IP Library Granted Patent US 10,733,998
Granted Patent B2
US 10,733,998 · App. 15/793,543 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to identify sources of network streaming services

Inventors: Zafar Rafii (Berkeley, CA); Markus Cremer (Orinda, CA); Bongjun Kim (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G10L19/008G10L25/51H04H60/31H04H60/58H04N21/40H04S7/30G10L19/032G10L19/167G10L19/173G10L2019/0001H04H20/82H04H20/95H04R27/00H04R2227/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,733,998
App. No.
15/793,543
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to identify sources of network streaming services are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a coding format identifier to identify, from a received first audio signal representing a decompressed second audio signal, an audio compression configuration used to compress a third audio signal to form the second audio signal, and a source identifier to identify a source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration.

Claims (76)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a coding format identifier implemented via a logic circuit to identify, from a received first audio signal representing a decompressed second audio signal, an audio compression configuration used to compress a third audio signal to form the second audio signal; and

a source identifier implemented via the logic circuit to identify a source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration;

a time-frequency analyzer implemented via the logic circuit to perform a first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal and to perform a second time-frequency analysis of a second block of the first audio signal, the first time-frequency analysis and the second time-frequency analysis performed according to a first trial compression configuration, and perform a third time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal and a fourth time-frequency analysis of the second block of the first audio signal, the third time-frequency analysis and the fourth time-frequency analysis performed according to a second trial compression configuration;

an artifact computer implemented via the logic circuit to determine a first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis and to determine a second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis, and determine a third compression artifact resulting from the third time-frequency analysis and determine a fourth compression artifact resulting from the fourth time-frequency analysis; and

a post processor to combine the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact to form a first score, and combine the third compression artifact and the fourth compression artifact to form a second score; and

a controller implemented via the logic circuit to select between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration as the audio compression configuration by comparing the first score and the second score.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

the time-frequency analyzer implemented via the logic circuit to only perform a first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal according to a first trial compression configuration, and only perform a second time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal according to a second trial compression configuration;

the artifact computer implemented via the logic circuit to determine a first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis, and determine a second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis; and

the controller to select between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration as the audio compression configuration based on the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller selects between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration based on the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact includes comparing the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further including:

a controller implemented via the logic circuit to select between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration as the audio compression configuration based on the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the post processor combines the first compression artifact and the third compression artifact to form the first score by:

mapping the first compression artifact and a first offset associated with the first compression artifact to a first polar coordinate;

mapping the third compression artifact and a second offset associated with the second compression artifact to a second polar coordinate; and

computing the first score as a circular mean of the first polar coordinate and the second polar coordinate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first audio signal is recorded at a media presentation device.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a first audio signal that represents a decompressed second audio signal;

identify, from the first audio signal, an audio compression configuration used to compress a third audio signal to form the second audio signal;

identifying a source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration;

performing a first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal;

performing a second time-frequency analysis of a second block of the first audio signal, the first time-frequency analysis and the second time-frequency analysis performed according to a first trial compression configuration;

determining a first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis;

determining a second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis;

performing a third time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal;

performing a fourth time-frequency analysis of the second block of the first audio signal, the third time-frequency analysis and the fourth time-frequency analysis performed according to a second trial compression configuration;

determining a third compression artifact resulting from the third time-frequency analysis;

determining a fourth compression artifact resulting from the fourth time-frequency analysis;

combining the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact to form a first score;

combining the third compression artifact and the fourth compression artifact to form a second score; and

comparing the first score and the second score to select between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration as the audio compression configuration.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying the source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration includes:

identifying a coding format based on the identified audio compression configuration; and

identifying the source based on the coding format.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying, from the first audio signal, the audio compression configuration includes:

performing only the first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal according to a first trial compression configuration;

determining the first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis;

performing only the second time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal according to a second trial compression configuration; and

determining the second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration includes comparing the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the combining the first compression artifact and the third compression artifact to form the first score includes:

mapping the first compression artifact and a first offset associated with the first compression artifact to a first polar coordinate;

mapping the third compression artifact and a second offset associated with the second compression artifact to a second polar coordinate; and

computing the first score as a circular mean of the first polar coordinate and the second polar coordinate.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first audio signal is recorded at a media presentation device.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the audio compression configuration indicates at least one of a time-frequency transform, a window function, or a window length.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations including:

receiving a first audio signal that represents a decompressed second audio signal;

identify, from the first audio signal, an audio compression configuration used to compress a third audio signal to form the second audio signal;

identifying a source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration;

performing a first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal;

performing a second time-frequency analysis of a second block of the first audio signal, the first time-frequency analysis and the second time-frequency analysis performed according to a first trial compression configuration;

determining a first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis;

determining a second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis;

performing a third time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal;

performing a fourth time-frequency analysis of the second block of the first audio signal, the third time-frequency analysis and the fourth time-frequency analysis performed according to a second trial compression configuration;

determining a third compression artifact resulting from the third time-frequency analysis;

determining a fourth compression artifact resulting from the fourth time-frequency analysis;

combining the first compression artifact and the second compression artifact to form a first score;

combining the third compression artifact and the fourth compression artifact to form a second score; and

comparing the first score and the second score to select between the first trial compression configuration and the second trial compression configuration as the audio compression configuration.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , including further instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to identify the source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration by:

identifying a coding format based on the identified audio compression configuration; and

identifying the source based on the coding format.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , including further instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to identify, from the first audio signal, the audio compression configuration by:

performing only the first time-frequency analysis of a first block of the first audio signal according to a first trial compression configuration;

determining the first compression artifact resulting from the first time-frequency analysis;

performing only the second time-frequency analysis of the first block of the first audio signal according to a second trial compression configuration; and

determining the second compression artifact resulting from the second time-frequency analysis.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , including further instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to combine the first compression artifact and the third compression artifact to form the first score by:

mapping the first compression artifact and a first offset associated with the first compression artifact to a first polar coordinate;

mapping the third compression artifact and a second offset associated with the second compression artifact to a second polar coordinate; and

computing the first score as a circular mean of the first polar coordinate and the second polar coordinate.

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 17, 2018
From: RAFII, ZAFAR; CREMER, MARKUS; KIM, BONGJUN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 045561/0719 →
Continuity (1)
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