IP Library Granted Patent US 10,580,421
Granted Patent B2
US 10,580,421 · App. 15/973,154 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,580,421
App. No.
15/973,154
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein to embed a code into an audio signal include means for selecting frequency components to be used to represent the code, different sets of frequency components to represent respectively different information, respective ones of the frequency components in the sets of frequency components located in respective code bands, there being multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands being equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components in the code bands. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for synthesizing the frequency components to be used to represent the code and means for combining the synthesized frequency components with an audio block of the audio signal.

Claims (29)

1. An apparatus to embed a code into an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

a code frequency selector to select frequency components to be used to represent the code, different sets of frequency components to represent respectively different information, respective ones of the frequency components in the sets of frequency components located in respective code bands, there being multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands being equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components in the code bands;

a synthesizer to synthesize the frequency components to be used to represent the code; and

a combiner to combine the synthesized frequency components with an audio block of the audio signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the code frequency selector is to convert the code into symbols that are represented by the selected frequency components.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components corresponding to one of the symbols includes a plurality of frequency components, respective ones of the plurality of frequency components being in respective ones of the code bands.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the combiner is to cause the selected frequency components to be emphasized in the audio signal relative to other frequencies in the code bands.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the synthesizer is to generate sine waves to synthesize the frequency components.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components represents a synchronization symbol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the combiner is to redundantly combine the selected frequency components into consecutive audio blocks.

8. An apparatus to embed a code into an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

means for selecting frequency components to be used to represent the code, different sets of frequency components to represent respectively different information, respective ones of the frequency components in the sets of frequency components located in respective code bands, there being multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands being equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components in the code bands;

means for synthesizing the frequency components to be used to represent the code; and

means for combining the synthesized frequency components with an audio block of the audio signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the means for selecting frequency components is to convert the code into symbols that are represented by the selected frequency components.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components corresponding to one of the symbols includes a plurality of frequency components, respective ones of the plurality of frequency components being in respective ones of the code bands.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the means for combining is to cause the selected frequency components to be emphasized in the audio signal relative to other frequencies in the code bands.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the means for synthesizing is to generate sine waves to synthesize the frequency components.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components represents a synchronization symbol.

14. A computer readable storage device or storage disk comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

select frequency components to be used to represent a code, different sets of frequency components to represent respectively different information, respective ones of the frequency components in the sets of frequency components located in respective code bands, there being multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands being equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components in the code bands;

synthesize the frequency components to be used to represent the code; and

combine the synthesized frequency components with an audio block of an audio signal.

15. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to convert the code into symbols that are represented by the selected frequency components.

16. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 15 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components corresponding to one of the symbols includes a plurality of frequency components, respective ones of the plurality of frequency components being in respective ones of the code bands.

17. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to cause the selected frequency components to be emphasized in the audio signal relative to other frequencies in the code bands.

18. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to generate sine waves to synthesize the frequency components.

19. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein a subset of the selected frequency components represents a synchronization symbol.

20. The computer readable storage device or storage disk of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to redundantly combine the selected frequency components into consecutive audio blocks.

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 Jun 28, 2018
From: TOPCHY, ALEXANDER PAVLOVICH; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 046232/0570 →