AU2004203837A1

AU2004203837A1 - An apparatus, system and methods for reporting on information contained in a transmission

Info

Publication number: AU2004203837A1
Application number: AU2004203837A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bill Barrington; Max Healey
Original assignee: SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO MONITORING Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO MONITORING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-08-11
Filing date: 2004-08-11
Publication date: 2005-03-03

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO MONITORING PTY LTD Invention Title: AN APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REPORTING ON INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A TRANSMISSION The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 AN APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REPORTING ON INFORMATION CONTAINED IN A TRANSMISSION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus, system and methods for reporting on information contained in a transmission, and is of particular but by no means exclusive application to reporting on information contained in a broadcast from a commercial radio or television station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Equipment capable of reporting on (monitoring) information contained in a transmission has a wide range of applications. For example, a telecommunication company can use such equipment to record the amount of information a user has sent over the company's communication network.

This enables the telecommunication company to bill the user based on their use of the network. The area of monitoring a commercial radio or television station broadcast is another example of where such equipment has application. In this area, the equipment can be used, for instance, to report on information that is broadcast, which could include identifying various advertisements that are broadcast by the commercial radio station to thereby enable advertisers to ensure they are receiving the advertising time that they have paid for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reporting on information contained in a transmission, the apparatus comprising: obtaining means arranged to obtain first data that 3 represents an identifier of the information; and transferring means arranged to transfer the first data to a computing device via a communication network to thereby report on the information contained in the transmission.

Thus, by obtaining the first data (which identifies the information contained in the transmission) the apparatus provides the advantage of allowing the information that was in the transmission to be identified.

Furthermore, the ability to transfer the first data to the computing device via the communication network provides the advantage of allowing the computing device to be located remotely from the apparatus, and thereby remove the need to have physical access to the apparatus.

Preferably, the obtaining means is arranged to obtain second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information.

Preferably, the temporal parameter corresponds substantially to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the obtaining means.

An advantage of having the temporal parameter correspond substantially to the time and/or the date is that it can be used to determine when the first data was received, which in turn provides an indication as to the time and/or date at which the information was transmitted.

Preferably, the transferring means is arranged to transfer the second data to the computing device via the communication network.

Preferably, the obtaining means is arranged to obtain the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the 4 transmission.

Even more preferably, the watermark is contained in the information in the transmission.

Given that digital watermarks are generally not readily detectable, the ability to process the digital watermark means that the identifier can be 'hidden' in the information.

Depending on the nature of the information transmitted, alternative techniques for obtaining the identifier can be used. For example, where the information is digital and conforms to a packet format, the identifier could be obtained by examining the appropriate field in the packet format.

Preferably, the obtaining means comprises a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service, the obtaining means being arranged to obtain the second data by using the clock.

Alternatively, the second data can be obtained from a date/time stamp contained in the information that is in the transmission.

Preferably, the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that the transferring means can send data to.

Preferably, the transmission comprises a broadcast from a commercial radio station.

The transmission could in fact be any one of a range of transmissions such as, for example, a broadcast from a free-to-air television station or a transmission from a pay television station that is delivered over a fiber 5 optic cable.

Preferably, the information comprises an advertisement.

It is envisaged that the information could alternatively be any type of information that is transmitted. For example, the information could be music or a movie. It is also envisaged that the first data could be used to determine royalty payments due under copyright.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for reporting on information contained in a transmission, the system comprising: a receiver arranged to receive the transmission and produce an output that corresponds to the information contained therein; collecting means arranged to collect first data from the output, the first data representing an identifier of the information; and forwarding means arranged to forward the first data to a computing device via a first communication network to thereby report on the information.

Preferably, the collecting means is arranged to collect second data representing a temporal parameter associated with the information.

Preferably, the forwarding means is arranged to forward the second data to the computing device via the first communication network.

6 Preferably, the forwarding means comprises: a storage device arranged to store an entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; a storage agent arranged to create the entry if the storage device does not contain another entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; and a computing device arranged to forward the entry to the computing device via the first communication network.

Preferably, the collecting means is operable to collect the first data by processing a digital watermark encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.

Preferably, the collecting means comprises a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service, the collecting means being arranged to obtain the temporal parameter by using the clock.

Preferably, the system further comprises a communication means arranged to allow the first data and the second data to be transferred from the collecting means to the forwarding means via a second communication network.

Preferably, the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that the forwarding means can send data to.

Preferably, the receiver comprises a radio receiver.

7 Preferably, the information comprises an advertisement.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provide a method of reporting on information contained in a transmission, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining first data that represents an identifier associated with the information; and transferring the first data to a computing device via a communication network to thereby report on the information.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of obtaining second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information.

Preferably, the temporal parameter corresponds substantially with a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the step of obtaining the first data.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of transferring the second data to the computing device via the communication network.

