CA2293957C - Detection of media links in broadcast signals - Google Patents
Detection of media links in broadcast signals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2293957C CA2293957C CA 2293957 CA2293957A CA2293957C CA 2293957 C CA2293957 C CA 2293957C CA 2293957 CA2293957 CA 2293957 CA 2293957 A CA2293957 A CA 2293957A CA 2293957 C CA2293957 C CA 2293957C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- program
- media link
- tuner
- meter
- broadcast
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/28—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/12—Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
- H04H20/14—Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for monitoring programmes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
- H04H60/35—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
- H04H60/38—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 for identifying broadcast time or space
- H04H60/40—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 for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast time
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
- H04H60/56—Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/442—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
- H04N21/44204—Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
- H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
- H04N21/6582—Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
- H04N21/83—Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
- H04N21/835—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates
- H04N21/8352—Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/86—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
- H04H20/93—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H2201/00—Aspects of broadcast communication
- H04H2201/90—Aspects of broadcast communication characterised by the use of signatures
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
- H04H60/35—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
- H04H60/38—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 for identifying broadcast time or space
- H04H60/41—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 for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
- H04H60/43—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 for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas for identifying broadcast channels
Abstract
A detection apparatus includes a tuner tuned to the program and a meter coupled to the tuner and arranged to detect content ancillary information from the program tuned by the tuner. The content ancillary information may be a media link, closed captioning information, or the like. The meter may also be arranged to extract a broadcast signature from the program. A comparator compares the broadcast signature to a reference signature selected from a library of reference signatures based upon the content ancillary information. Broadcast signatures from unknown programs may be clustered at least partially on the basis of the content ancillary information.
Description
DETECTION OF MEDIA LINKS IN BROADCAST SIGNALS
The present invention relates to detection of media links (such as URLs) which are embedded in programs that are transmitted by television and/or radio signal transmission sources, such as television and/or radio networks, local broadcasters, cable operators, video servers, Web sites, and the like.
:Background of the Invention As used herein, programs mean commercials, regular programming material, documentaries, and/or the like, which are transmitted for reception by televisions, radios, computers, and other equipment provided with video and/or audio tuners. Also as used herein, media links include URLs embedded in video and/or audio, surrogate URLs, or any other links in video and/or audio that link a content recipient to content provided by a content provider (such as a Web site).
A surrogate URL, for example, may be an ISCII or other code that is embedded in content and that may be used to look up ~~ an URL for linking to content.
Programs are transmitted by transmission sources through the use of satellites, over the air by way of transmitting antennas, or over cables such as wires or Attorney Docket optical fibers. These transmission sources can be networks, local broadcasters, satellite broadcasters, video servers, Web sites, cable programmers, and the like.
It is frequently desirable to detect the transmission of programs by the transmission sources. For example, in preparing program rating reports, the receivers of statistically selected panelists are metered in order to determine at least (i) the channels to which the receivers are tuned and (ii) the times during which the receivers are tuned to those channels. The resulting tuning data are extrapolated over the population as a whole, or over relevant segments of this population, in order to report ratings. However, because the identities of programs carried in the channels reported in the tuning data cannot always be inferred from the tuning data, it is necessary to determine, or at least verify, the identity of the programs transmitted in the channels and during the times covered by the tuning data.
As another example, advertisers often desire to verify certain information regarding the transmission of their commercials by transmission sources. This information includes a verification (i) that the commercials were Attorney Docket actually transmitted, (ii) that the commercials were transmitted in their entirety, and (iii) that the commercials were transmitted in the correct time slots and in the correct channels. This information allows advertisers to determine whether they received the value for which they contracted with the relevant transmission sources.
As yet another example, advertisers often desire to ascertain the advertising strategies of competitors.
These advertising strategies may be discerned from the types of advertisements run by competitors, the competitors' expenditures on such advertisements, the media chosen to carry such advertisements, and the like.
Accordingly, systems have been developed in order to identify transmitted programs. For example, in connection with reporting program ratings, a program verification system known as the AMOL (Automated Monitoring of Line-up) program verification system is operated by the assignee of the present invention. In this AMOL program verification system, a code is inserted into the vertical blanking interval of programs. Monitoring equipment at sites located in relevant geographical areas read the AMOL
The present invention relates to detection of media links (such as URLs) which are embedded in programs that are transmitted by television and/or radio signal transmission sources, such as television and/or radio networks, local broadcasters, cable operators, video servers, Web sites, and the like.
:Background of the Invention As used herein, programs mean commercials, regular programming material, documentaries, and/or the like, which are transmitted for reception by televisions, radios, computers, and other equipment provided with video and/or audio tuners. Also as used herein, media links include URLs embedded in video and/or audio, surrogate URLs, or any other links in video and/or audio that link a content recipient to content provided by a content provider (such as a Web site).
A surrogate URL, for example, may be an ISCII or other code that is embedded in content and that may be used to look up ~~ an URL for linking to content.
Programs are transmitted by transmission sources through the use of satellites, over the air by way of transmitting antennas, or over cables such as wires or Attorney Docket optical fibers. These transmission sources can be networks, local broadcasters, satellite broadcasters, video servers, Web sites, cable programmers, and the like.
It is frequently desirable to detect the transmission of programs by the transmission sources. For example, in preparing program rating reports, the receivers of statistically selected panelists are metered in order to determine at least (i) the channels to which the receivers are tuned and (ii) the times during which the receivers are tuned to those channels. The resulting tuning data are extrapolated over the population as a whole, or over relevant segments of this population, in order to report ratings. However, because the identities of programs carried in the channels reported in the tuning data cannot always be inferred from the tuning data, it is necessary to determine, or at least verify, the identity of the programs transmitted in the channels and during the times covered by the tuning data.
As another example, advertisers often desire to verify certain information regarding the transmission of their commercials by transmission sources. This information includes a verification (i) that the commercials were Attorney Docket actually transmitted, (ii) that the commercials were transmitted in their entirety, and (iii) that the commercials were transmitted in the correct time slots and in the correct channels. This information allows advertisers to determine whether they received the value for which they contracted with the relevant transmission sources.
As yet another example, advertisers often desire to ascertain the advertising strategies of competitors.
These advertising strategies may be discerned from the types of advertisements run by competitors, the competitors' expenditures on such advertisements, the media chosen to carry such advertisements, and the like.
Accordingly, systems have been developed in order to identify transmitted programs. For example, in connection with reporting program ratings, a program verification system known as the AMOL (Automated Monitoring of Line-up) program verification system is operated by the assignee of the present invention. In this AMOL program verification system, a code is inserted into the vertical blanking interval of programs. Monitoring equipment at sites located in relevant geographical areas read the AMOL
Attorney Docket codes from transmitted programs and detect the channels in which these programs are transmitted as well as the times during which these programs are transmitted. Accordingly, the AMOL program verification system is able to verify that particular programs were transmitted in corresponding particular channels, during corresponding particular time slots, and for particular corresponding amounts of time.
The verified program/channel relationship, coupled with the channel tuning data acquired from the receivers of the statistically selected panelists, are used to determine the programs to which these receivers were tuned.
