IP Library Granted Patent US 11,087,726
Granted Patent B2
US 11,087,726 · App. 16/518,700 · Granted Aug 10, 2021

Audio matching with semantic audio recognition and report generation

Inventors: Alan Neuhauser (Silver Spring, MD); John Stavropoulos (Edison, NJ)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
G10H1/0008G10L25/81G10L25/84G10H2210/036G10H2210/041G10H2210/056G10H2210/066G10H2210/071G10H2210/076G10H2210/081G10H2250/235G10H2250/251G10L15/00G10L25/51
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,087,726
App. No.
16/518,700
Granted
Aug 10, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example articles of manufacture and apparatus for producing supplemental information for audio signature data are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes memory including computer readable instructions. The example apparatus also includes a processor to execute the instructions to at least obtain first audio signature data associated with a first time period of media, obtain first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media and second semantic signature data associated with a second time period of the media, and when second audio signature data associated with the second time period of the media is unavailable, identify the media based on the first audio signature data associated with the first time period of media when the second semantic signature data associated with the second time period matches the first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus comprising:

memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to at least:

obtain first audio signature data associated with a first time period of media, the first audio signature data based on at least one of time or frequency features of the media during the first time period of media;

obtain first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media and second semantic signature data associated with a second time period of the media, the first semantic signature data to represent a generalized characteristic of the media during the first time period of media, the second semantic signature data to represent the generalized characteristic of the media during the second time period of media; and

when second audio signature data associated with the second time period of the media is unavailable, identify the media based on the first audio signature data associated with the first time period of media when the second semantic signature data associated with the second time period matches the first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a timber characteristic having at least one of a mean of a spectral centroid, a variance of the spectral centroid, or a percentage of low/high energy frames.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a beat characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of peaks in a beat histogram, a period of peaks in the beat histogram, or a ratio between a peak and a sum of all peaks in the beat histogram.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a pitch characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of prominent peaks in a pitch histogram, or a period of peaks in the pitch histogram, where the pitch histogram is on a full semitone scale or an octave independent scale.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first semantic signature data is based on at least one of a temporal feature, a spectral feature, a harmonic feature, or a rhythmic feature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to transform an audio signal of the media from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate the first audio signature data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to transform an audio signal of the media from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate the first semantic signature data.

8. An article of manufacture comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

obtain first audio signature data associated with a first time period of media, the first audio signature data based on at least one of time or frequency features of the media during the first time period of media;

obtain first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media and second semantic signature data associated with a second time period of the media, the first semantic signature data to represent a generalized characteristic of the media during the first time period of media, the second semantic signature data to represent the generalized characteristic of the media during the second time period of media; and

when second audio signature data associated with the second time period of the media is unavailable, identify the media based on the first audio signature data associated with the first time period of media when the second semantic signature data associated with the second time period matches the first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a timber characteristic having at least one of a mean of a spectral centroid, a variance of the spectral centroid, or a percentage of low/high energy frames.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 8 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a beat characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of peaks in a beat histogram, a period of peaks in the beat histogram, or a ratio between a peak and a sum of all peaks in the beat histogram.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 8 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a pitch characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of prominent peaks in a pitch histogram, or a period of peaks in the pitch histogram, where the pitch histogram is on a full semitone scale or an octave independent scale.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 8 , wherein the first semantic signature data is based on at least one of a temporal feature, a spectral feature, a harmonic feature, or a rhythmic feature.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to transform an audio signal of the media from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate the first audio signature data.

14. A method comprising:

obtaining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first audio signature data associated with a first time period of media, the first audio signature data based on at least one of time or frequency features of the media during the first time period of media;

obtaining, by executing an instruction with the processor, first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media and second semantic signature data associated with a second time period of the media, the first semantic signature data to represent a generalized characteristic of the media during the first time period of media, the second semantic signature data to represent the generalized characteristic of the media during the second time period of media; and

when second audio signature data associated with the second time period of the media is unavailable, identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, the media based on the first audio signature data associated with the first time period of media when the second semantic signature data associated with the second time period matches the first semantic signature data associated with the first time period of the media.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a timber characteristic having at least one of a mean of a spectral centroid, a variance of the spectral centroid, or a percentage of low/high energy frames.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a beat characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of peaks in a beat histogram, a period of peaks in the beat histogram, or a ratio between a peak and a sum of all peaks in the beat histogram.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the generalized characteristic includes a pitch characteristic having at least one of an amplitude of prominent peaks in a pitch histogram, or a period of peaks in the pitch histogram, where the pitch histogram is on a full semitone scale or an octave independent scale.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first semantic signature data is based on at least one of a temporal feature, a spectral feature, a harmonic feature, or a rhythmic feature.

19. The method of claim 14 , further including transforming an audio signal of the media from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate the first audio signature data.

20. The method of claim 14 , further including transforming an audio signal of the media from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate the first semantic signature data.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: NEUHAUSER, ALAN; STAVROPOULOS, JOHN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 055221/0204 →
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 →