IP Library Granted Patent US 9,661,402
Granted Patent B2
US 9,661,402 · App. 14/332,037 · Granted May 23, 2017

Embedding information in generated acoustic signals

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 9,661,402
App. No.
14/332,037
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to embed information in generated acoustic signals are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to embed information in an acoustic signal output from an electric vehicle include obtaining a first audio signal to be used to generate the acoustic signal. Such example also include combining a second signal with the first audio signal, the second signal to convey first digital information that, when detected, indicates a presence of the electric vehicle. Such example methods further include providing the first audio signal with the second signal to an audio circuit that is to output the acoustic signal from the electric vehicle.

Claims (42)

1. A method to embed information in an acoustic signal output from an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining a first audio signal to be used to generate the acoustic signal to be output from the electric vehicle;

embedding, by executing an instruction with a processor, a second signal conveying first digital information including sensed vehicle speed data in the first audio signal; and

providing the first audio signal embedded with the second signal to an audio circuit that is to output the acoustic signal from the electric vehicle.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second signal further conveys second digital information identifying the electric vehicle.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the second signal further conveys third digital information including telemetry data associated with the electric vehicle.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the telemetry data is provided by a sensor monitoring an operating condition of the electric vehicle.

5. The method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the telemetry data includes at least one of engine diagnostic data, tire pressure data, emissions system data, fuel level data, battery level data, or vehicle interior audio level data.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second signal further conveys second digital information associated with one or more occupants of the electric vehicle.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second digital information indicates a number of occupants of the electric vehicle.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second digital information indicates whether a first occupant of the electric vehicle is wearing a seat belt.

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

obtain a first audio signal to be used to generate an acoustic signal to be output from an electric vehicle;

embed a second signal conveying first digital information including sensed vehicle speed data in the first audio signal; and

provide the first audio signal embedded with the second signal to an audio circuit that is to output the acoustic signal from the electric vehicle.

10. The storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the second signal further conveys second digital information identifying the electric vehicle.

11. The storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the second signal further conveys third digital information including telemetry data associated with the electric vehicle.

12. The storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the telemetry data is provided by a sensor monitoring an operating condition of the electric vehicle.

13. The storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the telemetry data includes at least one of engine diagnostic data, tire pressure data, emissions system data, fuel level data, battery level data, or vehicle interior audio level data.

14. The storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the second signal further conveys second digital information associated with one or more occupants of the electric vehicle.

15. The storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the second digital information indicates a number of occupants of the electric vehicle.

16. The storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the second digital information indicates whether a first occupant of the electric vehicle is wearing a seat belt.

17. An apparatus to embed information in an acoustic signal output from an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a watermark generator to generate a watermark signal conveying first digital information including vehicle interior audio level data representing an audio level measured inside the electric vehicle; and

a watermark embedder to:

obtain an audio signal to be used to generate the acoustic signal to be output from the electric vehicle;

embed the watermark signal in the audio signal to generate a watermarked audio signal; and

provide the watermarked audio signal to an audio circuit that is to output the acoustic signal from the electric vehicle.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the watermark generator is further to generate the watermark signal to convey the first digital information and second digital information identifying the electric vehicle.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 , further including:

a sensor to sense an operating condition of the electric vehicle; and

an information generator to:

generate second digital information including telemetry data determined from sensor data obtained from the sensor; and

provide the second digital information to the watermark generator, the watermark generator to generate the watermark signal to convey the first digital information and the second digital information.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the telemetry data includes at least one of engine diagnostic data, tire pressure data, emissions system data, fuel level data, battery level data, or vehicle speed data.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 , further including:

a sensor; and

an information generator to:

generate second digital information associated with one or more occupants of the electric vehicle, the second digital information being based on sensor data obtained from the sensor; and

provide the second digital information to the watermark generator, the watermark generator to generate the watermark signal to convey the first digital information and the second digital information.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 , wherein the second digital information indicates a number of occupants of the electric vehicle.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 , wherein the second digital information indicates whether a first occupant of the electric vehicle is wearing a seat belt.

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: TOPCHY, ALEXANDER; SOUNDARARAJAN, PADMANABHAN; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 033395/0176 →