IP Library Granted Patent US 8,688,053
Granted Patent B2
US 8,688,053 · App. 13/616,714 · Granted Apr 1, 2014

Methods and apparatus to identify wireless carrier performance effects

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,688,053
App. No.
13/616,714
Granted
Apr 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to identify wireless carrier performance effects are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving an indication of media content presentation on a wireless communication device, monitoring a wireless carrier operating parameter in response to receiving the indication of media content presentation, and monitoring the wireless communication device for a media content presentation command. The example method also includes associating the media content presentation command and the wireless carrier operating parameter with a scoring factor indicative of subscriber preferences, and generating a report including the scoring factor.

Claims (39)

1. A computer implemented method to score a wireless carrier, comprising:

acquiring a subscriber action and an operating parameter associated with an instance of media content presentation on a wireless device;

when the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful, associating the instance of media content presentation with a scoring factor; and

assigning the scoring factor a value based on a combination of a first media action corresponding to the subscriber action and a carrier parameter corresponding to the operating parameter, wherein the first media action and the carrier parameter are included in a heuristic matrix comprising:

a plurality of media actions including the first media action;

a plurality of carrier parameters, wherein each carrier parameter of the plurality of carrier parameters is associated with at least one media action of the plurality of media actions; and

a plurality of scoring factors, wherein each scoring factor of the plurality of scoring factors is associated with a combination of one of the plurality of media actions and one of the plurality of carrier parameters.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions includes a subscriber generated cancel request.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions includes a carrier network interruption of the instance of media content presentation.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein carrier network interruption includes channel crowding, bandwidth limitations or time-of-day demand-based limitations.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carrier parameters includes a frame rate, a bandwidth, a resolution, a bit rate, a latency, a signal strength or a channel power.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful when only a sub-portion of the media content is received at the wireless device, retrieval attempts for the media content are ended, or transmission attempts of the media content by the carrier network are ended.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a content session information data record associated with the instance of media content presentation, the content session information data record including the subscriber action and the operating parameter.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions includes a subscriber generated retransmission request.

9. An apparatus to score a wireless carrier, the apparatus comprising:

a data acquisition engine to acquire a subscriber action and an operating parameter associated with an instance of media content presentation on a wireless device, and the data acquisition engine to determine whether the instance of media content presentation corresponds to an unsuccessful instance of media content presentation;

a heuristic engine to, when the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful identify a first media action corresponding to the subscriber action in a heuristic matrix, and identify a carrier parameter corresponding to the operating parameter in the heuristic matrix, the heuristic matrix to comprise:

a plurality of media actions;

a plurality of carrier parameters, each carrier parameter of the plurality of carrier parameters to be associated with at least one media action of the plurality of media actions; and

a plurality of scoring factors, each scoring factor of the plurality of scoring factors to be associated with a combination of one of the plurality of media actions and one of the plurality of carrier parameters, and the heuristic engine to associate the instance of media content presentation with a scoring factor; and

a scoring engine to assign the scoring factor based on a combination of the subscriber action and the operating parameter.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions is to include a subscriber generated cancel request.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions is to include a carrier network interruption of the instance of media content presentation.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of carrier parameters is to include a frame rate, a bandwidth, a resolution, a bit rate, a latency, a signal strength or a channel power.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful when only a sub-portion of the media content is received at the wireless device, retrieval attempts for the media content are ended, or transmission attempts of the media content by the carrier network are ended.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein carrier network interruption is to include channel crowding, bandwidth limitations or time-of-day demand-based limitations.

15. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

acquire a subscriber action and an operating parameter associated with an instance of media content presentation on a wireless device;

determine whether the instance of media content presentation corresponds to an unsuccessful instance of media content presentation;

when the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful, associate the instance of media content presentation with a scoring factor; and

assign the scoring factor a value based on a combination of a first media action corresponding to the subscriber action and a carrier parameter corresponding to the operating parameter, the first media action and the carrier parameter identified from a heuristic matrix comprising:

a plurality of media actions;

a plurality of carrier parameters, each carrier parameter of the plurality of carrier parameters is associated with at least one media action of the plurality of media actions; and

a plurality of scoring factors, each scoring factor of the plurality of scoring factors is associated with a combination of one of the plurality of media actions and one of the plurality of carrier parameters.

16. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions includes a subscriber generated cancel request.

17. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein one of the plurality of media actions includes a carrier network interruption of the instance of media content presentation.

18. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of carrier parameters includes a frame rate, a bandwidth, a resolution, a bit rate, a latency, a signal strength or a channel power.

19. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instance of media content presentation is unsuccessful when only a sub-portion of the media content is received at the wireless device, retrieval attempts for the media content are ended, or transmission attempts of the media content by the carrier network are ended.

20. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 17 , wherein carrier network interruption includes channel crowding, bandwidth limitations or time-of-day demand-based limitations.

Assignments (9)
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 →