Preferably, the step of obtaining the first data comprises obtaining the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.

Preferably, the step of obtaining the second data comprises obtaining the temporal parameter by using a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service.

-8- Preferably, the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that the transferring steps can transfer data to.

Preferably, the information comprises an advertisement.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reporting on information contained in a transmission, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the transmission and producing an output that corresponds to the information contained therein; collecting first data from the output, the first data representing an identifier of the information; and forwarding the first data and second data to a computing device via a communication network to thereby report on the information.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of collecting second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information.

Preferably, the temporal parameter corresponds substantially to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the step of collecting the first data.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of forwarding the second data to the computing device via the communication network.

Preferably, the step of forwarding the first data 9 comprises: creating an entry in a storage device, which corresponds to the first data and the second data, if the storage device does not contain another entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; and forwarding the entry to the computing device via the communication network.

Preferably, the step of collecting the first data comprises obtaining the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.

Preferably, the step of collecting the second data comprises using a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service to obtain the temporal parameter.

Preferably, the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that the forwarding steps can send data to.

Preferably, the receiver comprises a radio receiver.

Preferably, the information comprises an advertisement.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program which, when executed by a computing device, allows the computing device to carry out the method according to the third aspect of the present invention.

10 According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program which, when executed by a computing device, allows the computing device to carry out the method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium comprising the software according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

According to an eight aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium comprising the software according to the sixth aspect of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within the scope of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 illustrates a monitoring system in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and figure 2 shows a web page used in the system shown in figure 1; figure 3 shows another web page used in the system shown in figure 1; figure 4 shows a further web page used in the system shown in figure 1; 11 figure 5 is a flow chart of the various steps performed by the system of figure 1; and figure 6 is another flow chart of the various steps performed by the system of figure 1.

AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As can be seen in figure 1, a monitoring system 11 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a radio receiver 13 that is operable to receive a radio transmission 15 in the form of a broadcast from a commercial radio station 17. The radio receiver 13 is also operable to produce an audio output that corresponds to information contained in the transmission 15. The information in the transmission 15 is typically music, a talkback program or an advertisement. The audio output from the radio receiver 13 is in the form of an analogue audio signal. It is, however, envisaged that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention the audio output is in the form of digital audio.

The system 11 also comprises a computing server 19 for reporting on the information contained in the transmission 15. Whilst not illustrated in the figures, the system 11 comprises two of the computer servers; a primary server 19 and a secondary server (not shown). The secondary server is essentially a backup machine that is used if the primary server 19 fails.

The computer server 19 is controlled by the Red Hat distribution of the Linux operating system. It is envisaged, however, that other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows may be used in alternative embodiments of the present invention. As persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the operating system performs 12 various system level functions (for example, memory and task management). The computer server 19 is arranged to receive the audio output from the radio receiver 13. As will be outlined shortly, the computer server 19 is arranged to process theaudio output from the radio receiver 13. In order to facilitate processing of the audio output from the radio receiver 13, the computer server 19 comprises a soundcard that is used to convert the audio output from the receiver 13 into a digitized version that is suitable for processing by the computer server 19.

In order to transfer the audio output from thecomputer server 13 to the apparatus 19, the system 11 comprises an audio cable 111 that is connected to an audio output socket of the radio receiver 13 and an audio input socket of the sound card in the computer server 19.

In order to report on the information contained in the transmission 15, the computer server 19 comprises an obtaining means (which is not illustrated in the figures).

The obtaining means is in the form of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) watermarking software, which is available for license from the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany. The PCM watermarking software is executed by computer hardware in the server 19. It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention the obtaining means may be in the form of dedicated hardware, such as an Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

The obtaining means is operable to obtain first data that represents an identifier of the information contained in the transmission 15. As will be discussed shortly, the first data identifies the information (for example, an advertisement) that was in the transmission 15. The first data is in the form of binary data that corresponds to a unique sequence of digits.

I

13 In order to obtain the first data, the obtaining means is arranged to interact with the sound card to obtain the digitised version of the audio output from the radio receiver 13, which is transferred to the server 19 via the cable 111. The obtaining means processes the information in the digitised version of the audio to first extract a digital watermark that was inserted into the information prior to the transmission thereof. As discussed in the following paragraphs of this specification, the digital watermark is inserted into the information by the distribution facility 125. Once the watermark has been extracted, the obtaining means proceeds to process the watermark to obtain the first data, which was encoded in the watermark prior to being inserted into the information.

The obtaining means is also arranged to obtain second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information contained in the transmission 15. More specifically, the second data relates to a time and/or date at which the obtaining means obtained the first data.

To enable the obtaining means to obtain the second data, the server 19 comprises an electronic clock that is synchronized to a remote time service using a network time protocol (NTP). The computer server 19 obtains the second data by referencing the electronic clock.

The computer server 19 also has a transferring means for allowing the server 19 to report on the information contained in the transmission 15. The transferring means is in the form of communication software and a network interface that cooperate to send the first data and the second data to a recipient via a communication network 113, which in the present embodiment of the invention is the Internet. The communication software is such that it can establish a permanent TCP/IP link to the recipient, 14 and forward the first data and second data over the TCP/IP link as it is collected. Alternatively, the communication software can allow the recipient to periodically poll the transferring means to obtain the first data and second data when required. In this latter arrangement, the communication software is arranged to transfer the first data and second data using a file transfer protocol (FTP), which utilizes a UDP/IP link.

In addition to the radio receiver 13 and the computer server 19, the system 11 comprises: a storage agent 115, which is in the form of a computer running appropriate software; a storage device 117 in the form of a database; and a computer 119 in the form of a web server. To function as a web server, the computer 119 is loaded with Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS). The storage agent 115 comprises communication software and a network interface, both of which cooperate to receive the first data and the second data from the transfer means via the communication network 113. Like the communication software of the transfer means, the communication software of the storage agent 115 is arranged to support either a TCP/IP connection a UDP/IP connection via the FTP.

Upon receiving the first data and the second data, the first step taken by the storage agent 115 is to determine whether the storage device 117 already contains data equivalent to the first data and the second data. If it does not, the storage agent 115 proceeds to store the first data and the second data in the storage device 117.

On the other hand, if the storage device 117 does contain data equivalent to the first data and the second data, the storage agent 115 does not store it in the storage device 117. Instead it merely discards the first data and the second data.

When a person wishes to view the first data and the 15 second data, the person uses the personal computer 121 to log-on to the computer 119. In view of the fact that the computer 119 is in the form of a web server, the personal computer 121 is in the form of a desktop computer that has the necessary hardware (for example, a modem) and software (for example, a web browser) to access the computer 119 via the communication network 123, which is in the form of the Internet. Once the web browser on the computer 121 has made contact with the computer 119, the computer 119 issues a prompt to a user to enter a password in order to gain access to the computer 119. Prompting the user to enter the password is performed by the computer 119 sending a web page 21 (which can be seen in figure 2) to the personal computer 121 via the communication network 123. The personal computer 121 is arranged to present this web page to the user in a web browser. The computer 119 is arranged to receive the password from the computer 121 via the network 123. The computer 119 is also arranged to process the password to ensure it is valid.

If the computer 119 deems the password to be valid, the computer 119 generates another web page 31 (as shown in figure which the computer 119 sends to the personal computer 121 via the communication network 123. On receiving this web page 31 the computer 121 uses the web browser installed thereon to display the web page 31 to the user. The web page 31 effectively enables the user to request a report on the first data and the second data according to their requirements. This includes, for example, the ability to specify a data range over which the first data and data is collected. By clicking on the "next" button the user can submit the information in the web page 31 to the computer 119 for processing.

On receiving this information from the computer 121, the computer 119 retrieves the first data and second data from the storage device 17.

16 The computer 119 places the retrieved first data and second data into a web page and forwards the web page to the personal computer 121 via the communication network 123. In this regard the computer 119 creates the web page such that it accords with the requirements that the user specified using the previous web page 31. An example of one of the web pages which the computer 119 places the first data and second data into is shown in figure 4. The web page 41 in figure 4 is a "detailed" report, in which the first data is in the form of the "Code of Practice" text, and the second data in the form of the time shown on the right hand side of the web page 41 and the date shown in the top left hand corner of the web page 41. The web page 41 also identifies the particular commercial radio stations that broadcast the "Code of Practice" information (advertisement), which is shown as, for example "4MMM" and "NOVA100". The computer 121 subsequently presents the web page 41 to the user by displaying it in the web browser.

As can be seen in figure 1, the system 11 also comprises a distribution facility 125 that distributes the information to the radio station 17 for transmission.

Before distributing the information, the distribution facility 125 creates the watermark and encodes it with the first data (the identifier of the information). Once the watermark has been created and encoded, the distribution facility places the watermark into the information. To carry out these functions, the distribution facility 125 feeds the information into a computer that is load with PCM digital watermarking software, which is available for license from the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany. It will be appreciated that the distribution facility 125 may also use dedicated hardware, rather than the computer running the PCM digital watermarking software, such as an FPGA.

The distribution facility 125 distributes the watermarked information to the radio station 17 via a satellite 127.

17 Alternatively, the information could be distributed via an ISDN link.

The various steps performed by the system 11 are illustrated in the flow charts shown in figures 5 and 6.

It will be appreciated that whilst the present embodiment has been described in the context of monitoring a broadcast from a commercial radio station, the present invention has a wide range of applications including monitoring television, Internet or telephone transmissions.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described.

It should be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtaining means is arranged to obtain second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temporal parameter corresponds to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the obtaining means.
4. The apparatus as claimed in 2 or 3, wherein the transferring means is arranged to transfer the second data to the computing device via the communication network.
5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the obtaining means is arranged to obtain the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the watermark is contained in the information in the transmission.
7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the obtaining means comprises a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service, the obtaining 19 means being arranged to obtain the second data by using the clock.
8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that can receive data from the transferring means.
9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission comprises a broadcast from a commercial radio station. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information comprises an advertisement.
11. A system for reporting on information contained in a transmission, the system comprising: a receiver arranged to receive the transmission and produce an output that corresponds to the information contained therein; collecting means arranged to collect first data, the first data representing an identifier associated with the information; and forwarding means arranged to forward the first data to a computing device via a first communication network, thereby reporting on the information.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the collecting means is arranged to collect second data representing a temporal parameter associated with the information.
13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the temporal parameter corresponds to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the obtaining means. 20
14. The system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the forwarding means is arranged to forward the second data to the computing device via the first communication network. The system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the forwarding means comprises: a storage device arranged to contain an entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; a storage agent arranged to create the entry if the storage device does not contain another entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; and a computer arranged to forward the entry to the computing device via the first communication network.
16. The system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the collecting means is arranged to collect the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the information.
17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the watermark is contained in the information in the transmission.
18. The system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the collecting means comprises a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service, the collecting means being arranged to obtain the temporal parameter by using the clock.
19. The system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the system further comprises a communication means arranged to allow the first data and the second data to be transferred from the collecting means to the forwarding means via a second communication network. 21 The system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that can receive data from the forwarding means.
21. The system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein the receiver comprises a radio receiver.
22. The system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein the information comprises a broadcast from a commercial radio station.
23. The system as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 22, wherein the information comprises an advertisement.
24. A method of reporting on information contained in a transmission, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining first data that represents an identifier associated with the information; and transferring the first data to a computing device via a communication network, thereby reporting on the information.
25. The method as claimed in claim 24, comprising a step of obtaining second data that represents a temporal parameter associated with the information.
26. The method as claimed in claim 24 or wherein the temporal parameter corresponds substantially to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained.
27. The method as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the transferring step further comprises transferring the second data to the computing device via the communication network. 22
28. The method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the step of obtaining the first data comprises obtaining the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the watermark is contained in the information in the transmission. The method as claimed in any one of claims to 29, wherein the step of obtaining the second data comprises obtaining the temporal parameter by using a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service.
31. The method as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 30, wherein the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that can receive data.
32. The method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to wherein the transmission comprises a broadcast from a commercial radio station.
33. The method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 32, wherein the information comprises an advertisement.
34. A method for reporting on information contained in a transmission, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the transmission and producing an output that corresponds to the information contained therein; collecting first data from the output, the first data representing an identifier associated with the information; and forwarding the first data to a computing device via a communication network, thereby reporting on the information. 23 The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising the step of collecting second data representing a temporal parameter associated with the information.
36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the temporal parameter corresponds substantially to a time and/or date at which the first data was obtained by the obtaining means.
37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the step of forwarding the second data to the computing device via the communication network.
38. The method as claimed in any one of claims to 37, wherein the forwarding step comprises: creating an entry, which corresponds to the first data and the second data, if the storage device does not contain another entry that corresponds to the first data and the second data; and forwarding the entry to the computing device via the communication network.
39. The method as claimed in any one of claims 34 or 38, wherein the collecting step comprises obtaining the first data by processing a digital watermark that is encoded with the identifier and which is contained in the transmission.
40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the watermark is contained in the information in the transmission.
41. The method as claimed in any one of claims to 40, wherein the collecting step comprises using a clock that is synchronized with a remote time service to obtain the temporal parameter. 24
42. The method as claimed in any one of claims to 41, wherein the method further comprises the step of transferring the first data and the second data via a second communication network.
43. The method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 42, wherein the computing device is one of a plurality of computing devices that can receive data.
44. The method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 43, wherein the receiver comprises a radio receiver. The method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 44, wherein the transmission comprises a broadcast from a commercial radio station.
46. The method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 45, wherein the information comprises an advertisement.
47. A computer program which, when executed by a computing device, allows the computing device to carry out the method claimed in any one of claims 24 to 33.
48. A computer program which, when executed by a computing device, allows the computing device to carry out the method claimed in any one of claims 34 to 46.
49. A computer readable medium comprising the computer program as claimed in claim 47. A computer readable medium comprising the computer program as claimed in claim 48.
51. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures. 25
52. The system as claimed in claim 11 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.
53. The method as claimed in claim 24 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.
54. The method as claimed in claim 34 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.