公开(公告)号：WO1993007689A1

公开(公告)日：1993-04-15

申请号：PCT/US1992007740

申请日：1992-09-15

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  FARDEAU, Michel ,  BRIEND, Michel ,  TOMMASI, Marc ,  GALANT, Serge

IPC: H04B17/00

CPC classification number: H04H20/31 ,  H04H20/14 ,  H04H20/28 ,  H04H60/37 ,  H04H60/372 ,  H04H60/375 ,  H04H60/40 ,  H04H60/43 ,  H04H60/44 ,  H04H60/45 ,  H04H60/58

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically identifying a program broadcast by a radio station or by a television channel, or recorded on a medium, by adding an inaudible encoded message to the sound signal of the program, the message identifying the broadcasting channel or station, the program and/or the exact date. In one embodiment, the sound signal is transmitted via analog-to-digital converter (12) to a data processor (14) enabling frequency components to be split up, enabling the energy in some of the frequency components to be altered in a predetermined manner to form an encoded identification message, and with the output from the data processor (14) being connected via a digital-to-analog converter (26) to an audio output for broadcasting or recording the sound signal. In another embodiment, an analog bandpass filter is employed to separate a band of frequencies from the sound signal so that energy in the separated band may be thus altered to encode the sound signal.

公开(公告)号：WO1994010799A1

公开(公告)日：1994-05-11

申请号：PCT/US1993009458

申请日：1993-10-04

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  MOSTAFA, Ayman, Abdelazeim ,  LYNCH, Wendell, Dana ,  JENSEN, James, Martin

IPC: H04N07/00

CPC classification number: H04H60/43 ,  H04N5/765 ,  H04N5/782

Abstract: In a system for monitoring use of a video monitoring system, RF signals are injected into a cable converter (26) and a VCR (24) in order to detect channels selected by the cable converter (26) and VCR (24). Installation of probes is not required for channel detection. Channel identification signals are also injected into the VCR (24) and cable converter (26) for recording by the VCR on videotape. Respective channel identification signals are provided to the cable converter (26) and VCR (24) is determined by injecting a code signal into the VCR (24) with time multiplexing. The state of the "TV/VCR" switch of the VCR (24) and determining whether that signal is present in an RF video signal output by the VCR (24). The system includes a switch for interconnecting the cable converter (26), VCR (24) and T.V. (22) and also for coupling injection signals to respective inputs of the cable converter (26) and VCR (24).

Abstract translation: 在用于监控视频监控系统的使用的系统中，RF信号被注入到电缆转换器（26）和VCR（24）中，以便检测由电缆转换器（26）和VCR（24）选择的信道。 通道检测不需要安装探头。 信道识别信号也被注入VCR（24）和电缆转换器（26）中，用于通过录像机进行录像。 相应的信道识别信号被提供给电缆转换器（26），并且VCR（24）通过用时间复用将代码信号注入VCR（24）来确定。 VCR（24）的“TV / VCR”开关的状态并确定该信号是否存在于由VCR输出的RF视频信号中（24）。 该系统包括用于互连电缆转换器（26），VCR（24）和T.V.（22）的开关，并且还用于将注入信号耦合到电缆转换器（26）和VCR（24）的相应输入端。

公开(公告)号：WO1995004430A1

公开(公告)日：1995-02-09

申请号：PCT/US1994007746

申请日：1994-07-12

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  BROOKS, Jon, Randall ,  JENSEN, James, M. ,  MCCONOCHIE, Roberta, M. ,  OSBORN, Susan, V. ,  PEARL, Amy, E. ,  SCHMIDT, Carole, M. ,  SEILER, Ann, B. ,  STOWELL, Carol, P. ,  WHITE, Thomas, W. ,  WONG, Wylie

IPC: H04N07/16

CPC classification number: H04H60/63 ,  H04H60/32 ,  H04H60/38 ,  H04H60/45 ,  H04N7/165

Abstract: A system and method are provided for promoting use by an audience member of a portable broadcast exposure monitoring and/or recording device (100) in accordance with a predetermined usage criterion. A sense signal (134, 136, 138) is provided indicating whether the device is being carried with the person of the audience member, and a time signal (118) corresponding with the sense signal is also provided. An indication (142, 144, 146, 148) to the audience member of whether the audience member's usage of the device has been in accordance with the predetermined usage criterion is provided based on the sense signal and the corresponding time signal.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种系统和方法，用于根据预定的使用标准促进便携式广播曝光监视和/或记录设备（100）的观众的使用。 提供感测信号（134,136,138），指示设备是否正在携带观众的人，并且还提供与感测信号对应的时间信号（118）。 基于感测信号和对应的时间信号，提供听众成员关于听众成员对该设备的使用是否符合预定使用准则的指示（142,144,146,148）。

公开(公告)号：WO1994024827A1

公开(公告)日：1994-10-27

申请号：PCT/US1994004247

申请日：1994-04-18

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  KOLESSAR, Ronald, Stephen

IPC: H04N07/167

CPC classification number: H04N7/165

Abstract: A method and system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device (18) for installation of monitoring equipment (48). In a household in which viewing patterns are to be monitored, for example, a relatively inexpensive and simple set usage device (12) is installed in proximity to a television set (18) which is expected to receive little or no use. Times when the set (18) is in use are sensed (48), and data concerning those times are stored (44) and transmitted (16) to a central location. At the central location, the times represented by the transmitted data are compared to a minimum usage threshold, and a more sophisticated monitoring device, able to detect the channel tuning state of the T.V. set (18), is installed in proximity to the T.V. set (18) only if the usage of the T.V. set (18) exceeds the minimum usage threshold. The number of relatively expensive and complex tuning-monitoring devices required to be installed is thereby reduced.