As another example, the assignee of the present invention operates a service known as the Monitor Plus service in which sets of commercial monitoring equipment are placed in selected geographical monitoring areas. The sets of commercial monitoring equipment tune to each of the channels available in the corresponding geographical areas and extract broadcast signatures from commercials carried in these channels. The channels, times, and dates of the broadcast signature extractions are also noted. The extracted broadcast signatures are compared to previously extracted reference signatures. In each geographical Attorney Docket monitoring area, these reference signatures are stored in a reference signature library along with identification information regarding the commercials from which the reference signatures were extracted.
Because there is typically many reference signatures stored in a reference signature library, and because comparing the broadcast signatures to all such reference signatures would require a substantial amount of time, hash codes are used to focus the search such that the search finds only those reference signatures which are potential matches to the broadcast signatures. The hash codes are computed from one or more characteristics, such as luminance, of the broadcast signatures so that only those reference signatures producing similar hash codes within some range are compared to the broadcast signatures.
When broadcast signatures match reference signatures, the identities of the transmitted commercials are known from the identity information stored with the matching reference signatures. Also, the channels, times, and dates of commercial transmissions are known from the matching broadcast signatures. The sets of monitoring equipment can also detect the length of the commercial as Attorney Docket transmitted by comparing multiple broadcast signatures and multiple reference signatures extracted from the same commercial. Accordingly, reports can be generated that permit advertisers to verify that their commercials have been run in the channels, on the days, in the time slots, and for the durations desired, and/or to permit advertisers to ascertain the advertising strategies of their competitors.
When broadcast signatures do not match reference signatures, however, it may be possible that a new commercial has been transmitted for which there are no reference signatures stored in the library. In this case, the extracted broadcast signatures corresponding to each possibly new commercial a.re stored for later transmission to a central facility where the possibly new commercial is viewed and identified by an attendant. This viewing and identification process is usually referred to as new commercial discovery. Once identified, the new commercial's broadcast signatures are converted to reference signatures and are stored in the reference signature libraries.
Clustering is performed in each geographical monitoring area so that a geographical monitoring area does Attorney Docket not send the same new commercial multiple times to the central facility for new commercial discovery. During clustering in a geographical monitoring area, the broadcast signatures of each possibly new commercial are compared to the broadcast signatures of the other possibly new commercials in order to detect duplicates. Duplicates are not transmitted to the central facility. Accordingly, the efficiency of new commercial discovery is increased more efficient because only one instance of each possibly new commercial is transmitted to, and processed by, the central facility. However, because an instance of a possibly new commercial may be received at the central facility from more than one geographical monitoring area, clustering is again performed at the central facility prior to each initiation of new commercial discovery.
Furthermore, it is expected that other appliances, such as computers and set top boxes, will be equipped with tuners so that these appliances can display video and/or audio, such as television and/or radio programs. It is also expected that this video, and/or audio will contain media links. Accordingly, if a user of a computer, digital television, set top box, or other video and/or audio Attorney Docket receiving device is viewing a program of interest, and desires to access other information associated with the program, the user can click on the program. Clicking on the program will cause a media link, which is embedded in the program, to be sent back to a Web site or other content provider with the result that additional information will be downloaded to the user's appliance.
Because these media links will likely uniquely identify the programs in which they are used, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for detecting these media links in order to determine the identities of the programs in which the media links are embedded.
Accordingly, the present invention is useful in an AMOL type system, a Monitor Plus type system, or in other systems in which the identity of a transmitted program is desired.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a detection apparatus for the detection of a media link embedded in a program comprises a tuner and a meter. The tuner tunes to the program. The meter is Attorney Docket coupled to the tuner and is arranged to detect the media link embedded in the program tuned by the tuner.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a data acquisition system for the acquisition of identifying data from a program comprises a tuner and a meter. The tuner is tuned to the program. The meter is coupled to the tuner and is arranged to capture first and second program identifying data identifying the program tuned by the tuner. The first program identifying datum is a media link embedded in the program, and the second program identifying datum is a program identifying datum other than a media link.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a program identification system comprises a tuner, a meter, and a comparator. The tuner is tunable to at least one of a plurality of channels. The meter is coupled to the tuner, and the meter is arranged to detect content ancillary information from a program carried in a channel tuned by the tuner and to extract a broadcast signature from the program. The comparator is arranged to compare the broadcast signature to a reference signature Attorney Docket selected from a library of reference signatures based upon the content ancillary information.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of clustering signatures comprising the following steps: a) extracting broadcast signatures from programs b) detecting content ancillary information from the programs and, c) comparing one of the broadcast signatures having content ancillary information associated therewith to others of the broadcast signatures having associated therewith substantially the same content ancillary information.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates, in accordance with the present invention, an exemplary metering system which may having both monitoring equipment located at a monitoring site and a central facility located remotely from the monitoring site;
Attorney Docket Figure 2 illustrates in flow chart form one embodiment of a program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate in flow chart form an alternative embodiment of a program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site of Figure 1;
and, Figure 5 illustrates in flow chart form a clustering program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site and/or by the computer at the central facility of Figure 1.
As shown in Figure 1, monitoring equipment 10 is located at a monitoring site 12 and includes a tuner 14 which tunes to a channel contained in a signal received by a signal acquisition device 16. The signal acquisition device 16 may be a modem, a satellite dish or other antenna, or the like and acquires signals transmitted by transmission sources. The signal carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned is supplied to a meter 17 which includes a media link detector 18 and a signature extractor 20. The Attorney Docket media link detector 18 is arranged to detect media links in a manner which is similar to present metering equipment that detect other ancillary codes, such as AMOL codes. In the present case, however, the media link detector 18 is arranged to decode the signal carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned in order to detect a media link.
When the media link detector 18 detects a media link, it causes the media link to be stored in a log 22.
In the event that a media link is not contained in a program which is carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned, a signature extractor 20 extracts one or more broadcast signatures from the program. Broadcast signatures are likewise stored in the log 22. Signatures may be extracted in a manner disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466. This patent discloses exemplary conditions which initiate signature extraction. However, although specific conditions are disclosed, it should be understood that other conditions may be used to initiate signature extraction.
For example, a signature may be extracted from each ntn frame of a program. Moreover, any suitable techniques may be used to collect the data that form the signatures.
Attorney Docket A clock 24 is associated with the log 22 so that the time and date that each media link is detected by the media link detector 18 may be stored along with the corresponding media link. Similarly, the time and date that each broadcast signature is extracted by the signature extractor 20 may be stored along with the broadcast signature. Also, the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned at the time that a media link is detected by the media link detector 18 or a signature is extracted by the signature extractor 20 may be stored in the log 22 along with the corresponding media link or broadcast signature.
Periodically, the data stored in the log 22 are transmitted by communication equipment 26 from the monitoring site 12 to a remotely located central facility 28 over a communication medium 30. The communication equipment 26 may be arranged to periodically transmit the data stored in the log 22 to the central facility 28. Alternatively, the communication equipment 26 may be arranged to transmit the data stored in the log 22 when the log 22 has a predetermined amount of data stored therein. As a still further alternative, the communication equipment 26 may be arranged to respond to polls from the central facility 28 in Attorney Docket order to initiate the transfer of data to the central facility 28. Still other alternatives and combinations of alternatives are possible.
