IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,641,892
Granted Patent B2
US 9,641,892 · App. 14/332,005 · Granted May 2, 2017

Frequency band selection and processing techniques for media source detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,641,892
App. No.
14/332,005
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example disclosed media source detection methods include determining first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, wherein the first trending coefficients correspond to a set of frequency bands. Example disclosed media source detection methods also include determining second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, wherein the second trending coefficients correspond to the set of frequency bands. Example disclosed media source detection methods further include selecting a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, and processing respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

Claims (91)

1. A media source detection method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands, the determining of the first trending coefficients including:

determining first frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the first frequency band values corresponding to a first time;

determining second frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the second frequency band values corresponding to a second time later than the first time; and

determining the first trending coefficients to be ratios of the second frequency band values and the first frequency band values;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

selecting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the first one of the frequency bands have matching directions if (1) the first one of the first trending coefficients is greater than one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is greater than one, or (2) the first one of the first trending coefficients is less than or equal to one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is less than or equal to one; and

processing respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

2. A media source detection method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

selecting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein the subset of the frequency bands is a first subset of the frequency bands, and the selecting of the first subset of the frequency bands includes:

selecting a second subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions;

determining a first number of the second subset of the frequency bands having values of the first trending coefficients that most closely match respective values of the second trending coefficients for the second subset of the frequency bands; and

selecting the first subset of the frequency bands from the first number of the second subset of the frequency bands; and

processing respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

3. A media source detection method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

selecting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions;

processing respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine a match result associated with the first media source;

comparing the match result to a first threshold to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device;

determining a set of match results associated with the first media source over a time period;

determining time delays associated with the match results; and

comparing a standard deviation of the time delays to a second threshold to further determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 , wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the first one of the frequency band have matching directions if (1) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients satisfy a threshold value, or (2) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients do not satisfy the threshold value.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the processing of the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands includes:

cross-correlating the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands; and

combining the correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine the match result associated with the first media source.

6. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands, the first trending coefficients being determined by:

determining first frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the first frequency band values corresponding to a first time;

determining second frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the second frequency band values corresponding to a second time later than the first time; and

determining the first trending coefficients to be ratios of the second frequency band values and the first frequency band values;

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the first one of the frequency bands have matching directions if (1) the first one of the first trending coefficients is greater than one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is greater than one, or (2) the first one of the first trending coefficients is less than or equal to one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is less than or equal to one; and

process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

7. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands;

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein the subset of the frequency bands is a first subset of the frequency bands, and to select the first subset of the frequency bands, the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

select a second subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions;

determine a first number of the second subset of the frequency bands having values of the first trending coefficients that most closely match respective values of the second trending coefficients for the second subset of the frequency bands; and

select the first subset of the frequency bands from the first number of the second subset of the frequency bands; and

process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

8. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands;

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions;

process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine a match result associated with the first media source;

compare the match result to a threshold to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device;

determine a set of match results associated with the first media source over a time period;

determine time delays associated with the match results; and

compare a standard deviation of the time delays to a second threshold to further determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

9. The storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the first one of the frequency band have matching directions if (1) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients satisfy a threshold value, or (2) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients do not satisfy the threshold value.

10. The storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein to process the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands, the machine readable instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

cross-correlate the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands; and

combine the correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine the match result associated with the first media source.

11. A media monitor comprising:

a trending coefficient determiner to:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands, wherein to determine the first trending coefficients, the trending coefficient determiner is to:

determine first frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the first frequency band values corresponding to a first time;

determine second frequency band values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the second frequency band values corresponding to a second time later than the first time; and

determine the first trending coefficients to be ratios of the second frequency band values and the first frequency band values; and

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

a frequency band selector to select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the first one of the frequency bands have matching directions if (1) the first one of the first trending coefficients is greater than one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is greater than one, or (2) the first one of the first trending coefficients is less than or equal to one and the first one of the second trending coefficients is less than or equal to one; and

a comparator to process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

12. A media monitor comprising:

a trending coefficient determiner to:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands; and

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

a frequency band selector to select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions, wherein the subset of the frequency bands is a first subset of the frequency bands, and to select the first subset of the frequency bands, the frequency band selector is to:

select a second subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions;

determine a first number of the second subset of the frequency bands having values of the first trending coefficients that most closely match respective values of the second trending coefficients for the second subset of the frequency bands; and

select the first subset of the frequency bands from the first number of the second subset of the frequency bands; and

a comparator to process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

13. A media monitor comprising:

a trending coefficient determiner to:

determine first trending coefficients for a first audio signal obtained from a first media source in communication with a media device, the first trending coefficients corresponding to a set of frequency bands; and

determine second trending coefficients for a second audio signal obtained from monitoring media presented by the media device, the second trending coefficients corresponding to the set of frequency bands;

a frequency band selector to select a subset of the frequency bands for which the first trending coefficients and the second trending coefficients have matching directions; and

a comparator to:

process respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands to determine a match result associated with the first media source;

compare the match result to a threshold to determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device;

determine a set of match results associated with the first media sources over a time period;

determine time delays associated with the match results; and

compare a standard deviation of the time delays to a second threshold to further determine whether the first media source provided the media presented by the media device.

14. The media monitor as defined in claim 13 , wherein (A) a first one of the first trending coefficients corresponding to a first one of the frequency bands and (B) a first one of the second trending coefficients corresponding to the same first one of the frequency band have matching directions if (1) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients satisfy a threshold value, or (2) both the first one of the first trending coefficients and the first one of the second trending coefficients do not satisfy the threshold value.

15. The media monitor as defined in claim 13 , wherein to process the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for the subset of the frequency bands, the comparator is to:

cross-correlate the respective frequency band values of the first audio signal and the respective frequency band values of the second audio signal for respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands; and

combine the correlation results for the respective ones of the subset of the frequency bands to determine the match result associated with the first media source.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2014
From: PANGER, MARKO; KERKES, JOE; ARH, JOZE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 033395/0082 →