IP Library Granted Patent US 11,039,204
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,204 · App. 16/502,426 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

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
H04N21/4394H04N7/106H04N21/4104H04N21/4131H04N21/42203H04N21/436H04N21/43615H04N21/442H04N21/44227H04N21/462H04N21/4622
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,204
App. No.
16/502,426
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
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 meters disclosed herein are to compare a first audio signal from a monitored media device with a second audio signal from a first one of a plurality of media sources in communication with the monitored media device to determine a sequence of match results, the first audio signal associated with media presented by the media device. Disclosed example meters are also to compute a standard deviation of time delays associated with respective ones of the match results. Disclosed example meters are further to determine whether the first one of the media sources is a source of the media presented by the monitored media device based on the standard deviation.

Claims (31)

1. A meter comprising:

memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the computer readable instructions to at least:

compare a first audio signal from a monitored media device with a second audio signal from a first one of a plurality of media sources in communication with the monitored media device to determine a sequence of match results, the first audio signal associated with media presented by the media device;

compute a standard deviation of time delays associated with respective ones of the match results; and

determine whether the first one of the media sources is a source of the media presented by the monitored media device based on the standard deviation.

2. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the respective ones of the match results include respective ones of the time delays and respective correlation values for successive comparisons of the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

3. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the time delays associated with the respective ones of the match results are limited to an allowed range.

4. The meter of claim 3 , wherein a lower limit of the allowed range is a negative value.

5. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to determine the first one of the media sources is not the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation exceeds a threshold.

6. The meter of claim 1 , wherein when the first one of the media sources has been determined initially to be the source of the media presented by the monitored media device, the processor is to retain the first one of the media sources as the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation satisfies a threshold.

7. The meter of claim 6 , wherein the threshold is a first threshold, and the processor is to initially determine the first one of the media sources is the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when one or more correlation values included in the sequence of match results satisfies a second threshold.

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

compare a first audio signal from a monitored media device with a second audio signal from a first one of a plurality of media sources in communication with the monitored media device to determine a sequence of match results, the first audio signal associated with media presented by the media device;

compute a standard deviation of time delays associated with respective ones of the match results; and

determine whether the first one of the media sources is a source of the media presented by the monitored media device based on the standard deviation.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the respective ones of the match results include respective ones of the time delays and respective correlation values for successive comparisons of the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the time delays associated with the respective ones of the match results are limited to an allowed range.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein a lower limit of the allowed range is a negative value.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the first one of the media sources is not the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation exceeds a threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein when the first one of the media sources has been determined initially to be the source of the media presented by the monitored media device, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to retain the first one of the media sources as the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation satisfies a threshold.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the threshold is a first threshold, and the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to initially determine the first one of the media sources is the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when one or more correlation values included in the sequence of match results satisfies a second threshold.

15. A media monitoring method comprising:

comparing, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first audio signal from a monitored media device with a second audio signal from a first one of a plurality of media sources in communication with the monitored media device to determine a sequence of match results, the first audio signal associated with media presented by the media device;

computing, by executing an instruction with the processor, a standard deviation of time delays associated with respective ones of the match results; and

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether the first one of the media sources is a source of the media presented by the monitored media device based on the standard deviation.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the respective ones of the match results include respective ones of the time delays and respective correlation values for successive comparisons of the first audio signal and the second audio signal.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the time delays associated with the respective ones of the match results are limited to an allowed range, and a lower limit of the allowed range is a negative value.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining includes determining the first one of the media sources is not the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation exceeds a threshold.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein when the first one of the media sources has been determined initially to be the source of the media presented by the monitored media device, the determining includes retaining the first one of the media sources as the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when the standard deviation satisfies a threshold.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining includes initially determining the first one of the media sources is the source of the media presented by the monitored media device when one or more correlation values included in the sequence of match results satisfies a second 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 Sep 28, 2019
From: PANGER, MARKO; KERKES, JOE; ARH, JOZE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050536/0233 →