DESC:A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING DIGITAL ASSETS IN A DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of communications engineering.

Particularly, this invention relates to the field of security and tracking in communications engineering.

Specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for tracking digital assets in a digital ecosystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The term, ‘digital assets’, include, but are not exclusive to: cinematography, photography, logos, illustrations, animations, audiovisual media, presentations, spreadsheets, word documents, electronic mails, any form of content, and a multitude of other digital formats and their respective metadata. The number of different types of digital assets is exponentially increasing due to the rising number of devices that are a conduit for digital media, e.g., smartphones. Each of these digital assets may be called a content item.

The term, ‘digital ecosystem’, is defined as a system which encompasses content creators or originators to content broadcasters to OTT to content recipients. A plurality and a variety of devices can be used to ascertain these services.

There is a lot of content, in online as well as offline viewing, which maps to original content. It is a need that each content item be verified. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for tracking assets in a digital ecosystem.

According to prior art, each channel and / or digital asset is watermarked. When the same digital asset is uploaded over multiple channels or sources, the unique watermark identity is duplication. With multiple such broadcasts multiple times or if the video is updated, either the uniqueness of the watermark becomes redundant due to duplicity or there is a strong possibility that the watermark disappears. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method which identifies a video without a watermark.

The term, ‘identification’, comprises identifying source of a digital asset.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide a system and method for tracking digital assets (audio-visual or multimedia assets) across a digital ecosystem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method for certification of digital assets and to verify such certified digital assets.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system and method to identify a digital asset which does not have a watermark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a system for tracking assets in a digital ecosystem, said system comprises:
- a signal configuration mechanism configured to define and / or receive a variety of signals and to set up each of said signals in accordance with a pre-defined signal template, said pre-defined signal template providing a digital fingerprint signal as an output;
- a digital asset creator configured to create a digital asset with said signal in said pre-defined signal template;
- a metadata tagger configured to tag metadata to said created digital asset and configured to upload said digital asset, with said signal, for broadcast;
- a digital asset link unique identifier database configured to store data pertaining to each of said created digital assets, said data comprising a digital asset link identity for each created digital asset, a fingerprint for each created digital asset, a hash code for each created digital asset, and a link for each created digital asset; and
- a fingerprinting mechanism configured to create a fingerprint per digital asset and store it in said digital asset link unique identifier database, each digital asset on different servers having different links, each digital asset being checked with respect to said stored digital asset link identity and stored fingerprint from a fingerprint database.

In at least an embodiment, said digital asset is one of a video asset, an audio asset, or a multimedia asset.

Typically, a user accesses an SDK file of said system which, in turn, accesses another SDK file from an outsider ratings’ database.

Typically, a database of said system comprises links associated, for identification using the fingerprint, with the signal (fingerprint) which are accessed by said system’s SDK.

Typically, a database of said system comprises a list of distinct links associated with digital assets.

Typically, said system comprises a digital asset link unique identifier database comprising a list of unique digital link identifiers associated with digital assets.

Typically, said system comprises:
- a database comprising a list of unique digital links associated with each of said digital assets;
- a digital asset link unique identifier database comprising a list of unique digital link identifiers associated with each of said digital assets;
- a first querying mechanism configured to query the presence of a hashcode from a digital asset while it is being broadcast or played in order to checks if a determined hashcode, from said queried digital asset, is present in said digital asset link unique identifier database;
- a hashcode generating mechanism configured to generate a hashcode, per unique digital asset link identifier per digital asset, and to store said generated hashcode in a hashcode database, if no hashcode is present, which is then retrieved by a second querying mechanism which queries for a fingerprint of a digital asset before being broadcast or played, said second querying mechanism configured to run a fingerprint query, on said broadcast or played digital asset, in order to retrieve a fingerprint from a digital asset to check it with a reference fingerprint from a reference database in order to check for authenticity, said fingerprint comprises a digital asset link unique identifier (for a link of the digital asset source) along with a hashcode;
- a mapping mechanism configured to map metadata of said digital asset with respect to an external database and to further compare for data from said hashcode generating mechanism with said hashcode database in order to determine, as an output, as to how much of a digital asset has been broadcast or played.

