IP Library Granted Patent US 9,160,837
Granted Patent B2
US 9,160,837 · App. 13/287,871 · Granted Oct 13, 2015

Interactive streaming content apparatus, systems and methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,160,837
App. No.
13/287,871
Granted
Oct 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems that operate to provide interactive streaming content identification and processing are disclosed.

Claims (53)

1. A method comprising:

continuously receiving an incoming audio signal including audio content;

processing the audio signal to determine audio characteristics that include a rhythm of the audio content;

classifying the audio content into a classification among multiple classifications that include a music classification and a talk classification based on the audio characteristics that include the rhythm of the audio content and based on multiple sets of threshold values that each correspond to a different one of the multiple classifications;

identifying a transition between the music classification and the talk classification by detecting that a change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values;

in response to the transition between the music classification and the talk classification being identified by the detecting that the change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values, adjusting at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values; and

selecting a behavior of a device in response to the identified transition between the music classification and the talk classification.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing comprises:

equalizing the audio signal, based on the environmental context, to substantially eliminate selected bands of frequency.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing comprises:

windowing the audio signal to limit a time period for the processing.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing comprises:

thresholding the audio signal to reject amplitude components that exceed a defined level.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio characteristics comprise:

at least one of amplitude, frequency, pitch, tempo, or energy.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold values comprise:

the multiple sets of threshold values include at least one of a minimum threshold, a maximum threshold, and a historical average threshold to measure against the audio characteristics that include the rhythm of the audio content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the transition, updating time position information associated with the incoming audio signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the transition, triggering the selected behavior of the device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification includes detecting an increase in the rhythm of the audio content.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification includes detecting a decrease in the rhythm of the audio content.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification identifies a transition from the music classification to the talk classification based on a decrease in the rhythm of the audio content.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification identifies a transition from the talk classification to the music classification based on an increase in the rhythm of the audio content.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification identifies a transition from the music classification to the talk classification based on an increase in concentration of pitch in the audio content.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the identifying of the transition between the music classification and the talk classification identifies a transition from the talk classification to the music classification based on a decrease in concentration of pitch in the audio content.

15. A method comprising:

determining an implicit context in which a mobile device is receiving an incoming audio signal including audio content;

processing the audio signal to determine audio characteristics that include a rhythm of the audio content;

determining a classification of the audio content among multiple classifications that include a music classification and a talk classification based on the audio characteristics that include the rhythm of the audio content and based on multiple sets of threshold values that each correspond to a different one of the multiple classifications;

identifying a transition between the music classification and the talk classification by detecting that a change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values;

selecting a behavior of the mobile device in response to the transition between the music classification and the talk classification being identified by the detecting that the change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values; and

changing the classification of the audio content by adjusting at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values in accordance with the implicit context.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining previous content recognition, wherein the changing of the classification of the audio content comprises changing the classification in accordance with the implicit context and the previous content recognition.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining a device operating mode, power supply type, and network connection type for the mobile device, wherein the changing of the classification of the audio content comprises changing the classification in accordance with the implicit context and the device operating mode, power supply type, and network connection type.

18. An apparatus for determining the environmental context associated with a mobile device, comprising:

a classifier comprising one or more processors and configured to:

receive an incoming audio signal that includes audio content;

process the audio signal to provide audio characteristics that include a rhythm of the audio content; and

to classify the audio content into a classification among multiple classifications that include a music classification and a talk classification based on the audio characteristics that include the rhythm of the audio content and based on multiple sets of threshold values that each correspond to a different one of the multiple classifications;

a transition detector comprising one or more processors of the machine and configured to recognize a transition between the music classification and the talk classification by detecting that a change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values; and

a context manager comprising one or more processors of the machine and configured to trigger a selected behavior of the mobile device in dependence on the transition between the music classification and the talk classification being recognized by the detecting that the change in the rhythm of the audio content transgresses at least one of the multiple sets of threshold values.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the classifier is configured to equalize the signal, based on the environmental context, to substantially eliminate selected bands of frequency, or threshold the signal to reject amplitude components that exceed a defined level.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , configured to be assisted by meta-data returned from a network service.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, 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 042262 / FRAME 0601) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061748/0001 →
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 SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 13, 2017
From: GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042262/0601 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 8, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; CASTTV INC.; TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; TRIBUNE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041656/0804 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 14/282,293 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037569 FRAME: 0270. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Jan 26, 2016
From: CASTTV INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037606/0880 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 21, 2016
From: CASTTV INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY, LLC; TRIBUNE MEDIA COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037569/0270 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: GRACENOTE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032480/0272 →