Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: A method and system for direct audio capture and identification of the captured audio. A user may then be offered the opportunity to purchase recordings directly over the Internet or similar outlet. The system preferably includes one or more user-carried portable audio capture devices that employ a microphone, analog to digital converter, signal processor, and memory to store samples of ambient audio or audio features calculated from the audio. Users activate their capture devices when they hear a recording that they would like to identify or purchase. Later, the user may connect the capture device to a personal computer to transfer the audio samples or audio feature samples to an Internet site for identification. The Internet site preferably uses automatic pattern recognition techniques to identify the captured samples from a library of recordings offered for sale. The user can then verify that the sample is from the desired recording and place an order online.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for performing audience surveys of broadcast audio from radio and television. A small body-worn portable collection unit samples the audio environment of the survey member and stores highly compressed features of the audio programming. A central computer simultaneously collects the audio outputs from a number of radio and television receivers representing the possible selections that a survey member may choose. On a regular schedule the central computer interrogates the portable units used in the survey and transfers the captured audio feature samples. The central computer then applies a feature pattern recognition technique to identify which radio or television station the survey member was listening to at various times of day. This information is then used to estimate the popularity of the various broadcast stations.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and/or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database.

Abstract: A method and system for direct audio capture and identification of the captured audio. A user may then be offered the opportunity to purchase recordings directly over the Internet or similar outlet. The system preferably includes one or more user-carried portable audio capture devices that employ a microphone, analog to digital converter, signal processor, and memory to store samples of ambient audio or audio features calculated from the audio. Users activate their capture devices when they hear a recording that they would like to identify or purchase. Later, the user may connect the capture device to a personal computer to transfer the audio samples or audio feature samples to an Internet site for identification. The Internet site preferably uses automatic pattern recognition techniques to identify the captured samples from a library of recordings offered for sale. The user can then verify that the sample is from the desired recording and place an order online.

Abstract: A method and system for direct audio capture and identification of the captured audio. A user may then be offered the opportunity to purchase recordings directly over the Internet or similar outlet. The system preferably includes one or more user-carried portable audio capture devices that employ a microphone, analog to digital converter, signal processor, and memory to store samples of ambient audio or audio features calculated from the audio. Users activate their capture devices when they hear a recording that they would like to identify or purchase. Later, the user may connect the capture device to a personal computer to transfer the audio samples or audio feature samples to an Internet site for identification. The Internet site preferably uses automatic pattern recognition techniques to identify the captured samples from a library of recordings offered for sale. The user can then verify that the sample is from the desired recording and place an order online.

Abstract: A system (30) for outputting digital data stored in a memory of a computer (12) in accordance with the invention includes a graphics display processor (20), coupled to the memory, for processing the digital data stored in the memory to produce at least one serial data stream including clock information, which is a function of a clock signal representative of a rate at which the at least one display formatted serial data stream is outputted, and display information for use in controlling a video monitor; a video channel (24), coupled to the display processor, for outputting the at least one serial data stream produced by the graphics display processor; a data processing memory (52); and a data processing system (40, 44 and 50) for processing the at least one serial data stream in response to the clock information and for removing at least the display information and controlling storing of the at least one of the at least one serial data stream with the display information removed which contains the digital dat

Abstract: A system (30) for outputting digital data stored in a memory of a computer (12) in accordance with the invention includes a graphics display processor (20), coupled to the memory, for processing the digital data stored in the memory to produce at least one serial data stream including clock information, which is a function of a clock signal representative of a rate at which the at least one display formatted serial data stream is outputted, and display information for use in controlling a video monitor; a video channel (24), coupled to the display processor, for outputting the at least one serial data stream produced by the graphics display processor; a data processing memory (52); and a data processing system (40, 44 and 50) for processing the at least one serial data stream in response to the clock information and for removing at least the display information and controlling storing of the at least one of the at least one serial data stream with the display information removed which contains the digital dat

Abstract: Recognizing a signal begins by receiving the signal and sampling it at a plurality of sampling points to produce a plurality of signal values. A statistical moment of the signal is calculated using the signal values according to the formula: ##EQU1## where: N=the number of sampling points;n=1<n<NX=the signal value of the signal at the sampling point;.mu.=a mean of the signal values;.sigma.=a standard deviation of the signal values; andk=an integer greater than 1.The calculated statistical moment is then compared with a plurality of stored signal identifications and the received signal is recognized as similar to one of the stored signal identifications. Preferably, the calculated statistical moment is used to create a feature vector which is quantized, and a weighted sum of the quantized feature vector is used to access a memory which stores the signal identifications.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for classifying broadcast information first receives the broadcast information and processes it to provide a plurality of a low bandwidth analyzed waveforms. The analyzed waveforms are used to generate a spectragram which is then compared with a plurality of reference spectragrams stored in a first stage reference library. The first stage reference spectragrams are then queued in order of their similarity to the generated spectragram. Next, a plurality of second stage reference patterns, which correspond to the first stage reference spectragrams, are correlated with one of the analyzed waveforms in the queueing order established previously. A correlation value is provided for each second stage reference pattern stored in the second stage reference library.

Abstract: A precision optical distance measuring device utilizes coherent optical detection for extreme precision, and polarization preserving fiber to enable its use in limited access environments. A laser diode provides a linearly polarized source light beam which is directed to a polarizing beam splitter. The source beam passes through the beam splitter and is focused by a lens into a polarization preserving fiber where it travels along one optical axis toward a probe head disposed at the target location. In the probe head, the source beam is focused by a lens onto the target. After focusing, the source beam is passed through a quarter-wave plate. The interface between ambient air and the target-side of the quarter-wave plate reflects a local oscillator beam back through the quarter-wave plate. Meanwhile, the source beam is reflected from the target as a return beam.

Abstract: The method for the automatic electronic recognition of a program unit broadcast by radio waves includes the formation of a plurality of reference signal segments from the program unit and the processing of such segments to obtain digitized reference signal segments which are then normalized and stored. When the program unit is broadcast, the broadcast signal is processed to generate successive digitized broadcast signal segments which are correlated with the digitized, normalized reference signal segments to obtain correlation function peaks for each resultant correlation segment. The spacing between the correlation function peaks for each correlation segment is then compared to determine whether such spacing is substantially equal to the reference signal segment length.