Methods and apparatus for transcoding metadata

• US 20060242325A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Feininger, William A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/35 Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

A transcoder is adapted to perform transcoding of metadata to enable sharing and consumption of media content at dissimilar devices that are coupled to a home network. The transcoder, which is also coupled to the home network, is adapted to receive media content and metadata from a first media consumption device, to transcode the media content and metadata from a first format to second format, and to supply the transcoded media content and metadata to the second media consumption device in the second format. In one embodiment, the transcoder executes a method by which the transcoder obtains information about the sensing capabilities of a meter adapted to measure media at a media consumption device and subsequently uses that information to transcode the metadata into a format suitable for sensing by the meter.

Claims

1. A method for transcoding a media signal comprising:

extracting metadata from the media signal to form extracted metadata; and

converting the extracted metadata from a first media format associated with a first media consumption device to a second media format associated with a second media consumption device to form converted media information, wherein the first media consumption device and the second media consumption device are configurable to be communicatively coupled to a network.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising converting media content associated with the media signal from a third media format to a fourth media format to form the converted media information.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises identifying at least one of the first media format and second media format prior to converting the extracted metadata.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein identifying the at least one of the first media format and the second media format comprises identifying a media format detectable by a metering device associated with the second media consumption device.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein identifying the media format detectable by the metering device comprises identifying at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, and a software sensor associated with the metering device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises:

detecting a watermark associated with the media signal;

identifying a signal compression ratio associated with the watermark; and

modifying the signal compression ratio based on the second media format.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein modifying the signal compression ratio based on the second media format comprises comparing an output bit rate associated with the signal compression ratio to a network bit rate associated with the network.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein modifying the signal compression ratio based on the second media format comprises changing an output bit rate based on a network bit rate associated with the network.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises:

generating a watermark based on the second media format; and

inserting the watermark in the converted media information.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 further comprising providing correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device and a data collection facility.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises:

encoding the extracted metadata in the second media format; and

digitally inserting encoded metadata into a bitstream associated with the converted media information.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises converting the extracted metadata to cause converted media content to be stored in a database.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein converting the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information comprises converting the extracted metadata to cause converted metadata to be extracted from the second media consumption device based on an application program interface associated with the second media consumption device.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein extracting the metadata from the media signal comprises demultiplexing the media signal.