IP Library Granted Patent US 9,420,334
Granted Patent B2
US 9,420,334 · App. 14/015,664 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Display device on/off detection methods and apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,420,334
App. No.
14/015,664
Granted
Aug 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include performing audio code detection on an audio signal corresponding to an output of a presentation device. Such disclosed example methods also include determining a first result based on whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal, and determining a second result based on an audio gain level used to adjust the audio signal prior to performing audio code detection on the audio signal. Such disclosed example methods further include combining the first result and the second result to determine a third result indicating whether the presentation device is ON or OFF.

Claims (38)

1. A method to determine whether a presentation device is ON or OFF, the method comprising:

performing audio code detection on an audio signal corresponding to an output of the presentation device;

determining a first result based on whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal;

determining a second result based on an audio gain level used to adjust the audio signal prior to performing audio code detection on the audio signal; and

combining the first result and the second result to determine a third result indicating whether the presentation device is ON or OFF.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is ON when a first valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when no valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is ON when the audio gain level does not exceed a threshold.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when the audio gain level exceeds a threshold.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein combining the first result and the second result includes:

adjusting the first result based on a first weight; and

adjusting the second result based on a second weight.

7. A machine readable storage device or storage disk comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

perform audio code detection on an audio signal corresponding to an output of a presentation device;

determine a first result based on whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal;

determine a second result based on an audio gain level used to adjust the audio signal prior to performing audio code detection on the audio signal; and

combine the first result and the second result to determine a third result indicating whether the presentation device is ON or OFF.

8. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is ON when a first valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

9. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when no valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

10. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is ON when the audio gain level does not exceed a threshold.

11. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when the audio gain level exceeds a threshold.

12. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

adjust the first result based on a first weight; and

adjust the second result based on a second weight.

13. A metering apparatus comprising:

a sensor to obtain an audio signal corresponding to an output of a presentation device;

an audio processor to:

perform audio code detection on the audio;

determine a first result based on whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal; and

determine a second result based on an audio gain level used to adjust the audio signal prior to performing audio code detection on the audio signal; and

a decision processor to combine the first result and the second result to determine a third result indicating whether the presentation device is ON or OFF.

14. The metering apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is ON when a first valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

15. The metering apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when no valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

16. The metering apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is ON when the audio gain level does not exceed a threshold.

17. The metering apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the second result indicates that the presentation device is OFF when the audio gain level exceeds a threshold.

18. The metering apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the audio processor is further to:

adjust the first result based on a first weight; and

adjust the second result based on a second weight.

Assignments (9)
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 →