IP Library Granted Patent US 11,042,460
Granted Patent B2
US 11,042,460 · App. 16/544,132 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Verifying interconnection between media devices and meters using touch sensing integrated circuits

Inventor: Andrej Barbis (Ilirska Bistrica, SI)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06F11/3051G06F11/0736G06F11/0751G06F11/0772H04H60/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,042,460
App. No.
16/544,132
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example meter to monitor a media device disclosed herein includes a circuit having (i) a circuit input to electrically couple with a reference capacitor and an input power line of the meter that is to electrically couple with an output power line of the media device, and (ii) a circuit output to provide a first value based on the reference capacitor when the input power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device, and a second value when the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device. The disclosed example meter also includes a processor to determine whether the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device based on whether the circuit output provides second value.

Claims (37)

1. A meter to monitor a media device, the meter comprising:

a touch sensing circuit including a circuit input and a circuit output, the circuit input to electrically couple with an input power line of the meter and a reference capacitor, the input power line of the meter to electrically couple with an output power line of the media device, the circuit output to provide a first value based on the reference capacitor when the input power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device, the circuit output to provide a second value different from the first value when the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device;

memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to at least:

detect whether the input power line of the meter is powered;

control a switch to uncouple the circuit input from the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is powered; and

when the input power line of the meter is not powered, determine whether the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device based on whether the circuit output provides the second value.

2. The meter of claim 1 , wherein when the input power line of the meter is not powered, the processor is to:

determine the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device when the circuit output provides the second value; and

determine the input power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device when the circuit output does not provide the second value.

3. The meter of claim 2 , wherein the circuit output includes a register, the second value corresponds to a register value associated with an error indication, and the first value corresponds to a register value not associated with the error indication.

4. The meter of claim 2 , wherein when the input power line of the meter is not powered, the processor is to determine the media device is powered off when the circuit output provides the second value.

5. The meter of claim 4 , wherein when the input power line of the meter is not powered, the processor is to determine the media device is disconnected from the meter when the circuit output does not provide the second value.

6. The meter of claim 4 , wherein when the input power line of the meter is powered, the processor is to determine the media device is powered on.

7. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the switch to couple the circuit input with the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered.

8. The meter of claim 1 , wherein the switch is a first switch, and the processor is to control a second switch to:

couple a battery to the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is powered; and

uncouple the battery from the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered, the battery to power the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered.

9. A meter to monitor a media device, the meter comprising:

an integrated circuit to sense touch, the integrated circuit having a circuit input electrically coupled with an input power line of the meter, the input power line of the meter to electrically couple with an output power line of the media device; and

means for determining whether the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device based on a circuit output of the integrated circuit, the means for determining to:

determine the input power line of the meter is electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device when the circuit output of the integrated circuit provides an error condition; and

determine the input power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device when the circuit output of the integrated circuit does not provide the error condition.

10. The meter of claim 9 , wherein the circuit input of the integrated circuit is also electrically coupled with a reference capacitor, the reference capacitor to have a capacitance in a range that is to cause the circuit output of the integrated circuit not to provide the error condition when the input power line of the meter is not electrically coupled with the output power line of the media device.

11. The meter of claim 9 , further including:

means for detecting whether the input power line of the meter is powered; and

means for determining an operating state of the media device.

12. The meter of claim 11 , wherein the means for determining the operating state of the media device is to determine the media device is powered on when the input power line of the meter is powered.

13. The meter of claim 11 , wherein the means for determining the operating state of the media device is to determine the media device is powered off when (i) the input power line of the meter is not powered, and (ii) the circuit output of the integrated circuit provides the error condition.

14. The meter of claim 11 , wherein the means for determining the operating state of the media device is to determine the media device is disconnected from the meter when (i) the input power line of the meter is not powered, and (ii) the circuit output of the integrated circuit does not provide the error condition.

15. The meter of claim 9 , further including means for controlling whether the circuit input of the integrated circuit is electrically coupled with the input power line of the meter.

16. The meter of claim 15 , wherein the means for controlling is to uncouple the circuit input of the integrated circuit from the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is powered.

17. The meter of claim 16 , wherein the means for controlling is to couple the circuit input of the integrated circuit to the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered.

18. The meter of claim 15 , wherein the means for controlling is to control whether a battery is electrically coupled to the input power line of the meter, the battery to power the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered.

19. The meter of claim 18 , wherein the means for controlling is to:

electrically couple the battery to the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is powered; and

uncouple the battery from the input power line of the meter when the input power line of the meter is not powered.

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: BARBIS, ANDREJ
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050536/0261 →