Michael James Hicks

US Patent:

7742737, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Oct 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/492471

Inventors:

John C. Peiffer - New Port Richey FL, US
Michael A. Hicks - Clearwater FL, US
David H. Wright - Safety Harbor FL, US
Paul M. Mears - Safety Harbor FL, US
Venugopal Srinivasan - Palm Harbor FL, US
Daozheng Lu - Dunedin FL, US
Paul C. Kempter - Palm Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04H 9/00

US Classification:

455 201, 455 306, 455418, 725 9, 725 18, 725 19

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for identifying broadcast digital audio signals include structure and/or function whereby the digital audio signal is provided to processing structure which is configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal. Preferably, such processing structure is disposed in a dwelling or a monitoring site in an audience measurement system, such as the Nielsen TV ratings system.

US Patent:

8181848, May 22, 2012

Filed:

Sep 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

12/064565

Inventors:

Wayne Asa Olmsted - Trinity FL, US
Charles Clinton Conklin - New Port Richey FL, US
Michael Alan Hicks - Clearwater FL, US
Robert A. Luff - New York NY, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

235375, 235492, 705 729

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for metering printed media are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location; a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location of the second leaflet, the first and second locations being substantially a same location; and a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive.

US Patent:

8255938, Aug 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/312789

Inventors:

Morris Lee - Palm Harbor FL, US
William H. Schilp - Palm Harbor FL, US
Michael A. Hicks - Clearwater FL, US
Ronald Schwerer - Belleair Beach FL, US
David H. Wright - Safety Harbor FL, US
Kevin Deng - Saftey Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04H 60/32

US Classification:

725 19, 725 9, 725 14, 725 20, 725 32

Abstract:

Signature-based program identification apparatus and methods for use with digital audio and/or video systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods develop signatures of digital audio and/or video content from a digital data stream at two or more sites and compare the signatures to one another to identify the content.

US Patent:

8315456, Nov 20, 2012

Filed:

Apr 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/101033

Inventors:

Michael Alan Hicks - Clearwater FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/68

US Classification:

382154, 382218

Abstract:

Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic.

US Patent:

8548373, Oct 1, 2013

Filed:

Apr 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/760712

Inventors:

John C. Peiffer - New Port Richey FL, US
Michael A. Hicks - Clearwater FL, US
David H. Wright - Safety Harbor FL, US
Paul M. Mears - Safety Harbor FL, US
Venugopal Srinivasan - Palm Harbor FL, US
Daozheng Lu - Dunedin FL, US
Paul C. Kempter - Palm Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04H 60/44

US Classification:

455 201, 455 306, 455418, 700 94, 725 9, 725 14, 725 18

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal are described. An example apparatus for identifying a digital audio signal includes an input to receive the digital audio signal, which includes data from a broadcast or a stored digital program signal. The example apparatus also includes a detector to receive the digital audio signal from the input and determine whether the received digital audio signal is uncompressed as received at the input; a decoder to receive the digital audio signal from the detector when the digital audio signal is compressed as received at the input and identify any first program-identifying code in an auxiliary field of the compressed digital audio signal; and a code reader to receive the digital audio signal from the detector when the digital audio signal is uncompressed as received at the input and receive the digital audio signal from a decompressor when the digital audio signal is compressed as received at the input. Additionally, the code reader is to identify any second program-identifying code in a decompressed or uncompressed portion of the digital audio signal when the first program-identifying code is not identified in the auxiliary field or when the digital audio signal is uncompressed as received at the input.

US Patent:

8649610, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Oct 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/664149

Inventors:

Michael Alan Hicks - Clearwater FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/68
G06K 7/10

US Classification:

382218, 382100, 382321

Abstract:

Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic.

US Patent:

20030131350, Jul 10, 2003

Filed:

Jan 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

09/973893

Inventors:

John Peiffer - New Port Richey FL, US
Michael Hicks - Palm Harbor FL, US
David Wright - Clearwater FL, US
Paul Mears - Safety Harbor FL, US
Venugopal Srinivasan - Palm Harbor FL, US
Daozheng Lu - Dunedin FL, US
Paul Kempter - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

H04N007/16
H04H009/00
H04B003/00

US Classification:

725/018000, 381/077000

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for identifying broadcast digital audio signals include structure and/or function whereby the digital audio signal is provided to processing structure which is configured to (i) identify a program-identifying code in the received digital audio signal, (ii) identify a program-identifying code in a decompressed received digital audio signal, (iii) identify a feature signature in the received digital audio signal, and (iv) identify a feature signature in the decompressed received digital audio signal. Preferably, such processing structure is disposed in a dwelling or a monitoring site in an audience measurement system, such as the Nielsen TV ratings system.

US Patent:

20080170755, Jul 17, 2008

Filed:

Jan 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/016080

Inventors:

Kamal Nasser - Palm Harbor FL, US
Michael Alan Hicks - Clearwater FL, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382106

Abstract:

Example methods and apparatus for collecting media site data for use with media exposure measurement systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves displaying a first image of a scene and receiving a user-provided selection of a location in the first image. An object of interest in the scene is then identified based on the user-provided selection in the first image. The example method also involves obtaining a distance value representative of an approximate distance between an image capturing device and the object of interest in the scene. A zoom level of the image capturing device is then set based on the distance value to capture at least a portion of the object of interest in the scene. A second image of the object of interest is captured using the image capturing device.