application based on content of the extracted steganographic data.