Methods and apparatus to survey a retail environment are disclosed herein. A disclosed example method involves moving a cart in a retail establishment having a camera. The method also involves capturing a first image of a first area and a second image of a second area. A stitched image is generated based on the first and second images. The stitched image is associated with product codes based on products appearing in the stitched image.
Encoding and decoding methods and apparatus as described. In one example, a method of embedding auxiliary information into an audio signal includes sampling the audio signal to create an audio block; receiving a code; determining frequency components that will be used to represent the code, wherein different sets of frequency components represent respectively different information and wherein one frequency component from each set of frequency components is located in a code band and there are multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands is equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components of each code band; determining amplitudes of the frequency components that will be used to represent the information, wherein the amplitudes of the frequency components are determined by a masking ability of the audio block; synthesizing the frequency components that will be used to represent the information, wherein the frequency components are synthesized with the determined amplitudes; and combining the synthesized code frequency components with the audio block.
G10L 19/00 - Speech or audio signal analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocodersCoding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis
H04H 20/31 - Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by a single channel using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
H04N 7/26 - using bandwidth reduction (information reduction by code conversion in general H03M 7/30)
3.
METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR IN-STORE MEDIA AND CONSUMER TRAFFIC RELATED TO RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS
Methods and apparatus to monitor in-store media and consumer traffic related to retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method of generating shopper traffic data, in-person-based count data and sensor-based count data are obtained. The in- person-based count data is indicative of a first quantity of shoppers within a first zone of a monitored establishment is obtained. The sensor-based count data is indicative of a second quantity of shoppers within the first zone of the monitored establishment. The example method also involves determining a relationship value indicative of a relationship between the in-person-based count data, the sensor-based count data, and first sales data associated with the first zone of the monitored establishment.
Systems and methods to identify intentionally placed products in media content are disclosed. A disclosed system to detect intentionally placed products in media content includes a placement monitor site to record an occurrence of a first intentionally placed product within first broadcast media content in a product placement record; an audience measurement site to record an audience interaction with a second intentionally placed product in second broadcast media content in an event record; and a collection facility to receive the product placement record and the event record.
Methods and apparatus to monitor consumer activity are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method, a first signal is received via a portable device from a first one of a plurality of stationary devices positioned throughout a monitored environment. A first stationary device location of the first stationary device is determined based on the first signal. Absolute location information indicative of a first portable device location of the portable device is determined based on the first stationary device location. Navigational sensing information is generated by the portable device. Relative location information is determined based on the absolute location information and the navigational sensing information, wherein the relative location information is indicative of a second portable device location of the portable device.
Methods and apparatus to analyze computer software are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus may be used to verify and validate computer software. An example method includes receiving from a software test engine a definition of a graphical user interface associated with an application, receiving a user input indicating a test instruction associated with the graphical user interface associated with the application, generating a test engine independent file including a first identifier associated with the graphical user interface associated with the application and a second identifier associated with the test instruction, reading the first identifier and the second identifier from the test engine independent file, and causing the software test engine to perform the test instruction associated with the second identifier using the first identifier.
Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams are disclosed. An example method to embed a code in a compressed audio data stream disclosed herein comprises obtaining a plurality of transform coefficients comprising the compressed audio data stream, wherein the plurality of transform coefficients is represented by a respective plurality of mantissas and a respective plurality of scale factors, and modifying a mantissa in the plurality of mantissas and a corresponding scale factor in the plurality of scale factors to embed the code in the compressed audio data stream.
Methods and portable devices for collecting information about portable device usage are disclosed. Embodiments provide convenient, efficient, and cost-effective methods of monitoring and collecting information about on- portal/off-portal usage, on-network/off-network data usage, interactive (e.g., streaming media, interactive gaming, mobile conferencing, etc.) usage, and wireless IP usage, where the portable device usage is monitored by the portable device itself.
Methods and apparatus to methods and apparatus to identify images in print advertisements are disclosed. An example method comprises computing a first image feature vector for a first presented image, comparing the first image feature vector to a second image feature vector, and when the first image feature vector matches the second image feature vector, storing printed-media information associated with the first presented image in a database record associated with the second image feature vector.
Methods and apparatus for improving data warehouse performance are disclosed. An example method to format data received from a data warehouse includes receiving an analysis instruction, retrieving data from the data warehouse based on the analysis instruction, and associating a mapping file with a fact table, the mapping file stored in a first hierarchical directory file path.
Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to monitor consumer behavior associated with location-based web services are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a query from a mobile device including a query criterion and a first location identifier. A second location identifier is retrieved from a database that associates the second location identifier with an advertisement identifier indicative of an advertisement at a fixed location. The advertisement indicated by the advertisement identifier is credited as having been exposed to a user of the mobile device in response to the first location identifier matching the second location identifier or the first location identifier indicating a first location within a distance of a second location indicated by the second location identifier.
Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. In an example method, one or more frames associated with a compressed digital data stream (240) is identified. Each of the one or more frames is unpacked to determine a plurality of transform coefficient sets (320). The plurality of transform coefficient sets (320) is modified to embed the watermark (230).
