IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,349,123
Granted Patent B2
US 10,349,123 · App. 15/476,450 · Granted Jul 9, 2019

Frequency band selection and processing techniques for media source detection

Inventors: Marko Panger (Plavje, SI); Joe Kerkes (Lutz, FL); Joze Arh (Rakek, SI)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/4394H04N7/106H04N21/4104H04N21/4131H04N21/42203H04N21/43615H04N21/44227H04N21/4622
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 10,349,123
App. No.
15/476,450
Granted
Jul 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture (i.e., physical storage media) to perform media source detection based on frequency band selection and processing are disclosed. Example metering methods disclosed herein include comparing frequency band values of a first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of a second audio signal for a first subset of a set of frequency bands to determine a first comparison result. Disclosed example metering methods also include comparing the frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of a third audio signal for a different second subset of the set of frequency bands to determine a second comparison result. Disclosed example metering methods further include determining a source of the first audio signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result.

Claims (59)

1. A meter comprising:

a first audio input to receive a first audio signal from a monitored media device;

a second audio input to receive a second audio signal from a first one of a plurality of media sources providing media to the media device;

a third audio input to receive a third audio signal from a second one of the plurality of media sources;

a comparator to:

compare frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the second audio signal for a first subset of a set of frequency bands to determine a first comparison result;

compare frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the third audio signal for a second subset of the set of frequency bands different from the first subset of the set of frequency bands to determine a second comparison result; and

determine a source of the first audio signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result; and

a selector to select the first and second subsets of the set of frequency bands.

2. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the frequency band values of the first audio signal, the frequency band values of the second audio signal and the frequency band values of the third audio signal are respective power spectral density values, and further including a frequency transformer to:

process samples of the first audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

process samples of the second audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the second audio signal for the set of frequency bands; and

process samples of the third audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands.

3. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the selector is to select the first subset of the set of frequency bands based on a first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands and a second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal for the set of frequency bands, and the selector is to select the second subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands and a third set of trending coefficients determined for the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands.

4. A meter comprising:

a comparator to:

compare frequency band values of a first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of a second audio signal for a first subset of a set of frequency bands to determine a first comparison result;

compare frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of a third audio signal for a second subset of the set of frequency bands different from the first subset of the set of frequency bands to determine a second comparison result; and

determine a source of the first audio signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result;

a coefficient determiner to determine a first set of trending coefficients for the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands, a second set of trending coefficients for the second audio signal for the set of frequency bands, and a third set of trending coefficients for the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands, the coefficient determiner to determine the first set of trending coefficients by:

accessing a first set of frequency band values determined for the set of frequency bands from a first block of audio samples of the first audio signal;

accessing a second set of frequency band values determined for the set of frequency bands from a subsequent second block of audio samples of the first audio signal; and

determining the first set of trending coefficients based on ratios of respective ones of the second set of frequency band values to respective ones of the first set of frequency band values; and

a selector to:

select the first subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients and the second set of trending coefficients;

select the second subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients the third set of trending coefficients.

5. The meter of claim 4 , wherein the selector is to select the first subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions, and the selector is to select the second subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the third set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions.

6. The meter of claim 5 , wherein the selector is to determine a first one of the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and a corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions when either (1) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients exceed a threshold, or (2) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients do not exceed the threshold.

7. A metering method comprising:

accessing a first set of frequency band values determined for a set of frequency bands from a first block of audio samples of a first audio signal;

accessing a second set of frequency band values determined for the set of frequency bands from a subsequent second block of audio samples of the first audio signal;

determining a first set of trending coefficients based on ratios of respective ones of the second set of frequency band values to respective ones of the first set of frequency band values;

selecting a first subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients and a second set of trending coefficients determined for a second audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

selecting a second subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients and a third set of trending coefficients determined for the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

comparing, by executing an instruction with a processor, frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the second audio signal for the first subset of a set of frequency bands to determine a first comparison result;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the third audio signal for the second subset of the set of frequency bands different from the first subset of the set of frequency bands to determine a second comparison result; and

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a source of the first audio signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the frequency band values of the first audio signal, the frequency band values of the second audio signal and the frequency band values of the third audio signal are respective power spectral density values, and further including:

processing samples of the first audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

processing samples of the second audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the second audio signal for the set of frequency bands; and

processing samples of the third audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the selecting of the first subset of the set of frequency bands includes selecting the first subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions, and the selecting of the second subset of the set of frequency bands includes selecting the second subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the third set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a first one of the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and a corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions when either (1) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients exceed a threshold or (2) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients do not exceed the threshold.

11. The method of claim 7 , further including reporting metering data including an identification of the source of the first audio signal to a data processing facility via a network.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

access a first set of frequency band values determined for a set of frequency bands from a first block of audio samples of a first audio signal;

access a second set of frequency band values determined for the set of frequency bands from a subsequent second block of audio samples of the first audio signal;

determine a first set of trending coefficients based on ratios of respective ones of the second set of frequency band values to respective ones of the first set of frequency band values;

select a first subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients and a second set of trending coefficients determined for a second audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

select a second subset of the set of frequency bands based on the first set of trending coefficients and a third set of trending coefficients determined for the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

compare frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the second audio signal for the first subset of a set of frequency bands to determine a first comparison result;

compare frequency band values of the first audio signal with corresponding frequency band values of the third audio signal for the second subset of the set of frequency bands different from the first subset of the set of frequency bands to determine a second comparison result; and

determine a source of the first audio signal based on the first comparison result and the second comparison result.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the frequency band values of the first audio signal, the frequency band values of the second audio signal, and the frequency band values of the third audio signal are respective power spectral density values, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

process samples of the first audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the first audio signal for the set of frequency bands;

process samples of the second audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the second audio signal for the set of frequency bands; and

process samples of the third audio signal to determine power spectral density values of the third audio signal for the set of frequency bands.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to select the first subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions, and to select the second subset of the set of frequency bands to correspond to ones of the set of frequency bands for which the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and the third set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine a first one of the first set of trending coefficients determined for the first audio signal and a corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients determined for the second audio signal have matching directions when either (1) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients exceed a threshold or (2) both the first one of the first set of trending coefficients and the corresponding first one of the second set of trending coefficients do not exceed the threshold.

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 Apr 15, 2017
From: PANGER, MARKO; KERKES, JOE; ARH, JOZE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 042022/0603 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14332005 · Jul 15, 2014
Related Publication 20170208359A1 · Jul 20, 2017