Abstract: Broadcast audio is automatically monitored for information of interest. A computer processor has a memory associated therewith for storing a vocabulary of keywords of interest. An audio receiver receives an audio broadcast. A speech recognition system associated with the audio receiver and computer processor detects when one of the keywords appears in a received audio segment. A report generator associated with the computer processor and responsive to the detection of a keyword generates a report detailing the detected keyword and its context. The system is particularly well suited to the verification of commercial messages and to assist in public relations efforts.

Abstract: A system for measuring exposure to a visual display such as a billboard. A transmitter that is proximate to the billboard broadcasts a data signal that carries information relating to the billboard. This information may identify the location of the billboard, the message displayed by the billboard, and time of day. The data signal is provided at a power level that is adapted to reach a pre-defined exposure area in which the billboard can be viewed. A portable receiving device is provided to a defined consumer population to measure the exposure of the consumers to the billboards. The receiving device may be carried or worn by the consumer, or carried in the consumer's vehicle. The receiving device is adapted to recover the data signal and store the information relating to the billboard when the viewer is in the pre-defined exposure area. The time of day and duration of the exposure may also be recorded.

Abstract: Auxiliary data is transported in subbands of a primary data signal by hiding the data in the form of colored noise. The colored noise has a spectrum that simulates the spectrum of the primary data signal in each subband. The data to be transported is first converted to a spread spectrum signal. The primary data signal is analyzed to determine its spectral shape. The same spectral shape is imparted to the spread spectrum signal in each subband, which is then combined with the primary data signal for transmission. The spectral shaping can be performed using time domain modeling and synthesis such as linear predictive coding. A plurality of different auxiliary information streams can be transported on the primary data signal. By adjusting the gain of individual spread spectrum signal carrier(s) and the power of the colored noise, the auxiliary information stream(s) can be rendered at any desired level below or above an interference threshold in the primary data signal.

Abstract: Reproduction of a multi-media data signal which is stored on a source media or distributed via a communication network is controlled by inserting master tag data and control tag data into the data signal. A player/recorder inserts an additional generation of control tag information each time a copy of the media is made. If the number of generations of the control tag information is above a threshold value, reproduction of the data signal may be inhibited. For example, if the data signal comprises video data, the player/recorder may only allow playing of the video signal on a display but will not allow recording. The playing and recording of associated signals, such as an audio signal which accompanies a video signal, may also be controlled. The master tag data and control tag data may be provided as spread spectrum signals which are spectrally shaped and power-adjusted according to the data signal to render them imperceptible in the data signal.

Abstract: An auxiliary data signal is transported with a primary data signal by hiding the auxiliary data signal in the form of colored noise. The colored noise has a spectrum that simulates the spectrum of the primary data signal. By adjusting the gain of individual spread spectrum signal carrier(s) and the power of the colored noise, the auxiliary information stream(s) can be rendered at any desired level below or above an interference threshold in the primary data signal. The power of the colored noise is further compensated to account for a cross-correlation between the primary data signal and the auxiliary data signal to enhance the recovery of the auxiliary data at a decoder.

Abstract: Auxiliary data is transported in a primary data signal by hiding the data in the form of colored noise. The colored noise has a spectrum that simulates the spectrum of the primary data signal. The data to be transported is first converted to a spread spectrum signal. The primary data signal is analyzed to determine its spectral shape. The same spectral shape is imparted to the spread spectrum signal, which is then combined with the primary data signal for transmission. The spectral shaping can be performed using time domain modeling and synthesis such as linear predictive coding or by using subband coding techniques such as fast Fourier transforms. A plurality of different auxiliary information streams can be transported on the primary data signal. By adjusting the gain of individual spread spectrum signal carrier(s) and the power of the colored noise, the auxiliary information stream(s) can be rendered at a desired level at, below or above an interference threshold in the primary data signal.

Abstract: Auxiliary data is carried substantially imperceptibly with video transform data in combined transform samples according to a visibility threshold. The auxiliary data provides a capability for a copy protect scheme or verification of television viewing activity. The video transform samples are extracted from a compressed packetized data stream and normalized if required. The auxiliary data modulates data carrier sequences such as pseudo-noise (PN) spread spectrum signals in different spatial frequencies to provide auxiliary data subband samples, which are in turn combined with the video transform samples in one or more spatial frequencies to provide combined subband samples. The auxiliary data subband samples may be also spectrally shaped according to the video transform samples to improve concealment. The combined transform samples are then multiplexed into the packetized data stream. Full decompression of the video transform samples is not required.

Abstract: Auxiliary data is transported in a conventional audio signal by hiding the data in the form of colored noise. The colored noise has a spectrum that simulates the spectrum of the primary audio signal. The data to be transported is first converted to a spread spectrum signal. The primary audio signal is analyzed to determine its spectral shape. The same spectral shape is imparted to the spread spectrum signal, which is then combined with the primary audio signal for transmission. The spectral shaping can be performed using time domain modeling and synthesis such as linear predictive coding or by using subband coding techniques such as fast Fourier transforms. A plurality of different auxiliary information streams can be transported on the audio signal. By adjusting the gain of individual spread spectrum signal carrier(s) and the power of the colored noise, the auxiliary information stream(s) can be rendered inaudible in the primary audio signal, or at any desired level below or above an audible threshold.

Abstract: Auxiliary data subband samples representing an auxiliary data signal are transported in a subband-coded compressed digital audio signal without decompressing the data. A pre-existing packetized data stream is provided to an input of a encoder. Subband audio samples are extracted from the packet stream and normalized if required. The data to be transported modulates data carrier subbands including, for example, a pseudo-noise (PN) spread spectrum signal, each subband of which has a bandwidth corresponding to those of the digital audio signal. The data carrier sequence can also include a sparse PN sequence, sample twiddle sequence, or a bit twiddle sequence. The modulated data carrier sequence is combined with the audio subband samples to form a combined signal in which the auxiliary data subband samples are carried. The combined signal is then multiplexed into the pre-existing packet stream. In a decoder, the combined signal is demodulated to recover the auxiliary data signal.