IP Library Granted Patent US 9,326,044
Granted Patent B2
US 9,326,044 · App. 14/074,499 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Methods and apparatus for generating signatures

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,326,044
App. No.
14/074,499
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Signaturing methods and apparatus as described. An example method includes applying a first function to a portion of digital data to produce a first windowed block, applying a second function different from the first function to the same portion of the digital data to produce a second windowed block, determining a first characteristic of a band of frequencies in the first windowed block, determining a second characteristic of the band of frequencies in the second windowed block, comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic, and assigning a signature bit representative of the portion of the digital data based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

Claims (31)

1. A method, comprising:

applying a first function to a portion of digital data to produce a first windowed block;

applying a second function different from the first function to the same portion of the digital data to produce a second windowed block;

determining a first characteristic of a band of frequencies in the first windowed block;

determining a second characteristic of the band of frequencies in the second windowed block;

comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic; and

assigning a signature bit representative of the portion of the digital data based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and second functions include complimentary window functions.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first window function and the second window function are selected from a set of window functions.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the digital data includes at least one of time series data, video information, a web page, a still image, or computer data.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and second characteristics include spectral flatness of the first and second windowed blocks.

6. An apparatus to generate a signature representing digital data, the apparatus comprising:

a windower to apply a first window function to a portion of digital data to produce a first windowed block and to apply a second window function to the portion of the digital data to produce a second windowed block;

a characteristic determiner to determine a first characteristic of a band of frequencies in the first windowed block and to determine a second characteristic of the band of frequencies in the second windowed block;

a comparator to compare the first characteristic to the second characteristic; and

a signature determiner to assign a signature bit representative of the portion of the digital data based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic, at least one of the windower, the characteristic determiner, the comparator, or the signature determiner being implemented using a processor.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first and second functions include complimentary window functions.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first window function and the second window function are selected from a set of window functions.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the digital data includes at least one of time series data, video information, a web page, a still image, or computer data.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first and second characteristics include spectral flatness of the first and second windowed blocks.

11. A computer readable storage medium, excluding propagating signals, comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

apply a first function to a portion of digital data to produce a first windowed block;

apply a second function different from the first function to the same portion of the digital data to produce a second windowed block;

determine a first characteristic of a band of frequencies in the first windowed block;

determine a second characteristic of the band of frequencies in the second windowed block;

compare the first characteristic to the second characteristic; and

assign a signature bit representative of the portion of the digital data based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

12. A storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first and second functions include complimentary window functions.

13. A storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first window function and the second window function are selected from a set of window functions.

14. A storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the digital data includes at least one of time series data, video information, a web page, a still image, or computer data.

15. A storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first and second characteristics include spectral flatness of the first and second windowed blocks.

Assignments (10)
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 →
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 →
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 May 20, 2014
From: TOPCHY, ALEXANDER PAVLOVICH; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 032928/0777 →