In at least an embodiment, said digital asset link identifier may comprise multiple hashcodes, each hashcode being representative of a source of a digital asset in the digital ecosystem. Therefore, even if a URL is duplicate, a hashcode provides the digital’s identity and tracks it.

In at least an embodiment, said signal is selected from a group of signals consisting of an advertiser code signal, a brand code signal, an agency code signal, a product category code signal, a copy code signal, a duration signal, a language signal, and an advertisement quality signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
This invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a pre-defined signal template as defined by a signal configuration mechanism;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a proposed flow diagram relating to digital asset entering a digital ecosystem;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a proposed flow diagram relating to real-time user data collection flow; and

FIGURE 4 illustrates a proposed flow diagram for the system and method of this invention.

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
According to this invention, there is provided a system and method for tracking assets in a digital ecosystem.

FIGURE 1illustrates a pre-defined signal template as defined by a signal configuration mechanism.

In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, there is provided asignal configuration mechanism configured to define and / or receive a variety of signals and to set it up in accordance with a pre-defined signal template. In at least one embodiment, the signals are selected from a group of signals consisting of an advertiser code signal, a brand code signal, an agency code signal, a product category code signal, a copy code signal, a duration signal, a language signal, an advertisement quality signal, and the like. This pre-defined signal template provides a digital assetfingerprint signal as an output.This digital asset fingerprint could be one of a video fingerprint, a text fingerprint, a data fingerprint, a metadata fingerprint, an audio fingerprint, and / or a multimedia fingerprint.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a proposed flow diagram relating to digital asset entering a digital ecosystem.

A digital asset creator (12) creates a digital asset and a metadata tagger (14) tags metadata to the created digital asset and uploads the digital asset for broadcast. A database (16) comprising data pertaining to a video asset link identity, a fingerprint, has code, and an URL is stored per digital asset. A fingerprinting mechanism (18) creates a fingerprint per digital asset and stores it in the database (16). Each digital asset on different servers will have different URLs. Each digital asset is checked with respect to stored video asset link identity and stored fingerprint from a fingerprint database (20).

FIGURE 3 illustrates a proposed flow diagram relating to real-time user data collection flow.

In at least an embodiment, a user (22) accesses an SDK file (24) of the system of this invention, which in turn accesses another SDK file (26) from an outsider ratings’ database (30). The database (28) of this system comprises URLs associated, for identification using the fingerprint, with the signal (fingerprint) which are accessed by the system’s SDK. These URLs may be shortened by a URL shortener (32).

FIGURE 4 illustrates a proposed flow diagram for the system and method of this invention.

In at least an embodiment, the database (28) of this system comprises a list of distinct linksassociated with digital assets. Another database which is a digitalasset link unique identifier database (16) comprises a list of unique digital assetlink identifiers associated with digital assets. A first querying mechanism (42) queries and checks if a hashcode is present in the digital asset link unique identifier database (16). If the hashcode is not present, then a hashcode generating mechanism (44) generates a hashcode per unique digital asset link identifier and stores it in a hashcode database (46) which is then retrieved by a second querying mechanism (48). This second querying mechanism (48) queries for a fingerprint of a digital asset before it is broadcast or played or streamed. This second querying mechanism runs a fingerprint query in order to retrieve a fingerprint from a digital asset in order to check it with a reference fingerprint from a reference database (46) in order to check for authenticity. This fingerprint comprises a digital asset link unique identifier (such as for a URL of the digital asset source) along with a hashcode. A mapping mechanism (50) maps metadata of the digital asset with respect to an external database and further compare for data from hashcode generating mechanism (44) with the hashcode database (46) in order to determine, as an output, as to how much of a digital asset has been broadcast or played

Each digitalasset link identifier may comprise multiple hashcodes, each hashcode being representative of a source of a digital asset in the digital ecosystem. Therefore, even if a URL is duplicate, a hashcode provides the asset’s identity and tracks it.

