Methods and apparatus for transcoding metadata

• US 7,827,312 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taha; Shaq
• Application Number:
  US10/540,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,730 Days
• Field of Search: 709/246
• 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 a transcoder to transcode metadata included in a media signal conveyed via a home network from a first media format associated with a first media consumption device to a second media format detectable by a media metering device configured to meter a second media consumption device, the method comprising:

extracting the metadata from the media signal using the transcoder to form extracted metadata;

querying the media metering device via the home network to determine a sensing capability of the media metering device to sense a media output signal from the second media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network, wherein the media metering device is to collect audience measurement data associated with the second media consumption device;

identifying the second media format based on the determined sensing capability of the media metering device, the second media format detectable by the media metering device;

converting the extracted metadata from the first media format associated with the first media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network to the identified second media format detectable by the media metering device to form converted media information; and

sending the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device via the home 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, further comprising identifying the first media format prior to converting the extracted metadata.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the second media format comprises identifying at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, or a software sensor associated with the media metering device.

5. 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.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, 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 home network.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, 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 home network.

8. 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.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 further comprising providing correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device or a data collection facility.

10. 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.

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 converting the extracted metadata to cause converted media content to be stored in a database.

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 metadata to be extracted from the second media consumption device based on an application program interface associated with the second media consumption device.

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

14. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising generating a converted media signal having the converted media information, wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content and converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring media consumption based on the converted media information.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of content identification information, source identification information, destination device identification information, distribution channel identification information, timestamps associated with at least one of creation and generation of media content, or information associated with the media signal.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the information associated with the media signal comprises at least one of frequency information, format information, signal strength information, bit rate information, frame rate information, or sampling frequency information.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device is one of a television, a radio, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital video disk player, or a personal video recorder.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a wired network or a wireless network.

20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a server, a database, or a data measurement collection device.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of content identification information, source identification information, destination device identification information, distribution channel identification information, timestamps associated with at least one of creation and generation of media content, or information associated with the media signal.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein the information associated with the media signal comprises at least one of frequency information, format information, signal strength information, bit rate information, frame rate information, or sampling frequency information.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device is one of a television, a radio, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital video disk player, or a personal video recorder.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a wired network or a wireless network.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a server, a database, or a data collection measurement device.

21. An apparatus for transcoding a media signal conveyed via a home network comprising:

a network interface to communicate the media signal between a first media consumption device and a second media consumption device configurable to be communicatively coupled to the home network;

an extracting device coupled to the network interface and configured to extract metadata from the media signal to form extracted metadata;

an encoding device coupled to the network interface and configured to query a media metering device via the home network to determine a sensing capability of the media metering device to sense a media output signal from the second media consumption device, wherein the media metering device is to collect audience measurement data associated with the second media consumption device, and

an identification device to identify a second media format based on the determined sensing capability of the media metering device, the second media format detectable by the media metering device, wherein the encoding device is to convert the extracted metadata from a first media format associated with the first media consumption device to the identified second media format detectable by the media metering device to form converted media information.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the encoding device is configured to convert media content associated with the media signal from a third media format to a fourth media format to form the converted media information.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the identification device is coupled to the network interface and configured to identify the first media format.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the identification device is configured to identify at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, or a software sensor associated with the media metering device.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the identification device is configured to detect a watermark associated with the media signal and to identify a signal compression ratio associated with the watermark, and wherein the encoding device is configured to modify the signal compression ratio based on the second media format.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the encoding device is configured to compare an output bit rate associated with the signal compression ratio to a network bit rate of the home network and adjust the output bit rate based on the network bit rate.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the identification device and the encoding device are integrated within a single device.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 further comprising a watermark generator configured to generate a watermark based on the second media format and insert the watermark in the converted media information.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the watermark generator is configured to provide correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device or a data collection facility.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the encoding device is configured to encode the metadata in the second media format and to digitally insert encoded metadata into a bitstream associated with the converted media information.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the converted media information is configured to cause converted media content to be stored in a database.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the converted media information is configured 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.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the encoding device is configured to generate a converted media signal having the converted media information, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit a converted media signal having the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device associated with the second media consumption device, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the network interface is configured to receive the media signal from the first media consumption device.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the extracting device comprises a demultiplexer.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 further comprising a memory to store the media signal.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 21 integrated with at least one of a set top box, the first media consumption device, the second media consumption device, or a metering device associated with at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device.

