IP Library Granted Patent US 10,318,580
Granted Patent B2
US 10,318,580 · App. 15/608,675 · Granted Jun 11, 2019

Detecting media watermarks in magnetic field data

Inventors: Alexander Topchy (New Port Richey, FL); Venugopal Srinivasan (Palm Harbor, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06F16/683G10L19/018G11B20/00086
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,318,580
App. No.
15/608,675
Granted
Jun 11, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to detect media watermarks in magnetic field data are disclosed herein. Example media monitoring methods disclosed herein include accessing magnetic field data determined by a magnetometer, the magnetic field data associated with a first sampling rate. Disclosed example methods also include transforming magnitude values of the magnetic field data to a frequency domain to determine transformed magnetic field data. Disclosed example methods further include evaluating a portion of the transformed magnetic field data associated with a first frequency to detect a media watermark having a frequency component associated with a second frequency different from the first frequency, the first frequency being aliased relative to the second frequency based on the first sampling rate.

Claims (29)

1. A media monitor comprising:

a magnetic field estimator in communication with a magnetometer, the magnetic field estimator to obtain magnetic field data determined by the magnetometer, the magnetic field data associated with a first sampling rate;

a frequency transformer to transform magnitude values of the magnetic field data to a frequency domain to determine transformed magnetic field data; and

a watermark decoder to process a portion of the transformed magnetic field data associated with a first frequency to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal, the audio watermark having a frequency component associated with a second frequency different from the first frequency, the first frequency being aliased relative to the second frequency based on the first sampling rate.

2. The media monitor of claim 1 , wherein the first sampling rate is less than twice the second frequency.

3. The media monitor of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is based on a difference between the first sampling rate and the second frequency.

4. The media monitor of claim 1 , further including an output indicator to be asserted when the watermark decoder detects the media watermark.

5. The media monitor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field estimator is in communication with the magnetometer via an application programming interface of a portable device.

6. The media monitor of claim 1 , wherein the first sampling rate is based on a measurement interval associated with magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

7. The media monitor of claim 6 , wherein the first sampling rate is further based on a power-down interval that is to occur after respective ones of the magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

8. A media monitoring method comprising:

accessing, by executing an instruction with a processor, magnetic field data determined by a magnetometer, the magnetic field data associated with a first sampling rate;

transforming, by executing an instruction with the processor, magnitude values of the magnetic field data to a frequency domain to determine transformed magnetic field data; and

evaluating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a portion of the transformed magnetic field data associated with a first frequency to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal, the audio watermark having a frequency component associated with a second frequency different from the first frequency, the first frequency being aliased relative to the second frequency based on the first sampling rate.

9. The media monitoring method of claim 8 , wherein the first sampling rate is less than twice the second frequency.

10. The media monitoring method of claim 8 , wherein the first frequency is based on a difference between the first sampling rate and the second frequency.

11. The media monitoring method of claim 8 , further including asserting an output indicator when the watermark decoder detects the media watermark.

12. The media monitoring method of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field data is accessed via an application programming interface of a portable device.

13. The media monitoring method of claim 8 , wherein the first sampling rate is based on a measurement interval associated with magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

14. The media monitoring method of claim 13 , wherein the first sampling rate is further based on a power-down interval that is to occur after respective ones of the magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

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

access magnetic field data determined by a magnetometer, the magnetic field data associated with a first sampling rate;

transform magnitude values of the magnetic field data to a frequency domain to determine transformed magnetic field data; and

evaluate a portion of the transformed magnetic field data associated with a first frequency to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal, the audio watermark having a frequency component associated with a second frequency different from the first frequency, the first frequency being aliased relative to the second frequency based on the first sampling rate.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first sampling rate is less than twice the second frequency.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first frequency is based on a difference between the first sampling rate and the second frequency.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to assert an output indicator when the watermark decoder detects the media watermark.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first sampling rate is based on a measurement interval associated with magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the first sampling rate is further based on a power-down interval that is to occur after respective ones of the magnetic field measurements performed with the magnetometer.

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 Jun 15, 2017
From: TOPCHY, ALEXANDER; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 042728/0439 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14133069 · Dec 18, 2013
Provisional Application 61825495 · May 20, 2013
Related Publication 20170262536A1 · Sep 14, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,248,551 US 12,380,895