Patent ID: 9743138
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A system adapted to monitor a content from a program stream, the system comprising: an audio input subsystem configured to receive audio program data of the program stream, wherein the audio input subsystem is contained in a dongle configured to plug into an output port of a media device sourcing the program stream; an audio processing module contained in the dongle and configured to divide said audio program data into frames of data and generate an identifier representing at least one of the frames of data; a database lookup module contained in the dongle, in communication with a database of audio program content identifiers, and configured to determine whether the identifier representing the at least one of the frames of data matches an entry in said database, wherein the entry includes at least one of the audio program content identifiers; a chain generation module contained in the dongle and configured to evaluate series of matches with said database and determine whether an action should be taken relative to said program stream; and a signal generator contained in a standalone unit distinct from the dongle and the media device, wherein the signal generator is configured to send a command to the media device, wherein the command commands the media device to take an action relative to said program stream, wherein the dongle is configured to instruct the standalone unit to send the command based on the determining.