Patents by Inventor Stanley Wellington Woodruff
Stanley Wellington Woodruff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11962851Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a thermal image detector to determine a heat blob count based on a frame of thermal image data captured in the media environment, an audience image detector to identify a face of an audience member based on a frame of audience image data captured in the media environment, the frame of audience image data corresponding to a field of view associated with at least one heat blob included in the heat blob count, and a people meter controller to cause a people meter, which is to emit a prompt for audience identification information, not to emit the prompt for at least a first time period after the audience member is identified.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. LiVoti
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Patent number: 11949944Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed that utilize screen capture to identify media. Example meter devices disclosed herein are to, in response to determining a media device is powered on, monitor a media device to detect audio output by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to, in response to audio not being detected for a period of time, instruct an image capture device to capture image data representative of a media presentation by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to instruct the image capture device to stop capturing the image data in response to detection of audio output by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to determine, based on whether the image data corresponds to a menu presentation by the media device, whether to transmit the image data to a central facility for media identification.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. Livoti
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Patent number: 11863142Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine automated gain control parameters for an automated gain control protocol are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first tuner to amplify an audio signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include a second tuner to amplify the audio signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include a first controller to tune the first tuner to apply a first gain representative of a first range of gains to the audio signal to determine a first amplified audio signal and tune the second tuner to apply a second gain representative a second range of gains to the audio signal to determine a second amplified audio signal, the second range of gains lower than the first range of gains. Disclosed example apparatus also include a second controller to select the first range of gains to be utilized in an automated gain control protocol when the first gain results in clipping of the first amplified audio signal and the second gain does not result in clipping of the second amplified audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: NIELSEN COMPANY (US) LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Stanley Wellington Woodruff, Ryan C. Lehing, Charles Clinton Conklin
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Publication number: 20230410547Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an audio detector to determine a first audience count based on signatures of audio data captured in the media environment, a thermal image detector to determine a heat blob count based on a frame of thermal image data captured in the media environment, and an audience image detector to identify at least one audience member based on a comparison of a frame of audience image data with a library of reference audience images, the audience image detector to perform the comparison in response to the first audience count not matching the heat blob count.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. LiVoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11844043Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for near real time out of home audience measurement are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to at least: receive a first data transmission request at a first portable meter; send a second data transmission request from the first portable meter to a second portable meter; determine whether the first portable meter is capable of transmitting at least one data packet, based at least in part on an indication the second portable meter is capable of transmitting the at least one data packet; and in response to determining the first portable meter is capable of transmitting the at least one data packet, transmit the at least one data packet.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Publication number: 20230370680Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to automate receivability updates for media crediting. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least identify a station identifier associated with at least one of a signature or a code, the at least one of the signature or the code collected at a panelist household. The instructions, when executed, cause at least one processor to further determine whether a household receivability table includes the station identifier, to determine, in response to a determination that the household receivability table does not include a station corresponding to the station identifier, whether the station is receivable at the panelist household, and to update the household receivability table, the update in response to a determination that the station corresponding to the station identifier is receivable at the panelist household.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11818416Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a thermal image detector to determine a heat blob count based on a frame of thermal image data, the frame of thermal image data captured in the media environment, a comparator to compare the heat blob count to a prompted people count, the prompted people count based on one or more responses to a prompting message, and when the heat blob count and the prompted people count match, cause a timer that is to trigger generation of the prompting message to be reset.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Stanley Wellington Woodruff, Khushboo Agarwal
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Publication number: 20230336819Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and method for user presence detection for audience monitoring are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to detect movement of a user relative to an area based on one or more signals output by one or more motion detection sensors, the area associated with a media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate a request for verification of user presence in the viewing area in response to detection of the user movement. Disclosed example apparatus are further to correlate a user input responsive to the request with media presented via the media presentation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. Livoti
