IP Library Granted Patent US 8,738,763
Granted Patent B2
US 8,738,763 · App. 11/935,788 · Granted May 27, 2014

Research data gathering with a portable monitor and a stationary device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,738,763
App. No.
11/935,788
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of gathering data concerning a location of an audience member proximate to a content presentation are provided. A stationary device is proximate to the content presentation. A portable monitor is carried by or with the person of an audience member. Location data is obtained by communicating data from the portable monitor to the stationary device, or from the stationary device to the portable monitor, or by comparing data gathered by both the stationary device and the portable monitor.

Claims (38)

1. A method for gathering data concerning exposure to media-data, comprising:

gathering, via a stationary monitoring system, first data concerning exposure to the media output by a media receiver wherein gathering the first data comprises collecting a first ancillary code encoded in the media;

gathering second data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver with a portable monitor carried on the person of a user, wherein the second data comprises a second ancillary code encoded in the media;

gathering location data encoded in the media by the stationary monitoring system, the location data providing information on a physical location of the portable monitor relative to the stationary monitoring system; and

producing audience measurement data concerning exposure to the media output by the receiver from the first data, the second data, and the location data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media receiver comprises the stationary monitoring system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the stationary monitoring system comprises software running on a processor of the media receiver.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the media receiver comprises at least one of a media recording device, a media playback device, a user-operated recording device, a user-operated playback device, a television, television broadcast reception equipment, a radio, radio broadcast reception equipment, a video cassette player, a digital video disk player, a digital video recorder, a gaming device, a personal video player, an audio cassette player, a compact disk player, a personal audio player, an electronic book, and a personal computer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media comprises at least one of television data, radio data, video cassette data, digital video disk data, digital video recorder data, personal video player data, audio cassette data, compact disk data, personal audio player data, audio data, video data, digital audio data, digital video data, gaming data, streaming media, Internet-supplied data, and personal computer data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein gathering the first data comprises gathering first media data reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program received by the media receiver, wherein gathering the second data comprises gathering second media reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program to which the user was exposed.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising gathering at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data, and producing audience measurement data concerning exposure to the media output by at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data.

8. A system for gathering data concerning exposure to media, comprising:

a stationary monitoring system for gathering first data concerning exposure to the media from a media receiver, wherein gathering the first data comprises gathering a first ancillary code encoded in the media;

a portable monitor for gathering second data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver, wherein gathering the second data comprises gathering a second ancillary code encoded in the media;

wherein the portable monitor gathers location data encoded in the media by the stationary monitoring system, the location data providing information on a physical location of the portable monitor relative to the stationary monitoring system; and

a processor comprising at least one input for receiving the first data, second, data, and location data and producing audience measurement data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver based on the first data, the second data, and the location data.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the media receiver comprises the stationary monitoring system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the stationary monitoring system comprises software running on a processor of the media receiver.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the media receiver comprises at least one of a media recording device, a media playback device, a user-operated recording device, a user-operated playback device, a television, television broadcast reception equipment, a radio, radio broadcast reception equipment, a video cassette player, a digital video disk player, a digital video recorder, a gaming device, a personal video player, an audio cassette player, a compact disk player, a personal audio player, an electronic book, and a personal computer.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the media comprises at least one of television data, radio data, video cassette data, digital video disk data, digital video recorder data, personal video player data, audio cassette data, compact disk data, personal audio player data, audio data, video data, digital audio data, digital video data, gaming data, streaming media, Internet-supplied data, and personal computer data.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first data comprises first media reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program received by the media receiver, the second data comprises second media reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program to which a user was exposed.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising gathering at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data, and producing audience measurement data concerning usage of the media output by at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data.

15. A method for gathering data concerning exposure to media related to a content presentation, comprising:

gathering, via a stationary monitoring system, first data concerning exposure to the media output by a media receiver, wherein gathering the first data comprises the stationary monitoring system detecting a first ancillary code encoded in the media;

gathering, via a portable monitor carried on the person of a user, second data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver, wherein gathering the second data comprises the portable monitor detecting a second ancillary code encoded in the media;

gathering, via the portable monitor, location data encoded in the media by the stationary monitoring system;

comparing the first and second data to produce presence data indicating a presence of an audience member at the media receiver; and

producing audience measurement data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver from the first data, the second data, the location data, and the presence data.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the media receiver comprises the stationary monitoring system.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the media receiver comprises at least one of a media recording device, a media playback device, a user-operated recording device, a user-operated playback device, a television, television broadcast reception equipment, a radio, radio broadcast reception equipment, a video cassette player, a digital video disk player, a digital video recorder, a gaming device, a personal video player, an audio cassette player, a compact disk player, a personal audio player, an electronic book, and a personal computer.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the media comprises at least one of television data, radio data, video cassette data, digital video disk data, digital video recorder data, personal video player data, audio cassette data, compact disk data, personal audio player data, audio data, video data, digital audio data, digital video data, gaming data, streaming media, Internet-supplied data, and personal computer data.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein gathering the first data comprises gathering first media reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program received by the media receiver, wherein gathering the second data comprises gathering second media reception data comprising an indication of at least one of a station, a channel, and a program to which the user was exposed.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising gathering at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data, and producing audience measurement data concerning exposure to the media output by at least one of portable monitor identification data, audience member identification data and audience member demographic data.

21. A method for gathering data concerning exposure to media, comprising:

gathering, via a stationary monitoring system, first data concerning exposure to the media output by a media receiver, wherein gathering the first data comprises at least one of (i) gathering a detected first ancillary code encoded in the media, and (ii) gathering a signature extracted from the media;

gathering, via a portable monitor carried on the person of the user, second data concerning exposure to the media output by the media receiver, wherein the second data comprises encoded location data encoded in the media by the stationary monitoring system and at least one of (i) a detected first ancillary code encoded in the media, and (ii) a signature extracted from the media;

comparing the first gathered data to the second gathered data; and

producing audience measurement data associated with the media based on the location data and the comparison of the first gathered data to the second gathered data, the location data encoded in the media by the stationary monitoring system and gathered by the portable monitor, wherein the location data provides information on a physical location of the portable monitor relative to the stationary monitoring system.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 032554/0759 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 032554/0801 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN HOLDINGS N.V.
Reel/Frame 032554/0765 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2010
From: CRYSTAL, JACK C.; JENSEN, JAMES M.; KRUG, WILLIAM K.; LYNCH, WENDELL D.; NEUHAUSER, ALAN R.; FLANAGAN, EUGENE L.
To: ARBITRON, INC.
Reel/Frame 023858/0255 →