Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for associating different watermarks detected in media. An example method disclosed herein includes determining whether a first watermark detected in a media signal is represented in a watermark data structure and associating the first watermark with a first media presentation record associated with a second watermark in response to the first watermark being associated in the watermark data structure with the second watermark. The example method further includes transmitting monitoring data including the first media presentation record to an audience measurement entity.

Abstract: An RFID-based item tracking system may use statistical methods to determine whether a tag or tagged item that does not respond when inventoried is present in a particular zone or reader antenna field-of-view. In one embodiment, the item tracking system may determine an observability of an item based on one or more initial trials. Upon not detecting the item in one or more subsequent trials, the item tracking system may estimate whether the item is still present based on the observability.

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.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to update audio sensor configuration are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes performing a downhole operation in a borehole in a formation. Downhole particles and drilling mud are captured at a surface from the borehole into a screen of a shaker during the downhole operation. Input power that comprises at least one of voltage, current, and leakage current being supplied to the shaker is monitored during operation of the shaker, it is determined whether the input power exceeds a threshold as a result of change in a load on the shaker. In response to determining that the input power exceeds the threshold as the result of change in the load on the shaker, it is determined that there is a kick condition in the borehole, where the kick condition comprises a condition in which a pressure of the formation exceeds a pressure in the borehole.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media presentations are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include memory, instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to at least receive demographic information from a user, transmit the demographic information to a central facility, cause storage of a consent identifier in a pasteboard of the media device, the consent identifier accessible to a first instrumented application and a second instrumented application executed in a sandbox environment, the consent identifier to indicate to the first instrumented application and the second instrumented application that monitoring is allowed, access the consent identifier from the pasteboard, present media, generate monitoring information if the consent identifier permits collection of monitoring information, not generate monitoring information if the consent identifier does not permit the collection of the monitoring information, and transmit the monitoring information to the central facility.

Abstract: Methods for coatings for golf balls, particularly golf balls having thermoplastic polyurethane covers, and the resulting finished balls are provided. The coating is preferably a topcoat comprising a polyurethane composition containing optical brighteners. The topcoat composition preferably comprises a low concentration of optical brighteners. For example, the concentration of optical brightener can be in the range of 0.01 to about 0.20 weight %. The optical brighteners provide the desired brightness to the golf ball without sacrificing color stability. Multi-piece golf balls having inner cores, outer cores, inner covers, and intermediate layers can be made. The finished ball with the topcoat has many advantageous physical and playing performance properties.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture related to end-point media watermarking are disclosed. An example device includes a media receiver to receive a media signal, a watermark generator to generate a watermark, a trigger to activate the watermark generator to generate the watermark based on an external input, an encoder to encode the media signal with the watermark to synthesize an encoded media signal, a media output to render the encoded media signal.

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.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for associating different watermarks detected in media. An example method disclosed herein includes determining whether a first watermark detected in a media signal is represented in a watermark data structure and associating the first watermark with a first media presentation record associated with a second watermark in response to the first watermark being associated in the watermark data structure with the second watermark. The example method further includes transmitting monitoring data including the first media presentation record to an audience measurement entity.

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.

Abstract: Example invertible metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes at least one processor and memory including instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to at least: determine an orientation of a housing; determine if a housing is in a mounting orientation; in response to determining that the housing is not in the mounting orientation, initiate a first alarm; in response to determining that the housing is in the mounting orientation, determine an orientation of a stencil; determine if the stencil is in an upright orientation; in response to determining that stencil is not in the upright orientation, initiate a second alarm; and in response to at least one of the housing being in the mounting orientation or the stencil being in the upright orientation, assign a light pattern to a plurality of lights associated with the stencil.

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.

Abstract: A product includes a container, a photosensitive material carried by the container and responsive to ultraviolet light, and a UV protector carried by the container to protect the photosensitive material from exposure to UV light. A method of producing a food or beverage container includes applying a photochromic material to a food or beverage container that is responsive to ultraviolet (UV) light so as to darken upon exposure thereto, and protecting at least a portion of the photochromic material from exposure to UV light.

Abstract: Example invertible metering apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes at least one processor and memory including instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to at least: determine an orientation of a housing; determine if a housing is in a mounting orientation; in response to determining that the housing is not in the mounting orientation, initiate a first alarm; in response to determining that the housing is in the mounting orientation, determine an orientation of a stencil; determine if the stencil is in an upright orientation; in response to determining that stencil is not in the upright orientation, initiate a second alarm; and in response to at least one of the housing being in the mounting orientation or the stencil being in the upright orientation, assign a light pattern to a plurality of lights associated with the stencil.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shared transfer switching system with built in relay testing ability, for transferring power received by a load from a preferred AC power source to an alternate AC power source, or transferring power being received by the load from the alternate AC power source to the preferred AC power source. The system selectively controls various ones of the relays used to apply power from either the preferred or alternate power sources to the load, such that the relays are switched from open to closed states at controlled times, while voltage measurements are made at select locations between the relays. The system can identify which specific ones of a plurality of relays associated with each of the preferred and alternate power sources has properly opened and closed, and thus verify that all of the relays needed to switch between the preferred and alternate power sources are operating properly.

Abstract: Methods for coatings for golf balls, particularly golf balls having thermoplastic polyurethane covers, and the resulting finished balls are provided. The coating is preferably a topcoat comprising a polyurethane composition containing optical brighteners. The topcoat composition preferably comprises a low concentration of optical brighteners. For example, the concentration of optical brightener can be in the range of 0.01 to about 0.20 weight %. The optical brighteners provide the desired brightness to the golf ball without sacrificing color stability. Multi-piece golf balls having inner cores, outer cores, inner covers, and intermediate layers can be made. The finished ball with the topcoat has many advantageous physical and playing performance properties.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media presentations are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include memory, instructions, and at least one processor to execute the instructions to at least receive demographic information from a user, transmit the demographic information to a central facility, cause storage of a consent identifier in a pasteboard of the media device, the consent identifier accessible to a first instrumented application and a second instrumented application executed in a sandbox environment, the consent identifier to indicate to the first instrumented application and the second instrumented application that monitoring is allowed, access the consent identifier from the pasteboard, present media, generate monitoring information if the consent identifier permits collection of monitoring information, not generate monitoring information if the consent identifier does not permit the collection of the monitoring information, and transmit the monitoring information to the central facility.