Patents Assigned to Arbitron Inc.
-
Patent number: 8000677Abstract: An encoding system for encoding a first ancillary code in media data and monitoring for reception of a second ancillary code that has a higher priority than the first ancillary code, such that upon detection of the higher priority ancillary code the encoding system modifies a characteristic and/or characteristics of the first ancillary code.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Wendell D. Lynch, James M. Jensen
-
Patent number: 7961881Abstract: Apparatus and methods for including a code having at least one code frequency component in an audio signal are provided. The abilities of various frequency components in the audio signal to mask the code frequency component to human hearing are evaluated and based on these evaluations an amplitude is assigned to the code frequency component. Methods and apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal are also provided. A code frequency component in the encoded audio signal is detected based on an expected code amplitude or on a noise amplitude within a range of audio frequencies including the frequency of the code component.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2005Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Arbitron Inc.Inventors: James M. Jensen, Wendell D. Lynch, Michael M. Perelshteyn, Robert B. Graybill, Sayed Hassan, Wayne Sabin
-
Patent number: 7962315Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Arbitron Inc.Inventors: James M. Jensen, Jack C. Crystal, Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack K. Zhang, Daniel W. Pugh, Douglas J. Visnius, Eugene L. Flanagan, III
-
Publication number: 20110134129Abstract: Listening information indicating a number of audience members who switched stations during each of the designated periods of time is displayed on a graph having a plot representing the listening information. The graph is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion about a normalized line representing an average number of audience members who listened during designated periods of time. Additional plots can also be presented, including plots arranged so that portions above the normalized line represent a greater than average number of listeners, and portions below the normalized line represent a lower than average number of listeners.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicants: CLEAR CHANNEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., ARBITRON, INC.Inventors: Brice Kirkendall-Rodriguez, Philippe Generali, Gary Marince
-
Patent number: 7908133Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for gathering research data. Frequency domain data is received or produced, a signature is extracted from the frequency domain data and an ancillary code is read from the frequency domain data.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Arbitron Inc.Inventor: Alan R. Neuhauser
-
Publication number: 20100226494Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses are disclosed for protecting encoded media data. A minimum set of information needed to encode a single message for an encoded audio signal is loaded separately from the media data into an encoder. A media license file is generated to protect the encoded data, where the underlying information relevant to the media data may be hidden through encryption or other means in order to foster security. The algorithm(s) for encoding may be provided using a shared library, combined with an encoding payload that provides the minimum information set required to form the single message. A partial decoder may apply pattern matching information in the encoded payload in order to confirm that the encoding is actually present and is proper. Accordingly, the payload must be successfully decoded and verified before the underlying data may be decoded.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Wendell Lynch, Ronald Smith
-
Patent number: 7650793Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: James M. Jensen, Jack C. Crystal, Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack K. Zhang, Daniel W. Pugh, Douglas J. Visnius, Eugene L. Flanagan, III
-
Patent number: 7640141Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for gathering audience measurement data relating to exposure of an audience member to audio data. Audio data is received in a user system and is then encoded with audience measurement data. The encoded audio data is reproduced by the user system, picked up by a monitor and decoded to recover the audience measurement data.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Ronald S. Kolessar, James M. Jensen, Wendell D. Lynch
-
Patent number: 7627872Abstract: An audience measurement system for gathering data reflecting usage of media data by a user by means of a user system. The user system preprocesses the gathered data into micro-level report objects.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Arbitron Inc.Inventors: John W. Hebeler, Prasad V. Kunchakarra, Thomas L. Dietz, III
-
Publication number: 20090292587Abstract: Processes and systems for use in media and market research are provided. In certain embodiments, media usage activities relating to interactivity between two or more media are measured and correlated to produce a metric for rating the interactivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Arbitron, Inc.Inventor: Joan G. FITZGERALD
-
Publication number: 20090264092Abstract: An encoding system for encoding a first ancillary code in media data and monitoring for reception of a second ancillary code that has a higher priority than the first ancillary code, such that upon detection of the higher priority ancillary code the encoding system modifies a characteristic and/or characteristics of the first ancillary code.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: ARBITRON, INC.Inventors: Wendell D. Lynch, James M. Jensen
-
Publication number: 20090193052Abstract: Systems and methods for gathering research data using multiple monitoring devices are provided. At least a pair of the monitoring devices each read ancillary codes contained within media data and which represents research data. The decoded data read by at least one of the pair is associated with a further set of data offering a correspondence between each of the sets of decoded data. Such correspondence allows a determination that the data decoded by each of the pair of monitoring devices is the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: ARBITRON, INC.Inventors: Joan G. FitzGerald, Carol J. Frost, Eugene L. Flanagan
-
Publication number: 20090171767Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for carrying out a research operation in which each of a plurality of panelists carries a portable research data gathering device. Each of the portable research data gathering devices is configured to gather research data only during a time period or time periods of a monitoring day of the research operation having a total duration which is less than the duration of the monitoring day. Methods and systems are also provided for setting up and/or managing such a research operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: Arbitron, Inc.Inventor: Ronald S. Kolessar
-
Patent number: 7471987Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for gathering data concerning media usage by predetermined audience members. An audience measurement code in acoustic energy produced by a media receiver is detected by a portable media monitor. The monitor also detects a location code produced in a vicinity of the media receiver.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Crystal, James M. Jensen
-
Patent number: 7463144Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Crystal, James M. Jensen, Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack K. Zhang, Daniel W. Pugh
-
Patent number: 7460827Abstract: Disclosed herein is a critical band encoding technology (CBET) system having at least one portable people meter (PPM) and a home base station and/or household hub, the CBET system containing a radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, comprising at least one RF transmitter for receiving a control signal, modulating an RF signal to a present modulation frequency upon receipt of the control signal, and wireless transmitting the modulated signal; and an RF receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal, determining the modulation frequency, and transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location, wherein the transmission power of the RF transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated data within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Schuster, Douglas L. Lewis
-
Patent number: 7443292Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: James M. Jensen, Jack C. Crystal, Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack K. Zhang, Daniel W. Pugh
-
Publication number: 20080204273Abstract: A monitor for receiving survey data includes a wireless communication facility. Wireless communication facilities adapted to communicate with an appliance having a corresponding wireless communication facility. A signal corresponding to survey data acquired by the monitor is received at the appliance and forwarded over a communications network to a data collection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Arbitron,Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Crystal, Alan R. Neuhauser, William K. Krug
-
Patent number: 7408460Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Crystal, James M. Jensen, Alan R. Neuhauser, Jack K. Zhang, Daniel W. Pugh
-
Patent number: RE42627Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decoding a message symbol in an audio signal. This message symbol is represented by first and second code symbols displaced in time. Values representing the code signals are accumulated and the accumulated values are examined to detect the message symbol.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Arbitron, Inc.Inventors: Alan R. Neuhauser, Wendell D. Lynch, James M. Jensen