IP Library Granted Patent US 10,236,005
Granted Patent B2
US 10,236,005 · App. 15/617,722 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Methods and apparatus for audio signature generation and matching

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,236,005
App. No.
15/617,722
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for generating a signature is disclosed. As part of the method, a first number of bits are identified in respective rows of an audio signature matrix that are determined to be the strongest bits in the row, bits of the audio signature matrix are replaced with respective cells having values depending on whether the respective bits are included in the first number of bits, a set of uniformly distributed numbers are generated within a range of numbered locations corresponding to cells of the audio signature matrix; numerical distances are determined, from respective numbers in the set of uniformly distributed numbers, to the numbered locations of the matrix, associated with nearest occurrences of a first value. A set of integers is generated based on the distances.

Claims (35)

1. A method for generating a signature, the method comprising:

identifying a first number of bits, from a plurality of bits in respective rows of an audio signature matrix, having respective strengths that are larger than respective strengths of other bits in the rows, a strength of a bit being based on energy values of an audio signal used to determine the bit;

replacing bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells containing multi-bit binary values to form a sparse array, the binary values assigned to the cells based on whether a respective one of the cells is to replace one of the first number of bits in a respective row of the audio signature matrix;

generating a sequence of uniformly distributed numbers within a numeric range, a respective one of the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers to represent a respective starting index in the sparse array to be used to determine a corresponding distance to a next non-zero bit in the sparse array;

determining distances from (i) starting indexes of the sparse array corresponding to respective ones of the sequences of uniformly distributed numbers to (ii) respective next non-zero bits of the sparse array; and

generating a set of integers based on the distances, the set of integers forming the signature, the signature to be stored in memory and utilized for subsequent signature matching.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a binary 10 or a binary 01 is assigned to the cells of the sparse array corresponding to bits included in the first number of bits.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strongest bits in each row provide equal representation to frequency bands associated with the signature.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers include a distributed array of 48 numbers in a range of 60 to 1980.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of integers is less than 64 in value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a 6 bit representation is provided for each of the integers included in the set of integers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein replacing bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells includes replacing bits from the first number of bits cells having non-zero binary values, and replacing bits not in the first number of bits with cells having binary values corresponding to zero.

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

identify a first number of bits, from a plurality of bits in respective rows of an audio signature matrix, having respective strengths that are larger than respective strengths of other bits in the rows, a strength of a bit being based on energy values of an audio signal used to determine the bit;

replace bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells containing multi-bit binary values to form a sparse array, the binary values assigned to the cells based on whether a respective one of the cells is to replace one of the first number of bits in a respective row of the audio signature matrix;

generate a sequence of uniformly distributed numbers within a numeric range, a respective one of the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers to represent a respective starting index in the sparse array to be used to determine a corresponding distance to a next non-zero bit in the sparse array;

determine distances from (i) starting indexes of the sparse array corresponding to respective ones of the sequences of uniformly distributed numbers to (ii) respective next non-zero bits of the sparse array; and

generate a set of integers based on the distances, the set of integers forming the signature, the signature to be stored in memory and utilized for subsequent signature matching.

9. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a binary 10 or a binary 01 is assigned to the cells of the sparse array corresponding to bits included in the first number of bits.

10. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the strongest bits in each row provide equal representation to frequency bands associated with the signature.

11. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers include a distributed array of 48 numbers in a range of 60 to 1980.

12. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a number integers included in the set of integers are less than 64 in value.

13. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a 6 bit representation for each of the integers included in the set of integers.

14. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to replace bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells by: replacing bits from the first number of bits cells having non-zero binary values, and replacing bits not in the first number of bits with cells having binary values corresponding to zero.

15. An apparatus for generating a signature, the apparatus comprising:

an identifier to identify a first number of bits, from a plurality of bits in respective rows of an audio signature matrix, having respective strengths that are larger than respective strengths of other bits in the rows, a strength of a bit being based on energy values of an audio signal used to determine the bit;

a replacer to replace bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells containing multi-bit binary values to form a sparse array, the binary values assigned to the cells based on whether a respective one of the cells is to replace one of the first number of bits in a respective row of the audio signature matrix;

a generator to generate a sequence of uniformly distributed numbers within a numeric range, a respective one of the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers to represent a respective starting index in the sparse array to be used to determine a corresponding distance to a next non-zero bit in the sparse array;

a determiner to determine distances from (i) starting indexes of the sparse array corresponding to respective ones of the sequences of uniformly distributed numbers to (ii) respective next non-zero bits of the sparse array; and

a generator to generate a set of integers based on the distances, the set of integers forming the signature, the signature to be stored in memory and utilized for subsequent signature matching.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a binary 10 or a binary 01 is assigned to the strongest bits in each row cells of the sparse array corresponding to bits included in the first number of bits.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the strongest bits in each row provide equal representation to frequency bands associated with the signature.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sequence of uniformly distributed numbers include a distributed array of 48 numbers in a range of 60 to 1980.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a number of integers are less than 64 in value.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the replacer is to replace bits of the audio signature matrix with corresponding cells by replacing bits from the first number of bits cells having non-zero binary values, and replacing bits not in the first number of bits with cells having binary values corresponding to zero.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
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 Jul 31, 2017
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; TOPCHY, ALEXANDER; GUPTA, SADHANA
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 043142/0931 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,717,969