Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100268540 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING AUDIO BEACONING IN AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT - An audio beacon system, apparatus and method for collecting information on a panelist's exposure to media. An audio beacon is configured as on-device encoding technology that is operative in a panelist's processing device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, PC) to enable the device to encode and/or process media data and acoustically transmit it for a predetermined period of time. The acoustically transmitted data is received and processed by a portable audience measurement device, such as Arbitron's Personal People Meter™ (“PPM”), or other specially equipped portable device to enable audience measurement systems to achieve higher levels of detail on panel member activity and greater association of measurement devices to their respective panelists. | 10-21-2010 |
20120203363 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING FUNCTIONS IN PROCESSING DEVICES USING ENCODED AUDIO AND AUDIO SIGNATURES - Apparatus, system and method for accessing supplementary data and/or executing software on a device capable of receiving multimedia are disclosed. After multimedia is received, ancillary code is detected and a signature is concurrently extracted from an audio portion of the multimedia. The ancillary code includes a plurality of code symbols arranged in a plurality of layers in a predetermined time period, and the signature is extracted from features of the audio of the multimedia. Supplementary data is accessed and/or software is executed using the detected code an/or signature. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203559 | ACTIVATING FUNCTIONS IN PROCESSING DEVICES USING START CODES EMBEDDED IN AUDIO - Apparatus, system and method for performing an action such as accessing supplementary data and/or executing software on a device capable of receiving multimedia are disclosed. After multimedia is received, a monitoring code is detected and a signature is extracted in response thereto from an audio portion of the multimedia. The ancillary code includes a plurality of code symbols arranged in a plurality of layers in a predetermined time period, and the signature is extracted from features of the audio of the multimedia. Supplementary data is accessed and/or software is executed using the detected code and/or signature. | 08-09-2012 |
20120245978 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINIMG CONTEXTUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIA EXPOSURE DATA - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing contextual information to research data relating to media exposure. Ambient fingerprints are formed on a device, where the fingerprints are used to establish a logical location where media exposure took place. The ambient signatures are alternately combined with monitored data to provide more robust data sets for contextual processing. | 09-27-2012 |
20130135218 | TACTILE AND GESTATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AND LINKING TO MEDIA CONSUMPTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of touch screens according to a touch/gesture profile. The profile includes stored electrical characteristics of contact with the touch screen. The profile is correlated with applications opened and/or accessed, along with any associated metadata, as well as media exposure data derived from audio received at the device. The correlated information may be used to confirm identification of one or more individuals using a device for audience measurement purposes. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138231 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING FUNCTIONS IN PROCESSING DEVICES USING ENCODED AUDIO - Apparatus, system and method for accessing supplementary data on a device capable of receiving multimedia are disclosed. After multimedia is received, ancillary code is detected from an audio portion of the multimedia. The ancillary code includes a plurality of code symbols arranged in a plurality of layers in a predetermined time period, wherein data associated with the supplementary data is arranged in at least one of the plurality of layers. Supplementary data is accessed using the data associated with the supplementary data. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138386 | MOVEMENT/POSITION MONITORING AND LINKING TO MEDIA CONSUMPTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself. Accelerometer data may also be used to determine probabilities that one or more users were actually exposed to a media event. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138388 | MULTIPLE METER DETECTION AND PROCESSING USING MOTION DATA - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying users of portable user devices according to one or more accelerometer profiles created for a respective user. During a media session, the portable computing device collects media exposure data, while at the same time, collects data from the accelerometer and compares it to the user profile. The comparison authenticates the user and determines the physical activity the user is engaged in. Additional data may be collected from the portable computing device to determine one or more operational conditions of the device itself, including the detection of multiple devices being physically carried by one user. Gross motion strings may also be generated by devices and compared to see if strings match, thus suggesting multiple devices are being carried by one user. | 05-30-2013 |
20130157563 | MEDIA EXPOSURE AND VERIFICATION UTILIZING INDUCTIVE COUPLING - A computer-implemented system and method for establishing media data exposure, where a media device, such as a computer, radio, television and the like, receive media data and produces research data from it. The research data may be based on computer-based or computer network-based characteristics, ancillary codes or audio signatures. As the research data is being produced, an inductive coupling is sought for nearby portable computer devices. Once a portable computing device inductively couples to the media device, information is transferred, allowing a system to determine and/or verify that specific users were exposed to particular media data. | 06-20-2013 |