The communication medium 30 may be any communication medium which supports the transfer of information between remote locations. For example, the communication medium 30 may be a public telephone network, air accessed by radiating antennas, cables, the Internet, or the like.
A computer 32 is located at the central facility 28. The computer 32 may be arranged to identify programs from the media links and broadcast signatures transmitted to it by the communication equipment 26. For example, in the case of media links, the computer 32 may be arranged to compare the media links received from the monitoring site 12 to a library of media links which contain both the media links and the titles and/or other identifying information corresponding to the programs from which the media links were detected by the media link detector 18. Accordingly, when the computer 32 is provided with a media link from the monitoring site 12, it can identify and/or verify the program which contains that media link and which was Attorney Docket transmitted by a transmission source. The computer 32 can also determine, if desired, that the program containing the media link was transmitted at a particular time, on a particular day, and on a particular channel from the channel, time, and date information transmitted to the central facility 28 along with the detected media link.
In some cases, the programs may be completely identified from the media link itself. In this case, there is no need to use the look up table in the identification process. In other cases, particularly where a program has been transmitted for the first time, no information is provided in the look up table from which the program may be identified. In this case, the media link may be used to access the Web site associated with the media link in order to discover the identity of the program, or the program may be viewed by personnel of the central facility 28 in order to discover the identity of the program. Then, the identity of the program may be entered into the look up table under the media link for future identifications.
The computer 32 may also be arranged to identify and/or verify programs which do not contain media links.
For example, the computer 32 may be arranged to compare the Attorney Docket broadcast signatures received from the monitoring site 12 to a library of reference signatures which contain both the reference signatures and the titles and/or other identifying information corresponding to the programs from which the reference signatures were extracted. Accordingly, when the computer 32 is provided with broadcast signatures from the monitoring site 12, it can identify programs and/or verify the transmission of programs by matching these broadcast signatures with the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library. The computer 32 can also determine, if desired, that the programs containing the extracted broadcast signatures were transmitted at particular times, on particular days, and on particular channels from the channel, time, and date information transmitted to the central facility 28 along with the extracted broadcast signatures.
Alternatively, the computer 32 may use both detected media links and extracted broadcast signatures, where available from the same program, in order to increase certainty that a program is properly identified and/or verified. As a still further alternative, the computer 32 may identify and/or verify a program from the media links in Attorney Docket the event that the computer 32 is unable to first identify and/or verify the program from the extracted broadcast signatures.
The meter 17 operates in accordance with a software routine 50 shown in Figure 2. The software routine 50, at a block 52, determines from the output of the tuner 14 whether a program of interest is received. For example, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may operate in accordance with the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466 in order to determine the start of a program of interest. (Alternatively, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may be arranged to simply detect when the tuner 14 is on and is tuned to a channel in which there is content.
In this case, the output of the tuner 14 is continuously monitored for media links, and broadcast signatures are extracted from the output of the tuner 14 on a continuous basis.) A program of interest may be a commercial, regular programming material, a documentary, and/or the like.
If a program of interest is not detected at the block 52, the software routine 50 waits for a program of interest. However, if a program of interest is detected, the software routine 50 at a block 54 determines whether a Attorney Docket media link is detected by the media link detector 18 from a segment of the current program. For example, this segment may have a determinate length, such as n frames of the current program. Alternatively, this segment may have an ., indeterminate length determined by conditions of the program signal as disclosed in the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4, 677, 466.
If a media link is detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 54, the media link is logged at a block 56. Because a media link is detected in the program of interest, it may not be necessary to save any broadcast signatures which may have been extracted from the current program prior to the time at which the media link is detected. If so, the software routine 50 at a block 58 deletes from the log only the broadcast signatures extracted by the signature extractor 20 from the current program, and program flow thereafter returns to the block 52 to wait for the next program of interest .
On the other hand, if a media link is not detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 54, the software routine 50 at a block 60 extracts a Attorney Docket broadcast signature from the current program appearing at the output of the tuner 14. The software routine 50 at a block 62 logs the broadcast signature extracted by the signature extractor 20 at the block 60.
The software routine 50 then determines at a block 64 whether an end to the current program is detected. For example, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may operate in accordance with the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466 in order to determine the end of the current program. If an end to the current program is not yet detected, program flow returns to the block 54 in order to search for a media link from the next segment of the current program.
On the other hand, if an end of the current program is detected at the block 64, program flow returns to the block 52 in order to process a next program. In this case, the current program contained no media link and the current program will be identified by the computer 32 from the extracted broadcast signatures.
Instead of identifying a program from a media link, the media link may be used to better focus the search for reference signatures which match broadcast signatures.
Attorney Docket This use of a media link is particularly valuable in those instances where the media link is not unique, i.e., where the media link is used in more than one program and, therefore, does not uniquely identify a program. In 5~ addition to a media link, other information which is ancillary to the program content contained in the program signal, such as closed captioning information, may be used for this reference signature search focusing. Accordingly, media links, closed captioning information, or other such ancillary information may be referred to herein as content ancillary information (CAI).
A software routine 100, which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, uses content ancillary information in order to focus the search for reference signatures that are to be compared to broadcast signatures during the process of identifying a program. The communication equipment 26 may employ, in addition to a transmitter, a computer in order to execute the software routine 100.
The software routine 100, at a block 102, determines from the output of the tuner 14 whether a program of interest is received, as before. If a program of interest is not detected at the block 102, the software Attorney Docket routine 100 waits for a program of interest. However, if a program of interest is detected, the software routine 100 at a block 104 determines whether content ancillary information is detected by the media link detector 18 from a segment of the current program. If content ancillary information is detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 104, the content ancillary information is logged at a block 106.
On the other hand, if content ancillary information is not detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 104, or after the content ancillary information is logged at a block 106, the software routine 100 at a block 108 extracts a broadcast signature from the current segment of the current program. The software routine 100 at a block 110 logs the broadcast signature extracted by the signature extractor 20 at the block 60.
The software routine 100 then determines at a block 112 whether an end to the current program is detected.
If an end to the current program is not yet detected, the software routine 100 at a block 114 waits for the next segment. When the next segment occurs, program flow returns Attorney Docket to the block 104. When the end of a current program is detected at the block 112, a set of broadcast signatures has been extracted and stored for that program. Also, content ancillary information, if detected, is also stored for that program. This set of broadcast signatures is compared to reference signatures stored in a reference signature library as described below in an attempt to identify the program corresponding to this set of broadcast signatures.
Thus, if an end of the current program is detected at the block 112, the software routine 100 at a block 116 determines whether content ancillary information was detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114. If content ancillary information was detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114, a search of the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library is made at a block 118 in order to find reference signatures corresponding to the content ancillary information. Such reference signatures were previously extracted from a program containing the same content ancillary information and were loaded into the reference signature library in association with the corresponding content ancillary information.
