Broadcast Signal Exposure Meter Using Embedded Data Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audience measurement systems rely on manual or indirect methods to determine exposure to broadcast signals, which are inefficient and may not accurately reflect actual media consumption, especially when measuring exposure to embedded data in broadcast signals like FM radio.
Innovation Solution
A broadcast signal exposure meter that decodes embedded data from broadcast signals using critical band encoding technology (CBET) and radio data system (RDS) decoders, allowing for local measurement and automatic identification of broadcast stations, enabling accurate exposure metrics without user intervention or modification of the broadcast receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual or indirect methods are used to determine exposure to broadcast signals, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and accuracy of audience exposure data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses embedded data within broadcast signals as an intermediary carrier to convey information about the broadcast content. This intermediary allows the measurement system to automatically identify and measure exposure to specific programs, songs, or advertisements without requiring complex manual tracking methods, thereby improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through automated decoding of the embedded data.
2Measurement precision
If embedded data decoding is implemented in the broadcast receiver, then the measurement precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring user intervention or receiver modification
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system operates autonomously by automatically decoding embedded data from broadcast signals received through the receiver. The system self-manages the entire measurement process including signal reception, embedded data extraction, program identification, and exposure calculation without requiring user intervention or modification of the broadcast receiver, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high measurement precision.
3Productivity
If traditional audience measurement methods are used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the productivity and efficiency of audience measurement systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical audience measurement methods with an automated electronic system that decodes embedded data from broadcast signals. This substitution enables continuous, real-time measurement of audience exposure to specific content without human intervention, significantly improving productivity and efficiency. The system automatically processes broadcast signals, extracts embedded information, and generates exposure metrics, eliminating the need for manual tracking and data collection methods.
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods and apparatus to measure exposure to broadcast signals having embedded data are disclosed. Example meters disclosed herein are to decode a watermark from a first audio signal to obtain an identifier of a broadcast station, and query a data structure based on (i) the identifier of the broadcast station obtained from the watermark and (ii) a location, the query to obtain a transmission frequency of a broadcast signal corresponding to the audio signal. Disclosed example meters are also to tune a radio to the transmission frequency of the broadcast signal, and compare the first audio signal with a second audio signal from the radio to verify an identity of the broadcast station.