System and method for utilizing audio encoding for measuring media exposure with environmental masking
First Claim
1. A method for measuring and communicating media exposure, the method comprising:
- in response to a change of a volume setting of a user device after receiving, at the user device, data provided via a web page accessed by the user device;
switching, at the user device by executing an instruction with a processor and based on the volume setting of the user device, from a second sound signal previously selected to be encoded with a code signal to a first sound signal to be encoded with the code signal, the first sound signal having a first duration, the first sound signal selected from a library of beacon sound signals stored at the user device, the library of beacon sound signals including beacon sound signals having different durations of a same type of sound; and
after the switching from the second sound signal to the first sound signal, embedding, at the user device by executing an instruction with the processor, the code signal, which is encoded with an identifier associated with the user device and information identifying the accessed web page, into the first sound signal to determine an encoded first sound signal; and
outputting the encoded first sound signal from the user device to a remote location for media exposure processing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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 processing device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, PC) to enable the device to encode an environmental sound and 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 users.
100 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for measuring and communicating media exposure, the method comprising:
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in response to a change of a volume setting of a user device after receiving, at the user device, data provided via a web page accessed by the user device; switching, at the user device by executing an instruction with a processor and based on the volume setting of the user device, from a second sound signal previously selected to be encoded with a code signal to a first sound signal to be encoded with the code signal, the first sound signal having a first duration, the first sound signal selected from a library of beacon sound signals stored at the user device, the library of beacon sound signals including beacon sound signals having different durations of a same type of sound; and after the switching from the second sound signal to the first sound signal, embedding, at the user device by executing an instruction with the processor, the code signal, which is encoded with an identifier associated with the user device and information identifying the accessed web page, into the first sound signal to determine an encoded first sound signal; and outputting the encoded first sound signal from the user device to a remote location for media exposure processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17)
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7. An article of manufacture comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a user device to at least:
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in response to a change of a volume setting of a user device after having received, at the user device, data provided via a web page accessed by the user device; switch, based on the volume setting of the user device, from a second sound signal previously selected to be encoded with a code signal to a first sound signal to be encoded with the code signal, the first sound signal having a first duration, the first sound signal selected from a library of beacon sound signals stored at the user device, the library of beacon sound signals including beacon sound signals having different durations of a same type of sound; and after having switched from the second sound signal to the first sound signal, embed, at the user device, the code signal, which is encoded with an identifier associated with the user device and information identifying the accessed web page, into the first sound signal to determine an encoded first sound signal; and output the encoded first sound signal from the user device to a remote location for media exposure processing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 18)
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12. A user device comprising:
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a beacon processor to; respond to a change of a volume setting of the user device after having received, at the user device, data provided via an accessed web page by; switching, based on the volume setting of the user device, from a second sound signal previously selected to be encoded with a code signal to a first sound signal to be encoded with the code signal, the first sound signal having a first duration, the first sound signal selected from a library of beacon sound signals stored at the user device, the library of beacon sound signals including beacon sound signals having different durations of a same type of sound; and after having switched from the second sound signal to the first sound signal, embedding, at the user device, the code signal, which is encoded with an identifier associated with the user device and information identifying the accessed web page, into the first sound signal to determine an encoded first sound signal; and output the encoded first sound signal from the user device to a remote location for media exposure processing; and memory to store the library of beacon sound signals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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Specification