IP Library Granted Patent US 8,874,924
Granted Patent B2
US 8,874,924 · App. 13/671,341 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Methods and apparatus to identify media

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,874,924
App. No.
13/671,341
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying media are described. An example method includes determining application identification information for a media presentation application executing on a media device, determining a first watermark for the application identification information from a lookup table, requesting media identification information for media from the media presentation application, determining a second watermark for the media identification information from the lookup table, inserting the first watermark in the media prior to output of the media by the media device, and inserting the second watermark in the media prior to the output of the media by the media device.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

determining application identification information for a media presentation application executing on a media device;

determining a first watermark for the application identification information from a lookup table;

requesting media identification information for media from the media presentation application;

determining a second watermark for the media identification information from the lookup table;

inserting the first watermark in the media prior to output of the media by the media device; and

inserting the second watermark in the media prior to the output of the media by the media device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first watermark is a final distributor watermark and the second watermark is a program content watermark.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a time in content field of the second watermark indicates the media identification information.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein a source identifier field of the second watermark indicates a platform of the media.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a time in content field of the first watermark indicates the application identification information.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein the first watermark is inserted in the media substantially immediately after the second watermark.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising alternately inserting copies of the second watermark and copies of the first watermark.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media identification information is a manufacturer identification number.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media identification information is embedded in the media.

10. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first watermark and the second watermark is inserted in audio of the media.

11. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting authorization for monitoring at the media presentation device; and

issuing a rebate in response to detecting the authorization.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a device interface to determine application identification information for a media presentation application executing on a media device;

an application interface to request media identification information for media from the media presentation application;

a data compiler to determine information for a first watermark for the application identification information from a lookup table and information for a second watermark for the media identification information from the lookup table; and

a watermark generator to generate the first watermark and the second watermark, insert the first watermark in the media prior to output of the media by the media device, and insert the second watermark in the media prior to the output of the media by the media device.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first watermark is a final distributor watermark and the second watermark is a program content watermark.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein a time in content field of the second watermark indicates the media identification information.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein a source identifier field of the second watermark indicates a platform of the media.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein a time in content field of the first watermark indicates the application identification information.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first watermark is inserted in the media substantially immediately after the second watermark.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the watermark generator is to alternately insert copies of the second watermark and copies of the first watermark.

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

determine application identification information for a media presentation application executing on a media device;

determine a first watermark for the application identification information from a lookup table;

request media identification information for media from the media presentation application;

determine a second watermark for the media identification information from the lookup table;

insert the first watermark in the media prior to output of the media by the media device; and

insert the second watermark in the media prior to the output of the media by the media device.

20. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the first watermark is a final distributor watermark and the second watermark is a program content watermark.

21. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein a time in content field of the second watermark indicates the media identification information.

22. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 21 , wherein a source identifier field of the second watermark indicates a platform of the media.

23. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein a time in content field of the first watermark indicates the application identification information.

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 Feb 5, 2013
From: MCMILLAN, GAVIN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 029758/0505 →