Patents by Inventor Douglas Brent Turnbow

Douglas Brent Turnbow 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).

  • Publication number: 20240147002
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example system includes: interface circuitry; programmable circuitry; and instructions to program the programmable circuitry to: obtain audio of a media presentation; obtain ambient noise in an area associated with the media presentation; determine an intensity of a difference between the audio and the ambient noise; and determine an engagement level of an audience of the media presentation based on a duration the intensity satisfies a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: James Joseph Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Troy E. McClellan
  • Publication number: 20230336971
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to update audio sensor configuration are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Publication number: 20230209287
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine performance of audience measurement meters. An example apparatus disclosed herein is to cause an audio output device of a meter to emit an audio signal into an environment, the audio signal based on a test pattern including a first plurality of watermarks and cause an audio input device of the meter to collect data from the environment during emission of the audio signal. Additionally, the example apparatus is to determine whether a second plurality of watermarks decoded from the data match the first plurality of watermarks and based on a difference between the first plurality of watermarks and the second plurality of watermarks indicative of a fault, cause an alert to be transmitted to a device associated with an audience measurement company that issued the meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Troy E. McClellan, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Patent number: 11671821
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to update audio sensor configuration are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Publication number: 20230012802
    Abstract: Example invertible meter apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example meter to monitor a media device includes a housing defining a cavity and a display area. The display area is separated from the cavity via a wall defining the display area. metering circuitry is positioned in the cavity of the housing. A stencil is to couple to the display area. The display area to be accessible from an exterior of the housing and is structured to removably receive the stencil without accessing the cavity or exposing the metering circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Patent number: 11463769
    Abstract: Example invertible meter apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example meter to monitor a media device includes a housing having a display and a plurality of walls. Respective ones of the walls are between respective ones of openings such that the openings are isolated from adjacent ones of the openings. A removable stencil includes a plurality of visual indicators, where the visual indicators to align with respective ones of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Publication number: 20220312186
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to update audio sensor configuration are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Patent number: 11363448
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least two audio sensors to receive audio at an audience metering device and a selection tester to identify a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device, the plurality of audio sensor configurations identifying respective gain values to be applied to the plurality of audio sensors. The selection tester is further to select one of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations based on a comparison of a first quality metric and a second quality metric. The example apparatus further includes a media identifier to identify audio received at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Kenneth Paul Braman
  • Patent number: 11341519
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a stencil and a housing having a display area. The display area has a recessed cavity defining a front surface of the display area. A front surface of the stencil is to be flush mounted relative to the front surface of the display area defined by the recessed cavity when the stencil is positioned in the display area of the housing. A cover is removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Patent number: 11295327
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a stencil and a housing having a display area. The display area has a first recessed cavity and a second recessed cavity adjacent the first recessed cavity. The first recessed cavity is offset relative to the second recessed cavity such that the second recessed cavity defines a front surface of the display area and a peripheral lip of a front side of the housing. A cover is removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area. The second recessed cavity of the housing is to receive the cover. The cover is received by the second recessed cavity such that an outer surface of the cover is substantially flush mounted relative to a peripheral lip of the housing, and wherein a perimeter of the cover is substantially similar to a perimeter of the peripheral lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Publication number: 20210037376
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least two audio sensors to receive audio at an audience metering device and a selection tester to identify a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device, the plurality of audio sensor configurations identifying respective gain values to be applied to the plurality of audio sensors. The selection tester is further to select one of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations based on a comparison of a first quality metric and a second quality metric. The example apparatus further includes a media identifier to identify audio received at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Patent number: 10750354
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least two audio sensors to receive audio at an audience metering device and a selection tester to identify a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device, the plurality of audio sensor configurations identifying respective gain values to be applied to the plurality of audio sensors. The selection tester is further to select one of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations based on a comparison of a first quality metric and a second quality metric. The example apparatus further includes a media identifier to identify audio received at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Publication number: 20190349632
    Abstract: Example invertible meter apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example meter to monitor a media device includes a housing having a display and a plurality of walls. Respective ones of the walls are between respective ones of openings such that the openings are isolated from adjacent ones of the openings. A removable stencil includes a plurality of visual indicators, where the visual indicators to align with respective ones of the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Publication number: 20190272554
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a stencil and a housing having a display area. The display area has a first recessed cavity and a second recessed cavity adjacent the first recessed cavity. The first recessed cavity is offset relative to the second recessed cavity such that the second recessed cavity defines a front surface of the display area and a peripheral lip of a front side of the housing. A cover is removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area. The second recessed cavity of the housing is to receive the cover. The cover is received by the second recessed cavity such that an outer surface of the cover is substantially flush mounted relative to a peripheral lip of the housing, and wherein a perimeter of the cover is substantially similar to a perimeter of the peripheral lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Patent number: 10405036
    Abstract: Example invertible meter apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example invertible meter apparatus includes a housing having a display area. The housing positionable in a first orientation or a second orientation different than the first orientation. The meter apparatus includes a stencil removably coupled to the display area of the housing. The stencil having indicia to be positioned in the display area of the housing in an upright orientation when the housing is in the first orientation. The stencil being repositionable to orient the indicia to the upright orientation when the housing is moved to the second orientation. The meter apparatus includes a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the stencil in the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Publication number: 20190261162
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least two audio sensors to receive audio at an audience metering device and a selection tester to identify a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device, the plurality of audio sensor configurations identifying respective gain values to be applied to the plurality of audio sensors. The selection tester is further to select one of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations based on a comparison of a first quality metric and a second quality metric. The example apparatus further includes a media identifier to identify audio received at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Patent number: 10225730
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform audio sensor selection in an audience metering device are disclosed. An example method includes identifying a plurality of audio sensor configurations supported by the audience metering device. A first quality metric of a first media identifier determined from first audio received via a first one of the audio sensor configurations is computed. A second quality metric of a second media identifier determined from second audio received via a second one of the audio sensor configurations is computed. One of the first one of the audio sensor configurations or the second one of the audio sensor configurations is selected based on a comparison of the first quality metric and the second quality metric. Media monitoring is performed at the audience metering device using the selected one of the audio sensor configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, James J. Vitt, Timothy Scott Cooper, Douglas Brent Turnbow
  • Publication number: 20180260831
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a stencil and a housing having a display area. The display area has a recessed cavity defining a front surface of the display area. A front surface of the stencil is to be flush mounted relative to the front surface of the display area defined by the recessed cavity when the stencil is positioned in the display area of the housing. A cover is removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Patent number: 9984380
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a housing having a display area, The apparatus includes at least one of a first stencil or a second stencil to be removably positionable in the display area of the housing. The first stencil has indicia oriented in a landscape orientation and the second stencil has indicia oriented in a portrait orientation. The at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is to be positioned in the display area of the housing such that the indicia of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is in an upright orientation relative to the housing. The apparatus includes a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC.
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek
  • Publication number: 20170372340
    Abstract: Example metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a housing having a display area, The apparatus includes at least one of a first stencil or a second stencil to be removably positionable in the display area of the housing. The first stencil has indicia oriented in a landscape orientation and the second stencil has indicia oriented in a portrait orientation. The at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is to be positioned in the display area of the housing such that the indicia of the at least one of the first stencil or the second stencil is in an upright orientation relative to the housing. The apparatus includes a cover removably coupled to the housing to enable access to the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cooper, James Joseph Vitt, Douglas Brent Turnbow, Christen V. Nielsen, Marko Usaj, Andrej Barbis, Saso Vranek