IP Library Granted Patent US 9,971,832
Granted Patent B2
US 9,971,832 · App. 15/496,890 · Granted May 15, 2018

Methods and apparatus to generate signatures representative of media

Inventors: Manjunath Puttappa Kariyappa (Bengalooru, IN); Srinivasa Rao Edara (Bengalooru, IN); Suresh Kumar Kulathumkal Kalayil (Bengalooru, IN)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06F17/30743G06F3/165G11B20/10527H04H60/37H04H60/58H04H2201/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,971,832
App. No.
15/496,890
Granted
May 15, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example signature generation methods disclosed herein include transforming a block of signal samples from a time-domain representation to a frequency-domain representation including multiple frequency bands. Disclosed example signature generation methods also include fitting a signature function to at least a subset of the frequency bands. Disclosed example signature generation methods further include generating a set of signature values representative of the block of signal samples, the signature values generated based on a set of angles calculated using the signature function.

Claims (47)

1. A signature generation apparatus comprising:

a transformer to transform a block of signal samples from a time-domain representation to a frequency-domain representation including multiple frequency bands;

a curve fitter to fit a signature function to at least a subset of the frequency bands; and

a generator to generate a set of signature values representative of the block of signal samples, the generator to generate the signature values based on a set of angles calculated using the signature function.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an angle calculator to calculate the set of angles using the signature function, the angle calculator to:

calculate a first one of the set of angles to be between a reference line and a first tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a first index value in a set of index values over which the signature function is defined; and

calculate a second one of the set of angles to between the reference line and a second tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a second index value in the set of index values.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further including an index selector to:

select the first index value; and

calculate the second index value based on a first value of the signature function at the first index value and a derivative of the signature function at the first index value.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

the index selector is further to calculate a third index value in the set of index values based on a second value of the signature function at the second index value and a derivative of the signature function at the second index value; and

the angle calculator is further to calculate a third one of the set of angles to be between the reference line and a third tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at the third index value.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the set of angles are arranged as an order set of tuples, each tuple includes a plurality of angles, and the generator is to generate the set of signature values based on the tuples.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the generator is to reduce respective ones of the tuples to respective single values to generate the set of signature values.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the single values are binary values.

8. A signature generation method comprising:

transforming, by executing an instruction with a processor, a block of signal samples from a time-domain representation to a frequency-domain representation including multiple frequency bands;

fitting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a signature function to at least a subset of the frequency bands; and

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a set of signature values representative of the block of signal samples, the signature values generated based on a set of angles calculated using the signature function.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including calculating the set of angles using the signature function by:

calculating a first one of the set of angles to be between a reference line and a first tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a first index value in a set of index values over which the signature function is defined; and

calculating a second one of the set of angles to between the reference line and a second tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a second index value in the set of index values.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including:

selecting the first index value; and

calculating the second index value based on a first value of the signature function at the first index value and a derivative of the signature function at the first index value.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including:

calculating a third index value in the set of index values based on a second value of the signature function at the second index value and a derivative of the signature function at the second index value; and

calculating a third one of the set of angles to be between the reference line and a third tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at the third index value.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the set of angles are arranged as an order set of tuples, each tuple includes a plurality of angles, and the generating of the set of signature values is based on the tuples.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the generating of the set of signature values includes reducing respective ones of the tuples to respective single values to generate the set of signature values.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the single values are binary values.

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

transform a block of signal samples from a time-domain representation to a frequency-domain representation including multiple frequency bands;

fit a signature function to at least a subset of the frequency bands; and

generate a set of signature values representative of the block of signal samples, the signature values generated based on a set of angles calculated using the signature function.

16. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to calculate the set of angles using the signature function by:

calculating a first one of the set of angles to be between a reference line and a first tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a first index value in a set of index values over which the signature function is defined; and

calculating a second one of the set of angles to between the reference line and a second tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at a second index value in the set of index values.

17. The storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

select the first index value; and

calculate the second index value based on a first value of the signature function at the first index value and a derivative of the signature function at the first index value.

18. The storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

calculate a third index value in the set of index values based on a second value of the signature function at the second index value and a derivative of the signature function at the second index value; and

calculate a third one of the set of angles to be between the reference line and a third tangent line that is tangent to the signature function at the third index value.

19. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the set of angles are arranged as an order set of tuples, each tuple includes a plurality of angles, and the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to generate the set of signature values based on the tuples.

20. The storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to generate the set of signature values by reducing respective ones of the tuples to respective single values to generate the set of signature values.

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 28, 2017
From: KARIYAPPA, MANJUNATH PUTTAPPA; EDARA, SRINIVASA RAO; KALAYIL, SURESH KUMAR KULATHUMKAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 042172/0430 →
Priority Claims (1)
IN 2545/DEL/2014 · Sep 5, 2014 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15085703 · Mar 30, 2016
Continuation 14512663 · Oct 13, 2014
Related Publication 20170228458A1 · Aug 10, 2017