# US 2013/0160042 A1 · Methods and apparatus for crediting a media presentation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0160042 A1 - Document ID: US20130160042A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/718,878 - Filed: 2012-12-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Inventors: Robert Stokes; Venugopal Srinivasan; Arun Ramaswamy; Daniel Nelson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130160042A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/24: Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests {(monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12)} - H04H 60/32: Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations - H04H 60/58: of audio {(determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00)} - H04N 21/233: Processing of audio elementary streams {(monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58)} - H04N 21/2407: {Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads (arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14)} - H04N 21/254: Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server {(arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53)} - H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone} - H04N 21/4394: {involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58)} - H04N 21/6582: {Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number (arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for crediting a media presentation device are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining ambient audio of a location including a media presentation device during a time period, detecting encoded information present in the ambient audio, crediting a first portion of the time period for the media presentation device to first media based on the encoded information, determining an on/off state of the media presentation device for a second portion of the time period different than the first portion based on the ambient audio, and crediting the second portion of the time period based on the on/off state of the media presentation device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: obtaining ambient audio for a time period from a location including a media presentation device; detecting encoded information present in the ambient audio; crediting a first portion of the time period for the media presentation device to first media based on the encoded information; determining an on/off state of the media presentation device for a second portion of the time period different than the first portion based on the ambient audio; and crediting the second portion of the time period based on the on/off state of the media presentation device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: computing a signature of the ambient audio corresponding to a third portion of the time period different from the first and second portions; and crediting the third portion of the time period to the first media or to second media based on the signature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising comparing the signature to a second signature, wherein crediting the third portion of the time period to the first media or to second media is based on the comparison. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein crediting the first portion based on the encoded information is performed before crediting the third portion based on the signature, and crediting the third portion is performed prior to crediting the second portion based on the on/off state of the media presentation device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein crediting the third portion based on the signature comprises overriding a determination that the media presentation device is in an off state during the third portion with a determination that the media presentation device is in an on state based on a comparison of the signature to a reference signature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein crediting the second portion comprising assigning an off state to the second portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein crediting the first portion comprises overriding a determination that the media presentation device is in an off state during the first portion with a determination that the media presentation device is in an on state based on detecting the encoded information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the ambient audio comprises recording the ambient audio at the location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the ambient audio comprises receiving a data file including the ambient audio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the encoded information comprises extracting a steganographically encoded watermark. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining the on/off state of the media presentation device is based only on the ambient audio. ### Claim 12 An apparatus, comprising: a code detector to detect encoded information present in ambient audio collected from a monitored location; an on/off detector to determine a first portion of a time period during which a media presentation device in the monitored location is in an on state and to determine a second portion of the time period during which the media presentation device is in an off state based on the ambient audio; and a location creditor to credit a third portion of the time period for the media presentation device to first media based on the encoded information and to credit a fourth portion of the time period different from the third portion based on the on state or the off state of the media presentation device during the fourth portion of the time period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a microphone to collect the ambient audio in the location including the media presentation device during a time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a network interface to receive the ambient audio via a network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a signature generator to generate a signature of a portion of the ambient audio, the location creditor to credit a fifth portion of the time period based on the signature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the location creditor is to credit the third portion based on the encoded information prior to crediting the fifth portion based on the signature, and is to credit the fifth portion prior to crediting the fourth portion based on the on state or the off state of the media presentation device. ### Claim 17 A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least: access ambient audio for a time period from a location including a media presentation device; detect encoded information present in the ambient audio; credit a first portion of the time period for the media presentation device to first media based on the encoded information; determine an on/off state of the media presentation device for a second portion of the time period different than the first portion based on the ambient audio; and credit the second portion of the time period based on the on/off state of the media presentation device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to: computing a signature of the ambient audio corresponding to a third portion of the time period different from the first and second portions; and crediting the third portion of the time period to the first media or to second media based on the signature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A storage medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to compare the signature to a second signature, wherein crediting the third portion of the time period to the first media or to second media is based on the comparison. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A storage medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to credit the first portion based on the encoded information before crediting the third portion based on the signature, and to credit the third portion prior to crediting the second portion based on the on/off state of the media presentation device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A storage medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to credit the third portion based on the signature by overriding a determination that the media presentation device is in an off state during the third portion with a determination that the media presentation device is in an on state based on a comparison of the signature to a reference signature. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to credit the second portion by assigning an off state to the second portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein crediting the first portion comprises overriding a determination that the media presentation device is in an off state during the first portion with a determination that the media presentation device is in an on state based on detecting the encoded information. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein obtaining the ambient audio comprises recording the ambient audio at the location. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein obtaining the ambient audio comprises receiving a data file including the ambient audio. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein detecting the encoded information comprises extracting a steganographically encoded watermark. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) A storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein determining the on/off state of the media presentation device is based only on the ambient audio. ### Claim at position 28 28-50. (canceled)