Attorney Docket If content ancillary information was not detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114, hash codes corresponding to the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 may be computed at a block 120. A search of the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library is made at a block 122 in order to find reference signatures corresponding to the hash codes computed at the block 120. (Alternatively, the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 may be compared to all reference signatures in the reference signatures library.) The reference signatures found at the block 118 or at the block 122 are compared at a block 124 to the broadcast signatures extracted from the program at the block 108. If a sufficient match is found at the block 124, the identification of the program stored in the reference signature library along with the matching reference signatures is saved at a block 126 for later transmission to the central facility 28. The time at which the program was received, the length of the program as detected, the channel in which the program was detected, and other relevant information may also be stored at the block 126 along with the program identification.
Attorney Docket If a match is not found at the block 124, the broadcast signatures extracted from the program at the block 108 and the content ancillary information, if any, for the program are saved at a block 128 for later clustering and transmission to the central facility 28 so that the program can be identified during new program discovery. The time at which the program was received, the length of the program as detected, the channel in which the program was detected, and other relevant information may also be stored at the block 128 along with the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 and the content ancillary information, if any, detected at the block 104. After the identification is saved at the block 126, or after the broadcast signatures and content ancillary information are saved at the block 128, program flow returns to the block 102 to process the next program of interest.
Content ancillary information can also be used during clustering performed by the monitoring equipment 10 and/or by the central facility 28 in order to cluster broadcast signatures corresponding to unknown programs.
Unknown programs are those programs whose broadcast signatures did not favorably compare to any reference Attorney Docket signatures stored in the reference signature library and/or which did not contain a program identifying code such as a media link. Accordingly, to implement clustering, the computer employed in the communication equipment 26 and/or the computer 32 of the central facility 28 may execute a software routine 200 shown in Figure 5.
The time for clustering is determined at a block 202. For example, clustering by the monitoring equipment 10 and/or by the computer 32 may be performed periodically, such as once a day, or in response to an event such as a poll or an instruction from a user, or the like. When it is time for clustering as determined at the block 202, the broadcast signatures corresponding to one unknown program are compared to the broadcast signatures corresponding to other unknown programs at a block 204 based upon the content ancillary information associated with each set of broadcast signatures. Thus, all sets of broadcast signatures corresponding to the same first content ancillary information (e. g., CAI1) are compared to one another.
Duplicates are then eliminated so that only set of broadcast signatures corresponding to content ancillary information CAI1 is kept. Similarly, all sets of broadcast signatures Attorney Docket corresponding to the same second content ancillary information (e.g., CAI2) are compared to one another, and duplicates are then eliminated so that only set of broadcast signatures corresponding to content ancillary information CAI2 is kept. This process is repeated for each of the remaining content ancillary informations. Then, each set of broadcast signatures which did not have a content ancillary information associated therewith is compared at a block 206 to all other remaining sets of broadcast signatures, including those remaining sets of broadcast signatures having content ancillary information associated therewith, and any duplicates are eliminated. As a result of the processing at the blocks 204 and 206, the remaining sets of broadcast signatures are unique and the software routine 200 ends. As a result, it is necessary to view an unknown program only once during new program discovery.
Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention.
For example, the tuner 14 may be a tuner which tunes to a single channel so that a tuner 14 is required for each channel to be monitored. In this case, a multiplexer may be Attorney Docket arranged to multiplex signals from some or all of the instances of the tuner 14 to the meter 17 so that each multiplexed output of the instances of the tuner 14 is processed in turn by the monitoring equipment 10.
Alternatively, instead of multiplexing, each tuner 14 may be provided in its own set of monitoring equipment 10. On the other hand, the tuner 14 may be a scanning tuner for tuning to each of the channels available at the monitoring equipment 10, or the channels may be divided up between several scanning tuners or between a combination of scanning tuners and non-scanning tuners.
Also, as discussed above, the signature extractor is arranged to extract signatures from the programs to which the tuner 14 is tuned. However, other program 15 identifying data may be captured instead of, or in addition to, signatures. For example, AMOL codes may be detected.
Also, the monitoring equipment may be arranged to prompt audience members to manually input a program identification in the event that a media link is not found in a program.
20 In this case, the non-media link program identifying datum is the manually entered program identification.
Attorney Docket Moreover, it is not necessary to delete from the log those broadcast signatures which are extracted from a program from which a media link is also detected. In this case, the block 58 may be eliminated.
Furthermore, as described above, the meter 17 operate in accordance with the software routine 50.
However, the meter 17 may be implemented in hardware, in a combination of software or hardware, or the like.
Accordingly, the description of the present inven-tion is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.
The verified program/channel relationship, coupled with the channel tuning data acquired from the receivers of the statistically selected panelists, are used to determine the programs to which these receivers were tuned.
As another example, the assignee of the present invention operates a service known as the Monitor Plus service in which sets of commercial monitoring equipment are placed in selected geographical monitoring areas. The sets of commercial monitoring equipment tune to each of the channels available in the corresponding geographical areas and extract broadcast signatures from commercials carried in these channels. The channels, times, and dates of the broadcast signature extractions are also noted. The extracted broadcast signatures are compared to previously extracted reference signatures. In each geographical Attorney Docket monitoring area, these reference signatures are stored in a reference signature library along with identification information regarding the commercials from which the reference signatures were extracted.
Because there is typically many reference signatures stored in a reference signature library, and because comparing the broadcast signatures to all such reference signatures would require a substantial amount of time, hash codes are used to focus the search such that the search finds only those reference signatures which are potential matches to the broadcast signatures. The hash codes are computed from one or more characteristics, such as luminance, of the broadcast signatures so that only those reference signatures producing similar hash codes within some range are compared to the broadcast signatures.
When broadcast signatures match reference signatures, the identities of the transmitted commercials are known from the identity information stored with the matching reference signatures. Also, the channels, times, and dates of commercial transmissions are known from the matching broadcast signatures. The sets of monitoring equipment can also detect the length of the commercial as Attorney Docket transmitted by comparing multiple broadcast signatures and multiple reference signatures extracted from the same commercial. Accordingly, reports can be generated that permit advertisers to verify that their commercials have been run in the channels, on the days, in the time slots, and for the durations desired, and/or to permit advertisers to ascertain the advertising strategies of their competitors.
When broadcast signatures do not match reference signatures, however, it may be possible that a new commercial has been transmitted for which there are no reference signatures stored in the library. In this case, the extracted broadcast signatures corresponding to each possibly new commercial a.re stored for later transmission to a central facility where the possibly new commercial is viewed and identified by an attendant. This viewing and identification process is usually referred to as new commercial discovery. Once identified, the new commercial's broadcast signatures are converted to reference signatures and are stored in the reference signature libraries.
Clustering is performed in each geographical monitoring area so that a geographical monitoring area does Attorney Docket not send the same new commercial multiple times to the central facility for new commercial discovery. During clustering in a geographical monitoring area, the broadcast signatures of each possibly new commercial are compared to the broadcast signatures of the other possibly new commercials in order to detect duplicates. Duplicates are not transmitted to the central facility. Accordingly, the efficiency of new commercial discovery is increased more efficient because only one instance of each possibly new commercial is transmitted to, and processed by, the central facility. However, because an instance of a possibly new commercial may be received at the central facility from more than one geographical monitoring area, clustering is again performed at the central facility prior to each initiation of new commercial discovery.
