Audio-based internet search methods and sub-combinations

A method comprising:

• decoding first information from first watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein decoding the first information comprises:
• decoding a unique identifier and a first part of the first information from a first portion of the audio data;
• and
• decoding the unique identifier and a second part of the first information from a second, different portion of the audio data;
• identifying a database record corresponding to the first information in a remote database;
• decoding a location of where the audio data was captured from second watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein the audio data steganographically-encoded with the second watermark originates from a low level white-noise broadcast;
• obtaining second, different, information identifying a song title or artist information associated with the audio data from the identified database record, wherein the second information is identified by reference to the first information;
• and
• initiating a search using a general purpose internet search engine for information related to the identified song title or artist information, wherein the search is initiated with a general purpose internet search engine without entry of text keywords by a user and without selection of text keywords by the user, wherein the search comprises search terms sent to the general purpose internet search engine, and wherein the search terms comprise the song title or artist information.

An apparatus comprising:

• a microphone configured to capture ambient audio;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• produce audio data from the ambient audio;
• decode first information from first watermark data steganographically-encoded in the ambient data, wherein to decode the first information the processor is further configured to:
• decode a unique identifier and a first part of the first information from a first portion of the ambient data;
• and
• decode the unique identifier and a second part of the first information from a second, different portion of the ambient data;
• identify a database record corresponding to the first information in a remote database;
• decode a location of where the ambient audio was captured from second watermark data steganographically-encoded in the ambient audio, wherein the ambient audio steganographically-encoded with the second watermark originates from a low level white-noise broadcast;
• obtain second, different, information corresponding to the audio data from the identified database record, wherein the second information is identified by reference to the first information;
• and
• initiate a search using a general purpose internet search engine for information related to the audio using the second information, wherein the search is initiated with a general purpose internet search engine without entry of text keywords by a user and without selection of text keywords by the user, wherein the search comprises search terms sent to the general purpose internet search engine, and wherein the search terms comprise the second information.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

• instructions to capture ambient audio;
• and
• instructions to produce audio data from the ambient audio;
• instructions to decode first information from first watermark data steganographically-encoded in the ambient data, wherein instructions to decode the first information comprise:
• instructions to decode a unique identifier and a first part of the first information from a first portion of the ambient data;
• and
• instructions to decode the unique identifier and a second part of the first information from a second, different portion of the ambient data;
• instructions to identify a database record corresponding to the first information in a remote database;
• instructions to decode a location of where the ambient audio was captured from second watermark data steganographically-encoded in the ambient audio, wherein the ambient audio steganographically-encoded with the second watermark originates from a low level white-noise broadcast;
• instructions to obtain second, different, information corresponding to the audio data from the identified database record, wherein the second information is identified by reference to the first information;
• and
• instructions to initiate a search using a general purpose internet search engine for information related to the audio using the second information, wherein the search is initiated with a general purpose internet search engine without entry of text keywords by a user and without selection of text keywords by the user, wherein the search comprises search terms sent to the general purpose internet search engine, and wherein the search terms comprise the second information.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• decode first information from first watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein to decode the first information the processor is further configured to:
• decode a unique identifier and a first part of the first information from a first portion of the audio data;
• and
• decode the unique identifier and a second part of the first information from a second, different portion of the audio data;
• identify a database record corresponding to the first information in a remote database;
• decode a location of where the audio data was captured from second watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein the audio data steganographically-encoded with the second watermark originates from a low level white-noise broadcast;
• obtain second, different, information identifying a song title or artist information associated with the audio data from the identified database record, wherein the second information is identified by reference to the first information;
• and
• initiate a search using a general purpose internet search engine for information related to the identified song title or artist information, wherein the search is initiated with a general purpose internet search engine without entry of text keywords by a user and without selection of text keywords by the user, wherein the search comprises search terms sent to the general purpose internet search engine, and wherein the search terms comprise the song title or artist information.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

• instructions to decode first information from first watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein instructions to decode the first information comprise:
• instructions to decode a unique identifier and a first part of the first information from a first portion of the audio data;
• and
• instructions to decode the unique identifier and a second part of the first information from a second, different portion of the audio data;
• instructions to identify a database record corresponding to the first information in a remote database;
• instructions to decode a location of where the audio data was captured from second watermark data steganographically-encoded in the audio data, wherein the audio data steganographically-encoded with the second watermark originates from a low level white-noise broadcast;
• instructions to obtain second, different, information identifying a song title or artist information associated with the audio data from the identified database record, wherein the second information is identified by reference to the first information;
• and
• instructions to initiate a search using a general purpose internet search engine for information related to the identified song title or artist information, wherein the search is initiated with a general purpose internet search engine without entry of text keywords by a user and without selection of text keywords by the user, wherein the search comprises search terms sent to the general purpose internet search engine, and wherein the search terms comprise the song title or artist information.