# US 12,771,895 B2 · Methods, systems, and devices for metering device calibration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,771,895 B2 - Document ID: US12771895B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/261,647 - Filed: 2025-07-07 - Published: 2026-06-25 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2024-12-19 - Assignees: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Applicants: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12771895B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone} - H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract Example techniques for calibrating a metering device are disclosed. An example method comprises: (a) capturing, via a first microphone, audio content from a media presentation device; (b) generating a first set of fingerprints; (c) transmitting the first set of fingerprints; (d) receiving a first correlation rate, wherein the first correlation rate indicates correlation between the first set of fingerprints and a first set of reference fingerprints; (e) capturing, via a second microphone, the audio content; (f) generating a second set of fingerprints; (g) transmitting the second set of fingerprints; (h) receiving a second correlation rate, wherein the second correlation rate indicates correlation between the second set of fingerprints and a second set of reference fingerprints; (i) determining that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate; and (j) based on determining that the second correlation rate is greater, stopping capturing the audio content by the first microphone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for calibrating a metering device, wherein the method comprises: capturing, via a first microphone of a plurality of microphones of the metering device, audio content from a media presentation device, wherein the first microphone is associated with a first orientation; based on the audio content captured by the first microphone, generating, by the metering device, a first set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the first set of fingerprints to a computing device; receiving, from the computing device, a first correlation rate, wherein the first correlation rate indicates correlation between the first set of fingerprints and a first set of reference fingerprints stored in a reference fingerprint library; capturing, via a second microphone of the plurality of microphones of the metering device, the audio content, wherein the second microphone is associated with a second orientation; based on the audio content captured by the second microphone, generating, by the metering device, a second set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the second set of fingerprints to the computing device; receiving, from the computing device, a second correlation rate, wherein the second correlation rate indicates correlation between the second set of fingerprints and a second set of reference fingerprints stored in the reference fingerprint library; determining, by the metering device, that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate; and based on determining that the second correlation rate is greater, stopping, by the metering device, capturing the audio content by the first microphone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second microphone begins capturing the audio content based on a predetermined period of time after the first microphone begins capturing the audio content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second microphone captures the audio content for a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including: capturing, via a third microphone of the plurality of microphones of the metering device, the audio content, wherein the third microphone is associated with a third orientation; based on the audio content received by the third microphone, generating, by the metering device, a third set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the third set of fingerprints to the computing device; receiving, from the computing device, a third correlation rate, wherein the third correlation rate indicates correlation between the third set of fingerprints and a third set of reference fingerprints stored in the reference fingerprint library; determining, by the metering device, that the third correlation rate is greater than the second correlation rate; and based on determining that the third correlation rate is greater, stopping, by the metering device, capturing the audio content by the second microphone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the third microphone comprises the first microphone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate comprises determining that the second correlation rate meets or exceeds a correlation threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate further comprises determining that the first correlation rate does not meet or exceed the correlation threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each microphone of the plurality of microphones comprises a directional microphone associated with a particular orientation, and wherein each microphone comprises a waveguide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of microphones comprises six microphones, wherein the six microphones are arranged in a circular arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the six microphones are arranged in an equidistant arrangement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises an identification server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first set of fingerprints comprises transmitting, by the metering device, to the computing device, (i) at least a portion of the first set of fingerprints and (ii) an instruction that causes the computing device to compare at least the portion of the first set of fingerprints to the first set of reference fingerprints, and wherein receiving, from the computing device, the first correlation rate, comprises receiving, from the computing device, an indication of a particular reference audio content item of a plurality of reference audio content items that matches the portion of the first set of fingerprints. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second set of fingerprints comprises transmitting, by the metering device, to the computing device, (i) at least a portion of the second set of fingerprints and (ii) an instruction that causes the computing device to compare at least the portion of the second set of fingerprints to the second set of reference fingerprints, and wherein receiving, from the computing device, the second correlation rate, comprises receiving, from the computing device, an indication of a particular reference audio content item of a plurality of reference audio content items that matches the portion of the second set of fingerprints. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first correlation rate is based on comparing the first set of fingerprints to the first set of reference fingerprints and determining that a particular reference fingerprint of the first set of reference fingerprints has at least a threshold extent of similarity with at least one fingerprint of the first set of fingerprints. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second correlation rate is based on comparing the second set of fingerprints to the second set of reference fingerprints and determining that a particular reference fingerprint of the second set of reference fingerprints has at least a threshold extent of similarity with at least one fingerprint of the second set of fingerprints. ### Claim 16 A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform a set of operations comprising: capturing, via a first microphone of a plurality of microphones of a metering device, audio content from a media presentation device, wherein the first microphone is associated with a first orientation; based on the audio content captured by the first microphone, generating, by the metering device, a first set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the first set of fingerprints to a computing device; capturing, via a second microphone of the plurality of microphones of the metering device, the audio content, wherein the second microphone is associated with a second orientation; based on the audio content captured by the second microphone, generating, by the metering device, a second set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the second set of fingerprints to the computing device; receiving, from the computing device, an indication that a second correlation rate is greater than a first correlation rate, wherein the first correlation rate indicates correlation between the first set of fingerprints and a first set of reference fingerprints stored in a reference fingerprint library, wherein the second correlation rate indicates correlation between the second set of fingerprints and a second set of reference fingerprints stored in the reference fingerprint library, wherein the indication that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate is determined by the computing device; and based on determining that the second correlation rate is greater, stopping, by the metering device, capturing the audio content by the first microphone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second microphone begins capturing the audio content based on a predetermined period of time after the first microphone begins capturing the audio content. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second microphone receives the audio content for a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computing device comprises an identification server. ### Claim 20 A computing system comprising: at least one processor; and tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform a set of operations comprising: capturing, via a first microphone of a plurality of microphones of a metering device, audio content from a media presentation device, wherein the first microphone is associated with a first orientation; based on the audio content captured by the first microphone, generating, by the metering device, a first set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the first set of fingerprints to a computing device; receiving, from the computing device, a first correlation rate, wherein the first correlation rate indicates correlation between the first set of fingerprints and a first set of reference fingerprints stored in a reference fingerprint library; capturing, via a second microphone of the plurality of microphones of the metering device, the audio content, wherein the second microphone is associated with a second orientation; based on the audio content captured by the second microphone, generating, by the metering device, a second set of fingerprints; transmitting, by the metering device, the second set of fingerprints to the computing device; receiving, from the computing device, a second correlation rate, wherein the second correlation rate indicates correlation between the second set of fingerprints and a second set of reference fingerprints stored in the reference fingerprint library; determining, by the metering device, that the second correlation rate is greater than the first correlation rate; and based on determining that the second correlation rate is greater, stopping, by the metering device, capturing the audio content by the first microphone.