Furthermore, it is expected that other appliances, such as computers and set top boxes, will be equipped with tuners so that these appliances can display video and/or audio, such as television and/or radio programs. It is also expected that this video, and/or audio will contain media links. Accordingly, if a user of a computer, digital television, set top box, or other video and/or audio Attorney Docket receiving device is viewing a program of interest, and desires to access other information associated with the program, the user can click on the program. Clicking on the program will cause a media link, which is embedded in the program, to be sent back to a Web site or other content provider with the result that additional information will be downloaded to the user's appliance.
Because these media links will likely uniquely identify the programs in which they are used, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for detecting these media links in order to determine the identities of the programs in which the media links are embedded.
Accordingly, the present invention is useful in an AMOL type system, a Monitor Plus type system, or in other systems in which the identity of a transmitted program is desired.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a detection apparatus for the detection of a media link embedded in a program comprises a tuner and a meter. The tuner tunes to the program. The meter is Attorney Docket coupled to the tuner and is arranged to detect the media link embedded in the program tuned by the tuner.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a data acquisition system for the acquisition of identifying data from a program comprises a tuner and a meter. The tuner is tuned to the program. The meter is coupled to the tuner and is arranged to capture first and second program identifying data identifying the program tuned by the tuner. The first program identifying datum is a media link embedded in the program, and the second program identifying datum is a program identifying datum other than a media link.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a program identification system comprises a tuner, a meter, and a comparator. The tuner is tunable to at least one of a plurality of channels. The meter is coupled to the tuner, and the meter is arranged to detect content ancillary information from a program carried in a channel tuned by the tuner and to extract a broadcast signature from the program. The comparator is arranged to compare the broadcast signature to a reference signature Attorney Docket selected from a library of reference signatures based upon the content ancillary information.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of clustering signatures comprising the following steps: a) extracting broadcast signatures from programs b) detecting content ancillary information from the programs and, c) comparing one of the broadcast signatures having content ancillary information associated therewith to others of the broadcast signatures having associated therewith substantially the same content ancillary information.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates, in accordance with the present invention, an exemplary metering system which may having both monitoring equipment located at a monitoring site and a central facility located remotely from the monitoring site;
Attorney Docket Figure 2 illustrates in flow chart form one embodiment of a program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate in flow chart form an alternative embodiment of a program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site of Figure 1;
and, Figure 5 illustrates in flow chart form a clustering program that may be executed by the monitoring equipment at the monitoring site and/or by the computer at the central facility of Figure 1.
As shown in Figure 1, monitoring equipment 10 is located at a monitoring site 12 and includes a tuner 14 which tunes to a channel contained in a signal received by a signal acquisition device 16. The signal acquisition device 16 may be a modem, a satellite dish or other antenna, or the like and acquires signals transmitted by transmission sources. The signal carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned is supplied to a meter 17 which includes a media link detector 18 and a signature extractor 20. The Attorney Docket media link detector 18 is arranged to detect media links in a manner which is similar to present metering equipment that detect other ancillary codes, such as AMOL codes. In the present case, however, the media link detector 18 is arranged to decode the signal carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned in order to detect a media link.
When the media link detector 18 detects a media link, it causes the media link to be stored in a log 22.
In the event that a media link is not contained in a program which is carried in the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned, a signature extractor 20 extracts one or more broadcast signatures from the program. Broadcast signatures are likewise stored in the log 22. Signatures may be extracted in a manner disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466. This patent discloses exemplary conditions which initiate signature extraction. However, although specific conditions are disclosed, it should be understood that other conditions may be used to initiate signature extraction.
For example, a signature may be extracted from each ntn frame of a program. Moreover, any suitable techniques may be used to collect the data that form the signatures.
Attorney Docket A clock 24 is associated with the log 22 so that the time and date that each media link is detected by the media link detector 18 may be stored along with the corresponding media link. Similarly, the time and date that each broadcast signature is extracted by the signature extractor 20 may be stored along with the broadcast signature. Also, the channel to which the tuner 14 is tuned at the time that a media link is detected by the media link detector 18 or a signature is extracted by the signature extractor 20 may be stored in the log 22 along with the corresponding media link or broadcast signature.
Periodically, the data stored in the log 22 are transmitted by communication equipment 26 from the monitoring site 12 to a remotely located central facility 28 over a communication medium 30. The communication equipment 26 may be arranged to periodically transmit the data stored in the log 22 to the central facility 28. Alternatively, the communication equipment 26 may be arranged to transmit the data stored in the log 22 when the log 22 has a predetermined amount of data stored therein. As a still further alternative, the communication equipment 26 may be arranged to respond to polls from the central facility 28 in Attorney Docket order to initiate the transfer of data to the central facility 28. Still other alternatives and combinations of alternatives are possible.
The communication medium 30 may be any communication medium which supports the transfer of information between remote locations. For example, the communication medium 30 may be a public telephone network, air accessed by radiating antennas, cables, the Internet, or the like.
A computer 32 is located at the central facility 28. The computer 32 may be arranged to identify programs from the media links and broadcast signatures transmitted to it by the communication equipment 26. For example, in the case of media links, the computer 32 may be arranged to compare the media links received from the monitoring site 12 to a library of media links which contain both the media links and the titles and/or other identifying information corresponding to the programs from which the media links were detected by the media link detector 18. Accordingly, when the computer 32 is provided with a media link from the monitoring site 12, it can identify and/or verify the program which contains that media link and which was Attorney Docket transmitted by a transmission source. The computer 32 can also determine, if desired, that the program containing the media link was transmitted at a particular time, on a particular day, and on a particular channel from the channel, time, and date information transmitted to the central facility 28 along with the detected media link.
In some cases, the programs may be completely identified from the media link itself. In this case, there is no need to use the look up table in the identification process. In other cases, particularly where a program has been transmitted for the first time, no information is provided in the look up table from which the program may be identified. In this case, the media link may be used to access the Web site associated with the media link in order to discover the identity of the program, or the program may be viewed by personnel of the central facility 28 in order to discover the identity of the program. Then, the identity of the program may be entered into the look up table under the media link for future identifications.
The computer 32 may also be arranged to identify and/or verify programs which do not contain media links.
For example, the computer 32 may be arranged to compare the Attorney Docket broadcast signatures received from the monitoring site 12 to a library of reference signatures which contain both the reference signatures and the titles and/or other identifying information corresponding to the programs from which the reference signatures were extracted. Accordingly, when the computer 32 is provided with broadcast signatures from the monitoring site 12, it can identify programs and/or verify the transmission of programs by matching these broadcast signatures with the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library. The computer 32 can also determine, if desired, that the programs containing the extracted broadcast signatures were transmitted at particular times, on particular days, and on particular channels from the channel, time, and date information transmitted to the central facility 28 along with the extracted broadcast signatures.
