System and method for utilizing audio encoding for measuring media exposure with environmental masking

Abstract

An audio beacon system, apparatus and method for collecting information on a panelist's exposure to media. An audio beacon is configured as on-device encoding technology that is operative in a processing device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, PC) to enable the device to encode an environmental sound and transmit it for a predetermined period of time. The acoustically transmitted data is received and processed by a portable audience measurement device, such as Arbitron's Personal People Meter™ (“PPM”), or other specially equipped portable device to enable audience measurement systems to achieve higher levels of detail on panel member activity and greater association of measurement devices to their respective users.

1 - 18 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A computing device comprising:
 memory including computer readable instructions; and   a processor to execute the instructions to at least:
 select, based on a volume setting of the computing device, one of a plurality of sound signals stored at the computing device, the plurality of sound signals having different lengths; 
 encode a digital message in the selected one of the plurality of sound signals to form an encoded sound signal; and 
 cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device in response to a trigger. 
   
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further to collect data to include in the digital message, the data to include at least one of an identifier associated the computing device or hash of a data associated with a web site accessed by the computing device. 
     
     
         21 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of sound signals, the processor is to:
 select a first one of the plurality of sound signals having a first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a first volume setting; and   select a second one of the plurality of sound signals having a second length that is longer than the first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a second volume setting that is lower than the first volume setting.   
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further to:
 store the encoded sound signal in a buffer including a plurality of encoded sound signals encoded with respective digital messages; and   cause respective ones of the plurality of encoded sound signals included in the buffer to be audibly output sequentially from the computing device in response to a sequence of triggers.   
     
     
         23 . The computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is to continue to cause respective ones of the plurality of encoded sound signals included in the buffer to be audibly output sequentially from the computing device in response to the sequence of triggers until at least one of the buffer is empty or an amount of time has expired. 
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an application to execute on the computing device, and the application is to trigger the processor to cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device. 
     
     
         25 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an operating system event of the computing device, and occurrence of the operating system event is to trigger the processor to cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device. 
     
     
         26 . A computer readable storage device comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to at least:
 select, based on a volume setting of the computing device, one of a plurality of sound signals stored at the computing device, the plurality of sound signals having different lengths;   encode a digital message in the selected one of the plurality of sound signals to form an encoded sound signal; and   cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device in response to a trigger.   
     
     
         27 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to collect data to include in the digital message, the data to include at least one of an identifier associated the computing device or hash of a data associated with a web site accessed by the computing device. 
     
     
         28 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein to select the one of the plurality of sound signals, the instructions cause the processor to:
 select a first one of the plurality of sound signals having a first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a first volume setting; and   select a second one of the plurality of sound signals having a second length that is longer than the first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a second volume setting that is lower than the first volume setting.   
     
     
         29 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 store the encoded sound signal in a buffer including a plurality of encoded sound signals encoded with respective digital messages; and   cause respective ones of the plurality of encoded sound signals included in the buffer to be audibly output sequentially from the computing device in response to a sequence of triggers.   
     
     
         30 . The storage device of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to continue to cause respective ones of the plurality of encoded sound signals included in the buffer to be audibly output sequentially from the computing device in response to the sequence of triggers until at least one of the buffer is empty or an amount of time has expired. 
     
     
         31 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an application to execute on the computing device, and the application is to trigger the processor to cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device. 
     
     
         32 . The storage device of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an operating system event of the computing device, and occurrence of the operating system event is to trigger the processor to cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device. 
     
     
         33 . A method for a computing device, the method comprising:
 selecting, by executing an instruction with a processor of the computing device and based on a volume setting of the computing device, one of a plurality of sound signals stored at the computing device, the plurality of sound signals having different lengths;   encoding, by executing an instruction with a processor, a digital message in the selected one of the plurality of sound signals to form an encoded sound signal; and   audibly outputting the encoded sound signal from the computing device in response to a trigger.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further including collecting data to include in the digital message, the data including at least one of an identifier associated the computing device or hash of a data associated with a web site accessed by the computing device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the selecting of the one of the plurality of sound signals includes:
 selecting a first one of the plurality of sound signals having a first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a first volume setting; and   selecting a second one of the plurality of sound signals having a second length that is longer than the first length when the volume setting of the computing device is a second volume setting that is lower than the first volume setting.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further including:
 storing the encoded sound signal in a buffer including a plurality of encoded sound signals encoded with respective digital messages; and   audibly outputting respective ones of the plurality of encoded sound signals from the buffer sequentially in response to a sequence of triggers until at least one of the buffer is empty or an amount of time has expired.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an application to execute on the computing device, and the application is to trigger the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of sound signals is associated with an operating system event of the computing device, and occurrence of the operating system event is to trigger the processor to cause the encoded sound signal to be audibly output from the computing device.