20130157568 | MEDIA EXPOSURE LINKING UTILIZING BLUETOOTH SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS - A computer-implemented method for establishing media data exposure for a computer processing device, where media data received in the computer processing device. The computer processing device pairs itself with a plurality of portable computing devices using a Bluetooth connection when media data is received. A signal strength characteristic of the Bluetooth connection is established in the computer processing device for each of the paired plurality of portable computing devices. Each signal strength characteristic with the received media data is then established to determine which signal strength characteristic is the strongest when the media data was received in the computer processing device. | 06-20-2013 |
20130174231 | MEDIA EXPOSURE DATA COLLECTION AND SECURITY - Systems and methods are disclosed for securely transferring research data relating to media exposure data, such as radio, television, streaming media and the Internet. A plurality of portable computing devices seek and bond to a collector via Bluetooth in a specific area, such as a household. The collector authenticates itself with each of the portable computing devices and vice versa where the collector arranges a secure research data transfer session with each respective device using exchanged authentication files. As each secure session is made, each portable computing device transmits stored research data during the session. | 07-04-2013 |
20130202128 | System and Method for Determining Meter Presence Utilizing Ambient Fingerprints - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing portable device presence utilizing environmental ambient audio fingerprints. Portable devices provide media exposure data and environmental ambient fingerprints to a processing device, where the environmental ambient signatures provide at least one characteristic of the ambient audio surrounding each portable device. The environmental ambient signatures are then processed to determine if they match. Portable devices associated with matching signatures are identified. Ambient fingerprints may also be used to establish a logical location where media exposure took place. The ambient signatures are alternately combined with monitored data to provide more robust data sets for contextual processing. | 08-08-2013 |
20130262184 | Systems and Methods for Presence Detection and Linking to Media Exposure Data - A computer-implemented system, apparatus and method for monitoring media exposure data and correlating media exposure data to locations. Location data may be generated utilizing measurements of radio waves from WiFi and/or Bluetooth. Identification may also be transmitted when WiFi and/or Bluetooth transmission are received. As media is reproduced or received on/near a portable device, media exposure data is generated. Subsequent location data is monitored and processed to determine specific locations that may include commercial establishments. The locations are then correlated to the media exposure data to determine user actions related to media exposure. | 10-03-2013 |
20140111698 | Systems and Methods for Configuring Media Devices Utilizing Audio Codes or Signatures - A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a media terminal device using characteristics of audio, wherein the characteristics may include ancillary code embedded in audio and/or audio signatures. When audio codes are read and/or signatures are extracted, they are processed to determine if they correspond to a predetermined characteristic that has a linked command. If correspondence is found, the command is executed to affect one or more operational layers of the media terminal device to modify at least one operational parameter. | 04-24-2014 |
20140113557 | Systems and Methods for Wirelessly Modifying Detection Characteristics of Portable Devices - A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a portable processing device configured to scan for wireless signals under a first scan rate. As wireless signals are received in the portable processing device, characteristics of the wireless signals are analyzed, and if the characteristics match one or more characteristics, the operation of the portable processing device is modified. Under one exemplary embodiment, the first scan rate is modified to a second scan rate, where the second scan rate being different from the first. Under another exemplary embodiment, monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device are activated or modified to collect research data on media data. The characteristics may include identification information or messages/commands that are transmitted wirelessly. | 04-24-2014 |
20140114456 | Methods and Systems for Clock Correction and/or Synchronization for Audio Media Measurement Systems - Systems and methods are disclosed for synchronizing devices that produce identifiable characteristics from audio media. A device receives audio and produces initial time data. Subsequent time data is received at a coupling interface from a portable device that has access to accurate time sources. The subsequent time data is processed to determine if it is more accurate than the initial time data. If so, the clock of the device is updated to reflect the second time data. The device then processes the audio media to generate at least one identifiable characteristic relating to the audio, which may include ancillary codes and/or audio signatures. The identifiable characteristics are then transmitted together with the subsequent time data for detection. | 04-24-2014 |
20140180673 | Audio Processing Techniques for Semantic Audio Recognition and Report Generation - System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. Extracted audio features that are most similar to one or more templates from the comparison are identified according to the tagged information. The tags are used to determine the semantic audio data that includes genre, instrumentation, style, acoustical dynamics, and emotive descriptor for the audio signal. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180674 | AUDIO MATCHING WITH SEMANTIC AUDIO RECOGNITION AND REPORT GENERATION - System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. The semantic information may be associated with audio signature data | 06-26-2014 |
20140180675 | Audio Decoding with Supplemental Semantic Audio Recognition and Report Generation - System, apparatus and method for determining semantic information from audio, where incoming audio is sampled and processed to extract audio features, including temporal, spectral, harmonic and rhythmic features. The extracted audio features are compared to stored audio templates that include ranges and/or values for certain features and are tagged for specific ranges and/or values. The semantic information may be associated with audio codes to determine changing characteristics of identified media during a time period. | 06-26-2014 |