The benefits of this system and method are enumerated as follows:
1) Benefit to advertisers:
a. Archival of All Ads with VAL-ID
b. Unified Reach & Frequency of TV + Digital Video campaign
c. Competition Tracking across TV + Digital for 1st Time
d. Ready Platform for Re-targeting on second screen (requires AD watermarking)
2) Benefit to agencies:
a. Quick evaluation of as run schedules & dropped spots with near real time reporting
b. Single Software to estimate Media deliveries on TV + Digital
c. Quick Campaign reconciliation and Post Evals with single ID
3) Benefit to broadcasters:
a. Synchronization between RO vs as run report
b. Shorter Payment cycles
c. Ready Platform for engaging viewers on second screen with SYNC NOW
4) Exchange of Information across the ecosystem with unique ID assigned per Creative Asset
5) Near Real Time reporting of TVC Monitoring
6) Rich Meta Data on Celebrity, Comm. (Equity, Promo, Value) etc.

The TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT of this invention lies in providing a system and method which is used for audience measurement, for content search and identification, for content filtering, and for delivery verification.

While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A system for tracking assets in a digital ecosystem, said system comprising:
- a signal configuration mechanism configured to define and / or receive a variety of signals and to set up each of said signals in accordance with a pre-defined signal template, said pre-defined signal template providing a digital fingerprint signal as an output;
- a digital asset creator(12) configured to create a digital asset with said signal in said pre-defined signal template;
- a metadata tagger (14)configured to tag metadata to saidcreated digital asset and configured to upload saiddigital asset, with said signal, for broadcast;
- adigitalasset link unique identifier database (16)configured to storedata pertaining to each of said created digital assets, said data comprising a digitalasset link identity for each created digital asset, a fingerprint for each created digital asset, a hash code for each created digital asset, and a link for each created digital asset; and
- afingerprinting mechanism(18)configured to create a fingerprint per digital asset and store it in saiddigital asset link unique identifier database (16), each digital asset on different servers having different links, each digital asset being checked with respect to said stored digital asset link identity and stored fingerprint from a fingerprint database (20).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital asset being of a video asset, an audio asset, or a multimedia asset.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user (22) accesses an SDK file (24) of said system which, in turn, accesses another SDK file (26) from an outsider ratings’ database (30).
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a database (28) of said system comprises linksassociated, for identification using the fingerprint, with the signal (fingerprint) which are accessed by said system’s SDK.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a database (28) of said system comprises a list of distinct linksassociated with digital assets.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system comprises a digital asset link unique identifier database (16) comprising a list of unique digital link identifiers associated with digital assets.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system comprises:
- a database (28) comprising a list of unique digital links associated with each of said digital assets;
- a digital asset link unique identifier database (16) comprising a list of unique digital link identifiers associated with each of said digital assets;
- afirst querying mechanism (42) configured to query the presence of a hashcode from a digital asset while it is being broadcast or played in order to checks if a determined hashcode, from said queried digital asset, is present in saiddigital asset link unique identifier database (16);
- a hashcode generating mechanism (44)configured to generate a hashcode, per unique digital asset link identifier per digital asset, and to store said generated hashcode in a hashcode database (46), if no hashcode is present, which is then retrieved by a second querying mechanism (48) which queries for a fingerprint of a digital asset before being broadcast or played, said second querying mechanism (48) configured to runa fingerprint query,on said broadcast or played digital asset, in order to retrieve a fingerprint from a digital asset to check it with a reference fingerprint from a reference database(46) in order to check for authenticity, said fingerprint comprises a digital asset link unique identifier (for a linkof the digital asset source) along with a hashcode;
- amapping mechanism (50) configured to map metadata of saiddigital asset with respect to an external database and to further compare for data from said hashcode generating mechanism (44) with said hashcode database (46) in order to determine, as an output, as to how much of a digital asset has been broadcast or played.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital asset link identifier may comprise multiple hashcodes, each hashcode being representative of a source of a digital asset in the digital ecosystem. Therefore, even if a URL is duplicate, a hashcode provides the digital’s identity and tracks it.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal being selected from a group of signals consisting of an advertiser code signal, a brand code signal, an agency code signal, a product category code signal, a copy code signal, a duration signal, a language signal, and an advertisement quality signal.

Dated this 09th day of April, 2019.

(Dr Shilpa H Gharve)
of LEGA SOLV
Agent for the Applicant