IP Library Granted Patent US 8,533,138
Granted Patent B2
US 8,533,138 · App. 13/538,933 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Data classification methods and apparatus for use with data fusion

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,533,138
App. No.
13/538,933
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for classifying data for use in data fusion processes are disclosed. An example method of classifying data selectively groups nodes of a classification tree so that each node is assigned to only one of a plurality of groups and so that at least one of the groups includes at least two of the nodes. Data is classified based on the classification tree and the selective grouping of the nodes, and the results displayed.

Claims (28)

1. A method, comprising:

analyzing a dataset of records organized according to a classification tree, the classification tree including a plurality of nodes to represent a first frequency distribution of the records with respect to the dataset; and

grouping the nodes based on a relationship between the first frequency distribution and a second frequency distribution of the records with respect to an overall population.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising classifying data associated with the nodes based on the grouping of the nodes.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein grouping the nodes comprises assigning each node to only one of a plurality of groups of the nodes.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein grouping the nodes comprises selecting one of a plurality of available nodes having a greatest value of the plurality of available nodes.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein grouping the nodes based on the relationship between the first frequency distribution and the second frequency distribution comprises combining the first and second frequency distributions to generate a plurality of index values corresponding to respective ones of the nodes.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising modifying the classification tree based on the index values to generate a second classification tree.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising fusing the first dataset with a second dataset based on the classification tree.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein terminal nodes of the classification tree correspond to a particular group of a population.

9. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

analyze a dataset of records organized according to a classification tree, the classification tree including a plurality of nodes to represent a first frequency distribution of the records with respect to the dataset; and

grouping the nodes based on a relationship between the first frequency distribution and a second frequency distribution of the records with respect to an overall population.

10. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to classify data associated with the nodes based on the grouping of the nodes.

11. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to group the nodes by assigning each node to only one of a plurality of groups of the nodes.

12. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to group the nodes by selecting one of a plurality of available nodes having a greatest value of the plurality of available nodes.

13. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to group the nodes based on the relationship between the first frequency distribution and the second frequency distribution by combining the first and second frequency distributions to generate a plurality of index values corresponding to respective ones of the nodes.

14. A storage medium as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to modify the classification tree based on the index values to generate a second classification tree.

15. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to fuse the first dataset with a second dataset based on the classification tree.

16. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein terminal nodes of the classification tree correspond to a particular group of a population.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

an analyzer to analyze a dataset of records organized according to a classification tree, the classification tree including a plurality of nodes to represent a first frequency distribution of the records with respect to the dataset; and

a grouper to group the nodes based on a relationship between the first frequency distribution and a second frequency distribution of the records with respect to an overall population.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the grouper is to group the nodes by assigning each node to only one of a plurality of groups of the nodes.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the grouper is to group the nodes based on the relationship between the first frequency distribution and the second frequency distribution by combining the first and second frequency distributions to generate a plurality of index values corresponding to respective ones of the nodes.

20. A method, comprising:

accessing a dataset of records; and

outputting a data structure comprising the records of the dataset organized according to a classification tree, the classification tree including a plurality of nodes to represent a first frequency distribution of the records with respect to the dataset, the nodes grouped to reflect a relationship between the first frequency distribution and a second frequency distribution of the records with respect to an overall population.

Assignments (12)
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 May 2, 2013
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 030341/0816 →
MERGER Recorded May 2, 2013
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 030338/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2013
From: SAMSON, JEROME; MCMILLAN, FRANCIS GAVIN
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 030338/0757 →