US5787334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatically identifying a program including a sound signal
Assignee: Nielsen Holdings NV
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Filing: 1996-09-27
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Granted: 1998-07-28
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Expires: 2016-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for automatically identifying a program broadcast by a radio station or by a television channel, or recorded on a medium, by adding an inaudible encoded message to the sound signal of the program, the message identifying the broadcasting channel or station, the program, and/or the exact date. In one embodiment the sound signal is transmitted via an analog-to-digital converter to a data processor enabling frequency components to be split up, enabling the energy in some of the frequency components to be altered in a predetermined manner to form an encoded identification message, and with the output from the data processor being connected via a digital-to-analog converter to an audio output for broadcasting or recording the sound signal. In another embodiment, an analog bandpass filter is employed to separate a band of frequencies from the sound signal so that energy in the separated band may be thus altered to encode the sound signal. The invention is particularly applicable to measuring the audiences of programs that are broadcast by radio or television, or that are recorded.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Fardeau
- 👤 Michel Briend
- 👤 Marc Tommasi
- 👤 Serge Galant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/28; H04H20/30; H04H20/31; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/372; H04H60/375; H04H60/38; H04H60/40; H04H60/41; H04H60/43; H04H60/44; H04H60/45; H04H60/56; H04H60/58; H04H20/12; H04H20/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A personal monitoring device for use in collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: an acoustic transducer having an output at which it provides a non-acoustic signal in response to audio signals; a detection circuit coupled with the output of the acoustic transducer to receive the non-acoustic signal and operative to detect an identification code therein, the detection circuit having an output at which it provides a code detection signal representing the detected identification code; a carry detection transducer having an output at which it provides a carry detection signal indicating that the personal monitoring device is being carried by a person; and a memory device coupled with the detection circuit and the carry detection transducer to store data representing the code detection signal and data representing the carry detection signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A personal monitoring device for use in collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: an acoustic transducer having an output at which it provides a non-acoustic signal in response to audio signals; a detection circuit coupled with the output of the acoustic transducer to receive the non-acoustic signal and operative to detect an identification code therein, the detection circuit having an output at which it provides a code detection signal representing the detected identification code; a carry detection transducer having an output at which it provides a carry detection signal indicating that the personal monitoring device is being carried by a person; and a memory device coupled with the detection circuit and the carry detection transducer to store data representing the code detection signal and data representing the carry detection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The personal monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the carry detection transducer comprises a motion detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The personal monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the carry detection transducer comprises a temperature detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The personal monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises a digital processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The personal monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises an analog processor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A personal monitoring device for use in collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: transducer means for producing a non-acoustic signal in response to audio signals; code detection means for detecting an identification code in the non-acoustic signal to provide a code detection signal representing the identification code; carry detection means for producing a carry detection signal indicating that the personal monitoring device is being carried by a person; and memory means for storing data representing the code detection signal and data representing the carry detection signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A personal monitoring device for use in collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: transducer means for producing a non-acoustic signal in response to audio signals; code detection means for detecting an identification code in the non-acoustic signal to provide a code detection signal representing the identification code; carry detection means for producing a carry detection signal indicating that the personal monitoring device is being carried by a person; and memory means for storing data representing the code detection signal and data representing the carry detection signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: providing a portable monitoring device including an acoustic transducer and an identification code detector; detecting identification codes in audio signals received by the acoustic transducer using the identification code detector; detecting signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person; and storing information representing the detected identification codes and the signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of collecting information concerning audio signals available to a person, the audio signals including an identification code, comprising: providing a portable monitoring device including an acoustic transducer and an identification code detector; detecting identification codes in audio signals received by the acoustic transducer using the identification code detector; detecting signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person; and storing information representing the detected identification codes and the signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of detecting signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person comprises detecting motion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of detecting signals indicating that the portable monitoring device is being carried by a person comprises detecting temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-27 | 2002-01-26 | 2002-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-27 | 2006-01-26 | 2006-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-27 | 2010-01-26 | 2010-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |