IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,594,242
Granted Patent B2
US 7,594,242 · App. 11/466,684 · Granted Sep 22, 2009

Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,594,242
App. No.
11/466,684
Granted
Sep 22, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the local media playback device is in an internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims (34)

1. A method to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device, the method comprising:

tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by the local media playback device; and

determining that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the harmonic frequency is higher than a video bandwidth of a tuned channel.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the harmonic frequency comprises a fifth to thirteenth harmonic of the chrominance signal.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein tuning a harmonic frequency comprises:

tuning a first harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device; and

tuning a second harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein determining that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold comprises: determining that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the first measured harmonic frequency exceeds a first predetermined threshold and the second measured harmonic frequency exceeds a second predetermined threshold.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein tuning a harmonic frequency further comprises tuning a third harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein determining that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold comprises: determining that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the first measured harmonic frequency exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the second measured harmonic frequency exceeds a second predetermined threshold, and the third measured harmonic frequency exceeds a third predetermined threshold.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the first harmonic frequency comprises a fifth harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal, the second harmonic frequency comprises a seventh harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal, and the third harmonic frequency comprises an eleventh harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the local media playback device comprises a video cassette recorder, a digital versatile disk player, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder, a video game, or a camcorder.

10. An apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device, the apparatus comprising:

a tuner to tune a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by the local media playback device;

a comparison circuit to compare the measured harmonic frequency to a predetermined threshold; and

a memory to store a record indicating that the local media playback device is in the internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the harmonic frequency is higher than a video bandwidth of a tuned channel.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the harmonic frequency comprises a fifth to thirteenth harmonic of the chrominance signal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the tuner tunes to a first harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device and a second harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the comparison circuit compares the first measured harmonic frequency to a first predetermined threshold and the second measured harmonic frequency to a second predetermined threshold.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the tuner tunes to a third harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal output by the local media playback device.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the comparison circuit compares the first measured harmonic frequency to a first predetermined threshold, the second measured harmonic frequency to a second predetermined threshold, and the third measured harmonic frequency to a third predetermined threshold.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the first predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold, and the third predetermined threshold are different from one another.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the first harmonic frequency comprises a fifth harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal, the second harmonic frequency comprises a seventh harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal, and the third harmonic frequency comprises an eleventh harmonic frequency of the chrominance signal.

19. A method of monitoring use of a local media playback device comprising:

receiving a signal output by the local media playback device;

attempting to detect a characteristic unique to a blue screen video signal in an out of band portion of the signal output by the local media playback device; and

creating a record indicating that the local media playback device is in a blue screen mode if the unique characteristic is detected.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the signal output by the local media player comprises a chrominance signal.

21. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the unique characteristic comprises a trail of harmonic frequencies having a predetermined characteristic.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the trail of harmonic frequencies comprise at least some harmonic frequencies of a chrominance signal.

23. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the at least some harmonic frequencies of the chrominance signal exceed a video bandwidth of a tuned channel.

24. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises a set of thresholds corresponding to respective ones of the at least some harmonic frequencies.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
RE-RECORD TO REMOVE THE ASSIGNMENT RECORDED AGAINST 7,497,271, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 022990 FRAME 0357. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.)
To: NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC, THE
Reel/Frame 023160/0334 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 20, 2009
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.) A CORP. OF DELAWARE
To: NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022990/0357 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2006
From: CHAN, CHEUK WAN
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 018269/0683 →