Abstract translation: 一种用于自动限定用于安装监视设备（48）的信号再现设备（18）的方法和系统。 在要监视观看模式的家庭中，例如，相对便宜且简单的设置使用装置（12）安装在电视机（18）附近，该电视机预期将很少或不被使用。 检测到集合（18）在使用时的时间（48），并且关于这些时间的数据被存储（44）并发送（16）到中心位置。 在中央位置，将由发送的数据表示的时间与最小使用阈值进行比较，并且能够检测电视机（18）的频道调谐状态的更复杂的监视装置安装在电视机附近 （18），只有当电视机（18）的使用超过最小使用阈值时。 因此减少了需要安装的相对昂贵和复杂的调谐监视装置的数量。

公开(公告)号：WO1994011989A1

公开(公告)日：1994-05-26

申请号：PCT/US1993011090

申请日：1993-11-16

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  AIJALA, Victor, A. ,  COHEN, Gerald, B. ,  JENSEN, James, M. ,  LYNCH, Wendell, D. ,  URBI, Juan, C.

IPC: H04N05/76

CPC classification number: H04H20/31 ,  C08L91/00 ,  C08L2666/02 ,  C09J133/06 ,  H04H20/14 ,  H04H60/31 ,  H04H60/372 ,  H04H60/375 ,  H04H60/40 ,  H04H60/43 ,  H04H60/44 ,  H04H60/94 ,  H04L27/0004

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding information in broadcast or recorded segment signals are described. In certain embodiment, an audience monitoring system encodes identification information x(w) in the audio signal portion of a broadcast or recorded segment using spread spectrum encoding (100). A personal monitoring device (200) receives an acoustically reproduced version of the broadcast or recorded signal via a microphone (230), decodes the identification information from the audio signal portion despite significant ambient noise and stores (260) this information, automatically providing a diary for the audience member which is later uploaded to a centralized facility. A separate monitoring device (700) decodes additional information from the broadcast signal, which is matched with the audience diary information at the central facility. This monitor (700) may simultaneously send data to the centralized facility using a dial-up telephone line, and receive data from the centralized facility through a signal encoded using a spread spectrum technique and modulated with a broadcast signal from a third-party.

Abstract translation: 描述用于在广播或记录的段信号中对信息进行编码和解码的方法和装置。 在某些实施例中，观众监视系统使用扩频编码来对广播或记录段的音频信号部分中的识别信息x（w）进行编码（100）。 个人监视装置（200）经由麦克风（230）接收广播或记录信号的声音再现版本，尽管有大量的环境噪声，但是从音频信号部分解码识别信息，并存储（260）该信息，自动提供日记 对于稍后上传到集中设施的观众。 单独的监视设备（700）解码来自广播信号的附加信息，其与中央设施处的观众日记信息相匹配。 该监视器（700）可以使用拨号电话线路同时向集中式设施发送数据，并且通过使用扩展频谱技术编码的信号从集中式设备接收数据，并用来自第三方的广播信号进行调制。

公开(公告)号：WO1993022875A1

公开(公告)日：1993-11-11

申请号：PCT/US1993004082

申请日：1993-04-30

Applicant: THE ARBITRON COMPANY

Inventor： THE ARBITRON COMPANY ,  ELLIS, Michael, D. ,  DUNN, Stephen, M. ,  FELLINGER, Michael, W. ,  YOUNGLOVE, Fancy, B. ,  JAMES, David, M. ,  CLIFTON, David, L. ,  LAND, Richard, S.

IPC: H04N07/00

CPC classification number: G06K9/00711 ,  G06F17/30802 ,  H04H60/372 ,  H04H60/58 ,  H04H60/59 ,  H04H2201/90

Abstract: Broadcast segment recognition systems (10) and methods are provided in which a signature representing a monitored broadcast segment is compared with broadcast segment signatures in a data base (412) representing known broadcast segments to determine whether a match exists. Criteria for determining the validity of such a match are provided. In one aspect, signatures representing audio broadcast signals are formed by comparing temporally displaced portions of respective frequency band values within plural frequency bands of the broadcast audio signal. Systems and methods are provided for producing signatures representing intervals of a video signal which compensate for shifts in an edge of a picture (142) represented by the video signal. In addition, signatures characterizing respective intervals of a broadcast signal exhibiting correlation are produced by generating a difference vector (150) for each respective interval and carrying out vector transformations of the different vectors (150) to reduce such correlation. Moreover, signatures characterizing intervals of a video signal are produced with corresponding mask words representing reliability of values comprising the signature. Mask words of first and second signatures thus formed representing different portions of the video signal displaced from one another are compared to establish the values of the mask word.

Abstract translation: 提供了广播段识别系统（10）和方法，其中将代表监视的广播段的签名与表示已知广播段的数据库（412）中的广播段签名进行比较，以确定是否存在匹配。 提供了确定这种匹配的有效性的标准。 一方面，通过对广播音频信号的多个频带内的各个频带值的时间偏移部分进行比较来形成表示音频广播信号的签名。 系统和方法被提供用于产生表示补偿由视频信号表示的图像（142）的边缘上的偏移的视频信号的间隔的签名。 此外，通过针对各个间隔生成差分矢量（150）并执行不同矢量（150）的矢量变换来产生表征相关性的广播信号的各个间隔的特征，以减少这种相关。 此外，表征视频信号的间隔的签名由表示包括签名的值的可靠性的相应掩码字产生。 将由此形成的表示彼此偏移的视频信号的不同部分的第一和第二签名的掩码字进行比较，以建立掩码字的值。