Systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices

• US 9,015,740 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, JOSHUA D
• Application Number:
  US14/277,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20140250449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• US Class Current: 725/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/08 among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467

Abstract

Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.

Claims

1. A method to selectively collect audio-based media in a household, comprising:

embedding, within the household, a first watermark in media from a household source media device;

wirelessly retransmitting the media with the first watermark via a wireless access point in the household;

detecting audio output from a local presentation device;

identifying the audio output as unassociated with the household source media device when the first watermark is absent from the audio output; and

associating the audio output with the household source media device when the first watermark is detected in the audio output.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising detecting a second watermark in the audio output from the local presentation device, the second watermark associated with broadcaster generated identification information.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising determining the local presentation device is tuned to a local broadcast station when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent from the audio output from the local presentation device.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising determining the household source media device is not sourcing the audio output detected from the local presentation device when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the audio output from the local presentation device for a personalized identification code accompanied with the first watermark.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the personalized identification code is associated with viewer demographic information.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the local presentation device comprises a handheld electronic device.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the local presentation device receives the media from the household source media device wirelessly via the wireless access point.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the household source media device comprises at least one of a set-top box, a video game console, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disk.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless access point wirelessly retransmits the media to the household presentation device via an 802.11 compliant signal.

11. An apparatus to selectively collect audio-based media in a household, comprising:

a wireless interface to embed, within the household, a first watermark in media from a household source media device;

a wireless access point within the household to wirelessly retransmit the media with the first watermark;

a mobile device interface to detect audio output from a local presentation device, and to detect whether the first watermark is absent or present in the audio output; and

a data aggregator to identify the audio output as unassociated with the household source media device when the first watermark is absent from the audio output, and to identify the audio output as associated with the household source media device when the first watermark is present in the audio output.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the mobile device interface is to detect a second watermark in the audio output from the local presentation device, the second watermark associated with broadcaster generated identification information.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the data aggregator is to determine the local presentation device is tuned to a local broadcast station when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent from the audio output from the local presentation device.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the data aggregator is to determine the household source media device is not sourcing the audio output detected from the local presentation device when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the mobile device interface is to monitor the output from the local presentation device for a personalized identification code accompanied with the first watermark.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the local presentation device comprises a handheld electronic device.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the local presentation device is to receive the media from the household source media device wirelessly via the wireless access point.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the household source media device comprises at least one of a set-top box, a video game console, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disk.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the wireless access point is to wirelessly retransmit the media to the household presentation device via an 802.11 compliant signal.

20. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disk comprising machine accessible instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to, at least:

embed, within the household, a first watermark in media from a household source media device;

wirelessly retransmit the media with the first watermark via a wireless access point in the household;

detect audio output from a local presentation device;

identify the audio output as unassociated with the household source media device when the first watermark is absent from the audio output; and

associate the audio output with the household source media device when the first watermark is detected in the audio output.

21. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 20, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to detect a second watermark in the audio output from the local presentation device, the second watermark associated with broadcaster generated identification information.

22. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 21, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to determine the local presentation device is tuned to a local broadcast station when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent from the audio output from the local presentation device.

23. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 21, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to determine the household source media device is not sourcing the audio output detected from the local presentation device when the second watermark is detected and the first watermark is absent.

24. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 20, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to monitor the audio output from the local presentation device for a personalized identification code accompanied with the first watermark.

25. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 20, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to receive the media from the household source media device wirelessly via the wireless access point.

26. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 20, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to wirelessly retransmit the media to the household presentation device via an 802.11 compliant signal.