Alternatively, the computer 32 may use both detected media links and extracted broadcast signatures, where available from the same program, in order to increase certainty that a program is properly identified and/or verified. As a still further alternative, the computer 32 may identify and/or verify a program from the media links in Attorney Docket the event that the computer 32 is unable to first identify and/or verify the program from the extracted broadcast signatures.
The meter 17 operates in accordance with a software routine 50 shown in Figure 2. The software routine 50, at a block 52, determines from the output of the tuner 14 whether a program of interest is received. For example, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may operate in accordance with the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466 in order to determine the start of a program of interest. (Alternatively, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may be arranged to simply detect when the tuner 14 is on and is tuned to a channel in which there is content.
In this case, the output of the tuner 14 is continuously monitored for media links, and broadcast signatures are extracted from the output of the tuner 14 on a continuous basis.) A program of interest may be a commercial, regular programming material, a documentary, and/or the like.
If a program of interest is not detected at the block 52, the software routine 50 waits for a program of interest. However, if a program of interest is detected, the software routine 50 at a block 54 determines whether a Attorney Docket media link is detected by the media link detector 18 from a segment of the current program. For example, this segment may have a determinate length, such as n frames of the current program. Alternatively, this segment may have an ., indeterminate length determined by conditions of the program signal as disclosed in the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4, 677, 466.
If a media link is detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 54, the media link is logged at a block 56. Because a media link is detected in the program of interest, it may not be necessary to save any broadcast signatures which may have been extracted from the current program prior to the time at which the media link is detected. If so, the software routine 50 at a block 58 deletes from the log only the broadcast signatures extracted by the signature extractor 20 from the current program, and program flow thereafter returns to the block 52 to wait for the next program of interest .
On the other hand, if a media link is not detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 54, the software routine 50 at a block 60 extracts a Attorney Docket broadcast signature from the current program appearing at the output of the tuner 14. The software routine 50 at a block 62 logs the broadcast signature extracted by the signature extractor 20 at the block 60.
The software routine 50 then determines at a block 64 whether an end to the current program is detected. For example, the software routine 50 at the block 52 may operate in accordance with the above mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4,677,466 in order to determine the end of the current program. If an end to the current program is not yet detected, program flow returns to the block 54 in order to search for a media link from the next segment of the current program.
On the other hand, if an end of the current program is detected at the block 64, program flow returns to the block 52 in order to process a next program. In this case, the current program contained no media link and the current program will be identified by the computer 32 from the extracted broadcast signatures.
Instead of identifying a program from a media link, the media link may be used to better focus the search for reference signatures which match broadcast signatures.
Attorney Docket This use of a media link is particularly valuable in those instances where the media link is not unique, i.e., where the media link is used in more than one program and, therefore, does not uniquely identify a program. In 5~ addition to a media link, other information which is ancillary to the program content contained in the program signal, such as closed captioning information, may be used for this reference signature search focusing. Accordingly, media links, closed captioning information, or other such ancillary information may be referred to herein as content ancillary information (CAI).
A software routine 100, which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, uses content ancillary information in order to focus the search for reference signatures that are to be compared to broadcast signatures during the process of identifying a program. The communication equipment 26 may employ, in addition to a transmitter, a computer in order to execute the software routine 100.
The software routine 100, at a block 102, determines from the output of the tuner 14 whether a program of interest is received, as before. If a program of interest is not detected at the block 102, the software Attorney Docket routine 100 waits for a program of interest. However, if a program of interest is detected, the software routine 100 at a block 104 determines whether content ancillary information is detected by the media link detector 18 from a segment of the current program. If content ancillary information is detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 104, the content ancillary information is logged at a block 106.
On the other hand, if content ancillary information is not detected from the current segment of the current program at the block 104, or after the content ancillary information is logged at a block 106, the software routine 100 at a block 108 extracts a broadcast signature from the current segment of the current program. The software routine 100 at a block 110 logs the broadcast signature extracted by the signature extractor 20 at the block 60.
The software routine 100 then determines at a block 112 whether an end to the current program is detected.
If an end to the current program is not yet detected, the software routine 100 at a block 114 waits for the next segment. When the next segment occurs, program flow returns Attorney Docket to the block 104. When the end of a current program is detected at the block 112, a set of broadcast signatures has been extracted and stored for that program. Also, content ancillary information, if detected, is also stored for that program. This set of broadcast signatures is compared to reference signatures stored in a reference signature library as described below in an attempt to identify the program corresponding to this set of broadcast signatures.
Thus, if an end of the current program is detected at the block 112, the software routine 100 at a block 116 determines whether content ancillary information was detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114. If content ancillary information was detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114, a search of the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library is made at a block 118 in order to find reference signatures corresponding to the content ancillary information. Such reference signatures were previously extracted from a program containing the same content ancillary information and were loaded into the reference signature library in association with the corresponding content ancillary information.
Attorney Docket If content ancillary information was not detected in the program just processed by the blocks 102-114, hash codes corresponding to the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 may be computed at a block 120. A search of the reference signatures stored in the reference signature library is made at a block 122 in order to find reference signatures corresponding to the hash codes computed at the block 120. (Alternatively, the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 may be compared to all reference signatures in the reference signatures library.) The reference signatures found at the block 118 or at the block 122 are compared at a block 124 to the broadcast signatures extracted from the program at the block 108. If a sufficient match is found at the block 124, the identification of the program stored in the reference signature library along with the matching reference signatures is saved at a block 126 for later transmission to the central facility 28. The time at which the program was received, the length of the program as detected, the channel in which the program was detected, and other relevant information may also be stored at the block 126 along with the program identification.
Attorney Docket If a match is not found at the block 124, the broadcast signatures extracted from the program at the block 108 and the content ancillary information, if any, for the program are saved at a block 128 for later clustering and transmission to the central facility 28 so that the program can be identified during new program discovery. The time at which the program was received, the length of the program as detected, the channel in which the program was detected, and other relevant information may also be stored at the block 128 along with the broadcast signatures extracted at the block 108 and the content ancillary information, if any, detected at the block 104. After the identification is saved at the block 126, or after the broadcast signatures and content ancillary information are saved at the block 128, program flow returns to the block 102 to process the next program of interest.
Content ancillary information can also be used during clustering performed by the monitoring equipment 10 and/or by the central facility 28 in order to cluster broadcast signatures corresponding to unknown programs.
Unknown programs are those programs whose broadcast signatures did not favorably compare to any reference Attorney Docket signatures stored in the reference signature library and/or which did not contain a program identifying code such as a media link. Accordingly, to implement clustering, the computer employed in the communication equipment 26 and/or the computer 32 of the central facility 28 may execute a software routine 200 shown in Figure 5.
The time for clustering is determined at a block 202. For example, clustering by the monitoring equipment 10 and/or by the computer 32 may be performed periodically, such as once a day, or in response to an event such as a poll or an instruction from a user, or the like. When it is time for clustering as determined at the block 202, the broadcast signatures corresponding to one unknown program are compared to the broadcast signatures corresponding to other unknown programs at a block 204 based upon the content ancillary information associated with each set of broadcast signatures. Thus, all sets of broadcast signatures corresponding to the same first content ancillary information (e. g., CAI1) are compared to one another.
