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 monitoring device comprising:
 an input device to receive audio data;   a detector to detect a monitoring code encoded in the audio data according to an encoding technique, the monitoring code to indicate that the audio data is to be monitored; and   a processor to create an audio signature with a signature extraction technique different from the encoding technique in response to detection of the monitoring code by the detector, the audio signature to characterize signal features of the audio data, the audio signature to be created, at least in part, from a portion of the audio data that contains the monitoring code.   
     
     
         3 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is to create the audio signature based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the portion of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring device 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 audio signature is to characterize 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 create a second audio signature to characterize the second data set in response to the second monitoring code being detected by the detector, the second audio signature to be created, at least in part, from a second portion of the audio data that contains the second monitoring code. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the audio data contains the monitoring code and a source identification code, the monitoring code and the source identification code to occur simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the audio data is a first portion, and the audio signature is created, at least in part, from the first portion of the audio data that contains the monitoring code, and a second portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the audio data is second audio data, and the second audio data was modified by addition of the monitoring code to first audio data according to the encoding technique to form the second audio data that contains the monitoring code. 
     
     
         9 . A physical storage device 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 encoded in the audio data according to an encoding technique, the monitoring code to indicate that the audio data is to be monitored; and   create an audio signature with a signature extraction technique different from the encoding technique in response to detection of the monitoring code, the audio signature to characterize signal features of the audio data, the audio signature to be created, at least in part, from a portion of the audio data that contains the monitoring code.   
     
     
         10 . The physical storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the audio signature is created based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the portion of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         11 . The physical storage device 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 audio signature is to characterize 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, create a second audio signature to characterize the second data set, the second audio signature to be created, at least in part, from a second portion of the audio data that contains the second monitoring code.   
     
     
         12 . The physical storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the audio data contains the monitoring code and a source identification code, the monitoring code and the source identification code to occur simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         13 . The physical storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the audio data is a first portion, and the audio signature is created, at least in part, from the first portion of the audio data that contains the monitoring code, and a second portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         14 . The physical storage device of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . A method of monitoring receipt or exposure to audio data, the method comprising:
 receiving audio data at a monitoring device, the audio data including a monitoring code encoded in the audio data according to an encoding technique, the monitoring code indicating that the audio data is to be monitored;   processing the audio data, by executing an instruction with a processor of the monitoring device, to detect the monitoring code; and   creating, by executing an instruction with the processor, an audio signature in response to detection of the monitoring code, the audio signature characterizing signal features of the audio data, the audio signature created, at least in part, from a portion of the audio data containing the monitoring code.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the audio signature is created based on at least one of: (1) time-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (2) frequency-domain variations in the portion of the audio data, (3) signal-to-noise ratios for frequency components of the portion of the audio data, or (4) time-domain variations of the signal-to-noise ratios in a plurality of frequency sub-bands of the portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the audio data includes a first data set and a second data set, the first data set includes the monitoring code, the audio 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, creating a second audio signature characterizing the second data set, the second audio signature created, at least in part, from a second portion of the audio data containing the second monitoring code.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the portion of the audio data contains the monitoring code and a source identification code, the monitoring code and the source identification code occurring simultaneously in the audio data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the portion of the audio data is a first portion, and the audio signature is created, at least in part, from the first portion of the audio data containing the monitoring code, and a second portion of the audio data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , 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. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the audio data is second audio data, and the second audio data was modified by adding the monitoring code to first audio data according to the encoding technique to form the second audio data encoded with the monitoring code.