Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods to identify media using watermarks and signatures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, instructions, and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: determine a first time and a category indicated by a watermark detected in the media, determine a search window based on the first time indicated by the watermark, the search window to at least one of (i) extend a first duration of time before the first time indicated by the watermark or (ii) extend a second duration of time after the first time indicated by the watermark, and compare (i) a query signature associated with a second time within the search window with (ii) a subset of reference signatures associated with the category to identify the media, the query signature generated from the media, the subset of reference signatures generated from reference media associated with the category.

Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein are to obtain a first hash key, a second hash key and a third hash key representative of first reference media in response to a first query of a first table, the second hash key associated with a second time preceding a first time associated with the first hash key, the third hash key associated with a third time following the first time associated with the first hash key. Disclosed example apparatus are also to prequalify the first hash key as a candidate for subsequent signature processing associated with a first site signature in response to a determination that the second hash key corresponds to a second site signature preceding the first site signature in time and that the third hash key corresponds to a third site signature following the first site signature in time.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to credit media segments shared among multiple media assets are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include comparing a sequence of monitored media signatures with a library of reference signatures to determine a signature match, the monitored media signatures representative of a monitored media presentation. Disclosed example methods also include determining duration and offset of the signature match, the offset to represent a position of the signature match relative to a start of a reference media asset associated with the signature match. Disclosed example methods further include crediting a segment of the monitored media presentation represented by the signature match to an identifier of a class of media assets including the reference media asset in response to a determination that (i) the duration of the signature match does not exceed a first threshold and (ii) the offset does not exceed a second threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate reference signatures are disclosed. An example method includes collecting a first signature for media being presented to a plurality of households; crediting the media when the first signature matches a reference signature in a reference signature database; in response to determining that the first signature does not match a reference signature in the reference signature database and the first signature does not match an unidentified signature in an unknown signature database, storing the first signature in the unknown signature database; in response to determining that a second signature does not match the reference signature in the reference signature database and the second signature matches the unidentified signature in the unknown signature database, and increasing a count associated with the unidentified signature.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring media-surfing activity. An example method includes a computing system receiving reporting of packet-data activity at a panelist site. Further, the example method includes the computing system using at least the received reporting of packet-data activity at the panelist site as a basis to detect occurrence of media-surfing activity at the panelist site, where the media-surfing activity comprises a user surfing through one or more content-selection menus. Still further, the example method includes the computing system reporting the detected occurrence of media-surfing activity at the panelist site as media-exposure data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify candidates for media asset qualification. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a media creditor to determine whether to credit a first media asset to linear media or non-linear media, the non-linear media including subscription video on demand (SVOD). Disclosed example apparatus also include a media asset candidate controller to: classify the first media asset as a non-candidate for media asset qualification in response to the first media asset being credited to the linear media or the non-linear media. In some examples, the media asset candidate controller is to determine whether to classify the first media asset as a candidate for media asset qualification based on whether the first media asset remains uncredited by the media creditor and the first media asset overlaps a streaming period.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate meter to meter matching for media identification. Example apparatus disclosed herein include an unknown signature comparer, a stack counter, and a reference database updater. The unknown signature comparer is to select a candidate unknown signature segment meeting a threshold length from a set of unknown signature segments collected at a first audience measurement location, and compare individual signatures of the candidate unknown signature segment with a collection of unknown signature segments collected at a second audience measurement location. The stack counter is to count a number of times that the candidate unknown signature segment matches unknown signature segments in the collection, and identify the candidate unknown signature segment as a matched signature segment when the number of times meets a counter threshold.

