IP Library Granted Patent US 9,918,127
Granted Patent B2
US 9,918,127 · App. 15/469,968 · Granted Mar 13, 2018

Methods and apparatus to detect people

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 9,918,127
App. No.
15/469,968
Granted
Mar 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to detect people are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the light information obtained from a light sensor. Generating a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments. Identifying a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor. Adjusting a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.

Claims (38)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a pulse identifier to detect a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the first light information obtained from a light sensor;

a grouper to generate a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments including the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments;

a face identifier to identify a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor; and

an adjustor to adjust a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.

2. The apparatus as describe in claim 1 , wherein the segments of the environment are vertical strips spanning across at least a portion of the environment.

3. The apparatus as describe in claim 2 , wherein the second location associated with the first presence indication includes a corresponding second horizontal location along a horizontal axis, and the adjustor is to adjust the people count when the first location associated with the face has a corresponding first horizontal location along the horizontal axis that does not correspond to the second horizontal location of the first presence indication along the horizontal axis.

4. The apparatus as describe in claim 1 , further including:

a non-face identifier to identify a third location associated with a non-face body part in the environment using the thermal imaging data; and

the adjustor is to adjust the people count in response to the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponding to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

5. The apparatus as describe in claim 4 , wherein the adjuster does not adjust the people count when (A) the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication, and (B) the first location associated with the face corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

6. The apparatus as describe in claim 1 , wherein the thermal sensor has a resolution able to detect a difference in temperature between the face and a non-face body part.

7. The apparatus as describe in claim 1 , further including a time stamper to associate media identifying information collected from the environment with the people count.

8. A method, comprising:

detecting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the first light information obtained from a light sensor;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first presence indication when respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments includes the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments;

identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor; and

adjusting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a people count when the first location associated with the face does not correspond to a second location associated with the first presence indication.

9. The method as describe in claim 8 , wherein the segments of the environment are vertical strips spanning across at least a portion of the environment.

10. The method as describe in claim 9 , wherein the second location associated with the first presence indication includes a corresponding second horizontal location along a horizontal axis, and the people count is adjusted when the first location associated with the face has a corresponding first horizontal location along the horizontal axis that does not correspond to the second horizontal location associated with the first presence indication along the horizontal axis.

11. The method as describe in claim 8 , further including:

identifying a third location associated with a non-face body part in the environment using the thermal imaging data; and

adjusting the people count when the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

12. The method as describe in claim 11 , wherein the people count is not adjusted when (A) the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication, and (B) the first location associated with the face corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

13. The method as describe in claim 8 , wherein the thermal sensor has a resolution able to detect a difference in temperature between the face and a non-face body part.

14. The method as describe in claim 8 , further including associating media identifying information collected from the environment with the people count.

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

detect a first human pulse waveform in first light information associated with a first one of a plurality of segments of an environment, the first light information obtained from a light sensor;

generate a first presence indication in response to respective light information associated with a threshold amount of the segments proximate the first one of the segments including the first human pulse waveform identified in the first one of the segments;

identify a first location associated with a face in the environment using thermal imaging data from a thermal sensor; and

adjust a people count in response to the first location associated with the face not corresponding to a second location associated with the first presence indication.

16. The storage medium as describe in claim 15 , wherein the segments of the environment are vertical strips spanning across at least a portion of the environment.

17. The storage medium as describe in claim 16 , wherein the second location associated with the first presence indication includes a corresponding second horizontal location along a horizontal axis, and the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to adjust the people count when the first location associated with the face has a corresponding first horizontal location along the horizontal axis that does not correspond to the second horizontal location of the first presence indication along the horizontal axis.

18. The storage medium as describe in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

identify a third location associated with a non-face body part in the environment using the thermal imaging data; and

adjust the people count in response to the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponding to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

19. The storage medium as describe in claim 18 , wherein the people count is not adjusted when (A) the third location associated with the non-face body part corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication, and (B) the first location associated with the face corresponds to the second location associated with the first presence indication.

20. The storage medium as describe in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to associate media identifying information collected from the environment with the people count.

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 Mar 29, 2017
From: HICKS, MICHAEL ALAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041776/0799 →