1. A method for identifying a media item, comprising: receiving, by a processor, a test fingerprint for a media item to be identified, the test fingerprint comprising a plurality of frames corresponding to segments of the media item, wherein a region of interest is defined for the test fingerprint to include the frames of the test fingerprint; accessing, by the processor, a database of reference fingerprints, each reference fingerprint comprising a plurality of frames corresponding to segments of known media items; performing, by the processor, a candidate search process, the candidate search process comprising: querying the database to match one or more frames of the test fingerprint that are within the region of interest to one or more frames of a reference fingerprint in the database, identifying the matching reference fingerprint as a candidate fingerprint, after finding a matching frame, locating a number of adjacent matching frames, reaching a terminating frame of the reference fingerprint, after reaching the terminating frame, querying the database for a related fingerprint, extending match boundaries by comparing frames with the related fingerprint, and redefining the region of interest to eliminate the matched frames of the test fingerprint from the region of interest; and returning, by the processor, one or more of the candidate fingerprints as being a possible match for the test fingerprint.