Media monitoring using multiple types of signatures

• US 8,768,003 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: McMillan, Francis Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabatabai, Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US13/430,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20130251189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/162, 382/313, 382/119, 348/465, 348/700, 348/722, 348/180, 348/184, 348/185, 702/25, 702/73, 704/201, 704/216, 704/226, 704/231, 713/176, 713/177, 713/179, 713/180, 713/340, 725/9, 725/10, 725/14, 725/18, 725/19, 725/20, 725/33, 714/22, 714/45, 714/732, 714/809
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/152 using file content signatures, e.g. hash values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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

Abstract

Media monitoring using multiple types of signatures is disclosed. An example media monitoring method disclosed herein comprises processing signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media, and processing signatures of a second type to monitor the media presented by the media device after the first one of the signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media.

Claims

1. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device, the processing of the media signatures of the first type being performed until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a first reference signature of the first type, the first reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type different from the first type to monitor, with a processor, the media presented by the media device, the processing of the media signatures of the second type beginning after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the first reference signature of the first type and ending when a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type also being associated with the first reference media.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising reverting to processing the media signatures of the first type to monitor the media presented by the media presentation device when the number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media signatures of the first type have a higher resolution than the media signatures of the second type.

4. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a first one of a plurality of reference signatures of the first type, the first one of a plurality of reference signatures of the first type being associated with first reference media, the processing of the media signatures of the first type to monitor the media presented by the media device further comprising;

processing a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device to obtain the media signatures of the first type;

reporting the media signatures of the first type to a processor for comparison with the plurality of reference signatures of the first type;

receiving, from the processor, an indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the first one of the plurality of reference signatures of the first type; and

halting processing of the media signal to obtain the media signatures of the first type in response to receiving the indication; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the first one of the reference signatures of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media.

5. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a first one of a plurality of reference signatures of the first type, the first one of a plurality of reference signatures of the first type being associated with first reference media, the processing of the media signatures of the first type to monitor the media presented by the media device further comprising;

receiving the media signatures of the first type from a meter that is to monitor the media presented by the media device;

comparing the media signatures of the first type with the plurality of reference signatures of the first type; and

sending, to the meter, an indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the first one of the plurality of reference signatures of the first type; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the first one of the reference signatures of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media.

6. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor, with a first processor, the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, wherein processing the media signatures of the second type to monitor the media presented by the media device comprises;

processing a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device to obtain the media signatures of the second type in response to receiving a first indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the reference signature of the first type;

comparing the media signatures of the second type to a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, obtained from a second processor, until the number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type; and

reporting a second indication that the number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

7. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor, with a processor, the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, wherein processing the media signatures of the second type to monitor the media presented by the media device comprises;

sending a sequence of the reference signatures of the second type to a meter that is to monitor the media presented by the media device, the sequence of the reference signatures of the second type being sent in response to determining that the first one of the media signatures of the first type matches the reference signature of the first type, the sequence of the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type; and

receiving, from the meter, an indication that the number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

8. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, wherein processing the media signatures of the second type to monitor the media presented by the media device comprises;

processing a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device to obtain the media signatures of the second type in response to receiving a first indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the reference signature of the first type;

reporting the media signatures of the second type to a processor for comparison with a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type;

receiving, from the processor, a second indication that the number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type; and

halting processing of the media to obtain the media signatures of the second type in response to receiving the second indication.

9. A media monitoring method comprising:

electronically processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

electronically processing media signatures of a second type to monitor, with a first processor, the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, wherein processing the media signatures of the second type to monitor the media presented by the media device comprises;

comparing the media signatures of the second type with a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type; and

determining the number of media signatures of the second type that has not matched the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

10. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a signature processor to;

generate media signatures of a first type from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device, the signature processor to generate the media signatures of the first type until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a first reference signature of the first type, the first reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

generate media signatures of a second type, different from the first type, from the media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device, the signature processor to begin generation of the media signatures of the second type after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the first reference signature of the first type and to end generation of the media signatures of the second type when a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type also being associated with the first reference media;

a controller to control whether the signature processor generates the media signatures of the first type or the media signatures of the second type; and

a memory to store the media signatures of the first type and the media signatures of the second type.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the signature processor is to revert to generating the media signatures of the first type from the media signal when the number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the media signatures of the first type have a higher resolution than the media signatures of the second type.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the signature processor is to adjust an interval between the media signatures of the second type based on a characteristic of the media presented by the media device.

14. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a signature processor to;

generate media signatures of a first type from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

generate media signatures of a second type from the media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media;

a controller to control whether the signature processor generates the media signatures of the first type or the media signatures of the second type; and

a memory to store the media signatures of the first type and the media signatures of the second type, wherein the reference signature of the first type is a first one of a plurality of reference signatures of the first type associated with a plurality of reference media, and further comprising;

a signature reporter to report the media signatures of the first type to a data processor for comparison with the plurality of reference signatures of the first type; and

a data receiver to receive, from the data processor, an indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the first one of the plurality of reference signatures of the first type, the controller to halt generation of the media signatures of the first type from the media signal in response to receiving the indication.

15. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a signature processor to;

generate media signatures of a first type from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

generate media signatures of a second type from the media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media; and

a memory to store the media signatures of the first type and the media signatures of the second type, wherein the signature processor is to generate the media signatures of the second type from the media signal in response to receiving a first indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the reference signature of the first type, and further comprising;

a data receiver to receive a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type;

a comparator to compare the media signatures of the second type to the sequence of reference signatures of the second type until the number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type; and

a data reporter to report a second indication that the number of media signatures of the second type have been determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

16. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a signature processor to;

generate media signatures of a first type from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device until a first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

generate media signatures of a second type from the media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device after the first one of the media signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media;

a memory to store the media signatures of the first type and the media signatures of the second type, wherein the signature processor is to generate the media signatures of the second type from the media signal in response to receiving a first indication that the first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match the reference signature of the first type, and further comprising;

a signature reporter to report the media signatures of the second type to a data processor for comparison with a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type; and

a data receiver to receiver, from the data processor, a second indication that the number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match the corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the signature processor to halt generation of the media signatures of the second type from the media signal in response to receiving the second indication.

17. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a comparator to compare media signatures of a first type with a plurality of reference signatures of the first type associated with a plurality of reference media, the media signatures of the first type being generated by a meter from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device;

an indication processor to;

send a first indication to the meter indicating that a first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match a first one of the reference signatures of the first type, the first one of the reference signatures of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

at least one of receive or send a second indication indicating that a number of media signatures of a second type different from the first type has been determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type also being associated with the first reference media; and

a memory to store the plurality of reference signatures of the first type.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the media signatures of the first type have a higher resolution than the media signatures of the second type.

19. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a comparator to compare media signatures of a first type with a plurality of reference signatures of the first type associated with a plurality of reference media, the media signatures of the first type being generated by a meter from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device;

an indication processor to;

send a first indication to the meter indicating that a first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match a first one of the reference signatures of the first type, the first one of the reference signatures of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

at least one of receive or send a second indication indicating that a number of media signatures of a second type has been determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media;

a memory to store the plurality of reference signatures of the first type; and

a signature provider to send a sequence of reference signatures of the second type to the meter, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being sent in response to determining that the first one of the media signatures of the first type matches the first one of the reference signatures of the first type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type, and the indication processor is to receive from the meter the second indication indicating that the number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type.

20. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

a comparator to compare media signatures of a first type with a plurality of reference signatures of the first type associated with a plurality of reference media, the media signatures of the first type being generated by a meter from a media signal corresponding to the media presented by the media device;

an indication processor to;

send a first indication to the meter indicating that a first one of the media signatures of the first type has been determined to match a first one of the reference signatures of the first type, the first one of the reference signatures of the first type being associated with first reference media; and

at least one of receive or send a second indication indicating that a number of media signatures of a second type has been determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media; and

a memory to store the plurality of reference signatures of the first type, wherein the comparator is further to compare the media signatures of the second type with a sequence of reference signatures of the second type, the sequence of reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media, a starting reference signature in the sequence corresponding to an anchor point in the first reference media that is represented by the reference signature of the first type, and the indication processor is to send, to the meter, the second indication indicating that a number of media signatures of the second type has been determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type.