Duplicates are then eliminated so that only set of broadcast signatures corresponding to content ancillary information CAI1 is kept. Similarly, all sets of broadcast signatures Attorney Docket corresponding to the same second content ancillary information (e.g., CAI2) are compared to one another, and duplicates are then eliminated so that only set of broadcast signatures corresponding to content ancillary information CAI2 is kept. This process is repeated for each of the remaining content ancillary informations. Then, each set of broadcast signatures which did not have a content ancillary information associated therewith is compared at a block 206 to all other remaining sets of broadcast signatures, including those remaining sets of broadcast signatures having content ancillary information associated therewith, and any duplicates are eliminated. As a result of the processing at the blocks 204 and 206, the remaining sets of broadcast signatures are unique and the software routine 200 ends. As a result, it is necessary to view an unknown program only once during new program discovery.
Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention.
For example, the tuner 14 may be a tuner which tunes to a single channel so that a tuner 14 is required for each channel to be monitored. In this case, a multiplexer may be Attorney Docket arranged to multiplex signals from some or all of the instances of the tuner 14 to the meter 17 so that each multiplexed output of the instances of the tuner 14 is processed in turn by the monitoring equipment 10.
Alternatively, instead of multiplexing, each tuner 14 may be provided in its own set of monitoring equipment 10. On the other hand, the tuner 14 may be a scanning tuner for tuning to each of the channels available at the monitoring equipment 10, or the channels may be divided up between several scanning tuners or between a combination of scanning tuners and non-scanning tuners.
Also, as discussed above, the signature extractor is arranged to extract signatures from the programs to which the tuner 14 is tuned. However, other program 15 identifying data may be captured instead of, or in addition to, signatures. For example, AMOL codes may be detected.
Also, the monitoring equipment may be arranged to prompt audience members to manually input a program identification in the event that a media link is not found in a program.
20 In this case, the non-media link program identifying datum is the manually entered program identification.
Attorney Docket Moreover, it is not necessary to delete from the log those broadcast signatures which are extracted from a program from which a media link is also detected. In this case, the block 58 may be eliminated.
Furthermore, as described above, the meter 17 operate in accordance with the software routine 50.
However, the meter 17 may be implemented in hardware, in a combination of software or hardware, or the like.
Accordingly, the description of the present inven-tion is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.
Claims (53)
1. A detection apparatus to identify a program comprising:
a tuner to tune to the program;
a meter coupled to the tuner to record a media link embedded in the program tuned by the tuner, the media link being activatable to retrieve content different from the tuned program from a content provider, and wherein the media link is embedded within the content of the pro-ram and is visible to, or activatable by, a viewer of the program;
and a program identifier to activate the media link to retrieve the content from the content provider to facilitate identification of the program.
a tuner to tune to the program;
a meter coupled to the tuner to record a media link embedded in the program tuned by the tuner, the media link being activatable to retrieve content different from the tuned program from a content provider, and wherein the media link is embedded within the content of the pro-ram and is visible to, or activatable by, a viewer of the program;
and a program identifier to activate the media link to retrieve the content from the content provider to facilitate identification of the program.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media link is a URL.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media link is a code referenced to a URL.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media link is a trigger.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media link is a hyperlink.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the media link does not uniquely identify the tuned program or a station to which the tuner is tuned.
7. The detection apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the tuner comprises a scanning tuner.
8. The detection apparatus of claim 7 wherein the scanning tuner tunes to a plurality of channels, and wherein the meter is arranged to record media links from programs carried in the tuned channels.
9. The detection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the program identifier is arranged to receive a manual identification of the program.
10. A data acquisition system to acquire identifying data from a program comprising:
a tuner to tune to the program: and, a meter coupled to the tuner and arranged to capture first and second program identifying data identifying the program tuned by the tuner, wherein the first program identifying data is a media link embedded in the program which, when activated, initiates a request for information from a content provider via a network, the information being different from the tuned program, and wherein the second program identifying data is a program identifying data other than a media link, and wherein the media link is embedded within the content of the program and is visible to, or activatable by, a viewer of the program.
a tuner to tune to the program: and, a meter coupled to the tuner and arranged to capture first and second program identifying data identifying the program tuned by the tuner, wherein the first program identifying data is a media link embedded in the program which, when activated, initiates a request for information from a content provider via a network, the information being different from the tuned program, and wherein the second program identifying data is a program identifying data other than a media link, and wherein the media link is embedded within the content of the program and is visible to, or activatable by, a viewer of the program.
11. The data acquisition system of claim 10 wherein the tuner comprises a scanning tuner.
12. The data acquisition system of claim 11 wherein the scanning tuner tunes to a plurality of channels, wherein the meter is arranged to capture media links from programs in the tuned channels, and wherein the meter is arranged to capture second program identifying data identifying programs in the tuned channels.
13. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a program identifier arranged to identify the program from the first and/or second program identifying data.
14. The data acquisition system of claim 13 wherein the program identifier is arranged to identify the program by comparing the first and/or second program identifying data to corresponding first and/or second reference identifying data.
15. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the second program identifying data is a signature extracted from the program.
16. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the data acquisition system is arranged to keep the second program identifying data only if the meter fails to acquire the first program identifying data.
17. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the program identifier is arranged to identify the program directly from the media link.
18. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the media link does not uniquely identify the tuned program or a station to which the tuner is tuned.
19. The data acquisition system of claim 18, wherein the program identifier is arranged to identify the program by activating the media link to initiate the request for information from the content provider.
20. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 13 to 16, 18 and 19, wherein the program identifier is arranged to receive a manual identification of the program.
21. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the media link is a URL.
22. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the media link is a code referenced to a URL.
23. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the media link is a trigger.
24. The data acquisition system Of any one of claims 10 to 20, wherein the media link is a hyperlink.
25. The data acquisition system of any one of claims 10 to 24, wherein the meter is arranged to capture the second program identifying data from the program only in the event that the meter is unable to capture the first program identifying data from the program.
26. A program identification system comprising:
a tuner tunable to at least one of a plurality of channels;
a meter coupled to the tuner, wherein the meter is arranged to detect a media link embedded in a program carried in a channel tuned by the tuner and to extract a broadcast signature from the program: and a comparator arranged to generate a subset of reference signatures from a library of reference signatures based upon the media link, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the subset of reference signatures.
a tuner tunable to at least one of a plurality of channels;
a meter coupled to the tuner, wherein the meter is arranged to detect a media link embedded in a program carried in a channel tuned by the tuner and to extract a broadcast signature from the program: and a comparator arranged to generate a subset of reference signatures from a library of reference signatures based upon the media link, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the subset of reference signatures.
27. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein the media link is a URL.
28. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein the media link is a code referenced to a URL.
29. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein the media link is a trigger.
30. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein, if the broadcast signature does not have an embedded media link, the comparator is to generate a second subset of reference signatures from the library of reference signatures based upon a hash code, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the second subset of reference signatures.
31. The program identification system of claim 26, wherein the reference signature includes an identification of the program.
32. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein the broadcast signature includes the channel and a time at which the broadcast signature is extracted.
33. The program identification system of claim 32, wherein the reference signature includes an identification of the program.
34. The program identification system of claim 26 wherein the media link is a hyperlink.
35. An apparatus comprising:
a meter to record a media link embedded in a commercial tuned by a tuner, the media link being activatable to retrieve content different from the tuned commercial from a content provider, the meter to further record at least one of a signature and a program identification code to identify the commercial, and the meter to timestamp at least one of the media link, the signature and the program identification code;
a program identifier to identify the commercial based on at least one of the media link, the signature and the program identification code; and a computer to verify whether the media link was a correct media link to be broadcast with the identified commercial.
a meter to record a media link embedded in a commercial tuned by a tuner, the media link being activatable to retrieve content different from the tuned commercial from a content provider, the meter to further record at least one of a signature and a program identification code to identify the commercial, and the meter to timestamp at least one of the media link, the signature and the program identification code;
a program identifier to identify the commercial based on at least one of the media link, the signature and the program identification code; and a computer to verify whether the media link was a correct media link to be broadcast with the identified commercial.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the media link is a URL.
37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the media link is a code referenced to a URL.
38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the media link is a trigger.
39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the media link is a hyperlink.
40. The apparatus of any one of claims 35 to 39 wherein the computer is to verify whether the media link was transmitted at at least one of a correct time, on a correct channel, or a correct number of times.
41. A verification system comprising:
a meter to create a log of URLs and program identifiers received via a tuner, the log including channel identifiers reflecting channels on which the URLs were received and timestamps reflecting times and dates on which the URLs were detected:
a verification computer to process the log against a database to verify at least one of:
whether at least one of the URLs was transmitted within an agreed time on an agreed channel; or whether the at least one of the URLs was transmitted in association with a predetermined program.
a meter to create a log of URLs and program identifiers received via a tuner, the log including channel identifiers reflecting channels on which the URLs were received and timestamps reflecting times and dates on which the URLs were detected:
a verification computer to process the log against a database to verify at least one of:
whether at least one of the URLs was transmitted within an agreed time on an agreed channel; or whether the at least one of the URLs was transmitted in association with a predetermined program.
42. The verification system of claim 41 wherein the verification computer is to determine whether the at least one of the URLs was broadcast at least a predetermined number of times.
43. The verification system of claim 41 wherein the program is a commercial.
44. A verification system comprising:
a meter to create a log of URLs and program signatures received via a tuner, the log including timestamps reflecting times and dates on which the URLs were detected;
a program identifier to identify a first program based on at least one of a first URL
and a first signature in the log:
a verification computer to process the log against a database to verify at least one of:
whether the first URL was transmitted within an agreed time on an agreed channel:
whether the first program with which the first URL was transmitted was a predetermined program with which the URL was agreed to be transmitted; or whether the first URL was broadcast at least an agreed number of times.
a meter to create a log of URLs and program signatures received via a tuner, the log including timestamps reflecting times and dates on which the URLs were detected;
a program identifier to identify a first program based on at least one of a first URL
and a first signature in the log:
a verification computer to process the log against a database to verify at least one of:
whether the first URL was transmitted within an agreed time on an agreed channel:
whether the first program with which the first URL was transmitted was a predetermined program with which the URL was agreed to be transmitted; or whether the first URL was broadcast at least an agreed number of times.
45. The verification system of claim 44 wherein the program is a commercial.
46. A program identification system comprising:
a meter to detect a media link embedded in a tuned program stream and to extract a broadcast signature from the tuned program stream, wherein the media link is broadcast with at least a first program and a second program different from the first program such that the media link does not uniquely identify either the first program or the second program; and a comparator arranged to generate a subset of reference signatures from a library of reference signatures based upon the media link, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the subset of reference signatures to determine whether the broadcast signature is associated with the first program or the second program.
a meter to detect a media link embedded in a tuned program stream and to extract a broadcast signature from the tuned program stream, wherein the media link is broadcast with at least a first program and a second program different from the first program such that the media link does not uniquely identify either the first program or the second program; and a comparator arranged to generate a subset of reference signatures from a library of reference signatures based upon the media link, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the subset of reference signatures to determine whether the broadcast signature is associated with the first program or the second program.
47. The program identification system of claim 46 wherein the media link is a uniform resource locator (URL).
48. The program identification system of claim 46 wherein the media link is a code referenced to a uniform resource locator (URL).
49. The program identification system of claim 46 wherein the media link is a trigger.
50. The program identification system of claim 46 wherein, when the broadcast signature does not have an embedded media link, the comparator is to generate a second subset of reference signatures from the library of reference signatures based upon a hash code, and to compare the broadcast signature extracted by the meter to the second subset of reference signatures.
51. The program identification system of claim 46 or claim 50 wherein the broadcast signature includes the channel and a time at which the broadcast signature is extracted.
52. The program identification system of any one of claims 46 to 51 wherein the first program and the second program are commercials.
53. The program identification system of any one of claims 46 to 51 wherein the first program is a commercial.
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| US22652199A | 1999-01-07 | 1999-01-07 | |
| US09/226,521 | 1999-01-07 |
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| CA2293957A1 CA2293957A1 (en) | 2000-07-07 |
| CA2293957C true CA2293957C (en) | 2011-05-17 |
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| CA 2293957 Expired - Lifetime CA2293957C (en) | 1999-01-07 | 2000-01-06 | Detection of media links in broadcast signals |
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Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8151291B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2012-04-03 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus to meter content exposure using closed caption information |
| US8959016B2 (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2015-02-17 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Activating functions in processing devices using start codes embedded in audio |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7421723B2 (en) * | 1999-01-07 | 2008-09-02 | Nielsen Media Research, Inc. | Detection of media links in broadcast signals |
| JP3775186B2 (en) * | 2000-08-10 | 2006-05-17 | 日本電気株式会社 | Broadcast confirmation system, broadcast confirmation apparatus and method, and recording medium recorded with broadcast confirmation program |
| DE10224455A1 (en) * | 2002-06-03 | 2003-12-11 | Deutsche Telekom Ag | Ordering media contents method for electronic ordering of media items allows a request sender to request media from a central server for identification and downloading |
| US9711153B2 (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2017-07-18 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Activating functions in processing devices using encoded audio and detecting audio signatures |
| US8359205B2 (en) | 2008-10-24 | 2013-01-22 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction |
| US9667365B2 (en) | 2008-10-24 | 2017-05-30 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction |
| CA3094520A1 (en) | 2009-05-01 | 2010-11-04 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide secondary content in association with primary broadcast media content |
| US8768003B2 (en) | 2012-03-26 | 2014-07-01 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Media monitoring using multiple types of signatures |
-
2000
- 2000-01-06 CA CA 2293957 patent/CA2293957C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8959016B2 (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2015-02-17 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Activating functions in processing devices using start codes embedded in audio |
| US8151291B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2012-04-03 | The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc | Methods and apparatus to meter content exposure using closed caption information |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2293957A1 (en) | 2000-07-07 |
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