IP Library Granted Patent US 9,292,251
Granted Patent B2
US 9,292,251 · App. 14/467,781 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes or signatures

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,292,251
App. No.
14/467,781
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes and/or signatures are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include, responsive to determining that an audio code is not present in audio data received by a device, generating a signature from the audio data. Such example methods also include determining whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device. Such example methods further include, when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, executing the first command to modify the operation of the device.

Claims (44)

1. A method comprising:

responsive to determining, with a processor, that an audio code is not present in audio data received by a device, generating a signature from the audio data;

determining, with the processor, whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device;

when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, executing the first command to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device;

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command, determining, with the processor, whether the signature is associated with a second command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the second command, executing the second command to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

2. The method as defined by claim 1 , further including:

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, determining whether the signature is associated with a third command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, executing the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

3. The method as defined by claim 1 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the device is a first device, and when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, the method further includes:

sending the signature to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the signature is associated with a third command to be executed by the first device to modify the operation of the first device; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, executing the third command to modify the operation of the first device.

5. The method as defined by claim 1 , further including accessing a table correlating commands with signatures to determine whether the signature is associated with the first command.

6. The method as defined by claim 5 , wherein the table is stored at the device.

7. A computer readable storage device or storage disk comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

generate a signature from received audio data responsive to determining that an audio code is not present in the received audio data;

determine whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed to modify operation of a device;

when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, execute the first command to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device;

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command, determine whether the signature is associated with a second command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the second command, execute the second command to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

8. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, determine whether the signature is associated with a third command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, execute the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

9. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

10. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the device is a first device, and when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

send the signature to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the signature is associated with a third command to be executed by the first device to modify the operation of the first device; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, execute the third command to modify the operation of the first device.

11. The storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 7 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to access a table correlating commands with signatures to determine whether the signature is associated with the first command.

12. A device comprising:

a processor to:

generate a signature from received audio data responsive to determining that an audio code is not present in the received audio data;

determine whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed to modify operation of the device;

when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, execute the first command to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device;

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command, determine whether the signature is associated with a second command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the second command, execute the second command to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked; and

a memory to store a table correlating commands with signatures, the processor to access the table to determine whether the signature is associated with at least one of the first command or the second command.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the processor is further to:

when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, determine whether the signature is associated with a third command; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, execute the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

14. The device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

15. The device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the device is a first device, and when the signature is determined to not be associated with the first command or the second command, the processor is further to:

send the signature to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the signature is associated with a third command to be executed by the first device to modify the operation of the first device; and

when the signature is determined to be associated with the third command, execute the third command to modify the operation of the first device.

Assignments (13)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 23, 2014
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 034036/0691 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2014
From: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 034017/0634 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 23, 2014
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN HOLDINGS N.V.
Reel/Frame 034017/0547 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2014
From: JAIN, ANAND; STAVROPOULOS, JOHN; NEUHAUSER, ALAN; LYNCH, WENDELL; KUZNETSOV, VLADIMIR; CRYSTAL, JACK; GISH, DAVID
To: ARBITRON INC.
Reel/Frame 033980/0565 →