METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SIGNATURES

• US 20100262642A1
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, LLC
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Venugopal
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 708/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/601 Broadcast encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44236 Monitoring of piracy processes or activities protecting computer platforms against harmful, malicious or unexpected behaviour or activities using intrusion detection and counter measures G06F21/566; computer virus detection and handling G06F21/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for media monitoring are disclosed. In particular, the example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture generate signatures. Initially, a first plurality of filtered values are identified by performing a wavelet transform on a first frame of media samples. A first energy value is determined based on a first portion of the first plurality of filtered values, and a second energy value is determined based on a second portion of the first plurality of filtered values. A first descriptor of the first frame of media samples is determined based on a comparison of the first energy value and the second energy value. A first signature is generated based on the first descriptor.

Claims

1. A method for generating signatures, comprising:

identifying a first plurality of filtered values by performing a wavelet transform on a first frame of media samples;

determining a first energy value based on a first portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determining a second energy value based on a second portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determining a first descriptor of the first frame of media samples based on a comparison of the first energy value and the second energy value; and

generating a first signature based on the first descriptor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of filtered values is associated with a high-frequency sub-band of the first frame of media samples.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first descriptor is associated with only the first frame of media samples.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a first plurality of media samples; and

identifying a second frame of audio samples by extracting a common plurality of media samples from the first frame of media samples and appending the first plurality of media samples to the common plurality of media samples.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

identifying a second plurality of filtered values by performing the wavelet transform on the second frame of media samples;

determining a third energy value based on a first portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determining a fourth energy value based on a second portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determining a second descriptor based on a comparison of the third energy value and the fourth energy value; and

generating a second signature based on the second descriptor.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the second descriptor is of the second frame of media samples.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising identifying media information based on the first signature.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the media is associated with at least one of audio information or video information.

9. An apparatus for generating signatures, comprising:

a processor system including a memory; and

instructions stored in the memory that enable the processor system to;

identify a first plurality of filtered values by performing a wavelet transform on a first frame of media samples;

determine a first energy value based on a first portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determine a second energy value based on a second portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determine a first descriptor of the first frame of media samples based on a comparison of the first energy value and the second energy value; and

generate a first signature based on the first descriptor.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first plurality of filtered values is associated with a high-frequency sub-band of the first frame of media samples.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first descriptor is associated with only the first frame of media samples.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions stored in the memory enable the processor system to:

obtain a first plurality of media samples; and

identify a second frame of audio samples by extracting a common plurality of media samples from the first frame of media samples and appending the first plurality of media samples to the common plurality of media samples.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the instructions stored in the memory enable the processor system to:

identify a second plurality of filtered values by performing the wavelet transform on the second frame of media samples;

determine a third energy value based on a first portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determine a fourth energy value based on a second portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determine a second descriptor based on a comparison of the third energy value and the fourth energy value; and

generate a second signature based on the second descriptor.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions stored in the memory enable the processor system to identify media information based on the first signature.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the media is associated with at least one of audio information or video information.

16. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:

identify a first plurality of filtered values by performing a wavelet transform on a first frame of media samples;

determine a first energy value based on a first portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determine a second energy value based on a second portion of the first plurality of filtered values;

determine a first descriptor of the first frame of media samples based on a comparison of the first energy value and the second energy value; and

generate a first signature based on the first descriptor.

17. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 16, wherein the first plurality of filtered values is associated with a high-frequency sub-band of the first frame of media samples.

18. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 16, wherein the first descriptor is associated with only the first frame of media samples.

19. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 16, having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to:

obtain a first plurality of media samples; and

identify a second frame of audio samples by extracting a common plurality of media samples from the first frame of media samples and appending the first plurality of media samples to the common plurality of media samples.

20. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 19, having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to:

identify a second plurality of filtered values by performing the wavelet transform on the second frame of media samples;

determine a third energy value based on a first portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determine a fourth energy value based on a second portion of the second plurality of frequency values;

determine a second descriptor based on a comparison of the third energy value and the fourth energy value; and

generate a second signature based on the second descriptor.