Methods and apparatus to monitor media content on a consumer network
View Patent ↗Example methods and apparatus to monitor media content on a consumer network as described herein. An example metering system includes a metering device to monitor the consumption of media content at a consumer location and a universal plug and play (UPnP) compatible metering helper to collect audience measurement data from UPnP devices in a consumer network.
1. A method of monitoring media, the method comprising:
identifying a media device that supports universal plug and play (UPnP) at a presentation location by broadcasting a UPnP request;
registering with the media device to receive UPnP events from the media device; and
transmitting information about a received media presentation event to a metering device at the presentation location, the media presentation event received in response to the registering.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the registering is performed using a UPnP stack.
3. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the information to a data collection facility.
4. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the media presentation event to determine if the media device is at least one of presenting media or displaying a list of available media.
5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media device is attached to a network.
6. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising generating a list of devices connected to the network based on the UPnP request.
7. A method as defined in claim 6 , further comprising generating a virtual channel list of media active on the devices connected to the network.
8. An apparatus comprising:
a universal plug and play (UPnP) stack to (a) identify a media device that supports universal plug and play (UPnP) at a presentation location by broadcasting a UPnP request and (b) register with the media device to receive UPnP events from the media device; and
an interface to transmit information about a received media presentation event to a metering device at the presentation location, the media presentation event received in response to the UPnP stack having registered with the media device.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the interface is further to transmit the information to a data collection facility.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , further comprising a helper to analyze the media presentation event to determine if the media device is at least one of presenting media or displaying a list of available media.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the media device is attached to a network.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 , further comprising generating a list of devices connected to the network based on the UPnP request.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , further comprising a helper to generate a virtual channel list of media active on the devices connected to the network.
14. A storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed cause a machine to at least:
identify a media device that supports universal plug and play (UPnP) at a presentation location by broadcasting a UPnP request;
register with the media device to receive UPnP events from the media device; and
transmit information about a received media presentation event to a metering device at the presentation location, the media presentation event received in response to the machine having registered with the media device.
15. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to register using a UPnP stack.
16. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the information to a data collection facility.
17. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to analyze the media presentation event to determine if the media device is at least one of presenting media or displaying a list of available media.
18. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 14 , wherein the media device is attached to a network.
19. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate a list of devices connected to the network based on the UPnP request.
20. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate a virtual channel list of media active on the devices connected to the network.