44. A tangible machine accessible medium having machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

extract metadata from a media signal conveyed via a home network to form extracted metadata;

query a media metering device via the home network to determine a sensing capability of the media metering device to sense a media output signal from the second media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network, wherein the media metering device is to collect audience measurement data associated with the second media consumption device;

identify a second media format based on the determined sensing capability of the media metering device, the second media format detectable by the media metering device;

convert the extracted metadata from a first media format associated with a first media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network to the identified second media format detectable by the media metering device to form converted media information; and

send the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device via the home network.

45. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert media content associated with the media signal from a third media format to a fourth media format to form the converted media information.

46. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the first media format prior to converting the extracted metadata.

47. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the second media format by identifying at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, or a software sensor associated the media metering device.

48. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information by:

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.

49. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 48, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to modify the signal compression ratio based on the second media format by comparing an output bit rate associated with the signal compression ratio to a network bit rate associated with the home network.

50. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 48, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to modify the signal compression ratio based on the second media format by changing an output bit rate based on a network bit rate associated with the home network.

51. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information by:

generating a watermark based on the second media format; and

inserting the watermark in the converted media information.

52. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 51, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to provide correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device or a data collection facility.

53. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information by:

encoding the metadata in the second media format; and

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

54. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information by converting the extracted metadata to cause converted media content to be stored in a database.

55. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to convert the extracted metadata from the first media format to the second media format to form the converted media information by 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.

56. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to extract the metadata from the media signal by demultiplexing the media signal.

57. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate a converted media signal having the converted media information, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

58. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit a converted media signal having the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device associated with the second media consumption device, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

59. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to monitor media consumption based on the converted media information.

60. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of content identification information, source identification information, destination device identification information, distribution channel identification information, timestamps associated with at least one of creation and generation of media content, or information associated with the media signal.

61. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 60, wherein the information associated with the media signal comprises at least one of frequency information, format information, signal strength information, bit rate information, frame rate information, or sampling frequency information.

62. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device is one of a television, a radio, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital video disk player, or a personal video recorder.

63. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a wired network or a wireless network.

64. A tangible machine accessible medium as defined in claim 44, wherein the home network comprises at least one of a server, a database, or a data measurement collection device.

65. A system for transcoding a media signal conveyed via a home network comprising:

a first media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network;

a second media consumption device communicatively coupled to the first media consumption device and the home network;

a media metering device communicatively coupled to the second media consumption device to collect audience measurement data associated with the second media consumption device; and

a transcoding device communicatively coupled to at least one of the first media consumption device, the second media consumption device, or the media metering device, and configured to;

extract metadata from the media signal to form extracted metadata;

query the media metering device via the home network to determine a sensing capability of the media metering device to sense a media output signal from the second media consumption device;

identify a second media format based on the determined sensing capability of the media metering device, the second media format detectable by the media metering device; and

convert the extracted metadata from a first media format associated with the first media consumption device to the identified second media format detectable by the media metering device to form converted media information.

66. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to convert media content associated with the media signal from a third media format to a fourth media format to form the converted media information.

67. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to identify the first media format prior to converting the extracted metadata.

68. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to configured to identify at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, or a software sensor associated with the media metering device.

69. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to detect a watermark associated with the media signal, to identify a signal compression ratio associated with the watermark, and to modify the signal compression ratio based on the second media format.

70. A system as defined in claim 69, wherein the transcoding device is configured to compare an output bit rate associated with the signal compression ratio to a system bit rate of the system and adjust the output bit rate based on the system bit rate.

