Set-top-box with integrated encoder/decoder for audience measurement
First Claim
1. A method for encoding media in a set-top-box configured to receive media at a set-top box input and process the received media for reproduction, comprising the steps of:
- storing a message in the set-top-box;
processing the received media in a frontend of the set-top box to demodulate the received media and produce an audio component; and
encoding the audio component in the set-top-box with the stored message comprising one or more symbols, each of said symbols comprising a plurality of substantially single-frequency code components, and wherein the message is masked within the audio component, said encoding being performed prior to the reproduction of the received media via the set-top box.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for encoding audio in a set-top box that is invoked by a user when listening to a broadcast audio signal from a radio, TV, streaming or other audio device. A detection and identification system comprising an audio encoder is integrated in a set-top box, where detection and identification of media is realized. The encoding automatically identifies characteristics of the media (e.g., the source of a particular piece of material) by embedding an inaudible code within the content. This code contains information about the content that can be decoded by a machine, but is not detectable by human hearing. The embedded code may be used to provide programming information to the view or audience measurement date to the provider.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for encoding media in a set-top-box configured to receive media at a set-top box input and process the received media for reproduction, comprising the steps of:
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storing a message in the set-top-box; processing the received media in a frontend of the set-top box to demodulate the received media and produce an audio component; and encoding the audio component in the set-top-box with the stored message comprising one or more symbols, each of said symbols comprising a plurality of substantially single-frequency code components, and wherein the message is masked within the audio component, said encoding being performed prior to the reproduction of the received media via the set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for encoding media, comprising:
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a set-top-box comprising an input coupled to a frontend, where the input is configured to receive media and the frontend is configured to demodulate the received media; a processor, operatively coupled to the input, for processing the demodulated received media for reproduction via the set-top-box and to produce an audio component; a storage, operatively coupled to the processor, for storing a message in the set-top box; and an encoder, operatively coupled to the processor, for coding the audio component with the stored message comprising one or more symbols, each of said symbols comprising a plurality of substantially single-frequency code components, and wherein the message is masked within the audio component, said encoding being performed in the set-top-box prior to the reproduction of the received media. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for encoding media in a set-top-box configured to receive media at a set-top box input, comprising the steps of:
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storing a message in the set-top-box, wherein the message comprises one or more symbols, each of said symbols comprising a plurality of substantially single-frequency code components, and wherein the message comprises information regarding at least one of (i) channel information, (ii) program information, (iii) demographic information and (iv) set-top box system information; processing the received media in a frontend of the set-top box to demodulate the received media and to produce an audio component; and encoding the audio component with the message prior to reproduction of the received media via the set-top-box, wherein the encoded message is masked within the audio component. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification