Systems and methods to pre-scale media content to facilitate audience measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11928707-B2
Application number	US-202318155020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2023
Priority date	Dec 29, 2006
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for pre-scaling media content to facilitate audience measurement are disclosed. An example method includes encoding a media content sample in accordance with a first encoding configuration and playing the encoded sample. The example method also includes attempting to detect the codes in the sample, and computing a ratio between the codes encoded in the sample and the codes detected when the sample is played.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
memory;
computer-readable instructions; and
one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
cause presentation of an encoded media sample in a first ambient environment provided by a media tester, the encoded media sample including an original number of codes, the first ambient environment having a first ambient configuration value;
identify a detected number of codes extracted from the encoded media sample presented in the first ambient environment;
generate a scaling factor for the encoded media sample based on the first ambient configuration value and a ratio of (a) the original number of codes to (b) the detected number of codes; and
determine a threshold value based on the scaling factor, the threshold value to correspond to a portion of the original number of codes required to be detected to establish detection of an advertisement associated with the encoded media sample when the encoded media sample is subsequently presented via a device other than the media tester in a second ambient environment, the second ambient environment having a characteristic corresponding to the first ambient configuration value.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to embed the ratio in the encoded media sample as metadata.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause ambient noise to be presented during the presentation of the encoded media sample in the first ambient environment.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to establish a volume level at which the encoded media sample is to be presented.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
associate the scaling factor with the encoded media sample; and
store the scaling factor in a database.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to assign the encoded media sample to a first detection category based on the scaling factor, the first detection category to be assigned relative to a second detection category associated with a different scaling factor than the first detection category.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the encoded media sample includes the advertisement.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein respective ones of the codes are audio watermarks.

9. An apparatus comprising:
means for playing an encoded media sample in a first ambient environment provided by a media tester, the encoded media sample including an original number of codes, the first ambient environment having a first ambient configuration value;
means for detecting a detected number of codes extracted from the encoded media sample played in the first ambient environment; and
a correlator to:
generate a scaling factor for the encoded media sample based on the first ambient configuration value and a ratio of (a) the original number of codes to (b) the detected number of codes; and
determine a threshold value based on the scaling factor, the threshold value to correspond to a portion of the original number of codes required to be detected to establish detection of an advertisement associated with the encoded media sample when the encoded media sample is subsequently played via a device other than the media tester in a second ambient environment, the second ambient environment having a characteristic corresponding to the first ambient configuration value.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further including means for playing ambient noise while the encoded media sample is being played by the means for playing the encoded media sample.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further including means for establishing a volume level at which the means for playing the encoded media sample is to play the encoded media sample.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the encoded media sample includes the advertisement.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least:
cause presentation of an encoded media sample in a first ambient environment provided by a media tester, the encoded media sample including an original number of codes, the first ambient environment having a first ambient configuration value;
identify a detected number of codes extracted from the encoded media sample presented in the first ambient environment;
generate a scaling factor for the encoded media sample based on the first ambient configuration value and a ratio of (a) the original number of codes to (b) the detected number of codes; and
determine a threshold value based on the scaling factor, the threshold value to correspond to a portion of the original number of codes required to be detected to establish detection of an advertisement associated with the encoded media sample when the encoded media sample is subsequently presented via a device other than the media tester in a second ambient environment, the second ambient environment having a characteristic corresponding to the first ambient configuration value.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to embed the ratio in the encoded media sample as metadata.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to cause ambient noise to be presented during the presentation of the encoded media sample in the first ambient environment.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to establish a volume level at which the encoded media sample is to be presented.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to:
associate the scaling factor with the encoded media sample; and
store the scaling factor in a database.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to assign the encoded media sample to a first detection category based on the scaling factor, the first detection category to be assigned relative to a second detection category associated with a different scaling factor than the first detection category.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the encoded media sample includes the advertisement.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein respective ones of the codes are audio watermarks.

Assignees

• Nielsen Co Us Llc

Inventors

• Fuhrer Brian
• Lee Morris
• Topchy Alexander

Classifications

• G06Q30/0242 Primary

  Determining effectiveness of advertisements · CPC title

• G06F3/16

  Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L) · CPC title

• G06Q30/0244

  Optimization · CPC title

• G06Q30/0251

  Targeted advertisements · CPC title

• G06Q30/0272 Primary

  Period of advertisement exposure · CPC title