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Publication number: 20230308786Abstract: Audience monitoring systems and related methods are described herein. An example audience monitoring system includes a beacon to be disposed proximate a media presentation device. The beacon is to transmit a ping signal. The system also includes a portable metering device to be carried by a person. The portable metering device includes a microphone to receive an audio signal and a processor to determine a distance value indicative of a distance between the portable metering device and the beacon based on the ping signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11763591Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an audio detector to determine a first audience count based on signatures of audio data captured in the media environment, a thermal image detector to determine a heat blob count based on a frame of thermal image data captured in the media environment, and an audience image detector to identify at least one audience member based on a comparison of a frame of audience image data with a library of reference audience images, the audience image detector to perform the comparison in response to the first audience count not matching the heat blob count.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. LiVoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11758226Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to automate receivability updates for media crediting. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least identify a station identifier associated with at least one of a signature or a code, the at least one of the signature or the code collected at a panelist household. The instructions, when executed, cause at least one processor to further determine whether a household receivability table includes the station identifier, to determine, in response to a determination that the household receivability table does not include a station corresponding to the station identifier, whether the station is receivable at the panelist household, and to update the household receivability table, the update in response to a determination that the station corresponding to the station identifier is receivable at the panelist household.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11758223Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and method for user presence detection for audience monitoring are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to detect movement of a user relative to an area based on one or more signals output by one or more motion detection sensors, the area associated with a media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate a request for verification of user presence in the viewing area in response to detection of the user movement. Disclosed example apparatus are further to correlate a user input responsive to the request with media presented via the media presentation device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. Livoti
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Patent number: 11750769Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform an automated gain control protocol with an amplifier based on historical data corresponding to contextual data are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a controller to select an automatic gain control (AGC) parameter for an AGC protocol based on historical data corresponding to contextual data, the contextual data including at least one of a time during which the AGC protocol is performed, a panelist identified by a meter, demographics of an audience identified by the meter, a location of the meter, a station identified by the meter, a media type identified by the meter, or a sound pressure level identified by the meter; and a processor to perform the AGC protocol based on the selected AGC parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Susan Cimino, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11711638Abstract: Audience monitoring systems and related methods are described herein. An example audience monitoring system includes a beacon to be disposed proximate a media presentation device. The beacon is to transmit a ping signal. The system also includes a portable metering device to be carried by a person. The portable metering device includes a microphone to receive an audio signal and a processor to determine a distance value indicative of a distance between the portable metering device and the beacon based on the ping signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Publication number: 20230232071Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a controller to cause a people meter to emit a prompt for input of audience identification information at a first time and determine a first audience count based on the input, an audio detector to determine a second audience count based on signatures generated from audio data captured in the media environment, and a comparator to cause the people meter to not emit the prompt for at least a first time period after the first time when the first audience count is equal to the second audience count.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: John T. LiVoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Khushboo Agarwal
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Publication number: 20230217070Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obfuscated audience identification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a camera to capture an obfuscated recording of a viewing environment, feature identifying circuitry to identify one or more features of a viewer in the viewing environment based on the obfuscated recording, and panelist identifying circuitry to identify a panelist in the viewing environment based on the one or more identified features of the viewer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Publication number: 20230209132Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and method for user presence detection for audience monitoring are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to detect movement of a user relative to an area based on one or more signals output by one or more motion detection sensors, the area associated with a media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate a request for verification of user presence in the viewing area in response to detection of the user movement. Disclosed example apparatus are further to correlate a user input responsive to the request with media presented via the media presentation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. Livoti
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Publication number: 20230209128Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed that utilize screen capture to identify media. Example meter devices disclosed herein are to, in response to determining a media device is powered on, monitor a media device to detect audio output by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to, in response to audio not being detected for a period of time, instruct an image capture device to capture image data representative of a media presentation by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to instruct the image capture device to stop capturing the image data in response to detection of audio output by the media device. Disclosed example meter devices are also to determine, based on whether the image data corresponds to a menu presentation by the media device, whether to transmit the image data to a central facility for media identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Stanley Wellington Woodruff, John T. Livoti
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Patent number: 11689765Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obfuscated audience identification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a camera to capture an obfuscated recording of a viewing environment, feature identifying circuitry to identify one or more features of a viewer in the viewing environment based on the obfuscated recording, and panelist identifying circuitry to identify a panelist in the viewing environment based on the one or more identified features of the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Stanley Wellington Woodruff
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Patent number: 11676073Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed that analyze performance of manufacturer independent devices. An example apparatus includes a software development kit (SDK) deployment engine to deploy an SDK to a manufacturer of a device, the SDK to define heartbeat data to be collected from the device and interfacing techniques to transmit the heartbeat data to a measurement entity. In some examples, the apparatus includes a machine learning engine to predict whether the device is associated with one or more failure modes. The example apparatus also includes an alert generator to generate an alert based on a prediction, the alert to indicate at least one of a type of a first one of the failure modes or at least one component of the device to be remedied according to the first one of the one or more failure modes, and transmit the alert to a management agent.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLCInventors: John T. Livoti, Susan Cimino, Stanley Wellington Woodruff, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Alok Garg