Methods and apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for identifying broadcast digital audio signals include structure and/or function whereby the digital audio signal is provided to processing structure which is configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal. Preferably, such processing structure is disposed in a dwelling or a monitoring site in an audience measurement system, such as the Nielsen TV ratings system.
1. Apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal, comprising:
an input which receives the digital audio signal, wherein the digital audio signal contains data from a broadcast or stored digital program signal; and
structure configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed or uncompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed or uncompressed received digital audio signal.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said structure time-stamps the identified signals.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a clock which supplies a clock signal to said structure.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a memory for storing the time-stamped identified signals.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising transmission structure for transmitting the stored, time-stamped identified signals to a collection site.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said structure is disposed in a dwelling.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said structure is disposed in a verification site.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said structure is disposed in a monitoring site.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a tuner which receives a broadcast program signal and outputs the digital audio signal to said input.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the program-identifying code is placed in an aux data field in the digital audio signal by a broadcaster and/or a program producer.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the program identifying code is Program System Information Protocol (PSIP) data, Content ID data, and/or other useful data which are placed in the aux data field by the broadcaster and/or any other participant in the distribution system.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the program identifying code is program related data which are copied from bitstream data areas outside the aux data field into the aux data field by the broadcaster and/or other participant in the distribution system.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein stuffing data in the digital audio signal is altered with data which corresponds to viewing activity information.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the program-identifying code and the feature signal correspond to an Internet transmission.
15. A method for identifying a digital audio signal, the method comprising:
receiving the digital audio signal at an input, wherein the digital audio signal contains data from a broadcast or stored digital program signal; and
configuring processing structure to (i) identify a program-identifying code in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal.
16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said processing structure time-stamps the identified signals.
17. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising supplying a clock signal to said processing structure.
18. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising storing the time-stamped identified signals.
19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising transmitting the stored, time-stamped identified signals to a collection site.
20. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a dwelling.
21. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a verification site.
22. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a monitoring site.
23. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising using a tuner to receive a broadcast program signal and output the digital audio signal to said input.
24. A computer readable storage medium which causes one or more computers to carry out a method for identifying a digital audio signal, the computer readable storage medium causing the one or more computers to:
input the digital audio signal, wherein the digital audio signal contains data from a broadcast or stored digital program signal; and
configure processing structure to (i) identify a program-identifying code in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in a compressed portion of the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal.
25. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , wherein said processing structure is configured to time-stamp the identified signals.
26. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 , further comprising supplying a clock signal to said processing structure.
27. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 , further comprising storing the time-stamped identified signals.
28. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 27 , further comprising transmitting the stored, time-stamped identified signals to a collection site.
29. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a dwelling.
30. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a verification site.
31. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , wherein said processing structure is disposed in a monitoring site.
32. A computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , further comprising using a tuner to receive a broadcast program signal and output the digital audio signal to said processing structure.