Audio Compression Configuration Source Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, often lack audience measurement codes, making it difficult for audience measurement entities (AMEs) to identify the source of media being streamed.
Innovation Solution
AMEs can identify the source of network streaming services by analyzing the audio compression configuration used in the media. This involves decompressing the audio, re-compressing it with different trial configurations, and identifying the configuration that produces the largest compression artifacts, which corresponds to the original compression used by the streaming service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network streaming services do not embed audience measurement codes in the media, then the media can be streamed without additional overhead and with better compatibility, but the AME cannot identify the source of the media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses audio compression configuration as an intermediary characteristic to indirectly identify the media source. Instead of directly embedding measurement codes, the system analyzes the audio compression parameters (bitrate, sample rate, channel configuration) which serve as a mediator between the streaming service and the AME, enabling source identification without modifying the media stream itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of embedding explicit measurement codes with an acoustic analysis approach. By extracting audio features from the compressed audio signal and comparing them against known compression configurations of different services, the system substitutes direct identification with indirect acoustic fingerprinting
2Measurement precision
If AME analyzes audio compression configuration to identify streaming sources, then source identification accuracy improves, but the complexity of the analysis process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential audio compression parameters (bitrate, sample rate, channel configuration) from the audio signal for analysis. By taking out only these key features rather than analyzing the entire audio stream, the system achieves accurate source identification while minimizing processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from analyzing the entire audio signal to analyzing specific compression parameters. By transforming the analysis focus to discrete parameter values (bitrate, sample rate, channels) that are characteristic of different services, the system simplifies the measurement process while maintaining precision
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to identify sources of network streaming services are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a coding format identifier to identify, from a received first audio signal representing a decompressed second audio signal, an audio compression configuration used to compress a third audio signal to form the second audio signal, and a source identifier to identify a source of the second audio signal based on the identified audio compression configuration.