IP Library Granted Patent US 9,368,123
Granted Patent B2
US 9,368,123 · App. 13/653,001 · Granted Jun 14, 2016

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermark detection and extraction

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,368,123
App. No.
13/653,001
Granted
Jun 14, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermark detection and extraction are disclosed. An example method includes sampling a media signal to generate samples, wherein the media signal includes an embedded message, determining a first symbol value for a first block of the samples, determining a second symbol value for a second block of the samples, and determining, using a processor, a resulting symbol value, representative of a part of the embedded message, based on the first symbol value and the second symbol value for the first block of samples and the second block of samples, wherein the first block and the second block partially overlap.

Claims (35)

1. A method for determining information embedded in media signals, the method comprising:

sampling, using a processor, a media signal to generate samples, wherein the media signal includes an embedded message;

determining, using the processor, a first symbol value based on a first frequency spectrum determined for a first block of the samples;

determining, using the processor, a second symbol value based on a second frequency spectrum determined for a second block of the samples; and

determining, using the processor, a resulting symbol value, representative of a part of the embedded message, by voting based on the first symbol value for the first block of samples and the second symbol value for the second block of samples, wherein the first block and the second block partially overlap in time in the media signal.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including determining a third symbol value for a third block of the samples, the third block of samples being located a multiple of a length of an embedded message prior to the first block of samples, and wherein determining the resulting symbol value is also based on the third symbol value.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , further including determining a fourth symbol value for a fourth block of the samples, the fourth block of samples and the third block of samples partially overlap, and determining the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the third symbol value.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including determining a first plurality of symbol values for a first plurality of blocks of samples, each block in the first plurality of blocks of samples being located a multiple of a length of a message prior to the first block of samples, and determining the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the first plurality of symbol values.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including determining a second plurality of symbol values for a second plurality of blocks of samples, each member of the second plurality of blocks of samples partly overlapping a member of the first plurality of blocks of samples, and determining the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the second plurality of symbol values.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including determining a third symbol value from a third block of samples, and the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the third symbol value.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein determining the resulting symbol value includes extracting a most occurring symbol value.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the most occurring symbol value is determined by voting.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media signal is embedded with a plurality of messages, each message including a series of symbols.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the samples are stored in a buffer.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the buffer is a circular buffer.

12. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including storing the first symbol value and the second symbol value in a tangible memory, wherein the processor reads the first symbol value and the second symbol value from the tangible memory when determining the resulting symbol value.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the tangible memory is a circular buffer.

14. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first symbol value and the second symbol value are determined by performing a spectral analysis on, respectively, the first block of samples and the second block of samples to determine the first symbol value and the second symbol value.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the spectral analysis is performed using a fast Fourier transform.

16. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media signal is an audio signal.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein the embedded message is embedded as an audio watermark.

18. A system for identifying messages embedded within media signals, the system comprising:

a sampler to sample a media signal to generate samples, wherein the media signal includes an embedded message;

a first symbol value extractor to determine a first symbol value for a first block of the samples;

a second symbol value extractor to determine a second symbol value for a second block of the samples; and

a processor to determine a resulting symbol value, representative of a part of the embedded message, based on the first symbol value and the second symbol value for the first and second block of the samples, wherein the first block of the samples and the second block of the samples partially overlap.

19. The system as defined in claim 18 , further including a third symbol value extractor to determine a third symbol value for a third block of the samples, wherein the third block of the samples is located a multiple of a length of an embedded message prior to the first block of the samples, wherein determining the resulting symbol value is also based on the third symbol value.

20. The system as defined in claim 19 , further including a fourth symbol value extractor to determine a fourth symbol value for a fourth block of samples wherein the fourth block of samples and the third block of samples partially overlap, wherein determining the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the third symbol value.

21. The system as defined in claim 18 , further including a first plurality of symbol value extractors to determine a first plurality of symbol values for a first plurality of blocks of samples, wherein each block in the first plurality of blocks of samples is located a multiple of a length of a message prior to the first block of samples, wherein determining the resulting symbol value is also determined based on the first plurality of symbol values.

22. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

sample a media signal to generates samples, wherein the media signal includes an embedded message;

determine a first symbol value for a first block of the samples;

determine a second symbol value for a second block of the samples; and

determine a resulting symbol value, representative of a part of the embedded message, based on the first symbol value and the second symbol value for the first and second blocks of samples, wherein the first block and the second block are partially overlapped.

23. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to determine a third symbol value for a third block of the samples, wherein the third block of samples is located a multiple of a length of an embedded message prior to the first block of samples, wherein determining the resulting symbol value is also based on the third symbol value.

Assignments (10)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2013
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; TOPCHY, ALEXANDER
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 029676/0367 →