Patent US8539520B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US8539520B2
Active / In Force
US
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Audience measurement apparatus, system and method
Assignee: Nielsen Co US LLC
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Filing: 2009-11-20
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Granted: 2013-09-17
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Expires: 2029-11-20
Abstract
Abstract An audience measurement system generates signatures of unknown pieces of content viewed by panel members, and generates multiplexed reference signatures of known pieces of content. The signatures of the unknown pieces of content are stored and transmitted to a central processing site, where they are compared with the reference signatures for their identification. A signature comparator finds matches between the signatures of the unknown and the known contents.
Inventors
- 👤 Fernando D. Falcon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/56; H04H60/29; H04H60/33; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/59; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04H2201/00; H04H2201/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for generating reference signatures, the apparatus comprising: a first multiplexor to multiplex first signals received from a plurality of media sources at respective first intervals of time to generate a first multiplexed signal; a first reference signature generator to generate a first reference multiplex of reference signatures from the first multiplexed signal; a first demultiplexor to demultiplex the first reference multiplex to generate first reference signatures representative of media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective first intervals of time; a second multiplexor to multiplex second signals received from the plurality of media sources at respective second intervals of time to generate a second multiplexed signal; a second reference signature generator to generate a second reference multiplex of reference signatures from the second multiplexed signal; and a second demultiplexor to demultiplex the second reference multiplex to generate second reference signatures representative of the media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective second intervals of time, the respective second intervals of time being offset relative to the respective first intervals of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus for generating reference signatures, the apparatus comprising: a first multiplexor to multiplex first signals received from a plurality of media sources at respective first intervals of time to generate a first multiplexed signal; a first reference signature generator to generate a first reference multiplex of reference signatures from the first multiplexed signal; a first demultiplexor to demultiplex the first reference multiplex to generate first reference signatures representative of media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective first intervals of time; a second multiplexor to multiplex second signals received from the plurality of media sources at respective second intervals of time to generate a second multiplexed signal; a second reference signature generator to generate a second reference multiplex of reference signatures from the second multiplexed signal; and a second demultiplexor to demultiplex the second reference multiplex to generate second reference signatures representative of the media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective second intervals of time, the respective second intervals of time being offset relative to the respective first intervals of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a memory in communication with the first demultiplexor to store the first reference signatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first multiplexor is to interleave discrete segments of the first received signals in a time domain to generate the first multiplexed signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first demultiplexor is to extract, in the time domain, the first reference signatures from the first reference multiplex into a respective sequence of first reference signatures for each one of the media sources, the first reference signatures comprising signatures corresponding to respective parts of the first received signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media sources include a television channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media sources include a radio station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signatures are generated based upon time-domain features of the first received signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signatures are generated based upon frequency-domain features of the first received signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signatures are generated based upon digital data stream features of a digital signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first multiplexor is implemented by software running on a signal receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first multiplexor is implemented by an external device connected to a signal receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first demultiplexor is implemented by dedicated hardware.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first demultiplexor is implemented by a programmed processor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first demultiplexor is implemented by a software program running on a shared computer or server.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein respective ones of the first intervals of time have durations substantially equal to a first duration, respective ones of the second intervals of time have durations substantially equal to the first duration, and the respective second intervals of time are offset relative to the respective first intervals of time by the first duration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
An audience measurement system for producing audience information of a media presentation, comprising: the apparatus of claim 1 ; a content signature generator to generate a signature from unknown media and send the signature to the apparatus; a signature comparator to compare the signature of the unknown media with the first reference signatures, and determine if the signature of the unknown media matches any of the first reference signatures; and a processor to identify the unknown media based on a match found between the first reference signatures and the signature of the unknown media.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media corresponds to live viewing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media corresponds to time-shifted viewing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media is a television program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media is a radio program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media is transmitted by an analog signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the unknown media is transmitted by a digital signal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for generating reference signatures, the method comprising: multiplexing first received signals received from a plurality of media sources at respective first intervals of time to generate a first multiplexed signal; generating a first reference multiplex of multiplexed signatures from the first multiplexed signal; demultiplexing the first reference multiplex to generate first reference signatures representative of media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective first intervals of time; multiplexing second received signals received from the plurality of media sources at respective second intervals of time to generate a second multiplexed signal; generating a second reference multiplex of multiplexed signatures from the second multiplexed signal; and demultiplexing the second reference multiplex to generate second reference signatures representative of the media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective second intervals of time, the respective second intervals of time being offset relative to the respective first intervals of time.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for generating reference signatures, the method comprising: multiplexing first received signals received from a plurality of media sources at respective first intervals of time to generate a first multiplexed signal; generating a first reference multiplex of multiplexed signatures from the first multiplexed signal; demultiplexing the first reference multiplex to generate first reference signatures representative of media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective first intervals of time; multiplexing second received signals received from the plurality of media sources at respective second intervals of time to generate a second multiplexed signal; generating a second reference multiplex of multiplexed signatures from the second multiplexed signal; and demultiplexing the second reference multiplex to generate second reference signatures representative of the media provided by the plurality of media sources during the respective second intervals of time, the respective second intervals of time being offset relative to the respective first intervals of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein respective ones of the first intervals of time have durations substantially equal to a first duration, respective ones of the second intervals of time have durations substantially equal to the first duration, and the respective second intervals of time are offset relative to the respective first intervals of time by the first duration.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2016-09-16 | 2017-03-18 | 2017-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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