IP Library Granted Patent US 11,785,316
Granted Patent B2
US 11,785,316 · App. 17/959,043 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Methods and apparatus to generate a signature based on signature candidates

Inventors: Daniel Nelson (Tampa, FL); David H. Wright (Safety Harbor, FL); Raghuram Ranganathan (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/8352H04N21/854
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,785,316
App. No.
17/959,043
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate a signature based on signature candidates. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes first means for determining an alignment point of a first candidate signature segment and a second candidate signature segment, the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment include time data and signature data, the alignment point based on the time data of the first candidate signature segment and the time data of the second candidate signature segment, means for comparing a first signature to a second signature at the alignment point, the first signature representative of media included in the first candidate signature segment, the second signature included in the second candidate signature segment, and means for stitching the second signature to the first signature based on the comparison to generate a stitched signature, the stitched signature to be used for media crediting.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus comprising:

first means for determining an alignment point of a first candidate signature segment and a second candidate signature segment, the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment including time data and signature data, the alignment point based on the time data of the first candidate signature segment and the time data of the second candidate signature segment;

means for comparing a first signature to a second signature at the alignment point, the first signature representative of media included in the first candidate signature segment, the second signature representative of media included in the second candidate signature segment; and

means for stitching the second signature to the first signature based on the comparison to generate a stitched signature, the stitched signature to be used for media crediting.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including second means for determining whether the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment meet a candidate duration threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for comparing is to determine a strong match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to a difference between the first signature and the second signature being less than a first deviation threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including means for counting a number of strong matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the means for comparing is to identify a basic match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to the number of strong matches meeting a first match threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the means for counting is to count a number of basic matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the means for stitching is to stitch the second candidate signature segment to the first candidate signature segment to generate a stitched signature in response to the number of basic matches meeting a second match threshold.

8. A method, comprising:

determining an alignment point of a first candidate signature segment and a second candidate signature segment, the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment including time data and signature data, the alignment point based on the time data of the first candidate signature segment and the time data of the second candidate signature segment;

comparing a first signature to a second signature at the alignment point, the first signature representative of media included in the first candidate signature segment, the second signature representative of media included in the second candidate signature segment; and

stitching the second signature to the first signature based on the comparison to generate a stitched signature, the stitched signature to be used for media crediting.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including determining whether the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment meet a candidate duration threshold.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including determining a strong match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to a difference between the first signature and the second signature being less than a first deviation threshold.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including counting a number of strong matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including identifying a basic match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to the number of strong matches meeting a first match threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including counting a number of basic matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including stitching the second candidate signature segment to the first candidate signature segment to generate a stitched signature in response to the number of basic matches meeting a second match threshold.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

memory;

computer readable instructions; and

processor circuitry to execute the computer readable instructions to:

determine an alignment point of a first candidate signature segment and a second candidate signature segment, the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment including time data and signature data, the alignment point based on the time data of the first candidate signature segment and the time data of the second candidate signature segment;

compare a first signature to a second signature at the alignment point, the first signature representative of media included in the first candidate signature segment, the second signature included in the second candidate signature segment; and

stitch the second signature to the first signature based on the comparison to generate a stitched signature, the stitched signature to be used for media crediting.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor circuitry is to determine a strong match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to a difference between the first signature and the second signature being less than a first deviation threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor circuitry is to count a number of strong matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor circuitry is to identify a basic match between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment in response to the number of strong matches meeting a first match threshold.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor circuitry is to count a number of basic matches between the first candidate signature segment and the second candidate signature segment.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the processor circuitry is to stitch the second candidate signature segment to the first candidate signature segment to generate a stitched signature in response to the number of basic matches meeting a second match threshold.

Assignments (4)
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 Dec 28, 2022
From: NELSON, DANIEL; WRIGHT, DAVID H.; RANGANATHAN, RAGHURAM
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 062231/0105 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17331603 · May 26, 2021
Related Publication 20230035656A1 · Feb 2, 2023