71. A system as defined in claim 69, wherein the transcoding device is configured to change an output bit rate based on a network bit rate associated with the home network.

72. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to generate a watermark based on the second media format and insert the watermark in the converted media information.

73. A system as defined in claim 72, wherein the transcoding device is configured to provide correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device or a data collection facility.

74. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to encode the extracted metadata in the second media format and digitally insert encoded metadata into a bitstream associated with the converted media information.

75. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the converted media information causes converted media content to be stored in a database.

76. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the converted media information causes converted metadata to be extracted from the second media consumption device based on an application program interface associated with the second media consumption device.

77. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein at least one of the first media consumption device or the media metering device is configured to extract the metadata from the media signal.

78. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to generate a converted media signal having the converted media information, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

79. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is configured to transmit a converted media signal having the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device, and wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content or converted metadata associated with the converted media content.

80. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the media metering device is configured to monitor media consumption based on the converted media information.

81. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of content identification information, source identification information, destination device identification information, distribution channel identification information, timestamps associated with at least one of creation and generation of media content, or information associated with the media signal.

82. A system as defined in claim 81, wherein the information associated with the media signal comprises at least one of frequency information, format information, signal strength information, bit rate information, frame rate information, or sampling frequency information.

83. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is coupled to at least one of the first media consumption device, the second media consumption device, or the media metering device via at least one of a wired network or a wireless network.

84. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device is one of a television, a radio, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a digital video disk player, or a personal video recorder.

85. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the transcoding device is integrated with at least one of the first media consumption device, the second media consumption device, or the media metering device.

86. A system as defined in claim 65, wherein the media metering device is integrated with at least one of the first media consumption device or the second media consumption device.

87. A system as defined in claim 65 further comprising a server, a database, and a data measurement collection device.

88. An apparatus for transcoding metadata included in a media signal conveyed via a home network from a first media format associated with a first media consumption device to a second media format detectable by a media metering device configured to meter a second media consumption device, the apparatus comprising:

means for extracting the metadata from the media signal to form the extracted metadata;

means for querying the media metering device via the home network to determine a sensing capability of the media metering device to sense a media output signal from the a second media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network, wherein the media metering device is to collect audience measurement data associated with the second media consumption device;

means for identifying the second media format based on the determined capability of the media metering device, the second media format detectable by the media metering device;

means for converting the extracted metadata from the first media format associated with the first media consumption device communicatively coupled to the home network to the identified second media format detectable by the media metering device to form converted media information; and

means to send the converted media information to at least one of the second media consumption device or the media metering device via the home network.

89. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting is configured to convert media content associated with the media signal from a third media format to a fourth media format to form the converted media information.

90. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting comprises means for identifying the first media format prior to converting the extracted metadata.

91. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for identifying is configured to identify at least one of an audio watermark sensor, a video watermark sensor, a digital bitstream sensor, a database sensor, or a software sensor associated with the media metering device.

92. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting comprises:

means for detecting a watermark associated with the media signal;

means for identifying a signal compression ratio associated with the watermark; and

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

93. An apparatus as defined in claim 92, wherein the means for modifying is configured to compare an output bit rate associated with the signal compression ratio to a network bit rate associated with the home network.

94. An apparatus as defined in claim 92, wherein the means for modifying is configured to change an output bit rate based on a network bit rate associated with the home network.

95. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting comprises:

means for generating a watermark based on the second media format; and

means for inserting the watermark in the converted media information.

96. An apparatus as defined in claim 95 further comprising means for providing correlation information associated with the watermark and the converted media information to at least one of a data measurement collection device or a data collection facility.

97. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting comprises:

means for encoding the metadata in the second media format; and

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

98. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting is configured to convert the metadata to cause converted media content to be stored in a database.

99. An apparatus as defined in claim 88, wherein the means for converting is configured to convert the 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.

100. An apparatus as defined in claim 88 further comprising means for generating a converted media signal having the converted media information, wherein the converted media information includes at least one of converted media content and converted metadata associated with the converted media content.