IP Library Granted Patent US 8,713,168
Granted Patent B2
US 8,713,168 · App. 13/239,005 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Methods and apparatus to determine impressions using distributed demographic information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,713,168
App. No.
13/239,005
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information are disclosed. An example method to monitor media exposure involves receiving, at a first internet domain, a first request from a client computer, the first request indicative of access to the media at the client computer, sending, from the first internet domain, a response to the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an intermediary associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer, the intermediary to transmit an indication of the second request to an entity of the second internet domain, and logging an impression of the media.

Claims (46)

1. A method to monitor media exposure, the method comprising:

sending, from a first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an intermediary associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer, wherein the intermediary is to, in response to determining that the second request does not include a cookie associated with the second internet domain, send a second response to the client computer, the second response to instruct the client computer to send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client computer; and

logging an impression of the media.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second request includes the cookie associated with the second internet domain.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising receiving a notification from the intermediary indicative of whether the client computer transmitted the cookie to the intermediary.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the intermediary is to transmit an indication of the second request to an entity of the second internet domain.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the indication of the second request includes an identification of the cookie.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the indication of the second request includes an advertising campaign identifier.

7. A method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the intermediary is to transmit to the entity an indication of a third request indicative of access to the media by a second client, wherein the indication of the third request is transmitted with the indication of the second request.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the response includes an identification of the cookie associated with the first internet domain.

9. A method to monitor media exposure, the method comprising:

sending, from a first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an intermediary associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer;

instructing the intermediary to receive the second request associated with the sub-domain of the second internet domain;

instructing the intermediary to extract a cookie and an identifier associated with the media from the second request; and

instructing the intermediary to transmit the cookie and the identifier to an entity of the second internet domain; and

logging an impression of the media.

10. A system to monitor media exposure, the system comprising:

an impression monitor of a first internet domain to:

send, from the first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an intermediary associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer, and

log an impression of the media; and

the intermediary to, in response to determining that the second request does not include a cookie associated with the second internet domain, send a second response to the client computer, the second response to instruct the client computer to send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client computer.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the second request includes the cookie associated with the second internet domain.

12. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the indication of the second request includes an identification of the cookie.

13. A system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the impression monitor is to receive a notification from the intermediary indicative of whether the client computer transmitted the cookie to the intermediary.

14. A system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the intermediary is to transmit, with the indication of the second request, an indication of a fourth request indicative of a second access to the media.

15. A system as defined in claim 14 , wherein the second access to the media is associated with a second client.

16. A storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

send, from a first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an intermediary associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer, the intermediary to, in response to determining that the second request does not include a cookie associated with the second internet domain, send a second response to the client computer, the second response to instruct the client computer to send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client computer; and

log an impression of the media.

17. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 16 , wherein the second request includes the cookie associated with the second internet domain.

18. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to receive a notification from the intermediary indicative of whether the client computer transmitted the cookie to the intermediary.

19. A system to monitor media exposure, the system comprising:

an impression monitor of a first internet domain to:

send, from the first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an agent associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer, and

log an impression of the media; and

the agent to:

receive the second request associated with the sub-domain of the second internet domain,

extract a cookie and an identifier associated with the media from the second request,

transmit the cookie and the identifier to an entity of the second internet domain, and

transmit an indication of the second request to an entity of the second internet domain.

20. A storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

send, from a first internet domain to a client computer, a response to a first request indicative of access to media at the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to an agent associated with a sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of the access to the media at the client computer;

instruct the agent to receive the second request associated with the sub-domain of the second internet domain;

instruct the agent to extract a cookie and an identifier associated with the media from the second request; and

instruct the agent to transmit the cookie and the identifier to an entity of the second internet domain; and

log an impression of the media.

Assignments (10)
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 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2012
From: HEFFERNAN, RONAN; GERAGHTY, KEVIN; KALUS, MARK; MAZUMDAR, MAINAK; PAPARO, ARI; SPLAINE, STEVEN JOHN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC.
Reel/Frame 028515/0226 →