20140187268 | Apparatus, System and Method for Location Detection and User Identification for Media Exposure Data - A computer-implemented system, apparatus and method for monitoring media exposure data and correlating media exposure data to locations. Location data may be generated utilizing measurements of radio waves from WiFi and/or Bluetooth. Identification may also be transmitted when WiFi and/or Bluetooth transmission are received. As media is reproduced or received on/near a portable device, media exposure data is generated. Subsequent location data is monitored and processed to determine specific locations that may include commercial establishments. The locations are then correlated to the media exposure data to determine user actions related to media exposure. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189095 | Apparatus, System and Methods for Portable Device Tracking Using Temporary Privileged Access - A computer-implemented system, apparatus and method for accessing a portable device to execute monitoring capabilities. The monitoring capabilities include packet detection, which in turn may be processed to produce media exposure data. The monitoring capabilities are installed using privileged access in order to obtain data from a kernel layer of the portable device, and the device is returned to an original state following installation, in order to comply with operating system requirements. Audio media exposure data may further be integrated with the packet-detected media exposure data. | 07-03-2014 |
20140295764 | MEDIA EXPOSURE LINKING UTILIZING BLUETOOTH SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS - A computer-implemented method for establishing media data exposure for a computer processing device, where media data received in the computer processing device. The computer processing device pairs itself with a plurality of portable computing devices using a Bluetooth connection when media data is received. A signal strength characteristic of the Bluetooth connection is established in the computer processing device for each of the paired plurality of portable computing devices. Each signal strength characteristic with the received media data is then established to determine which signal strength characteristic is the strongest when the media data was received in the computer processing device. | 10-02-2014 |
20140365689 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING MEDIA DEVICES UTILIZING AUDIO CODES OR SIGNATURES - Example systems and methods for configuring media devices utilizing audio codes and/or signatures are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include, responsive to determining that an audio code is not present in audio data received by a device, generating a signature from the audio data. Such example methods also include determining whether the signature is associated with a first command to be executed by the device to modify operation of the device. Such example methods further include, when the signature is determined to be associated with the first command, executing the first command to modify the operation of the device. | 12-11-2014 |
20150039320 | Systems Apparatus and Methods for Encoding/Decoding Persistent Universal Media Codes to Encoded Audio - Apparatus, system and method for encoding and/or decoding persistent universal media identification (ID) codes embedded in audio. For encoding, a persistent identifier code is generated or received from a registry database, where the code includes data for uniquely identifying a media object. Audio code components including frequency characteristics are generated to represent symbols of the persistent identifier code and the audio code components are psychoacoustically embedded into an audio portion of the media object to include the persistent identifier code within one or more of a plurality of encoding layers. Such embedded audio may be subsequently decoded by transforming the audio data into a frequency domain and processing the transformed audio data to detect the persistent identifier code. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039321 | Apparatus, System and Method for Reading Codes From Digital Audio on a Processing Device - Apparatus, system and method for reading ancillary code embedded into digital audio, where a processing device executes a decoder application that includes a decoder application interface that is communicatively coupled to a media player application within one or more frameworks of the processing device. As digital audio is received and sampled, the decoder application is configured to transform the digital audio from a time domain to a frequency domain and to process frequency characteristics to determine the presence of ancillary audio codes. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039322 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MERGING CODE LAYERS FOR AUDIO ENCODING AND DECODING - Apparatus, system and method for encoding and decoding ancillary code for digital audio, where multiple encoding layers are merged. The merging allows a greater number of ancillary codes to be embedded into the encoding space, and further introduces efficiencies in the encoding process. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039637 | Systems Apparatus and Methods for Determining Computer Apparatus Usage Via Processed Visual Indicia - A computer-implemented apparatus, system and method to determine usage of a processing device, such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, personal computer, etc. and/or to determine media exposure on a processing device. Screenshot images from the device are received and processed to form a feature map, where image characteristics are extracted from the feature map. These characteristics are then used to determine the presence of text and consequently extract text from the screenshot image. The text is then collected and compared to a library of text that is linked to specific device uses (e.g., software application, format) or specific media (e.g., artist, song, file name). Matches are then logged and used to generate audience measurement reports. | 02-05-2015 |
20150039972 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MERGING CODE LAYERS FOR AUDIO ENCODING AND DECODING AND ERROR CORRECTION THEREOF - Apparatus, system and method for encoding and decoding ancillary code for digital audio, where multiple encoding layers are merged. The merging allows a greater number of ancillary codes to be embedded into the encoding space, and further introduces efficiencies in the encoding process. Utilizing certain error correction techniques, the decoding of ancillary code may be improved and made more reliable. | 02-05-2015 |