Patent ID: 8250595
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for monitoring a program signal received from a broadcast source that is to be performed by reproduction equipment, wherein an audio portion of the program signal is broadcast in combination with a monitoring code to provide a combined audio signal, comprising: a switch; a code detector configured to detect the monitoring code in the combined audio signal; and a component configured to receive the combined signal from the broadcast source and to provide, to each of the reproduction equipment and the switch, a respective output signal related to the combined signal; wherein the code detector is adapted to receive an audio output from the reproduction equipment which has a mute mode, the reproduction equipment transmitting at least the monitoring code from the combined audio signal to the code detector if not in the mute mode and not transmitting the monitoring code to the code detector if in the mute mode; and wherein the switch is configured to transmit the combined audio signal to the code detector if the reproduction equipment is in the mute mode and not transmit the combined audio signal to the code detector if the reproduction equipment is not in the mute mode.