Merged Audio Code Layers for Reliable Ancillary Code Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Critical Band Encoding Technology (CBET) for audience measurement is insufficient in handling large media collections, as it requires more efficient coding methods to embed and decode vast amounts of data, and lacks effective error correction mechanisms for merged encoding layers.

Innovation Solution

A method and decoder configuration that embeds message symbols with single-frequency components in two encoded layers of audio data, utilizing synchronization and error correction techniques like Reed-Solomon or convolutional code error correction to enhance data detection and integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional CBET encoding uses multiple separate parallel encoding layers, then the system can handle tens of thousands of codes, but this is insufficient for identifying and characterizing larger media collections numbering in the millions or billions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of codesVSAvoidcapacity to handle large media collections

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple encoding layers by folding message symbols from different layers into a unified detection process. Instead of treating layers separately, the system combines them to create a larger code space capable of identifying millions or billions of media items, directly resolving the limitation of conventional CBET that could only handle tens of thousands of codes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If encoding layers are merged to increase code capacity, then the system can handle millions or billions of codes, but error correction mechanisms are needed to ensure proper encoding and decoding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of codesVSAvoidencoding and decoding accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates error correction codes into the merged layer structure in advance, before encoding occurs. This preemptive error correction mechanism cushions against potential decoding errors that may arise from the complexity of merged layers, ensuring reliable reconstruction of message symbols even when handling large numbers of codes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Quantity of substance

If more message symbols are embedded in audio data with merged layers, then the system can characterize larger media collections, but synchronization between layers becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of code dataVSAvoidsynchronization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the message symbol detection process into distinct stages: detecting single-frequency components, determining message symbols based on those components, and applying error correction. This segmentation simplifies the overall synchronization task by breaking it into manageable steps, making it feasible to handle large amounts of code data across merged layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9015563B2Apparatus, system and method for merging code layers for audio encoding and decoding and error correction thereof

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 THE NIELSEN CO (US) LLC

AI summary

Apparatus, system and method for encoding and decoding ancillary code for digital audio, where multiple encoding layers are merged. The merging allows a greater number of ancillary codes to be embedded into the encoding space, and further introduces efficiencies in the encoding process. Utilizing certain error correction techniques, the decoding of ancillary code may be improved and made more reliable.