Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding broadcast or recorded segments and monitoring audience exposure thereto

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8260113
APP PUB NO 20070291848A1
SERIAL NO

11845714

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding information in broadcast or recorded segment signals are described. In certain embodiments, an audience monitoring system encodes identification information in the audio signal portion of a broadcast or recorded segment using spread spectrum encoding. A personal monitoring device receives an acoustically reproduced version of the broadcast or recorded signal via a microphone, decodes the identification information from the audio signal portion despite significant ambient noise, and stores this information, automatically providing a diary for the audience member which is later uploaded to a centralized facility. A separate monitoring device decodes additional information from the broadcast signal, which is matched with the audience diary information at the central facility. This monitor 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.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US) LLC85 BROAD STREET NEW YORK NY 10004

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Aijala, Victor A Arnold, US 3 787
Cohen, Gerald B Gaithersburg, US 5 1115
Jensen, James M Columbia, US 47 6936
Lynch, Wendell D Silver Spring, US 39 3178
Urbi, Juan C Laurel, US 3 787

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