IP Library Granted Patent US 9,947,327
Granted Patent B2
US 9,947,327 · App. 13/907,286 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Methods and apparatus for performing variable block length watermarking of media

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,947,327
App. No.
13/907,286
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for performing variable block length watermarking of media are disclosed. An example method to encode auxiliary data in audio data comprises selecting a frequency based on a code, selecting a block size based on the code, a combination of the block size and the frequency to represent of the code, encoding the code in an audio stream according to the block size and the frequency, and transmitting the audio stream including the encoded code.

Claims (40)

1. A method to encode auxiliary data in audio, the method comprising:

selecting, by executing an instruction with a processor and based on a first symbol in a code, a first frequency from a set of frequencies;

selecting a first block size by executing an instruction with the processor, the selection of the first block size based on the first symbol and the code, a combination of the first block size and the first frequency to represent the first symbol;

synthesizing a code frequency according to the first block size and the first frequency by executing an instruction with the processor;

combining, by executing an instruction with the processor, the code frequency with a first block of input audio samples of the audio having the first block size to form a block of encoded audio samples encoded with the first symbol, the code frequency and the first block of input audio samples overlapping in time; and

outputting the encoded audio samples to a device that produces an audio signal from the encoded audio samples.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including padding audio samples adjacent the block of encoded audio samples with a number of unmodified samples corresponding to a difference between the first block size and a predetermined block size.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first symbol encoded in the block of encoded audio samples is detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded according to the first block size and the first symbol is not detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded according to a different block size.

4. The method of claim 1 , further including accessing a lookup table based on the first symbol to select the first frequency and the first block size.

5. An apparatus to encode auxiliary data in audio, the apparatus comprising:

a selector to select, based on a first symbol in a code, a first frequency from a set of frequencies, and to select a first block size based on the first symbol and the code, a combination of the first block size and the first frequency to represent the first symbol; and

a combiner to:

synthesize a code frequency according to the first block size and the first frequency;

combine the code frequency with a first block of input audio samples of the audio having the first block size to form a block of encoded audio samples encoded with the first symbol, the code frequency and the first block of input audio samples overlapping in time; and

output the encoded audio samples to a device that produces an audio signal from the encoded audio samples.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the selector is to pad audio samples adjacent the block of encoded audio samples with a number unmodified samples corresponding to a difference between the first block size and a predetermined block size.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first block size includes a number of samples of the audio.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first symbol encoded in the block of encoded audio samples is detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded using the first block size and the first symbol is not detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded using a second block size different than the first block size.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the selector is to access a lookup table based on the first symbol to select the first frequency and the first block size.

10. An article of manufacture comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

select, based on a first symbol in a code, a first frequency from a set of frequencies;

select a first block size based on the first symbol and the code, a combination of the first block size and the frequency to represent the first symbol;

synthesize a code frequency according to the first block size and the first frequency;

combine the code frequency with a first block of input audio samples of the audio having the first block size to form a block of encoded audio samples encoded with the first symbol, the code frequency and the first block of input audio samples overlapping in time; and

output the encoded audio samples to a device that produces an audio signal from the encoded audio samples.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the machine to pad audio samples adjacent the block of encoded audio samples with a number of unmodified samples corresponding to a difference between the first block size and a predetermined block size.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the first symbol encoded in the block of encoded audio samples is detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded according to the first block size and the first symbol is not detectable at the first frequency when the block of encoded audio samples is decoded according to a different block size.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the machine to access a lookup table based on the first symbol to select the first frequency and the first block size.

14. The method of claim 1 , further including converting the encoded audio samples into an analog form prior to being output.

15. The method of claim 1 , further including:

sampling the audio to determine the input audio samples; and

converting the input audio samples to a frequency domain, the combining of the code frequency with the block of input audio samples being done in the frequency domain.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the combiner is to convert the encoded audio samples into an analog form prior to being output.

17. The apparatus of claim 5 , further including:

a sampler to sample the audio to determine the input audio samples; and

the combiner is to convert the input audio samples to a frequency domain, the combining of the code frequency with the block of input audio samples being done in the frequency domain.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the machine to convert the encoded audio samples into an analog form prior to being output.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the machine to:

sample the audio to determine the input audio samples; and

convert the input audio samples to a frequency domain, the combining of the code frequency with the block of input audio samples being done in the frequency domain.

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 Jul 30, 2013
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; TOPCHY, ALEXANDER
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 030903/0189 →