IP Library Granted Patent US 9,924,224
Granted Patent B2
US 9,924,224 · App. 14/926,885 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Methods and apparatus to determine a state of a media presentation device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,924,224
App. No.
14/926,885
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine a state of a media presentation device are disclosed. Example disclosed methods include generating a first set of weighted coefficients based on first audio received by first and second microphones at a first time. Example disclosed methods include generating a second set of weighted coefficients based on second audio received by the first and second microphones at a second time after the first time. Example disclosed methods include comparing the first set of coefficients and the second set of coefficients to generate a similarity value. Example disclosed methods include, when the similarity value satisfies a threshold, determining that the media presentation device is in a first state. Example disclosed methods include, when the similarity value does not satisfy the threshold, determining that the media presentation device is in a second state.

Claims (51)

1. A method of determining a state of a media presentation device, the method comprising:

generating, using an echo cancellation algorithm, a first set of weighted coefficients based on first audio received by first and second microphones at a first time;

generating, using the echo cancellation algorithm, a second set of weighted coefficients based on second audio received by the first and second microphones at a second time after the first time;

comparing the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients by calculating a dot product between the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients to generate a similarity value;

when the similarity value satisfies a first threshold, determining that the media presentation device is in a first state;

when the similarity value does not satisfy the first threshold, determining that the media presentation device is in a second state; and

controlling a metering device based on whether the media presentation device is in the first state or the second state.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including:

when the media presentation device is in the first state, extracting a watermark from the second audio.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first and second sets of weighted coefficients includes applying the echo cancellation algorithm using a finite impulse response filter to generate the first set of weighted coefficients and to generate the second set of weighted coefficients.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state includes an on state, and wherein the second state includes an off state.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including:

applying a third set of weighted coefficients to one or more samples of third audio received by the first microphone to provide a filter output;

comparing the filter output to a sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate an error signal; and

when the error signal exceeds a second threshold, adjusting the first set of weighted coefficients based on the error signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the error signal, X e (n), includes X e (n)=X d (n)−Y O (n), wherein X d (n) represents an audio sample and Y 0 (n) represents a summed filter output of multiple audio samples and n is an iteration index, and wherein the first set of weighted coefficients is adjusted based on the error signal by W m (n+1)=W m (n)+μX e X m (n), wherein W m (n+1) and W m are weight coefficients, X m (n) is a weighted audio sample, and μ is a learning factor.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the comparing of the filter output to the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal further includes subtracting the filter output from the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal.

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

generate, using an echo cancellation algorithm, a first set of weighted coefficients based on first audio received by first and second microphones at a first time;

generate, using the echo cancellation algorithm, a second set of weighted coefficients based on second audio received by the first and second microphones at a second time after the first time;

compare the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients by calculating a dot product between the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients to generate a similarity value;

when the similarity value satisfies a first threshold, determine that a media presentation device is in a first state;

when the similarity value does not satisfy the first threshold, determine that the media presentation device is in a second state; and

control a metering device based on whether the media presentation device is in the first state or the second state.

9. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to, when the media presentation device is in the first state, extract a watermark from the second audio.

10. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to generate the first and second sets of weighted coefficients by applying the echo cancellation algorithm using a finite impulse response filter to generate the first set of weighted coefficients and to generate the second set of weighted coefficients.

11. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first state includes an on state, and wherein the second state includes an off state.

12. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:

apply a third set of weighted coefficients to one or more samples of a third audio received by the first microphone to provide a filter output;

compare the filter output to a sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate an error signal; and

when the error signal exceeds a second threshold, adjust the first set of weighted coefficients based on the error signal.

13. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the error signal, X e (n), includes X e (n)=X d (n)−Y O (n), wherein X d (n) represents an audio sample and Y 0 (n) represents a summed filter output of multiple audio samples and n is an iteration index, and wherein the first set of weighted coefficients is adjusted based on the error signal by W m (n+1)=W m (n)+μX e X m (n), wherein W m (n+1) and W m are weight coefficients, X m (n) is a weighted audio sample, and μ is a learning factor.

14. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to compare the filter output to the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal by subtracting the filter output from the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal.

15. A metering device comprising a processor to implement a source detector including an adaptive audio filter, an audio comparator, and a state determiner,

the adaptive audio filter to at least:

generate, using an echo cancellation algorithm, a first set of weighted coefficients based on first audio received by first and second microphones at a first time; and

generate, using the echo cancellation algorithm, a second set of weighted coefficients based on second audio received by the first and second microphones at a second time after the first time;

the audio comparator to at least:

compare the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients by calculating a dot product between the first set of weighted coefficients and the second set of weighted coefficients to generate a similarity value; and

the state determiner to at least:

when the similarity value satisfies a first threshold, determine that the media presentation device is in a first state;

when the similarity value does not satisfy the first threshold, determine that the media presentation device is in a second state; and

control the metering device based on whether the media presentation device is in the first state or the second state.

16. The metering device of claim 15 , wherein the metering device is to generate the first and second sets of weighted coefficients by applying the echo cancellation algorithm using a finite impulse response filter to generate the first set of weighted coefficients and to generate the second set of weighted coefficients.

17. The metering device of claim 15 , wherein the first state includes an on state, and wherein the second state includes an off state.

18. The metering device of claim 15 , wherein the metering device is further to:

apply a third set of weighted coefficients to one or more samples of a third audio received by the first microphone to provide a filter output;

compare the filter output to a sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate an error signal; and

when the error signal exceeds a second threshold, adjust the first set of weighted coefficients based on the error signal.

19. The metering device of claim 18 , wherein the error signal, X e (n), includes X e (n)=X d (n)−Y O (n), wherein X d (n) represents an audio sample and Y 0 (n) represents a summed filter output of multiple audio samples and n is an iteration index, and wherein the first set of weighted coefficients is adjusted based on the error signal by W m (n+1)=W m (n)+μX e X m (n), wherein W m (n+1) and W m are weight coefficients, X m (n) is a weighted audio sample, and μ is a learning factor.

20. The metering device of claim 18 , wherein the metering device is to compare the filter output to the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal by subtracting the filter output from the sample of the third audio received by the second microphone to generate the error signal.

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 Nov 19, 2015
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; LEE, MORRIS; DAVIS, JEREMEY M.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 037084/0812 →