Abstract: A throw and catch toy having a head section and a long tail section. The head section is weight such that the weight of the toy is distributed more towards the head end of the toy. The head is affixed to the tail by means of a tube which can whistle when the toy is thrown.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify candidates for media asset qualification. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a media creditor to determine whether to credit a first media asset to linear media or non-linear media, the non-linear media including subscription video on demand (SVOD). Disclosed example apparatus also include a media asset candidate controller to: classify the first media asset as a non-candidate for media asset qualification in response to the first media asset being credited to the linear media or the non-linear media. In some examples, the media asset candidate controller is to determine whether to classify the first media asset as a candidate for media asset qualification based on whether the first media asset remains uncredited by the media creditor and the first media asset overlaps a streaming period.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus includes a microfluidic chip for MicroOrganoSpheres (MOS) generation. A first channel is defined in a surface of the microfluidic chip and includes: a droplet generation portion including an inlet portion, a junction between the inlet portion and an emulsifying fluid channel, and a chamber downstream of the junction. A cross-sectional area of the chamber is larger than that of the inlet portion. The first channel includes a polymerization portion downstream of the droplet generation portion, the polymerization portion having a serpentine configuration. The apparatus includes a cartridge for MOS demulsification, including: a collection container; a substrate disposed on the collection container, and a membrane disposed between the collection container and the surface of the substrate. A second channel is defined in the surface of the substrate that faces the collection container and is fluidically connected to an output of the polymerization portion of the first channel.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate meter to meter matching for media identification. Example apparatus disclosed herein include an unknown signature comparer, a stack counter, and a reference database updater. The unknown signature comparer is to select a candidate unknown signature segment meeting a threshold length from a set of unknown signature segments collected at a first audience measurement location, and compare individual signatures of the candidate unknown signature segment with a collection of unknown signature segments collected at a second audience measurement location. The stack counter is to count a number of times that the candidate unknown signature segment matches unknown signature segments in the collection, and identify the candidate unknown signature segment as a matched signature segment when the number of times meets a counter threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer systems, and computer-readable code for implementing methods for client relation management in which fewer call-in numbers need to be maintained. A method for client relation management preserves a more-complete record of online and offline interactions of a customer with systems provided by a plurality of service providers. A session identifier (SID) is associated with a customer upon interaction of the customer with a website provided by a first service provider. Website interaction information is received from the first service provider and is associated with the SID. Information associated with an incoming call from the customer at a call-in number at a call center maintained by a second service provider is used to associate the incoming call with the SID, creating a record of an offline interaction between the customer and an agent of the call center. The record of the offline interaction is associated with the SID.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus includes a microfluidic chip for MicroOrganoSpheres (MOS) generation. A first channel is defined in a surface of the microfluidic chip and includes: a droplet generation portion including an inlet portion, a junction between the inlet portion and an emulsifying fluid channel, and a chamber downstream of the junction. A cross-sectional area of the chamber is larger than that of the inlet portion. The first channel includes a polymerization portion downstream of the droplet generation portion, the polymerization portion having a serpentine configuration. The apparatus includes a cartridge for MOS demulsification, including: a collection container; a substrate disposed on the collection container, and a membrane disposed between the collection container and the surface of the substrate. A second channel is defined in the surface of the substrate that faces the collection container and is fluidically connected to an output of the polymerization portion of the first channel.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for identification of streaming activity and source for cached media on streaming devices. An example system stores, in a content identification information library, first content identification information of a first media presentation, wherein the first media presentation is a streamed media presentation; inspects a network connection of a media streaming device for network activity associated with a second media presentation; determine, in response to an absence of the network activity, the second media presentation is a cached media presentation; infers a streaming source of the second media presentation by matching second content identification information of the second media presentation with the first content identification information of the first media presentation; and generates a second media credit for the second media presentation that includes an inferred streaming source identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a grinder blade for flush cutting concrete, the grinder blade comprising: a distal side that defines a flush cutting plane and a proximal side opposite the distal side, and a locking hub receiver section unitarily formed from the grinder blade at a center portion and extending from the grinder blade a proximal direction to receive a locking hub with a plurality of fasteners disposed proximally to the grinder blade to secure the locking hub against the grinder blade.

Abstract: Apparatus, system, methods, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify media using hash keys. An example system includes a hybrid hash key analyzer to access a metered hash key of an exposure record obtained from a meter, access reference records representative of respective portions of a plurality of media, and determine reference confirmation data candidates from respective ones of the reference records that include hash keys matching the metered hash key. The example system includes an impression logger to, when first confirmation data associated with the exposure record matches one of the reference confirmation data candidates, store an impression record that associates the media identification data associated with the matching one of the reference confirmation data candidates with a meter identifier of the exposure record. The impression logger also is to credit at least a portion of the media corresponding to the media identification data with an exposure credit.

Abstract: In one example, a method is described. The method includes: accessing a reference hash key in a reference database, applying a blurring function to the reference hash key to generate a first blurred reference hash key, where the blurring function sets at least one least-significant bit of the reference hash key to zero, comparing a metered hash key with blurred reference hash keys stored in a reference database, where the blurred reference hash keys include the first blurred reference hash key, and where the metered hash key is obtained from a meter device, and crediting a first portion of media with an exposure when the metered hash key matches the first blurred reference hash key stored in the reference database.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to credit unidentified media are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a database updater to store a first group of signatures representative of unidentified media in a database, the first group of signatures obtained from a first media meter to monitor a first media presentation device, the first group of signatures associated with a first media exposure category based on media source information reported by the first media meter. Disclosed example apparatus also include a media comparator to compare a second group of signatures with the first group of signatures, the second group of signatures obtained from a second media meter to monitor a second media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include a reporter to credit media exposure represented by the second group of signatures to the first media exposure category when the second group of signatures matches the first group of signatures.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform media device asset qualification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least identify a first set of candidate media device assets for disqualification, the candidate media device assets including A) a signature and B) a media identifier that identifies media, generate a hash table using a second set of the candidate media device assets, determine one or more counts of matches between C) a first signature and a first media identifier of a first candidate media device asset of the second set and D) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the second set using the hash table, the multiple ones of the second set not including the first candidate media device asset, and load the first signature into a reference database as a reference signature.

Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein to implement signature matching with meter data aggregation for use in media identification applications include a match job aggregator to aggregate batches of meter data from a meter to form aggregated meter data associated with the meter, and a hash matcher to identify a valid hash key match between meter hash keys generated from meter signatures in the aggregated meter data and reference hash keys corresponding to a collection of media assets. Disclosed example apparatus also include a signature matcher to align, based on the valid hash key match, a sequence of reference signatures corresponding to a first media asset associated with the valid hash key match and a corresponding sequence of the meter signatures, and compare the sequence of reference signatures and the corresponding sequence of meter signatures to identify media represented by at least a portion of the sequence of the meter signatures.