Watermark Detector Power Management via Periodic Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional media monitoring systems with continuous watermark decoders in portable meters consume excessive power, reducing the duration of media monitoring due to continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power-efficient watermark detection method by operating the watermark detector in search and confirmation modes, utilizing sleep intervals to conserve power, and redirecting processing power for other device functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the watermark detector operates continuously to ensure detection of embedded watermarks, then the reliability of watermark detection is improved, but the power consumption increases and the operating time of portable meters decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The watermark detector operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active detection periods and sleep intervals. During active periods, the detector processes media signals to identify watermarks. During sleep intervals, the detector remains inactive to conserve power. This periodic operation maintains detection reliability over time while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on detection needs. The watermark detector transitions between different power states (active and sleep modes) depending on whether watermark detection is currently required. This dynamic state adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between detection reliability and power consumption in real-time.
2Reliability
If the watermark detector operates continuously to ensure detection of embedded watermarks, then the detection coverage is improved, but the duration of media monitoring decreases due to power constraints
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic detection cycles with alternating active and sleep phases, the system extends the total duration of media monitoring. The detector accumulates detection opportunities over extended periods by remaining in low-power sleep states between active detection windows, thereby increasing the overall monitoring duration while maintaining adequate detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring capability over extended periods through strategic cycling between active detection and sleep states. Rather than operating continuously at full power, the detector ensures that useful detection actions occur regularly enough to maintain coverage while allowing the system to survive longer on limited power resources.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the watermark detector operates in a low-power mode with sleep intervals, then the power consumption is reduced and operating time is extended, but the complexity of detection algorithms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection algorithm is segmented into distinct processing stages that can be executed during active periods. The algorithm separates initial watermark signal identification from more complex verification and decoding operations. This segmentation allows the system to perform simpler, faster detections during active windows and defer more computationally intensive processing to subsequent active periods, reducing the immediate processing burden during each active window.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary watermark detection and identification during active periods, flagging potential watermarks for later verification. Rather than completing full verification during each active window, the system prepares detection candidates in advance and completes detailed analysis in subsequent active periods. This preliminary action approach reduces the complexity and time requirements of processing during each individual active detection window.
Data Source
AI summary
Example apparatus disclosed herein include a watermark detector to detect watermarks in a media signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include a controller to operate the watermark detector to (1) detect a first watermark in the media signal, and (2) cycle between sleep intervals and active intervals based on a repetition rate of the watermarks in the media signal to perform a detection operation for a second watermark at a second location in the media signal relative to a first location of the first watermark in the media signal. In some examples, the controller is to search a buffer of prior detected watermark symbols to detect a third watermark at a third location prior to the second location in the media signal in response to the second watermark not being detected at the second location in the media signal.