IP Library Granted Patent US 8,769,557
Granted Patent B1
US 8,769,557 · App. 13/728,515 · Granted Jul 1, 2014

Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,769,557
App. No.
13/728,515
Granted
Jul 1, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members are disclosed. An example method includes detecting light information in image data representative of an environment including a primary media device; determining whether a secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information; and calculating, via a logic circuit, an engagement level for a person with respect to the primary media device based on the secondary media device determination.

Claims (24)

1. A method, comprising:

detecting light information in image data representative of an environment including a primary media device, wherein detecting the light information comprises detecting a glow in the image data corresponding to an expected glow emanating from a secondary media device;

measuring a distance between a person and the detected glow;

determining whether the secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information; and

calculating, via a logic circuit, an engagement level for the person with respect to the primary media device based on the secondary media device determination and the distance.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the light information comprises a light pattern, and determining whether the secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information comprises comparing the light pattern to a signature.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 , further comprising identifying a type of the secondary media device based on the comparison of the detected light pattern to the signature.

4. A method as defined in claim 2 , further comprising identifying the second secondary media device as a particular product based on the comparison of the detected light pattern to the signature.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein detecting the light information comprises detecting a light pattern on the person.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein detecting the light information comprises analyzing a portion of the image data associated with a detection of a face.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising detecting an ambient light condition of the environment by sensing an amount of light in the environment, and selecting a signature from a plurality of signatures based on an ambient light condition of the environment for comparison with the light information.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein detecting the ambient light condition of the environment comprises sensing a first amount of natural light in the environment and sensing a second amount of artificial light in the environment.

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

detect light information in image data representative of an environment including a primary media device, wherein detecting the light information comprises detecting a glow in the image data corresponding to an expected glow emanating from a secondary media device;

measure a distance between a person and the detected glow;

determine whether the secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information; and

calculate an engagement level for a person with respect to the primary media device based on the secondary media device determination and the distance.

10. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the light information comprises a light pattern, and the instructions cause the machine to determine whether the secondary media device is in the environment based on the detected light information by comparing the light pattern to a signature.

11. A storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to identify a type of the secondary media device based on the comparison of the detected light pattern to the signature.

12. A method storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to identify the second secondary media device as a particular product based on the comparison of the detected light pattern to the signature.

13. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the light information by detecting a light pattern on the person.

14. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the light information by analyzing a portion of the image data associated with a detection of a face.

15. A storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect an ambient light condition of the environment by sensing an amount of light in the environment, and select a signature from a plurality of signatures based on an ambient light condition of the environment for comparison with the light information.

16. A storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the ambient light condition of the environment by sensing a first amount of natural light in the environment and sensing a second amount of artificial light in the environment.

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 Jan 11, 2013
From: TERRAZAS, ALEX
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 029614/0479 →