Methods and apparatus for determining the operating state of audio-video devices

• US 8,959,556 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Stokes, Robert Joel, Vitt, James J., Conklin, Charles Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/240,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,332 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/133, 725 9- 15, 725/132, 725/140
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4208 being a system bus, e.g. VME bus, Futurebus, Multibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• 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 21/43635 HDMI
• 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 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device are described. Example methods and apparatus include monitoring messages transmitted via a data bus in a first AV device, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to a second AV device external to the first AV device. The example method also involves extracting messages associated with an operation of the second AV device from the monitored messages, analyzing the extracted messages for data associated with an operating state of the second AV device, and sending a command to the AV network controller to request data missing from the extracted messages and associated with the operating state of the second AV device. Additionally, the example methods and apparatus include identifying the operating state of the second AV device by analyzing the extracted messages and a response from the second AV device associated with the command.

Claims

1. A method for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device, the method comprising:

monitoring messages transmitted via a data bus in a first AV device, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to a second AV device external to the first AV device;

extracting, from the monitored messages, messages associated with an operation of the second AV device;

analyzing a temporal sequence of the extracted messages for data associated with an operating state of the second AV device;

when the temporal sequence is missing an expected message related to the operating state of the second AV device, sending a command to the AV network controller to request operating state information from the second AV device; and

identifying the operating state of the second AV device by analyzing the extracted messages and a response from the second AV device including the operating state information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring exposure of media provided by an AV device communicatively coupled to the AV network controller based on the operating state of the second AV device.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the AV network controller comprises a Consumer Electronic Control data bus controller.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the AV network controller is communicatively coupled to a plurality of AV devices external to the first AV device.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein extracting messages associated with the operation of the second AV device comprises extracting commands sent to the second AV device and responses from the second AV device, or commands sent from the second AV device and responses to the second AV device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the missing expected message is associated with a user interaction with the second AV device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the command to the AV network controller requesting the operating state information comprises generating a command addressed to the second AV device or a command broadcast to a plurality of AV devices.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the operating state of the second AV device comprises analyzing an AV device event associated with the extracted messages or an AV device event associated with the response received from the second AV device.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the operating state of the second AV device further comprises analyzing the operating states of a plurality of AV devices communicatively coupled to the AV network controller.

10. A method for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device, the method comprising:

monitoring messages transmitted via a data bus in a first AV device, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to one or more AV devices external to the first AV device;

extracting from the monitored messages, messages associated with an operation of the one or more external AV devices;

analyzing a temporal sequence of the extracted messages to determine whether an operating state of the one or more external AV devices is identifiable via the extracted messages;

when the temporal sequence indicates that the operating state is unidentifiable due to the temporal sequence missing an expected message, sending a command to the AV network controller to request operating state information from the one or more external AV devices; and

identifying the operating state of the one or more external AV devices by analyzing the extracted messages and a response from the one or more external AV devices including the operating state information.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising monitoring exposure of media provided via an AV device communicatively coupled to the AV network controller based on the operating state of the one or more external AV devices.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the AV network controller module comprises a Consumer Electronic Control data bus controller.

13. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein extracting messages associated with the operation of the one or more external AV devices comprises extracting commands sent to the one or more external AV devices and responses from the one or more external AV devices, or commands sent from the one or more external AV devices and responses to the one or more external AV devices.

14. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the missing expected message is associated with a user interaction with the one or more external AV devices.

15. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein sending the command to the AV network controller requesting the operating state information comprises generating a command addressed to a first one of the one or more external AV devices or a command broadcast to a plurality of the one or more external AV devices.

16. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein identifying the operating state of the one or more external AV devices comprises analyzing an AV device event associated with the extracted messages or an AV device event associated with the response received from the one or more external AV devices.

17. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein identifying the operating state of the one or more external AV devices further comprises analyzing the operating states of other ones of the one or more external AV devices communicatively coupled to the AV network controller.

18. An apparatus for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor communicatively coupled to a data bus in a first AV device and configured to monitor messages conveyed on the data bus, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to a second AV device external to the first AV device;

an extractor coupled to the monitor and configured to extract messages associated with an operating state of the second AV device;

an analyzer to analyze a temporal sequence of the extracted messages for data associated with the operating state of the second AV device;

a requestor to, when the temporal sequence is missing an expected message related to the operating state of the second AV device, send a command to the AV network controller to request operating state information from the second AV device; and

an identifier to analyze the extracted messages and a response including the operating state information to identify the operating state of the second AV device.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the monitor is to monitor exposure of media provided by an AV device communicatively coupled to the AV network controller based on the operating state of the second AV device.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the AV network controller is communicatively coupled to a plurality of AV devices external to the first AV device.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the monitor is to monitor messages associated with an AV device event associated with a user interaction with the second AV device.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the extracted messages associated with the operating state of the second AV device comprise commands sent to the second AV device and responses from the second AV device, or commands sent from the second AV device and responses to the second AV device.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the expected missing message is associated with a user interaction with the second AV device.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the command sent to the AV network controller to request the operating state information is addressed to the second AV device or broadcast to a plurality of AV devices.

25. An apparatus for identifying the operating state of an audio-video (AV) device, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor communicatively coupled to a data bus in a first AV device and configured to monitor messages conveyed on the data bus, wherein the data bus is communicatively coupled to a processor and an AV network controller of the first AV device, and wherein the AV network controller is further communicatively coupled to one or more AV devices external to the first AV device;

an extractor to extract messages associated with an operating state of the one or more external AV devices;

an analyzer to analyze a temporal sequence of the extracted messages to determine whether the operating state of the one or more external AV devices is identifiable via the extracted messages;

a requestor to, when the temporal sequence indicates that the operating state is unidentifiable due to the temporal sequence missing an expected message, send a command to the AV network controller to request operating state information from the one or more external AV devices; and

an identifier to analyze the extracted messages and a response from the one or more external AV devices including the operating state information to identify the operating state of the one or more external AV devices.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the monitor is further configured to monitor exposure of media provided by an AV device communicatively coupled to the AV network controller based on the operating state of the one or more external AV devices.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the monitor is to monitor messages associated with an AV device event associated with a user interaction with one of the one or more external AV devices.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the extracted messages associated with the operating state of the one or more external AV devices comprise commands sent to the one or more external AV devices and responses from the AV one or more external AV devices or commands sent from the one or more external AV devices and responses to the one or more external AV devices.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the missing expected message is associated with a user interaction with the one or more external AV devices.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the command sent to the AV network controller to request the operating state information is addressed to a first one of the one or more external AV devices or broadcast to a plurality of the one or more external AV devices.

31. An audio-video (AV) device, comprising:

a processor coupled to a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, wherein the HDMI interface is to be coupled to a second AV device having a plurality operating states, the second AV device being external to the AV device;

a monitor to extract data communicated via a data bus coupling the processor to the HDMI interface, wherein the monitor is to extract;

a first message originating at the processor and having the second AV device as a destination; and

a second message originating at the second AV device and having the processor as a destination;

an analyzer to analyze a temporal sequence of the first message and the second message to determine if additional information is needed from the second AV device to identify a current one of the operating states of the second AV device;

a requestor to, when the temporal sequence is missing an expected message related to the second AV device needed to identify the current one of the operating states of the second AV device, send a command to a AV network controller to request operating state information from the second AV device; and

an identifier to analyze a response from the second AV device including the operating state information to identify the current one of the operating states of the second AV device.