Methods and apparatus to audio watermarking and watermark detection and extracted are described herein. According to an example method, an identifier is encoded in media content when a different identifier has been previously encoded. According to another example method, messages decoded from media content are validated to provide improved decoding accuracy. In another example method, decoded symbols are stored in memory and synchronization symbols are located to detect a message encoded in media content.

To provide a transmission method of an arbitrary signal using an acoustic sound hardly affecting the mood (quality) of the original acoustic sound even if an arbitrary signal within an audible frequency range is combined into the acoustic sound such as music. The method comprises a step of finding a separable sound, of which a fundamental element (fundamental sound) b2 contributing mainly to recognition of a single sound and an additional element contributing collaterally to recognition of the single sound are separable on temporal axis or frequency axis, among plural sounds composing the acoustic sound, or inserting a separable sound into the plural sounds composing the acoustic sound. The additional element of the separable sound found or inserted is transcribed by a signal pattern b1-1, b1-2 of the arbitrary signal. By means of the acoustic sound of which additional element is transcribed, the arbitrary signal b1-1, b1-2 is transmitted. The additional element may be a sound generated when transmitting vibration energy to a resonance body (resonant body). The fundamental element may be a sound produced according the own resonance mode (resonant mode) by the resonance body (resonant body) receiving the vibration energy.

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide media content are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for identifying primary media content presented on a first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for accessing a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content. The secondary content schedule includes a plurality of secondary content items and time values associated with the secondary content items. The secondary content items are also associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for selecting one of the secondary content items to be accessed in response to a timestamp associated with the primary media content being between time values associated with the selected one of the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule.

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide media content are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for identifying primary media content presented on a first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for accessing a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content. The secondary content schedule includes a plurality of secondary content items and time values associated with the secondary content items. The secondary content items are also associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for selecting one of the secondary content items to be accessed in response to a timestamp associated with the primary media content being between time values associated with the selected one of the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule.

The present document describes an apparatus and method for monitoring and interacting with listeners of audio-video content. There are provided audio signals from which audio-video content can be identified by a monitoring peripheral paired with a user's electronic device. The monitoring peripheral monitors audio signals from its surroundings and communicates to the paired user's electronic device, decoded and/or generated digital IDs from these audio signals. A master service application or registered service application miming on the electronic device could transmit the digital ID to a remote server and retrieve additional information from these digital IDs with or without the use of a backend system. Events could be triggered and relevant audio-video content be presented to the user of the master service application or a registered service provider when digital IDs are received from the monitoring peripheral.

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein to embed a code into an audio signal include means for selecting frequency components to be used to represent the code, different sets of frequency components to represent respectively different information, respective ones of the frequency components in the sets of frequency components located in respective code bands, there being multiple code bands and spacing between adjacent code bands being equal to or less than the spacing between adjacent frequency components in the code bands. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for synthesizing the frequency components to be used to represent the code and means for combining the synthesized frequency components with an audio block of the audio signal.

A method and system is presented for coordinating the transmission of supplemental digital data to accompany broadcast data, and in particular, analog radio broadcasts, among a plurality of broadcasters. The supplemental digital data may provide information about the particular broadcast data being transmitted or may be supplemental to such data. The supplemental digital data to be presented is sorted based on particular algorithms which may take into account broadcaster-specified criteria such as target audience, time of day, type of broadcast data presented, and the like. The supplemental digital data may be audio data, visual data, or audio-visual data for presentation with the broadcast data. The supplemental digital data may further be advertisement data. The advertisement data may be sold by the broadcasters or the party coordinating the IBOC transmission of the supplemental digital data. The supplemental digital data may play simultaneously with muted broadcast data or at a user-specified time.

A method includes determining, at a device, that transmission data indicates that first data was transmitted via a digital radio channel. The method also includes determining, at the device, that reception data indicates that second data was received via the digital radio channel. The first data has a first size that is less than a second size of the second data. The method also includes determining, at the device, whether an error occurred in transmission of the first data based on determining whether each of a plurality of portions of the first data is included at least once in the second data. Other aspects are also disclosed.

A method includes determining, at a device, that transmission data indicates that first data was transmitted via a digital radio channel. The method also includes determining, at the device, that reception data indicates that second data was received via the digital radio channel. The first data has a first size that is less than a second size of the second data. The method also includes determining, at the device, whether an error occurred in transmission of the first data based on determining whether each of a plurality of portions of the first data is included at least once in the second data. Other aspects are also disclosed.

Provided is a terminal apparatus including a target data acquisition unit configured to acquire target data which is: superimposed data obtained by superimposing spread encoded data on non-spread encoded audio data, the spread encoded data obtained by encoding information using a spreading code; or data obtained by converting sound reproduced on the basis of the superimposed data into an electrical signal; and an information extraction unit configured to retain multiple spreading codes and extract the information from the target data using a spreading code selected by a user.