IP Library Granted Patent US 9,015,563
Granted Patent B2
US 9,015,563 · App. 14/023,226 · Granted Apr 21, 2015

Apparatus, system and method for merging code layers for audio encoding and decoding and error correction thereof

Inventors: Wendell Lynch (East Lansing, MI); John Stavropoulos (Edison, NJ); David Gish (Riverdale, NJ); Alan Neuhauser (Silver Spring, MD)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H03M13/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,015,563
App. No.
14/023,226
Granted
Apr 21, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, system and method for encoding and decoding ancillary code for digital audio, where multiple encoding layers are merged. The merging allows a greater number of ancillary codes to be embedded into the encoding space, and further introduces efficiencies in the encoding process. Utilizing certain error correction techniques, the decoding of ancillary code may be improved and made more reliable.

Claims (30)

1. A method of decoding audio data acoustically embedded with a message structure comprising a sequence of message symbols coexisting within two encoded layers along a time base of the audio data, each message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components and a symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols; and

detecting the message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols, the detection based on a synchronization of the message symbols between the two encoded layers.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing error correction on at least some of the detected message symbols.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the error correction comprises a Reed-Solomon error correction.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the error correction comprises a convolutional code error correction.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the detected message symbols to a cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising outputting the detected message symbols if the CRC has been satisfied.

7. A method of decoding audio data acoustically embedded with a message structure comprising a sequence of message symbols coexisting within two encoded layers along a time base of the audio data, each message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components and a predefined symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols;

detecting the message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof, wherein the detection is based on a synchronization of the message symbols between the two encoded layers; and

performing error correction on at least some of the detected message symbols, wherein the error correction comprises determining a largest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the message symbols for each of a plurality of message positions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the error correction comprises determining the smallest SNR value of the message symbols for each of a plurality of message positions.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the error correction comprises identifying the smallest SNR values among a predetermined number of the plurality of message positions.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the error correction comprises discarding symbols identified as having the smallest SNR values among the predetermined number of the plurality of message positions.

11. A decoder to decode audio data acoustically embedded with a message structure comprising a sequence of message symbols coexisting within two encoded layers along a time base of the audio data, each message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components and a symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

a first decoder portion to detect the substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols; and

a second decoder portion to detect the message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols, the detection based on a synchronization of the message symbols between the two encoded layers.

12. The decoder of claim 11 , further comprising a third decoder portion to perform error correction on at least some of the detected message symbols.

13. The decoder of claim 12 , wherein the error correction comprises a Reed-Solomon error correction.

14. The decoder of claim 12 , wherein the error correction comprises a convolutional code error correction.

15. The decoder of claim 11 , wherein the decoder is to subject the detected message symbols to a cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

16. The decoder of claim 15 , wherein the decoder is to output the detected message symbols if the CRC has been satisfied.

17. A decoder configured to decode audio data acoustically embedded with a message structure comprising a sequence of message symbols coexisting within two encoded layers along a time base of the audio data, each message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components and a predefined symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

a first decoder portion for detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the message symbols;

a second decoder portion for detecting the message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof, wherein the detection is based on a synchronization of the message symbols between the two encoded layers; and

a third decoder portion configured to perform error correction on at least some of the detected message symbols, wherein the error correction of the third decoder portion is configured to determine a largest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the message symbols for each of a plurality of message positions.

18. The decoder of claim 17 , wherein the error correction of the third decoder portion is configured to determine the smallest SNR value of the message symbols for each of a plurality of message positions.

19. The decoder of claim 18 , wherein the error correction of the third decoder portion is configured to identify the smallest SNR values among a predetermined number of the plurality of message positions.

20. The decoder of claim 19 , wherein the error correction of the third decoder portion is configured to discard symbols identified as having the smallest SNR values among the predetermined number of the plurality of message positions.

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 Sep 29, 2014
From: LYNCH, WENDELL; STAVROPOULOS, JOHN; GISH, DAVID; NEUHAUSER, ALAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 033845/0680 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13955438 · Jul 31, 2013
Related Publication 20150039972A1 · Feb 5, 2015