Audio data receipt/exposure measurement with code monitoring and signature extraction

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for gathering audience measurement data relating to receipt of and/or exposure to audio data by an audience member. Audio data is monitored to detect a monitoring code. Based on detection of the monitoring code, a signature characterizing the audio data is extracted.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of monitoring receipt or exposure to audio data, the method comprising:
 receiving audio data in a monitoring device, the audio data including a monitoring code indicating that the audio data is to be monitored;   processing the audio data with a processor of the monitoring device to detect the monitoring code; and   generating, with the processor, a signature characterizing the audio data in response to detecting the monitoring code, the signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data including the monitoring code.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring code is encoded in the audio data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the signature is generated based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the audio data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the audio data includes a first data set and a second data set, the first data set includes the monitoring code, the signature characterizes the first data set, the second data set includes a second monitoring code, and further including:
 detecting the second monitoring code; and   in response to detection of the second monitoring code, generating a second signature characterizing the second data set, the second signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data including the second monitoring code.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the audio used to generate the signature further includes a source identification code. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring code and the source identification code occur simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring code and the source identification code occur in different time segments of the audio data. 
     
     
         9 . A tangible article of manufacture comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor of a monitoring device to at least:
 access audio data at the monitoring device;   process the audio data to detect a monitoring code included in the audio data, the monitoring code indicating that the audio data is to be monitored; and   generate a signature characterizing the audio data in response to detection of the monitoring code, the signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data including the monitoring code.   
     
     
         10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 9 , wherein the monitoring code is encoded in the audio data. 
     
     
         11 . The article of manufacture of  claim 9 , wherein the signature is generated based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the audio data. 
     
     
         12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 9 , wherein the audio data includes a first data set and a second data set, the first data set includes the monitoring code, the signature characterizes the first data set, the second data set includes a second monitoring code, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
 detect the second monitoring code; and   in response to detection of the second monitoring code, generate a second signature characterizing the second data set, the second signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data including the second monitoring code.   
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the audio used to generate the signature further includes a source identification code. 
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein the monitoring code and the source identification code occur simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein the monitoring code and the source identification code occur in different time segments of the audio data. 
     
     
         16 . A monitoring device comprising:
 an input device to receive audio data;   a detector to detect a monitoring code encoded in the audio data, the monitoring code indicating that the audio data is to be monitored; and   a processor to generate a signature characterizing the audio data in response to detection of the monitoring code by the detector, the signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data in which the monitoring code is encoded.   
     
     
         17 . The monitoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is to generate the signature based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the audio data. 
     
     
         18 . The monitoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the audio data includes a first data set and a second data set, the first data set includes the monitoring code, the signature characterizes the first data set, the second data set includes a second monitoring code, the detector is further to detect the second monitoring code, and the processor is further to generate a second signature characterizing the second data set in response to the second monitoring code being detected by the detector, the second signature being generated from at least a portion of the audio data including the second monitoring code. 
     
     
         19 . The monitoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the audio used to generate the signature further includes a source identification code. 
     
     
         20 . The monitoring device of  claim 19 , wherein the monitoring code and the source identification code occur simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         21 . The monitoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring code occurs at least one of (1) continuously throughout a time base of the audio data, or (2) repeatedly in at least one interval of the audio data.