IP Library Granted Patent US 9,635,403
Granted Patent B2
US 9,635,403 · App. 15/073,385 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,635,403
App. No.
15/073,385
Granted
Apr 25, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes and/or signatures are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include determining a characteristic of audio data received by a device, the characteristic including at least one of a code detected in the audio data or a signature generated from the audio data. Disclosed example methods also include determining whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of a first command or a second command. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to 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, and in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the second command, executing the second command to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

Claims (46)

1. A method comprising:

determining, by executing a first instruction with a processor, a characteristic of audio data received by a device, the characteristic including at least one of a code detected in the audio data or a signature generated from the audio data;

determining, by executing a second instruction with a processor, whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of a first command or a second command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device;

in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the first command and not the second command, executing the first command on the device to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device; and

in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the second command and not the first command, executing the second command on the device to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including:

determining whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of the first command, the second command or a third command to be executed by the device to modify the operation of the device; and

in response to determining the characteristic is mapped to the third command, executing the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a first device and the characteristic is a first characteristic, and further including:

determining a second characteristic of the audio data, the second characteristic including at least one of a second code detected in the audio data or a second signature generated from the audio data; and

sending the second characteristic to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the second characteristic is mapped to a third command.

5. The method of claim 4 , further including, when the second device determines the second characteristic is mapped to the third command, executing the third command to modify the operation of the first device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including accessing a table correlating commands with characteristics to determine whether the characteristic is mapped to the at least one of the first command or the second command.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the table is stored at the device.

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

determine a characteristic of audio data received by the device, the characteristic including at least one of a code detected in the audio data or a signature generated from the audio data;

determine whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of a first command or a second command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device;

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the first command and not the second command, execute the first command on the device to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device; and

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the second command and not the first command, execute the second command on the device to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked.

9. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

10. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of the first command, the second command or a third command to be executed by the device to modify the operation of the device; and

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the third command, execute the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

11. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the device is a first device and the characteristic is a first characteristic, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine a second characteristic of the audio data, the second characteristic including at least one of a second code detected in the audio data or a second signature generated from the audio data; and

send the second characteristic to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the second characteristic is mapped to a third command.

12. The storage device or storage disk of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to execute the third command to modify the operation of the first device when the second device determines the second characteristic is mapped to the third command.

13. The storage device or storage disk of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to access a table correlating commands with characteristics to determine whether the characteristic is mapped to the at least one of the first command or the second command.

14. The storage device or storage disk of claim 13 , wherein the table is stored at the device.

15. A device comprising:

a processor to:

determine a characteristic of audio data received by the device, the characteristic including at least one of a code detected in the audio data or a signature generated from the audio data;

determine whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of a first command or a second command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device;

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the first command and not the second command, execute the first command on the device to cause the device to connect to a communication session to receive an upgrade to software executable on the device; and

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the second command and not the first command, execute the second command on the device to cause a previously locked feature of the device to be unlocked; and

a memory to store the characteristic.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the communication session is a multicast session.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further to:

determine whether the characteristic is mapped to at least one of the first command, the second command or a third command to be executed by the device to modify the operation of the device; and

in response to the characteristic being mapped to the third command, execute the third command to cause the device to accept a remote login from another device.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is a first device and the characteristic is a first characteristic, and the processor is further to:

determine a second characteristic of the audio data, the second characteristic including at least one of a second code detected in the audio data or a second signature generated from the audio data; and

send the second characteristic to a second device via a network, the second device to determine whether the second characteristic is mapped to a third command.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further to execute the third command to modify the operation of the first device when the second device determines the second characteristic is mapped to the third command.

20. The device of claim 15 , wherein the memory is further to store a table correlating commands with characteristics, and the processor is further to access the table to determine whether the characteristic is mapped to the at least one of the first command or the second command.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, 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 May 26, 2016
From: JAIN, ANAND; STAVROPOULOS, JOHN; NEUHAUSER, ALAN; LYNCH, WENDELL; KUZNETSOV, VLADIMIR; CRYSTAL, JACK; GISH, DAVID
To: ARBITRON INC.
Reel/Frame 038732/0963 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2016
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 038825/0071 →
MERGER Recorded May 26, 2016
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN HOLDINGS N.V.
Reel/Frame 038825/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2016
From: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 038732/0970 →