IP Library Granted Patent US 9,324,089
Granted Patent B2
US 9,324,089 · App. 14/448,920 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Methods and apparatus for metering media feeds in a market

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,324,089
App. No.
14/448,920
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for metering media feeds in a market are disclosed. An example method includes duplicating a first audio stream in a media feed to generate a second audio stream, encoding the first audio stream with a first breakout code, encoding the second audio stream with a second breakout code different from the first breakout code, combining the first audio stream, the second audio stream, and a video stream of the media to generate an encoded transport stream, and instructing, via a processor, a media receiver to tune to the transport stream and select the second audio stream for distribution to a media presentation location on a channel associated with the second breakout code.

Claims (43)

1. A method to distribute media, the method comprising:

duplicating a first audio stream in a media feed to generate a second audio stream, the second audio stream is substantially a one-to-one replication of the first audio stream;

encoding, with a first encoder, the first audio stream with a first breakout code;

encoding, with the first encoder or a second encoder, the second audio stream with a second breakout code different from the first breakout code;

combining the first audio stream, the second audio stream, and a video stream of the media to generate an encoded transport stream; and

instructing, via a processor, a media receiver to access the transport stream and select the second audio stream for distribution to a media presentation location on a first channel associated with the second breakout code.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including instructing a second media receiver to access the transport stream and select the first audio stream for distribution to a second media presentation location different from the first media presentation location on a second channel associated with the first breakout code.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are distributed in a same market.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transport stream is a first transport stream, and wherein the first channel is associated with a local region of a network.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including instructing a second media receiver to access a second transport stream for distribution to a second media presentation location on a second channel in a second local region of the network, wherein the channel and the second channel are associated with a same network.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including metering media presentation at the media presentation location without calculating an ambiguity error correction.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the encoding of the second audio stream with the second breakout code includes inserting a watermark identifying a) a source identifier for the media and b) the breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the encoding of the second audio stream with the second breakout code includes:

inserting a first watermark identifying a source identifier for the media; and

inserting a second watermark identifying the breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

9. An apparatus to encode media, the apparatus comprising:

an audio splitter to duplicate a first audio stream in a media feed to generate a second audio stream, the second audio stream being substantially a one-to-one replication of the first audio stream;

an encoder to encode the first audio stream with a first breakout code and to encode the second audio stream with a second breakout code; and

a combiner to combine the first audio stream, the second audio stream, and a video stream of the media to generate an encoded transport stream; at least one of the audio splitter, the encoder and the combiner including hardware.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further including a controller to instruct a media receiver to tune to the transport stream and select the second audio stream for distribution to a media presentation location on a first channel associated with the second breakout code.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein the controller is further to instruct a second media receiver to access the transport stream and select the first audio stream for distribution to a second media presentation location on a second channel associated with the first breakout code, the second channel being different from the first channel.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are distributed in a same market.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein the first channel is associated with a local region of a network.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the controller is further to instruct a second media receiver to access a second transport stream for distribution to a second media presentation location on a second channel in a second local region of the network, the first channel and the second channel are associated with a same network.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the encoder is to encode the second audio stream with the second breakout code by inserting a watermark identifying a) a source identifier for the media and b) the second breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the encoder is to encode the second audio stream with the second breakout code by:

inserting a first watermark identifying a source identifier for the media; and

inserting a second watermark identifying the second breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

17. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

duplicate a first audio stream in a media feed to generate a second audio stream, the second audio stream being substantially a one-to-one replication of the first audio stream;

encode the first audio stream with a first breakout code;

encode the second audio stream with a second breakout code different from the first breakout code;

combine the first audio stream, the second audio stream, and a video stream of the media to generate an encoded transport stream; and

instruct a media receiver to access the transport stream and select the second audio stream for distribution to a media presentation location on a first channel associated with the second breakout code.

18. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to instruct a second media receiver to access the transport stream and select the first audio stream for distribution to a second media presentation location different from the first media presentation location on a second channel associated with the first breakout code.

19. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 18 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are distributed in a same market.

20. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the first channel is associated with a local region of a network.

21. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 20 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to instruct a second media receiver to access a second transport stream for distribution to a second media presentation location on a second channel in a second local region of the network, wherein the channel and the second channel are associated with a same network.

22. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to meter media presentation at the media presentation location without calculating an ambiguity error correction.

23. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to encode the second audio stream with the second breakout code by inserting a watermark identifying a) a source identifier for the media and b) the second breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

24. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to encode the second audio stream with the second breakout code by:

inserting a first watermark identifying a source identifier for the media; and

inserting a second watermark identifying the second breakout code associated with a network for distribution of the media.

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 Aug 21, 2014
From: TURNBOW, DOUGLAS B.; MILAVSKY, JOSEPH G.; BESEHANIC, JAN; RAMASWAMY, ARUN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC.
Reel/Frame 033586/0098 →