Methods and apparatus for detecting on-screen media sources are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring a region of interest of a video signal for a first image, comparing the first image to a stored image, and confirming the media device change when the stored image differs from the first image and is associated with a secondary criterion.
Digital rights management systems and methods for audience measurement are disclosed. An example method to monitor media content consumption disclosed herein comprises automatically processing a measurement rights agreement with a digital rights manager to determine whether the measurement rights agreement authorizes monitoring of media content consumption, and enabling a media handler to obtain measurement information corresponding to a presentation of media content by the media handler when the digital rights manager determines that monitoring of media content consumption is authorized.
Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture meter media content presented on a wireless communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content via a wireless communication device. The media content is to be presented via the wireless communication device. First information is generated indicative of a media presentation mode of a media presentation application executed by the wireless communication device to present the media content. Second information is generated indicative of the media content presented via the wireless communication device. The first information is stored in association with the second information in the wireless communication device.
Methods and apparatus for multi-purpose metering are disclosed. An example method includes acquiring a rate of data transfer to/from the monitored location and comparing the acquired rate of data transfer to a threshold. The example method also includes setting at least one media monitoring device in a first bandwidth mode when the acquired rate of data transfer exceeds the threshold, and setting the at least one media monitoring device in a second bandwidth mode when the acquired rate of data transfer is below the threshold.
Example methods and apparatus to monitor media content on a consumer network as described herein. An example metering system includes a metering device to monitor the consumption of media content at a consumer location and a universal plug and play (UPnP) compatible metering helper to collect audience measurement data from UPnP devices in a consumer network.
Methods and apparatus for using radar to monitor audiences in media environments are described. An example method of identifying media exposure acquires radar information associated with a person in a media environment, determines a location of the person in the media environment based on the radar information, and identifies media exposure based on the location of the person.
Methods and apparatus to recruit personnel are disclosed. A disclosed example recruiting system includes an electronic test administrator to present a test to a candidate and to record at least one of the N. candidate's answers to the test; and a recruiter interface to provide a recruiter with access to the at least one of the candidate's answers, to facilitate manual scoring of the at least one of the candidate's answers and to receive an assessment of the candidate's speaking voice.
Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to collect metering information associated with media presented by portable and computer media presentation devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method accesses a first data structure including metering information generated by at least one of first media presentation software executed by a personal computer or second media presentation software executed by a portable media presentation device. The metering information is associated with media presented by at least one of the first or second media presentation software. At least some of the metering information is then extracted from the first data structure and stored in a second data structure. The at least some of the metering information is then communicated from the second data structure to a data collection facility.
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to collect metering information associated with media presented by portable and computer media presentation devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method accesses a first data structure including metering information generated by at least one of first media presentation software executed by a personal computer or second media presentation software executed by a portable media presentation device. The metering information is associated with media presented by at least one of the first or second media presentation software. At least some of the metering information is then extracted from the first data structure and stored in a second data structure. The at least some of the metering information is then communicated from the second data structure to a data collection facility.
Methods and apparatus for metering (125) the presentation of computer-based media presentation are disclosed. An example disclosed method performed by a computer (105) that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program (115) comprises modifying the media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program, and processing the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.
H04H 60/33 - Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
H04H 60/29 - Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
H04H 60/37 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
H04H 60/41 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
H04H 60/42 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas for identifying broadcast areas
H04H 60/43 - Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas for identifying broadcast channels
Methods and apparatus for metering printed media are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location; a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location of the second leaflet, the first and second locations being substantially a same location; and a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive.
Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to determine whether a presentation device is ON or OFF comprises determining a plurality of metrics based on monitoring at least one output of the presentation device, wherein each metric in the plurality of metrics comprises a decision indicating an operating state of the presentation device, and combining the plurality of metrics to determine whether the presentation device is one of ON or OFF, wherein combining the plurality of metrics comprises at least one of weighting the plurality of metrics or determining a majority vote of the plurality of metrics.
Methods and apparatus for indirect illumination in electronic media rating systems are disclosed. A disclosed electronic media rating system comprises an audience image detection system and a non-visible light source to provide indirect illumination of an audience member.
Methods and apparatus for collecting media consumption data based on usage information of a media delivery device (530) are disclosed. In an example method, media information is received by a portable metering device (520) associated with a monitored individual such as a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant, and/or a handheld computer. Usage information indicative of a media delivery event associated with a media delivery device (530) such as a television is monitored by the portable metering device (520). To form the media consumption data, the media information is associated with one of a first channel and a second channel based on the usage information.
Method and apparatus to detect a time-shift event associated with the presentation of media content are disclosed. A disclosed system (110) generates a first metering event representative of a first time period in which a program was continuously presented and a second metering event representative of a second time period in which a program eas continuously presented. A time-shift detector (118) receives the first and second events and calculates a presentation gap value and a broadcast time jump value. The time-shift detector (118) compares the presentation gap value and the broadcast time jump value to determine whether a pause event fast forward event or a rewind event occurred.
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